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sparrowrye · 1 year ago

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Alastor x Fem! Reader {soulmates} Part 2

Synopsis: soulmate AU where you have the same mark on your body as your soulmate, and if your soulmate dies you also die. Alastor needs to make sure that his soulmate is safe so he can continue his reign - whatever that takes.

Part 2 summary: Escape is futile

Part Pilot

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"And the winner is Python!"

I turned my head from the bloody sight. I had brutally murdered an innocent fighter like myself. But I had to do it. It was my only chance out of here and they were far too mentally gone to even have a chance at a normal life.

I pushed myself up on one foot and limped to the gate. The crowd above roared my fighter name and bets were being collected. My master picked me up and looked down at my injured foot. Usually a head collar was strapped on to keep me from using magic against him, but he had recently gotten more comfortable without it.

I flicked my wrist behind his back. The sweat from my forehead jumped off and sliced through his throat. He dropped me and fell, clutching his throat. I scrambled to my feet and bolted around the cages containing my brothers and sisters in fighting. I ran past the unknowing guard at the gate and into the crowd.

I could taste the sweet taste of freedom beyond those fences. All I had to do was hide in the woods until dawn. It was easy. The crowd didn't know what was happening and people often tried to run out on a poor bet. No one would interfere.

Except one.

Rope wrapped around my throat and snapped my head backwards. The force slammed my back into the cold ground. I coughed violently as I pulled the rope loose. Spit fell out of my lips as I looked up. Standing on the other end of the rope was Striker, a Full mage who liked to terrify others with his illusionist demonic appearance.

He pulled on the rope and it tightened again. I slipped my hand under it and tried to dig my chin between my neck and it. He pulled even tighter, rougher, and pulled me forward, forcing me to fall on my stomach. I sent wind and dirt but he casted a shield of around himself.

I looked to the side and pretended to lift something. His glance was all I needed. I leaned forward and pulled the rope over my head. I barely made two steps before something caught my foot. I tried to pull that one off but the ropes kept coming. My neck, my shoulder, my wrist, and my knee. I flailed and threw every magic I could at his ropes. Yet it did nothing. A Slight hand was no match for a Full mage.

Henchmen appeared and pulled the ropes in different directions. It was mere seconds to have me completely immobile on the cold ground. Striker stepped inches from my face before kneeling down and grabbing my chin. He lifted the rope around my neck at the same time, painfully contorting my neck in what felt like a 90 degree angle.

"Looks like you're mine now, sweetheart," he purred, "'til the day you die." He let go of my head and my face slammed down into the pavement.

I jerked my head up from the pillow with a yelp. I found myself in an old, dusty room with sunlight streaming in from the window. I sat up and examined every inch of the room. How the hell did I get here?

I tried to think past the nightmare but was met with a mental block. Who's house was this? Why am I here? When did I change into a white gown? Who's bed is this?

I put my feet on the cold carpet and padded over to the window. I looked out at a wide open sea and a sheer cliff-face. That's when it connected. I had evaded the worse fighter master for five years and landed right in the claws of the Radio Demon.

A light knock came at the door. I dove into the corner and put my hand up, ready to cast at a moment's notice. But the person who entered wasn't the Radio Demon, but a different one. He resembled a combination of a cat and bird, his entire body covered in gray and white fur and his wings a gorgeous bright red. He had a black top hat sitting between his ears.

"You're awake," he said, "Good. Your clothes are in the wardrobe. Alastor wants to speak with you before he leaves so hurry up." He shut the door.

My neck hairs bristled at being told what to do. I didn't waste five years of freedom to be told what to do again solely because my soul happened to be bound to the worse Full mage of the century.

Yet there was nothing I could do.

I opened the wardrobe to find old dresses that looked like they were from the 1930s. Maybe the 40s or 50s? They were old, that much was obvious. Not my style, either.

Now he's dressing me.

I swallowed hard and picked a long skirt and button down. I locked myself in the bathroom, grateful that it had a lock, and quickly dressed. The sink had a bowl of water in it which told me this old house didn't have working pipes.

I gently splashed my eyes with the ice cold water to wake myself up. I found an old brush in one of the drawers and brushed out my messy hair. It had taken nearly three years to really understand how to take care of this hair. I had grown it out after escaping the rings to make myself more unnoticeable.

I let out a sigh. I closed my eyes and took a moment to ready myself for the next encounter with the mage. He couldn't kill me. He would kill himself in the process. If he tried to keep my in a cage like the others a little self harm should do the trick. I had options. I could handle this. I had handled worse. Right?

Outside the room wasn't much better off. The floorboards caved under my weight and spewed dust up in my face. I sneezed a few times on my way down, careful not to touch anything in case it disintegrated upon contact.

The staircase to the foyer was tight and narrow. I could clearly see the deep purple and dark brown accents of the house now. It didn't exactly look pretty. Though I couldn't imagine much thought was put into any part of this old house.

I turned at the last step to find my soulmate standing by the cold fire. He seemed to be looking at something before he spun to face me. His eyes looked me from head to toe and back again. My fingers tightened into a fist subconsciously.

"Mm, it'll do." I bristled at the comment but he crossed the living room in seconds to stand in front of me. I took a step back. "How did you sleep?"

"Fine."

"Come sit, I have much to tell you before I leave." He stepped to the side and gestured to the room. His other hand was behind his back holding his cane; the cane that made me feel like I was always being watched with the creepy little eye on it.

I looked up at his red eyes before forcing myself to walk into the room and sit on one of the hideous old chairs. He sat on the other one on the opposite side of the fireplace and crossed his legs elegantly. I crossed my ankles and put my hands in my lap. I hated dresses but I had watched enough women and explored the internet enough to know how to sit 'properly'. He seemed like the type to correct me on manners.

"I'll make this simple since I have places to be," he started, "My rules are very simple. Rule number one, you're not to leave the premises. You have until the tree-line before you're considered off this property. Rule number two, you can go anywhere in the house except for my room and office. They're beside each other on the second floor. Don't worry, they're locked so you can't mistake them for another room." His eyes narrowed a tad. "Rule number three, don't bother me. You can do anything you like, request nearly anything from Husker, but do not disturb me."

"May I ask a question?" I ventured. My head was tilted down a little and my eyes glared up at him.

"Yes you may." He laid his cane on his lap.

"If you want nothing to do with me, why the hell are you keeping me here?"

"Silly girl," he chuckled, "I told you last night. I need not worry about my soulmate dying in wasteful ring fights. If you die, I die. Not to mention, if people discovered we were connected you would undoubtedly find yourself against very powerful mages that could kill you in half a second." I gritted my teeth, unsure of how to respond. "And as I said last night, you should be grateful that I'm providing you with a safe haven."

"A safe haven that's about to collapse?" I remarked, looking around at the dusty boards and picking at the old ratted chair.

"Well," he laughed, "if you're bored you could always fix up the place."

"Can't you do that with your oh-so-powerful magic?"

"I have more important things to use my magic on. Besides, your Slight magic should be enough to fix up the things you need." I was about to argue when he abruptly stood up. "Well, I must be going now. I do hope I won't have to remind you of my rules. They are rather simple and easy to follow. Good day." He didn't bother to use the door, disappearing into the shadows and melting into the floor.

I stared at where he had disappeared for a long moment. My eyes then trailed around the room, examining its every inch. It was quiet. Too quiet.

Boards creaked and I looked over to see Husker appearing from the hallway. "I'm sorry to hear that you have a shitty soulmate," he said, sounding genuinely apologetic.

"I never believed in soulmates, really." I stood up to walk over to him. We looked roughly the same height until I got closer and discovered to be a few inches taller. "Is there a reason why you're...here? With him?"

"I'm under Alastor's service for an extended period of time," he answered, turning back down the hallway. I followed him through the narrow entryway and came to an old kitchen. "He told me I'm to fulfill most of your requests."

"Why do you listen to him?"

"For my own reasons," he growled, "I'm not about to let you run off, if that's what you're trying to get at. He can't kill you but he can kill me, and he will if I let you run off."

"Right." I quietly left the room to explore the rest of the house. Next to the kitchen was the dinning room. It was full of random old furniture that looked like someone had dumped the insides of a victorian home here. It circled back to the staircase and sitting room. On the other side of the sitting room was a library study. The books looked like they were nests for spiders, moths, and bookworms.

Upstairs had another sitting room but was mostly filled with old bedrooms and bathrooms. I quickly discovered which rooms belonged to Alastor. Directly across from 'my' bedroom were two locked doors side by side. So long as he came and went at early or late hours of the day, I could avoid him easy.

Escaping shouldn't be hard, though. A pang of guilt went through me as I thought of Husker having to deal with the repercussions. He was obviously a Full mage if he could conjure up a demonic illusion like that. Though what for while he was here, I'm not sure. Perhaps a scare tactic. I shook the thought from my head. I had killed people with my bare hands on the concept of "Me or them". This would be no different.

"Say," I found Husker drinking something in the kitchen, "could we fix the pipes so we can have running water?"

Husker shrugged. "Sure. You want to help?" The side glance his black eyes made me want to incline.

"Sure."

Outside had a cool, ocean breeze crossing the field. I instantly found the tree line Alastor spoke of. The first challenge of escaping would be crossing the field. There was nothing to hide behind or use for a shield. I had to buy time to cross the field and take shelter in the dense trees.

Husker went to the side of the house where an old well stood a few paces from it. He put his hands on the ground and seemed to search through the earth. A moment later he snapped his black eyes open and looked up at me.

"Clean out the well and dig further down until you reach water." He said as he pointed to the stoned circle. I stood on the side that put it between me and Husker. I had heard too many tales of people losing their life to a deep well.

Husker fixed the pipes underground and through the house while I fixed the source. I knew my next request to him was to allow me more clothes that fit my style. And more pants. I kept quiet until the brown water turned into pristine, clear running water from all the faucets.

I dried my hands on my dress in the kitchen and asked, "How did you know I had magic?"

"Alastor told me."

"Right."

"I've also seen you in the fight rings before."

"You what?" I bristled.

"Relax," he grabbed the same bottle from the counter, "I wasn't a master or anything. I was running the bets and gambling." That didn't make me feel any better. How could he just let them keep those fights going? His appearance gave me my answer.

So I changed the subject. "How would you suggest I ask you for different clothes? These aren't exactly right for me." I looked down at the elongated skirt.

He let out a sigh and pulled out a phone. My heart quickened. "Find what you're looking for and screenshot what you want. Then tell me your size."

"You know, that's not exactly how sizes for women work," I tried. "One size in one store could be very different than another."

"Then pick one store and tell me what sizes," he replied. My heart dropped and I took the phone from him.

****

I gave myself a week before my first escape attempt. I had to know Alastor's schedule and Husker's routine. I also need to ensure they weren't bracing for my first attempt. A week should be long enough, surely.

Alastor left in the mornings before or right at dawn and returned at some point well after dusk. Husker preferred to be in the living room or on the outside porch drinking alcohol. I guessed that he had some kind of magic that kept the effects of alcohol to a minimum so he could still keep an eye on me. I made it a habit to join him on the porch most of the time, reading the one book I could think of off the top of my head for him to get.

Alastor had made two more rules since my arrival. Well, one official rule and one implicit. The explicit one was no unsupervised internet access. No phone, no computer, nothing. I had no connection to the outside world.

The implicit rule was my clothing style. Any 'modern' clothing that was even close to being considered immodest disappeared from my wardrobe the next day. This meant he was keeping a close eye on me despite his rules to keep as much distance between the two of us as possible. I had to be careful. I didn't know what type of magic he was using and if he could see me at any point.

But I was ready.

It was a blue evening, the setting sun hidden behind a raincloud. The rain hadn't quite reached us yet but the strong gusts were moving the clouds closer and closer. As much as I didn't want to escape on a rainy night, it was the best chance I had. Muddy conditions and rain made it difficult to see and operate in. For most people. Most likely for Full mages who were used to having everything handed to them on a plate thanks to their power.

Husker had just finished another one of his whiskey bottles and went inside for another. I whispered an apology as the door closed and I stood up from my chair. I used my magic to push against the wood from underneath so they didn't creak. I jumped the stairs and as soon as my feet hit the grass I ran.

I pushed wind against my back to help carry me across the field. My heart pounded in my ears as I reached the tree line and disappeared behind the closest large tree. I sank to the ground and peaked around the tree. I didn't see Husker yet.

I turned and ran further into the forest. The wind from the storm made it easy to maneuver through the dense forest. I had no idea where the closest town or city was but I needed to put as much distance between me and the house as possible.

There was no notion of time as I kept running. My legs burned and chest hurt but I didn't dare stop until I could barely stand. I pushed through the pain and veered off to the side, hoping they would search in the other direction. The rain had started and trees bent against the strong winds, pushing back as best they could. I took this as my cue to find a hiding spot until the storm cleared up.

I picked one of the trees and started pulling up the dirt and roots. I would dig myself a little burrow and wait out the storm. The wind pulled aggressively on my clothes and hair. It felt incredibly strong for a storm and it made my blood run cold. I frantically looked around in search of the bright red of Alastor's coat or Husker's wings. This wasn't natural wind. This was from magic. They were searching for me.

