#a quiet thunder | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lucienarcheron · 8 months

Text

Quiet Thunder - I [Elucien]

Prompt: Lucien expresses his frustrations to Elain. | Part II

Genre: Angst Rating: SFW Author’s note: This takes place post-ACOFAS.

It had started the night before. An unusual discomfort had taken place in his chest and he had rubbed at it all evening, waiting for it to pass, trying to ignore it as Jurian and Vassa discussed with him. He had tried to participate, discuss, and laugh along but the feeling kept intensifying as the night went on.

Something was wrong with Elain.

The thought kept repeating itself in his mind over and over again but he tried to push it away, tried not to think about it. Elain had been going through a variety of emotions the past few months and Lucien had silently endured them all.

Space was what she wanted and space is what he would give her. Even when it was impossible for him not to think of her constantly. It was an ache. An ache Lucien didn’t ask for and an ache he didn’t think he’d experience again.

But now, it was well into the morning and the feeling had only increased, the discomfort edging onto pain that had him bolting upright from his bed and winnowing into Velaris, haphazardly slipping a shirt on, his sleeping trousers nearly slipping off in his haste.

He quickly knocked on the door and when a minute passed, his knocking became more frantic.

A wide-eyed Feyre slowly opened the door and blinked at Lucien. “I know we’re friends Lucien, but you better have a good explanation for why you’re here looking like this.”

“Elain.” he choked. “Is she alright? How badly is she hurt?”

“Elain?” she blinked. “She’s fine she’s just — oh.”

“Oh, what?”

“She started her cycle this morning.” Feyre said with a small wince then waved a hand over him. “This makes sense now. Come in.”

Lucien followed her in, the tightness around his chest loosening slightly. Just her cycle. A cycle from the deepest pits of hell if he remembered correctly from his own mother’s experiences. From Jesminda’s. His chest tightened again at the thought of her name and he shook his head at the shame he felt. Ashamed that he was thinking of his previous lover while his mate lay upstairs in pain.

Not that she wanted anything to do with him.

Lucien followed Feyre into the huge kitchen of the estate and he nodded his head in greeting at the two half-wraiths who returned the gesture.

“How —how is she?” he asked softly.

“It’s been a rough morning,” Feyre said quietly as she took a tray loaded with hot tea and a small portion of food from Nuala’s hands. “I was actually on my way up to see her now. She’s mortified that everyone knows she’s dealing with it. As you’ve probably picked up by now, Elain is a tad more modest than most.”

Lucien nodded, a thin smile on his face. “From the few times we’ve been in the same room standing miles apart. Yes, I’ve gathered.”

Feyre gave him a look then sighed. “I’ve tried, you know.”

Lucien shook his head. “Don’t worry. I don’t blame her. I don’t blame you either. It’s not your responsibility.” He paused, glancing at his hands clenching the edge of the counter and then up at Feyre. “Would — would it be alright if I saw her? Made sure she’s okay?”

“I don’t know if she’ll be up for that.” Feyre said, biting on her lip in thought. “I can ask and see.”

He nodded in response. “I’ll wait down here.” he replied then sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry for coming in like this. But I — I felt it. Her discomfort and pain. I thought she was hurt. As her mate, I’d — I’d like to help in any way I can.”

“A very specific kind of hurt.” Feyre said, scrunching her nose and then chuckling.

He gave her a small smile. “Indeed.” he replied then his smile fell from his face. “Um, let me know what she says.”

She only gave him a sympathetic smile in return, leaving with the tray in her hands. Lucien let out a breath and tried to remember why he was even here in the first place. Again, it wasn’t like she wanted anything to do with him. Months had passed and yet...at the first sign of dismay, here he was.

So much for dignity.

This must be what hell felt like.

Elain was in actual hell.

She let out another pitiful whimper, her fingers digging into her pillow trying to figure out what was worse: her uterus that was viciously shedding itself or her lower back that felt like a thousand knives were being stabbed in it.

She curled up herself in a fetal position, hoping to center all of it in one spot and Elain was pretty sure if it was possible to die from this, she would’ve been dead ages ago.

But then — then something felt different. Her head lifted slightly and she immediately knew what it was.

His scent.

Her mate.

Why was he here?

Why would he come?

Elain knew she hadn’t been the kindest to him. In fact, she was the rudest she had ever been to anyone when it came to him.

Lucien.

He wasn’t a bad person. He’d been nothing but kind to her and yet, she couldn’t make herself be more open to him. Previously, it was because she had still been in love with her ex-fiancé who had tossed her to the side in a moment when she needed him most.

But that wound was still there. Mending, but still there.

Now, however, she avoided Lucien because she wasn’t ready for any other alternative he may offer her.

It wasn’t fair. But Elain was in no way going to change the amount of the distance between them. In case — in case he demanded more than she could offer.

So why was he here?

A knock on her door interrupted her thinking and she weakly mumbled, “Come in.”

Elain registered Feyre’s footsteps as she closed the door and came closer to settle by her side at the edge of the bed, placing the tray on the nightstand next to it.

“How are you feeling?” Feyre asked and Elain let out a whine.

“Like I want to die.”

Feyre chuckled, rubbing Elain’s arm gently. “I bought you tea and some light food.”

Elain rubbed her cheek into the pillow, glancing at Feyre for a few seconds then averting her gaze. “I know he’s here.”

The room fell silent.

“Yes, he is.” Feyre finally spoke.

“Why?”

“Because he sensed that you’re hurting and wanted to check on you.”

“Why?”

“Are you really asking me that?”

“We’re strangers, he doesn’t have to pretend to care.”

“He’s not pretending to care. He does care. You’re his mate and you’re also my sister.”

“I doubt he’s here because he’s worried about his friend’s sister suffering through her cycle.” she said with a snort and then groaned softly as she stretched her body back flat on the bed, hoping to ease some of the tension in it.

Feyre sighed. “You know, he doesn’t want anything from you. He just wants to check on you.”

“I’d rather he didn’t.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re strangers.”

“You’ve known each other for a year now and the only reason you’re not any less of strangers is your own fault.” Feyre said firmly and Elain shot her a look.

“What do you want, Feyre?”

“I want you to just stop worrying about him whisking you away and forcing you to be his bride for one minute and actually talk to him.” her sister said softly. “Like it or not, that link will always be there. You avoiding it won’t make it go away. So stop pretending it’s not there and address it so you both can move on.”

Elain eyed Feyre silently, her lips a thin line. Her sister was right, of course. That didn’t mean she wanted to talk to him. Especially in this state.

“Not today.”

“Elain.”

“Not. Today.” she hissed.

Feyre only silently gazed at Elain then sighed and stood. “Fine. I’ll let him know.”

“It probably won’t be for a while.” Elain only managed and watched as Feyre’s mouth turned into a thin line then nod as she opened the door and —

He was standing there. Standing in her doorway.

Lucien had tried to stop himself, tried not to care enough to follow but when he saw a chance, he took it. He just wanted to make sure she was alright. Maybe for once, get a damn word in to this female he was shackled to.

He stood silently outside her door. Debating whether he should knock or wait for Feyre to come out but then he had heard every word in their conversation and the conversation had frozen him to the spot, jaw clenched.

Truly like a deer caught in the wild, she was staring at him as though caught in a dirty act. Still as beautiful as the first time he’d seen her.

Elain bolted up or tried to, and slowly sat up with a soft whimper.

“You don’t have to get up. For once, please don’t.” he said. Please let me say what I have to say so it doesn’t stay bottled in me forever, was what he really wanted to say instead.

Feyre’s gaze hardened at him and he silently stood in the doorway, watching the two sisters exchange glances.

“I thought you were going to wait downstairs.” Feyre finally asked, turning back to him.

