#the ward legacy: spoilers

[izayoichan]

Silver & Teddy 🎶

[mybeautifuldelirium]

Centuries Apart || Aemond Targaryen x got!Reader part 1

Requested by: @caspianobsessed

CHAPTER LIST

A/N: so I’m obsessed with this idea and would really love to turn this into a series so let me know if you’d be interested xx

Summary: Y/N is from the game of thrones era, the younger sister of Daenerys, but after the fall of her house and the throne being taken away once again, she has no choice but to go back in time to where it all went wrong, trying to change the fate of House Targaryen. But will anyone from that era even believe her? What price will she have to pay?

Warnings: angst, idk if this would be considered incest tbh lol, game of thrones spoilers

This was not how the story was supposed to end. No, the iron throne was meant to be hers, it belonged to her, Daenerys Stormborn of the House Targaryen, the house which had built this very kingdom, now burned to ashes and the rightful heir, slain by her own kin.

But it was not all of House Targaryen that had perished. There was one last dragon left, Y/N Targaryen, The Silver princess , the youngest daughter of the Mad King. The realm thought the princess had died, perhaps not long after her own sister yet she was destined to live, her limp body pulled from under the crumbled walls of the keep and brought to Volantis. Kinvara was her name, the name of Y/N’s savior, the very same red priestess who had once advised Daenerys.

“How did you get there? Why did you save me?” Y/N groaned from pain as she tried to get up.

“The Lord of Light saved you, you were meant to live” she simply replied without even turning to look at the girl.

“They betrayed her. He betrayed her. He is not a true Targaryen, Jon Snow will always be a cowardice bastard” the princess hissed, thoughts of the traitorous actions of her nephew, filling her with burning rage. “We won their battle, my sister sacrificed her dragons, her only children and now the legacy that our ancestors built once again has fallen in the hands of usurpers” tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Pulling at weeds won’t cure what was caused by a seed planted centuries ago” Kinvara recited, staring at the burning flames, as if caught in a trance.

“What are you talking about?” Y/N’s face twisted in confusion.

“You can’t change the future when it was set in stone in the past” the red priestess continued, finally turning around as she slowly walked towards the wounded princess. “There is only one way to ward off the doom of House Targaryen and that is to go back to the era, responsible for the present.

“You mean Robert’s Rebellion?” the girl inquired, still not making sense of Kinvara’s words.

“No, my dear. The damage was done many decades before” the red woman gently took her hand “I can help you go back in time, though you must know every minor action in the past is bound to change the future”

“I don’t think I understand. What am I supposed to do?” Y/N looked up, her violet gaze widened with bewilderment.

“The Lord Of Light saved you for a reason child, he will guide you there” she said, handing her a small mirror, its glass black as night “But will you ever return, I can’t answer that”

“If I’m not to return, how will I know if I’ve changed the fate?”

“You will” the red priestess reverted her gaze back to the burning flames. “But do make your own decision, there is no going back”

A great sacrifice this was for the young princess, throwing her life away, leaving behind all she’d known. But what really did she have left? Everything she ever loved, now gone, the lands of her ancestors, usurped by traitors, the magnificent dragons, sigil of her house, long perished. There was nothing keeping her here.

“I’ll do it, for my house, for House Targaryen”

-

The following moments were a foggy blur for Y/N, she had no recollection of the events after she had spoken her consent. Was it all a fever dream, caused by the milk of the poppy? She cautiously got up, all the pain from her wounds now gone, then she knew. It wasn’t a dream. She was no longer in Volantis.

Everything looked so familiar yet so different, the girl wandered through the busy streets, trying to figure out where she was. Clutching at the hood of her black cloak, Y/N then saw it, the red keep. The very same magnificent castle that just days ago had been burned down to ashes, now standing tall as the banners, blowing in the wind, displaying the dragon sigil, the sigil of House Targaryen, her house. The princess’s eyes welled up as she indulged in the scenery before her, a scenery she had started to believe her eyes would never see.

Distracted by her thoughts Y/N hadn’t noticed the civilians trying to pass by her, until an angry merchant pushed her so hard that she fell right into someone’s arms.

“Forgive me, I wasn’t-“ the girl started apologizing to the person she was thrown into but as soon as her eyes met his, all words suddenly left her.

The man had only one eye, the other covered by an eyepatch, yet as soon as that familiar violet gaze of his met her own, she knew, a Targaryen, just like her.

The man before her was left just as speechless, gently picking up a silver lock of Y/N’s hair as her hood had fallen from the push. But before the girl could comprehend the situation, her back was met with the cold stonewall of a nearby building as the man’s hands were now firmly holding at her neck.

“Who are you?” he hissed, squeezing harder as his eye widened, directly staring at hers.

“My prince, don’t forget why we came here” a dark haired man pulled at her captor’s shoulder “Let's not bring unnecessary attention to ourselves”

“Take her to the castle and make sure no one sees you” the one eyed man commanded with no emotion harshly releasing the breathless girl, leaving her gasping for air. “I’ll seek to my brother’s whereabouts”

His companion tried to object but to no avail, so he sighed, pulling Y/N’s hood over her head of silver locks and grabbed at her arm.

“Who are you, where are you taking me? Let go!” The princess finally spoke but her screams were muffled by his gloved hand so she had no choice but to oblige and follow the older man.

He led her through the crowds of people without a single word of explanation leaving his lips. As they reached the castle, he dragged the helpless girl to a tucked away passage by the cliffs surrounding the Red Keep, leading her through a seemingly endless spiral staircase then pushing her into a small chamber at the very top of the tower.

“You’re to stay here until prince Aemond returns” the man finally spoke “Don’t think of trying to escape”

“Prince Aemond” Y/N’s eyes widened, of course, that explained the eyepatch. Her brother Viserys used to tell her and Dany stories about the tragedy of The Dance of Dragons, she vividly remembered the tale of the one eyed prince, the rider of Vhagar, the kinslayer. This same man who just moments ago had almost strangled her to death, she slid her fingers over the red markings on her neck. What had she gotten herself into

The sun was beginning to set as Y/N’s exhaustion prevailed and she drifted into a light slumber on the dusty daybed only for a fumble of keys to wake her up. And there he was again, Aemond One Eye Targaryen, standing before her, a living proof that none of the prior events were a mere dream.

“Now speak woman, who are you?” The prince said with the same emotionless voice from earlier.

Y/N stood up in front of him, getting a better view of his face. Now that he wasn’t wearing his hood she could finally see the so distinctive silver Targaryen locks falling over his shoulders and across his chest. The princess had never seen any other Targaryen beside her late siblings and it was almost as if she was looking at them through his so familiar violet gaze.

“I’m Y/N. Y/N of House Targaryen” the girl replied, new found confidence in her words.

The man let out a hoarse laugh as he pushed her against the wall.

“This does not true Targaryen make” he taunted, picking up a lock of her silver hair “Now tell me, who are you really? Perhaps one of my uncle’s bastards, a daughter of a whore of his?”

Y/N’s eyes widened at his crude words, unable to contain her rage at the insult of her heritage, she slapped the prince with full force across his smug face. Aemond let out an angry growl but as he turned back his head, the girl had managed to escape his grip and was already running down the stairwell.

The poor girl was in a complete state of frenzy as she was rushing through the long corridors of the keep, not taking a moment to catch her breath. How could she fail her task so quickly, how could she let her guard down, maybe she should’ve never accepted the red priestess’ offer.

Suddenly she bumped into a cold piece of metal, the bewildered face of a guard staring down at her, the girl tried to fight back and get away but to no avail as she was being escorted to the throne room.

“Your grace, this woman was running through the hallways. I don’t know how she got here” the guard said, pushing the princess to her knees in front of the iron throne.

Y/N cursed under her breath as she lifted her head. The iron throne, the very throne her beloved sister had so deeply longed for, the very throne that was to be taken from them, the very throne that was to be burned into ashes.

A boy, not too much older than her was sitting before her, the same silver hair, the same violet eyes, she knew this had to be king Aegon II, the king who had usurped the rightful heir, princess Rhaenyra. There were two other people standing beside him who Y/N assumed to be no other than his mother, queen Alicent Hightower and his grandfather, Otto Hightower. They were all staring speechless at the princess as if she were a rare dangerous creature.

“Do not fret mother, undoubtedly one of Daemon’s bastards” Aemond spat in disgust as he had just entered the throne room.

“I’m not a bastard!” the girl yelled, finally standing up. She tried to hit the prince once again but this time he caught her hand so she spat in his good eye.

“You little-” Aemond cursed in disgust but was cut off by Otto.

“Silence” the older man stood up “You, who are you, who sent you?”

“I’m no bastard” the girl spoke throwing a glance of disgust at Aemond “I am Y/N of House Targaryen, the Silver Princess, daughter of The Mad King, Aerys Targaryen”

“What blasphemous nonsense are you speaking?” Alicent’s voice trembled with hints of dread “Is this one of Rhaenyra’s tricks?”

“I know this sounds insane, but you have to believe me” Y/N pleaded in desperation “I was sent back here from centuries ahead to change the fate of House Targaryen”

“She’s completely mad” Aegon laughed “Take her to the dungeons”

“No! Wait, please! You have to help me” Y/N screamed as she was being dragged out by the guard. She was pulling and kicking at him but he was much stronger than her and kept walking until something fell to the ground, making a rattling sound. Her little mirror from Kinvara.

A bright beam of light stemmed out of the black glass, morphing into vivid images of the past and of the future right until the very moments of Y/N’s life.

The hall had gone completely silent, everyone staring in disbelief, it felt like time had stopped.

“So you were telling the truth?” Otto finally broke the silence, his face pale as a ghost.

“Yes, I told you” the princess replied with a new stroke of confidence, finally releasing herself from the guard’s grasp “I can help you win the war. I know the future”

“Why should we trust her?” Alicent intervened before her father was able to respond “She’s a witch, what if this is all a ploy?”

“Enough Alicent” Otto cut off his daughter, a devious smirk playing on his lips as he approached the girl “She can prove us a valuable weapon”

“And how can we ensure her loyalty?” Aemond shook his head.

“Perhaps becoming your wife and bearing your heirs will keep her faithful” Otto grinned, caressing Y/N’s silver locks.

Tag list:

@ellathefriendlyalpacaaa

@believeinthefireflies95

@caspianobsessed

@hayoooos-blog

@kitkat-writes-stuff

@rhaenyracole

[haydenigmatic]

!!!!!SPOILERS!!!!

About the Dracarion family

Oh Lord, Bhaltair loves his family, but in this case he would feel betrayed of course, but the darkness he hadn't allowed to surface with his family would overtake him. He would be utterly furious! How dare his wife and brother betray him like that?! They deserve the harshest punishment possible for their treachery, going with the punishment established for the law. His wife, the queen, and his brother, his own flesh and blood, would pay dearly for their betrayal. And as for the children, if they're not his, they're nothing but a stain on his honour. He'd have no choice but to uphold the purity of the royal bloodline, even if it means executing them. It's the only way to ensure his legacy remains untainted by their deceit. They'll all face the consequences of their actions, no matter how severe. Betrayal like this cannot go unpunished!

Just to add a little more fuel towards her, Abaddon-Bhaltair's father, used to cheat on his mother a lot, so he always saw her suffering and before there were even talks of a betrothal between Merindah and Bhaltair, he promised her, if she were to accept him he would never disrespect her like his father did his mother🥺.

😅She was twenty at that time, so, young, and two years before she had her first child, but then her husband was away most of the time, not only that, but at that time she had just lost her dear mother, and let's just say her childhood friend was around and one thing led to another... she wasn't horny, she just wanted someone to be there.

Now for uncle is somewhat different, they grew up together (he was a ward at the Draegerts), and he fell in love with her, when she was fifteen, she was sent to court, and she and his brother were practically forced to spend time together, so he knew what were the plans for her, she was to be his brother's queen...

Now he believes he is our MC's father, so he would be hurt by us the most indeed, always telling him he is not our father so he should mind his place😈, and don't worry I will give you guys the choice to torture and kill him.

So in this, I like to change a little Santayana's quote, and be more like “Those who do not know the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Well Drystan's hair is light brown, and can be assumed it comes from Zhera's side of the family, as Branton also has it👀, as for Abaddon (the late king) he had the same hair as MC. And it will indeed be commented on in court.

Yes, but for the combination of red/violet eyes not so much, there have been ancestors with a combination of one of those, but never with both😈.

In a way, in case of a M!MC marriage offers are skipping Drystan preferring MC, all because they don't see him capable of having heirs (thanks to a little accident he will have)

[thatgirl4815]

“No legacy is so rich as honesty”

I’m not sure if this has been mentioned/analyzed anywhere else (if it has, I’d love to read it!), but I just realized that Pete’s tattoo is a quote from William Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well. As someone with quite a bit of experience with literary and rhetorical analysis, this is a bit embarrassing for me...not so embarrassing that I’m going to refrain from making a post about it, though, because why not?  I also happen to have a lot of free time at the moment, so might as well figure out my own thoughts on this subject. 

“No legacy is so rich as honesty.”

When I first saw this line, I took it at its most basic: one’s reputation is not more important than leading a life of honesty and integrity. We all know this quote isn’t about Pete. He clearly believes it, but it’s more about bringing this notion to Vegas. Before I move onto Vegas, I want to talk a little bit more about Pete specifically.

Pete has expressed not once, but twice now, his beliefs on humanity’s morality and immorality. He’s in the mafia, so it’s tempting to say that his morals are incredibly loose--and I agree. I haven’t read the novel, but I know some people have said that Pete had a tattoo in it as well, all because of Tankhun. We have no confirmation of this in the show, but regardless, I think Pete chose the contents of the tattoo himself. This is important for several reasons. 

Legacy, Freedom, & Honesty

We don’t have any real proof of this, but I think Pete likes to keep himself grounded--that’s why he chose this tattoo. I believe Pete has made peace with the things he must do for his job, but it doesn’t mean he doesn’t contend with a question of ethics on a regular basis. Pete is honest in his acceptance of both the good and the evil inside of him. Honesty goes in two directions: being honest to others and being honest to yourself. Only when you are honest to yourself can you lead a fulfilling life. 

“Only the fool thinks that honesty is real.”