The trees practically uprooted themselves as the wind pushed against them, opening the forest floor to the sky for a moment. I briefly saw Husker's red wings in the sky before the trees cut my line of sight. I dove to the side before the trees opened again. I felt like a field mouse running from a coyote in the field grass.

Husker dropped through the canopy and locked eyes with me. He curled his claws inward and the tree branches reached for me. I pushed against them with wind and snaked through their reaches. I stayed as close to the ground as I possibly could. I needed someplace to defend, somewhere that he couldn't reach me. The forest was proving to be a horrible idea.

Wind and fire were my best friends as I evaded and burned the branches that grabbed at me. Husker went back to the skies and attempted to create a wall with the trees. A branch caught my foot and dragged me towards its trunk. I opened the earth near it and pulled its roots up. I used the storm and pushed the tree all the way down. I jumped into the ditch and pulled the roots back over me, partially covering me from the sky. Husker flapped overhead, arms crossed.

I dug into the earth and filled it up behind me. The further down I went the farther I was from the reach of the trees. Several times he tried to catch me with the roots but he couldn't see me anymore. I had broken his line of sight. That's how you defeat a Full mage, I realized. If the mage couldn't see you, then they didn't know what they were doing.

I picked a random direction and started tunneling again. I didn't get far, though, as I realized my great fault. I had filled most of the earth behind me and it cut off my airway. It was freezing this far down and I was lacking oxygen. I was suffocating. I was already sweating and exhausted but not I was truly fighting for my life.

Praying that they were digging after me in the original spot, I start tunneling back up. Going up was far easier than going down but I was already exhausted, physically, mentally, and magically. I had to take several stops, struggling to breathe.

After what felt like an hour, I reached tree roots. I grabbed hold of one and used the last of my magic strength to pull myself through the dirt. I clambered through the dirt and sucked in the fresh air. I frantically looked around, half expecting Husker to jump on me from behind. But he was nowhere in sight. The light rain had turned into a downpour but the tree I was under gave me enough shelter from it.

I looked around for several moment before collapsing against the trunk. I took deep breaths of the sweet fresh air and let the rain drops patter on my face. Had I done it? Were they digging after me or looking elsewhere for my tunnel exit? It didn't matter. I just needed a few minutes to recover.

"Well done."

My breathing caught in my throat. I looked up to see Alastor leaning against the tree staring down at me. His smile was still plastered on his face and the sarcasm was heavy. I scrambled to my feet and backed away from him.

"I must say I'm impressed that you managed to evade Husker but I'm sorely disappointed that you can't follow simple instructions." He was leaning forward enough this he was at my eye level and creeping towards me.

“I'm disappointed you thought I would just stay put like a pet," I returned with heavy breathing. I was so tired. I didn't know if I had the energy to run from him.

He chuckled at my retort. "I knew you would attempt to run. You watched my schedule. You knew I wouldn't be back until later. I know exactly how your mind works."

“Do you, now?" Using my peripherals, I willed the roots from the nearest tree to uproot and wrap around his legs, making sure not to touch him yet. "Then you'll know that a cornered animal fights back until they die." I snapped the roots tightly around him. He looked down and I ran. I was so tired but desperation kept my blood boiling in all my fights.

I used the strong wind and rode it into the sky. I threw myself as high as I could and looked around. It was nothing but trees. No town, no city, no house, absolutely no sign of humanity. I was in the middle of nowhere.

I dropped into the trees and hide among the branches, eyes desperately scanning the ground. I leaned back to sit on my heels but the strength in my arm had disappeared. I lost my grip on the branch and fell backwards, hitting branches on my way down.

I landed hard on my back and felt a crack run through my spine. I sucked in a gasp of air and stared up at the gray sky. I gripped at the wet grass and tried to pull my strength back in. Alastor appeared above me a moment later, smiling down at my paralyzed body. He knelt beside my head so his ugly yellow smile came closer to my face.

"This suites you," he said, "this desperation. You're trying so hard to escape no matter what it does or if it kills you." He pushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. "Unfortunately for you, it matters to me because we share the same fate."

"Fuck you."

His smile lessened slightly. "I'll add another rule for you to follow." He grabbed my throat and hoisted me to my feet. His claws dug painfully into my skin until I could feel my blood soaking my shirt. He pushed me against a tree and leaned in close to my face. I pulled on his wrist and tried not to cough in his face. "Rule number five. Never speak to me in such a way again." He paused. "Words like that are unbefitting for a woman."

"You can..." I struggled to speak clearly, "you can...keep me here but...but I'm...but I will not play...play by your rules." My heart was racing as his grip tightened even more so. He dies if you die. He dies if you die. I repeated in my head.

He let go of me and I fell face first into the ground. I gasped and coughed up spit as I rubbed my throat. "Give it time." I saw his feet walk around to stand in front of me. "I can be very persuasive."

#hazbin alastor #hazbin hotel #hazbin husk #alastor x reader #alastor the radio demon #soulmates #soulmate au

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lemonsrosesandlavender · 1 month ago

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Rolan begging for your strap but he has to fuck himself with his fingers instead because he was naughty and he's not allowed to come for another day :3

Gods, he'd be so pathetic about it. Slamming it down on your desk when you're not taking the hint of him bending his ass over every chair and surface imaginable. He's dropped his quill three times today just to linger for a second too long whilst picking it up, his nose wrinkling deeper into a scowl each time you ignore it.

So now he's taking a stand, and you are more than pleased to refuse him explicitly this time. Tell him exactly why you won't rail his pretty, pert little arse the way he so desperately wants you to.

'Not after I caught you fingering yourself earlier.'

'You haven't fucked me in three days!' he argues back... knowing very well that you decide when his asshole gets fucked, and you've only seen fit to use his mouth lately.

'Those are the rules,' you tell him smugly. 'And since you've broken them, I think you deserve to be punished.'

He groans. 'You wouldn't dare' -- though he's already turning around, ready to present his ass yet again.

'Oh no,' you tell him. He likes spankings just a little too much, and you really want to teach him this time. 'You're going to have to show off a little for me. Show me how sorry you really are.'

You grasp his hand, seeing that he's filed down the tips of his claws. 'You really must have been desperate.'

'Of course I was,' he snaps. 'You've broken me-- made me want things I never wanted before--'

He bucks his hips into you as he says it.

'I think that you were always a whore,' you growl. 'But if you're very good for me, maybe I'll stretch you even wider tomorrow.'

'Just tell me what it is you want to do, damn it--'

His cock is straining through his trousers. You laugh, take his hand, and lead him to bed.

'Now,' you gasp, ripping his trousers down. 'Fuck yourself.'

'With what?' Rolan tries to sneer, but it comes out rather breathily.

'Your fingers. Like you were doing earlier.'

'They aren't enough-- nghhhh!'

You shove them in his mouth yourself, shutting him up nicely. He yanks them out straight away, and you press them back to his lips.

'Don't you want them nice and wet? It's your hole--'

He scowls, and sucks them with such petulant, bad-tempered vigour that you can't help but laugh at him, and that makes him glower even harder at you. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you have the upper hand on the proudest, most talented mage in Baldur's Gate.

'Now, Archmage,' you purr, as he drags them from his lips with an irritable pop. 'Fuck yourself.'

'No,' you add, a moment later. 'Harder.'

'It doesn't matter how hard I do it,' Rolan snaps, pressing two fingers shallowly in and out. 'I can't come unless-- '

His head thuds against the pillow as you shove him back into it. Your hand ghosts threateningly over his throat.

'Fuck. Yourself. Now.'

Gods, you could swear his eyes glow brighter, in the moment when he swallows and at last surrenders. Tonight, you didn't even had to push him that hard-- but then, he always wants to submit deep down. And he looks so fucking good, ramming his fingers into his asshole, two then three then four, begging you please, please to get the strap out and let him come. He needs it.

Not tonight... but he's been good enough that you're feeling pretty certain about tomorrow.

#rolan #rolan bg3 #sub!rolan #cabbage answers #mmm yes delicious jelly #thank you

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cominfromtheforest · 9 months ago

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A thought for a thing i don't have the time to write but i think would be cool

"So, tell me about Sir Quirrel. The youngest of the riders amongst you," Lurien asked as they entered the busy courtyard of the palace, full of riders and their Dragons getting ready for a hunt. Sir Hegemol, who was accompanying him, turned his head to meet the high court mage's eye.

"what about him?" The Knight asked back, quite protective over his young friend.

"I thought only royal blood could claim a Dragon?" Lurien said, unsure if he should believe the rumours which had been making their rounds about the Kingdom.

"It is true." Sir Hegemol said. "But Sir Quirrel didn't claim a dragon," he continued, "The dragon claimed him."

"I didn't know that was possible..."

"Never happened before. His Majesty wasn't all too happy about it, but there was nothing he could've done. There certainly isn't anything to be done about it now," Sir Hegemol let out an amused sound, knowing better than to laugh, but still honouring his own humour.

"So we trained him." He said then.

"And knighted him?" Lurien inquired, unbelieving and amused, letting the smile shine through in his voice, betraying the privacy provided by the mask he wore.

Sir Hegemol simply shrugged, not of high enough rank to question the decision made by His Majesty.

"Well, which one of these dragons is his?" Lurien asked then, turning his head about to get a better look at all of the snarling beasts in the courtyard. They were impressive creatures: heavy on land yet nimble in the air, with teeth sharp as nails, and spikes thicker than a knights forearm. With claws that grabbed and tore, and an ancient fire burning deep within.

"Out of these?" Hegemol scoffed, "None. Some of these here aren't even dragons. They are wyverns: lesser dragons. You can recognise them by their two hind legs. A real dragon has four. Or more."

"Then where..." Lurien started, his sentence cut off however, by a dragons roar, one much louder than the others he had heard before. A deep rumbling sound, one you could feel in the pit of your stomach before hearing it, turning into a higher shriek, a cacophony of voices and pitches strung together. A sound that almost made one feel nauseous.

The Dragon came to view a moment later, gliding over the them gracefully, with its pitch black wings so large they momentarily plummeted the courtyard into total darkness. It was an enormous monster, one whose presence was enough to silence the others. With claws likely longer than Lurien himself was tall and jaws filled with with all too many teeth, capable opening wide enough to swallow one of the wyverns whole. It was long, too, its body starting out wide and broad-shouldered, becoming more slender towards its hind legs, ending in a long tail covered in spikes thick like treetrunks.

It flew a short circle around the palace, before landing on the north-facing roof of the courtyard. Its eight white eyes scanned the crowd now frozen before it, its black scales gleaming with iridescence in the morning sun. It looked... regal, perched there above the others.

It roared again, the spikes of its neck flaring, the sound making the windows ring and rattle, open jaw now revealing the fire in its throat. And there, where the creatures neck met its back, was seated Sir Quirrel, wearing the armor of a rider, one adorned with the colours of the royal family, and with his nail strapped to his back.

"That one. That one's his," Sir Hegemol said, very matter-of-factly, with his arms crossed like a proud dad.

"Prince Ghost...The Lord of Shades...!" Lurien gasped, his voice now suddenly an octave higher than before.

"The Dragon of the Deep."

#hollow knight #hk quirrel #hk ghost #lord of shades #lurien the watcher #hk hegemol #quirrelghost #dragon au #ill create infinite AU's and no-one can stop me #what does 'claimed by a dragon' mean? ill let you decide #anyway

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avoskorm · 3 months ago

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[Fake Party Banter] [Combat Barks Edition] [Idea stolen borrowed from @chubritza lmao] [Also borrowed Inadas]

Enemies Spotted

(Sniffs) (Growls)

Eyes up.

Something's close.

Trouble ahead.

Ready up.

Start of Combat

Showtime!

[Not blighted or undead enemies] Great, I'm starving.

Let's get to work!

(Snarls)

Once more unto the breach!

Pick a god and pray. I'll give you a minute.

Void take you!

Break a leg!

Combat Over

Ah, the music of life.

And scene.

(Howls)

That's it. For now.

That's it, then.

That wasn't so bad.

Aw, is it over already?

Incoming Attacks

Move your ass!

Move it!

Move! You waiting for an invitation?!

Clear out!

Behind you!

Get to cover!

Close in!

Left/Right! Left/Right, damnit!

Left/Right side!

Left/Right flank!

You're in their sights!

Incoming!

They're on your ass!

Ability Ready

Ready! Let's go!

Whenever you're ready!

On your mark!

Where do you need me?

Ability Not Ready

Give a dog a chance to bark!

Patience is a virtue!

Hold on a second!

Nope!

Not now!

Activate Ability

That's my cue!

You got it!

There it is!

Since you asked so nicely.

Haha! Yes!

Alright!

Rook Injured

Could someone see to Rook?

Rook is down, someone heal them!

Stand up, you idiot!

Rook's hurt!

Rook doesn't look so good.

I smell Rook's blood. [Warden Rook] It stinks.

Damnit! Rook!

Damnit, Rook, again?

Get up!

When I said "Break a leg," I didn't mean this!

Not your best performance!

Reviving Rook

Too soon for curtain call. Get moving!

Don't get used to this.

I've got you. Aren't you lucky?

You're not getting out of this that easily.

Can you stand? Then get moving.

There are easier ways to get my attention.

Please don't make a habit of this.

He's/She's/They're fine.

Enemy Staggered

They're dazed! Get 'em!

Finish them off!

