#attempted to draw her staff but that was a bit much for rusty me

[engekihaikyuu]

View from the Top 2 - Review

Check out the Read More if you’d like to hear about this show!  Askbox is open as well if you’d like me to elaborate on anything out of this.

Before I begin my review of the final show, I do want to start with some caveats:

So as I mentioned previously, the production once again went with PIA for their live streaming platform, which means that live streaming this show is very inaccessible for anyone living outside of Japan.

PIA is a ticketing platform that requires a working Japanese phone number in order to finish activating/registering a new account because you must call the number provided to finish account verification. So without a Japanese contact or a Japanese phone number, this platform is basically impossible.

I have a generous friend in Japan who was willing to share her account information with me, which is how I was able to pay for a show and use her log-in to watch the stream. I did not see this show in-person; I do not live in Japan and obviously travel is off-limits. Even if I did live in Japan, I would have qualms about going to the theater.

There are some logistical issues with this show because of the current pandemic, with the most visually obvious one being the small face shields the actors wear on-stage. They basically serve as protection against direct spittle, but obviously they do nothing to guard against aerosol spread; putting on the play is still an incredible risk to the performers and staff. Another difficulty they face is the fact that Tokyo is still continuing to maintain a nightly curfew. Every evening Tokyo performance needed to be bumped earlier so that spectators can leave the theater in time to make it home for that curfew. Keeping that in mind, the show is a surprisingly condensed 2.5 hours long, where I would have expected 3 hours given the amount of content it covered. This does affect the pacing in Act 2 noticeably, and I get the feeling that were it not for covid and the current curfew restrictions, it would feel a little less rushed at the end.

So, with all that said, here are my thoughts on Engeki Haikyuu’s final play, The View from the Top 2!!!  This is absolutely not spoiler-free, for both the play’s content and everything that happened in the manga finale, so if you have not finished the series, this is your last chance to turn back.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t written a full review on a show since Fly High, so I’m a bit rusty at this, and I’ll probably leave out a lot so as always, my askbox is open for people’s additional questions!

The absolute main theme of this play (and really of the entire Haikyuu story) is the friendship and rivalry between Hinata and Kageyama, and the theme: I’m not alone. Engeki really did right by our dual protagonists by framing the final show as showing both of their journeys from beginning to end. Act 1 begins with that familiar sequence from the very first show: Hinata seeing the little giant on TV, being inspired to start playing volleyball, his struggle to find a team in middle school, losing to Kageyama in his one and only middle school tournament, and finding him again at Karasuno. They repeated the scene almost exactly as it was in the first show, and I think it was very smart of them to show us Daigo’s version of it, so to speak. That way we have a more cohesive vision of Hinata from the beginning of his journey to the end. Then they absolutely FLOOD the stage with a montage of projections with footage from all of the shows from the past five-and-a-half years. So already it’s pretty emotional for me, seeing how far the play had come as well as how far Hinata had come in the story.

To parallel this, the beginning of Act 2 actually begins with baby Kageyama. Yes, the baby Kageyama flashback with his sister and grandfather and how he started volleyball. We see Kageyama’s volleyball journey from childhood (for this they used a small doll similar to the dolls they used for young Kuroo and Kenma from Revival) to playing at Kitagawa Daiichi, to losing his grandfather, to being labeled the King of the Court, to defeating Hinata, and then having Hinata find him at Karasuno. And then they once again, they flood the stage with projections with past show footage, but this time they are more Kageyama-centric in the way that the previous ones were often Hinata-centric. And it just really highlights how much these two are meant to share the stage as the two main characters.

To see this framework and to know what’s going to come at the end, with the two of them reuniting in the pro-volleyball arena… just the beginning of Act 2 alone had me in tears. Another way they paralleled their respective journeys was to show us who have influenced them. In Act 1, there’s a dance with Hinata, Hoshiumi, and Udai (all little giants… well, Tsukishima’s in there too because he’s feeling a particular competitiveness with Hinata in this part of the match). In Act 2, there’s a dance with Kageyama, Atsumu, and Oikawa, because Atsumu and Oikawa are the setters who have had the most influence on Kageyama, and he’s drawing on what he’s learned from them for this match. They are not alone in their journeys, they have had people inspire them and be inspired by them in addition to having the support of their teammates.

The Karasuno vs Kamomedai match is interspersed with bits of action from the Fukurodani vs Mujinazaka match, so the stage was pretty busy for basically the entire time. The wires are back for some sequences so that both Hinata and Hoshiumi have a chance to fly, and there are plenty of acrobatics and lifts, and the same incredible soundtrack we love. Ryuu’s Hoshiumi is the obvious standout on Kamomedai for how many lifts he had, and they definitely tried to have him running around on the stage about as much as Hinata. It was notable how much they drew on past techniques and music for various parts of this match, since this is meant to be Karasuno at their peak. When Asahi was feeling particularly stuck/trapped against Kamomedai’s defense, they incorporated the tying-up visual they had previously used in Winners and Losers, with Kamomedai basically tying up and holding Asahi in place with ribbon. There was Summer of Evolution music when Karasuno does a great synchro attack, and the extras-wearing-Hinata-masks reappeared to show us Hinata’s “afterimage” as he flashes around the stage. If you’ve seen all the plays, you can’t miss these call-backs.

The flow of the match was fast. They hit the highlight plays and the highlight emotional moments, but we are clearly past the point where they need to narrate the actual volleyball to us. There was more dancing/acrobatics than attempting to place the two teams on either sides of a physical net with more overt volleyball moves. Everything was more intertwined and fluid than that. And actually now that I think about it, they have been sparse with their usage of a physical net in the past few shows, because everything has been a little more fast-paced overall.

They definitely wanted to highlight Karasuno’s rise throughout the game, to show that they were absolutely a formidable team, that they deserved to be at Nationals, and to show us all the ways that Hinata and Kageyama had grown. For most of Act 2 leading up to Hinata’s collapse, it really feels like they could win this. And I think it makes it that much harder for Hinata to accept being benched, because the team is riding this high and doing so well, and even Kageyama’s more visibly having fun. I think Takeda-sensei easily has a third of the best lines in the series. His speech to Hinata during the Kamomedai match is one that was really gut-wrenching to read when those chapters came out, and it was great to hear it said aloud.

And here is something I’ve never been able to point out because I didn’t do reviews for the past two tours, but I think Daigo’s voice is one of the strongest aspects of his Hinata. I’m sure a lot of that has to do with the work he’s done as a voice actor, but when he cries or whimpers, it is genuinely the most pitiful noise. A lot of Kenta’s portrayal of Hinata’s frustrations throughout the story had an undercurrent of anger and frustration. He’s upset, but there’s always something behind it that says, “well next time, it’ll be different.” And I think Daigo replaces most of that with pure sadness, especially for this scene. After Takeda-sensei lectures him good and proper, and he accepts that he needs to leave, he just sounds so broken. It doesn’t have that anger and drive underneath, he’s just in despair. And why wouldn’t he be? A part of him understands this is the last match he’ll ever play with this team, his first real team.

We then see Hinata bundled up in a coat and scarf, watching the rest of the match from the tablet that Kenma gives him. Snow begins to fall on the stage as he slowly wanders through it, with Karasuno and Kamomedai finishing out the rest of the match around him. Engeki Haikyuu has always allowed for the losing team in a match to line up at the edge of the stage, say thank you to the audience, bow, and take their leave. It’s so symbolic, and it’s so emotional for the actors and for the audience who are in the theater. It’s a moment that just barely breaks the fourth wall, when they turn to us, the spectators, to say, “Thank you for your support.” And they mean it both in and out of character. And I was so so so sad when I realized that Karasuno would take their final bow as a team without Hinata in the lineup. He’s in the back of the stage, separated from his team, and he does take a bow, but it’s very lonely.