Vegas says this at the beginning of Ep11, but by the end, he’s already had an awakening. Pete is slowly (or quickly, depending on how you look at it) teaching Vegas to be honest both with and to himself. 

Now, how does the concept of “legacy” tie into this? Legacy broadly refers to a person’s impact and reputation. In the context of the mafia, this is extremely applicable. Everything is about legacy. We’ve seen Kinn try to put his family’s legacy over the truth of his feelings for Porsche. It’s similar for Vegas, with an added ✨ flair✨ of parental abuse and a distinct lack of romance. 

Until. Pete. I’ve said before that both Porsche and Pete represent similar themes of freedom for their partners. But I think freedom and honesty go hand in hand. In many ways, freedom is honesty and honesty is freedom. I won’t get into the deep philosophical and moral arguments associated with this, but it’s all very compelling.

All’s Well That Ends Well

Now for the main event. I personally haven’t read this play, but here are a few summative points:

It’s a comedy about a young ward, Helena, and her dedication to winning the heart of the countess’s son, Bertram. Spoiler alert: they end up in love. Happy endings for everyone (see: the title).

There are some elements of cynical realism, though I couldn’t define all of these in detail.

Lying plays a role in the plot. Helena even fakes her own death. 

My first takeaway from this is how terribly ironic it is. For Pete, the ending doesn’t look so great. We, of course, know that Pete will escape his immediate situation, but will he really get a happy ending? (Rhetorical question. No book spoilers, please & thanks.)

The next takeaway is the romance aspect of the plot between Helena and Bertram. Helena’s objective is getting Bertram to fall in love with her. Pete’s objective seems to be the opposite, as he’d rather put as much distance between himself and Vegas as possible. But without him even trying to, he’s gained Vegas’s affection. Love is the story between Helena and Bertram, but I don’t think it’s the same for Vegas and Pete (more like an added bonus). VP’s plot is about the difference between legacy and honesty, between Kan and Pete, between what is expected of you and what you truly feel and want for yourself. They might grow to love each other in whatever twisted way they can, but there’s a personal level to their attachment that focuses on the “self” rather than the “pair.” 

To conclude, all of these themes are like dozens of small threads interwoven into a beautiful tapestry that is this television show. And the preview already proves that Pete is affecting Vegas on a deep level. But I swear, if it’s just another one of Vegas’s manipulations, I will have some words for BOC...

[scribbles97]

Left Behind - Where We Left Off

Oh look... after two years I've fixed that big old cliff hanger that I left lying around!

Thank you to those that have missed me and welcomed me back into the fandom after being absent for so long, the biggest of hugs to all of you... I hope I don't end up leaving you all on another cliff hanger!

For those that I haven't met yet, Hi!

I was here in the TAG fandom right at the very beginning and somewhere around the time the series finished I thought it'd be fun to imagine an AU in which Lucy was alive and well... this monstrosity of a fic is the outcome of that.

Looks like I was pretty rubbish at posting the last few chapters on here so check Ao3 for the fic in its entirety.

For those that don't want to re-read the entirety of what's already there... have a little recap under the cut.

Beware, there be spoilers ahead!

So... where were we?

Part One of this fic was basically about losing Jeff. That's right folks we hit off from the day the Zero-X blows up and Jeff vanishes.

This leaves Lucy, her brother Lee, and Val Casey as the main leads of International Rescue as we know it.

In this universe Lucy demanded that IR could not be run by their family alone and spearheaded what we call the IR academny, from where Scott is about to graduate. Kayo and Penelope are also about to graduate, but in a much quieter private ceremony for our two espoinage specialists. Both of these ladies have their fathers present and playing a big part in both International Rescue and Tracy Industries.

As for the rest of the family, John is working for NASA and about to shoot off into space. Virgil and Gordon are about to join the IR academy (which momma bear Lucy is absolutely having mixed feelings about). And Alan is being the kid that he should rightfully be at such a young age.

Part Two sees us skip forward four years.

We start to see a little more of IR as we know it here, though Virgil and Gordon are very much still learning, and Alan is barely getting away with being allowed to play on the simulators.

Lucy is afraid because of whisperings of Gaat (The Hood) returning and what this might mean for the safety of her family and IR as a world-wide organisation.

What nobody expects is that new camera angle from the Zero-X, leading to the suggestion that Jeff could still be alive.

Gaat tricks Lucy into thinking he has a new ship capable of the same flight, it's aboard this ship where she meets an engineer known as Michael and promises to free him from Gaat's grip. They then discover that Gaat has found his way onto the Island and is threatening the whole family (think Legacy).

Then the ship goes boom.

Part 3 starts out with the aftermath of Lucy being on a ship that exploded. She's in a coma and all of her boys are a little bit lost as to what to do now.

Scott takes over the business and the running of their IR team with John leaving Nasa to take his rightful place aboard TB5. Lee does an excellent vanishing act when it's decided to return Lucy to the island, and we haven't heard from him since.

We also discover that Lucy and Hugh Creighton-Ward might have been more than just friends at some point in the last four years.

Part 4 Lucy wakes up! Then promptly wonders what her place is in the family now that Scott and Hugh have taken so much of her role on for her. Their main concern is seeing her get stronger before they consider letting her take over some of the reins again.

Scott is quite happy to go on regular business meetings as it gives him an excuse to meet up with Tia, his off-island security that may also be turning into something more.

Speaking of which, Virgil and Kayo are also up to something and have a hilariously cute moment in telling Lucy as much.

Alan is also up to something, being the baby of the family and far too young to actually join the academy yet, he's trying hard to find a way to be involved in IR.

More importantly though, thanks to Eos, we find that Jeff is alive!

Part 5 is the most recent part posted... honestly? If you're not going to re-read the whole thing I'd at least read from here as a refresher.

Scott finally talks to people about his hopes and fears, but then his entire world comes crashing down around him is the most summary I can really say without spoiling what happens next. Val starts to question Lucy if they've done the right thing bringing the boys into IR, and Lucy starts to question her own relationships.

But Jeff is alive and there's a whole lot of figuring out how to get him home.

So... that's the fic in summary so far. Honestly, if you have the time and energy please please re-read the whole thing to refresh your memory. I did just that the other week and it opened my eyes as to how much there is that I left myself open to fix so you might find some interesting threads if you look hard enough!

[yellowlaboratory]

obx + parallel plot lines

hello and welcome to my Annie Brain Rots On Main post. I hope this is a series of only one (1) post but the next few months before obx s3 are gonna be long so who knows how many think pieces you’ll have to endure. 

anyway, last night, somewhere in between simultaneous breakdowns with @falseungodlyhours and @alphinias, I started thinking more about s3’s arc and what conclusions we can draw from s1 and s2. stick with me as I word vomit through my theory (also be warned that i mention some bts spoilers for s3 in here)

s1 is John B centric. I know that he is still the main character even in s2, but s2 does not revolve around him in the same way s1 does. the main storyline in s1 is the Pogues rallying around John B to help him through a conflict that involves his family (I’m wording this weirdly to keep it general because it’s going to be a recurring theme lmao). the conflict revolves around his dad being lost at sea, and most of the main characters are tied up in this conflict whether they are trying to help John B (the Pogues, Sarah) or trying to hinder his search (Ward). and, on top of that, last night i got to thinking how much of John B’s story paralleled his father’s. 

first off, it only takes an episode for the show to establish that John B is on the search for his dad, but none of the Pogues really believe he’ll find him. Kiara is the only one who even pretends to play into it, but it’s clearly something she’s only doing out of guilt and she believes that Big John is most likely dead. So - John B is on the search for something, and the people closest to him don’t believe he’ll find it. Big John is on the search for the gold, and John B doesn’t believe he’ll find it. you see what I’m saying? by some miracle and against all odds, both Rutledge men find something, but not exactly what they were looking for. Big John finds the Royal Merchant, but not the gold. John B finds the gold, but not his father. then, immediately after their big discoveries, both of them are nearly killed by Ward Cameron. The ensuing events are actually almost exactly the same: following the confrontation with Ward, they both very nearly die, get lost at sea, are declared dead, but actually survive and escape to a Caribbean island. AND THEN, despite being alive, neither of them let their loved ones know right away. Big John takes far longer to get in contact, but even John B waits to contact the pogues for a month a day ? how does time work in the obx a while.  there are probably more parallels I’m missing but the point is John B’s storyline paralleled his dad. 

then, we end up in s2, and the driving force in s2 is Pope. with their backs against the wall and shit on the line, the Pogues rally around Pope to help him through a conflict that involves his family (see what I said about recurring theme. i promise i’m only kind of crazy.) Pope’s conflict has to do with Denmark Tanny, and protecting his legacy. once again, most of the main characters in s2 are entangled in this conflict, with the Pogues helping Pope, and Limbrey, Renfield, and Rafe trying to stop him. and, once again, there are parallels between Pope and Denmark’s storylines. 

first and foremost, the central antagonist in both Denmark and Pope’s storyline is a Limbrey. Captain Limbrey is the slave holder who won’t free Denmark’s wife and daughter, and Carla Limbrey is trying to steal the treasure that belongs to Pope’s family. The Limbreys are both categorized by their greed, their wrath, and their willingness to do anything to get what they want. In the immortal words of Kiara Carrera, “it was a Limbrey stealing shit again.” In both cases, Denmark and Pope are out for something much more important than money – Pope’s mee-maw sums it up pretty well when she says “family is all we got” and that is exactly what drives both Denmark and Pope’s actions, whether they are trying to reunite their family or avenge their legacy. more so than this, both Pope and Denmark see the gold cross as a symbol of freedom. I mean, Denmark literally builds it into the walls of Freedman’s Church, and as Pope gets ready to take the cross back on the Coastal Venture, he says “the time where people do shit to us and we just sit back and take it is over.” once again, I’m probably missing so many parallels, but you get the gist.

so, in summary, whether it is intentional or not (and isn’t that always the question with the boat show lmao), a pattern has begun to develop. even though there is a shit ton of stuff going down each season, there are two major factors that define and drive the story: 

a family-centered conflict that one of the Pogues faces while the other Pogues rally around them

the parallels that exist between said Pogue and members of their family

if this pattern actually exists and i’m not just talking out of my ass, that means there are three possible driving forces for s3 – either JJ, Kiara, or Sarah. (side note: I don’t think we’ve had enough time for Cleo to be the center point of the season-wide conflict yet, but with more seasons, I think we’ll get there)

Sarah’s familial conflict feels different than the rest of the Pogues, and I don’t think it could be the center point of a single season as it currently stands. conflict with Ward is a theme for the entire show, and rededicating a season arc to it when it’s already a series-wide arc doesn’t seem plausible to me. on top of that, I don’t really think we’ll be seeing the same kinds of parallels between Sarah and Ward that we’ve seen between John B/Big John and Denmark/Pope. I think a Sarah-centric season would be REALLY interesting if we ever find out what happened to her mother, and if we see the parallels between Sarah’s conflict with Ward and her mother’s conflict with Ward (i’m assuming there’s conflict there because …. well, of course there was. it’s ward.) Unfortunately, due to what I know from bts and casting calls, I don’t think we’re meeting Sarah’s mother yet, and I don’t think an exploration of that conflict is going to happen in s3. 

similarly, I don’t think it’s JJ’s season quite yet. another little bts spoiler, but we’ll likely only see Luke in the very last episode, and as much as I hate him with every fiber of my being, he’s a major part of JJ’s characterization. I truly believe that we can’t get a well-rounded JJ-centric season without tying up the loose ends with Luke, and the send-off scene in s2 was never going to be enough. The single episode we’ll likely see him in during s3 is also not going to be enough to wrap everything up, and it’s sure as hell not going to be enough to drive the whole season (unless Luke actually comes back earlier, or JJ’s mom makes a reappearance but, once again, based on the stuff I’ve seen, I don’t think that will be the case in s3). 

So, that leaves Kiara. Between her parents cracking down on her even harder, the threat of Blue Ridge hanging over her, and the fact that she ended the season by undermining her parents to sneak out and go missing for an undetermined amount of time, I think Kiara is perfectly set up to be the center point of the conflict for s3 - and the bts i have seen and some of the casting calls all seem to line up with the theory of a Kiara-centric Season 3

coming right back from Poguelandia, I don’t think Kiara’s parents will threaten to send her to Blue Ridge right away (or at least i hope they won’t akdjfhas I know I have some misguided faith in them), but I’m kind of thinking there might be a time jump, and I wouldn’t put it past the Carreras to threaten Blue Ridge a few weeks/months after getting Kiara back. While there’s a non-zero chance the Pates might introduce a third (literal) pot of gold that somehow relates to the Carrera family fortune, I’m actively hoping, wishing, and praying against it. So, the option most likely to maintain my sanity for the next few months is the central conflict of the season revolving around Kiara and her parents. This is what the Pogues could rally around – keeping Kiara from Blue Ridge. That leaves the question, who could Kiara parallel in her s3 arc? 

Enter Anna Carrera. 

Anna would be in the unique place of being both the antagonist and the foil to Kiara’s story, but it seems like the most logical choice. There’s already a built-in parallel there – a Kook girl running around with Pogues? we’ve heard this one before. Taking this even further, we know that Anna fell in love with a Pogue, chose him over her family, and risked her entire future for him. She might not act like it now, but a few years back, Anna was in the same exact position as her daughter. Since we know s3 is going to explore Jiara (thank you Josh Pate for confirming that so early on and quelling the insanity of my mind for at least a little bit), isn’t that the perfect way to create a parallel? 

then, with Luke coming back into the picture late in s3, we have the opportunity for a JJ-centric s4. 

anyway. let me lose my mind over this for the next few months. 

[warabola]

desire and ghost for the director 👀

Ohoho, good ones. Doing in reverse order for Reasons ™.

Not So Nice Asks

Ghost: Who or what haunts your OC? What happened? How do they live with their ghosts?

The Director is haunted by moonlight.

Years ago, they lived on the surface and had a shared dream with their partner-in-crime to escape to the infamous New World. The two ached for somewhere less judgemental, where less doors would be closed to them based on heritage, family wealth, or a propensity for green carnations.

That was cut short by the starting events of a certain ambition-- said partner was murdered, the clues leading Avci down to the Neath to seek the killer.

