#in need of a baron to spoil me with blades | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sevenincubistolemyheart · 4 years

Text

Lightened Shadows

AU: Final Fantasy 4

Tag list: @xsunnyhoseokx @otomehideout-indecentconfessions @file-missing @risefallrise

Rating: M

Potential Triggers: I’m rating M overall from the get-go just for later things in the series I may not want to spoil! Right now though, only light fantasy violence!

Pairing: Ever-evolving :)

Genre: Drama, Romance, Angst, Fluff, Hurt & Comfort

Length: 6.2k+

Your heart had never been so heavy, eyes shut in pained contemplation as you longed to shut out the gory images dancing in swirling colors within your mind. Your body was rigid as a board underneath your arms and you barely registered the typical feeling of the wind on the exposed part of your face.

“My Lady Captain! We’re nearly to the Baron border!”

You barely flinched, still lost in your thoughts as you gave a barely imperceptible nod with a muttered.

“So we are..”

You didn’t pay the mumbles behind you any mind even as you clenched your jaw at the sounds.

“It troubles her too.”

A soldier nodded quickly in agreement whispering conspiratorially just behind your back.

“Orders may be orders but this? This goes too far.”

You closed your eyes once again, this time the vicious images flashing vividly behind your eyelids before you could will them away.

Only 3 enemies in the Crystal Chamber- the other mages you’d all disposed of or subdued were mere children’s play. You hadn’t even needed to raise your shadowy sword in defense yet.

The lone White Mage, Black Mage, and the famed Elder himself were all that remained between you and your prize..

You only needed to raise your sword to block the old elder’s blow with his staff. It wasn’t an attack. Not truly, there was no intent behind it. Still, you looked into his pleading eyes with cold indifference. Not that anyone could see your irises behind the blackened armored mask you shielded yourself with.

“I implore you! This Crystal is not a mere stone! You know not what you do!”

This caused light irritation to stir in your gut and you shoved your sword forward, a soldier already waiting to force the man to his knees.

‘The king said they knew too much concerning the Crystal’s mysteries. This is just further proof that he’s right. As His Majesty always is.’

Your supposedly reassuring thoughts did little to bring true triumph or comfort to your victory, the elders pleading gaze haunting your mind even as you ascended the stairs and claimed the Water Crystal for Baron.

You flinched upwards- jolted out of your thoughts as you turned to face the soldier who’d called out your rank.

He looked nervous, that much was clear from his fidgeting hands and shifty eyes as you narrowed your own at the sight of his clenched fists. His resolve stayed strong though.

“Lady Captain! We are the Red Wings- the pride of Baron! Must we now be thieves, sent to plunder from the weak?!“

Your winced, thankful your soldiers couldn’t see it as you’d turned your back to them, lowering your head in shame even as you made your voice firm.

“Enough.”

Others spoke up, your men clearly feeling the same guilt you did.

“But Lady Captain!”

“The Mysidians offered no resistance! And still, we cut them down.”

You could sense the unasked questions they sought the answers to and turned to half face them with a frown, turning it into a neutral expression as below your nose was still visible, and firmly squashing your emotions down as you began re-establishing your authority in hopes of putting them at ease as you knew they trusted you. You prayed your words would offer them solace- they had no need to suffer any nightmares.

“Listen to me! We did no more than what our kingdom’s peace and prosperity required us to do. The Mysidian’s knew too much of the Crystal and its secrets. His Majesty deemed it so. We are the Red Wings of Baron!”

Your voice held an edge of warning as you stood up straight, turned to face them fully and raised your chin to look down at your men, a warning clear in the words even as your voice softened a bit, letting the soldiers know they weren’t alone but that they should have faith as you did in His Majesty.

“…It is not our place to question the orders of our King.”

The outspoken soldiers lowered their heads in understanding, and one spoke up, voice remorseful.

“Lady Captain…”

The watchman called down to you with a shout.

“Lady Captain! Monsters at the fore!!”

Your eyes widened and you whirled to face your opponents, seeing 2 Floating Eyes ready to attack one of your unarmed engineers. You lunged forward, dark blade already coming down in a merciless slash and watched as the cerulean creature, with it’s textured dark pink wings screeched in defeat as the blade slashed clear through it in a stronger than usual hit thanks to your momentum.

You turned on your heel to face the remaining Floating Eye and it only took 2 more slashes to cause the fiend to dissipate as the hate holding it together was no longer strong enough once it’d been worn down.

You panted as you recovered from the battle watching as your men helped one another to their feet while some of the more tired ones merely stayed on the deck for a moment more.

“Everyone alright?!”

You called out as your eyes danced across your men, worry they’d never witness directly behind your visor clear as the sky all around you in your irises.

They responded weakly.

“Aye!’

“But all these monsters as of late…”

One of them trailed off as he caught his breath and his friend nodded in agreement as he tugged him to his feet.

“Disturbing, is it not?”

You almost smiled at the moment of camaraderie until a final voice broke the peaceful silence.

“I wonder what it bodes.”

Dread washed over you and you straightened as a frown of contemplation graced your lips.

Before you had too long to dwell on what this all could mean the watchmen yelled out.

“We’ve reached the castle milady!”

Snapped back into your role as Captain, you swiped your arm out in a flourish.

“Well then, prepare for landing men!”

They all rushed to stand in attention and nodded. You could tell they found at least some comfort in something they were so used to hearing. Something they actually knew how to respond to without question.

“Milady!”

They all rushed to get the airship down and it wasn’t long until you were being welcomed back into the castle with cheers and proclamations of victory by those standing guard at the gate. Your men had already departed- to the tavern within the walls you were sure.

Baigan greeted you once you properly entered the warm glow of the first floor of the castle.

"Baron hails your return _____! I could hear the triumphant cries before I even reached the floor! You truly have proven yourself worthy of being taken under His Majesty’s wing.”

He praised and you nodded, forcing a smile even as your eyes darted to the side as you mumbled.

“The Mysidians didn’t even raise a sword in their own defense. They were all but at our mercy.”

Baigan’s smile paused before it grew as he spread his arm slowly in a languid stroke, eyes sparking behind his own mask, taking in your tone.

“Alls the better then is it not? Only fools would dare oppose the mighty will of Baron. Come. His Majesty awaits.”

He led you forward and you followed solemnly, wincing inwardly. How could he be so…unsympathetic? Perhaps you should’ve kept your thoughts to yourself. You were already deemed weak as you were the only female commander. Hell, the only female soldier period. Most found the training too difficult and dropped out if they tried- and most heard of its difficulties and opted for White Magic instead if drafted.