“Nuala had hot pads to help Elain. I offered to bring them up.” he stated dryly.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Elain replied, her cheeks flushing that he was standing at her door. That he had actually come up. How would she avoid him now?

“No, I didn't have to.” he agreed, then held out the pad to Feyre. “ But I wanted to. I know you’re in pain and uncomfortable.”

He watched as Feyre silently took the pad from him and brought it back to Elain’s side where they exchanged a silent conversation that had him dropping his gaze to his feet, the back of his neck heating. When was he ever going to be in a place that didn’t make him feel like scum?

“I don’t think now is a really good time.” Feyre said, walking back towards him. “Elain is pretty tired, perhaps another day we can —”

“When?” he said through clenched teeth and he felt both females pause, his eyes still on his feet. “When, Elain? When will you spare me some of your time so we can finally talk about this?”

“Lucien —” Feyre began but he held up a hand gently, finally locking gazes with his mate.

“I just want to say my piece and maybe I’m a bastard to be saying it with her in this state, but at least I know she won’t walk away and I can finally say what I have to say.” he continued.

Elain’s eyes widened slightly and then she averted her gaze, like she always did around him.

“And what do you have to say?” she asked quietly.

“Do me the dignity and at least look at me when I’m speaking, please.” he said quietly but firmly.

He watched as Elain met his gaze and they shared a moment of silence. A moment where frustration, longing, sorrow, and hurt — so much hurt was exchanged in that gaze.

Feyre stood silently between them but Lucien’s gaze never wavered from Elain’s.

“Yes?” she asked him.

“A year. A year has passed and you’ve ignored me.” he began, a hand moving to grasp the doorframe. “I can’t blame you. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. But we’re mates. That bond, that tie is always going to be there hanging over our heads whether we want it to or not.” Lucien swallowed trying to choke down his frustration, his shame. “But you are very arrogant to assume that I asked for this. That I want to be your mate.”

He watched her eyes widen.

“You don’t want a mate? That’s fair. I didn’t want one either.” Lucien continued, choking back a snarl. “I already had the big love of my life. She was everything to me. I thought she was my mate, I was waiting for that mating bond to snap in place but that didn’t happen.” He squeezed his eyes shut, the wood of the doorframe groaning under his grip and his voice softened as he continued, “She was murdered because of me and I have had to live with that for years on end until the Cauldron decided to throw us together.”

He watched her delicate hand fly to cover her mouth, eyes widened, but in horror this time. He only gave her a tight smile.

“So forgive me for saying this again but, it is very bold of you to assume I am sitting here and asking about you because I am blindingly pining for your affection.” he said, his voice deadly calm. “I am not some rabid animal that is trying to hunt you. I am not some — some filth that is trying to force anything on you. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t ask for you. But the cauldron put us together for some reason or another. It wasn’t what you wanted and it most certainly wasn’t what I wanted or expected. All I ask is that you give us a chance.”

Elain swallowed, her chest rising and falling at his harsh words, at the tone. “A chance at what?”

“To know if there’s anything between us worth fighting for.” he answered. “To know if you’re worth any more effort on my part.”

“Lucien.” Feyre warned but he only held up a hand again.

“I don’t mean it as an insult. I’m not looking for a mate. Not after —” he cut himself off with a swallow then continued, “What I am looking for is a partner. Someone who will be my friend. Someone who will share the terrible moments as well as the good ones. You once said to me that no one ever looked at you, never saw you. You wanted someone who will. Well, that’s what I want too. Someone who sees me, Lucien, and stays.”

A heavy silence fell in the room as Lucien took a deep breath and Elain nervously fiddled with her sleeping gown, at loss for words. Feyre silently watching them both.

Finally, Lucien spoke up again from his position at the door. The position he hadn’t moved from, wouldn’t move from. Not until she let him in.

“The cauldron seems to think you’re it, Elain.” he said, glancing at her once more. “But the cauldron isn’t always right. Maybe we’d be great mates. Maybe we wouldn’t. Maybe we could be friends. Maybe we won’t. But the least — the least you could grant me, us, is a chance to talk about it.”

He watched as her gaze flickered from his face and back to her hands and he didn’t miss the slight trembling of her lips.

“I didn’t ask for this either and I’m not looking for you to love me. I’d like to at least be your friend.” he added softly. “But if you really don’t want that — if you don’t want anything to do with me, then that’s fine, but we need to discuss that. You want me to see you? I do. I see you. More importantly, I feel you all the time. I feel everything that you’re going through and I understand. But please understand this, I cannot and won’t stand having no closure on this any longer. I can’t.”

He heard his voice crack on the last word and lowered his hands that has been gripping the door back to his sides. Again, Lucien felt his whole face heat up as silence enveloped them.

Say something. He wanted to beg. Say anything.

As though she heard him, Elain finally spoke up. “Would you have cared to want to be my friend if I wasn’t your mate?” she asked and his head snapped up to meet her gaze drilling into him. “Would I have mattered to you then?”

“You are Feyre’s sister, someone who is a close friend of mine. I would’ve cared about you because you’re her sister and then as we got to know each other, I would’ve cared about you for you.” he replied. “You’re important as your own person, Elain but...you haven’t given me a chance to get to know you.”

“And now? The only reason you want to get to know me is because of this bond?”

“Would you even know I existed if it wasn’t for the bond? Are you giving me a chance to get to know you despite it?”

Elain fell silent at that and he watched her swallow before answering, “He still has a place in my heart.”

“She still has one in mine.” he only replied.

He watched her gaze drift down to her hands as she fiddled with her fingers again but Lucien had had enough. His eyes locked on Feyre, “Heated massages always work well. My mother used to use this special lotion that stays heated as it’s rubbed in. It helped to alleviate the discomfort. I told the twins about it and Cerridwen went to get some from a shop in the city that I looked in once. I thought it might help.” he said quietly then his gaze flickered to Elain. “Feel better. Find me when you do.”

Lucien whirled on his heels but saw and heard nothing around him as he blindly made his way to the front door of the estate and winnowed out, winnowing back to his own bedroom, hoping for once, maybe today, he wouldn’t choke on his own frustrations.

#elucien #elucien fanfics #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #acotar fanfiction #gfics #fic: quiet thunder #pre-acosf

60 notes · View notes

mifithemuffin · 11 months

Text

"what's your anger language" feat. aod characters

#i do think Cathy's also ''yelling and cursing''#but for the sake of diversity let's use her maniac cackles as a proof of anger #in canon Gray puts on a show with his stern imposing preachy voice #e.g: the way he puts Danny down during the trial with his thunder-like ''Daniel Dickens!''#but outside of the trial stuff #outside of his God role #im pretty sure Gray gets all quiet and scary!!#angels of death #satsuriku no tenshi #incorrect quotes #rachel gardner #isaac foster #catherine ward #edward mason #daniel dickens #abraham gray

101 notes · View notes

bobbile-blog · 6 months

Text

Everyone’s talking about Conk Creete baybee but no one’s mentioning Kroos calling the civilians sus. What the fuck. We are in the evil Arknights timeline. 10/10 update would recommend.