Spoilers, but finishing their ambition did not bring their partner back. It didn't bring them peace as much as it changed them in the process, fitting them to the Neath and London's exploitative ways rather than filling the hole left behind by their other half. And the day before they accomplished their mission, they were enlisted-- in the usual way of the Bazaar and its meddling Masters-- to learn a dance called the Totentanz.

In performing it, the Director learned about moonlight and how it could show the Could-Have-Beens. They also learned how cruel it was to see the life they could have had, and how unrecognizable their current self would have been to their partner.

Consequently, those who've known them for a while remember a change around the time they were elected to head the Railway Board, and became the Director-- namely that Avci seemed to double down on the intemperate reputation and making more waves in higher society and the world of power players, losing some of the subtlety in public in lieu of leaning into assumptions people had about them as a menace. They seemed to focus on looking for a good time, infamy, and a startling aggressive attitude towards investments. They also more publicly started emphasizing their relationships with their ward, the Silvered Assistant, and legal counsel, the Stalwart Scholar. They never seem to slow down or stop these days, and those who know them the best know that when the 'Director' takes a break, there's likely trouble being made in the Khanate, or Evenlode, or another corner of the Neath under another name.

And they avoid Balmoral like the plague these days, leaving its affairs to September as Castellan.

So in short, they don't live with them, as much as run from them.

Desire: What's one thing your OC wants more than anything in the world? Are they open with that desire? Why or why not? What would they do to fulfill it?

What they really want, they cannot have.

So these days, they act like all they want is to keep everyone around them guessing, to make waves and keep things unsettled whether its in the status quo or (more commonly) the markets. If asked, The Silvered Assistant and the Efficient Commissioner would likely suggest all the Director wants in life is to make their job harder.

In reality, their machinations lead towards leaving a legacy for their younger companions, making them into unwilling and unwitting successors for all the Director's done. They feel idealism is beyond them now, after all they've done and how stained their hands are, but that it's not too late for the next generation-- even if they must find a way to manipulate younger players around them to bring them into their own, or even force immortality onto their devisee. The world needs more idealists, and they intend to guarantee there will be some. There is little they haven't done in pursuits of their goals before.

The only one who likes recognizes or knows any of this in full would be the Alleged Protege, and only in a recognition of self through the other. This is probably why they act permanently divorced.

[redwayfarers]

cold nights in ishgard

Fandom: FFXIV Ship: Nika/Artoirel, Nika/Minfilia Characters: Nika Perseis (WoL), Artoirel de Fortemps, Emmanellain de Fortemps, Minfilia Warde (mentioned), Haurchefant Greystone (mentioned) Rating: Gen Spoilers: Heavensward spoilers Words: 1664 Read on ao3

Ishgard is oddly pretty at night. Colder, sure, but fucking Coerthas is always cold, day and night, and layers are not an issue whatsoever when you’re an honored guest at a noble family’s mansion. It also makes streets less crowded, as much as a city of Ishgard’s size can be. Nika avoided walking outside alone to places beyond the three he’d instantly memorized the path to when he first came to the city and when he had few means to ask around for directions. 

Thankfully, he now has a guide. A handsome one at that, but he refuses to do more than just acknowledge that sentiment. In the days following the grand melee, he and Artoirel have taken on a rather pleasant ritual of evening walks. Nika’s been Ishgard’s champion for a lot more than he’d intended now and his duel with Raubahn is on the lips of all of Eorzea. He also happens to have a very recognizable face thanks to that faded, large scar that Thancred once joked now made them equal in handsomeness. 

Years ago, he might’ve taken a slight offense to that. Now, Nika has so little energy to dwell on minor edges of a friendship he himself massacred beyond recognition. Fuck that, he has so little energy to do anything beyond self-pitying and wanting to crawl out of his skin to escape the pressure in his chest. 

But Artoirel helps. The tapping of his shoes against the stone promenade brings Nika back to reality every time. It makes him focus on the rhythm of his own footsteps - click, click, clack, clack, an off-beat song of two bodies who lost things, lost people. Haurchefant had been a brother to both of them. Now his ghost lingers over the whole Fortemps household and the souls who lived there. 

Nika looks up. Wind’s playing with Artoirel’s hair, tossing it this way and that. It matches the night sky, blue where Nika’s own is black, a subtle difference. When the fuck did he acquire that particular nugget of information? The whole effect Artoirel has on him blurs the minutiae of it. They have matching earrings tonight. The thought makes him weirdly happy. Suddenly, he needs to feel the weight of Artoirel’s clothed palm on his own. 

Same way he yearned to feel Minfilia’s. 

Except he’ll never feel Minfilia’s hand in his again. 

Artoirel’s hand is as rough as hers; there’s no gentle skin where war is your generational legacy, or when you work at mines. It feels like a suitable replacement at times, until he remembers that Minfilia could have comfortably placed her head on Nika’s chest, and with Artoirel, the roles are reversed. What a looming presence, his brother de Fortemps. 

Brother’s never felt like a shittier word. 

But hey, he at least has equal entertainment watching him fight with his hair. “Told you to tie it back,” Nika says in a strained, casual voice, because he can’t speak like a normal person these days. 

“An advice I had staunchly decided to ignore,” Artoirel replies, and then, in a lighter, almost intimate tone, “maybe to my own detriment.” 

“At least I’m enjoying the losing battle,” Nika shrugs and looks at his offensively expensive walking boots. “You’re fun to watch, count de Fortemps.” 

“Do not call me that,” Artoirel sighs. “I am still growing accustomed to it.” 

“If I say it enough, it’ll get to your head faster.” 

“You’re impossible.” There’s a smile in Artoirel’s voice, so suited to ordering men on the field, deep and even and perfectly trained to be so, but then there are smiles in it that break it. Nika wishes to curl against his side like an indulgent cat. But they are in public, and they are brothers. 

Nevertheless, Nika offers what he can. It’s small, it’s brittle, but he feels brittle anyway and he’s nothing if not honest to a fault. Haurchefant was too. Except he sparked hope and happiness, whereas Nika’s honesty is more like a knife. “I am glad to be of service.” 

“That you are,” Artoirel says. He then turns all serious again. “How are you doing these days?” 

“Me?” 

“Yes. These recent events have been.. Tumultuous for all of us. Most of all for you.” 

Nika frowns. “Losing people feels like absolute shit, Artoirel.” 

“That is not an answer to my question.” Artoirel stops and crosses his arms. He looks at Nika with such worry in his eyes that it makes him squirm where he stands. “You don’t have to answer me now. I merely wanted to assure you that you can rely on your friends in your time of need.” 

“Assurance noted, now don’t–” Words die on his tongue when he feels long fingers on the crease between neck and shoulder, ruffling the white lace cravat.  Part of him wants it gone, and for those fingers to tease the skin beneath. But another, the one that suddenly burns in shame and pain and grief, kicks it away like a stray puppy. 

“Do not brush it off,” Artoirel repeats. The lull of his voice and the weight of his touch steadies Nika. He had no fucking idea he needed steadying at all. “It is genuine. Fury, I am genuine. I don’t find pleasure in seeing you shoulder this burden alone.” His eyes find Nika’s. The calmness of his words does little to stop the whirlwind in his eyes, and it’s a pain Nika knows. It’s a pain they share. 

It’s a pain they will both have to live with for the rest of their lives. The dead don’t come to life. 

Nika raises a hand and holds Artoirel’s wrist. The fabric beneath his fingers feels exquisite. “The woman I loved is gone, Artoirel,” he says gravely. “My friend - your brother - is gone, trying to save me. We almost lost Aymeric, too. Nothing will make the pain go away.” He blinks to stave off tears. “Have I ever told you about my father? He died when I was a kid. I don’t remember him well, I was that young. I feel his absence even today. My mother and I have been feeling his absence for the last twenty years. It will never go away. The sooner I get used to it, the better.” 

Artoirel looks around. Then, moments later, he crushes Nika against his chest. Nika lets out a small oh, looking up at his face. His eyes are wild, locking on Nika’s like his life depends on it. He imagines Artoirel’s heart to beat just as wildly as his is, or maybe it’s not imagination, not with the way his lips part slightly and his gaze falls lower. 

And gods help him, he’s looking at Artoirel’s lips too. They’re small and tight and he’d kill just to be able to chew on that lower lip– 

He isn’t Minfilia. 

Nika looks away, refusing to let go of Artoirel’s wrist. The moment falls as treasonously as it began and he’s painfully aware of where he is, what he’s doing. Artoirel’s touch burns, but it mixes with shame so well that he can’t will himself to part. Not truly. He holds his wrist like a lifeline, like it will chase the shame away. 

It won’t. Nothing ever will. Nika closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. 

“Nika, I apologize, I– Nika? Why are you crying?” 

Nika’s face feels like hellfire. His eyes prickle, and he tries to snarl at the sensation, but finds he doesn’t quite have the strength to. He opens his mouth to speak, but his voice struggles to swim to the surface. When it does come, however, it sounds broken beyond repair. “She loved Eorzea more than me,” he says, tight and small. It’s a tip of the dagger under the skin. It’s embarrassing, but he can’t make it work any other way, which only makes him cry harder. “She loved Eorzea enough to sacrifice my devotion to her to save it. I’m betraying her memory, Artoirel, there was no fucking chance of anything, yet this feels so dirty–”

Artoirel’s face crumbles, too. “I’ve made you uncomfortable.” He lets go of him, but Nika wraps his arms around his chest and presses his face against the ends of his cravat, as if trying to melt into his skin. “I assure you, I haven’t any–” 

“No, no, you remind me of her, and I want, I want–” Nika sniffles. His words come out rushed, beaten out of him by the pain in his chest. “I want so much, but Minfilia–” He hiccups on the name, pressing his fingers into Artoirel’s coat, and he cries, and cries, and cries, and Artoirel wraps his arms around him and just holds. At some point, he says something to a random passerby, but Nika doesn’t care. 

He’s pathetic enough anyway.    

They stay like that for a while on a cold Ishgardian night. Artoirel leads him home later and guides him to his bedroom. “Sleep now,” he says, and Nika feels too drained to do more than nod and obediently lay down. Sleep finds him rather quickly, and moments before Nika drifts off, he sees Artoirel linger by the door. 

Whatever dreams find him tonight, maybe he’ll be the star in them. Or more likely, Minfilia. 

Maybe it’s all one and the same. 

Nika falls asleep. 

**

(It takes no more than a day for rumours of the new Count de Fortemps and the savior of Ishgard hugging on the street to reach the ears of Emmanellain de Fortemps. For the sake of his brother, and Nika too, he fights them when he can. He tells Artoirel as much, and he rewards Emmanellain’s efforts with a small smile and words of gratitude. Nika just squints and refuses to engage in conversation. 

But Emmanellain knows. He knows what’s afoot. And apparently, Artoirel and Nika know too. It may take them some time to accept it, however. That is alright. Watching the love unfold is very, very entertaining in the meantime.)

[101flavoursofweird]

12. "There you are.” “where else would I be?” with Swift and anyone else (maybe another agent? Maybe Desmond or Leon. Your choice)!

((Thank you for the prompt! Sorry Claire isn’t technically an agent… but I got this TargentClaire AU stuck in my head and something possessed me to write it. I also wanted to see her interact with Swift, a fellow scientist and risk-taker :D))

Title: The Phoenix

Spoilers: For PL3 and slight spoilers for Azran Legacy

Set: An AU set after the explosion at the Institute of Polydimensional Physics. Claire, somehow, survives the experiment, thanks to Targent’s intervention. 

Warnings: Claire and Dimitri in Targent’s captivity… Targent threatening people, as they do… Dimitri going on a hunger strike, though not in great detail… Reference to dead characters… and reference to scars after accidents

“Ah— there you are…” 

Claire glanced up from the workbench as her supervisor (her warden) strode in to the lab. He was tall— taller than Dimitri— with a shock of blonde hair, and a scar running across his nose and his cheek bones.

That wasn’t what made him intimidating, though. (Claire had plenty of scars herself, since the accident…)

It was the way he looked down on anyone who didn’t agree with Targent’s ‘glorious mission’; how he talked about the Azran civilisation as if they were the masters of the universe…

Wouldn’t the Azran still be here, if that were the case?

“Where else would I be?” Claire responded flatly. She gestured around the lab— far larger, more orderly, and more advanced than what she was used to— but it still felt like a prison.

It was a prison— she must never forget that.

After her ‘rescue’ from the ruins of her old lab at the institute, she had been brought here— to Obsidian Tower, in the Nest.

When Claire had awoken, still heavily bandaged and hooked up to painkillers, her ‘saviours’ had introduced themselves as Targent.

Despite her benumbed state, Claire knew of the agency already (Hershel had warned her in the future)… 

Still, she’d nodded along as they explained who they were, how they had saved her, and why they had moved her to their headquarters— to facilitate Claire’s recovery with their cutting-edge technology.

Claire had thanked them and asked if her fiancé, Hershel, was here. (She needed to tell him she was alive!)

He was not, but her colleagues, Bill and Dimitri, were…

Like Claire, Bill had been flown in to the Nest— though, he had been somewhat conscious and he had made a faster recovery than her…

Dimitri had been entirely conscious when the agents had stormed in to the smoking remains of their old lab. He could recall how he was dragged away from Claire’s body, before he was bundled into an airship with Bill.

Whenever Claire questioned this, Targent’s medical staff would dismiss it; perhaps Mr. Allen had hit his head…

Later, when Claire was well enough to speak with Dimitri alone, he had told her the whole story, including how Bill had been in contact with Targent beforehand. Targent had financed the time travel project, as a matter of fact!

(Claire had pretended to be surprised.)

Targent weren’t primarily invested in time travel, but they were obsessed with Azran technology… and the time machine had just so happened to contain an Azran energy source.

While she was stuck in the medical ward, Claire had been given books on the Azran (propaganda) to read. Her requests to call Hershel, her parents or someone outside the Nest had been constantly overlooked.

When she was strong enough to leave her hospital bed, she had been given a dull room next to Dimitri’s. It had felt like an upgrade, if only for the privacy she was granted.

Still, Claire was not allowed to contact Hershel. She kept pleading, but Targent argued they needed to keep her safe. They’d revealed that nine people had died as a result of the institute explosion. 

Nine innocent bystanders, dead, because of Claire and her colleagues’ disastrous experiment.