Now, I’m sure people are very curious about the timeskip material, and mostly I just have to preface with: it’s fast. It does not take up as much of Act 2 as you might think. It’s boom, boom, boom, cameo here, pre-recorded projections there, patissier Tendou interview, Kuroo in a suit doing a promotional commercial for the V-League, Kageyama’s curry commercial, a projected Osamu selling his rice balls, get the old team together, fateful encounters in front of the bathroom, GO! The only thing we see of the Brazil arc is Hinata having a brief flashback to tell Kageyama that he met Oikawa while he was in Brazil. It’s very short, and that’s all we get for his time in Brazil. Basically, the play is not the place to see Hinata’s journey and growth from those chapters because he goes through so much of it alone, and there’s just no time. The Brazil arc also brings back a lot of technical details about volleyball itself, especially as Hinata is learning the beach version, and that’s an area where the manga is the best medium to examine the finer details of the sport. I can see why a play version would gloss over the technical details to focus on the emotional arc, which is in this case, Hinata and Kageyama.

Because of how fast the ending is, it definitely feels made for the people who already read the manga; Previous Engeki Haikyuu shows have always presented the story in a way that was very friendly to those who may not have read the manga or watched the anime. You could watch just Engeki Haikyuu and not feel like you were missing out on references/jokes for the most part, but this ending would be way harder to follow for those not familiar with what’s already happened.  

It’s difficult because I do feel like Act 2 was overly condensed to wrap up this story, but I also don’t think the timeskip material is enough for a whole play on its own. If we had stopped at the end of the Kamomedai match, and had a whole separate play to cover Brazil and the Jackals vs Adlers match… the pacing would’ve been slow and low energy especially in the first half, and it would be an odd choice for the final show of a series like this. My preference would have been for this play to have been three acts, three hours, so that we could linger on some of those timeskip moments a little more, slow it down, and let them land emotionally. But clearly the covid situation prevents that in this case. That being said, I don’t think any of those timeskip moments could really hit as hard as when I first read them in the manga. Narratively, that Haikyuu timeskip was so unexpected and so outside the normal sports anime formula, that the initial shock is extremely hard to top. It was fun to see how they presented everyone in the future (seeing Noya on that boat catching a giant swordfish, or seeing Ennoshita almost break a patient’s back) in stage form, but it’s unreasonable to expect them to give us the same feeling of ?!?!?!? when we first read that Noya was in Italy of all places after waiting weeks and weeks for him to show up.

I still cried in several places, it’s still a great ending to one of the best 2.5D franchises in existence, and it still feels like the culmination of their legacy. I don’t know how it would be possible for anyone to watch that ending sequence with all of the team flags and the chanting of their names, and NOT cry.

There are no more live streams until they complete the rest of their tour and then there will be a live-stream of the very last show, which I will be watching with a towel in hand for my tears. Feel free to send in any questions if you’d like, and if you would like some Strongest Challengers or Trash Heap merch, I have a sales post that I recently made.

#Haisute #Engeki Haikyuu #Hyper Projection Engeki Haikyuu #Final Show #View from the Top 2 #review #reviews #2300 word vomit for any who are interested

[crimson-cring-art]

A Flower in the Emperor’s Palace

Chapter 21

The return

Commission by @dannydarzuski

Loud grunts and war cries could be heard throughout the arena area. Nothing unusual to be heard as the area was always for such things. But the fighting wasn’t. This was their Queen taking on the high emperor. It was effectively beginning to draw a crowd.

Wukong hit the mat once again. He was beginning to feel like a punching bag. He ran his fingers over his chin and grasped the staff using it to hoist himself back up onto his feet. Just who was this woman? How could he hit him so hard?

Looking up at the female who didn’t even look winded. The crooked smile that stretched across her face told him she wasn’t even making much of an effort. To be honest he was going easy on her. It was his bride to be mother. He didn’t really want to harm her.

“Hm…” She wondered as she watched him move slowly around her. “I expected a bit more from the monkey who took down the Jade Emperor.” Was she making fun of him? He opened his mouth to tell her he was only having a bit of fun. Why actually fight…right?

“Perhaps you’re a bit rusty?” Oh yeah that was totally it. He chuckled as he stood up to his full height. He was taller than her. But that was probably because she was female and a different type of monkey.

“Maybe, you aren’t worthy of my daughter’s hand after all.” Oh that hit a mark! That wasn’t wise! Did she just tell him that he couldn’t have her daughter? The growl that escaped his mouth and the teeth he bared at her as he ran forward.

Were these tests, trials, insurance for nothing? The nerve of her! Was this it!? Would they even let him marry Ming Yue now!? What was even going on! What should he do? This evaluation was not going well and it pissed him off to no end.

Wukong's eyes turned blood red and he swung for the female monkey with all his might.

Okay he admits that didn’t go the way he wanted. He hit the mat with such force he could taste a bit of blood. He looked up at Clara as she held onto the staff throwing it over the side of the mat.

Wukong looked up at the female monkey queen and noticed a change in her. The much darker fur, and the crescent moon on her forehead.

“You know your majesty.” Clara said in an almost sing-song voice. Like she was playing with him. Wukong wasn’t impressed, but he was surprised too.

“ Not everyone is happy with you becoming the new emperor. If I knew of a rebellion, I would start questioning those who would gain in taking my throne.”

Wukong hit the mat once again. It was beginning to get repetitive and very annoying to the emperor.

(0)

“What!” The exclamation caused a few other monkeys to turn at the sudden shout. They noticed their king laughing so ignored the outburst and continued gathering more fruit.

Fernao patted Ming Yues back attempting to sooth the emotions down.

“Yes, your mother was one of those guardians.” He laughed, patting her back again before standing back up and walking toward another tree pulling down another bushel of lemons.

“ It was just a few months after that night I started to court your mother.I was horrible at it.” He cringed at the thought. “Her dad…he hated me though. Tried his best to make me give up.” He turned around with a loud sigh.

“At least until your mother had enough and she fought her father.” He ran his fingers over his face and licked his hand free of the lemon juice.

“But…wouldn’t that get her into trouble?” She asked holding out the basket for him to deposit the lemons into. He climbed up the branch.

“Well of course. She was banished from the moon kingdom for falling in love with me.” He told her and smiled down at her. “Guess she couldn’t get enough of all this…” He flexed and laughed.

“Poppy…” She giggled while throwing a lemon at him. He caught it and took a bite out of it.

The morning passed into the afternoon. Lunch was planned between them. Although Ming Yue and her father walked back toward the house with several baskets of fruit. Ming Yue balanced a bag of fruit on her head. She was planning a nice stew that night. Something less…sour…and there was fresh rice to be had. A dinner she had made with her mother on several occasions in her youth.

Although now that she and her father walked into the glade they noticed Wukong and Clara wrestling in the dirt.

Fernao slowly looked around at his daughter who looked just too shocked for words. He knew his wife could handle herself but wow they were really going at it. Even a few growls escaped them.

Ming Yue was a bit scared as she watched her mouth and Wukong going at it. Wukong to her didn’t look like he was using all his power at all. She had heard many stories about how strong he was. He could very well destroy this tiny village to prove a point, she had heard the horrors demons inflict on towns and cities…he was stronger than the great dragons. Yet…here he was…play fighting with her mother.

She looked up at her father as she called out to them.

“Stop playing and come inside! You should at least bathe now! I’ll make us dinner.”

The afternoon bled into the evening. It was quiet and uneventful. The family sat down and ate their dinner in silence. It would seem there was a bit of a heaviness to this meal.

The morning Wukong had disappeared to get his entourage ready. Ming Yue sat down on her bed looking at the stuff she had as a child. It wasn’t much, and her parents didn’t spoil her in the least bit, but there were things in that room that she would miss greatly when she left. She ran her fingers over the blanket she had on her lap and the bunny she placed by the pillow. The small silver and blue bunny was such an old tattered thing she played with as a child. Placing it into the box as she sighed hearing the soft giggle from the door.

“You would carry that thing everywhere you went.” Clara said, picking it up and smiling at it. “It seemed so long ago, and yet not long enough.” She sighed, placing it back into the box looking up at Ming Yue who looked on the verge of tears.