Truthfully you’d almost given up yourself and surely would have if Yoongi hadn’t urged you on- if you called pushing your buttons till you were so filled with rage your exhaustion was forgotten and you came at him again. And of course, Hoseok had always been there to nurse you both back to health with a well-timed Cura spell and a scolding.

You forced your fond smile to a neutral expression at the thought of your closest friend and loving boyfriend both. Now was not the time to find solace in the past.

“A moment my lady.”

Baigan stopped you with a nod and headed into the throne room.

“I’m afraid our captain has begun to have doubts, your Majesty.”

He informed the King quietly.

The old man barely reacted, merely offering a nod in response.

“She retrieved the Water Crystal did she not? That is all that concerns me. Bring her forward.”

Baigan watched the King for a moment before he descended the few steps leading to the elaborate throne and called out.

“Lady Captain! His Majesty bids you enter!”

You walked in and the King smiled at you.

“Baron is overjoyed at your return! Did you successfully retrieve the Crystal?”

“I have your Majesty.”

You nodded, holding it out to Baigan who brought it up and handed it off to the ruler with a mutter.

“It’s genuine.”

The King basked in the Crystal’s glittering.

“So it is! See how it shines! That will be all ______. You may depart.”

You began to walk away when the haunted eyes of your men made you stop in in your tracks- looking at the elegantly carpeted floor with clenched fists before you turned back and called out.

“Your Majesty!”

He looked up in surprise, bewilderment evident on his face.

“Have we some other matter to discuss?”

Baigan all but snarled coldly.

“Our King has bid you your leave and yet you would trouble him further?”

You didn’t let yourself falter and continued on brazenly.

“Forgive my indiscretion your Majesty, but what is it you aim to do? My men…they grow weary of such secrecy.”

The ruler’s eyes narrowed to pinpricks.

“…As do you?”

You rushed to shake your head.

“No of course not-”

He interrupted you as he stood up to glare down at you.

“Do you take me for a fool child? Do you think your treasonous whisperings escape my ears?”

His eyes softened fractionally in pain.

“After all I’ve done for you…____, you wound me. I have no other course of action. You are henceforth stripped of your command of the Red Wings.”

Your eyes widened in horror and it felt like you’d been punched in the gut as you gasped.

“My liege!”

The King continued mercilessly.

“Instead you will go to the village of Mist. There is a task I would have you do. Slay the Eidolon within the Cave of Mist and deliver this ring to the town inhabitants just beyond- they will know its meaning.”

A new voice entered the fray, one you knew all too well and you closed your eyes in pain at it.

'You idiot…’

“Your Highness, I humbly beg you, reconsider! You know ___ would never betray you!”

The ruler took in Yoongi with mild distaste and surprise but he took it all in stride.

“Yoongi. I was not aware this matter concerned you. But seeing as you seem so eager to protect your friend-”

There was a bitter, almost sadistically amused emphasis there that made you frown in confusion though he quickly continued.

“Let your spear accompany her blade on the road to Mist.”

That made you perk up.

“My liege please!”

He shook his head, raising his chin at the 3 waiting guard soldiers who began to push you and Yoongi out of the throne room.

“Take the ring and begone, while my mood is yet fair.”

He said coldly.

You grabbed the ring pushed into your palm and stared at the slammed door in helpless shock before lowering your head in remorse.

“Yoongi…please forgive me. I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”

You couldn’t bring yourself to raise your head from the shame of it.

Yoongi sighed heavily and patted your shoulder.

“Don’t apologize. You didn’t force me to walk into that throne room, did you? It was my decision to make.”

Your half-hearted shrug made him narrow his eyes in aggression behind his own visor, though not at you. What was the King possibly thinking?! Here he was- having taken you in and raised you. All but begged you to shove aside any notion of being a White Mage in favor of being a Dark Knight for him which you did without question and now he dismisses you for mere curiosity and concern for your men?

He felt the shakes of anger begin anew and grit his teeth before he met your gaze.

“We’ll slay this Eidolon and all will be forgiven. I’m sure of it. His Majesty knows not of your importance though he will soon learn it firsthand when your men’s work ethic falls through the basement and their mistrust only grows. He will see the error of his ways, have no doubt of that.”

You were slightly taken aback at the aggression in his tone but he was already patting your shoulder once more before turning to walk off.

“Get some rest. We leave on the first light of the morrow. Leave the preparations to me. Perhaps go see how your men are faring hm?”

You nodded after a moment but felt the guilt still eat at you even as he walked away. He was always there as a constant source of comfort in your life. He’d defend you over just about anything, you knew. Between him and Hoseok, no harm could befall you without major repercussions. A faint smirk twitched at your lips as you recalled sneaking out of the castle to engage with some of the fiends surrounding it.

________________________________________________________________

“C'mon! It’s just a little further!”

Yoongi seemed hesitant despite letting you drag him across the grassy fields. His expression was stalwart however, giving nothing away.

“I know you want to train but the King said it wasn’t safe at night…”

You shrugged off his attempt to drag you back and pouted at him.

“I won’t get stronger unless I fight proper fiends! The soldiers in the castle all treat me like glass because his Majesty watches us as they train me. And I use the term loosely. Even you go easy on me Yoongi, don’t think I haven’t noticed!”

The whine was evident in your voice and his eyes narrowed before you were on the floor, hands angled in a lightly painful pin against your back.

“…I have to. You’re not even used to wearing your armor yet. I’m sure your muscles ache beyond belief. I see the way you wince when His Royal Highness isn’t looking.”

A blush of embarrassment at being caught and called out filled your cheeks.

“But I need to get stronger-”

“Then we’ll train. Once you adjust to the weight of the armor and have the basics down. You may swing a sword but there’s no technique- and obviously no defense to be spoken of. And give His Majesty some credit. You know he’s skilled in the way of the sword as well. When it comes time to train you properly he will.”

Yoongi’s eyes softened as his grip loosened.

“…He wouldn’t have asked you to follow in his footsteps of becoming a Dark Knight if he didn’t think you’d get there. You’ve nothing to prove just because-”

A loud squawk interrupted his words.

He suddenly pressed down on you and winced as a Cockatrice attempted to peck down at you both, swatting it away with his spear, even as it managed to get a claw at his cheek.

"Vile beast-!”

He hissed in pain as he sprang to his feet with you quickly following suit as you both began to run, ducking and weaving in an attempt to avoid the angered birds from being awoken.

You both made it back in one piece, you breathless from laughter even as your arms were covered from light scratches and Yoongi eyed you with irritation as you giggled.

“…I’m glad you find risking our lives so amusing.”

He commented dryly but even before you’d established the rapport you now had, you noticed how his lips quirked up and he looked away to hide his own grin at the exhilaration and risk of it all.