Knock 'em dead!

The stage is yours!

Enemy Shoved off Ledge

Don't forget to write!

Goodbye!

No wires for you, my friend!

I feel sorry for whoever has to clean that up.

You need to work on your landing!

Ha! Like a stone!

What a dramatic exit. Bravo.

Counterattack

Not bad timing!

Return to sender!

Ouch.

Your footwork is impeccable.

You're an artist!

Slippery, aren't you?

Armor Break

Take care of the straps!

Their guard is down!

We're chipping away at them!

Keep up the momentum!

Their armour's in pieces!

It's scrap metal now!

Primer Applied

Now it's your turn!

All yours!

There! Have fun!

Any takers?

I've set 'em up, you knock 'em down!

Detonation

Time for your grand finale!

Round of applause for us!

It's so beautiful.

That's how it's done!

Excellent! Who's next?

Rook Gets a Kill

I couldn't have done that better myself, Rook!

Yes! Do that again, Rook!

Once more, with feeling!

You're stealing the spotlight, Rook!

[Warrior/Rogue Rook] Impeccable bladework.

[Mage Rook] A beautiful light show! I love it!

[Shadow Dragon Rook] You're doing the Shadows proud!

[Crow Rook] Rook sends his/her/their regards.

[Warden Rook] That's one for the Wardens!

[Lord of Fortune Rook] Fortune favours Rook!

[Mourn Watcher Rook] Rook knows how to lift our spirits!

[Veil Jumper Rook] Don't mess with the Veil Jumpers!

Companion Gets a Kill

Nice shot, Bellara!

That's some fancy footwork, Bellara!

Passable work, Davrin.

The Wardens take that one.

Great job, Assan!

Emmrich, you are a marvel!

Varla, that was beautiful!

Excellent work, love!

Bravissimo, Emmrich!

Great shot, Harding!

Another one for Lace!

Target down, eh, Lucanis?

Not bad, Lucanis.

Neve gave them the cold shoulder!

Better wrap up warm, or you'll catch your death! Ha!

Shall I play mood music when you tell Inadas about this?

Gods, Neve, even I'm cold.

Taash is really heating things up!

Damn, I felt that one, Taash!

Inadas! How many's that?

Great shot, Inadas!

Inadas, that ought to be memorialised in song!

Dragon Vulnerable

Now's our chance!

We've got a clear shot!

Now! Don't waste this chance!

Now! While it's weak!

Despair Demon

Tread carefully -- Despair is near.

(Sniffs) (Shivers)

Try not to startle it.

Why do they need so many teeth?

Leave it.

Isolation

(Frustrated growl)

I can still hear you!

Can anyone see that thing?

Damnit, I can't see a thing!

#fake party banter #jovus hassildor #for reference #long post #datv spoilers #so many exclamation points lmao #vg companion inadas

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hurtthemgently · 2 months ago

Text

Not one of the living

Ch0, pt1

Cw: attempted murder, throat injury, animal bite, brief animal injury(the winged lizard is fine) poison, referenced needle whump, passing out, escape.

He could have done the mission in broad daylight, but it’s more fun to climb nearly sheer walls on a cloudy night with almost no visibility. Well, no visibility for a human… but to a wood elf, it’s only kinda dim.

Maybe he should have brought a blindfold for this wall- Clove grins as he pulls the rope of his grapple taught and starts walking up the wall.

Clove’s never been one for conventional weapons- his main weapon is a grappling hook, that he can swing and throw up to five stories. In a pouch at his waist is a coarse powder that acts as climbing chalk and throwing sand. And his one killing method- a small knife strapped to his ankle. He’s here to kill one person. No more, no less. The prince of Arovaria. Clove had been a part of the rebellion in Arovaria for three years, and had killed nobles, merchants, even generals and an admiral once. Now he’ll get to add the crown prince to his credits.

Tying the rope back around his waist, he starts dashing along the ramparts, caring less about speed than about staying low behind the walls and keeping quiet. The guards are easy to avoid, bright torches announcing their presence. All he has to do is jump to the outside of one of the walls and hold on until they pass- noticing fingertips on a brick above head level is difficult when they can’t see past their torch's light. Arovaria is a mostly human kingdom, and not a popular one for mages.

The schematics he read had the prince's room overlooking an arboretum- and there it is. An opulent balcony, wrought filigree and smooth glass- all the highest level of craftsmanship for this city. He jumps from the wall to one of the tree’s limbs, taking in the room through the glass doors- ornate, the bed and windows draped in curtains. Intricate woodwork and gold plating throughout the room. All while the citizens starve and the greying is spreading through the most vulnerable populations. It’s disgusting.

Checking for traps, he alights onto the balcony, and inserts a pick into the lock. Already unlocked… either it’s a trap, or this brat prince is careless. Clove is gonna bet on the latter.

He steps into the room, seeing the guy himself on the bed. Remarkably plain- sandy hair in a mess, an almost soft looking face. He’s 24, which is an adult to humans, as Clove was told- but he looks like an adolescent. Soft hands that have never seen a day's work.

Maybe he has some redeeming qualities- reading glasses and a book on the behavior of giant lizard species sits on the nightstand. But all reports indicate this prince is just as bad as his father, that he scorns those below him and relentlessly torments his staff. So, a blade it is- he takes his place straddling the sleeping prince, and readies his blade to his larynx. He won’t be making a sound.

He readies to strike, to bury his blade into a catastrophic future for the kingdom- one hit- the part of his job that made his heart race more than anything. To kill, to see the life snuffed out of his enemies. Enemies to the people.

A jolt- a sharp pain in his leg. The pain shakes him from his trance. Clove cries out, grimacing. There's some kind of a winged reptile at his side, hissing in threat. Under him, the prince rouses, looking up with deep brown eyes.

Clove forces the blade down, and immediately regrets it. He missed the artery, only hitting the prince's trachea. He still might choke on his own blood… but it’s not a sure job.

And worse- the bite is starting to make Clove’s head spin. A poison? No- it’s too sudden… but it isn’t even close to a needle! He can withstand burns and cuts and bruises with only complaints, but Clove has always had one big weakness- needles will make him woozy no matter what’s in it.

He blinks away the sparks clouding his vision, and kicks the reptile off the bed, so he can focus on the prince- who’s got a blade of his own. He slashes out at the assassin, and barely misses- his breathing is strained, and he has one hand at his throat. He hasn’t pulled the blade out yet; so much for hoping he’d bleed out. If Clove delays his escape a moment longer, he won’t make it out. So he stumbles his way to the balcony, not even closing the door behind him before jumping to the tree.

He can’t afford to pass out, not here. But… his body has other plans. He barely manages to get steady on a branch before darkness takes over his mind.

—-

Shouting. Lights at the edge of his vision. A buzzing in his head. A throbbing in his leg. He’s in a tree… why? Shit, the castle! The balcony, the prince… Clove groans and leans to get to his feet. There’s people in the room, guards and a couple people in white healer's robes.

He couldn’t have been out for more than a minute, they must have already been nearby. Of course the little despot would have healers on hand while a plague kills his citizens…

One of the guards looks out into the arboretum- almost right at him. But humans can’t see on a cloudy night like tonight. The outline of trees is all he’ll make out in the pitch. He’s safe for a few minutes… but it’s gonna be risky getting out of here.

The wound at his leg burns and throbs- definitely poisoned… but stopping to check would only waste time accomplishing nothing. He ties part of his rope around his thigh to restrict it, and calls it good enough.

Jumping to the ramparts nearly gets another groan out of him, but he manages to keep quiet. All he’ll have to do is climb down and make it to the woods… where his cat, Onyx will find him and carry him back to the port. He’s already arranged for a trip on a boat for a couple weeks, in case the royal bloodhounds catch his scent.

Just make it to the right spot on the outer wall-

—-

He slashes off the part of the rope on his leg, and ties the rest around the bricks. He brought cheaper rope than he prefers for this exact reason- in case he didn’t have time to retrieve it.

Climbing down is rough, but he takes his grappling hook and makes towards the forest. he’s greeted with a low, concerned mewl as soon as he makes it past the bushes- and he takes a second to pet Onyx and reassure her before he climbs to her saddle. He’s already having difficulty breathing, and there’s sweat on his brow. He’ll have to get the wound treated fast…

With a whispered command, Onyx makes her way through the forest, and the trees blur around him.

#not one of the living #clove is my favorite #he’s such. a bitch #this is the prologue I’ve always wanted to write #and I wanna finish it before rewriting the rest of the story

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blackjackkent · 23 days ago

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"All the seals have been extinguished. Excellent. Let's open that door."

Under the circumstances I have to respect that Emmrich still manages to sound somewhat cheery here.

Helena, for her part, is super on guard. She's very ready to find these Venatori and their adopted necromancer and take them out, but she is (as usual) feeling very out of her depth here.

There's a portal behind the door, because of course there is, and what it leads to is even more alarming.

"Someone's torn a path into the Fade!" Emmrich shouts above the sudden sound of whistling wind. "It's imperative we find and stop this necromancer from keeping the Fade open!"

"Oh!" squeaks Bellara. "This is so exciting!" A slight pause. "I mean dangerous."

I love her, your honor.

So does Helena, although she is not personally nearly as excited about this development. Living in the Lighthouse, she's spent a long time in the Fade by now, but its capacity for weird shit hasn't showed any signs of abating, so she's fully expecting more possible weird shit now.

This particular iteration of the Fade actually reminds her uncomfortably of Solas's little corner, with its greyscale color scheme and floating rocks.

There's a stormier vibe here though, with intermittent lightning and the rumble of thunder in the distance. Solas's place doesn't have that, so it's probably not the same.

Probably.

-----

After a little bit of puzzle solving, we're able to push on through this area; past another door, we get a sudden scripted burst of thunder and a flicker of lightning across this statue which made me jump about a foot in the air:

At least I guess it's a statue. I guess I don't actually know that for a fact.

Helena had no comment on this, which leads me to believe she also just almost shit herself and is desperately trying to pretend otherwise.

Also near here is a tattered note:

Heeeee. This is a Dark Souls reference. XD And there was indeed treasure underneath.

And then we turn around and hoLY SHIT:

Yeah I think Helena officially hates it here.

(I, on the other hand, am eating this up. I love wtf set pieces like this. XD )

This is, of course, so clearly a battle arena, and indeed so it proves:

"Undead!" Emmrich shouts, sounding appalled. "This necromancer has brought once-helpless undead into the Fade as soldiers?!"

"And a rage demon," Helena shouts back wearily, right before being cuffed halfway across the battlefield.

-----

Past the demon battle we get a wigged out version of the library from the manor:

And then another sacrifice site for Emmrich to cleanse.

He's sounding more and more agitated about these poor damaged spirits, but there's no time to figure out what to do about it exactly, because just as their boots hit the stone of the next platform... a new face joins them, wreathed in pale green light...

"Late as always, professor!"

The woman is short and grey-haired, perhaps a decade older than Emmrich, wearing battered white robes and a pair of thick-lensed goggles strapped tight o her head. Her lips curl in a slightly maniacal smirk as she looks them over.

Emmrich's eyes have abruptly gone very wide. "It can't be..." he whispers.

The woman snaps her fingers; there's a flash of light and she jolts forward twenty feet to snap into existence again directly in front of them. Helena jumps, backpedaling a few steps - but the woman's attention is all on Emmrich, disdainfully sneering.

"But what else," she hisses, "would one expect from Nevarra's most eminent meddler?"

"Johanna Hezenkoss..." Emmrich hisses.

(A/N: Oh hey I've heard of her! She gets occasional mention on my dash.)

Helena blinks cautiously, her hands hovering near her daggers but not quite drawing them. "You've met?"

"Oh, the professor and I have known each other for ages..." Hezenkoss purrs, her voice mixing uncomfortably with the distant sounds of screams in all directions. "But only one of us realized the Watchers are no place for a mage with... *ambition*..."

Helena winces. "So she's an evil Watcher," she mumbles, drawing both daggers and spinning them in her palms. "That's great."

"Only if she's beyond hope," Emmrich says unsteadily. He looks shaken and worried, his eyebrows knitting together as he looks back towards Hezenkoss, searching for some iota of sympathy in her granite expression.

But he finds none.

"Spare me your sanctimonious bleating!" she snaps.

Lifting one hand, she twists her fingers into a fist, and the trapped spirit beside them howls as some fundamental light is torn out of its insubstantial body and dragged to glow within a hanging container nearby.

Helena has gathered enough from Emmrich's earlier comments to know that this is some sort of spirit-murder, and for a moment she shifts her weight, gauging the angle by which she could dart forward and land one of her blades in Hezenkoss's gut.

But Emmrich darts forward, throwing an arm out before she can move.

"No!" he hisses. "The stolen life in that lantern could permanently tear open the Fade here!"

Hezenkoss smiles unpleasantly. "Correct!" she crows. "Only the foolhardy would shed blood near it in this state..."

She snaps her fingers again and a pale green portal unfurls itself behind her, and she takes a step back, then another. "So let the Watchers mourn your pathetic death in the Fade, Emmrich Volkarin!" she calls mockingly. "Those that are left after my return!"

And she casually flicks a jaunty salute off her forehead and vanishes, leaving behind a wave of demons in her wake.