Was this really happening? This was what she wanted to do right? She wanted to leave, find a husband, and then bring him home. The part…about marrying someone higher than your own status wasn’t the plan…she had planned on bringing him home. Now…she would be the most powerful female in all the land simply by marrying the high emperor.

High Empress to be was her title now. A high honor for someone who didn’t think very highly of herself.

Clara watched her daughter sigh and look at herself in the mirror.

“What are you doing?” Clara walked over and ran her fingers up her daughters back which caused her to jump. It tickled and her mother knew it would. “Stand up straight, and hold your head high. You may indeed be the high empress someday, but you are also our daughter…you have always been higher than the highest emperor to us.” She walked behind her daughter placing a necklace around her neck. The choker had her simple on it. “And this will remind everyone of that. Including you.” She leaned up kissing her daughter's forehead and sighed.

“But I’m just a…” Ming Yue started

“No more thoughts of the past. You now have three jobs. Look to the future of your kingdom, insure its stability, and make sure you stay safe.” Clara took her daughter's face in her hands. “Stay…safe.” She whispered, kissing her forehead again.

Before Ming Yue could say anything more there was a very loud shake. Then another. It didn’t seem very hard at first, but it had begun to grow.

“Ah yes, the parade.” Clara heard Fernao run from one room to the other.

“What in the great spirit above was that?” He said he had a plate over his head.

“Oh come now dear. It's a parade and one from the high emperor…of course he’s going to show off to you.” Clara chuckled as she stepped past the threshold of the house.

There were so many more monkeys walking out of their houses and looking around. All of which looked to their leaders. Clara looked at them and called out for them. It would be fine. It was just a parade for the bride and groom.

Fernao gasped as the parade broke the treeline. Silver and Golden monkeys danced into the clearing, horses loaded down with treasures, as well as the mighty elephants that stroad into the area.

Clara quickly turned and placed a veil over the bride's head. As was custom for them to remain hidden from now on until the wedding.

Ming Yue took a deep breath as she watched the elephants stop in front of the house. Wukong climbed down with little to no effort on his part. He stood in front of Fernao and got down on his hands and knees putting his forehead to the floor. A sign of deep respect from someone who was obviously of higher rank.

“I do hope in the future we can see eye to eye. Until then I will do my best to protect her in your place.” He turned to the monkeys that stood at attention just behind him. “Load your stressful things.” He ordered that he turn to another monkey who stood on the horses. “Leave those here.”

“Oh Wukong, we have no need for treasures like that.” Fernao said as he pointed to the horses and the gold trinkets along their backs. “That must have cost a fortune.”

The other monkeys gasped and motioned to Fernao who used the emperor's name rather than calling him by his title. Fernao suddenly wondered what sort of mistake he made. He had been calling him Wukong for some days now. Clara almost looked like she was going to explode at them.

“This is the mother and father to your empress. They have leave to call me whatever they please. As they have given me the honor of marrying their only child.” Wukong walked over to Ming Yue and took her hand.

“Wait…” Wukong turned to look at Ming Yue as she walked over to her father and hugged him. Fernao sighed and nuzzled her.

“Time for the rest of your life to begin. Go on…have us plenty of grandchildren.” He chuckled, kissing her forehead. “Go.”

Wukong helped Ming Yue up onto the elephant before climbing up onto the elephant himself.

The cheering was low, but it had begun to grow. Soon enough the whole village was saying their farewells as the elephants stomped passed.

Fernao turned to the horses that were now tied to a tree. “What are we going to do with all this treasure and horses?” He asked

The travels back weren’t as long as it was before. Stopping here or there to announce the wedding and show her off. All she really had to do is sit there seeing as she was not supposed to talk, touch anyone, or be seen. Only her hands were visible. In all honesty at least it was warm out…after being in a summer climate it was rather nice.

Soon enough the elephant walked up to the side of the temple. She had been led by several hand maids. Hungi wasn’t even allowed to see her now. With an order to a hand maid named Taizu who just so happened to be his wife. She was to take care of her in his place. He took pride in his job and didn’t want to see anything bad to happen to her.

Her bedroom had windows on all sides, a ring of pillows, each corner had its own candle, and tons of flowers. This would be her bedroom till she and Wukong went into the temple. Wukong was in the one across from her. The temple was between them. She was supposed to fill those days in prayer, but her head was racing. She couldn’t help but think of their future. Would they end up in flower fruit mountain? She opened her bedroom door and sighed. Her eyes fell on a violet colored fan. She opened it and sent a letter. She looked over the letter and her face began to blush.

She looked on the back of the letter, and then the front of the letter again.

Perhaps Wukong had left the letter for her. They wouldn’t be able to see or talk to each other. It wasn’t uncommon for stewards to give letters back and forth. Perhaps she was worried over nothing?

(0)

The crickets kept singing as Clara sat out on the rocks. It was the highest point of the little town. Down below the horses had been set free, and the treasure had been given to each of the households in great respect for their aid with the harvest. In Clara’s head she would have much rather had Wukongs head. She looked up at her husband as he climbed up the side of the mountain and rolled over huffing and puffing.

“I am…too old for that.” He chuckled, rolling back over seeing his wife sitting there glaring at no one in particular, but was pretty sure it was Wukong in her head. “You’ll get wrinkles doing that.” He heard the soft whimper from her.

“I know love…I’m worried about her too.” He took her into his arms. He sighed as he picked her up and allowed for her to ride his back down as he landed on the tree across from them. He let her climb down and they headed back toward the house.

“Excuse me.” The voice seemed to come from nowhere. Fernao, being the protective male, pushed his wife behind him. Although he was pretty sure she could take care of herself.

“Who are you? Show yourself!”

“I have some business with the leaders of this small village.” Both looked incredibly confused, and curious at the same time. The last time someone came like this he ended up trying to pillage the town.

“What…business is that?” Fernao asked. The form of Macaque came out of the shadows. Fernao looked at his wife who shook her head. She didn’t know this monkey either.

“I would like to have your daughter’s hand in marriage.” The large grin from the dark furred monkey was brighter than the rest of him.

#monkie kid #lego monkie kid #monkei kid oc #sun wukong #journey to the west #ming yue #six eared macaque #jttw #macaque

[lake-arrius-caverns]

Prologue - pt 5

content warnings none explicit for this chapter. mentions/references to death and murder

tag list @boulderfall-cave , @padomaicocean (lmk if you’d like to be added!)

final part of the Prologue AT LAST  onto the actual game after this 👀

read under the cut or on AO3, cheers 👍

:: First :: || << Previous << || >> Next >> || :: Masterpost ::

 —————————————————————————————

As Fahjoth was pushed through the prison’s doors, the first thing to hit him was the scent. The air inside was thick and musty and riddled with damp, almost seeming to clog up his airways and pollute his lungs. It took a few moments for his eyes to adjust; coming in from outside, where the skies had been a pale, blank grey, the dingy prison corridors were almost completely dark in comparison. A few small torches hung in brackets, casting weak orange lights upon the rough grey stone walls. Perhaps it was purposely designed to instill a sense of hopelessness in those who were unfortunate enough to be imprisoned here. Or perhaps that was solely as a result of Fahjoth’s current mood. 

First, he and Ribyna were escorted to be processed, giving up their names and details for the records. Fahjoth was relieved that Ribyna seemed to be able to speak for herself now that they were away from the docks, but he was still worried over his twin’s mental state. Then, they were stripped of all their belongings, including the very clothes off their backs, to be replaced with the dirty, ragged sack cloths of their prison shirts and trousers. Neither of them were to be afforded any dignity in the process, but even that wasn’t the worst part. 

The worst, by far, was facing the unknown, in the form of whatever lay ahead of them both. 

Fahjoth wasn’t worried about himself, not really. There was no evidence of him being involved in any particular crime; the worst he could be charged with was public nuisance and affray, if the guards decided that he was involved in the confrontation that had taken place on the docks. The blood still staining his knuckles may have provided enough proof for that to be the case. 

But the biggest cause of his anxiety was Ribyna. Not only had she killed someone, that someone was the Captain of the Imperial Watch himself, and she had done so in full view of all the other guards. There was no denying that she would be facing charges for murder at the very least. 