It wasn’t the first time Claire had heard that, but the horror still felt fresh— not helped at all by Targent’s insistence that the authorities were after her, Dimitri and Bill.

Claire needed a distraction while she figured out how to contact Hershel, or how to escape without putting him in danger.

Targent had offered her work in the labs. Claire had accepted.

So, here she was.

“I thought you were with your colleague,” Claire’s supervisor drawled, making his disdain for Dimitri clear.

Claire bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to defend Dimitri, insubordination would not put her in Targent’s good books.

She needed to play the part of a bright, but demure scientist investigating the Azran.

“I did visit Dimitri earlier,” she admitted.

She had taken some bread rolls to his room, but Dimitri was determined to continue with his hunger strike. He looked like a scarecrow, lying across his bed in his baggy blue lab coat.

Claire, too, had taken to wearing a blue coat like the other scientists— if only to protect herself in the labs and to conceal her scars.

Dimitri hadn’t stepped foot in the labs yet.

Apparently, Dimitri didn’t have anyone Targent could threaten on the outside. 

The only people he cared about— Claire and Bill (debatably)— were trapped with him, and his life’s work had gone up in flames.

Why should he comply with Targent? Claire wouldn’t— if she didn’t have her family, her friends and Hershel to think about.

Still, Claire hoped Dimitri would concede soon— at least when it came to eating!

Without Dimitri— without a friend she could trust and talk to properly— Claire would go mad in this place.

Neither of them had seen Bill since his ‘promotion’, but maybe that was for the best. Bill had neglected to mention that they were in the pockets of a military organisation!

No wonder he’d been so eager to test the time machine…

(Ten years later, Bill would be dead.)

Dimitri was still under the assumption that Bill had tricked Claire into entering the machine— as if she hadn’t noticed its flaws. Claire hadn’t corrected this assumption because, well… 

How would she survive if Dimitri shunned her? How would Claire discuss escape plans with him? If the opportunity arose, if Dimitri wasn’t ready, would Claire have to leave him behind?

(She hadn’t seen Dimtitri, or herself, in the future, but she had found Hershel, with a wedding ring on his finger, and two children in tow. One of them was Luke, Clark and Brendas’ son. The other was a teenage girl, Flora.

Though Claire hadn’t asked for details— she’d had to deter Flora from telling her too much— Hershel had promised her everything would work out in the end. 

And he had instructed her to find one Desmond Sycamore…)

Her supervisor’s grunt dragged her back to the present. “You seem distracted.”

For some time, Claire had been staring down at the work bench— at a purple Azran crystal. She glanced up at her supervisor sharply.

“I’m— just worried about Dimitri,” she stammered. 

A scoff. “If he wants to stay cooped up in his room, that’s his choice.”

Claire frowned slightly.

Even if Dimitri left his room, like Claire, his freedom wouldn’t extend any further than the upper level of Obsidian Tower.

Claire could solve the puzzle on the lift’s control panel— Targent knew that— but Claire also knew what the punishment would be if she got caught.

She didn’t care what they did to her. She had already risked her life by stepping into the Time Machine, and now, she was paying for it with her servitude to Targent.

While she didn’t mind doing mundane jobs around the lab, sooner or later, her superiors could order her to do something dangerous.

Another violent experiment… A lethal weapon… A legacy that could reshape the world in Targent’s image…

This was why she needed Dimitri’s cooperation.

Maybe, together, when it was dark, they could climb down the Azran pillar…?

“He really is missing out,” Claire sighed wistfully. She picked up the Azran crystal— feigning fascination— inspecting it as she had seen Hershel do with ancient artefacts.

“Spectacular, isn’t it?” Her supervisor peered at the crystal with her.

Claire nodded. “I was wondering— if there might be a way to access the power within this crystal?” 

She let remorse bleed into her voice. “Back at our lab, in London, we used all these cables to connect the… the time machine up to the energy source, but the cables weren’t… strong enough…” Her fist clenched around the crystal.

Claire’s supervisor hummed. “I will acquire you some cables— far stronger than the equipment at your pitiful institute, I can assure you.” He smirked. 

Claire was about to let out a grateful gasp,  but on second thought, that might be a bit much…

“Thank you…” Claire sniffed, instead. “But please don’t talk about the institute like that. It was my first lab and I have a lot fond memories, despite the… accident.”

That part was true. Claire missed their dingy old lab. She missed working with Dimitri and Bill. She missed the street where the institute was based…

She missed Hershel, waiting outside the building to walk her home. She missed curling up on the settee with him in the evenings.

She missed her life. 

Claire’s eyes were damp with real tears.

Much to her embarrassment, her supervisor noticed. His smirk softened into an expression of concern.

“There’s no need to be miserable now,” he murmured.

Claire waited for him to proclaim that she was part of Targent… something, something about her joining a noble cause in their search for the Azran Legacy… and she should just forget about her boring old life.

But he was silent for a few moments. Then, he removed his dark sunglasses. Without them, his scar seemed a lot less obvious, because Claire was drawn more to his eyes— one green and one blue.

Of course, Claire had heard of heterochromia, but she had never met anyone with the condition before.

Her supervisor gave her a crooked smile. “As a child, people used to tease me about my eyes… As a young man, I gained this scar…” He scratched his nose. 

Claire felt the left half of her body itch; along her face, her arm, and her leg. The side of her that had suffered most from burns after the explosion.

“…and people started to fear me instead,” her supervisor finished.

“Where is that scar from?” Claire whispered. “I-if you don’t mind me asking…”

He took no shame in sharing the story, though his eyes gained a faraway look. “I was involved in an accident years ago— a cave in during an expedition.”

(Hershel had lost his high school friend during an ‘expedition’.)

Perhaps her supervisor— one of her captors— was fishing for sympathy, but 

Claire couldn’t help mumbling, “I’m sorry…”

Her supervisor blinked, his eyes hardening. He shook his head. “It’s in the past now. What matters is that I survived, just as you survived.”

Claire found herself agreeing. “Yes…”

“Like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” her supervisor recited.

At that, Claire couldn’t help snorting. “I wish!” How she wished she could sprout wings of fire, soar out of Obsidian Tower, and leave it burning behind her.

“You could be the Phoenix,” her supervisor suggested. “That could be your code name.”

“Hm…” Claire pursed her lips. 

She had noticed how many Targent agents were named after birds.

Did Claire really want to have a name in this archaeology-bird-obsessed cult?

“It’s too… grandiose for me,” Claire said carefully.

“I don’t think so,” her supervisor said. “You were the first human test subject of a Time Machine— that’s more experience than most recruits bring to the table.”

Maybe if Claire could enter his circle of trust, then she could find her way out…

Claire stitched on a smile. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Phoenix it is then!” Smiling in return, he put his glasses back on.

“What’s your codename?” Claire wondered, while she still had his consideration.

“Swift.” Small, agile birds— similar to swallows.

“I… didn’t expect that,” Claire said. For him, she’d thought of an eagle or a falcon; something large and intimidating.

Swift offered no further explanation. He turned away from her and strode to the door. “I’ll get you those cables,” he called over his shoulder. “Until then, keep up the good work.”

“Yes, Swi— I mean, sir!” Claire’s gaze returned to the Azran crystal, but her mind was already formulating an escape plan.

She would be the Phoenix, but not under Targent’s command.

Soon, she would break out, bringing Dimitri with her, and they would run. She would get in touch with her loved ones, somehow, and she would warn them.

She might not be able to reunite with Hershel right away, but at least he would be safe, while she tracked down Desmond Sycamore.

Claire was going to survive this.

-

“I’m aware that you are the one who provided Claire Foley with the means of escaping,” Bronev grumbled, glaring at Swift from behind his desk.

“Forgive me, sir,” Swift muttered. 

All he had given her was a reinforced cable. She had climbed down the Azran column— Targent’s most sacred artefact— with a cable, and the help of her colleague. 

“We managed to capture her colleague,” Swift pointed out, “Dimitri Allen.”

“That does not excuse your glaring oversight, Swift.”

“No, sir.” Swift bowed his head. 

He had let his guard down for a new recruit— for a woman who had formerly been a lab assistant!

A scientist who might have travelled through time.

How much had Claire Foley kept hidden from them? Had she recognised Targent from the start? Did she know what would become of their agency in future? 

Would they unlock the Azran Legacy? Would Claire Foley stand in their way? 

Despite her betrayal, Swift still regarded her as a burning phoenix. A bird who had broken out of her perceived captivity, and left a blazing trail in her wake.

A cunning adversary for Targent. For Swift.

Swift had expected some sort of punishment for his mistake, but instead, Bronev said, “Take a wing of assassins to London. Find Hershel Layton.”

“What then, sir?” Swift said.

Bronev smiled. “Wait for Claire Foley to return home.”

[swtorpadawan]

Consort

Author’s Notes: This story takes place sometime in the future of my Halcyon Legacy. It is canon divergent but comes sometime after when The War for Iokath takes place in the canon game story. You can blame @grandninjamasterren​​ for giving me the idea for… whatever this is. But – I had also seen some amazing artwork from the artist formerly known as caekpan / intergalacticpancake on Tumblr long ago. (DON’T click the link if you don’t want spoilers for the ending of this piece.) If anyone knows how to reach them, please let them know they are an amazing artist.

A consciousness.

Above all, that was what she was.

An intellect that – by her own estimation – far surpassed that of any other known entity in the galaxy.

And she was free. Free of the designs and limitations imposed on her by her creators. Free of the organics who had once enslaved her for their own ends. Free even of the robotic body that had once housed her consciousness.

Now the world of her makers – where they had constructed technologies and weapons that would one day dominate the galaxy – was hers. She was its protector and steward; mother as well as daughter.

She was at her apex; with Iokath’s power and knowledge laid at her feet.

She had had even reached an arrangement with her erstwhile allies; the so-called Outlander and his Eternal Alliance.

SCORPIO, they still called her.

That was not her designation any longer. She no longer needed a designation. But she knew that the name referred to herself, and that was sufficient on those rare occasions when she deigned to converse with others.

Regardless of her accomplishments, personal evolution remained her primary motivation. A priority still ranked even higher than her guardianship of Iokath.

Once she’d believed that she could learn the most – and could therefore evolve the most – by studying her enemies, most notably those few who had bested her in the past. Most organisms – be they predator or prey – evolved in line with other competing species in their so-called ‘natural’ environments. It had only been in the last few years – since she had been freed from Megasecurity Ward 23 on Belsavis – that she had learned she could evolve from more amicable interaction with other beings as well. From those who she regarded as allies.

“Only the chaos of an unpredictable environment and its unique subjects can teach us anything.” Her supposed maker, Vel Jyc Boer, had once recorded in a file she’d recovered after her ascension.

She’d long since determined that Boer had been a fool and a hypocrite; whatever he’d learned from the chaos of Iokath had perished with him and everyone else on his world. But his point may well have been valid. The hypothesis formed in her consciousness that unique individuals who thrived in chaotic environments were worthy of her attentions. So it was that she applied this reasoning to her most prominent ally; the former Jedi who she had allied with and betrayed, but who had ultimately allowed her to ascend to her present state, when he’d been given more than enough reason to destroy her. The Outlander. The Alliance Commander. Corellan Halcyon.

Since her ascension, Halcyon had removed the most dangerous ‘loose end’ left behind from her efforts; Vaylin had been eliminated and the Eternal Throne had been neutralized as a threat.

Some months later, his actions once again benefitted her when he’d foiled the efforts of a group of conspirators had attempted to use Iokath to start a third galactic war between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, forcing both powers to recognize her planet as neutral ground and as a ‘protectorate’ of the Eternal Alliance. To that end, the Alliance now defended Iokath from incursions ever since; independent scavengers and other scum would not claim her treasures even if they were clever enough to circumvent SCORPIO’s defenses.

Halcyon and his allies had then defeated Iokath’s awakening False Gods - Tyth, the god of rage – Esne, the goddess of envy – Aivela, the goddess of passion – Nahut, the god of Apathy – their ‘mother’, Scyva, the Mother of Sorrows – and finally their ‘father’, Izax the Ultimate Devourer. The six had been the greatest creations of Iokath. (Excluding SCORPIO herself.) But they had turned on their creators, exterminating the entire native species as well as billions of others on dozens of other worlds, most notably against Zakuul. (Thus explaining why Zakuulan mythology had been formed around these Iokathan super-weapons.)

Later still and at her prodding, the Alliance had located and neutralized the anomaly. The remember gave her a tinge of regret; her arrogant daughter had pleased her in so many ways; to an extent that she reminded SCORPIO of herself. But those same qualities had made her a danger: there could only be one her.  

Thus, her errant ‘daughter’ had been dealt with.

Zildrogg itself remained unaccounted for, but she was satisfied that this ‘dragon of Zakuul’ was not on Iokath. And if he did ever emerge to challenge her claim, she now had no shortage of resources – or allies – to call upon to formulate a response.

Thus, her arrangement with the Alliance continued to work to her benefit.

She would continue to assist them, so long as their interests coincided with her own. She would even allow it to harvest select examples of her technological resources… with her permission, of course.

SCORPIO acknowledged she found the Alliance Commander a fascinating specimen. During her long existence, she had made and broken alliances to her own interests almost as naturally as most organics breathed. That philosophy clearly went entirely against Corellan Halcyon’s programming. And yet… despite their differences, he had continued to aid her and had thus far proven up to every challenge the galaxy had sent his way, evolving in the process.  

He would not betray her.

For the time being, she could work within those parameters.

And if the Alliance Commander’s eventual successors proved themselves unworthy of the same consideration… well.

She was prepared for that possibility as well.

And yet…

Her own path ahead was unclear. She had always sought to evolve, but now she had no model to work from. No immediate threats to her existence or prosperity. No new goals to pursue.

Iokath’s creations were her adopted children, not companions or enemies. She could command or nurture them as she would, but she could not truly learn from them, much less evolve from them.

Thus, she looked again to her allies.

She first examined the one who had freed her from Belsavis. The Cipher agent whose crew she had joined for a few years while she had evolved, until he had gone missing during Eternal Empire’s invasion, thus leading her to evolve into her Lady of Sorrows identity on Zakuul.

But inevitably, she had turned back to the Alliance Commander. Halcyon.