#arknights #kroos arknights #all quiet under the thunder

29 notes · View notes

fudgecicles · 6 months

Text

Read chapter 12 of Arknights. It is a thematically ambitious story. From my reckoning, it has four main topics it is trying to tackle: -War under the lens of the homeland, the experience of being displaced, and the horror of seeing your homeland and everything you love be destructively changed irrevocably. It makes you question whether you knew the place and people in it in the first place. -War under the lens of politics, the insidious nature of this perspective, the way it erases all the human suffering underneath it. The Trilby Asher is the representative of this point of view in the story, a fittingly really silly person, but whose transactional logic, and his ability to mete out the threats is chilling. -The questioning of the inherent authority of a monarch, which the story attempts to discredit by reductio ad absurdum. Siege and Amiya are put in a situation where their authority is put to the test. Siege in the end couldn't save much of anything with it, and Amiya couldn't deny the charges levied against her. -The overall meaning of all the struggle people go through, which is mainly covered from the perspective of the immortal shapeshifter Damazti Cluster, who in the end tries out death as a way to understand that struggle, and for whom death is a novel experience. I am not sure how well each of these elements fit together as an overall whole, but I was overall satisfied with how each of these points were tackled by the story. As for the reading experience, the story starts out as a slow burn, but overall picks up once they enter the Norport siege. It is a low intensity chapter, but whose individual part builds up a low key terror/tragic feeling to great heights. Now, the question is whether the catharsis of the ending matches that build up, and in my experience, it does okay, but only okay. It needs a little more for the full emotional release. Favorite character: Damazti Cluster was a really well built up antagonist, and enjoyed every bit of the story that showed his unconventional point of view of life and death. Minor characters that got my attention: Cador, who has an absolutely based opinions of the monarchy during his questioning of Siege, although to be fair I did feel sorry for Siege, who didn't have much control over her situation. I also have a soft spot for Colbert, mainly because I have personally had a similar conversation with others about my own identity.

#arknights #all quiet under the thunder

28 notes · View notes

sculptorofcrimson · 3 months

Text

Mountain of Bones

“Of course I remember. I remember it all in perfect enumeration.”

It was written there, upon the bones that had been betrayed. Memories of victory, of heroism, of warriors in golden clad. Gods sharing their triumph, demigods that had walked the earth side by side by them. There had been glory, warm and golden and bladed, like the weight of living sunlight caught in a bottle. And then the blood mountain. Ararat.

You may call it mercy. A mercy blow, a knife through the heart. Peace. Relief. The last remedy for the clinically ill. But what of loyalty? Just what could be said of their loyalty? What could be said for those who served Him in the most ruthless of His incarnations, the warlord that conquered Terra beneath gold and hail? Those who gave their lives to Him, knowing they would end as rabid dogs beneath the fray. Knowing this path would break them, char them, leave nothing behind, and still choose to walk for their master.

What could be said of their loyalty? Is it not just as pure as those who had no choice but to obey? Those who had their brains rebuilt by His hand, those who could know nothing of loyalty for they never knew betrayal? What could they know about the violation of their bones, of their flesh, of knowing your body would eat itself alive in its hunger and still choosing to soldier on? When have they ever known pain, when their lord would not even afford them the luxury of fear?

Go on. Stand. How could one bear the weight of the bones upon the frost?

They were dying, the living dead. And they were afforded a glorious end, before their bones were buried beneath the frost.

“It was not my choice.” he rumbled softly, his voice as tenebrous as the shadows above the graves. His golden armor was immaculate, it's carvings as luxurious as the graves of kings, as was befitting the guardian of a god. “I obeyed…” It was for unity. It was for unity that they lowered the blade.

The hands of the dead stretch back, blackened beneath layers of soot, bony fingers holding coins of their betrayal like ash. There was pain there, deep and hollow and aching, pain for what was lost, what had been so utterly broken so long ago, for the price of obedience.

He obeyed. And paid the price.

It is written there, the price for ruling the world, written upon the bones that had been betrayed by the sun, exiled by the earth, buried beneath frost and bone. It is written here, by the hands that had betrayed them, upon the bones of the betrayed. It is written in the bones, the bones of Mt. Ararat.

18 notes · View notes

downfalldestiny · 9 months

Text

I need some time and peace 🌊 !.

#Mood #Quiet #Alone #Peace #Thought #Away #Calmness #downfalldestiny #downfall #life #Need #what i need #Waves #thunder #Lightning

46 notes · View notes

thunder-threnodies · 10 days

Note

14 & 30?? 👀

14. Would they agree with the term "guilty pleasure"? Do they have any?

They do not agree with the term but understands why it exists. And yeah they have. First of all, they brew a honeyed brandy with Prisoner's Honey (harvested from those requesting their services no cages for them) (not after considering the last Red Honey they have could possibly come from a certain 6'2" Silverer Pirate) and regularly enjoy the hunt of some Parabolan Selves gone rampant, their killing. For this reason they're in very good terms with the Director (@warabola oc)

Also the cutting knife, the scent of blood, feeling the life and heartbeat in the blade and at their fingertips. Bloodplay and knife play. Swordfighting to death. Blood given as a love token, drank while down on their knees, kissing the slit wrist.

30. What would they do, if they knew they'd be forgiven?

Tell Hiram about all the deals they made to ensure he will live on with his Deviless. Tell him to check the inside of their violin, for there's a concert for piano and violin and a little vial of red honey (Morgan's own memories of a love long dead and their love for Hiram) and Morgan's final request, to ask the Deviless to play it, while high on Honey so he can feel one last time and know that Morgan's departure to the East has nothing to do with him.

All this will be discovered by the Parabolan Lost Reflection of Morgan, that will be a mix of every memory of every person he loved but with the appearance of Eleonor, the Loved one who died in their Nemesis. She'll be a TERRIBLE violin player but she will be drawn to that violin and find it's hidden treasure. Also, she takes form in the CiS as a late teen. Some sort of Ockham situation here.

#fallen london #thunder threnodies #oc:captain francis dargor #oc: hiram hargrave #oc: the quiet deviless #oc: the director

10 notes · View notes

randomreasonstolive · 1 year

Text

Reason to Live #8290

Live for the serenity of rain and thunder. A moment of peace and quiet in a burdensome world. – Guest Submission

(Please don't add negative comments to these posts.)

#sad #help #hope #reason to live #depressed #depression #empty #alone #mental illness #anxiety #trauma #guest submission #mental health #serenity #rain #thunder #nature #peace #quiet #relaxing

150 notes · View notes

au-wannabe-the-very-best · 8 months

Note

I’m glad you’re back! So a reincarnated protag? What’s your general opinion on them since you are writing out a story involving one?

I generally really like the reincarnation/transmigration/isekai tropes. My only problems with them is when they get too dark and edgy, I quickly lose my motivation to continue reading. When the protagonist starts talking about Pokémon like enslaved animals I'm just immediately no longer interested, period. The only way I would be interested is if the mc decided to join Team Plasma or something equally stupid over misguided beliefs, clearly framing the story from the perspective of an Unreliable Narrator.

I'll admit, I've tried starting up fanfic for this general idea a lot, but I had never gone really far with it until I started writing The Quiet Before the Thunder. I was honestly startled that I had written as much as I had for the prologue. And really excited! I got to create a realistic OC who isn't Red but still fit the Silent Protagonist idea, effectively embodying who Red was supposed to be. Trying to create that character led to me creating a backstory that makes sense for that kind of character, which led to character traits that would make sense in relation to the backstory; My version of Red practically wrote himself seamlessly. I'm really in love with this project of mine, so I think that speaks volumes for how much I really like reincarnation stories.

#The Quiet Before the Thunder #Trainer Red #Pokemon #Pokémon

24 notes · View notes

renaerys · 1 year

Photo

Happy birthday @scorpion-hime!