But to murder such an important figure…

Perhaps they would make allowances, Fahjoth let himself hope as the prison guards now took them down towards the cells. Maybe they would charge her with manslaughter, seeing as the Captain’s death had been an accident. On the other hand, she was still also facing attempted murder for her desperate struggle to stab the staff-wielding cultist. 

Overall, the outlook for his sibling was bleak. Ribyna herself said nothing as they were taken to their respective cells, which were situated directly next to each other. In a way, that was some small comfort. But on the other hand, the fact that they couldn’t see each other left Fahjoth feeling even more distressed. 

The cell that Fahjoth was unceremoniously shoved into was itself no more welcoming than the rest of the prison. As the iron bars slammed shut behind him with a deafening clang, and a mechanical click announced the key turning in the lock, he stood and examined his surroundings. A single candle stood mounted on the wall in a rusty iron bracket, not doing much for the overall light level but valiantly flickering nonetheless. The walls were comprised of the same dull grey stonework, splashed occasionally with patches of moss and streaks of black discolouration where the damp was creeping in. A small wooden table and chair, crooked and riddled with rot, sat in the corner with clay cups and plates sitting haphazardly on top, but apart from that, there was nothing. A narrow opening — not even a window — sat high up in the stone wall, blocked with thick iron bars like those of the cell gate. The hole let no sunlight in, but allowed cold draughts to permeate into the cell, bringing with them a fine drizzle of rain. 

Fahjoth shivered, rubbing his bare arms while fighting the urge to throw up. Everything had gone so wrong, so quickly, and a small part of him wanted to blame himself. The rest of him, however...

He shook these thoughts out of his mind; playing the blame game was of no help to anybody now. Instead, he padded back over to the cell gate, reaching his arm out towards the cell on his right, where he knew they had imprisoned Ribyna. 

“Ribyna?” Fahjoth called, keeping his voice hushed so as to not alert the guards. On receiving no response, he frowned and tried again. 

“Ribyna!”

To his relief, there was a small reply this time. 

“Yeah?”

Thank the gods. “How are you holding up?”

“How d’you think?”

Right, that was a bit of a stupid question, he reasoned. Nonetheless, it hurt to hear his sibling sounding so broken and defeated. “Look, we’ll... we’ll figure it out,” he said softly. With the trembling of his voice Fahjoth wasn’t sure that he sounded convincing enough, but he had to try. “We’ll sort this.”

Ribyna didn’t reply. Fahjoth kept his arm stretched towards her cell, in the hope that she would reach out to him — though he wasn’t sure who needed the comfort more at this point. He knew Ribyna was suffering, and wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around his twin, to tell her that everything would be alright, but he couldn’t. They’d never been forcibly kept apart before and it was nothing short of devastating. As well as the uncertainty surrounding their fates, they were also left to process indescribable grief. 

They had lost Merrick. 

The youngest member of their group and one of the kindest people Fahjoth had ever known. It was a terrible injustice. Fahjoth had been very fond of him himself, but Merrick had been Ribyna’s best friend. Though his own eyes brimmed with tears, Fahjoth couldn’t even begin to imagine how she was feeling. 

He had shunted all thoughts of Cassius out of his mind. On the rare occasion that his boyfriend — now very much an ex — wormed his way to the forefront of his mind, it incited both anger and hurt in equal measure in Fahjoth’s heart. After everything they had been through, how could Cassius have just abandoned him like that? Had he ever even cared for Fahjoth at all? 

Again, he pushed it to the back of his mind, trying not to think about it. What was most important now was what ultimately awaited him and his sibling, and how they were going to deal with it. 

Such an opportunity arose when a guard came patrolling past. The clanking of his iron armour paused as he stopped by Fahjoth’s cell, jerking his head towards him with a frown. 

“Arms in, prisoner.”

“Sorry,” Fahjoth apologised on instinct, drawing his hand back through the bars. “Listen, um... I was wondering if you know what’s going to happen to me and my sibling? They didn’t really... tell us anything...”

Strangely, the guard didn’t decline. But perhaps it wasn’t that shocking; many on the Waterfront joked that Fahjoth possessed somewhat of a silver tongue. 

“Vetharys, isn’t it? Sure, I heard the head jailor talking. You’ll probably get a few years at most.”

“And Ribyna?” Fahjoth pressed, his stomach twisting with anxiety. 

“You mean Little Mr Murder next door?” The guard lowered his voice, though Fahjoth was well aware that Ribyna would probably still be able to hear. “Killing the Watch Captain is no petty crime, you know. If he’s found to be guilty, he’ll probably be looking at the death penalty.” 

Fahjoth froze as his worst fears were all but confirmed. As the guard received no response he simply carried on his way, leaving Fahjoth to reel with horror alone in his cell. 

He had already lost more than he could have ever possibly imagined. 

Was he going to lose Ribyna as well?

Leaning back against the bars of his cell door, Fahjoth desperately reached towards Ribyna’s cell once more with his arm violently shaking. 

“Ribyna?!”

His heart was hammering in his chest and his eyes burned afresh, hoping and praying that Ribyna would respond. Being separated had been torture before, but now... 

“Ribyna...” His voice was a mere croak, barely above a whisper, an anguished plea for her to answer. And she did.

“I’m tired, Fahjoth.” Ribyna’s own voice was hoarse and cracked, and it was only too easy for Fahjoth to know that she was crying. “Leave me alone.”

As silence fell throughout the jail corridor Fahjoth slumped against the wall, his hand dropping limply to the ground. In the quiet that followed he could still hear wheezing sobs coming from the cell next door, despite Ribyna’s best attempts at hiding them. It was then that Fahjoth let his own tears fall, trailing down his cheeks as he finally settled into a wretched, crushing despair.

                                  —————————

How long had it been?

Fahjoth had attempted to keep track of the days at first, but by around the middle of the second year all hope of counting was long gone. Past that it was just a stream of repetition as the days blurred into one. It was long enough that Fahjoth’s hair was beginning to grow white, in any case. Though he had no mirror to see himself with, a silvery strand would occasionally come loose from his head, which was both puzzling and quite frankly depressing. Prison must be ageing me, he mused wryly. 

There was no leaving the cell he had been forced to call home. Food — if the pitiful morsels they were given could even be called that — and water were left at the gate. Sometimes, Fahjoth would be able to chat to the other prisoners, or even the guards. He’d managed to get on first name terms with a few of them now, who reassured him that a charming lad like him ought to be out in no time. The months and years came and went with no sign of this prediction coming to pass, but Fahjoth didn’t care. He didn’t want to go anywhere without Ribyna. 

The guards were mostly reticent, but from the information Fahjoth had managed to glean from their interactions, he deduced that the issue was a complicated one. It seemed that the Imperial council, to whom the issue had been escalated, were having trouble deciding whether Ribyna’s crime amounted to murder or simply manslaughter, which would grant her somewhat of a lighter sentence and the possibility of avoiding capital punishment. But apparently, as one of the guards had whispered to Fahjoth one dark and dismal Loredas afternoon, Rusant’s wealthy and influential family were very angrily lobbying for a public execution, further complicating matters. And then there was the matter of whether Fahjoth himself was an accomplice in the Captain’s murder. Many of the more friendly guards assured him that this wouldn’t be the case, but it seemed that Fahjoth would be in for the long haul as well.  

But, oddly, he didn’t mind. Fahjoth much preferred being close to his twin over being separated any further, even if it meant a dreary existence in the Imperial Prison dungeons. Ribyna herself was mostly quiet; occasionally she and Fahjoth would talk amongst themselves, their fingertips brushing as both reached out of their prison cells towards one another. But she knew as well as Fahjoth did that her future was looking very bleak indeed, and it frequently reflected in her withdrawn and melancholic demeanour. 

Until a day came when everything would change yet again. 