#bjk plays datv #helena mercar #DEVELOPMENTS! \o/#sadly it is late and i am sleepy so we will pick up after this fight when i'm back from vacation on tuesday #unless i am too sleepy from flying that day in which case probably wednesday

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tabitha42 · 4 months ago

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The Wizard's Apprentice - Chapter 69

Saffron is just a lowly apprentice with barely a successful firebolt to her name. So what chance does she have with the arch mage she's slowly falling in love with?

Gale x Tav, slow burn, eventual smut

Chapter 1 Previous chapter Next chapter

Their first few days the city had been a whirlwind of activity. Between Gortash’s coronation, Mizora’s bargain and murder investigations, they’d had little time for anything else. So Saff was particularly surprised when Karlach told her of her plans for the next day.

“A date?” Saff echoed when she heard Karlach’s idea.

“Yeah! A proper, normal date. I know exactly what I wanna do, so we’re gonna take tomorrow just for ourselves. After all we’ve been through, I think we’ve earned one day off, haven’t we?” Karlach reasoned. Saff found she couldn’t agree more, and quickly relayed this plan to Gale.

“A date?” He asked in surprise when she told him the idea.

“Yeah! Karlach and Wyll are taking a day for themselves, so I think we should get to as well! And I’ve got a great idea for what we could do!”

An excited smile came to his lips.

“I like your way of thinking, and I can’t deny I have spent some considerable time pondering the question of where I would take you for such an occasion. I have some ideas, if you would allow me a few days to set them in motion?”

She hadn’t expected him to not only have ideas, but have ideas that would take several days to plan. It only made her more excited.

“Take all the time you need. I can’t wait!”

When the day finally came, she was awash with excitement. They’d agreed she would organise activities for lunch and the afternoon, while he took care of the evening and dinner. They also agreed to keep their plans secret from each other, though she very nearly let slip a few times what she had planned.

She spent the morning in her annex getting ready. Everything was going well, until she was faced with an impossible decision and had no choice but to go running through the tower in her dressing gown to ask Malitas for his opinion.

“Malitas!” She called, charging down the hallways until she finally ran into him. “There you are! Which nail varnish should I wear??”

She brandished two small bottles of purple nail varnish at him, which he looked at in bewilderment.

“They’re… the same colour,” he said eventually, looking at her in confusion.

“What?? This one is lilac and this one is lavender! I think the lavender one goes better with the dress I wanna wear, but the lilac matches my skin tone better-”

“Saff,” he interrupted before she could continue her ramble. “Dare I suggest Gale’s affections for you are not going to be impacted by what shade of purple your fingernails are?”

She breathed a deep sigh, calming herself down.

“I know. I just… want this to be perfect. We’ve not been able to do anything like this before. Plus, it’s kinda nice to worry about nail varnish colours and not the end of the world, you know?”

He chuckled softly and nodded in understanding.

“Sometimes a moment of mundanity can be a haven in a world of chaos,” he sympathised, and she got the distinct impression he was talking from experience. “That said, do not fret too much. You could turn up in a potato sack and he would still think you are beautiful.”

She laughed, a slight blush coming to her cheeks.

“Now,” he continued, putting a hand on her shoulder, “finish getting ready ready. And go for the lilac.”

She grinned and pulled him in for a quick, grateful hug, then ran off back to her room.

Two hours later she stood in front of the mirror, checking herself one last time. She wore a light purple dress that flared from her hips, cinched in at the waist by an engraved leather corset. Embroidered flowers decorated the dress, running down from the straps, across the chest and along the hem of the skirt. The sweetheart neckline plunged below that of the off-the-shoulder white blouse she wore underneath, the long cuffs of the puffed sleeves hanging down in waterfall pleats from her elbows. The lace-up brown boots she’d chosen had a slight heel, just enough to accentuate her legs while not posing a significant risk along the uneven cobblestones of the city’s streets. Her hair hung loose down her back in soft curls, with two small braids running around the sides of her head affixed at the back with a matching purple bow. After much internal debate, she completed the look with a silver necklace holding a small, amethyst gem.

She wondered briefly if she should wear a bit more make up - she didn't tend to wear much, and after going weeks without wearing any, even the small amount she wore now felt like a transformation. But it was a special occasion and deserved more effort than usual…

The decision was made for her when the arcane doorbell rang through the tower. With a gasp of excitement she grabbed her handbag, flung it over her shoulder and ran to the door.

“Have fun.”

The sound of Malitas's voice from the top of the stairs nearly made her yelp in surprise. She looked up to see him leaning against the bannister looking down at her.

“How do I look?” She asked, giving him a quick twirl.

“Beautiful. Now get going,” he said, gesturing to the front door. She grinned, and wasted no time in doing as she was told.

Her heart skipped a beat when she opened the door to see Gale waiting with a bouquet of flowers on the other side. His usual wizard robes were replaced with an embroidered purple shirt with white sleeves, the neckline of which was low enough to show both the top of the orb and a hint of chest hair.

He looked as if he had something planned to say, but all thoughts of that had gone out the window when he saw her.

“Saff, my love… you look beautiful,” he said softly, looking almost mesmerised by her.

“So do you! I mean, I guess not beautiful, but handsome! Not that you aren't beautiful, I just mean- you know that's usually- I, um-... shall I take the flowers?”

Quite how she managed to get tongue-tied talking to her boyfriend of several weeks, she didn't know.

Gale was gracious enough not to outright laugh, in fact he looked rather endeared as he handed her the bouquet.

She held them to her nose and closed her eyes as she took in the smells.

“They're so lovely,” she complimented when she opened her eyes again. “Let me quickly find a vase for them!”

She ran off back to her annex, giving Gale and Malitas just enough time to acknowledge each other before she ran back out again.

“Enjoy,” Malitas said to them both, giving them a small wave as they linked hands and left the tower.

“So, where to?” Gale asked as they walked down the street.

“I'm taking you to my favourite place in the city!” She announced excitedly with a spring in her step.

“Sorcerous Sundries?” He asked with half-joking excitement.

“Alright, second favourite place,” she laughed. “Though now that you mention it, you probably would have preferred Sorcerous Sundries. I may have made an error in judgement.”

“Wherever it is, so long as you are there, it will be perfect,” he said chivalrously, completing the sentiment with a quick kiss to her blushing cheek.

The streets were bustling with excited people enjoying the spring after a long winter. Cool breezes made for refreshing breaks from the warmth of the midday sun. The smells of food wafted through the air as they headed through the marketplace in The Wide, though Saff had to convince them both to resist temptation as she already had plans for lunch.

“Here we are!” She announced happily as she took Gale to the entrance booth of a grand park and gardens.

“Ahh, a park. Very appropriate,” Gale commented, looking through the gates.

“It's the biggest park in the city! I started visiting all the time after moving in with Malitas, since it's so close. It's beautiful, I'll show you around!”

Gale hadn't met many people in life that could talk about something at quite the lengths that he could, but he soon learnt that if you put Saff in a botanical garden then she'll come pretty close.

She told him about every tree, every flower, every bush and shrub. She told him about the plants that had been imported from faraway lands, and how she'd loved to see those plants in their native soil one day. She told him about the books she'd read here under the shade of the trees, the hours she'd spent lost in words as the sun made its way across the sky.

“Nearly at the best bit!” She announced as they approached the end of a tree-lined walk.

“It will have to be truly impressive to beat everything you've shown me so far,” he commented, admiring the canopy of leaves above them.

“You've really enjoyed it that much? I was worried I was talking your ear off.”

“Not at all! There is little I enjoy doing with my time more than learning something new, and one of those few things is seeing the excitement in your eyes as you talk about your passions. I feel truly privileged to have been able to enjoy both today.”

She couldn't hide the blush on her cheeks nor the smile on her lips.

“You really are cheesy sometimes, you know that?” She teased playfully.

“I know. I think you like it,” he teased back.

“I love it,” she said firmly as she pulled him in for a kiss.

The view that awaited them as they emerged from the trees took Gale's breath away. A large, open field stretched down ahead of them, beyond which the Lower City sat in the distance, encircled by the Sea of Swords. White sails dotted the horizon, floating upon the glistening water. Every landmark in the city was visible, from Ramazith's Tower down to Grey Harbour at the city's edge.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” Saff said wistfully as she took his hand. “You can see the whole city from here!”

“It's incredible,” he agreed, his voice almost a whisper of awe.

“Look, there's Sorcerous Sundries,” she said, pointing down to the domed blue roof that stood out so clearly against the tightly-packed streets that surrounded it. “And if you follow the path down, you can just about see the roof of the Elfsong! Then up that way is the Basilisk Gate, and Rivington beyond that. Oh, that reminds me! The Circus of Last Days is in town, we HAVE to go at some point! I haven't seen Dribbles since I was a kid, he's amazing!”

“Dribbles?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, he's a clown! You'll see. First though, I promised you some lunch.”

“You did indeed, though I don't see any food stalls or restaurants around here,” he commented, glancing around.

“I've got something else planned. Come on, let's find a nice spot.”

She took his hand and led him across the grass until they found a quiet area in the shade of the trees overlooking the city. He watched curiously as she raised her arms, then with a swift gesture and practiced incantation, her plan became clear when a blanket and picnic basket appeared on the ground in front of them.

“A picnic!” He said happily. “What a wonderful idea.”

“It wasn’t really my idea, if I’m honest,” she admitted, beckoning him to join her as she sat on the blanket. “After the tiefling party, while Karlach, Lae’zel, Shadowheart and I were washing in the river the next morning, we all got talking about you and me. They said I should do something to show you I liked you. Karlach suggested a picnic. It’s taken a while, but here we are!”

“Ah, then I shall have to compliment her when I see her next,” he said, sitting down on the blanket. “What did the others suggest?”

“Shadowheart didn’t suggest anything specific, but Lae’zel said that I should… how exactly was it she phrased it? Pin you down and ravish you until you are so overcome by arousal you cannot refuse me my desires.”

It was a good thing they hadn’t got the food out yet, because Gale definitely would have choked if he’d been eating when he heard that.

“Gods, that is… well, I’m glad it’s not Lae’zel that was interested in me. Aside from anything else, that would have gone very poorly for everyone within a significant radius.”

Saff chuckled as she reached for the basket. “Yes, in hindsight, I’m very glad I didn’t take her advice,” she agreed, then opened the basket. “Ok so, I thought, since it’s not really fair that I get to come home while you’re still miles from Waterdeep, I’d try to make this a sort of Waterdhavian lunch! So we’ve got some Waterdhavian cheese, eggbread, almond cake, and I tried making melverfew! I don’t know if it’s any good, but… guess we’ll see. And I’ve got some Waterdeep Whiskey and managed to find somewhere selling Blackstaff wine!”

She took each piece of food out of the basket as she spoke, finally finishing with two wine glasses. Gale looked at everything in surprise, feeling both awed and touched by how much thought she’d put into it all.

“Saff… this is so thoughtful. You’ve really done your research,” he complimented, feeling a sense of nostalgia as he looked over the familiar food.

“I hope I got it all right. Oh! And don’t worry, I know melverfew is served hot,” she said, quickly picking up the metal pan containing the stew and placing it away from them on the blanket before raising her arms. “Arde,” she incanted, moving her hands in the gestures Gale recognised to be for the druidic spell Heat Metal. The pan began to glow, cooking the stew inside.

“By the time we’ve finished the cheese, that should be ready!” She said, reaching for the cheese and bread.

Gale happily regaled her with stories of home as they ate, getting lost in the memories that came flooding back with every mouthful. It was only when he took the first mouthful of melverfew that he finally went quiet, closing his eyes as he savoured the taste on his lips.

“Is it alright?” Saff asked, slightly nervous that his silence was a bad sign, but her worries were chased away when he nodded.

“It’s perfect,” he whispered, a soft smile on his lips as he opened his eyes again. “I haven’t had this since I was a child. It’s cheap to make, so it’s usually favoured by the poorer communities of the city. After Elminster found me when I was 8 and enrolled me in Blackstaff, scholarships and grants helped pull my family out of obscurity, but before that, many a melverfew stew would grace the Dekarios family dinner table. Most commonly after I’d set something on fire that my parents then had to pay for,” he said with an embarrassed chuckle that betrayed the lingering guilt he still felt over such occasions.

“Oh… I didn’t realise your childhood had been like that,” she sympathised.

“We weren’t poor, to be clear, but we weren’t exactly rich either. We never struggled for food, but at times, that food was melverfew.”

He took a deep breath, taking in the smells of the stew once more.

“I’ll have to ask my mother if she still has her old recipe,” he commented, before taking another mouthful.

The rest of the food went down exactly as Saff had hoped, til only drinks were left. Waterdeep Whiskey hadn’t really been to her taste, but the wine was good… almost too good. She found herself in a slightly tipsy daze as she laid back on the blanket, looking up at the clouds.

“Look,” she said, pointing up at the sky. “That one looks like a tressym!”

Gale followed her gaze from where he was lying next to her, a frown crossing his features.

“Which one?”

“That one there! That’s the wings, and the head, and the tail!”

“...I must applaud your imagination.”

She laughed at his very diplomatic way of telling her she was seeing things.

“Maybe it’s the wine,” she said, turning her head to the side to look at him. “It’s very good. Though if I have much more, I might struggle to stand.”