Art commission by @mayskalih

Scene inspired by A Quiet Thunder

#ShiSaku #Shisui Uchiha #Uchiha Shisui #Haruno Sakura #Sakura Haruno #HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST BUNNY WHO EVER BUNNY'D #you have always said you joined the shisaku fandom when there was only one (1) art of them #so have another by one of the best goddamn artists in the naruto fandom!#god he's hot in this wtf #sasha i will get you shipping this somehow istg #sakura's best outfit btw #bunny i hope you have a fantastic birthday!!#fanart #commission #a quiet thunder #scorpion-hime #mayskalih

1K notes · View notes

gaynfl · 25 days

Text

HUGE wins for izzy gaynfl today as there is a midwest style rainstorm happening outside 🙌🏻

#how I've missed thunder and lightening #be quiet izzy

12 notes · View notes

arknightsoutofcontext · 3 months

Text

All Quiet Under the Thunder: 12-10 Broadcast Hotline is Busy

#arknights #w #shining #kal’tsit #kaltsit #all quiet under the thunder

14 notes · View notes

lucienarcheron · 8 months

Text

Quiet Thunder - II [ Elucien ]

Prompt: This is a follow-up to part one of Quiet Thunder where Lucien expresses his frustrations to Elain post-ACOFAS. This is the Elain follow-up. |

Rating: SFW

Elain took a deep breath of a new day in Velaris. She paused in the busy streets and her eyes darted around the buildings, the color, and the different kinds of people roaming around her.

Would she ever feel like she belonged? A lump formed in her throat and she tried to swallow it as she walked on. Elain tried. She tried to fit in and stay busy and be happy but every time she looked at herself in the mirror, she felt nothing but shame.

Shame for who she had been. Shame for who she was now. Shame for allowing herself to cope in the only way she knew how, by ignoring it.

Everything was different and yet, the same.

She took another deep breath and walked on, her fingers gently rubbing the tip of her right ear; a new habit she had picked up when nervous. A habit that only kept reminding her of the differences in her body. A body that was hers yet not, a body she was still getting to know all over again.

Elain walked on, past the busy streets into a quieter neighborhood, where each of the houses burst with personality. She saw one, two, and three-story homes, with yards, picket fences, gardens, and treehouses. She smiled at those who smiled at her and nodded at those who didn’t.

Would she ever get used to being so known like this? Would she go back to enjoying socializing and welcoming people into her life?

Elain sighed, as she did so often these days, and finally stopped in front of one particular home. A quaint, cottage-like home with a modest gate, surrounded by greenery. Wildflowers lining a white fence. Her heart thudded and her throat bobbed. It was so lovely.

Elain swallowed then slowly made her way to the front door of his home and stood.

She stood and stood and stood.

Elain stood, eyeing the white door and she wondered how long she’d been standing there; ten minutes or ten months.

It had been about three weeks since he’d come to see her and said all that he said to her but she hadn’t heard from him since. She may have only been standing in front of his home for these few minutes, but deep down, Elain knew she had been standing still in all aspects of her life for so much longer.

“Feel better. Find me when you do.”

The words echoed in her mind now as she stood, rooted to her spot. Thinking back on the past year and some, so many things had just happened to her in her life and she had stood, passively letting it by. Had she just been lying in wait then? Waiting for something to push her story forward? To force her into action?

She shook her head then and bit her lip. What was she so afraid of? He was giving her a choice. A chance. Free reins. He had made it clear from the very beginning, he wanted nothing more than a conversation and gave her the choice to decide when.

“If you don’t want anything to do with me, then that’s fine, but we need to discuss that.”

A decision she had the right to make. A choice given back to her to move her life forward, on her own terms.

“I didn’t ask for this either and I’m not looking for you to love me. I’d just like to at least be your friend.”

A friend. A friend that would be tethered to her soul.

Feyre had mentioned he was back in Velaris for the time being, to visit, to work, she wasn't sure. Elain had stopped listening after Feyre had announced his return, the first one of his since she last saw him. She had shot up and had finally decided — actually, decided on her next move. No one had questioned it.

As she stood here now, her grip tightened around the bouquet of flowers she had put together to give to him. Her gaze dropped to the rainbow of color in her hand; it was a mix of Scarlet Geranium, White Poppy, asphodel, and purple hyacinth. She tried to pick flowers that would express how she felt; there wasn’t a language she spoke as fluently as when she spoke in flower.

She hoped he could translate her apology but then again, Elain wondered if he’ll even want anything from her. After all, she hadn’t been very kind to him.

“The least you could grant me, us, is a chance to talk about this.”

Elain closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Maybe she should go back. She didn’t know what she’d even say to him. What would they even talk about? Was there a point in moving forward if you didn’t know what direction to go?

“Elain?”

His scent hit her as she whirled around and found him standing a few feet back, a bag of goods in his hand. He blinked at her in surprise and she instantly flushed.

“Hello.” she said, eyes darting all around them before settling on him again and she held the flowers out. “These — these are for you.”

Once again, Lucien blinked at her in surprise and Elain’s flush deepened.

“Oh!” he said and hesitantly reached out to take them. “Thank you...I, um — hello.”

Their fingers brushed as he took the bouquet from her and the two shuddered. She eyed Lucien and by the look on his face, he had felt the shock of the touch too.

She curled a loose strand of hair behind her ear then clasped her hands together, took a small breath, and stepped back. “Feyre said it had been a while since you’ve been back to this home here. I figured flowers could...brighten it up.”

Elain watched him look down at the flowers silently and hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath until he chuckled softly and she loosened a sigh of relief.

“Thank you. I appreciate the thought.” he replied, meeting her gaze. “I went to replenish a few missing things.” He paused and she noticed how his fingers tightened around the bouquet as a moment of silence passed between them, then, “Would you like to come in?”

Elaine blinked. “Come in?”

“Yes.”

“Inside your home?”

“...Yes?”

“...I don’t know if that’s proper.” she said breathlessly and watched his mouth slip into an ever so slight frown. “Unless!” she quickly added and he blinked. “Unless...it’s fine?”

“Of course it is.” he replied softly, his brows furrowed. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Elain bit her lip as she glanced at him. Their eyes met and they both immediately flushed again when his gaze narrowed on her lips. “I don’t know what the social etiquette rules here are.” she whispered. “I don’t want to overstep.”

Lucien gave her a smile of understanding. “You could never overstep.” he said softly and she nodded silently, brows furrowed.

A heartbeat of silence passed then,

“So... you want me to come inside your home?” she asked hesitantly, feeling her face heat all over again.

“I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you to.” he said with a small smile. “Did you think I’d have you at my door and not invite you in? Terrible manners that would be, wouldn’t it?”

She gave him an awkward smile. “To be completely honest...I hadn’t thought about what would happen after I got here.”

Lucien paused then, gazing at her, his eyes locked on hers and Elain felt a tingling sensation — as though he could see right through her. Right through her jumbled thoughts. She watched him nod, seemingly to himself then walked past her to open his door, gesturing for her to go in.

“If this is your way of instigating a night of sweet lovemaking, I’m afraid you’ll have to invite me for dinner first.” he replied with a cheeky smile.

Elain froze mid-step, her eyes widened and her face flushing even deeper than before. Lucien’s eyes found hers and his expression shifted from a smile to horror, his body going rigid.

“Oh gods.” he whispered and immediately straightened. “I’m so sorry Elain, I was only joking —I do it when I’m nervous — very inappropriate — I don’t want to make you uncomfortable – it was just — ”

But he stopped as she started giggling.

Lucien watched her giggle uncontrollably, doubling over and his lips twitched, unsure of what to make of it.

“I thought I insulted you but I suppose I really am as hilarious as I think I am.” he said with a brow raised. “The idea of us making passionate love is just hysterical, hm?”

Elain sighed, wiping her eyes. He had caught her so off-guard with his statement, her own reaction surprised her. The man she’d been ignoring for over a year now was making jokes with her! About the two of them! Being intimate!

The two stood and looked at each other, taking in the lightness of the moment. That he had made her laugh. It brought back the memory of the first time he had inspired a smile out of her.

“Of all the things I thought you’d say, that was definitely not it.” she finally said, looking away from him shyly. “I — it’s not very proper though, is it?”