Fahjoth was awoken early one Sun’s Height morning by the inconsiderately loud footsteps of two prison guards, who came marching past his cell at dawn. His cell painted with bright peachy gold streaks by the sunrise, Fahjoth hastened to sit up and hurry over to the cell gate. A change in schedule only meant one thing; either someone new was being admitted, or someone was leaving. As the guards weren’t accompanied by any new prisoner, evidently it was the latter. 

His stomach dropped as he realised that the guards had stopped outside Ribyna’s cell

“Vetharys?” one of the guards asked, consulting a roll of parchment. 

Ribyna’s voice was wary. “Yeah?” 

“Come with us. Emperor’s orders.”

The Emperor himself had got involved?! Fahjoth felt his heart banging as dread overtook him. Was it time already?!

“What’s happening?” he demanded, unable to keep the tremor out of his voice. Unfortunately, the guards were unmoved. 

“None of your business, prisoner. Alright, Vetharys, stand back. We’re opening the door.”

There was a shuffling of footsteps and a clanking of metal, but Fahjoth couldn’t see what was happening no matter how hard he pushed himself against the bars of his cell. The next thing he was able to see was Ribyna being pushed out of her cell by one of the guards, her hands tightly bound behind her back as the manacles that adorned all prisoners’ wrists were firmly locked together. 

The guards began to escort Ribyna out, and as she passed Fahjoth’s cell, he felt a shiver run down his spine. As she met his eyes, his sibling looked utterly terrified. 

“Fahjoth!” she whimpered, almost resisting the guards for a moment as Fahjoth reached out towards her, ignoring the tears spilling hot and fast down his cheeks again. Ribyna’s own eyes were brimming with tears as she was whisked away by the guards without hesitation. 

“Ribyna-!” Fahjoth cried, continuing to reach out to her even after they had rounded the corner at the end of the corridor and vanished from view, and even after their footsteps receded into silence. 

So that was it, then.

His twin, his best friend, the one person who had been there for him his entire life was heading towards her demise and there was nothing Fahjoth could do about it. 

He howled out in frustration and devastation, slamming his fists against the wall of his cell, but soon his strangled yells dissolved into sobs instead as grief overtook him completely. His legs gave way from beneath him as he collapsed to the floor, his shoulders jerking as he wept without restraint. 

Along with heartbreak for his lost sibling, a horrible emptiness began to take root in his chest. For the first time in his life, Fahjoth was now completely and desperately alone.

#oc: fahjoth #oc: ribyna #tes #tes fic #morrowind #dunmer #dunmer oc #nerevarine #elder scrolls #elder scrolls fanfiction #tes iii: morrowind

[huck-west]

One week ago..

Through the doorway, down the ramp, down the stairs..

West stopped at the Canals, suddenly feeling as though he couldn’t breathe. The man placed his hands on his knees, struggling to catch his breath.

It’s done. This doesn’t free you.. Her words echoed in Huck’s mind.

His collar was too tight, fingers gripped and clawed, breaths came in ragged gasps. But as suddenly as the panic had set in.. it was gone.. replaced by screams and the call for guards. West looked up to see a pair of Ladies, faces stretched and twisted in horror as their screams pierced his ears once more, their fingers pointing at him.

He was confused.. raising a hand to try and calm them as he spoke. “Relax, Ladies, just a moment of panic, nothing to worry about..” The voice that left him wasn’t the smooth as silk, silver-tongued voice that might have set their hearts fluttering in another time. It was cold, raspy, lacking the tone and inflection he was attempting to give. His eyes focused on the hand raised towards them, boney, flesh peeling away, fingers ending in claws. Instantly he dropped the act.. setting his jaw.

No witnesses.

West dove at the Ladies, whoever they were, they’d likely be missed.. but no one would find them. Even as he dove towards them, he spoke the words of power, opening a portal behind them on the ground. The bastard tackled them through the portal, closing it behind him. Neither had a chance to protest, neither had a chance to struggle, clawed fingers ripped through their flesh, tearing their throats out.

He was in one of his old stash caves, hollowed out voids in the mountains not far from the ruins of Westbrook. The walls of the cave were lined with mirrors, and though the place was swallowed in darkness, his eyes adjusted instantly. He could see himself.. an image he hadn’t seen in what felt like a lifetime. Claws trailed along the collar that hung loose around his neck.. without it clasped he no longer felt the rage that had threatened to swallow him. West hadn’t even realized he’d grasped it in his panic..

“Bloody hell..” He saw his reflection, seeing a face he’d not seen in what felt like an eternity. Flesh tight against bone, lips nearly rotted away, eyes hollow, a faint red glow deep within the sockets. Black, stringy hair, hanging in loose curtains around his face, pointed teeth a mix of silver and gold parted as he reared his head back and smashed it into the mirror, a roar leaving him as the glass shattered.

The bastard stood there, listening to the glass as it fell from the mirror, crashing against the cave floor and scattering as the shards danced along the stone. Though it was unnecessary in this form, he still filled his lungs with a deep breath, exhaling as he tried to collect his thoughts. The Rook.. he needed a change of clothes and he needed to go somewhere that no one would look twice at him.

Opening a portal to his chambers at the Rook, West caught another glimpse of himself through one of the mirrors, no wonder the Ladies screamed, besides his physical appearance, his clothes were stained in blood, bits of flesh caught on the belts and coat from when he pulled the collar open. He stared at himself for a moment longer, rotted lips pulling back to reveal his gold and silver teeth in a gruesome smile before he stepped through.

Stripping down took almost no time at all as without the body the collar provided, his clothes were much too big for him, even thin as shell had been. The chest at the foot of his bed held his old armor, leathers, chainmail, armguard, boots.. his weapons, blessed by the priests of The Rook, a dagger, short sword, and the chain-staff given to the the champions who completed the trials. He set all this aside, walking up to the mirror beside his bed and snapping the collar back in place.

Blood and flesh shot up and down his body, covering his decayed form.. it was a process that took time, as hair, teeth, eyes and facial features had to grow and shape to his skull. But the bastard had time, with Aleigha dropped back to her ward, all he had was time. The door to his chambers opened, and West turned his featureless face towards it.

“AH! I mean-- Hello, Knight-Lord Greyfeather.. I didn’t know you were here, forgive me.” The maid covered her eyes, “Will you be staying long? I can draw you a bath or I can run down to the kitchens and see if there’s-- well.. I mean.. you’ve not been here in ages, we don’t keep it in stock. I can..” She shuddered.

West sighed, shaking his head, “I’m only here to collect my things.. once the collar finishes.. I’ll be heading back to the city.” His voice was still that cold, raspy echo.

“Of course.. if you need anything, just call.. I am covering this floor tonight.” 

West didn’t respond and the door closed as he simply turned back to the mirror to watch as his hair started to grow, eyebrows, nose, lips, and finally his eyes.

“Rose.. do you trust me?” He said to his reflection, the silver tongue was a little rusty, so he changed his tone. “More.. believable, West.. sound.. sincere.” The bastard cleared his throat, watching as the hard stare of his eyes softened, his lips twisting into a frown.

“Rose.. do you trust me?” Perfect..

((Mentions- @agilneanrose 

                   @aleighas ))

[xhannahbananax03]

The Boyfriend Diaries - Act I - Chapter 1

Warnings: Implications of Sexual content, Extreme gore, violence. If you are easily trigged by any of these things, PLEASE DO NOT READ

Words: 1.9k

MASTERLIST

She was sat across from a cute boy in a small diner, wearing a big smile on her face. "So Dorothy, what's your favorite subject right now?" The boy asked, his name was Ben.

"Oh, I prefer biology and chem. lab." She smiled, of course it was her favorite subject. She got to learn about the chemicals she would steal when the teacher wasn't looking. Just little things like some chloroform here, some bleach there, the occasional disinfectant.

"I actually prefer literature..." Ben said a little awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck shyly.

"I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom." She spoke up staring at him intently, "Edgar Allen Poe." She finished softly.

"Oh..." He chuckled awkwardly, before casting his eyes up to the approaching waitress. She was dressed in a bright and annoying pink and blue outfit, the same one all the other female staff was wearing.