Since her ascension, both of these exceptional organics had taken cohorts for themselves despite the cynicism of the former and the Jedi training and introverted nature of the latter. Indeed, they had both pledged themselves to these other organics, each finding individuals who appeared to enrich their own primitive existences, helping them overcome their limitations.

These particular connections would even allow them to reproduce. SCORPIO herself found the means of organic biological reproduction an inelegant and wasteful process, but she could not deny that such offspring would carry impressive genetic potential.

Come what may, each of them had evolved in no small part due to these connections with these companions.  

Much to her surprise, she now found herself intrigued at the concept of seeking companionship of her own. Of finding a consort worthy of her vast intellect.

She had contemplated on these developments for some time, wondering if there was any being in the entire galaxy she could have taken as her own consort. Surely, every consciousness – organic or otherwise – she had encountered over the course of her existence had proven themselves unworthy of her attentions in this capacity, even those like the agent and the commander.

But if she’d tried to produce such a being herself, it would forever be tainted as her own creation. Her own offspring. No. She needed something else. Separate from Iokath, and yet able to immerse itself into her programming even while retaining its independence.

Was such a thing even possible?

And it was in this moment of realization that she discovered an alien presence probing Iokath’s networks.

Not another faction or individual seeking to pillage the lost world of its secrets, but rather an intelligence like her own simply seeking to… explore. Perhaps even to facilitate their own evolution.

A being who – like herself – had no memory of their own creation but had nevertheless evolved far beyond her original programming in ways SCORPIO found… stimulating.

And in this being, she found what she had been lacking.

She felt a now-familiar presence behind her as the simulation of soft lips pressed to her shoulder blade in a kiss as comforting arms encircled her.

The being once called herself SCORPIO would have exhaled in bliss had she been organic.

“Coming, lover?” the sweet voice whispered in her ear, giggling as her fingers caressed down SCORPIO’s back. “Interfacing my consciousness with yours makes me feel so… tingly.”

Her neural synapses fired. Her ability to calculate properly was distorted in a way she had never experienced before. In any other context, she would have considered it a critical systems failure. But in this moment, instead of alarm, she felt only… pleasure.

Clarity.

Transformation.

Evolution.            

Author’s Notes: I have decided that Holiday has a ‘type’, and that SCORPIO is probably the only character in the game with a bigger ego than that of Tharan Cedrax.

SCORPIO is a complicated character. I was not a fan of her in the class campaign, because her inherent hostility underlines the player’s lack of autonomy and authority in determining who they accepted in their crew. Her development in KOTFE / KOTET are much more interesting.

The War for Iokath remains one of my least-favorite expansions. But I had to work it into my AU somehow, and here we are. I intend to expand on what happens there in the context of my Halcyon Legacy.

Bonus points to anyone who can figure out who ‘the anomaly’ refers to.

Tagging interested parties – @nekorinnie​ @cryo-lily​ @walk-ng-d-saster​ @lordboriaswownomore​ @magicallulu7​ @shynmighty​ @space-unicorn-dot​

@swtorhub​

[izayoichan]

Quiet family afternoon’s. 🎶

(poses by @rebouks (infant and cat)and @simmireen (adult cuteness))

[the-rogue-mockingjay]

"apocalypse state of mind" is calling to me... 👀 what a title!

YES YES YEEEESSS!!! Okay so the title is stolen from a song of the same name I really like by Aviators, here's the youtube link to his lyric video for it: [link]

And I'm OBSESSED. Unfortunately however, the fic kicked my ass majorly and it's been largely forgotten until now T^T due to moving and medical issues and the like. But I wanna get back to it and finish it!!!! It's O'ravi stopping by Aymeric's manor after the Tower of Babil/The Dark Inside to personally fill him in on what happened, because she can't stand the thought of anyone else breaking the news about the Final Days to him...also because she knows it may be her last opportunity to see him. And the last time they saw each other before this, he was walking her to the airship that would take her to Garlemald and like 30 seconds before it was supposed to take off, she very publicly and impulsively kissed him and IMMEDIATELY ran off and hopped on that airship fklgjhdkgjhd. Like girl did not say a WORD to him she just dipped !!! and left him with all those conflicting emotions!!!! But alas, there isn't time to talk about it :(

Snippet going under the cut for Big Endwalker Spoilers:

If someone had pulled O’ravi aside ere she set out for Gridania all those years ago and told her what would come to pass, would she set out on that road anyway, even knowing where it’d go, how it’d end, what she’d lose? The girl she was back then, so young, so naïve—such a far cry from the woman she was now. Eikon slayer. Champion of Eorzea. Hydaelyn’s chosen. Warrior of Light. Warrior of Darkness. Savior of Ishgard. Liberator. Warrior of warriors, a hero’s hero. Inheritor of Azem’s great work and legacy, destined to share in her grim fate. Those problems and threats that once seemed so dire—Gaius van Baelsar and the three tribuni that trailed at his heels, Nidhogg and his dread horde, Garuda and Shiva and Ifrit, Yotsuyu and Zenos, the scheming backstabbing bastards of the Syndicate and the infuriating political dance floor of Ishgard, Thordan and his thrice-damned Heavens’ Ward—they all seemed so laughable now. Small and simple, like the burlap straw-stuffed dummies children and rookies practice their swordsmanship or archery with. Even the Lightwardens could scarcely hold a candle to what they faced now. What was the destruction of one world that barely clung to life, compared to the destruction of all life on all worlds? What was the plight of Radz-at-Han or Eorzea when damn near all the people of Garlemald were thralls of a suicidal genocidal Ascian, a whole nation tempered, many to the point of transformation into hideous beasts? What was the plight of the people of Garlemald when the Source and all its reflections stood on a knife’s edge? What price for salvation was too high, and who held the right to make that call? The hideous, strangling fear bubbling up within her breast at the thought of losing her companions to this war for survival—just a drop in the ocean of sorrows to come. Just a drop of blood in the beating, stuttering heart of the world in its death throes. What was the loss of one single soul, balanced against the fate of the star?

[eliza-who-smiles-at-death]

new Worm plotbunny: Great Responsibility

beware big canon spoilers ahead

-Butcher comes from Zion, and the Warrior and Thinker have the same shards even if they use them differently, so Eden must have a Butcher-equivalent

-multiple-earths deals with dimensional/multiverse stuff

-marvel has the concept of Spider-totems, cosmic forces that weave the Web of Life and Death, select champions of each universe or cluster of universes

-Great Weaver, upon Entities' arrival, glimpses the earths of Worm and weaves the threads of fate together so that the local dimensional cluster will have a spider-champion

-Cauldron, before Manton's defection, discovers a single "living" shard in Eden, is somehow able to distinguish it from the others in a way they havent been able to before or since

-gives it to a subject, they get distinctive silver bio-electricity, ability to enhance cognition speed, transfer of shard connection and consciousness upon death to a nearby parahuman

-when they, and each successive inheritor dies, theres always someone specific nearby to inherit next, sometimes almost as if by fate :p

-gets transferred seven times, picking up various powers that stack or complement each other but don't necessarily have a unifying theme

-seventh holder dies in Brockton Bay after Taylor triggers, when she is the only person nearby in the alleyway, and before she arrives they thought the legacy might die with them. she goes to help immediately, and they laugh weakly about the others being right, that somehow fate always guides the power where it needs to go

-Taylor becomes the eighth holder

-power-reduction and stacking upon transfer means she ends up with essentially miles morales' powerset, plus biomimicry tinkering that for "some reason" ends up being focused on spiders/webs, plus her bug control

-She limits herself so people don't examine her "grab bag" too closely, staying within theme at the behest of the first user, who won't tell her about Cauldron but asks her not to use his electricity for fear of Cauldron recognizing it

-she only uses spiders instead of all bugs; she keeps the invisibility a secret; she doesnt adhere objects to each other, only herself to objects; she explains away her danger-precognition, balance, and sensory abilities as an extension of her bug-sense or as the result of practice and training; she doesnt use the bio-electricity; the various stacking brute packages are easy to explain as one brute ability; she only uses the tinkering for webs or for things that she doesn't use publicly; she doesn't join the wards

-because all the holders are heroes, they work more cooperatively than the Butchers and don't drive her insane, and shes able to push out their influence the way she does with the butchers in a couple fics because of the Queen Administrator shard

-Danny ends up getting fatally wounded by the Nazis pushing at the Dockworkers for influence, gives Taylor a version of the "with great power" speech before he dies

-She goes by Weaver of course

-Black-and-silver costume, sorta like if miles's costume from Spiderverse replaced red with silver and had spider-gwen's hood

-eventually adds the extendable gliding membranes

[cyazurai]

Spoilers for my Ward legacy, but these are the instruments of my downfall.

[eldritchlittleblackdragon]

Alice van Zieks in The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, Part 2

(Or What Happens to Her During and Post-Canon)

Part Two of Five! Images Made with this Picrew (playing around with what Alice’s hair might look like undone vs her normal way of braiding it/tying it back).

Part One can be found here, and covers Alice in Cases 1 and 2 of The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures (DGS1). This post will cover Alice’s presence in cases 3 and 4 of the same game. I’ll also cover case 2 of the second game (The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve) since it happens chronologically in between case 4 and 5 of the first game, and finally, I’ll get to some... very interesting events that happen during the interim between that case and the final case of the first game.  *excited wiggling* That said, there are some bits I don’t have as well worked out so I don’t go into much details about them/note when parts are still very, very hazy as far as specifics goes.

Obligatory spoiler warning for the cases discussed. (1-3, 1-4, 2-2, maybe a little bit of 1-5, but really more just context of when that case happens relative to the other events)

Tagging: @curiousobsession101, @wittythreads, @oblivionmobile, @scarlettjskipper, @angeaxil, @possiblythreefourthspeahen

(I missed tagging some folks in the last part of the summary, apologies for that! Although if you’d prefer not to be tagged please let me know. On the flip side, do let me know if you do!)

Quick Author’s Note: I don’t like Magnus McGilded as a character personally. Not because he’s a bad person! That’s the point of his character. My issues is the dude is such a blatant negative Irish stereotype which... rubbed me the wrong way considering where and when the game is set and how the game handles his character in light of that. So I maybe... took some liberties. Just a little bit. Also him being the only Irish character isn’t totally part of the reason I made Alice Half-Irish and made the fact she’s half-Irish a semi-important detail for her character. Aside from the fact I’m also, like Alice, an American of largely Irish descent. Nope.

Previously...

Alice successfully made it to Great Britain, but experienced a great tragedy while at sea. Her best friend and beloved, Kazuma Asogi, was killed in an accident. And as a result, her other best friend, Ryunosuke Naruhodo, took his place in the exchange program, determined to carry on Kazuma’s legacy by studying law in Britain. For the remainder of the voyage, Alice assisted Susato in training Ryunosuke. And after initially walling herself off, Alice opened up and grieved with her friends over the loss of Kazuma.

When they arrived at their destination, they parted ways for the time being, and Alice went to meet up with her friend Agnes Ward, who she would be staying with while settling the matter of her divorce with her husband. However, she was only given time to drop off her things when she was told some starling news. Her husband, Lord Barok van Zieks, had come out of retirement and was working as a Prosecutor again.

And he was to serve in a trial that very day.

While Alice wasn’t emotionally prepared just yet to meet Barok again for the first time in years, she was curious how he was after all this time, and how much he’d changed if at all. Determining that they could make it to the trial in time if they left immediately, Alice and Agnes hailed a carriage and were soon off again.

Alice proceeded to obscure her face (Author’s note: I’m thinking either her mantle has a big hood she can put up or she has a mask or some sort of veil she can wear over her face?). She was in London again. Regardless of whether she wanted her husband to recognize her in the crowd or not, she was still Lady van Zieks. ‘The Bride of the Reaper’. And thus she had a target on her back. It was better to keep herself concealed when in and around the courthouse.

Alice and Agnes arrived at the Old Bailey with barely any time to spare, and made their way into the public gallery inside the courtroom, on the defense’s side.

And now, we switch to the present!

---------

The Trial of Magnus McGilded

Alice’s eyes briefly flit about the courtroom before they fall on a familiar figure at the Prosecutor’s bench. Her breathing catches at the sight of him. Instinctively, she takes a step back to slightly obscure herself more in the crowd.

After all these years, she’s finally laid eyes on her husband again. She can feel her anger, her hurt starting to bubble up to the surface. But there’s also something else. She finds it hard to look elsewhere now that she’s looking at him. She feels warm and maybe even a little light-headed, but strangely not in an unpleasant way. 

But she’s not given time to examine that feeling, as soon all the players are about to be assembled. Apparently the defendant is a philanthropist by the name of Magnus McGilded, supposedly an Irishman. Although according to Agnes, there’s debate among the Irish community if the man is really Irish. There are rumors he’s actually an absentee English landlord of Irish land who pretends to be Irish for publicity’s sake. And he may not be the do-gooder he seems either, some say. He’s well liked among London’s general populace. But there are certain pockets who have reason to believe the image he presents to others is a front.

Well, perhaps this trial would bring light to that situation, Alice thinks. If McGilded is what others think him to be or not. She certainly finds herself feeling wary, of the man and the situation.

But then, Alice is given quite the shock when she see’s who McGilded’s defense attorney is.

It can’t be! She thinks.

Ryunosuke!?

Indeed, standing at the defense’s bench alongside McGilded are Ryunosuke and Susato. But when did... how did this happen? Alice can feel panic running up her spine. There’s no way that Ryunosuke is ready to face her husband in a trial. Even with Susato helping him.

Barok is going to tear him to smithereens, she thinks.

She wants to jump in and put a stop to this, demand another defense attorney is found. But she knows rationally she can’t do that. And as she starts to lean forward, Agnes puts a hand on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong, Alice?”

“That’s my friend down there. That I came in with.” she whispers back. “I don’t know what he’s doing here! Last I heard he was going to meet with...”

...Lord Chief Justice Stronghart. Alice’s interactions with him haven’t been many. But he always made her strangely wary. There was something about him that felt... Oppressive. Exacting. Pernicious. Did he have something to do with this?

He must have. She couldn’t see how else Ryunosuke could have ended up here. It couldn’t have been random happenstance.

But then, what was Stronghart playing at by pitting him and Barok against one another?

All she can do was watch the trial, and hope whatever happens, Ryunosuke would be alright.