“That would be unfortunate, though I suppose I could carry you to this evening’s activities if needs be,” he replied, also turning his head to face her.

“And what are this evening’s activities?”

“Patience, my love. All will be revealed soon enough,” he assured her with a knowing smile. She considered this as she looked up at the sky again.

“How soon? How much longer can we stay here before we need to head off?”

“Hmm, I’d say… perhaps an hour, if we are to walk there from here.”

“Then we’d better get up,” she decided, sitting up and stretching her arms, “because there’s one more thing I want to show you before we go.”

She led him back through the gardens and out to what appeared to be a large greenhouse.

“This is my favourite bit of the whole garden,” she said excitedly as she pulled him towards it. Once they got closer and the sign above the door came into view, he realised what this was - a butterfly house.

Saff giggled in delight once they were inside, marvelling at the myriad of butterflies that fluttered round them. Even Gale couldn’t help but give in to a moment of child-like wonder as one landed on his hand.

The further they went in, the more they found, til Saff looked as if she were wearing a butterfly crown. For Gale though, it wasn’t the butterflies that captivated him as he watched her face light up.

They found a spot under a tree and sat down, watching the butterflies flutter around them. Though Gale couldn’t stop the questions that were beginning to float round his mind, and Saff clearly noticed this.

“Are you ok?” She asked when she realised how deep in thought he was.

“Yes. I just find my mind drawn back to the butterfly I saw in your dream, that led me through your memories. I suppose it makes sense - this is your favourite part of the park, your favourite nursery rhyme as a child was about butterflies, and you often choose butterflies as a key part of your illusions. If butterflies are important to you, perhaps it is not a surprise you would dream of them. Yet… I can’t help but wonder if there is a deeper connection here.”

Saff went quiet as she considered his words. Another butterfly fluttered down in front of her, and she raised her hand and watched as it landed lightly on her finger. She watched it for a long moment as it gently moved its wings.

“You know… in some cultures, they say butterflies are the spirits of the dead, come back to watch over us,” she said softly, watching the butterfly on her finger. “I once told you I didn’t care who my parents were, that my family were the people that raised me, the other kids I grew up with. I didn’t always think like that, though. When I was a kid, I was desperate to know who my parents were. I spent every moment thinking about it, until I realised I was spending all this time and energy pining over people who didn’t want me. I was surrounded by love, but all I could think about were the people that weren’t there, the people I never even knew. So, I decided to stop. I would no longer waste my love on the people that abandoned me, I would instead give it to those that loved me back. And I don’t regret doing that, but… I also know there’s every chance my parents weren’t there to make the decision. That they might have loved me every bit as much as I’d have loved them, if they’d been given the chance. Maybe… maybe that’s what the butterfly in my dream was. Maybe they’re watching over me.”

The butterfly on her finger lifted its wings and took flight once more, fluttering up into the leaves of the tree above them. Saff leant back as she watched it, until it was gone from sight.

“So much has happened recently. The visions, the curse, what Thaniel and Withers have both said… I don’t know what it all means, all I know is I have to find out.”

She felt Gale’s arm as he reached around her shoulders and gratefully leant into him.

“Then find out we shall,” he said softly, kissing her lightly on the forehead. “Whatever it takes.”

She smiled softly, comforted as always by his words.

“Thank you,” she whispered, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the moment in his arms, under the watchful gaze of the butterflies.

#gale #bg3 gale #gale dekarios #gale of waterdeep #gale x tav

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chubs291 · 9 months ago

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Prompt #16 Third-Rate A one sided duel

wanted to try something a little lighter for Alaric, enjoyed it a good bit enjoy

Alaric stepped into the open arena, stretching out his back and arms, ready for what he thought would be a fight. The black mage had found himself rather strapped for cash as of late and so decided that it would be beneficial to join this advertised tournament that he saw, some Doman nobility was holding it more for his amusement than anything but the payout would be grand.

Now it was the final fight, Alaric versus this red mage, the fights beforehand hadn’t been much to deal with. Most of the brawlers he was able to simply chip away at from a distance whilst the ranged foes found their assaults warded by walls of ice, which proved very effective.

He had yet to fight a fellow caster though so he was actually quite excited to see how this one would turn out. He was in for quite a surprise.

On the opposite side of the arena an au ra male walked out, the red garb of a red mage proudly on display and acting just as much of an eyesore as it always does. Alaric shook his head slightly as he drew his staff. However before he could even begin to cast his first spell the au ra lifted both hands into the air. “NOW YOU JUST WAIT A MINUTE MAGE!” The Raen shouted, “I am Harukim Naeuri! And you are a disgrace to anyone who calls themselves a mage!” The au ra began to approach but he never drew his weapons, the most aggressive thing he did was an accusational finger jabbed directly towards the old man. “I know of you, oh I do Alaric Vance!” Harukim’s face was red with anger. . . for some reason.

“Now what have I even done to you boy?” Alaric asked but before he could get another word in the Au Ra once again spoke up.

“Oh no no no you shall not disgrace this fine crowd with your horrid dribble!” The crowd was currently just mummering to each other, mainly confused on why the two fighters had begun to have an argument. “I know of you, I’ve heard your tale! And I know for a fact that you are a second-rate mage and a third-rate adventurer! You lack the echo, you’re an old man, hells you just began adventuring not but a month ago! What makes you think that you can waltz about like you are just as good as the rest of us! What gives you the right?”

Alaric began to open his mouth, to make some form of rebuttal but once more it was cut off.

“I spent years upon years perfecting my craft, to become the best at what I do! To be a red mage is to have a perfect and delicate balance of both white and black magic, your body and spirit must be in perfect equilibrium! But you! You learned black magic from a blind witch off the side of the road I heard! Your job stone is one you made yourself, and out of quite poor materials if I recall correctly. You, Alaric Vance, are a joke and an embarrassment to all who call themself a black mage and I feel personally insulted just by being half associated with the profession!” The au ra had a proud look on his face, as if he had so thoroughly destroyed Alaric with his insults. The only thing that the old hyur had noticed was that Harukim had moved rather close to him. Damn shame that was, damn shame. With one solid right the au ra had been sent sprawling to the ground, note this was not some technique, this was no pugilist art, this was just a full force punch powered by the strength that being an outdoorsman for nigh on thirty years gives a man. Harukim did not even know what hit him as he fell to the ground, his hat floating down onto his chest not but a few seconds after.

This would definitely have to be one of Alaric’s strangest fights that he had ever experienced, certainly was satisfying though.

#ffxiv writing #ffxiv writing prompt #ffxivwrite2024 #ffxiv oc #ffxivwrite

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scribeofskyrim · 5 months ago

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Turdas - 23rd of Hearth Fire - Year 201 of the 4th Era

There is a blank page between this entry and the last, clearly skipped intentionally.

Bronwen,

This is Erandur. Please forgive me for writing in your journal. I assure you I have not read any of it - I only flipped through to find a blank page.

I spoke with the others and we decided that it would be best to record your day for you. We know how important it is to you, so I volunteered. Right now, you're unconscious, and will be 'til morning.

You'll learn this when you wake, I'm sure, but I want you to know that even as I write this, we're all safe, at the Braidwood Inn in Kynesgrove, a small village in the Eastmarch south from Windhelm. You're recovering from a severe case of Bone Break Fever, and you've had a hard day.

I don't know how much of today you'll remember, so I'll start at the beginning.

We left Windhelm for Ivarstead, and as we passed the road that leads to Morvunskar, you looked up and said we had some "unfinished business" to attend to inside.

You were referring to the chest that you went to open when we were transported to that so-called party. There were also some unexplored areas, so we followed you up to the citadel.

The chest wasn't without treasure, but I don't know what you found. I was distracted by the faint sound of footsteps, and made sure to warn everyone.

You instructed us to get ready for a fight, and we set off down the hall. First, we found a small room with some bedrolls surrounding a shrine to Dibella. There were also some leather straps and a potion of some kind. You picked them up and whispered something to Lydia. A joke, I assume, because she laughed.

Valdimar asked me if Mara's rites had anything that compared to the Dibellan mysteries. I can't see his face in that Dwarven helmet of his, but I swear I could hear his eyebrows waggling. I informed him that Dibella's arts are not frowned upon by followers of Mara, for she is also a goddess of love, and many see the two as sisters.

He said that was "Good to know," whatever that means.

The path split, one way going up and the other down. I was in the very back, but I saw you Conjuring down towards the lower level, and could hear a man shouting at you. The dog ran forward, and you disappeared down the slope with Lydia on your heels.

It was only one mage, an Altmer, but he was well-versed in Destruction magic, especially Fire.

After we defeated him and took his belongings, I had a chance to look at our surroundings.

I hesitate to write what we saw. It was… Horrifying, and it disturbed you greatly.

I will put a marker here and at the end of the part that bothered you. Please ignore my words between these marks until you are ready to read them.

~~~@~~~@~~~@~~~@~~~

There was an iron gate, with a lever on the next wall to open it. Beyond the gate was a small room with a recessed floor full of hot coals, with several bodies, completely burned, on top.

It was obvious to all of us that they weren't being disposed of in that room.

They were contorted, as though in pain and trying helplessly to get away from the heat. One was suspended in a cage above the fire, the iron glowing red-hot.

Those poor souls.

I have no words for the anger I felt at witnessing such depravity, so I turned my focus to you.

You stood there a moment, then turned and fled.

You looked panic-stricken, like you did when you were reminded of Helgen, and your hands were ready with Flames.

~~~@~~~@~~~@~~~@~~~

You rushed past us and up the other corridor. We knew you'd found the other side of the barred door when we had to dodge the crossbar as it clattered down the ramp. You'd simply thrown it from its brackets and ran into the main room.

We found you there, pressed into a corner behind a Ward, with your other hand still ready with Flames.

I went over and sat down beside you. I reassured you that you were safe, and there were no more enemies here. The dog came over as well, and wouldn't leave until you hugged him.

It wasn't long until you were feeling well enough to get up, and we left.

You went out the door first, and I ran into you because you stopped right outside of it.

You were looking to the sky, and before I could ask what you'd seen I heard the wings of a dragon as it circled us, then roared.

You froze, and as we got our weapons out to fight the monster, I turned to you just in time to see your face go from terror to rage.

I know that face. I know that soul-deep anger. There's no word I can think of that properly describes it, but I know, at that moment, you were angry at Everything. Not just Nirn, the Aedra and the Daedra, but at the cruelty, the unfairness, the helplessness and fear and madness of it all…

I know it well.

Of course a dragon attacks right as you recover from one of your fits, breathing fire in your face and roaring its fury at you.

All you can do in those times is roar back, and roar you did.

You ran right towards its gaping jaws and Shouted a hailstorm down its throat, even as you yourself were surrounded in its fire. We did what we could with arrows and our own magic, distracting the beast and its minions while you ducked behind a bit of rubble, tipping back potions like you were winning a bet, then went back to do it again and again and again.

It was a hard fight. I didn't know dragons could summon Fire Atronachs, but you Shouted the beast out of the sky, then filled it with shards of ice when it landed.

Once the deed was done, and you took the burden of the foul beast's soul, we continued on our way.

It started to rain when we got to the main road, which wouldn't have been a problem, but the storm worsened rapidly. Lightning started to strike all around us. We saw a traveler on the road ahead of us get struck! Thank Mara she was only a little hurt, but we were all in grave danger, out in the open as we were.

You wanted to get us all to safety, and spotted a small, barn-like fishing hut across the river, with a fire inside. You led us down the embankment, and we swam across.

You got out of the water first, and I watched you walk up to the open archway of the hut. I was horrified when I heard the sound of a bear growling, and looked up just in time to see you knocked back by a swipe of its paw.

It had been inside the hut.

You and the dog attacked it, with fire and fang until you ran out of magicka and pulled out your axe. You buried it in the beast's skull so deep you had to brace your foot on its head to get it back out.

That's when we joined you.

You looked up into the rain and said, "Shut up."

We hadn't spoken yet, and when Lydia said as much you made a rude gesture upwards and said you were talking to the Divines. You swore you could almost hear them laughing at you.

I know how that feels, too.

We went into the hut and saw a pile of bones, still covered in bits of flesh, in a puddle of blood on the floor. This was clearly the work of the bear, so you set about seeing what you could find. You said there wasn't much, and we huddled around the fire, trying to warm up and dry off.

Unfortunately, the fire didn't do much for us. The roof leaked all over, but we were starting to dry off a bit when you complained about being hot. I realized immediately that you had some sort of fever, then you started to shiver. Lydia said she thought she saw another light farther up the hillside, and ran out into the storm to check.

She came back shortly and said there was a building up there, not sure what, but we'd be safe from the storm. We got you moving and placed our trust in Mara that the people there were kind, and would let you rest in a warm, dry bed.

The storm that drove the bear to shelter in the hut was probably what kept everything else away from us as we went up the muddy hillside, led by Lydia. You started to stagger, and began to wander away. Valdimar had to grab you by the shoulders to guide you, and eventually we ended up carrying you between us. We had to nearly drag you because it was too steep for Valdimar to carry you safely.

Honestly, I was quite worried for you as we struggled up that hill. You went from fighting a bear to weak and delirious in less time than it takes to boil water.

Valdimar said a few prayers with me.