“____?”

Hoseok’s familiar voice made you both jump as though you’d been caught smuggling filled croissants from the kitchens and you turned to him with a sheepish, if still adrenaline-filled, grin.

Hoseok took in your light injuries with distaste but huffed and stomped over to the both of you- grumbling under his breath all the while about how his “friends are a bunch of children.” as he began dragging you to his room.

“You’re both lucky those injuries aren’t too bad. I swear the second I learn Cure you think you can go out into the forests in the dead of night!? What were you thinking!?”

He glared at you but you saw the gentle concern just behind the anger and felt guilt settle low in your stomach as he continued to berate you.

“If the King found out he’d put a security detail on you for the next month. And you-! You typically at least somewhat have your head on straight and reel her in when she gets like this. Why didn’t you physically stop her?!”

His voice was a hiss and Yoongi turned sheepish as he muttered a gruff.

“I tried to stop her but she insisted. You know how stubborn she can be. Better I be there to protect her than let her go alone by sneaking out instead of coming to me no?”

His dark, even gaze turned to you even as he continued conversing with Hoseok, his words causing a blush to light up your cheeks.

“You already have my word I wouldn’t abandon her or let anything hurt her. I made that vow to her before we even met you. You really think I’d break it now?“

You remember being surprised at his vehemence. Yoongi typically never fought with Hoseok and agreed with him. You found yourself oddly flustered at the thought that you could be the reason to make him so defensive.

Hoseok had quieted in shock and reluctantly conceded, too surprised to say anything more as he ever so gently ran his fingertips along the wound before applying pressure as his hands covered both your cheek and your upper arm.

His eyes closed and he began mumbling- a prayer incantation you recalled faintly in the back of your mind. His palms began to cool your skin though not painfully. More a comfort than anything until your wounds-or where your wounds used to be more correctly-were tingling instead of the pain you’d grown accustomed to with a numbing sensation.

He turned to Yoongi and did the same and you watched as he shivered. He’d never particularly liked the sensation White Magic caused as it healed his skin.

—–

You shook your head to clear the memory from your thoughts. This was no time for reminiscing.

Of course, back then the brown bird’s viciousness had never been as high as it now was. If anyone attempted what you did now they’d likely be pecked or clawed to death.

The realization made you frown as you walked around the castle. The whispers about how his Majesty had changed were as present as ever and you knew it would only grow worse when you went into the town to gather supplies.

You spotted Yoongi and felt guilt once again squeeze your chest. Sure; you hadn’t forced him to enter by any means but…if you had just kept your mouth shut this never would’ve happened.

"Yoongi…this is all my doing. Forgive me.”

The proud Dragoon frowned, expression unreadable as he turned to face you.

“I already told you there’s nothing to forgive. What’s troubling you? It isn’t like you to act like this.”

Your heart pulsed with pain and you looked away to hide your glassy gaze, however, you couldn’t stop the falter in your voice.

“I did not train in the ways of the dark sword to steal from innocents Yoongi- I did it because his Majesty asked it of me.”

He shook his head with a quick exhale of sympathetic frustration.

“You mustn’t blame yourself for the orders you were given. What’s done is done and I’m sure his Majesty has his reasons. He always does, does he not?”

You shrugged half-heartedly and looked up to meet his eyes with an almost bitter smile.

“Truthfully, I envy you, Yoongi.”

You saw a flash in his eyes and in the next moment, he was hauling you up the stairs to the roof making you stumble after him.

“Yoongi what-!?”

He didn’t respond, instead resolutely marching you up the stone steps until he finally released you once you’d reached your typical training spot just outside the airship maintenance deck.

He situated himself in the same position you’d initially come across him in and finally opened his mouth.

“…So you saw me.”

Your eyes narrowed; already in training mode as you drew your sword.

“I saw the openings you left! How can you expect to lead the Dragoons if you cannot even protect your own flank?!”

He hit your sword with his lance and hissed back with the good-natured spite he only carried when in a good fight.

“My father’s blood is in me! I’ll lead the Dragoons- have no fear of that!!”

You gave a hum of amused approval.

“You’re certainly headstrong enough.”

He drew his lance back into its typical position for a fight, held firmly between his mythril gloved hands.

“No more holding back ____. Fight to win this time!!”

The clang of metal against metal and your battle cries rang out once more until he finally stopped and headed back downstairs.

“What’s the streak now?”

His men chortled and cheered as you sheepishly rubbed your neck.

“…He’s one ahead again.”

You snuck a glance at Yoongi as he took in their enthusiasm with little more than a detached smirk but you and they both knew the fact that he didn’t flinch at their touch as they slung an arm around his shoulder(he leaned into it you noticed- not that he’d ever admit that) said what he’d never verbalize.

He really was a great captain.

You suddenly thought of your own men and their reaction to the news and Yoongi must have noticed it because he instantly walked over.

“…Don’t overthink things. You need your wits about you. Or do you mean to send me off against the Eidolon alone?”

Your eyes widened and you grabbed the hand he’d placed on your shoulder in panic, a loud outburst out of character for you escaping your lips.

“Of course not!”

He gave a dark chuckle as he took your hand and brought it to his soft lips in a rare sign of affection.

“Well then; we leave early on the morrow. Best get some sleep.”

________________________________________________________________

You made your way down the stairs almost as if in a dream as the thoughts of your men’s state filled you with worry. A cry of your name made you slip and you would’ve surely fallen if not for Hoseok rushing to support you around the waist.

“Angel! Be careful…”

He sighed lightly as you both managed to make it to solid, sturdy ground once more.

“Honestly, it’s not like you to be so clumsy.”

His warm, gentle gaze looked down into your own as he softly caressed your cheek with his thumb.

“I’m so glad to see you’re alright. The orders for you to depart to Mysidia came so quickly I’d worried!”

You forced a smile and stepped back- knowing you didn’t truly deserve the affection or the reassurance the intimacy made you feel. You turned to go so he wouldn’t see your face.

“We’re fine. Small wonder considering we assaulted mages who did not fight back.”

You went to continue on your way when he called out to you again.

“___!”

Hoseok smiled kindly when you turned back, a depth beyond his eyes that you knew meant he’d seen through your performance, softened voice only confirming your suspicions further.

“… I’ll visit you in your tower later.”

“Of course.”

You responded without even thinking consciously- so used to the routine that you couldn’t even think of saying anything else.

Hoseok offered you a gentle smile and then retreated back up the stairs from whence he came.

You stifle a sigh, knowing that that conversation wasn’t going to be a fun one.

After a brief walk through the courtyard, you finally stilled at the sight of the two cobblestone towers side by side in front of you.