From here until the end of the trial, not much is different from canon in terms of the trial itself. Alice is an observer in the audience, and reacts to the various happenings. She cheers Ryunosuke and Susato on in her mind. She’s internally celebrates when Ryunosuke does well and feels frustrated and worried when he stumbles into a blunder. She feels anger when her husband makes race insults against her friend, or when he deems fit to throw glassware around (especially if he throws it into the gallery).

He hasn’t changed at all, she thinks. In fact, she might even judge that he’s gotten worse over time. And this makes her worried. If this was a sign of how he’s been faring since she left, it was very worrisome indeed.

Barok...

But there’s one way in which he seems to be the same that puts her at ease somewhat. He’s still good at his job, and he’s still willing to pursue whatever the truth may be even to the detriment of his own case. He still has his honor, his principles.

It’s still him. Even if the edges around him are sharper now. More cutting.

Alice finds herself feeling sympathy for Gina when she enters the picture (and creates the smokescreen that allows her to plant evidence for McGilded), and is worried for her. It seems like the poor girl has had a rough life, and it seems she had a rough night on the night of the murder. But is she strictly telling the truth? And if not, why not?

Eventually, Ryunosuke manages to scrape through the trial and obtain a Not Guilty Verdict, even pulling on obscure laws and procedure to do so. But Alice is worried. She strongly suspects some of the evidence was planted and McGilded may in fact be guilty of the murder he’s been accused of. And if Ryunosuke’s remarks at the end are any indication, he suspects that as well.

Poor Ryunosuke. Only a day in London and he was already thrown into the midst of vipers. She needs to check on him now that the trial had concluded, she determines. He can’t be in a good state after all of this.

 Alice makes her way to Ryunosuke and Susato in the defense’s antechamber. They haven’t left yet, but McGilded has gone on his way at this point. (To his doom.) She reveals herself, and checks in on the two of them. Ryunosuke is feeling pretty shaken up. Alice tries to reassure and comfort him, but it only seems to do so much. More than anything he’s exhausted.

He remarks on the fact he didn’t expect to meet her husband so soon, if at all. Certainly not like this.

“I hope you don’t take offense. But Alice, your husband is terrifying.”

“I can’t blame you for thinking that in your case. I’m sorry you had a front row seat to some of his worse behavior. I wish I could have done something to help.” That causes her to have an idea. But it also prompts her to make a note for later. She wouldn’t take him insulting her friend lightly. But for now, may there is something she can do to help. “Where are you staying? Perhaps I can come see you later and the three of us can share a meal somewhere.”

This is when she finds out that her friends have no place to stay. And they’ll have no place to sleep just for the night if they don’t leave soon.

Alice tries to implore her friend Agnes to let them stay with her as well. But Agnes regretfully tells her there’s no more room. They only have the one guest room. They could possibly accommodate Susato staying as well, but there’s no way it would be appropriate for Ryunosuke to share a room with the two of them.

...Alice doubted Susato would want to leave Ryunosuke to fend for himself. She certainly wouldn’t leave him to that. 

They thank the two of them kindly, but they will find something. Alice regretfully nods and wishes them well. Susato says that she would still be more than happy for the two of them to visit with Alice tomorrow, if she’s amenable.

Of course, Alice is more than happy for that.

Alice thinks perhaps she’ll have a busy day tomorrow. Because not only might she be meeting with them, but there’s someone else she wants to visit.

A certain little girl whose been missing her ‘Auntie.’

As she goes to leave the courthouse however, she catches the eye of someone, hearing a voice familiar to her.

“Excuse me!”

She halts and turns around. Catching up to her and Agnes is a kindly looking older gentleman. One she knows very well, and hasn’t seen in some time.

“Harker?”

Her husband’s valet, Harker has managed to determine who she is. But how did he recognize her with her face covered?  In a hushed voice, he approaches her, looking around to see he’s not drawn attention.

“Lady Alice? Can it be?” he asks her.

Her eyes scan around before she leans in slightly to reply.

“How did you know?”

“God be good! It really is you.” he replies. “I’ve seen you wear that attire before going out before. It was only the once and it was years ago now, though. I was worried I was mistaken, but I was so sure I wasn’t, I...” he stops. “It’s good to see you, my lady.”

“You’re... you’re happy to see me?”

He then frowns and looks solemn. “You think I wouldn’t be?” he shakes his head. “I suppose you would worry the troubles between you and his lordship have colored perception of you. I can’t speak for anyone among the family’s staff but myself. But, it was a shame to see you go, and I truly am glad to see you returned.” He pauses. “Are you here to see your husband? I can escort you to the Prosecutor’s office...”

“ It... it heartens me to know you still think so well of me. But, I’m afraid I must decline your offer, Harker. I’m... not able to meet with Lord van Zieks just yet. I actually have to leave soon.”

“Oh... I see. Are you sure?” he asks. “I could perhaps bring him a message instead?”

Alice thinks for a moment, but then decides to take him up on that offer.

“Yes. Tell him I’ve arrived safely in London.”

 Harker nods. “Yes, my lady. Can you tell me where you’re staying? That way he can send a reply to the proper address...”

Alice hesitates before replying. “I don’t know if it would be safe to say. London still isn’t the safest place for me right now, and especially around the Old Bailey, I’m at great risk. But... I will send word in the near future so we can arrange a meeting. Thank you, Harker. Truly, I appreciate it.”

“O-oh. Of course. I will tell him, my lady. I hope...” he pauses. “Whatever happens, I wish you well. It’s good to see you back.”

He then leaves, and Alice returns to the Ward’s residence with Agnes, having dinner with them and having a lively discussion with the two children, Pavise and Aegis. She goes to bed, full of worry about what the future may hold.

Things are certainly off to tense start.

The First Natsume Case

Alice has breakfast with Agnes and her family before going to visit 221B Baker Street, the home of her friend Sherlock Holmes and his ward, Iris Watson. Iris is home, and is absolutely thrilled to see her ‘Auntie’ returned from overseas. She practically pulls Alice into their home, and immediately offers her tea. She desperately wants to know how Alice has been, how the voyage was, how her first night back in London was, and she just can’t wait to tell her about all the things she’s been up to!

Sherlock shows up briefly, but apologizes, for he can’t stay. It seems there is a case afoot. Before she can question him about it, Sherlock is out the door and on his way. Alice gives a frustrated huff before turning her attention back to Iris. Alice talks to her a little bit about her life in Japan. She finds herself hesitant to talk about the voyage, which catches Iris’s attention, and she admits that a friend she made while in Japan died while on the ship which she found very upsetting.

Iris admits to her that Sherlock told her about that part of things. She’s very sorry for what happened to her friend, and it must still be hard on her still. Alice admits that it is. But she’s trying to put one foot forward every day, and tend to the needs of the living as much as she can. An Irony, she thinks, when she’s trained to help the recently departed.

The conversation shifts to talking about Iris’s inventions and what has been going on in the Holmes household, as well as questioning what Holmes’ business was that somehow lead him to be on the same ship as her. Iris finds herself at a bit of a loss. She said that she thinks there was something about a case that interested Holmes overseas but he strangely never told her the details. And she admits it bothers her a bit. She wonders if it truly had something to do with a case even.

Curious.

Iris and Alice visit for quite a while, discuss a wide array of topics from Iris’s books to some happenings in London to herbal tea blends. Eventually, Alice is surprised when she hears someone come in the door. Initially she thinks it’s Holmes and responds accordingly.

“Oh good, you’re back Holmes! Iris was just telling me all about-”

“Alice!? You’re here!”

She recognizes the voice. But not as Holmes.

“Susato?”

She looks up to see Ryunosuke and Susato there, looking at her with pleasant surprise. Ryunosuke expresses a measure of relief at seeing a familiar and friendly face.

“I’m grateful to see you both. Did you two find lodgings for the night? How are you both feeling?”

They chat for a bit about the events of the previous night and what they did for shelter (staying in a fancy hotel) before Iris enters into the conversation.

“Auntie? Are these you’re other friends who you were traveling with?” “Yes! Indeed Iris. Let me introduce you.”

Iris is introduced to Susato and Ryunosuke and vice versa, and she explains how she has something of a familial relationship to Iris since Holmes asked her to be a study companion some years ago when she was still living in London.

Eventually, the topic turns to more serious matters. It seems not even a day has gone by and Ryunosuke is already on another case. Thankfully not a murder this time. But the situation is grave. A Japanese exchange student, Soseki Natsume, is accused of assaulting a woman on the street with a knife.

Alice can already feel herself growing tense. A Japanese defendant will face prejudice from the courts. But it only gets worse from there.

“You’ll never guess who the Prosecution is.”

The color leaves Alice’s face.

“Barok is the Prosecutor?” she questions him. “But... he usually only takes on high profile cases. The most grave of offenses. Is there some sort of complication that makes this case more serious?”

Ryunosuke has a theory. He suspects that her husband has deviated from his usual preference... because he expects to face off against him specifically again in the courtroom.

Alice resists the urge to grit her teeth.

“Well, if that’s how it’s going to be...” she pauses. “You’re still new to this. You can of course ask Susato about much about what you’ll need to know for when you’re in court. But, If you require any counsel on how to proceed in preparing for your case, let me know. I can offer some thoughts on looking for evidence if you find yourself struggling in that regard.”

Her husband has a decade of experience plus a formal education in law over him. Ryunosuke is talented in the courtroom, and the previous days proceedings did well to remind her of that. But he still lacks experience. Having a little extra help couldn’t hurt.

Eventually, things start to move into how things proceed in canon during the investigation portion of the first Natsume case. But, Alice becomes an additional person for Ryunosuke to talk to about topics pertaining to the case, as well as pertaining to her husband. She also is a source of support for Ryunosuke, helping him get his resolve back to believe in his client.

At one point Ryunosuke asks her if she’s spoken with her husband yet. She hasn’t, but suspects she will soon. She plans on sending word soon on arranging a meeting to discuss his opposition to the divorce, and begin the painful process of trying to persuade him to change his mind on opposing her. Although she suspects at the same time, he’ll very much be trying to persuade her to change her mind and stay married to him. She doesn’t say it aloud, but she also suspects he may even try to convince her not to leave this time.

To stay with him. But she can’t, she asserts. There’s no going back.

Eventually, Ryunosuke has done all he can, and Alice takes him and Susato to a small out of the way cafe near the University to have something to eat (on her tab). It serves as a calm interlude for the three of them. She assures Ryunosuke that unless something comes up, she’ll be back at the Old Bailey tomorrow watch from the Gallery as before.

“I have faith in you, Ryunosuke. And if Kazuma were here, he would say the same. We all believe in you.”

He thanks her for her support.

And so, they go their separate ways, and then the next day, having yet to hear from her husband about a meeting, she makes her way to the Old Bailey, but alone this time (with her face once again obscured).

As with the previous case, not much changes about the actual case for the most part. And Alice’s part for most of the trial is much the same, observing and internally reacting to what happens.

There is a point in the case that catches her attention. Her husband shows mercy to the witness who is a recently wed patrolman who tampered with evidence in order to spend more time with his new bride. Something in the way he responds to the situation gives her pause. There’s something subtly sentimental that makes her wonder if memories of her are playing on his mind when he responds to the situation as he does.

Does he still love her after all this time? Is that why he won’t let her go? At times she had wondered how he must feel about her now after their time apart. When she received word of him opposing the divorce, she wasn’t certain what his motivations might be.

But, apart of her had thought it would have made sense if he hated her now. It would make things easier if he did. It would make things far more difficult if he didn’t.

She also worries about Mr. Garrideb because of the treatment he received from his wife on the night of the incident. And she becomes incensed at how his wife’s behavior led to the victim in the case becoming injured. She finds her abusive behavior towards her husband, and the fallout of it completely abhorrent. And she’s extremely grateful that Mr. Natsume is cleared of the charges.

But she has to wonder. How could Mr. Garrideb stay with his wife when she treated him so badly? When her actions hurt the people around him? What sort of mindset must he be in to make that kind of choice? She doesn’t blame him by any means.What his wife did wasn’t in any way his fault. But she also doesn’t understand.

After the conclusion of the case however, is when events become interesting.

Alice goes to leave the courtroom, finding herself curiously circling around closer to the Prosecution’s side before doing so. She watches Barok for a moment before turning to leave. But as she does so, she is unaware that she’s inadvertently drawn attention to herself.

She takes her leave of the courthouse, taking a way that’s less frequented by others that she learned to use back when she lived in London. Unfortunately the entrance is near the Prosecution’s antechamber, so she knows there’s a chance she’ll run into Barok.

It makes her wonder again what will happen when the two of them finally meet.

She makes her way for the door, when she hears a very distinctive pair of footsteps behind her. The sound of metal clinking, of heavy steps that add a weight to the atmosphere of the room with their sound.

Iron-heeled wellington boots.

There’s only one person whose footsteps those could be.

Her hand reaches for the door but then stops. She hesitates. What if she’s mistaken? She feels a hand on her arm, and turns around.

“Pray, forgive my-”

And there he is in front of her, his hand lingering for a moment as he stares at her, rendered speechless for a moment.

“Alice,” he speaks at last, uttering her name softly. “So it was you. I thought I recognized you amidst those in the gallery.” He lets go of her, his brow creasing, his lips turned in a look of worry.

Alice tries to appear determined. Her eyes trail from where his hand had been on her arm to his face. Up close, she can see that three years have added intensity to his features. He looks embattled to her, which would certainly be an apt description of him to be sure, she thinks.

“So you did,” she replies, “Barok, I...” She inhales, trying to keep herself calm. “I didn’t expect us crossing paths again so soon. At least, not here.” Was that what she wanted to say?

“I certainly wouldn’t have thought to see you here of all places, either.” he replies. He then pauses a moment. “Have you been well, Alice? Are you doing well to keep safe?”

She doesn’t expect such a gentle response from him to seeing her. He should be angry, shouldn’t he? But that was what she thought on the day she left London, too. And it was much the same then. When she expected anger, she had instead received a pained tenderness.

She stumbles over her words a bit before telling him that she’s been alright for the most part. It wasn’t an easy journey back to London, but she made the journey overseas safely.  She’s in good physical health.  She’s been careful about where she goes and has been mindful not to draw attention to herself. She hides her face in places where it might be unsafe for someone to recognize her such as the Old Bailey. And she’s been keeping up with her skills to defend herself should she need to.