"What can I get for ya!" She said in a loud and cheery voice. Before "Dorothy" had a chance to speak up and tell the older woman to stop being so obnoxious, Ben told her his order.

"Can I get the chicken salad and the green shake?" He asked politely, smiling up at the woman who's name tag read, "Bethany".

Ugh.... Dorothy thought to herself, he's a healthy eater... "I'll just get some fries and a Sprite" she told Bethany with an annoyed smile.

The woman's face fell slightly before she huffed and frowned, "sure, it'll be out in 15." She said with a hint of anger in her voice before quickly turning around and walking off.

About an hour later Dorothy and Ben walked out of the diner hand in hand, even though she was annoyed and his hands were oddly clammy, she stuck with it. She had to. Only a little big longer. She kept telling herself.

"So where do you wanna go now?" Ben asked her, a smile on his face unaware of his impending doom.

She squeezed his hand tighter and took a deep breath before slapping a smile on her face. "It's a surprise, just follow me." She said walking down the sidewalk and towards the small dirt road back in the woods that led to an old shut down factory. The same place she'd been staying for almost a month.

"Ok if you say so." He laughed and walked beside her, still holding her hand. Now's your chance. She told herself.

After a bit of walking, the pair finally made it to the beginning of the path, where he stopped walking and just stood. She turned around a panic beginning to bubble inside her, "What's wrong?" She asked innocently, trying to keep her cool.

He chuckled lowly, looking down at the ground as one of his brown hiking boots kicked around a rock. "I know what your doing..." He said softly, not yet looking at her.

"What do you mean? Do you know this place?" Crap she thought, might have to do it right here... That's probably the last thing she wanted, but if it had to happen, it had to happen.

"Don't play coy with me sweetheart..." He smirked up at her before taking a step forward and wrapping an arm around her waist, "you're taking me to the old Mill to shack up, aren't you?" He asked a smile in his voice. But not a sweet, gentle smile, more like a predator lurking just beyond the surface, and it made her heart pound beneath her chest.

She giggled softly, trying to cover up her fear of getting caught and her fear of something much more dark happening. "You caught me..." She said flirtatiously looking up at him.

He leaned down to kiss her lips but she leaned back in response, "let's get there first, then you can kiss me." She giggled pushing away from him and turning back down the path.

She frowned to herself and let out a shaky breath. She heard the pounding of feet behind her and she wanted to run forward in return, but instead she put a fake smile on her face as she felt an arm wrap around her waist and pull her closer to the warm body of her date, Ben.

Eventually they made it to the run down Mill, inside she had everything set up, in one room a dusty old couch and in another closed off room, a clear tarp on the floor, chains hanging from the ceiling, and a table with things like cleaning supplies, gloves and, knifes. She wasn't too much into torture, but she would have to hack up the body and bury it in several locations. So even if the cops did go looking, they'd never find all of it.

Walking into the old and rusty front door, she led him towards the couch and he sat down, almost immediately reaching out for her, "you wait here while I go get ready ok?" She winked at him really trying to sell it.

He leaned back and spread his legs, "I'll be here." He said with a smirk, making her cringe, but it was dark so hopefully he didn't notice.

She smiled down at him and turned around walking to the closed door. Behind it, a crime waiting happen. She didn't just do the things she did for no reason, she always had a reason. She liked to think of it as justice.

Walking into the room, she closed the door and let out a heavy sigh before getting to work. First she stripped down into her underwear and put on a self-made hazmat suit of sorts. She put on a pair of black rubber gloves and a pair of socks.

She walked to the table to double check she had everything she needed when a loud bang came from the door, she jumped back and ran towards it, "just a minute!" She shouted, looking around the room one last time before standing behind the door and turning off the light.

"Come in!" She shouted loudly. The door slowly creaked open and in stepped Ben, his hand immediately flying out in search for a light switch, "don't!" She squeaked out not ready for everything to be seen. That would just make this that much harder.

His hand fell back to his side and he completely stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "Dorothy?" He said quietly in a creepy manner. She shuddered but stayed still and quiet, she needed him just a few more steps into the room before she could jump him. "Where are ya?" He asked stepping further into the room.

This was her shot, probably her only shot and she had to take it, she unfolded the chloroform covered rag in her hand and moved quickly towards the light switch before flicking it on, "what the-" were the only two words he was able to get out before she was on him.

She jumped into his back and immediately shoved the rag over his mouth and nose, he screamed into it and reached his hands back grabbing for her hair only to pull off the dark black wig and hold it in his hands.

He struggled for a little while longer, before inevitably passing out, falling onto the old cracked pavement face first. She got off of him and stretched her back, "put up quite the fight there Benny..." She mumbled to his limp form.

She dragged his heavy body over to the chains and sat him in the chair below them, she huffed out a breath before tugging his arms above his head and wrapping and locking the chains tightly around his wrists.

In the corner of the room was a big metal barrel full of wood and old newspapers covered in gasoline, she lit a match and threw it in before throwing the wig, their clothes, and the rag into the flames. She quickly attached a hose to the old sink in the room and turned on the water before spraying Ben down.

After a few minutes he came to, he still was out of it, but he was awake and ready to be charged for his crimes, "Benjamin Dowle..." She said pacing in front of him with a folder in her hands, "I'm Riley... Lovely to meet you." She said not looking up at him.

"How do you know my real name?" He shivered, "I changed my last name after..." He trailed off a dark expression taking over his face as he stared down at the ground.

"After what Ben?" Riley asked staring up at him, "you know, if you can't talk about it, you shouldn't have done it." She said before turning back to the table and grabbing a knife, his eyes widened and he started pulling on the chains, "I wouldn't if I were you, you yank to hard and the rafters will come down on you. Giving you a more painful death than I will."

He started panting but was done moving, "You're gonna kill me!" He shouted out the panic finally hitting him, "You're crazy! You can't do that!" He shouted at her starting to scream.

"Go for it. Scream. No one can hear you Ben." She said loudly, talking over his cry's, "now, shall we start? You're originally from Oklahoma... Rich parents... Blah, blah, blah..." She stared intently at the page running her finger tip over the words written there, "ah, here it is!" She said gleefully, "a few months ago, a young girl in Tulsa, around your age, went missing around the time you and your family moved up here. Says here, she was last seen with you."

"What? I don't know what you're talking about! Now let me go!" He yelled at her almost accusingly. She tsked him and walked towards him with the knife, drawing a straight line up his leg and towards his thigh before she slightly dug it into the meaty flesh there.

He screamed out in pain, "Stop! Please God! Stop!" He screamed out. She did as he asked and stopped but left the knife there, he cried silently for a second before dropping his head, "I killed her... I wasn't meaning too... She just- she just made me so mad." He whimpered out.

"Where's her body Ben?" She asked softly looking at him, pulling out the knife. He gave her the address and hung there, "I'm gonna have to kill you now." She said almost sympathetically. He began screaming and begging for her to let him go, which she never enjoyed. It brought her back to the night where she was the victim. But she had to, this needed to happen.

She decided to make it quick, the sound of his pleas bouncing off the cement walls and giving her a headache, she pulled out her father's pistol before planting a bullet in the boys head. "Sorry Benny, today was the day you faced your judgement, and just like you, I'll face it one day too..." She whispered to his limp body hanging from the ceiling.

She didn't do what she did for no reason, for her it was justice for the poor girl that he murdered.

#mystery #murder #phsychology #thriller #horror #gore #original writing #original fiction #original character #original art #romance

[stephicness]

Once We Were -- Ravus Week, Day 1

Happy @ravus-week, my friendo amigos! :D It’s been awhile since I’ve written, so hopefully I’m not too rusty.

But I also felt like I couldn’t pass up Ravus Week of all things. After all, my boy deserves some love, so golly gosh, I’mma give him more attention! Hopefully, if things go well, you’ll probably get either a drawing or a writing from me as well as a gif/graphic set. SO TIME TO KICK MYSELF INTO GEAR FOR IT!