A steely resolve settled in your gut as you eyed the tavern and infirmary door right next to your own tower where your bed chamber resided.

Just as you made up your mind and went to step forward a shout next to your ear made you let out an uncharacteristic squeal.

“HEY! Back from your trip to Mysidia so soon lassie? You’d better be treating my babies all right y’hear?”

“Eep! Seokjin-”

You let out a frustrated breath of relief as you took your hand off your sword; thankful your reflexes hadn’t made you chop the airship engineer’s head off.

He grinned widely as he stepped back to pout at him, feathers thoroughly ruffled.

“Heh heh, gotcha good hm? You’d think you’d be less easy to catch off guard after all these years what with all that fancy trainin’ you did for the King!”

He snickered as he teased you but there was no genuine malice behind the jabs and his friendly grin quickly morphed into a worried expression at the grimace that must’ve crossed your face before you could think better of it.

“…What happened lass?”

You knew well that if you didn’t speak now he’d simply find out another way or worse; would go vent his concerns to Yoongi or Hoseok.

"His Majesty has deemed me unfit to serve as the Red Wings Captain and has therefore given me another quest to fulfill in an attempt to regain his trust.”

Your hands clenched into fists at your sides as you looked pleadingly into his eyes.

“You must believe me Seokjin. I did not mean to draw his Majesty’s ire. I merely hoped to discover why he longed for the Crystals so!”

The older man shook his head as his brows furrowed with concern initially moving to raise his arm but thinking better of it at the sight of your expression.

“What!? And he means to have you slay the Eidolon instead? But what’ll happen to the Red Wings without you? Honestly, I don’t know what his Royal Highness is thinking. You know he ordered me to build a new airship recently? One with more firepower and maneuverability?”

He huffed, a frown marring his handsome though oil stained face.

“I’m not building these ships for a war! Everyone’s getting more and more restless as of late, unsure about Baron’s future. And at a time like this, they send you away from us to kill some beast.”

He sighed, shaking his head.

“Hoseok was worried sick aboutcha the whole time you were gone. I know I don’t have to worry ‘bout you but still just…be careful, alright? I’d better be heading home too. That daughter of mine is gonna wring my neck if I stay here working another overnight again.”

He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish chuckle before offering a wave and heading off back the way you came. You risked a glance at the infirmary doors and raised your chin as you steeled your resolve before entering.

Only two of your men were in the beds, but that was still too many for your liking. They’d been there before you left though, having been mauled by a group of goblins on their way back from a supply run. Wedge had thrown himself in front of Biggs when he caught sight of one of the nasty creatures sneaking up on him and had taken a wound. Without Wedge for backup Biggs had hightailed it out of there, cursing his partner all the while. It brought a faint smile to your face behind the cool metal.

Still, seeing them sleeping contentedly without having to accompany you on your blood-stained mission…you were happy two of your best men were spared the effort and pain.

You looked over to the visitor’s table and felt your heart lurch violently at the sight of your men drunk out of their wits in an attempt to cope. You swallowed hard and approached, knowing you deserved to hear their unfiltered thoughts as you idled just outside their line of sight. Their words did indeed hit their mark.

“The Red Wings have fallen far.”

“Never has victory tasted so bitter upon my tongue.”

“We cannot erase the memories of what was done in Mysidia- but we can drown them.”

“Would that I only have had more courage…”

“Did you see how out of it the Lady Captain was? Even she’s starting to have doubts, I’m sure of it.”

At that, you decided to take your leave. They clearly hadn’t gotten the news yet and you didn’t want to be there when they did, even if it was selfish. They’d only worry if you told them of your new mission and you wouldn’t be surprised if some of your more bold men even tried to follow you to provide backup.

A scoffed laugh escaped your lips as you exited the way you came.

You really didn’t deserve them.

A mere 10 feet away was your own tower and you pushed open the heavy wooden door and made your way up the first set of stairs. You noticed the maid descending from your bedchamber and she smiled at your approach.

“I’ve turned your bed, my lady. I heard you depart again on the morrow. Pray, get some rest.”

She curtsied before departing and as you entered your room, you felt not relief but instead, the crushing guilt of your actions hit you hard. You aren’t sure for how long you gazed out at the double moons adorning the night sky but did it even truly matter?

‘Your Majesty…What’s become of you? Where is the noble knight? The man who took me in as an orphan, and raised me as his own? The strong, just king I once knew.’

You turned your face away from the light of the moon, deeming even that too good a beauty for you to gaze upon and instead turned your dead gaze to your black armor.

‘Is a Crystal worth all this? Robbing a peaceful people of what’s theirs by right, what need could be so great? King’s orders or no…there’s no forgiving what we’ve done.’

You closed your eyes at the pain the dark thoughts brought, steeling yourself as the echo of your lover’s ascending footsteps was deafening in silence of the tower.

“_____? Won’t you tell me what happened? First you’re sent off to Mysidia, and now to hunt some beast again so soon?”

He paused for only a moment before continuing.

“Did something happen in Mysidia?”

You barely brought yourself to meet his gaze as he called your name. His tone was carefully controlled to sound gentle but you knew from Seokjin and from how tense he’d been earlier that he’d once again been worried sick. As if you deserved such kindness after all you’d done…

The thought made your eyes drop to your bedsheets.

“…No. It’s nothing.”

After another beat of heavy silence in which he analyzed you he probed once more, taking a step forward that made you all but cringe as you turned your entire body away from him now and towards the Moon’s embrace, the light casting shadows all too familiar to you.

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

Damn him for knowing you so well. Before you knew it was happening words choked from between your lips like acid.

“I, in Mysidia we-”

You cut yourself off to steal a breath of air for a moment.

“We stole a Crystal from people who had done no wrong. I’ve worn this darkened armor for so long now…there’s no mote of light left in me.”

You curled in on yourself, the agony wracking your body and mind too much to bear as you brought the hand leaning on your knee to the area above your breastplate, slamming your eyes shut as it threatened to overwhelm you.

“Not even, in my heart.”

Hoseok struggled, an expression of pain crossing his face that you couldn’t see before he hid it behind a smile.

“You’re a good woman, ______.”

You shook your head, frustrated that he wasn’t grasping what an awful person you were. You didn’t deserve his love, his affection, his praise. How did he not see it?

“I’m a coward. A coward who cannot even defy orders she knows she ought not follow.”

Hoseok’s voice raised as he turned to the side to hide his quickly growing emotions, and you noted his clenched fists when you finally turned to face him in surprise.

“____ of the Red Wings is many things, but she is no coward!”

His voice softened but was no less resolute.

“Not the ____ who I love.”