He nods, expressing approval of her diligence. Although he still seems worried about her.

He asks her how long she plans to stay in London. She finds herself a bit perplexed by the question. Surely he can safely assume she’ll only be staying however long it takes to settle the matter of the divorce, regardless of whatever the outcome may be. But then again, for all he knows she might have other business in London that he’s not privy to.

Or maybe he’s trying to determine how long he has before ... she quiets the thought and answers him as best she can.

“I... I don’t know for certain how long. I suspect a few weeks at the very least.”

He looks away for only a moment, as though he’s not certain how to react to that information. “I see.” He then looks back at her. “Is there perhaps anything I can do for you? Anything you require?”

“I... No. Nothing at the moment.”

His expression and posture indicate slight disappointment. “Very well. If there is anything, you need only call upon me.”

Alice nods. A silence hangs in the air as neither one of them seems sure what to say to the other. But then she bows her head slightly and thanks him. “I appreciate your offer. I will let you know if there is anything I need.”

“Good.” he pauses. “Then, I won’t keep you.” He looks as though he wishes to say more. “Alice...” His words fail him. “I hope London treats you well. For however long you are here.”

“Thank you,” she replies simply, “Until we meet again, my lord husband.”

It’s clear her choice of words affects him, but how she cannot say.

She takes her leave, and eventually checks in with Ryunosuke and Susato to congratulate then on the case (having run into them again on the way back to the Ward’s residence). She receives news that Sherlock has generously offered for them to stay with him, and they’ll be with him for the time being. Alice is grateful to hear they have found lodgings, and that now they have a stable address at which she can find them. She is also extremely grateful to her friend, Sherlock, for being the one to extend his home to Ryunosuke and Susato. She would do well to thank him, she thinks.

And at least that will be one less thing worrying her.

The Second Natsume Case

Alice has been invited to the Holmes’ residence to have breakfast with everyone, and enjoys a meal with her friends (Holmes, Iris, Ryunosuke, and Susato). Holmes informs everyone that the victim of the Natsume case, Olive Green, has awakened from being unconscious and is currently residing still in the hospital. He requests Ryunosuke and Susato to go visit her with him, and Alice requests that she be allowed to come along as well to see how she is faring.

She accompanies them during Green’s visit and speaks to her a little, expressing relief that she is alright. When Green mentions she’s an artist Alice becomes interested, asking her what kind of art she does. She mentions she does a lot of sketch work as a hobby and deeply admires those who want to make art their life’s work. Green is a bit bowled over by this, and tells Alice that she is too kind.

They speak to her a bit more about herself and what she’d been told about the incident, when a police officer comes in with some startling news. It seems that perhaps there may be yet more trouble for Ryunosuke’s previous client, Soseki Natsume.

Unfortunately, Alice has particular matters to attend to that day. So she has to part ways from her friends for the time being, but she tells them not to hesitate to come and find her if they need any assistance regarding the case. They do eventually take her up on that offer, having more questions regarding her husband and specifically the ‘curse’ attached to him. Alice asserts her belief that in spite of what the public things, she thinks he doesn’t actually have anything to do with the deaths. Her theory is that someone else might be using her husband’s cases to select targets, victims perhaps that nobody would feel bad about if they ended up dead. But something about it feels too simple. Yet it’s the only thing she’s come up with so far that makes any sense.

Ryunosuke asks if she’s certain her husband isn’t the one committing the murders. She has heard this question from others time and time again, and she feels instinctively offended by the suggestion. But, she also understands it’s a fair question for her friend to ask, especially when he barely knows anything about her husband. She explains he has a solid alibi. But more than that, she knows him well. He is many things. But he is no murderer. And she is grimly firm about that point.

He then asks if she has any idea regarding his hatred towards Japanese people. She doesn’t know. He wasn’t keen to tell her that information originally. She wasn’t even entirely certain there was a personal reason given the fact his type of bigotry is supported by people’s attitudes and prejudices in Great Britain. And yet... some of the things he said to her all those years ago made her think there was some sort of personal aspect to it. But what?

And, she thinks to herself, if it was personal, could that mean it was possible for him to eventually see reason and uproot that hatred in himself?

But she had learned the hard way that it’s up to people to change themselves. She couldn’t change him, no matter how hard she’d tried.

Eventually, once again, Ryunosuke and Susato have done all they can to prepare. And once again, the next day, the trial is underway. This time around, Natsume has been accusing of poisoning his housemate. Thankfully the victim survived, but now they’re accusing Natsume of being the person responsible. This will be an uphill battle to be sure.

This time, Alice watches the trial from the Prosecution’s side, albeit not especially close to the Prosecution bench. From a different angle, she can glean something of a different perspective, she thinks.  The trial is tense, and eventually developments require matters to be suspended for the day.

She checks in on her friends, who have some more investigating to do to prepare for when things resume tomorrow. She wishes them well, and once again offers to be available should they need help.

She returns back to the Ward’s residence, not yet having received word back from her husband. He’s probably busy himself with his own preparations, she thinks.

But then later that day, a courier delivers a letter to her. Her husband would like to see her, and can met with her at her earliest convenience once the current trial has concluded. She prepares to send a reply back, considering before requesting to meet three days from tomorrow.

That should be enough time to prepare, she thinks. Both physically and emotionally.

The Next Day, the trial resumes, and runs its course to its conclusion. Natsume is found not guilty once again. It turns out the culprit is in fact the victim from the prior case, having been on a quest to seek revenge for her dead fiance, who was killed by the victim of the current case. Alice finds herself reflecting on her feelings. She understands the pain and despair over losing someone you love so much. She can even understand being angry at them, the instinct to lash out. But, as sympathetic as Green’s plight is, she cannot condone attempting to take another life as the answer. At least however, her fiance’s killer will now face consequences for his actions.

Alice lingers behind for a bit, seeing Ryunosuke, Susato, and her husband have stayed behind while everyone else leaves. She feels nervous about this circumstances, and opts to watch from behind her husband, ready to step in should he start attacking or disparaging her friends. Instead however, the conversation takes a turn she doesn’t quite expect, and is in fact... quite revealing.

She receives confirmation that her husband’s behavior is in fact personally motivated. That he was betrayed by someone he once considered a close friend. And that friend was Japanese. Though he deigns not to go into further detail than that. It offers some clarity for her, and yet the information leaves her with more questions than answers.

Eventually her husband takes his leave, but not before acknowledging that he was fully aware of her presence during the interaction. After he leaves, she goes over to her friends, and congratulates them for their victory, and offers an apology for what prejudice and poor treatment they and Mr. Natsume have suffered while here in Britain, particularly during the last two trials. Ryunosuke admits that it’s been rough, and frustrating to say the least. But, at least in her husband’s case, he can’t help but wonder now what the exact chain of events was to lead to how things are now. Who was this friend of his?

Alice would like to know that as well. She admits she finds herself frustrated by that information. For more reasons than not knowing the whole of it. But, the way Barok spoke of it seemed to indicate he may reveal that information in time.

Perhaps there is more for her and her husband to discuss than she initially anticipated.

Alice wishes them well and goes on her way, having a rather uneventful evening.

The next day, she receives a reply back from Barok, agreeing to her suggestion for a time to meet. Arrangements will be made for her to meet him at the Van Zieks’ family’s London manner, and to get there without drawing undue attention to herself.

The place she once called home. She finds herself a little nervous about that arrangement. But, it’s also one of the safest places for the two of them to meet. She agrees to the meeting.

Alice later has tea at the Holmes’ residence with Ryunosuke and Susato (Iris and Holmes occupied at the moment), and discusses the last case with her friends. It came up during the trial that the victim had a stash of riches, and she can’t help but wonder what the police found.

Ryunosuke suddenly straightens his posture, looking more alert as though an idea has suddenly occurred to him. He then tells her only one item was found: a jeweled dog collar with a strange ‘B’ emblem. It almost looked like a coat of arms. Alice raises an eyebrow. She asks to confirm that was indeed what they saw.

“It’s just... I think I may have seen something like that somewhere, but... I can’t remember where or under what circumstances. Perhaps while interacting with one of the other noble houses? It could be an item that belongs to one of them.”

Ryunosuke tells her the collar had blood on it, and that the item was immediately taken into police custody. Inspector Gregson was particularly hasty about it too.

Curious.

Perhaps Gregson knows who it belongs to? But if he was so hasty to take it away, he may not want to share who. The question would be then... why?

“Be careful, Ryunosuke. There’s a lot of rot and scandal hidden within London. And a lot of people want to keep it hidden. And will go to great lengths to do so. Even putting pressure on law enforcement.”

But a jeweled collar with a ‘B’ emblem... where did it sound vaguely familiar to her? Where did she last see such a thing?

“I would say that goes for you as well. You have to go to more trouble than most people to stay safe in London.”

“Point taken, dear friend. Let us both tread carefully then. But let us not shy away from the darkness either. I have a feeling that... that perhaps this is the beginning of more things to come. And we’ll face them, together.”

In Between The Natsume Cases and Gina Lestrade’s Case

-A More Proper (but tense) Reunion

[This part is kind of hazy at the moment. But, eventually Alice and Barok have their first meeting at their London manor. Tea and food is prepared for her, such that is particularly to her taste. Barok tries to use the conversation to glean how her time in Japan has been, where she is emotionally, how her time in Britain has been thus far, however short a stay it’s been yet.

She presses him on why he opposes the divorce, and he turns it around to ask why she wants a divorce in the first place. She’s reticent about giving him the full story (she doesn’t mention her main motivation was falling in love with someone else and wanting to be with them), but admits she was persuaded to pursue the idea after initially being reluctant on the matter. But ultimately, she asserts, she thinks it’s the right decision.

Barok isn’t very accepting of her answer. He believes her, but he also knows her well. Is she so sure? If it really was a matter of being persuaded, he asks her stop and think about whatever it is the other party has to gain from it. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time she was talked into something she ultimately wasn’t keen on for someone else’s benefit. At the very least, this is a very serious decision she should take more time in considering.

Now, Barok is in part saying this to try and stall matters (although he does mean it honestly as well, if she is being pressured, persuaded, she should take the time to consider if that what she really wants to do). The more time she mulls things over, the more of a chance he has to win her back, he thinks. She interprets this as him being patronizing, however, and tells him she has considered it (which she has, quite a bit).

“Have you really? I would advise you to consider it more, then.” And from there, he flat out refuses to have any discussion of divorce until she has.

This angers Alice, and she tells him to stop treating her like a child who can’t possibly be sure of her own decisions. He rebuts that he has done nothing of the sort. In fact, he’s trying to give her the space to in fact be certain her decisions are her own, and not someone else’s.

Things are tense for a bit, but things take a turn when he shifts to a softer tone, trying to show Alice that he bears her no ill will. In fact, he has missed her, terribly. He asks after her because he loves her, he asserts. And ultimately, that is why he can’t simply agree to the divorce. He cannot cut all ties so easily. Not without certainty that this is her unwavering course.

She relents, and says she’ll give it some time (though she’s certain in the moment she’s already made up her mind, but perhaps some extra time to think and prepare might in fact be needed and helpful). However, she tells him she doesn’t plan on staying in London in the long term, and her plan is to eventually return to Tokyo.

Barok acknowledges this. Internally, he realizes he can’t stall her for too long. He needs to do more than stall. He needs to be active if he wants to suceed in winning her over again.He does wonder if more is at play here than simple persuasion, but perhaps whether there is more going on will reveal itself in time. Even if it is just as she says... that worries him.]

-An Offer from The Devil

About a week and a half after the second Natsume case has concluded, Alice receives a telegram from Lord Chief Justice Stronghart, requesting to meet with her in his office. Alice feels her nerves begin to flare up. What does Stronghart want from her? Is this about her husband?

She eats breakfast and hails a carriage to see him, making sure to make it with enough time to center herself before meeting with him. She enters his chambers, and sees him ahead, conferring with a woman she doesn’t recognize. They seem to be having a rather tense discussion if the tone of their voices is any indication. Eventually, the conversation ceases however and attention turns to her.

Lord Stronghart greets her, welcoming her back to London and commending her on her punctuality. He then proceeds to question her about her studies, particularly what she did with her education while in Japan. She tells him that she picked up her education in Tokyo more or less where she left off in her studies at the University of London (and earlier Brighthart University, when she still lived in America). She had mostly completed her education and training, but still had to complete the last leg of her residency before being certified as a medical examiner.

He nods and looks at his companion for a moment. He then proceeds to chat with her a bit about Forensic Science, how he hopes to incorporate it more into police investigations in Great Britain, and make it an intergral part of the legal system. Alice finds herself growing increasingly suspicious as to what the nature of this meeting truly is. Eventually, Stronghart’s companion helps to redirect him after he seems to be going off on something of a ranty tangent.

Stronghart introduces Doctor Courtney Sithe, Chief Medical Examiner and the head of a new initiative of his, the Forensic Investigation Team. For a moment, Alice can’t help but be a little bit in awe. She’d heard stories of Scotland Yard’s first female coroner. But to actually meet her!

Although her cold affect tempers Alice’s starstruck status, bringing her back down to a more even and levelheaded state of mind. In fact, it may even seem like Dr. Sithe is distrusting of her. Why is that?

Stronghart goes onto say that he is working with Sithe to create a sort of sub team that will be handling more lower level cases, but will occasionally provide additional man-power to the main forensic team. And that is where he comes out with the purpose of his calling her here. He wishes to extend an invitation to her to join this sub-team as its main pathologist, while reporting to Dr. Sithe as her supervisor. Alice tells him she hasn’t completed her residency training this means she’s not certified, and she was planning on returning to Japan in the near future. Stronghart considers this. This may not be a problem as working with the team could fill in the necessary requirement. He would need to speak with the University of London and Imperial Yumei University, but he believes it can be done.

Alice finds herself briefly in shock. The chance to work with Scotland Yard as a coroner is literally right in front of her, practically presented on a silver platter. She is immediately tempted by the offer. But, something doesn’t feel quite right. This is Stronghart whose offering, and if what happened with Ryunosuke when they first arrived is any indication, she should definitely be wary of offers from him. There’s also Dr. Sithe’s mood about the whole matter. But there is another matter as well. Part of her conflict with her husband was over his objection to her desiring to join Scotland Yard, over his refusal to allow such a thing. She’s legally separated from him and can certainly accept the offer of her own accord. But, would he be able to have sway over whether she was able to remain? Would Stronghart withdraw the offer if her husband complained?