“Mmm.” he mused, then chuckled. “Proper is selective in my arsenal but I’ll be sure not to scandalize you further with my jokes. I can be a gentleman for you.”

“I would think being yourself is the best policy.” she replied with a small chuckle and finally stepped into his home. Her eyes darted around his living space, taking it all in.

“Are you saying if I am being a gentleman, I’m not being myself?” he asked with mock offense and Elain snorted.

“Based on the things I’ve heard from Feyre? It’s debatable.”

“Asking Feyre about me, are you?” Lucien asked teasingly and Elain rolled her eyes. “I knew my wily charms would eventually come through.”

“There’s the snark I was warned about.” she muttered and he chuckled.

Elain felt his eyes on her as she continued to scan his home. It wasn’t too cluttered. It was kept tidy and everything in the space had a practical use. Without having to look at him, she could tell her assessment was making him nervous.

“Is it alright if I close the door or should I leave it open in case you want to run after I crack another inappropriate joke?”

Elain rolled her eyes, then turned to meet his gaze, her cheeks rosy once more. “I’m here, aren’t I? I made the choice to be.”

Lucien hummed softly and walked past her, placing both the bags and flowers on the small dining table. He paused then, “Yes. You did make the choice to come.” he said and braced his hands on his kitchen counter, clearing his throat. “But, forgive me for asking so bluntly and right away but — why are you here?”

Elain’s brows furrowed and she looked down, thinking exactly how to answer that. A moment passed then she looked at him, patiently waiting for her response.

“You told me to feel better and then come find you.” she said quietly. “So I’m here. To talk.”

Lucien slowly nodded. “To talk.”

“Yes.”

He watched her and it unnerved her how assessing his eyes seemed to be, how assessing his eyes had been from the moment he saw her. Elain had often wondered just how the mating bond worked and had asked Rhys and Feyre so many times... but it didn’t quite make sense as much as it did at this moment.

When he gave her a small smile and she felt a warm jolt in her chest.

“Talking is one of my favorite things to do. I do love the sound of my own voice.” he replied with another one of his cheeky grins. “Are you hungry? I could make us something quick if you’d like. Or we can have a cup of tea?”

“I think tea would be lovely.” she said, a small smile and he nodded.

Elain watched him quietly as he moved about his kitchen and it was when she noticed the slight tremble in his hands as he filled the kettle she realized how awkward it must feel for him and how hard he was trying to make her feel comfortable.

Elain could try and meet him halfway. She was a social butterfly. She could diffuse the awkward.

“Do you have powers — I mean abilities?” she blurted out and Lucien paused. “I think fire, yes?’

His lips twitched and Elain flushed at how silly the question was. Social butterfly indeed.

“Yes, I do. Fire manipulation is one of them.”

She pursed her lips at the teasing smile he gave her. “Can you heat up the kettle without using actual fire then?” she asked, pointing as she moved closer to inspect.

Lucien tilted his head as he watched her stand closer to him. Without taking his eyes off her, he put down the kettle then touched it and Elain watched in fascination as steam started emerging from it and then heard the bubbling of the boiled water.

“That must be handy.” she said lamely.

“Please Elain, settle down. What will the neighbors think if they hear how inappropriately you’re flirting with me?”

Elain scoffed and playfully shoved him then immediately froze at the contact. She slowly looked up at him and when he smiled at her she felt her whole body heat up.

“Sorry.” she mumbled and stepped back but Lucien only chuckled in response and playfully bumped her with his shoulder.

“No apologies needed. Let me set up the tray and then we can sit outside by the garden.”

“You have a garden?” she asked and Lucien watched her whole face light up in excitement.

He paused then rubbed his neck with a sheepish smile. “It’s not in the best shape at the moment, considering I travel often but I had started growing some plants and vegetables,” he said then gestured with a hand. “Maybe you can give me some ideas on how to fix it? I know you enjoy gardening.”

“I’d love to!” Elain beamed then curled a hair behind her ear, her cheeks rosy. “It could be a fun project to work on — if you want to.” she began, gushing. “I really love the organization process of setting up a new space and knowing which plants to put next to what and you seem to have good space back there and —”

But then Elain froze again.

Had she just casually offered to work on a project with him? Someone she’d been actively avoiding for a year?

She blinked.

Why was it so easy?

She glanced at him, for Lucien had paused in place, watching her and Elain swallowed, her heart thundering.

Why was it so easy to slip into a comfortable conversation? To joke? Like they were old friends?

“Because it’s supposed to be easy.” he answered her quietly and Elain startled, not realizing she had spoken the words to him. Lucien hesitantly reached out to curl that same strand of hair behind her ear that had fallen out of place in her excitement. “It’s okay, Elain.”

Elain watched him swallow and bring his hands back to his sides. Watched his hands flex then fist.

“I’d ask you how you could be so calm about this but I can feel your heart beating.” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I felt it the moment you set foot in Velaris.”

“My body is in a constant state of fight or flight.” he said with a shaky laugh, running his own hand through his hair. “Calm is something I’m still getting used to.”

Elain looked at him then, really looked at him. She had always avoided looking at him directly but now, in a feeling she wasn’t entirely sure she was in control of, she stared bluntly. She let her gaze take in his fiery red hair, his sun-kissed skin, his one russet eye and his other metal one that was widened as he watched her watching him. Elain’s eyes scanned the scar on his face and her teeth clenched at the sight of it.

But then she blinked. She had no right to be angry about it. They were hardly acquainted and yet...the tug between them was taut, clear as day.

Elain watched him swallow again then casually gesture towards his eye. “Jurian likes to make a joke that if I add an eye patch, I’d make one heck of a pirate.”

Another attempt at humor for her sake.

The corner of her mouth lifted. “You’d be a very eye-catching pirate, I’d think.”

Lucien chuckled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “Elain, please control yourself. If not dinner, at least take me out for lunch before propositioning me. I’m willing to be a mid-day harlot if asked nicely.”

Elain huffed out an unexpected laugh then rolled her eyes at him. “You’re very arrogant.”

“Not annoying?” he asked cheekily and she snorted.

“That too but arrogant felt more polite.”

“Polite with a bit of a bite, hm?” he asked again with a quirked brow and both her brows raised.

“I am a civilized lady.” she replied, the corner of her mouth lifting. “My bites aren’t so bad.”

“Hm.” he mused with a smirk. “In my experience, civilized ladies tend to have the strongest sting.”

“Mmm.” she mused in return, glancing at him through her lashes. “Have a lot of experience with civilized ladies then?”

Lucien gave a casual shrug. “So, so.” he said and studied her. “But I do have to say, I haven’t met any like you.”

Elain paused then, realizing again how easy it was to — to flirt with him. She gave him a thin smile. “You mean one who is your...your mate?” she said with a bite to her tone.

“Definitely not, no.” he said softly.

And just like that, Elain felt the air become tense between them again and frowned in the silence that followed. She swallowed, unsure, and met her mate’s gaze. Lucien gestured gently towards the back door.

“Why don’t we head out to the garden and talk things out?”

Elain nodded tightly then made her way outside, a finger rubbing the tip of her right ear again. Her eyes flickered back to him and she bit her lip, watching him take a deep breath, his hands shaky once more. Taking in her own deep breath, Elain let her gaze scan his backyard space as she assessed her emotions. He had a small seating area but it was mostly neat with small semi-alive plants and vegetable patches.

She took a seat. How was she feeling? Nervous?

Definitely not as nervous as she had expected. He was as courteous as he’d always been. He was patient and seemed very kind. Lucien was funny and wasn’t pushy at all. He was trying so hard to make her comfortable. So why did she feel shame that it wasn’t going terribly? Shame that she didn’t mind sitting in his garden and waiting to talk to him?