Your heart clenched at the declaration and it only grew tighter as his head lowered in contemplation and he continued, knowingly.

“The King is sending you to Mist to slay the Eidolon isn’t he?”

He whirled to look at you and your heart fell to pieces at the torment and want to protect in his gaze.

“If anything were to happen to you, I couldn’t…”

His voice choked with emotion and as his gaze once again lowered to the floor you moved to stand. You countered, voice the same gentle tone he greeted you with as you approached.

“Yoongi will be with me. I’ll be fine.”

You placed a comforting hand on the side of his arm, knowing the cold of the metal would bring him comfort that you were still here. That you would come back to him.

“It’s late. You should get some rest.”

After a moment of taking in your presence, he beamed at you.

“Be careful.”

As he turned to depart you could’ve sworn you saw the worried sadness take over his expression before he ran down the stairs again.

He didn’t deserve to cry tears over you…

You turned back to the Moons and felt your mind and heart finally settle as you came to your resolution.

“Thank you Hoseok. But I know what I’ve become.”

Morrows light pierced your eyelids sooner than you would’ve liked but you begrudgingly got up nonetheless. You had an Eidolon to slay, and the thought of merely delivering a ring after yesterday’s bloodbath was a welcome relief.

You rose and went through your morning routine quickly, wrestling your way into your freshly shined armor and placing your sharpened sword in its scabbard. A quick glance in the mirror you were intent not to dwell on and you were off, making your way towards the entrance of the eerily silent castle. Many of the guards were lightly dozing but at the clanking of your armor they swiftly remedied that, much to your amusement. You said nothing, however, and soon the familiar yet slightly different tone of Yoongi’s armor rang in your ears as the sound mingled with your own steps until you were in perfect sync.

You’d also been secretly jealous of his pretty teal armor that he was awarded for being Captain of the Dragoons but you were pretty sure if you told him that he wouldn’t talk to you for at least a week.

The thought made you smirk, but it was quickly wiped away as you met him at the foot of the stairs and he looked deeply into your eyes, all serious business and determination. You played along, your mask still lowered to reveal your expression for once as well as your visor so your eyes were exposed.

“Shall we then, _______?”

You nodded in affirmation not finding the strength to mirror his confident smirk but managing a serious nod nonetheless.

“I’ll be counting on you, my friend.”

His response was instantaneous.

“Then you’ve nothing to fear.”

You raised your mask and lowered your visor at that, and you saw Yoongi’s smirk widen for what you assumed was pride at being the only one to see you so open, and vulnerable without a single worry of judgment as you both made your way out of the gates between the rows of guards who stood on either side of you to watch out of respect for your ranks as you departed.

________________________________________________________________

And so the Dark Knight ____, stripped of her command of the Red Wings, set out for the distant Valley of Mist. Together with Yoongi, he would pursue a faceless quarry- and a chance for redemption. The advent of the airship had marked the realization of mankind’s most ancient dream. But man is a creature seldom sated, and he was quick to dream anew. With the unparalleled might of the Red Wings Baron’s military soon reigned supreme. Why, then, does its King now seek the Crystals? And why have fearsome monsters suddenly begun to overrun the once calm land? If the Crystals know, they share no answers- only their pure and silent light.

A/N: Well it certainly has been a minute hasn’t it guys? I’m so glad to be making my return with this piece! For those that may have played the original game; yes I stuck pretty heavily to the in-game dialogue and all the voiced cutscenes in the DS played out in both word and body language in this first chapter.

Not only was it insanely time consuming to go through the game with a fine toothed comb but I don’t want to plagiarize the game but with BTS caricatures. I want this to be an adaptation and a retelling of sorts, so things may be switched around or not happen at all going forward, and I’ve already added a few little scenes and moments as well.

I would like to keep the cutscenes as best I can for those that will still be included in my story though and to implement the thought bubbles that gave me so much joy while playing through the game(if you switched the character you walked around as you could open the menu and see what they were thinking!) as alternate chapters from others point of view.

These would, of course, be much shorter and merely little drabbles to give their thoughts on things and situations they’ve experienced or are experiencing.

Something I’m very unsure of at the moment of is ships. As you have seen, Reader is already in a committed and very loving relationship with Hoseok, but who knows if that’ll change besides me? <3

Okay I’ll shut up now but it’s so good to be back! More fics are on the way so please do leave your feedback!

I put so much time and energy into this over many months, so I’d love to hear your thoughts, ramblings and general ideas for what’s to come! (FF4 spoilers are welcome in the Discord server where you can see me write live and receive spoilers below but not on the blog since I don’t want to spoil any of the plot I’m planning to include please!)

https://discord.gg/ye45QXb

Love yoooooooou and thank you again for your patience!

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mollymauk-teafleak · 5 years

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Come Home With Me (part seven)

Second to last chapter! Thanks as always to my indomitable betas, @minky-for-short and @spiky-lesbian

Sorry for this

Please consider reblogging, leaving a comment on Ao3 or donating to my ko-fi

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Mollymauk took a moment to ask himself how long it had been since he’d last held his swords in anger. With the intent to use them to hurt.

However long ago it had been, part of a dark and murky time he deliberately held far away from who he was now, he’d put them aside and promised himself he’d never do it again. A promise half-remembered, half-forgotten was a promise nonetheless.

It had begun to leech back in over the years, as much as he hadn’t wanted it, as much as he’d tried to use drink, sex, various banned substances to keep it all at bay. Drops of ink spoiling the pool, reaching up with insidious little fingers to try and claim him back. But that wasn’t who he was now.

The grip still fit his hand perfectly. Molly flicked his wrist, catching his own reflection in the blade, the carnival glass turning his features blurry and indistinct, coloured incorrectly in the iridescent surface.

Not so indistinct that he couldn’t see the black eye. The split lip. The cracked tooth when he held his jaw open.

All of it made him angry, a sick, thick kind of anger in the very pit of his stomach. He liked his face a lot. It was half his job and more than half of his identity.

But that anger was a weak and feeble thing, a wind barely strong enough to lift a leaf when compared to what Mollymauk felt when he remembered the look on Caleb’s face. So scared, so vulnerable, a child who’d been hurt so many times that he’d stopped asking for a reason. Kissing Mollymauk softly and walking to his death without a shred of hesitation, like he’d expected it.

Like he wasn’t worth fighting for.

With a soft hiss, Molly holstered the sword at his right side, the twin on his left. He swept out of his charred caravan and marched out into the too hot dawn left behind by the rain.

For the first time in a long time, he drank down that darkness in a deep breath. The taste of blood prickled on his tongue and a deeper need for more woke in his chest. And he knew exactly whose blood he wanted.