At least you were awake and talking, but not making much sense. Something about a lady named Agrippina, and I think a man named Tarquin. You mentioned your friend Drusilla, too. At least, I think you did. You asked us where Dru was, and I assured you that she was all right.

I pray to Mara that I didn't accidentally lie to you.

Lydia already had a bed arranged for you when we got inside. She got you out of your armor and settled while we paid for beds and dinner for ourselves.

Thank you for making sure we always have plenty of gold on us. That's very smart and kind of you.

The proprietess, Iddra, insisted on making us all some fresh soup in addition to what we bought. She's very sweet, and brought in a small blanket for the dog to rest on. She made sure he got a good cut of meat after she saw the wounds he got defending you from the bear. Don't worry, he's healed now, and will be fine. I came in here to Heal you enough so that you could safely swallow a Cure potion. Apologies for that - Valdimar had to search through your pack for it. He said you always kept one on you, just in case.

I know you say it a lot, but you're not stupid, Bronwen.

You may be impulsive and rash from time to time, but I've not seen you act recklessly. You think before you do anything that might effect others, but you don't let fear of the unknown stop you, either. You're young, and you're going to make mistakes. I think you've accepted that, and that's a sign of wisdom beyond your years. Some of the choices you make may even turn out to be disastrous, but know that we trust you to always do what you feel is right in your heart, and for the good of all.

Even if "what's right" involves unholy amounts of mead.

+++

Praise be to Mara - The potion has done its work, and the disease is gone. We gave you a drink and you managed a few sips of warm broth. After the others left, I gave you a sleeping draught I made so you can rest and recover your strength. I gained a considerable amount of alchemical knowledge from my time as a priest of Vaermina. The mixtures are especially potent, given my former alliance with her, and normally would bring terrors to the sleeper, but Lady Mara has taken pity on me. In Her Infinite Benevolence, She has bestowed upon me a blessing, like She did the ritual that destroyed the Skull of Corruption. Now, my preparations impose a deep, restful slumber, full of good dreams to heal the soul as well as the body.

I will be back to pray some more after dinner.

Sleep well, my friend.

---

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#skyrim #writing #journal #rpg #fiction #the elder scrolls #tesblr #fanfic #bronwens journal #skyrim fanfiction #the elder scrolls skyrim #erandur #morvunskar #kynesgrove #braidwood inn

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randomness-in-motion · 2 months ago

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An Evahn Blurb-

The moment that Neve had said they should go to Treviso, Evahn's brain went into hyperdrive at the thought of finally being able to go home. He hadn't wanted to leave, but he begrudgingly understood Viago's reason for throwing him at Varric.

He knew better than to hope that things would go smoothly because they rarely did lately, but he couldn't help but look forward to seeing his sister, getting some of his things from his room, and dear gods did he miss his favoured haunts and vices. He missed proper civilization in general, the whole roughing it with Varric had been jarring.

As expected, things didn't go simply. They'd had to go rescue their mage killer, which was an interesting undertaking due to the location and then the fact that Lucanis had been made an abomination. Then because of the attack on the Cantori Diamond while they were gone, his focus had shifted to Lucanis, condolences and then trying to help him get settled in at the Lighthouse.

A few days later he was standing in front of Viago and trying his best to not set everything on fire "What do you mean Ash'iri isn't here because of 'training', Vi?! She's a full Crow, what kind of training is needed that you sent her away!?"

Viago grimaced internally at having used that as an excuse instead of just saying Ash'iri was out on a contract, but he hadn't expected Evahn to show up and his focus had been on the reports from those he had watching the Antaam "She'll be back.." he looked over at Teia only to find her smirking at him, he was definitely on his own here.

The papers on his desk began to curl from the heat that flared off of Evahn "I haven't seen her in a year, Vi.. why isn't she here? And don't try that bullshit 'training' spiel again.. Where is she? I might be able to... I can make the time to go to her." one of those Eluvians had to lead close enough to where she was, right?

Viago frowned as he motioned to his desk "Evahn, stop. I haven't finished reading these reports yet.. Look, with everything going on, I can't explain it right now. I'll come to your Lighthouse to talk to you about it later, okay?"

The air around the desk cooled as Evahn's eyes narrowed "How much later, Vi?" and Viago was honest "I can't say for sure, but she's safe. Please focus on your contract for the Dreadwolf."

Teia spoke up then "We do have something that we need help with if you can, mi Anjo. We have a Crow that has gone missing, Dareth. His contract was to do with the Butcher, and needs to be finished. His cousin Jacobus also went looking for him.. If you can find Dareth or Jacobus and help it would be appreciated."

The glare on his face softened as his eyes shifted away from Viago and fixed to Teia and he tilted forward as he spoke "Of course, anything you ask, Hermana." then turned to head out, the sounds of Viago grumbling to Teia fading as he left.

Hours later Evahn moved around his room with purpose, gathering things and carefully packing them into a duffle as Lucanis and Harding waited at the door. The conversation between them causing him to shake his head with a sigh.

Lucanis looked up as Evahn hooked the duffle straps over his shoulder and then picked up the hangered clothing bag that held his favourite outfit "Ah, ready to go?" and Evahn nodded as they headed out "Yeah, I'd like to get back to the Lighthouse and clean up. Need to get the smell of Antaam blood off of me and maybe burn the armour that they ruined with it."

Lucanis chuckled "Understandable. Your bag looks almost overfilled, did you pack your whole room?"

Evahn smirked as they neared the Eluvian "No. I just wanted some of my nicer clothes and personal items, I'm not too fond of the whole roughing it thing.." his ears went red when he noticed the face Harding made "Ahh, no offence, Harding. I've just always preferred the city over the wilds.."

Harding tilted her head as she gave a reassuring smile "It's okay, you like what you like. I like that you're honest about it, most wouldn't be."

His ears were still red as they entered the library, and then each headed off. Evahn going to unpack before heading to the baths to clean up, found himself sitting in his room an hour later too tired to move. His original plans to go back to Treviso to destress shelved as he laid down and gave into sleep.

#dragon age the veilguard #dragon age veilguard #dragon age rook #dragon age mage #crow rook #crow noises #antivan crows #Evahn Arainai de Riva

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lightvsdark18 · 3 months ago

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Twisted Wonderland (Book 7.1)

Translation by Otome Ayui, Gasumasuku Gamer and Cymr. EN playthrough by RoseEmber.

It has been almost two weeks since Alice first blotted. She feels better and hasn't seen anymore black dripping down her face. Her friendship with Malleus seems to have gotten stronger after his daily visits and spending a day in the Scalding Sands on Friday.

Third week of April, Monday.

Is that a baby crying?

Her heart sinks at the sight of the three fairies, knowing what this means. The appearance of Maleficent has her shrinking within herself.

Upon awakening, she grips her shirt tightly and fights against her anxiety. She's not ready for this, she doesn't want to go through this.

Grim enters the room and says good morning as she sits up and gets interrupted by Maleficent. He asks what's wrong from her frozen expression. "N-Nightmares, I had a nightmare."

"Again?"

"Yeah, but don't worry about it. I'll... be down in a minute."

What did I do?

She walks beside Grim, gripping the strap on her bookbag tightly, and tries to distract her mind by thinking about anything else. However, walking pass the statues she couldn't help but to stop and stare up at Maleficent.

Grips her head at seeing it again. Why did I see her twice now?

Grim stops and turns back to her, questioning why she's standing in front of that statue, then wonders if the inscription will be on a quiz. Alice jumps slightly and looks towards Malleus. "Good morning, Firefly." She doesn't have the strength to say his name.

Sebek and Alice have spoken to each other a few times from joint classes or when she hangs out with Malleus during the day. However, the nickname isn't something Sebek has heard until now.

(Worrying about a possible overblot and getting yelled at by Sebek, she's ready to start crying)

Malleus sees her wincing at Sebek's yelling and asks him to apologize to her, then explains he gave her permission for the nickname.

She thinks about it. "I would like to know about her story in general." Malleus smiles at that and begins retelling the tale of the Thorn Fairy when Lilia runs up.

Malleus invites her to Diasomnia to continue their discussion. She smiles at him as he leaves, and frowns disapproving at Sebek.

(Idia mimicking Crowley is weird)

Before heading to the cafeteria, she goes to Crowley's office to warn him about the next overblot. She explains her notes, the dorm leader pattern and the dreams on the Great Seven. He laughs. He laughs at her and her theory. "Draconia isn't going to overblot. He's one of the most powerful mages, he won't fall victim to something like that."

Her friends questions her sour expression, leading to her brushing it off. Ortho senses something's off. The group eats and talks while she keeps her head down, getting lost in her thoughts. Then Sebek's yell startles her and turns to the Diasomnia group.

(They're too far away to listen in on the conversation)

Alice glances over to Malleus to see his head down and his hands balled up on the table. Grim's voice snaps her attention onto him and slowly follows after him.

After school, she decides to visit Malleus to see how he's doing and learn more about the Thorn Fairy. She enters Diasomnia and finds the outside covered in a thin layer of snow. She gets inside and spots him walking up the stairs, calling out to him and watching him turn and smile.

He inquires about the snow on her and she tells him it's falling outside the dorm. He frowns at knowing what the cause is, snapping his fingers, and states it's a bad habit of his, then shyly brushes the snow off of her head and shoulders.

He asks if she's ready to hear more on the Thorn Fairy which she agrees. He leads her down the hallway to his room.

While walking, he remembers a moment in his past and tells her the story of when he froze his castle. She listens to him, feeling a level of uneasiness. "I'm glad Lilia was there and handled the situation in the way he did."

(I thought the screen was getting darker.) He agrees, then frowns and quietly says, "... but I suppose he won't be handling things for me anymore." She feels like the hallway behind him became darker as she asks, "why's that?"

He dodges the question and says they have arrived at his room, opening the door and gesturing for her to enter. She places her bookbag on the floor and sits down on the sofa at the foot of his bed as he places his bag and jacket on the desk. He glances over a picture of him and her, gripping his chair.

"Katelynn, if... if there was some way to guarantee you'd never lose those you love, would you wish for that?"

"... I don't know."

In the morning, Ortho comes up to her and asks to speak to her in private. He can sense blot building up in her body and questions the reason behind it. She tries to dodge the question, but he's persistent on the cause of blot.

"Katelynn, you can trust me, right? Whatever the reason is for your blot to return, I will not judge you. Your health is important to me." Those words bring her comfort and admits the truth to him.

He's shock and questions if she's sure, that's a big claim to make. "I'll explain my reasoning later, we need to get to class. Come to my dorm after school."

After school, she explains the dreams, the pattern and shows him her notes. He asks about the headmage and she instantly replies he's basically a lost cause. He then inquires if she told anyone else. "No, I know no one will believe me, but also, I'm not 100% sure if it's going to be Malleus. Jamil overbloted and he's a vice housewaden. It's possible it could be someone else."

He thinks. "If we warn the others about this possiblity, there's no guarantee they will believe us and if they do, it may cause a massive panic throughout the school. The best plan we have is keeping an eye on Malleus Draconia and prevent the overblot. I will keep an eye out in case it's someone else and not Malleus."

And with that, Ortho became vigilant for any signs of an overblot while Alice spent time with Malleus to lead him away from the path of destruction. However, Malleus' a very observant person.

[Your Secret Is Killing You]

Alice attends the party to use it as a distraction and way to destress somewhat before facing Malleus tomorrow.

(Maybe using the last of his time to make something worth it in the end)

[His reasons for overbloting]

"What happened?"

Frowns at Grim. Rude.

"Hi, Lilia. Thank you for inviting me and Grim."

Smiles at Lilia. "Of course." Then freezes at the flash of Maleficent. Her anxiety bubbles up as Lilia questions if she's okay before seeing blot coming from her nose.

"Oh dear. Kate, you're blotting." She wipes her nose on her hand and balances herself against the wall.

"I'm okay, I just need to breathe for a bit."

"Please don't push yourself. Your health is more important than this party. Head back to your dorm once you catch your breath."

The other first years come over and she hides her bleeding nose as they question her. "I'm fine, I just need to catch my breath. Please don't worry about me." She asks Grim to get her a napkin as Ortho sits her down on the steps.

Ace and Deuce figure it's time to get her out of here before she gets hurt or brings unwanted attention.

Frowns at Ace.

Furrows brows at Sebek.

"I don't like you, at all."

She covers her ears at the harsh whip of wind, dropping whatever she was holding. She lows her hands and gets up from her spot on the stairs to see green flames in the middle of the room, then sees Malleus appearing within those flames. A uneasy feeling rises in her chest.

Malleus's words has her tensing up as blot runs down from her nose again.

"Malleus! Stop!" She steps forward and is instantly blocked by Ortho.

Freezes up at the words "rapid increase in blot" and looks over at everyone jumping in to fight Malleus. She has a panic attack.

She reaches up to her throat and struggles to breathe as her body begins to tremble and her chest starts to hurt by her pounding heart. She watches helplessly as Malleus summons a ring of fire around himself and sends everyone back.

"Malleus, stop," her voice comes out weak and hush. Black tears roll down her face, gripping her shirt's collar and staring down at the floor. Everyone's voices start blending together into a muffled noise ringing in her ears and couldn't understand everyone, except for Lilia's desperate yell.