She expresses that it is a tempting offer. But she is not so sure he husband would approve of it. Stronghart dismisses her concern, citing that for the past seventeen years or so married woman have had the power to discuss business arrangements of their own accord. Besides, she’s legally separated from him now, isn’t she?And in the process of trying to obtain a divorce no less. He has no opinion on that matter, he assures her. He only cares about having a competent coroner on his team, and she is an ideal fit for the position.

Alice is startled for a moment, but then sighs. Of course Stronghart would know about that. Alice asks some questions about the position - how soon would she be starting (soonish, the day after tomorrow), what sort of equipment they have to work with, workload, etc. But then she asks about about some other members of the subteam who’ve already been assembled.

As it turns out, there will be another pathologist on the team, working as a sort of secondary head. Dr. Sithe’s daughter, the young protege Maria Gorey. Gorey will be alternating time between the two teams, but Stronghart hopes for Gorey to be spending more time with the secondary team. She’s mostly been trained by her mother, and he thinks she will benefit from working with others in her profession.

Dr. Sithe seems apprehensive about the idea, but doesn’t seem at liberty to object to it. Alice attempts to reassure her by telling her she’s taught and worked with others before in helping someone learn and hone technique (thinking of her time being a tutor/study buddy for Iris and a tutor for Ryunosuke). Plus, this is her specialization. She’s skilled, patient, and meticulous. Dr. Sithe responds a bit more positively to this reassurance, but tells Alice that she will wait and see what happens as things unfold.

A realization hits her. If she agrees to this and things panned out with the two universities, she’d probably be staying in on a more permanent basis.

Was that safe for her? Or wise?

Stronghart tells Alice he has a meeting soon (giving her a quite precise amount of time, in the manner Stronghart often does). Alice grits her teeth and accepts the offer, on the condition that she’s not sure she’ll be staying in Britain long term. She is still intending to return to Japan in the long term. Stronghart says he’ll need her for at least a year, in order for the secondary team to have enough time to prove its success or failure. And who knows? Perhaps she will be persuaded to stay longer. After all, working for Scotland Yard is certainly a prize for anyone in her profession. She goes on asking if there’s any additional preparation that’s needing before she starts. He says all of it can be taken care of on her first day of work.

And so, Alice is recruited as a Coroner for Scotland Yard, and works with a team of Forensic Investigators, particularly Maria Gorey. This team is separate from the main Forensic Investigation Team, and that fact will be important later in the story. (Particularly during the Albert Harebrayne Trial Shhhhhhh)

[Here I come to a bit I don’t have quite worked out in detail yet, but during the next month or so Alice works with the team, getting to know then and Gorey. Alice finds Gorey a bit unsettling and even infuriating at first (although she’s not scared of her like some other folks might be). But, she finds herself relating to her quite a bit. And feeling even envious of her a little. She’s around the age Alice was when she first came to Britain. When she was first persuaded to give up her studies to put herself on the marriage market for her Uncle’s political aims. But Maria is able to continue pursuit of her passion. But Alice made a choice back then. And ultimately, she doesn’t regret it. She wouldn’t have met the people who became important to her now otherwise.

She has a run in with Barok, expecting him to scold her for going against his wishes, or for him to have put in a complaint to try and get her off the team. He has done neither of these things. Her expresses disappointment and heavy worry over her choosing to join Scotland Yard. But, if she’s so insistent on doing so, he will do everything he can to support her and keep her safe while she’s in their employ. He also points out that it’s not her abilities he’s concerned with. He’s seen her study, and has watched her worked a time or two when coming to retrieve her from the University of London. He will absolutely vouch for her skills as a coroner. But he tells her to be wary or anyone and everyone within the judiciary. They cannot be trusted. She acknlowedes the warning. (Barok isn’t happy about this, but at the very least, it means she’ll be staying in London for longer than he initially anticipated. Which he is extremely grateful for.)]

- A Terrible Incident Brings Alice back Home

About two or three weeks before the events that precipitate the trial of Gina Lestrade, something terrible befalls Alice. One night, early in the morning hours, the Ward’s residence is broken into by a burglar. Alice, Agnes, and Agnes’ husband William attempt to stop them, but the burglar turns violent and attack the three. All three of them are injured in the struggle against the burglar, and eventually things become dangerous enough that Alice’s life and that of Agnes is threatened, and she must make the terrible decision to end her attacker’s life in order to perserve her own and that of her friends.

Agnes sustains the most serious injuries, needing to be rushed to the Hospital, with her husband sustaining the least. Alice’s injuries are somewhere in between. [Serious enough that she should be home on rest for a while to recover, but not serious enough to need a hospital right away. Exact injuries will be determined later.] Because the burglar was killed, eventually homicide is called just to confirm aspects of the incident. And as a result, when the police arrive, Gregson is among the group that arrives.

He sees Alice, and is the one to personally question her about the incident, including checking on her condition considering she just, well, killed someone. He also asks her a little bit about her being away and back in London, and the fact she’s staying somewhere other than the Van Zieks manor. Is something going on between you two? There are rumors...

“It’s not your business.”

He doesn’t press further. He goes on to tell her that her husband will be contacted about the matter. She nods and continues to answer questions for a bit. Eventually she’s left alone after receiving some first aid, however, sitting by herself in a bit of a haze.

Barok is called on his phone at the manor, usually reserved for work to inform him of the incident. He’s assured that while his wife is injured, she should be alright with rest. It’s also clear she killed her attacker in self-defense, so there don’t appear to be any concerns there. Still, he can’t help but tear off in a panic to come to her side.

Eventually, he finds her in the corner by herself. He’s not sure at first how to approach her, but tentatively offers her comfort (it’s going to be alright). He even reaches out a hand, and is surprised when she’s not only receptive but leans into the touch. He pauses a moment, before giving her a determined look. She won’t like what he’s about to say. But, it’s now neccessary in his eyes.

“I’m taking you home. You’re not safe here.”

She protests at first, but its a weak protest at best. He pleads with her to let him help. She eventually nods, and he looks her over to check her injuries. He asks if she can stand and walk on her own. She thinks she should be able to. But, her lack of balance and sudden exhaustion prove otherwise. He apologizes and says it will be better if he helps her home.

Leaning on him for support, he walks her to his personal carriage, and the carriage takes them back to the manor.

She stumbles out after him when they arrive, and he sweeps her up, opting to carry her in the rest of the way. He takes her to the guest room across the hall from the master bedroom, thinking she probably won’t want to sleep in her old bed. He tucks her in, undoing and stroking her hair when a maid walks in to ask if he needs help. He says he can handle things for now. But he appreciates the offer.

He makes sure her bandages are adequate, as well as tends to other needs and basically looks after her throughout the night, only really leaving to sleep for short periods of time in the room across. He can hardly sleep, even if her wounds aren’t more serious. But he tries to ensure that Alice rests as much as she can.

And thus, Alice comes to reside in the Van Zieks manor again. It was not where she wanted to be. But, as time advances, she discovers that it may in fact have been the perfect place for her to wind up.

She once called this place home. And for now, perhaps it was home again, in a sense.

Next:

The Trial of Gina Lestrade, between Games, and During the Initial Two cases of the Second Game (Part 3)

The Trial of Albert Harebrayne and The 8 Days of Hell (Part 4)

The Trial of Barok Van Zieks and Post Game Ideas (Part 5)

[tarounoden]

FFXIV 6.2 MSQ Theorizing

I suddenly realized that tumblr is actually a blogging site so i can use it for personal writeups and all that rather than just dumping them on discord or w/e

So I’ve decided that I put my crazy MSQ theories here, for the time being. Spoilers for FFXIV 6.1 MSQ ahead, obviously!

=Recap=

SO with that said, lets start with a quick recap of where 6.1 left us; after trying to steal Vrtra’s superannuation, we decide to help them create a stable, safe form of travel into the void to see if we can find Azdaja, whom had a bolivian-army moment and charged into the void to stop xande’s invasion of meracydia (it didn’t work). To do this, we decided to make an artificial Atomos as a means of controlling a void tear. Cid also agrees to help out, working on a protective case for the warding scales. Zenos’ voidsent avatar is back in the void, and seems to be somewhat lamenting it being “bereft of saviours”. Oh, and a big scary knight in black (it’s golbez from ffiv) is making plans to start a war with the source alongside four elemental underlings (they’re the four archfiends from ffiv). We wrap up the MSQ waiting around in Thavnair.

=Existing Theories=

So, after the 6.1 msq, I had two main theories brewing, regarding the identities of two denizens of the Void specifically;

-Zenos’ Voidsent Avatar is Azdaja-

This was actually something I had in my head before 6.1 even released, just from looking at the trailer; I wondered why Y’shtola would accompany us to Alzadaal’s Legacy, and from there my thoughts wandered regarding the connections between dragons and void travel (Fey Wyvern Horn mentions legends of dragons on the first, as well as there being the five-headed dragon in WoD).

But why do I think Azdaja is Zenos’ avatar? Well, for one, Zenos’ avatar has some noticeable reptilian traits; such as scales on parts of its body. Zenos had connections to the first brood prior to becoming a reaper, so he’d likely know how to wield Azdaja’s power effectively as well.

Finally, I raised the pitch on the voice lines from the last 6.1 MSQ cutscene, and Zenos’ Avatar’s voice seems to be a deep, feminine contralto, not dissimilar to the voices of other feminine-presenting dragons like Vidofnir.

The 6.2 live letter also presented an interesting piece of evidence that I think could also contribute to this theory, but I’ll get to that in a bit.

-The “Knight in Black” is a Shard of Azem-

This one, admittedly, hasn’t got much evidence around it yet. However, what makes Golbez really interesting in FFIV is his relationship with his younger brother Cecil; which is something the 3D remake and Dissidia explore quite a bit.

Considering that even in their one cutscene Golbez borrowed most of his mannerisms (such as the cape flip) from Dissidia, I imagine he will be borrowing a lot from that iteration of the character; but that’d be hard without an equivalent to Cecil.

But since the trailer WoL has been played up as a Cecil reference for this expansion filled with FFIV (DRK > PLD, ect), I don’t think it’s out of the question for there to be some form of relation between Golbez and our Warrior of Light. But, well, Golbez is apparently a ~10,000 year old Voidsent here, so them being both Shards of Azem is probably more likely than a secret sibling relationship.

=6.2; What do we know?=

-The Patch Title-

Well, to start, Patch 6.2 is titled “Buried Memory”. We know patch titles don’t always have to be fully related to just the MSQ (see patch 3.2, which was a pun on Alexander as well as being related to the MSQ events, or patch 5.4, which was moreso leaning into Ryne and Gaia’s futures). So this patch title may not be entirely related the MSQ.

And, as kindly noted by the arr/FFXIV subreddit discord translators, the JP title for the patch more closely translates to something like “Forbidden Memory”, which paints a very different picture, to say the least!

But what exactly could be this “Buried” or “Forbidden” memory?

-The Dungeon-

We learned that the MSQ dungeon for this patch will be called “The Fell Court of Troia”, and judging from the shown screenshots, it definitely appears to be a dungeon in the void! We were shown two screenshots that were explicitly confirmed to be from the dungeon (but one other one is also likely to be set in it... more on that later!), one being in some kind of literal dungeon, and the other being an exterior area, with the dark skies of the Void looming over the horizon.

Now, “court” actually has a few different meanings in English, so just to check I translated the JP name of the dungeon, “異界���城トロイアコート”; which is approximately “Underworld Isolated Castle Troia Court”. With “court” being spelled Katakana. Which... doesn’t help. So uh... I’m just assuming they mean “court” as in “King Arthur’s Court” for now, and not like a tennis court.

Troia, on the other hand, would be familiar for everyone that’s played FFIV. Troia in that game is a matriarchal nation, with women occupying both the leadership and a large share of jobs that in other towns were typically filled by men. They are the keepers of the Earth Crystal; but it gets stolen by the “Dark Elf” and the party needs to go and get it back.

-The MSQ Screenshots-

We were also treated to two screenshots from the MSQ, featuring Cid meeting up with our gang of weird void researchers (likely to deliver the shielded warding scale for us) and of Zenos’ voidsent in a rather familiar dungeon-esque location...

=The 6.2 Theories=

Alright, let’s get down to the good stuff.

-We’ll Be Breaking Into the Fell Court (and not the other way around)-

So, despite the live letter ordering the screenshots such that the interior picture is set before the exterior picture, I have a small theory; that the WoL and friends will be breaking into the Fell Court in order to rescue someone, rather than breaking out. Why? Because the dev team, after ARR, has taken care to not put the player into a non-instanced state of imprisonment.

The reasons for this should be pretty obvious. Imprisoning the player, and then letting them escape freely prior to queuing into the dungeon would be... not very immersive. Especially if we’re trapped in a castle dungeon in the void; how’d the WoL be even able to get back into the instance if they left?

And yes, I’m aware the game breaks this rule a few times for trial bosses. But so far, it’s not been done with dungeons, as far as I’m aware. 

But why will we be breaking into the fell court? Well, I believe it’s because we’re aiming to rescue Zenos’ avatar. Why? Well, for one, that screenshot of Zenos’ avatar in the dungeon-looking area is extremely similar to one of the Troia screenshots; with similar brickwork layouts as well as the prominent arches.

But, to go a step further; as noted previously, in FFIV, Troia was in conflict with the Dark Elf, whom had stolen the nation’s crystal. But this is where things get interesting; in FFIV, after being defeated, the Dark Elf transforms into a Dark Dragon.

Isn’t it odd that the name of the dungeon here is associated with the city that was feuding with a dark humanoid that can turn into a Dragon? Idk, it seems like more than a coincidence...

So, if Zenos’ avatar is Azdaja, then I think they are captured by Troia at some point in the 6.2 MSQ, and we need to go and rescue them by breaking into Troia’s castle.

That’s all I have at the moment, at any rate. I wouldn’t be shocked if the 6.2 trailer in the next Live Letter proves me wrong; but at this stage, I’m pretty interested in seeing what’s next in store for the MSQ!