The anger, a cavernous, yawning anger must have been plain on his face as worry swept over Yasha’s face when she saw him, though only briefly. Her fingers tightened on her own sword’s handle.

“What’s the plan?” she asked, voice quiet.

Mollymauk had always loved that about Yasha. No hesitation, no questions. But she always stuck to the plan.

He set his jaw, feeling a pang of pain from his broken tooth.

“We bring him home,” he replied.

When you knew you had such little time left, Caleb assumed, the small things would matter less.

He was wrong on that count.

On the long, long ride back to Rexxantrum, all he could thing about was how much the chains chafed on his wrists and how stuffy it was in the back of an enchanted carriage with the curtains drawn.

Every time the wheels hit a bump in the road, a rock or a pothole or something he couldn’t see, he’d hear the chains rattle and bite into his skinny wrists even more. They were heavy, he knew that much, he could have done without the regular reminders. He also knew they were inscribed with magic cancelling runes, serious heavy duty ones that Caleb hadn’t even seen outside of history books about far darker times.

That’s who he was then. A fiercely dangerous rogue wizard, using his powers for evil.

There was some irony in that.

“Mollymauk, listen, you can’t just go running into something like this.”

The baron of Whitestone had clearly been pulled out of bed by Nott’s message spell or, if not that, certainly the large flash of purple energy from Gilmore’s transportation spell erupting right in the middle of their parlour.

Shaun had been faster to rouse at the message.

Molly hoped it was because the newlyweds were awake and enjoying each other. He hoped their love still tasted sweet. He hoped it always would.

He hoped he wasn’t dragging them into something they wouldn’t come back from.

Percy caught hold of his wrist, turning him back towards him when he tried to walk away, “Mollymauk…”

“Perce,” Molly shook his head, “You’re kind to offer but I can’t wait for things to be made official. You getting involved now is a hair’s breadth away from an all-out declaration of war. It would be messy and lengthy and we just can’t afford it right now. I have to get to Rexxantrum, get in, get out fast.”

The frazzled looking human pulled his robe tighter around himself, “This man seized a whole troupe of innocent people performing under my name and took off with one of them. I can have him arrested and tried inside a day.”

“I may not even have that long,” Molly says softly, lowering his voice so his tiny militia massing in the parlour couldn’t hear him. A militia that seemed nowhere near powerful enough to take on an archmage of the capital city… “In a day, Caleb could be dead.”

“How do you know he…”

He left the rest of the sentence unsaid, the both of them wishing feverishly he’d never started it. But those blue eyes didn’t yield, Percival ever the pragmatist.

“I don’t,” Molly admitted, eyes flickering downwards, “But if I start thinking like that then…then I don’t know how I’m going to come back. So I can’t.”

After a lengthy sigh, Percy let go of his arm, resigning himself though he clearly wasn’t happy about it, “Get Caleb out. Then come back here, in one piece, and we do things properly. We make sure the bastard never sees the light of day again.”

“Yes sir,” a thin, brittle smile flickered over Mollymauk’s face, then replaced by one more gentle and real, “Make sure Vex doesn’t follow us. She’s good in a fight but I’m not taking a pregnant baroness into a midnight raid.”

Percy managed a short, tired laugh, “I’ll keep her here. I’ll explain its no slight on her fighting abilities.”

Molly gently touched his arm before moving quickly into the parlour. He turned to an anxious, tense looking Shaun Gilmore, sat with his arm around Vax’ildan, and inclined his head respectfully.

“Rexxantrum please.”

Caleb wondered idly if it would be a public execution. Was that the point of the chains? Flavour for the narrative of the dangerous, murderous wizard high on bloodlust and his own magic? A reminder to all of Rexxantrum. This is why magic is kept behind walls of privilege, status and money. Look who keeps you safe.

But the curtains stayed closed as they rolled through the city gates, Caleb only aware of it because he could hear the guard calling them through, hollering at others waiting to enter.

He frowned, even that small action causing pain to crackle through him, with his blackened eyes and swollen lips. How could they be in Rexxantrum already?

Though he supposed he was still thinking in circus time. They took a far more circuitous route, winding their way through all the tiny villages, zig zagging this way and that to visit other towns, circling the mountains, wandering around the lakes.

That and he’d long lost his grip on time, constantly in the darkness, the rocking motion of the carriage never ceasing even a little.

The smell of the smoke was unmistakable though. Smoke and bodies and the reek of water pooling in the street. It was Rexxantrum without a doubt.

Caleb closed his eyes and imagined Molly somewhere warm, with the sun on his shoulders, surrounded by the smell of clean grass.

The city was in darkness though lights still shone in windows like sequins embedded in black cloth.

Part of Molly admired how pretty it was from where he stood up on one of the hills that surrounded the city. He wondered what was behind all those windows. Maybe a pair of lovers who’d both been at work all day, the twinge of desperately missing each other carried in their chests for the long hours apart, finally able to dissipate as they fell into each other’s arms. Each kiss feeling so precious because of the distance that had made them wait, even though they’d both known it was only temporary.

Molly closed his eyes and took a deep breath, tears threatening him, closing his throat.

He let the dark, inky part of him take over a little more. There were no tears in that, just the cold determination and the exact knowledge of what to do.

“We go in through the sewers,” he said, swords clanking when he moved down from the boughs of the tree he perched in like a peacock who’d lost his way, “Quiet, quick, no crownsguard. The house is at the centre of the city.”

His little team, Vax, Yasha, Fjord, Jester, Nott, Beau all nodded and made noises of agreement. Not everyone, a smaller group could move faster and more subtly through dark streets. Shaun would stay up on the hills, the piece of wire ready in his pocket to receive the message, telling him to transport them out or reinforcements in.

It would be a swift journey to their target. Molly knew it’s position well. It was where he met the love of his life, how could it not stand out like a glowing golden pin stuck in the world? It was the first time Caleb’s eyes had met his own, the first time he’d smiled at him and received the first glimpse of the man who would become the most important person in the world to him.

And it was where he was going to get him back.

Caleb didn’t want to cry out but he couldn’t help it. The blow landed so hard and so fierce, it wrung a scream from him before he’d even had the chance to make the choice. The taste of fresh blood burst across his tongue again as his jaw connected with the floor.

“Pick yourself up,” Ikithon snarled, apparently in the cold, echoing room Caleb had just been thrown into.

He did, the only other choice being to lay there on the stone floor. Or rather, he tried, staggering when his aching knees didn’t want to move, pitching forward when his bound hands jerked instinctively to catch himself but failed. He could taste his own breath inside the cloth hood, hot and sour.