Shame as she thought of the man she once loved glaring at her in disgust for what’d she become. For even considering the option of accepting Lucien for what he was to her.

“I feel it too, you know.”

Elain turned her head to see him approaching, a small tray in hand that carried tea and an assortment of cookies.

“Feel what?” she asked, fiddling with her fingers, avoiding his gaze now.

“Your shame. It feels nearly as crippling as mine.” he said quietly and slowly took a seat opposite her. She looked up at him.

“What do you have to be ashamed about?” she whispered and Lucien gave a humorless chuckle.

“My whole life has been a cascading waterfall of shame.” he said bitterly and Elain assessed his anger, his clenched fists. It was a moment before he spoke again and his hands relaxed. “I’ve lived with shame long enough to be able to tell you, with confidence, you have nothing to be ashamed of. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

Elain shook her head and gave him a sad smile. “I can’t stop thinking about him. His disgusted face the last time he saw me. How he ignored me after. I loved him enough that it’s given him so much power over how I view myself. He doesn’t know how much power he has over me and I allowed that. He definitely doesn’t care...but he still has power over how I view myself because I gave him so much of my love... How can you say I have nothing to be ashamed of?”

Lucien gave her a gentle smile. “Being so in love that you trust your partner to give them your world isn’t something to be ashamed of. He should be ashamed for letting blind prejudices take away from what you two had.”

Elain blinked rapidly, her lips trembling slightly and she avoided his gaze once more. He was understanding her too easily, feeling what she felt too easily. “I know I seem naive in my view of it but...before this all happened, I had already envisioned our life together. He...let that go. Maybe it’s because it was my first love that I’m taking it so hard but — but he should’ve fought harder for me.”

Lucien sat back, arms resting in his lap, his expression thoughtful. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve thought of anyone but her.” he said quietly. “She’s always in the back of my mind, even when I’ve attempted to take new lovers and it’s been a long time since I’ve met someone who views love the way it should be viewed. As something so pure. It’s refreshing.”

She shrugged, not feeling particularly insightful at all. Every time she thought of Graysen now, Elain only felt stupid.

Lucien leaned forward and tapped the table gently to get her attention and she met his gaze. “You know, I can feel whatever it is you’re feeling,” he said. “Nothing you feel is stupid. Your first love will always have a special memory or teach a specific lesson. Either way, it leaves a mark that you’ll remember.”

Elain looked at him, taking in his expression, and gently asked, "I thought...I thought mates couldn't handle talking about other partners. That you'd — you wouldn't take this well."

Lucien pursed his lips, brows furrowed. "I'm not a heathen without any self-restraint. You're also not an object that I own." he simply said. "I'd be an idiot to think someone as beautiful as you wouldn't have had any previous lovers, as did I."

Elain looked down, embarrassed of her assumption and of her question. Why had she just assumed he'd be awful to her? Why didn't she —

"It's okay, Elain." he said gently, cutting into her spiraling thoughts. "You can ask whatever you want. I'd be more than happy to answer."

She nodded and then softly asked, “Will it always be like that? You aware of how I feel?”

He nodded slowly. “Part of the bond’s magic is that you and your mate have a connection so deep and sacred, nothing will ever compare. You’re essentially two sides of the same coin, always in touch.” he explained and paused momentarily, licking his lips. “This past year...especially because I went in and out of Velaris often...I am very aware of how it has been for you.”

“Would this connection remain even if...even if the bond was rejected?”

Elain watched him flinch at the question and felt herself wince, knowing how touchy this was based on Rhys and Feyre’s explanations.

It took Lucien a few moments before he finally swallowed and answered quietly. “Even if the bond is rejected, the link is always there.”

It was a tense quiet before Elain broke the silence. Feeling like she owed him honesty, she only said, “I’ve been aware of how you felt as well but...I always ignored it.”

“I know.” he said with a sad smile.

“It was never about ignoring you as it was...ignoring the situation.” she said quietly. “I’m sorry. It hasn’t been fair to you.”

“No, it hasn’t.” he agreed and the two sat in silence once more as Elain attempted to express exactly how she was feeling. She looked at him and when he gave her an encouraging smile, she flushed.

“With everything that happened since the cauldron and everything that was taken from me and then given to me…” she quietly began then paused, curling a hair behind her ear. “Having you as my mate felt — it felt like another thing I had to take without having a say in. It felt like — as though — “

Elain paused again, anger flaring suddenly and she clenched her teeth. “I was in a body that was my body but not, with powers I didn’t understand and suddenly I had now become the possession of a man I didn’t know.”

“I have never once thought of you as a possession and will never think of you that way.” Lucien said softly.

“While I appreciate you saying that...it still felt that way for me. Especially when I started realizing how the bond works. You...you made me feel things that felt against my will.” she whispered. “I didn’t like it that these instincts I wasn’t familiar with were taking charge with someone I knew nothing about and someone I wasn’t ready to know.”

“It can be very overwhelming.” he agreed.

“Very.” Elain said with a frown. “Do...do you feel that way?”

Lucien chuckled and gave her a tight nod. “It’s worse for males. This stupid idea that we’re supposed to resonate with our animalistic tendencies and claim, protect. But I am not these tendencies nor will I ever let myself fall to them. I am more than that and you are more than that.”

Elain shied away from his firm gaze, understanding what he was trying to tell her. What he had been trying to tell her for the past year and it was as she sat in his garden, the sun shining down on the two of them that she finally understood. She looked up and closed her eyes for a brief moment, letting herself bask in the sun, as if it was here at this specific moment to remind her how much she needed this conversation to happen.

She’d spent the last year looking for the sun and trying to stand in it but it was only here, Elain actually felt it on her skin, warming her up.

“This feels nice.” she said quietly and opened her eyes to give him a smile, finding him watching her, slight awe on his face.

Once again, she felt the bond between them as he gazed at her but it didn’t feel as daunting as it had before.

Lucien looked away from her, a flush in his own cheeks. “Yes...it does. I do like it here. It’s the first home that’s actually mine.” he said with a small smile. “I’m not living on anyone’s property but my own for once.”

“You don’t feel lonely in it?” she asked, facing him fully for the first the time since they sat, her arms resting on the table.

Lucien quirked his head in thought. “I think…” he began. “I think inherently, I’ve always been lonely. I was always on my own in the Autumn Court and the Spring Court was a little better but not great. I was Emissary and it was wonderful working with many different people but I also never felt like I belonged anywhere or was tied to one place. Except when I met Jesminda and then…” he waved his hand and Elain understood. He’d rather not dive into those memories.

She hesitated for a moment then, “I always felt a little lost in the middle between Nesta and Feyre. They’re both so strong and have such distinctive personalities. I was always just...the middle sister. Until I met Gray — until I met him.”

“You felt seen.” Lucien said, a knowing look on his face. “You felt understood.”

“Yes.”

“I know. I did too.” he said with a sad smile. “She saw me for all that I was and all that I could be.”

Elain’s sad smile met his. “She was the person you loved most, wasn’t she?”

“She was, yes.” he said quietly and Elain nodded.

“He was that for me. He saw me. He saw that there was more to me. He listened to things I had to say...it was easy with him. I thought he loved me.” she choked out bitterly. “He may have hated fairies but I was still me...still me just with pointy ears.”

Lucien gave her a half-smile at the attempt at humor, despite the shakey tone with which she said it.

“It turns out he didn’t see me after all.” Elain whispered and before Lucien could stop himself, he reached over, placing a hand on top of hers, and squeezed gently. Despite any initial reservations she had about him, Elain squeezed his hand back and took a deep breath.