She snaps her head up and sees the lounge turning dark before vines begin sprouting up from every corner of the building and covering the area in its sharp thorns. A sparkling green light appears above everyone's heads and slowly circles around them, leading to everyone collapsing onto the floor one by one. The sound of faint snoozing and breathing fills the lounge and hallways.

She falls on her knees at the spell affecting her and tries to fight against it, blinking her eyes to erase the sleepiness from them. Laugher, then footsteps replace the sound of everyone sleeping, seeming to get louder as she tries to stay awake. She shakes her head and sees a pair of legs standing in front of her, glancing up at the person. Her heart sinks into the deepest pit of her stomach. It happened, he overbloted.

Malleus leans down towards her and cups her face into his hands. "It's okay-" he wipes the black tears from her eyes with his thumbs- "there's no need to be afraid." A soft cry escapes her only to be hushed.

"Give in to slumber, and a thousand years will pass in a blink of an eye." Her eyes widen at those words. She grabs his wrists and opens her mouth to speak, to protest, to tell him this isn't right, but her voice gets stuck in her throat. He pulls her head closer and places a gentle kiss on her forehead, causing the drowsiness to intensify.

Her eyes and body grow heavier and heavier by every passing moment, unable to fight against it anymore. A pair of arms slide under her body and pick her up, cradling her in his embrace. "All of you-" she looks up at his smiling face- "will become the heroes of this fairytale."

The sound of humming fills her ears as his face nuzzles against hers. Her eyes finally close and slowly drifts off to sleep by Malleus' chilling but comforting voice.

At the end of his song, he pulls his face away and opens his eyes to look at her, she's in a deep sleep. He smiles sweetly and kisses her forehead once more before carrying her up to his room and tucking her into his bed.

Malleus spends the rest of the time tucking everyone in for their long slumber. He carries Lilia and set him down beside Alice. He removes Lilia's shoes, jacket, hat and anything that would bother his sleep, then tucks him in and pushes his bands back to kiss his forehead. Next, he brings in Silver and Sebek's mattresses and set them down on the floor before carrying his knights in and doing the same thing he did with Lilia and Alice.

Everyone else was either placed into beds, lying next to someone or sleeping on their own, or lined up on the floor and given pillows and blankets with their items placed above their heads. He glances over everyone sleeping comfortably, feeling happy with his choice, then sees Grim curled up in front of the stairs.

He chuckles to himself and floats the direbeast over to him to carry him to his room. He places Grim on the sofa at the foot of the bed and wraps a blanket around him, then gives a kiss on the top of his little head.

The people Malleus loves and cares for are now sleeping safely together in his room.

Thunder? Oh, it's Maleficent...

"Where am I?" Alice stands up from the floor and glances around the room, trying to remember what she was doing before appearing here. She bites her lip. Malleus overbloted... She feels herself getting upset and starts looking around frantically.

She finds Grim sleeping on the floor as well and quickly kneels down to wake him, growing more upset as she calls his name and gently shakes him. When he awakes, he finds her softly crying. He asks what's wrong and questions why they're in Ramshackle, remembering the party.

"Grim-" she wipes her eyes- "Malleus overbloted and put us to sleep." Grim freaks out and asks her to explain which she does through tears. She's about to confess she knew when he interrupts her and tells her to not worry because they will figure it out how to get out of here, and maybe even kick Tsunotarou's butt afterwards.

They try the door to find it's lock. She pats him on the head when he realizes the ghosts on the windows are fake, much to his annoyance. "A footrest dog?"

"Grim, this is obviously not Ramshackle." "Not sure, but let's look for a way out."

Freaks out at a large Grim. "I'm surprised you remembered that." She smugly teases.

"I think it's just a normal pen."

She looks at the mirror, the thought of Mickey comes to mind and watches the room start changing.

"Mickey?!" I can't believe he's standing right in front of me.

Gives an unsure look before high-fiving him. Grim has a lot of questions. She summaries her meetings with Mickey which annoys Grim for not telling him earlier. "I didn't see a need to. It was just short conversations."

Mickey asks if she's alright from her tearstained face and tells him it's a long story. Grim asks questions on the room and such.

"Why did they attack you?"

Weren't you a wizard in one movie?

"We're very real." "Another you?" She walks over to the mirror as Mickey explains and stares into it; sees nothing, not even her reflection.

She jumps at the sound of ringing and turns to see Mickey fading away, not really giving a reaction considering he's just waking up. "Damn."

"The hell?!" Picks up Grim and backs away from the inky creatures. He tells her put him down and he fights against the creatures.

(It sounds like your stomach when it's upset)

"Silver!" Takes Grim into her arm and grabs Silver's outstretched hand.

(Thank you for pressing the self-destruct button)

"Oh fuck!" Silver and Alice throw their arms around each other, crushing Grim in between them.

"I don't know, I'll ask my stomach when it catches up."

"Why did they show up after Mickey woke up?"

"... I remember him talking about a boy with silver hair."

"So a bird led you to us?"

"Don't apologize, Grim is just a very rude cat."

"Honey, don't abuse yourself."

"So the dreamer here is someone you have a connection with."

Off campus internships?

She pauses before the doorway, nervous at seeing Malleus.

Malleus notices her and teases her for standing in the doorway. She pouts, "oh hush." She approaches the group while Grim speaks up.

Stands closer to Silver and somewhat hides behind him at realizing they're facing against the real Malleus.

Shrinks into herself at the OB form and whips around towards the darkness approaching.

Is equipped with a candleholder.

"What are we going to do?!"

She throws the weapon to the floor and tosses Grim in her arm before taking Silver's hand again.

Blinks her eyes and sits up, looking around. "A forest?"

Gets pushed back down by Silver.

Confusion and anxiety by the armored figures and the shrieking sounds. She's very afraid, especially at being grabbed.

"W-We're from Night Raven College!" Winces from the yelling.

(You know he said "a flying fuck" but he censored himself in his own dream)

(Lilia, I can't take you seriously after hearing that hiss. The other guys sound like they have phlegm in their throats)

"Grim!"

Royal guard?

Speak for yourself, Silver.

Alice kinda just stands there and watches the knights-in-training handle it. "I feel dizzy watching them."

Lilia?!?! ... Father?

Wait, Lilia was the general for Briar Valley?

Hesitantly bows head. "I'm Kate..."

Bruh, you look the same.

Grandpa? That's Sebek's grandfather?

She's listening in on the conversations and taking in the information.

Dude, chill.

She's lost on what to do, no magic, no weapon, no real fighting skills. Probably whacks them with a large stick she found. (Or uses Grim as a flamethrower)

Grips onto her stick.

"Ready-made?"

"I feel a bit unwell, but I'm okay."

(What the fuck was that?)

She has been told of the horrors called Lilia's cooking, so she understands their panic.

"Sebek, I can discipline him. There was no need for the smack."

Places a hand on Sebek's shoulder as Silver reminds him it's a dream.

The speed of an angry mother. "Grim!" Jerks him away by the bow. "Don't eat someone else's food!"

So back then you had no time, but eventually you did.

Our lives are already in danger...

"Yeah, you're probably worrying about Her Highness."

Then I hope I never meet her in this dream.

Egg?

Did Malleus hatch from an egg?

"Are you alright, Silver?"

Lilia's 700 years-old? Dang.

Her and Grim say at the same time, "how old is Malleus/Tsunotarou?"

"Our liege is going on 178 years!" -Sebek

"FNAA!?" -Grim

"Really? Malleus is a just baby."

"A baby?! Malleus is a young adult, he's not a baby!" -Sebek

"I meant he's pretty young."

"That's what strange. There's a 200-year discrepancy." -Silver

Passing of Malleus's parents? She's now sad. That's why he only talked about his grandmother...

She gets worried everytime Sebek or Grim raise their voice.

"You're constantly tired?"

Sleep curse.

"I'm guessing he's actually your father."

Finally got yelled at. "Sebek, you're the one who's yelling."

"More like a big mess and a half."

Picks up Grim and finds a tent to rest in. While lying down, her thoughts go through the information she received. Lilia being a general and Silver's father, Malleus's egg not hatching for 200 years, Silver possibly having a sleep curse.

#i had to repost it #twisted wonderland #alice

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domwrites · 5 months ago

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One Step

6 AM. Thunnai Military Camps. 10 Years ago.

Danu had been woken up by the alarm to wake up. Everyone in unison got out of bed, grabbed their weapon of choice for the day, and stood right in front of their chests for their commander. His best friend, Candace, had nothing to grab but her worn spellbook. While he, meanwhile, grabbed a greatsword that was easy to reach from its awkward slot on the wall.

"Attention! We will set into formation in the next hour. Scouts! Head to the surface. Mages! Prepare your spells. There is a fine mist out there that those spider queen worshippers are using as an advantage! And soldiers prepare your weapons. Not a dull blade or soft bludgeon will appear on the field today! Am I clear?!"

"Yes sir!'

"I will see you on the field!"

Their commander left, leaving the 20 people in the barracks to relax their posture but get ready. "Hey, Red, I'm goin' up with the scouts to use a spell. I heard yesterday those Lekkin tinkerers have been making something quite big but also small." The dwarf elbowed his leg. Danu looked down and his eyes met with Candace. It was her usual smug grin, generally wanting to watch something blow up. "What? Are you going to use one of those magic hands to drop some gunpowder over a poor drow's head?" He joked.

"Nah, something different. They saw what looked to be some goblins frantically running around the field with some bags on them dropping stones." She had shrugged. It must be some pawns for the general over that entire platoon. "But I'll see you later, Red! Gonna try to see if I can steal some silk wine off a soldier today!" And the dwarf was off, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

Damnit Candace.

He put his armor on, with all the padding and straps attached, then placed his helmet on last. It was already getting warm. That's a good thing. It was winter in this area, and the winds were deadly. He felt his mind wander back to long before he joined the Thunnai Military.

Back when mom taught him how to hunt. Back when the Clan Chief, no, father, had showed him what happens to those who disobeyed him the first time. The time when his sister, in a fit of rage, set fire to the cold stone rooms filled with straw as punishment for a failed raid on an elf village. Back when his brother, next to become Clan Chief, showed him what was on his belt. It was the foot of a drow. Beyond recognition, his swollen and decaying foot covered by-

"Boots! Put those gods damned boots on! Come on, orc! Get up here! Now!" Danu snapped out of his thoughts. There was only him in the dank barracks. It was that Tiefling yelling. That guy was always quiet and slipping into the shadows. he got himself together, boots strapped on and already shined. He ran up the stairs into the field, where everyone was standing.

It was much more quieter than usual. There wasn't anyone shuffling in how heavy the armor on them was, no wizards reciting their spells quietly to themselves, and no scouts poisoning their daggers nor tainting their gauntlets. The snow clouds were looming It looked like a snow storm was about to roll in.

So why is it so quiet? It seems like the only thing talking is the wind.

He tried to find his position at the front, a few people turning to him walking. Danu got there, greatsword in hand, wondering what the hell was going on.

And then he saw two scouts standing where the fight should take place. Right in the middle of the field was Candance, with an emotion he had never seen from her before.

Fear.

"Mage Candance, you casted 'dispel magic' minutes ago, get back here before someone takes an easy shot! And you two! Over here now we still need to-" One of them stepped towards the dwarf in the field slowly and carefully. "Misty Step out."

She nodded, and started the process of the spell. She lifted her foot up from the rock she stepped on and began to-

BOOM

The dead grey grass suddenly blacked around what used to be Candace. And two pairs of soiled boots fell back to the grass. A chain of explosions followed afterwards.

"Fall back! The enemy has placed explosives around the field!"

Someone larger than him, he didn't remember, dragged him back. "Come on, Danu, move! Move! We don't know how many of them have been placed!"

----------

Danu woke up in a cold sweat. He checked his hair for any chunks of flesh, any pieces of black hair that could have fell. Any bit of a charred spellbook. There was nothing. It was just a nightmare. A bad recollection of his time in war. "My beloved, is there something wrong?" He heard a familiar voice and felt the adrenaline rush come to a slow end.

Recently married to him, Teinz looked up at him tiredly. "Had a terrible recalling of some... of my time fighting in the war." Danu was able to comb through his hair with a hand normally.

"Do you want to talk about it?" The drow put one of his hands on top of the orc's. "Not now... it really late and I just want to sleep with you in my arms." He kissed the hand resting on his cheek. If he talked about it now, he would show up and be seen as an incredibly tired guard captain. Teinz saw the look in his eyes, and nodded.

They both lied down, cuddling each other until the red haired veteran was asleep.

#writings #fantasy writings #tw fantasy war mentioned

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ritualoftheancients · 1 year ago

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Ritual of the Ancients Chapter 22: Epilogue

by Roan Rosser

This is a chapter of a complete vampire novel with a trans-masc main character and a gay romance subplot. New Chapters are posted every Sunday. If you like the novel and want to support the author, ebook and paperback copies can be purchased here.

*****

Three weeks later…

I’d been staying with some mages while recovering from the silver-laced gunshots. They had examined me and the amulet, and also questioned me, Kevin, and Jack about the ceremony. They were trying to piece together what her ceremony had been meant to accomplish. I’d told the vampires about the ancient book I’d seen in Kevin’s memory, the one that Lady Ann had been consulting, but they hadn’t been able to locate it.