Until then, enjoy Day One of Ravus Week from me~

Ravus Week, Day 1 Afternoon Tea Rating: G Word Count: 1924 Character Focus: Ravus Nox Fleuret, Lunafreya Nox Fleuret Warnings: None. Just sibling stuff.

Odd… She hadn’t seen Ravus all day. As busy as he was with work, Ravus had an extremely precise and predictable schedule. He woke up just before six in the morning, proceeded to wake up within fifteen to thirty minutes before preparing himself for training – it was quite a meticulous schedule. So much so that – to the dot – she was able to tell that Ravus would and should have been in his study sorting through paperwork while writing disgruntled letters to Chancellor Izunia.

At least, Lunafreya thought that she knew. Her eyes surveyed the study, and alas, there was no sign of him. Not at his desk or on his lounge sofa. He wasn’t even in the storage closet, which lead to quite a few jokes and a hilarious story about how he got locked in there to begin with. But funny stories aside, there wasn’t any sight of Ravus.

Lunafreya hummed to himself in thought, a dainty index finger curled under her chin. “Odd… He never changes things up…” 

Her eyebrows furrowed, blue eyes turning towards the white dog at her side. Even the dog seemed as if it was confused by Ravus’s mysterious disappearance, its head tilted aside before it looked up at its master.

“You wouldn’t happen to know where he is, Pryna?”

The dog looked forward again before standing up and beginning to trot away. Oh! Where was Pryna off to? The blonde-haired princess turned toward the study for another quick glance before jogging after the dog.

The manor seemed far bigger without any sight of Ravus taking his two o’clock patrol around with the other soldiers while giving them their usual regiment and plans for the day. Not even the regular guards seemed to be about, only with a few servants passing by to give the manor any sort of life. Were the rest of the Tenebraen royal guard deployed somewhere? Was something wrong? No… If there was something wrong, the staff would be unsettled and whispering with dread. Instead, it was a rather lithe environment. The princess couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows curiously in thought.

Well, if Ravus wasn’t working, where in the world would he be? It was honestly hard to imagine. This was Ravus after all. Lunafreya stopped in her tracks, causing Pryna to come to a halt and watch its master curiously. If one was to track Ravus, one would have to think like Ravus. And perhaps it was thinking a bit too much like him, but she didn’t really seem phased as she huffed her chest up. Her shoulders pulled themselves back, and her brow furrowed even more into a scowl as terrifying as a puppy’s gaze.

“’What is the meaning of this?’” Her voice was hardly as low and spiteful as Ravus’s voice ever would be, but it was still a humorous attempt that Pryna responded to with by barking excitedly. “’I am not doing work for once! What am I do to with such nuance and wasted time?! Dilly dally, work work work when I have a day off!’”

The babbling Lunafreya did stopped abruptly with one of the steps she took. “’Wait a moment. If I do not have work, then I would wish to relax. And what would I do to relax, my good faithful companion?’”

She looked down at Pryna as the dog twirled around and began bouncing down the corridor.

“’To the garden, Pryna!’”

She dropped the guise only because she didn’t know how anyone could be so physically stiff all the time.

Lunafreya chased after Pryna, coming to the outside courtyard and entrance to the gardens. As if approaching a sacred place, she laced his fingers together as if in a prayer. The gardens were always a lovely place to visit. But if anything, they were surely Ravus’s domain. She had her own favorite places to visit amongst it, but the gardens were perhaps Ravus’s most treasured place. Not even his own bed could provide him with such solace. If she were to see what Ravus was up to, she’d have to at least come up with a good reason for disturbing Ravus on such holy grounds. It was already so rare for him to break from his schedule as is. And if her intuition was correct, then it would mean it would be disrespectful to bother him… Right?

She let out a soft sight before walking into the gardens. All along the shrubs were white roses, adorning and complimenting the grassy patches that the sylleblossoms sprouted from. Various other flowers were found amongst the sea of flowers, but whites and blues dominated the garden as if they were clouds amongst a blue sky. Seas of green all a sign of the beauty and life that grew just outside of where the royal family resided.

And within the beautiful waves of flora was Ravus. Like an elegant marble sculpture, he sat at one of the garden’s picnic tables with his legs crossed and a book splayed in his palm. He was serene and gentle with his expression and posture, simply absorbed into the novel as he absent-mindedly stirred the creamy liquid in the porcelain cup on the table.

Lunafreya couldn’t help but smile at such a sight. This was the first time in years that she’s ever seen him so calm…

“There you are, Ravus.” Ravus turned his gaze upwards from his book and peered at his sister through the thin-framed spectacles he sported. Even if he didn’t jolt, it seemed as if he was too absorbed in his book to have noticed her so easily. The wide eyes showed it. Lunafreya smiled in response as she approached closer. “I was wondering where you were today.”

“Ah… I apologize.” His expression softened as he looked at her. “Did I worry you, Lunafreya?”

“Hm… A little. When I didn’t see you in your study, I grew worried. It’s rare for you to stray from your schedule, Ravus.”

“A change not on my own volition,” he replied bitterly. “Were it my choice, I would have resumed my tasks.”

“But…?” Lunafreya leaned over his shoulder to look at what Ravus was reading, only to make out a brief sentence in it that made her blush and stand upright again. Oh. Private reading.

Ravus sighed and closed his book, taking his glasses off and setting his belongings down on the metal flourishes of the table. He gestured for Lunafreya to take the seat across from him, to which she eagerly abided and sat. “The doctor has claimed that my constant working has been resulting in the infantry ‘suffering with the consequences.’ I do not understand what it was they were insinuating. But to humor them, I abided in their proposal for a day of leisure and relaxation and left General Tummelt to today’s regiment.”

“Ah… So that’s why everyone’s so relaxed today.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing, brother.” Lunafreya smiled at Ravus, glancing down at the tea and pastries sitting on the table before she tilted his head at him. “It’s nice though… To see you look so calm today. And to see you at all, really.”

Ravus arched an eyebrow and asked, “What do you mean by that? I live in the palace, just as you.”

“I know you do, but I rarely get to see you in general.” Lunafreya’s expression was soft, but there was a sad look in her eyes as she curled her hands together towards her chest. “You and I have travelled different paths – this I know for certain. But even so, I still miss being able to see you. Even something as mundane and trivial as greeting you for breakfast is something that I have missed from you, brother.”

Lunafreya’s expression seemed to shift to one of surprise as she bowed her head towards her brother. She was supposed to be grateful for all that Ravus was doing to protect her and those of Tenebrae. All the sacrifices he’s had to make for the good of everyone shouldn’t be overlooked all because Lunafreya missed her brother. He had his duties, just as she had her own. It wasn’t her place to complain and demand for his attention. They would always be family, regardless of how often they spoke with one another. That should be all that she should ask for.

“I’m sorry, Lunafreya.”

The princess looked up, having been beaten to an apology as she watched Ravus rise from his place. Was he going to leave? Oh no… She probably ruined his relaxation. She hesitated as she looked up at him. And yet, instead of a harsh glare he often displayed, it was a soft and sincere expression as he knelt before her. He held her hands as if caressing glass, fragile and dainty, as she returned his hold, feeling the callouses from his slender fingers brush over the back of her hands. A comforting gesture that Ravus always did whenever he knew Lunafreya was upset. It always was easy for him to tell, after all.

“Why are you apologizing, Ravus? It-“

“Do not say it is your fault or that you are being selfish.” Lunafreya had to avert her gaze. Ravus, however, only spoke kind words as he shook her hands. Just enough to bring her blue pools back to sight. “I know how hard it has been for Tenebrae – for us – as we find ourselves in hard times. But no matter how the hardships affect us or how the grief and loneliness feel overwhelming, you may always look to me for a remedy. Do I make myself clear?”

Lunafreya nodded in response, just as a small smile pressed itself past Ravus’s stoic demeanor. He brought the princess’s knuckles up to his lips, placing a comforting kiss on top of them as he gave her hands another squeeze. “I do what I can to protect you and make you happy, Lunafreya. But if ever should you need me, even to simply say hello, I will return to your side to protect you.”

“I know, Ravus,” she replied as a smile returned itself to Ravus. “It’s just that you do all that you can, so I don’t wish to bother you.”