“Now I’m lost all over again...I’m trying to find my way back to myself. The old me isn’t enough anymore.” she continued with a shrug. “I’m too angry for it. The life I had and wanted was ripped away from me and I had no say. With everything that happened after, I still had no say and I hate it. I’m still processing and coming to terms with it...I have so much more to offer and deserve more. I — I don’t want to be reduced to just your mate. I want to learn how to be brave, brave to be me with all the changes that have happened.”

A breath rushed out of her as she spoke, the words she had been wanting to say for so long. They came out strong, clear, and Elain felt a rush of pride that she had not flinched away from him as she spoke. Felt a weight off her shoulders.

Lucien squeezed her hand once more with another encouraging smile, as if he too, had felt the pride she felt for herself. “Bond or no bond, Elain — this is what I want for you and for myself. You may be my mate but you are your own person first and foremost. I am my own person first and foremost.” he said firmly. “I’ve lived my whole life trying to be molded into what others want from me and now, I want to spend it on what I want for myself. If we decide to be mates, I want you to choose me. To be with me as I am. I’m not here to convince anyone to love me. I want to be a choice and deserve to be a choice. I am not a burden on you or anyone else.”

“But that’s what I want too!” she said, leaning forward and tightening her grip on his hand. “I don’t want this to be something we do because we have to, but because we want to. I need something this significant to be on my terms, something I decide. Something we decide together.”

“That’s all I’ve been trying to tell you since I met you.” he said with a small chuckle.

“I know.” she said quietly, her cheeks heated. “I’m sorry I didn’t give room for it to be discussed. I was — am scared.”

“Don’t apologize. I understand.” he said. “There’s nothing I want more than for this to be a comfortable experience for us both. This is...new and different for me too. The mating bond will be what we decide on, as you said, together. I expect nothing more from you than conversation and friendship...if that’s something you’re open to. This will be at your pace. We can be brave together.”

She smiled at him then her gaze fell on their interlaced hands and she thought about this all for a moment. The idea of a mate didn’t have to be something burdensome or heavy. It could be friendship. It could be more. It could be nothing. They would decide it.

A sense of ease washed over her, pleasantly surprised that he, Lucien — her mate, was the cause of it. This male who she had thought would be the cause of discomfort in her life had taken all her worries about this bond and eased them in one conversation.

“I am open to that. I’d like to get to know you as a friend first.” Elain said with a shy smile.

“Elain please, calm yourself. What will the neighbors think?” he said with a grin and Elain laughed softly, pulling her hand away and slapping his lightly.

“They’re going to think the tea went cold and we haven’t even touched the cookies.”

“I can fix that.” he said, his grin widening as he pushed the plate of cookies towards her and let his hand settle on the teapot to heat it.

Elain rolled her eyes and chuckled. “I bet you work that trick into everything you do.”

“Stick around and you’ll find out soon enough, friend.”

She looked at him then, her gaze as firm as his, the two smiling at each other shyly. Elain thought back to the first moment she felt the tug from him, long ago in the House of Wind. It had been a strange sensation and at that point in her life, an unwelcome one.

Elain found now, she didn’t mind the idea of having a friend that was tied to her soul. A friend that would understand her in a way no one else ever would. A friend that could...later on, be more. When she was ready. If they wanted to take that step.

A step they would either take together or decide not to, together. A choice she would make. A decision she had the power in.

Elain decided then that, no, she didn’t mind Lucien becoming her friend at all. In fact, as the sun continued to shine down on them and she basked in its warmth, she looked around his home and found herself at ease. As she looked at him, seated across from her, pouring her a cup of delicious-smelling tea, Elain found that she didn’t mind Lucien one bit. So she smiled again, taking the teacup he passed to her, and said,

“I look forward to it, friend.”

#elucien #elucien fanfics #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #acotar fanfiction #gfics #fic: quiet thunder #previously: moononastring

30 notes · View notes

bobbile-blog · 5 months

Text

Arknights Lore Recap: End of 2023

Here I was, thinking my last post would be sufficient, but they keep on adding more gosh darn lore. Half a year has gone by since my last post, so I thought I'd update things and make another post of "where is everyone at the moment" to help keep all these plotlines straight. So, here's the sequel! More events, more organization since it's no longer a half-assed post I wrote on my phone in an hour, and you'd better believe we've got more lore to get through.

(Of course, spoilers for the current state of basically everything in Global, though they'll be the kind of "current events" spoilers to help you understand where we are at the moment)

Currently Active Plotlines:

Main Story act II: Main story chapters/ What the Firelight Casts, Amiya/ Siege/ Stainless/ Shining/ W/ Kal'tsit/ Doctor/ Closure/ etc.

Act 2 is in full swing, and oh boy do we have some politics to wade through. The general idea, minimizing spoilers, is that the Royal Court of the Sarkaz have taken over Londinum and intend to expand further using the catastrophe-creating superweapon The Shard. They're led by Theresis and the (mostly) united Sarkaz lords, and with a mercenary army they basically rule Victoria as an occupying power. Their power is concentrated in Londinum, the only city they really formally occupy, but as they control the seat of the country's power they effectively have the rest of the country at their mercy.

Opposing them are a number of factions. Firstly, the coalition of Victorian Nobles that have ruled the country (and that technically invited the Sarkaz to Victoria in the first place) want the throne again. There are a few specific nobles we deal with in ch12 but the implication is the politics will be elaborated on in the next chapter so we'll leave it there, the point is that they're the Victorian establishment trying to go back to old Victoria which means they suck. They're also working with Dublinn, who are collaborating with the Duke of Wellington(?) who is sympathetic to their causes. The Nobles have just recently gone to formal war with the Sarkaz, but they also all hate each other and will absolutely stab each other in the back whenever possible.

Besides them, there are also a couple of smaller underground resistance factions. The Londinum Self-salvation Corps, or Eartha, is a guarilla resistance movement who is currently getting their asses handed to them by the Sarkaz. They basically existed solely because the Sarkaz hadn't bothered to wipe them out yet, and have currently evacuated all of their surviving personnel out of the city. Additionally, there's a group of Victorian soldiers led by Commander Skamandros who have been sticking their noses into things. If I recall correctly, they're trying to evacuate Londinum as well.

Finally, we have Rhodes Island. We're here because of the classic D&D reason of "well all our plotlines seem to end up in this general area so I guess that's where we're going". Amiya and Kal'tsit feel somewhat responsible for not stopping Theresis and Amiya specifically is probably the only person with the right to challenge Theresis for the throne of the Sarkaz. Bagpipe and Reed (and Ch'en) are dealing with Dublinn things, so they have to be around here. Shining is a Confessarius and her evil wizard family is supporting Theresis so she's got stuff to do there. Siege is the last surviving member of the Victorian Royal family, so she's bound by blood and obligation to reclaim the throne, as well as just generally wanting to help the people of Victoria. Hoderer is currently in the employ of the Sarkaz and Innes is working in Londinum as a spy for Rhodes Island, so W wants to head there too. There's a lot going on, far too much to describe, so I'll leave things at "we have half a dozen personal plotlines to pursue there" so I can move on to the actual side events.

The Devil's Dragonball Fusion Dance: Ancient Forge(?)/ Who is Real/ Invitation to Wine/ Where Vernal Winds will Never Blow, Nian/ Dusk/ Ling/ Chong Yue/ Lava/ Kroos/ Lee/ Waai Fu/ Lin/ Zuo Le/Liang Xun

This one is updated pretty regularly as the CN new year event. The short lore overview is that Yan used to be populated by godlike beings called Feranmuts. Feranmuts fought a war with people, which concluded when a Feranmut named Sui betrayed his people because they wanted to be the only one with their kind of powers. After the war, the emperor of Yan (China analogue) split him into 12 fragments which eventually developed their own identities and personalities - these are the Sui siblings, i.e. Nian, Dusk, Ling, Chong Yue, etc. Once all twelve of these siblings meet again, they will reform back into Sui and they'll probably take over the world or whatever. We don't know exactly but it won't be good.