The conclusion so far was that the amulet had been what turned me, although they weren’t sure how yet. One thing that they had been able to determine was that the amulet was tied to my life force. So for now it stayed with me, hanging from a chain around my neck under my shirt.

There was a knock at the front door. I answered it, and found Jack standing on the front porch. He grinned as I stepped outside and pulled him into a hug. His arms tightened around me, pressing me against his chest. My backpack straps dug into my chest.

After a moment he loosened his arms and looked down at me. “Where’s your binder? I didn’t feel it.”

I grinned and let go of him to step back. “So it turns out that being a vampire does have a few perks after all.” I grabbed the bottom of my T-shirt and lifted it up to show Jack my perfect, scarless chest. “The vampire doctor that treated me for the gunshot wounds gave me top surgery.”

Apparently vampires healed quickly and without scaring, but they couldn’t regrow much tissue. If your arm got cut off and the severed arm was reunited with the stump it could be reattached, but if the arm got lost, you’d be spending the rest of eternity with only one hand. The good news for me was that it meant that after the doctor took out my breast tissue, it wouldn’t regrow. And vampire healing left me without any visible scars.

“Wow, I’ll say.” Jack put a palm flat on my chest, running it down my bare skin before pulling his hand away with a sigh. “Wish we had time to properly enjoy it. Looks like you’re ready to go?”

I nodded and dropped my shirt front to heft my backpack. “Let’s roll.”

“That really everything you own?” Jack asked as we went down the steps.

“Yeah. Since I was declared dead, I couldn’t exactly go back home and pack up my things.”

The vampires had used the incident at the park to fake my death. The official story was that I’d broken into the park to kill myself. I’d gotten cold feet and pulled the gun from my head at the last second. The gun had still gone off and the bullet struck a propane tank that had subsequently exploded, killing me.

Such a stupid way to go. It didn’t make me feel any better that it was a lie.

We got to the street, and I stopped short at the sight of Emily’s white sedan. The bullet holes had been badly patched, making it obvious he was still driving the same car.

I pointed to the car as Jack unlocked the car with the key fob. “Why are you still driving Emily’s car?”

Jack got in without answering and I threw my bag in the backseat, then got in the front passenger seat. The cloth of the front seats still had red stains from our blood. I gave him another questioning look as I buckled my seatbelt.

Jack put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb before answering. “As you can imagine, she was a little pissed when I showed back up with her brand-new car shot up. I ended up agreeing to buy it from her so she could get another new car.”

“I’m sorry.” I winced. “At least it’s still drivable.”

“You mean unlike my other car that got shot up?” Jack let out an amused laugh, letting me know he wasn’t mad.

I gave him a small smile. “I hope you blamed me for everything.”

“Totally.” Jack barked out another laugh.

I laughed with him for a moment before sobering. “Stacy said you went to my funeral.”

Jack’s expression hardened. “Yeah. Your parents are both alive and well. The rest… Are you sure you want to hear the rest?” We stopped at a red light and he turned to look at me. The red lit his face up eerily in the dark, and I shivered at the ominous look in his eyes.

“Yes. What was it like?”

Jack sighed, but the light turned green and he had to turn away from me to watch the road. “All the pictures they put out of you were pre-transition, and they only called you by your dead name with ‘she’ pronouns. Your mom recognized me from the Ren Faire when I tried to talk to her about getting your legal name on the tombstone, and she refused to talk to me. I’m sorry.”

I’d been expecting something like that. I thought I’d be angry at having my worst fears confirmed, but instead I only felt resigned. I’d done my best to make up with them before my death and they’d pushed me away. It didn’t matter now, anyway. That was now literally a different life.

Jack seemed to sense my conflicting thoughts and kept quiet, for which I was grateful. I watched the dark streets flash by out the window for the rest of the long drive to my home for the next little while.

The vampires’ house for new blood, as it were, was out in the middle of nowhere southeast of Portland. PCA owned ten acres of land that the house sat in the middle of. A safe place for new vampires to learn to control themselves and their abilities.

Stacy had explained to me that new vampires lived together here for their first decade as a sort of probationary period, under the supervision of an elder mentor vampire. There were two other new ones living here at the moment, in addition to the mentor. The oldest was coming up on the end of her time here, and was in the process of moving out.

In the meantime, since there were only supposed to be two at any given time and all the current residents had refused to share a room with me even temporarily, I was going to be relegated to sleeping in a light-proofed box in the corner of the living room. A coffin. I was not looking forward to it.

I’d argued with Stacy that since I’d already proved I could control myself, I shouldn’t be subject to the same restrictions as other new vampires. I’d lost. Stacy made it clear that I’d already been given enough exceptions to the rules by being allowed to live. Going through the introductory time out of society was mandatory for every new vampire, and that if I didn’t submit I’d be destroyed, control or not.

Just my bad luck that Lin was the current house mentor. She’d applied for the position on the basis of her boyfriend being the next vampire turned, but now was stuck with me—which at least explained her antagonism to me when I’d met her at the safe house.

Jack turned off the highway, and we rolled down a very long driveway that wound its way through the woods. At the end we came to a stop in front of a big old two-story farmhouse, remarkable only in the fact that all the upper story windows were blacked out. The only light came from a flickering porchlight that only served to make the house even creepier looking.

“Last stop.” Jack turned the car off and got out with me. While I stared up at the dark house, Jack got my backpack out and handed it to me.

“Don’t go!” I dropped my bag onto the pavement and flung my arms around Jack’s waist, bursting into tears. “Did Stacy tell you?”

Jack hugged be tightly. “That it’ll be a year before you’re allowed a phone? Yes. I’ll miss you a lot, but you’ll be fine. You’re my fierce tiger, remember?”

I pulled away and stuck my tongue out at him. “I’m never going to live down that nickname, am I?”

“Not ever, Tiger.” Jack laughed and ruffled my hair. I laughed with him, wiping away my tears.

The door to the house creaked open, spilling a square of brighter light out onto the porch. I recognized Lin’s profile outlined in the doorway. She had her hands on her hips.

“Time to go,” I said, leaning over to grab my bag.

“One last thing,” Jack said, stepping between me and the house. “Will you be my boyfriend?”

“Yes.” I grinned widely and got up on my tiptoes to give Jack a kiss.

“I’ll be waiting for you!” Jack called after me as I made my way toward the house.

I sighed deeply, stopping as I got to the porch and turned to wave goodbye to him one last time.

This was going to be a long year.

#original fiction #trans author #trans masc #urban fantasy #ftm #transgender fiction #vampire novel

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enduringoath · 2 months ago

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The uncertainties of life never ceased to run their claws through his carefully crafted agenda. Even something second nature like sleep was lost to him this night, casual wear replaced with his captain's uniform, and his arm strapped against Earthwork. The weight of this attire was overly familiar—almost more comfortable than any loose t-shirt he could find. Despite the weariness pulling at his eyelids, Gepard straightened his back and rolled his shoulders, preparing for whatever would be thrown his way.

Looking outward for the first time since his abrupt arrival, the Belobogian noted the unusual atmosphere. Spiraling stairs and the unmistakable jitter of chaos in the air had his hair standing on edge. Three others stood on either side of him, seemingly taking in their own situations as well. Each gave an introduction of sorts before getting down to business like it was another Friday night. It was slightly unsettling, but Gepard could appreciate a good work ethic.

It didn't feel right to be the last to step up to the plate. Hopefully, the others would be understanding. This was a first, but he wouldn't let confusion blur his oath to protect. "The name is Gepard Landau, Captain of the Silvermane Guards. Please lean on me as you see fit." With a fitting introduction out of the way, it was finally time to take up his role. Slow and calculated, each step forward carried the weight of responsibility.

Gepard rolls 5 energy!

He’d never seen monsters like these—mischievous things, unfamiliar and confusing, nothing like the fragmentum fiends he’d fought back home. Their presence left him with a great sense of unease, leaving him to question just what they were capable of. But hesitation was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

With a practiced motion, he drove Earthwork into the ground, the impact cracking the stone beneath his feet and cutting through the tense silence. "In the name of Landau, you will not pass!" His voice echoed with conviction, not just a warning, but a shield—for himself, and for everyone behind him. The oath hadn’t changed, no matter the world or the enemy.

[-4 Energy] Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP uses Elemental Burst: Enduring Bulwark ALL ALLIES gain 1SP

Now came the advance. With Earthwork drawn close, the captain surged forward, boots slamming against unfamiliar territory, momentum tugging at him. His knuckles collided with the shield, sparks flying from the pressure of contact. The creature braced, but Gepard was already pressing in. "Your trickery is forfeit here." His voice was calm, resolute—less a threat, more a statement of fact. At last, the shield began to crack under his fist, shattering and then fizzling out all in an instant.

[-1 Energy] Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP hits Electro Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 2/13SP with Normal Attack: Fist of Conviction [Rolls: 14, -2HP, 2x Cryo Multiplier; -4HP] Electro Abyss Mage 28/30 HP, SUPER-CONDUCTEDElectro Abyss Mage 28/30 HP STRUGGLED, cannot counterattack

A rush of wind pushed against the creature, stopping its likely vicious counterattack—Venti’s doing, no doubt. Gepard cast an approving glance towards the boy. 'If we can keep our footing,' Gepard thought, 'we might not escape… but at least we’ll be able to think.' That would simply have to do for now.

Confusion lingered in his mind—but he forced it down. He had to focus. There was no time for doubts, only action. He fell back toward the others, shield readied, every muscle tensed to take the retaliation he knew was coming.

A flicker of guilt surfaced as he glanced down at the modified shield in his grasp—his sister’s handiwork. He hated placing her genius between himself and unfamiliar harm. But it couldn’t be helped. "If it breaks again… Serval will understand," he muttered under his breath, though he was sure he would never hear the end of it.

One of the enemies shifted, its gaze flicking past Gepard—toward someone else. Not on his watch. He moved on instinct, stepping into the blast’s path before it could reach its intended mark. “I won’t let you.” An act of muscle memory, he prepared himself for the blow.

Electro Abyss Mage 28/30 HP is NOT taunted by Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP [Rolls: 2] Entanglement: Electro Abyss Mage 28/30 HP takes 2 flat damage! Electro Abyss Mage 26/30 HP targets Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP [Rolls: 4] Electro Abyss Mage 26/30 HP misses Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP with Special Attack: Rite of Rolling Thunder [Rolls: 8]

One that seemed to never come, as if batted away by the will of Qlipoth itself. But there wasn’t time to question miracles. Not now. The next enemy was already surging forward, drawn to him like like a beast gone mad. Things were escalating, but Gepard didn’t flinch.

A blow came at last. A crushing force smashed into Earthwork, cold and relentless as a river. It's intent clawing at his resolve, but Gepard stood tall, unmoved. His will had been tempered by a thousand winters. The assault could do nothing but break upon him helplessly.

Hydro Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 12/13SP is taunted by Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP [Rolls: 1] Hydro Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 12/13SP hits Gepard: 10/10HP / 1/1SP with Normal Attack: Waterball [Rolls: 7, -1.5hp, (Gepard Passive, damage reduced by 0.5), -1HP] Gepard: 10/10HP

With no time to spare, he retaliated. His shield arced upward—then down, as fast as he could manage. It slammed into the mage’s head, the impact ringing through his arm. The water incircling the foe’s form met the frost from his gauntlet. Ice bloomed on contact, capturing the mage mid-motion. Gepard gave a low confirmation, “That'll keep you."

Gepard: 10/10HP COUNTERS with Normal Attack: Fist of Conviction [Rolls: 18, -2HP] Hydro Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 10/13SP Hydro Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 10/13SP is FROZEN

Another blast tore through the air, sailing just over his head before vanishing into the abyss. Compared to what waited in Belobog’s snow, these mages were predictable. These creatures were dangerous, no doubt—but not without flaws.

Cryo Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 12/13SP is taunted by Gepard: 10/10HP [Rolls: 1] Cryo Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 12/13SP MISSES Gepard: 10/10HP with Normal Attack: Cryo Thorns [Rolls: 1] Hydro Abyss Mage 30/30 HP / 10/13SP is no longer FROZEN

He exhaled slowly and turned to his allies. “I trust you're all unharmed?” His voice was calm, but his eyes swept over each of them with the scrutiny of a Silvermane Captain. Venti looked a little worse for wear—but upright. Gepard nodded once, grounding himself again. This place was unknown. The foes, unfamiliar. But his role? That hadn’t changed.

DARK TIDES SWELL BENEATH

#GHAbyssApril2025 - Gepard, Venti, Silver Wolf, Siegfried

#— ❛❛ // GEPARD ¦ ・「 IC ! 」#— ❛❛ // GEPARD ¦ ・「 REP・ SIEGFRIED ! 」#— ❛❛ // GEPARD ¦ ・「 REP・ SILVER WOLF ! 」#— ❛❛ // GEPARD ¦ ・「 REP・ VENTI ! 」#⌜ THREAD NO. 1 ⌟ ✦ * · ˚ SIEGFRIED - SILVERWOLF - VENTI - GEPARD .#GHAbyssApril2025 #(guys i am so sorry. i will NOT be writing this much for event replies again. i was just having fun since i had time on my hands-)#(PLEASE FORGIVE ME)#wind-blumes #ichordreamed #xxs1lverw0lfxx

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