But then a hand seized his shoulder and the hood was ripped away, revealing the cavernous basement where they’d held so many training fights. There was only gentle firelight flickering in the sconces on the walls but still it was too much for Caleb’s eyes after who knew how long in the darkness. He winced and ducked his head, tears beading behind his eyelids.

“Don’t you dare cry in front of me,” Ikithon snapped, “Pathetic wretch, I raised you better than that.”

“You didn’t raise me at all,” Caleb forced the words through his bitten tongue and swollen lips, “You can’t say you raised a flower after you trampled all over it and kept it in the dark.”

“Poetic,” Ikithon’s cheeks flushed red, clearly not used to being spoken back to, “Did you learn that among those degenerates and devil bloods who called themselves players?”

Caleb stared up at him, hair strewn across his face, sticking to the dried blood and sweat, “I learnt plenty from them. What love is. What life is. How to ignore every damn thing you ever told me. And whatever you do to me now, Ikithon, you can’t undo that.”

And he smiled.

Ikithon pulled his lips back from his teeth and the wall lamps dimmed to nearly nothing, “I was going to give you a quick death, Bren, for the sake of the years you lived under my roof. But you’ve undone that. You will be begging me to let you die by the time I’m done with you.”

The smile didn’t fade, bloody and bright, “My name is Caleb.”

Whatever Ikithon was planning, it apparently didn’t start yet. He just took his chains and threaded them through a ring on the wall, pulling them taught to yank Caleb’s arms up above his head. And then he left him there.

Only when the shadows closed around him did Caleb feel safe enough to cry.

It was hard, to be held in the very centre of the place he’d been hurt so many times, where mocking spells and cruel words had knocked him to his feet, so often that he had no idea how it hadn’t shattered him completely. It made it hard to stay brave.

He cried for that skinny young boy, all skin and bones, even the memory of a kind family taken from him. He cried for himself as he was now, punished for even trying to seek love in his life again.

He cried for how unfair it all was.

Time slipped away from him again before too long. He didn’t sleep, at least he thought he didn’t, he just sat there and thought about how much he wanted to sleep in a vague, misty way that never did slip completely into fully dreaming. Not with the pain gnawing at him all the time, in a dull toothless way, not just his wound but hunger and thirst too which soon crept up and found him.

Eventually, thinking that he’d lose his mind if he couldn’t grasp the seconds, minutes, hours again, he passed the time by singing. Though tears began rolling down his face and stinging the opened skin there, he sang all the songs he could remember Molly singing. Caleb’s own voice couldn’t compare to his tiefling’s, not by a long shot, he still sang the words, the melodies making him feel closer to everything he’d lost.

He hoped Ikithon could hear him.

There were so many songs, Caleb realised, as he ran through them all. Bawdy tavern songs Molly had only sang after he’d ingested a fair amount of alcohol. Long ballads that brought ancient stories back to life, so many verses that Caleb had no idea how Molly remembered them all and was stunned to find he could remember himself. Sweet, simple folk songs that could be played on nothing more than an old tin tub, designed to stick in children’s heads.

And then there were the songs Molly had only sung for him. Songs where he’d lain back against the pillows, only his lute keeping any kind of modesty, looking half a god in the low light. And Caleb had felt like the whole world was in those songs.

Those songs brought the tears on thicker. His voice cracked and splintered like old wood, now he faded in and out between verses. But he couldn’t stop.

Caleb saved one song for last. The one he knew best and held dearest.

The one Molly had sang to close the very first show he’d ever seen. The song that had made Caleb brave enough to seek something more than misery in his life.

“I was alone so long, I didn’t even know that I was lonely…” he sang, his voice rough and fading, “Out in the cold so long, I didn’t even know that I was cold…”

His fingers twitched listlessly at the empty air, trying to remember how Molly’s fingers moved over the silver strings. The words echoed through the empty space that seemed darker every moment. Or was that his own eyes…he didn’t know any more.

“Say that you’ll hold me forever. Say that the wind won’t change on us. Say that we’ll stay with each other and it will always be like this…”

Caleb’s voice finally crackled and disappeared completely. Deprived of water, deprived of fresh air there was nothing else he could do.

But in his mind, the song continued. And of course it was Molly’s voice that took over.

“I’m gonna hold you forever. The wind will never change on us.”

Caleb frowned. Molly’s voice echoed in his mind, not the way it had in the tent. And it was thick with tears too. Almost like he could see what a sad, broken thing his love had become.

It was soft too, not booming the way it had at the end of the show. It wasn’t for a whole audience, just for the ears of one.

It was almost as if it wasn’t a memory.

“Long as we stay with each other, then it will always be like this.”

Fingers brushed his hair back from his face. A familiar scent reached his nose, one that had no place in somewhere dark and terrible as this.

“You can’t be here,” Caleb rasped, sheer shock making his voice come back, “I told you to let me go.”

“And I didn’t listen,” Molly replied, smiling through his tears, “Are you surprised?”

“I…I didn’t dare hope,” Caleb managed a weak smile in return.

Molly shook his head, pressing a kiss to Caleb’s forehead, unable to say how he’d managed to keep himself from doing it for so long. He’d kiss other places too but they looked too sore and tender, wounds that made the inky anger rise but his relief and love at seeing Caleb alive pushed it back.

“We’re taking you home, Caleb. We’ve come to save you.”

Caleb’s smile faded, “No…Molly, Liebling, you can’t. He’ll never stop hunting me, he’ll never give up. And next time nothing I can do will keep him from killing you all.”

“You can beat him, Caleb, you said it yourself,” Molly looked dismayed, “We’ll get you healed and safe again and next time, you’ll beat him.”

“No…Molly, no…” Caleb shook his head, grasping for a way to make him see, difficult when most of him was crying out to follow him and believe what he was saying.

His heart sank as he realised how many of his family were here. Yasha, looming and powerful, stood at the door. Nott, his dear Nott, crouched over her little piece of wire. Fjord with a thieves lamp, sword glinting in the low light. Vax, half a shadow himself, daggers ready to fly. Jester hefting the axe that made Caleb’s arms ache to even look at, grinning at him, clearly itching to rush forward and hug him. Even Beau, staff rapping restlessly on the ground, eager to hit something though she gave him a crooked smile and a wink.

They’d all come for him.

“Caleb, I know you’re scared, it’s okay,” Molly cupped his face, gently so he didn’t hurt him, “But I will not leave you here with that man. You’ve trusted me before, do it just one more time for me? We will get you home.”

Caleb looked into those red eyes, the lighthouses of his life for the past year. Stranger things had happened surely…if he was willing to fight…

“You troupers really are as stupid as I hoped you’d be.”