“Rather you bother me than the chancellor.”

Lunafreya couldn’t help but laugh at such a curt statement, causing Ravus to chuckle as if it were contagious. “Well, I suppose I can’t argue with that…” She grinned and shook Ravus’s hands. “Then, since you’re trying to defy your doctor’s expectations on your ‘forced leave,’ would you like to share some cake with me back at the palace? We can get your more tea, since I imagine this has gone cold.”

“Has it?” He looked down at the tea pot. “I was too absorbed in my book, it seemed.”

“That interesting of a book?”

Ravus had to look away. “It was something the commodore suggested to me. I wasn’t anticipating it to be this…”

“Provocative?”

“Smutty.”

Lunafreya laughed again, letting go of Ravus’s hands so she could rise to her feet. She began to make her way towards the courtyard, but not without snatching the book from the table and grinning at Ravus. “Perhaps I should read it afterwards then, since you seemed so absorbed in such a tale.”

“You absolutely shall not, Lunafreya!” Ravus’s face reddened as he quickly stood up and chased afterwards. “Return to me the book at once!”

She felt like a child again as she laughed and ran from her brother. “You’ll have to catch me first!”

#ravus week #stephic writings #final fantasy xv #ffxv #ravus nox fleuret #ravus #lunafreya nox fleuret #lunafreya #fanfiction

[maria-zolts]

The Fog Rolls In

It was a clear evening in Kugane, and Maria traversed the markets in good cheer. She had made some headway with the research and now had evidence that the prism enchantment worked in the unique fashion that it did due primarily to blood magic. Specifically blood sigils known by the Qayagahara. That was the mix of blood and earth magic, as the sigils took pages out of the art of geomancy, making it a type of fusion magic. That was why she couldn't figure out why only the Qayagahara could utilize the enchantments - it was because they were the only ones who knew the sigils and they were passed down among clan members.

Unfortunately, the sigils were not in the papers that this Torgan had given Maral. Likely, they would have to figure out a way to find the woman, or wait for her to deliver the rest. It wasn't really Maria's call nor did she care one way or the other. The mystery was solved for the most part. It also explained why the prism would crumble if removed from anything they had been attached to - the sigils would become damaged, breaking the structure of the prism down.

She had all of this written in her notes in her bag, which she had planned to give to Maral the moment she returned to the workshop. For now she decided to splurge a bit on some fabrics she had been meaning to purchase for a while, and after tucking her materials away she turned to head back to the office.

The malevolent presence rolled in before that familiar fog did. Maria suddenly recalled Dusk's expression when it was first mentioned, and about how spirits or those with ill intent could track someone through such means. Her sharp gaze spied that no one noticed anything out of the ordinary, and if she attempted to act out she would draw undue and unwanted attention to herself. The last thing she needed was her notes confiscated by the Seisekigumi.

Usually the 'Watcher' had been content to do just that, but the intensity and degree of hatred she sensed around her suggested tonight would be different from usual. She shifted from her usual path, taking the darker alley as her hand moved to the sword at her hip. While she itched to have her staff at her back instead, she would just have to make do with the unmastered skills she had with her untested discipline.

As she continued down the path the fog deepened, until she could barely see in front of her and the buildings had all but disappeared. The spike in aether was strong, and Maria knew the Seisekigumi would not be interrupting whoever was controlling the fog anytime soon. Tossing aside her bag she unsheathed her sword and her lips began to move as she pointed the tip toward where she felt the densest surge of aether...

Only to throw up a manashield as a bolt of lightning arced in her direction. It slammed into her hard, knocking her off her feet, and sending her to her knees. She retaliated by throwing out a ball of fire herself, using the focus in the rapier to channel the spell.

The spell flew wild into the fog, dispersing into nothing. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Scrambling back to her feet she took off running into the direction of where she believed the enemy was, right as a sharp spear of ice slammed into where she had been kneeling. The area immediately grew cooler as the ice began to spread along the ground, but Maria ignored that to pursue her 'target'. Darting to the side she stopped and quickly chanted another spell, throwing a denser ball of fire, before chanting a high speed ice spell immediately after...

Both of which disappeared...only to come flying back out at her from both sides of her flank! Maria dodges the ice but is unable to dodge the denser fireball. At that point her manashield had nearly been spent and since she had not expected any sort of magical battle within the city, she had not worn clothes able to withstand high magical abuse. Heat is the only thing that consumes her, and then nothing.

When she finally manages to open her eyes, she sees a dark silhouette of a young woman. Pale skin, she looked no older than Maral at best. Cold eyes that reminded her of an abyss stared down at Maria, a book in one hand as the other hovered over her burned and tattered body.

"You've gotten rusty Maria Zolts." the woman says in a sing-song voice. "Or is it soft? If you'd been a lit~tle younger, or a lit~tle colder, maybe you would have fo~und me. Maybe it's because you're happy now? But that won't do. Not for a mur~derer. That's a sin, and sinners have to be punished!"

The world shifts, tilts. Grey fills her vision and taste leaves her tongue. Everything has become a foggy haze, and Maria struggles to maintain consciousness. That woman was...doing something to her. She could feel something slimy and heavy coating her mind.

There's the sound of the heavy tome closing, and then out of her peripheral she sees the woman crouch down, reaching out to stroke what remained of Maria's singed hair. "It took me so long to find you, and then even longer to track you down a~ll the way here. But it's not enough. Doing this won't be enough. You've hurt a lot of people, Maria, and someone like you doesn't get to walk away and live happily ever after." she leans in close to whisper in her ear, all traces of the cheerful sing-song voice gone, turned into a hiss.

"Suffer, you murderous trash."

And then she's gone.

---------------------------------------------

When Maria opens her eyes again, everything hurts, and she can barely move. Nothing seems familiar and even blinking seems a momentous effort. The bedsheets feel wrong, the ceiling was wrong, and the familiar weight of her dagger could not be felt under her pillow.

She hears a door slide (slide?) open and a familiar person walks through the door, but even seeing Maral brings only confusion.

"Maral Qa-" No "Oronir?" Everything feels wrong and she cannot place the why of it, only that she had been about to say her name wrong, and yet...not? She scowls, trying to shift into a position where she could see the au ra woman better, only for her to hurry over to Maria's side, setting down the glass of water she had brought in.

"Ah, Maria, please, do not move around so much." Maral sits down by Maria's bedside, reaching out to take the older woman's bandaged hand. "You were attacked last night and the healers were able to do their work but it will take time."

"Your Eorzean's gotten better, I see." for some reason it felt like a dumb thing to say under the circumstances, but everything felt fragmented and scattered, and it was too difficult for her to keep one thought in place. All she could understand at the moment was that Maral wasn't traveling for some reason, even though she had left her side cycles ago. And that she had been attacked for whatever reason. But when Maria tried to recall the event, there was nothing but fog and pain. Which made sense since that was all her body felt presently.

"Ah...thank you?" Maral blinked owlishly at Maria, tilting her head. "Um, I will not ask how you are feeling as I am sure the answer is 'awful', but, can you remember anything?"

"No, I..." Maria attempts to sit up but Maral shakes her head and gently places her hands on her shoulders.

"You have been burned badly. We have been instructed not to allow you to move around much until another healing session. Would you like for us to call Gilawafe? You are not allowed visitors but I am sure -"

"Who?"

This time Maral just stares at her, as if she couldn't believe Maria just asked that question. But she honestly didn't know who Maral was talking about, even though the name sounded vaguely familiar. Everything was a huge jumble in her head, and the more she tried to think on it the more everything slipped away.

"I'm sorry Maral, I...I'm not sure what's going on. Why are you even here? Aren't you supposed to be traveling Eorzea? Are you stopping by for a visit? What happened last night? Am I in a clinic?"

"Oh..." Maral looks lost for a moment and then leans back in her seat. "...Hm. I think I see. I will attempt to answer your questions, but I think there is a bigger issue on our hands, now. After we speak I will need to contact Voren and speak with him on this..."

#ic