There are currently three parties interested in gathering the siblings, and one trying to prevent them. Firstly, the Second Brother (who is currently unnamed) is just a little crazy, and is currently working with the Yanese ministry of rites to revive Sui. We don't know a ton about him, but we know he's somehow split himself into fragments and scattered himself across the land. Secondly, Ya is another Feranmut that survived the old war and wants revenge on Yan and Sui. They want Sui revived so they can have a proper form of revenge on Them, and are currently in control of the Shanhaizhong bandits kinda just causing issues wherever They can. Finally, Nian and her siblings at Rhodes Island also want to gather the siblings, but not to re-form Sui. She has some sort of plan to bring the siblings together without losing themselves, and is working with Rhodes Island to accomplish it. Similarly, we don't know a lot about her plan, but they're generally the protagonists of the events. Finally, Zuo Le is an official in a Yanese organization called the Sui Regulator, whose job is to monitor and secure the remaining Feranmuts and the fragments of Sui. Zuo Le is doing his best, but he's a little out of his weight class, so most of what he does is follow the Sui fragments around and try to figure out what the hell is going on.

The Call of We Many: Grani and the Knight’s Treasure/ Under Tides/ Stultifera Navis/ Mizuki and Caerula Arbor (Integrated Strategies 3), Skadi/ Specter/ Gladiia/ Kal’tsit.

Was updated pretty frequently as an anniversary event, but they seem to have thrown us a big lore dump with Caerula Arbor and left it at that for the time being, which is understandable. The lore here is the Seaborn are a race decended from some early Feranmuts who are basically a constantly-evolving devouring swarm. They exist to consume and assimilate all of the life on the planet, and unless we are very very careful and work very very quickly they are going to do just that.

The state of the plot at the moment is a little odd. Because Mizuki and Caerula Arbor isn't canon, the plot is still at the end of Stultifera Navis. Specter has recovered her self, and the team of Abyssal hunters is delving deeper into the current state of the seaborn. Their former leader, Ulpanius, has shown up to warn them not to return to Aegir, and while the Stultifera Navis sank the lighthouse was recovered and some trinkets from the ship made it back. We aren't really sure where we're going from here, but it's not necessarily to Caerula Arbor. Basically, the canon lore of IS3 is that on a mission to the Iberian Coastline, the Doctor and Mizuki found a weird seaborn monument, and Mizuki used their connection to the Seaborn's minds to look into alternate timelines and show them to the Doctor. That means that while the events of the story are not canon, the Doctor may still know and reference the events in the story. I'm not going to go over all of IS3 because there's so much of it but you can find a rough summary here.

Fangs of the Signiori dei Lupi: Hinted earlier in the main story/ Il Siracusano, Texas/ Emperor/ Lapland/ Projekt Red/ Lunacub.

This is the newest of these plots, set up in Il Siracusano and presumably proceeding from there. The Feraerus are supernatural talking animals that we’ve encountered a couple of times throughout the story, like the High Priest or the Emperor. They are connected with the land and are almost akin to guardians of it. They don’t need Originium for their magic, and are tied to the setting in ways we don’t quite understand yet. More importantly to us, though, they’re involved in their own power struggles and contests among each other. This underscored the drama in Il Siracusano - the whole Bellone family was propped up by the wolf Feraerus Zarro as part of an ancient game in which the wolves pick champions, called Fangs, who fight each other in a Battle Royale to decide the pack’s next alpha a la the fake wolf study. We know a couple of the fangs - Lunacub is one and Bernardo was another before his death, but Projekt Red is also a Fang, as well as Crownslayer’s mentor, so we’ll probably be coming back to this conflict in the future. It's unclear how we'll approach it, though, as Bernardo and Lunacub's files seem to imply that the eventual goal will breaking free of this game.

Law and Otherwise: Guide Ahead, Fiametta/ Mostima/ Andoain/ Cecile/ Lemuen/ Pope Yvangelista XI/ Law/ Executor/ Enforcer

This one hasn't been super developed yet, but it's worth including with both Hortus de Escapismo and Zwillingstürme im Herbst coming up. Laterano, the city of the Sankta, is governed by immutable laws that are engraved onto the very bodies of the Sankta. In Guide Ahead, Andoain seeks to ask the Pope the question of why the Sankta do not help the people of the world. He learns that the laws that bind the Sankta are real, physical commandments enforced by Law, a robotic entity similar to the Preserver from Lonetrail, and the consequences and exceptions relating to the law are entirely at its discretion. The law is what it is because Law says so.

The Sami Icefields

This hasn’t technically gotten an event yet, besides that one story in Operational Intelligence, but I’m including it as an honorable mention because we’re going there for IS4. The Icefields are up north of Ursus, and they are terrifying. You remember the Emperor’s Blade, the one that kicks your ass in WD-8? Yeah we only see three of them in the game because the rest are busy fighting against the Eldritch demons constantly invading from the Sami Icefields. Let’s please never go there ever, thanks.

Finished Plotlines:

These two are complete plots, which I'm including for posterity and the worldstate. Spoilers for all of these events, but I'll try to keep things to the present so as to not spoil too much.

The Grand Knight Major: Maria Nearl/ Pinus Sylvestris/ Near Light/ Obscure Wanderer, Blemishine/ Zofia/ Nearl/ The Followers/ Flametail/ Ashlock/ Fartooth/ Wildmane/ Justice Knight my beloved/ Gravel/ Platinum/ Roy/ Monique/ Młynar.

Margaret Nearl won the 24th Major and became the Grand Knight, and has since stayed in Kazimierz to improve living conditions for the infected and push back against the General Chamber of Commerce. The Armorless Union has mostly been decapitated - the Platinum defected, the Lazurites have disappeared and taken on new identities, and the Darksteel has promised to stay away from Margaret and Rhodes Island. Pinus Sylvestris and most of the rest of the Nearls are now on the landship, working for Rhodes Island.

A New Age is Upon Us: Mansfield Break/ Dorothy’s Vision/ Lonetrail/ the second Records of Originium comic (which has an official translation that you should absolutely read it’s really good)/ the Friston-3 event whenever Yostar decides to get around to releasing it, Silence/ Ptilopsis/ Saria/ Ifrit/ Dorothy/ Mulesyse/ Ferdinand/ Rosemontis/ Ho’olheyak/ Kirsten.

After the events of Project Horizon, Terra has forever been changed. For just a fleeting moment, every living being in Terra looked up and saw the stars for the first time. The consequences of this aren't totally clear just yet, but it will almost have rippling effects across the world and marks a shift in the game's story as a whole. We also received confirmation of just who the Doctor truly is, and a look behind the curtain of Terra's history. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that nothing is the same after Lonetrail.

In more specific character terms, though, Saria is the new control of Rhine lab, with Silence as her assistant and ethics advisor. Ifrit is a big girl now, and practically a different character entirely from who she was at the start of the game - seriously, her character arc might be my favorite in the game. Rosemontis has also similarly faced her past and come out stronger, and not only Directors Dorothy and Mulesyse but also Maylander agent Ho'olheyak have come over to Rhodes Island in the chaos after Project Horizon. Finally, Rhodes Island has uncovered the real powers lying behind the scenes of Columbian Politics, but have in turn been noticed themselves. We are no longer in the shadows, and it would be wise to keep that in mind.

#arknights #all quiet under the thunder #what the firelight casts #Invitation to wine #where vernal winds will never blow #under tides #stultifera navis #Mizuki and caerula arbor #il siracusano #guide ahead #near light #Lonetrail #arknights story #arknights spoilers #spoilers

25 notes · View notes