Ikithon’s voice was the sound of tipping too far over and edge and falling, gasping for a handhold that wasn’t there.

A glow surrounded the cavern, bars of magic over every surface. Yasha jerked back with a hiss of pain, her hand burning on those that formed under her palm.

Caleb sat up, eyes wide, “No…”

Molly’s swords were free with a sound like an inhalation. His face turned cold, like nothing Caleb recognised. There was no performance in his voice when he spoke, it was truth.

“Come out and die, Trent Ikithon. It’s past time you paid for your sins.”

A shift in the magic of the room and Ikithon stood behind Caleb, wordless and flushed with fury. He reached down, clearly aiming to slit his throat but a sword came flashing out and he was forced to back off. Then the first spell shot out and, after a breath, hell opened up.

The flashes of light, the shriek of metal, the snarl of people determined to kill each other. And Caleb, frightened, panicked, sleep deprived, was in the middle of it all.

So many against just one should have been simple matter of mathematics. But not if the one was an archmage.

It was so frantic, Caleb could only get snapshots of it, fragments coming at him too fast to grasp for more than an instant. Beau staggering back, catching herself on her staff, red soaking into her blue shirt. The firelight catching on the line of Fjord’s hooked sword as he swung it high above his head, shadow creatures surrounding him in an unbroken circle. Vax’s cloak sweeping behind him, looking like wings.

Caleb closed his eyes, wanting to curl up and press his hands to his ears, wanting to stop it all. His friends were dying all around him. And there was nothing he could do, his panic forming tighter chains than Ikithon ever could have hoped to put on him. He couldn’t breathe.

A sound reached him over the clangour. Molly, crying out in pain.

Caleb’s eyes flew open to see Ikithon himself, arm outstretched, eyes like chips of dirty ice. The shadow beasts kept everyone else at bay, no matter how hard they tried. And his fingers closed around Molly’s throat.

One of his swords lay shattered on the ground, the glass broken into long, dangerous shards and each one held the picture in front of Caleb over and over again, a thousand times he had to watch his love dying, a thousand times he couldn’t save him.

The darkness was thickening, oozing like spilled ink.

Not again. Not again.

Caleb stood, like the chains had never even been there. The shadows were gone, a bright and brilliant light filling the cavern instead. It took Caleb a few moments before he realised the light was coming from him.

It wasn’t like before. Like the time he and Ikithon fought, like the time in the woods with Mollymauk where he lost control. Both of those times he had forgotten the word as soon as he’d said it, like it hadn’t really come from him at all.

But now he knew it. It burned there on his lips. The name of fire.

It crackled up his skin, wreathed his hair, but he didn’t burn. How could he? The fire wasn’t on him, it washim.

Molly fell to the floor, Ikithon’s grasp slackened in a mix of horror, terror and awe. Everyone else was stunned, it was their turn to be unable to move, weapons still held ready even after the shadows were gone. Because who the hell knew what was going to happen next.

Caleb took step after step, like he was relearning how to walk. The pain hadn’t faded, in fact it was fuelling him like electricity, the way a fire consumes wood and paper.

Eventually, it was only him and Ikithon. Caleb realised that he towered over the man now as he shrank back in fear. He’d always been taller than him of course, it had just been a matter of perspective.

Was this what Ikithon had seen every time he knocked Caleb back with harsh words, every time he’d threatened him and forced him down to nearly nothing? Had this made him feel powerful?

Caleb just felt sad.

He tried to think of something to say. A hero would always have a witty quip, one line to cut as sharp as the final blow. But, as he’d already realised, to his dismay and his relief, Caleb wasn’t a hero.

“I have nothing to say to you. You aren’t worth the effort.”

His voice was like the crackling of a fire. He stretched out one hand. And everything in him flowed into Ikithon and burnt him to ash in less time than it would take to strum a lute.

The flash of light was enough to hurt. Orange then red then a harsh white. Mollymauk cringed and covered his eyes with his hand as his heart hammered in his chest, one word over and over. Caleb, Caleb, Caleb…

The whole air smelled of burning, smoke hung in it like wisps of fine gossamer. Black streaked up the grey stone walls, an ashy residue all emanating from one point. Caleb lay in the centre of that point, curled up small like a puppet with his strings cut.

“No!” Molly sobbed, staggering to his feet, clearing the distance between them with something more like an extended fall than steps.

His throat still burned, bruises in the shape of fingers rising there already. It was hard to suck in air but Molly didn’t care about that right now.

Caleb felt so cold when his hands finally found him, turned him over and held him in his arms. It was like all like heat had gone out of him, lost to make that final rush of flame and light. His skin was covered in the sooty substance, his hair steamed gently like the ends of his copper locks had singed but his skin was icy.

And his eyes were blank.

“Caleb!” Molly gasped, voice painful, “Caleb, come on, come back to me…”

Nott’s voice was somewhere in the background through the smoke, calling Caduceus. Jester was already moving forward, her hands glowing with energy through the grey air.

“Caleb, please…” Molly murmured, moving back only as much as he had to so he could let Jester through. Any further from Caleb and he would have broken. “Please, it can’t end like this…”

There was no ink left in him, it had fled when his sword shattered.

All there was left was the song.

#widomauk #rothfuss au #potentially some Stuff in here so if anyone needs anything tagging just ask #kingkiller chronicle #critical role #cr fic #cr: campaign 2 #mollymauk tealeaf #caleb widogast #cr: mollymauk #cr: caleb #the mighty nein #vox machina #pleaseeeeee reblog?

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elmomachete · 5 years

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Wrestlemania XXXV Predictions.

Yeah, yeah, they don’t use the Roman numerals anymore. They don’t even use regular numerals. Humor me, it’s out of habit. I actually watched most of NXT Takeover last night, mostly live. I’m still not entirely sold on Blackochet or Matt Riddle, but the War Raiders and Velveteen Dream are the tittyballs and so were both matches. I fell asleep during the UK Championship match and intended to finish the show this morning, but then the results were spoiled for me by Cageside Seats in article headlines. Weak sauce, gentlemen. The weakest of sauces. Oh well, I’ll finish the show eventually. Anyway, with a 42 match card, the pre-show is liable to start any minute now so I better get these predictions up before all the poor souls in New Jersey (I’m sorry, I meant “New York”) start freezing their asses off. Let’s get prognosticating, shall we? Fabulous Moolah Memorial Women’s Battle Royale Totally not promoting human trafficking since 2018. Who won last year, Naomi? It’ll be tough to live up to those standards. I’ll go with Lacey Evans as the winner, because I’m sure that makes sense as a payoff to her coming out, doing nothing, turning around and walking to the back in Crazy Uncle Vinny’s mind. It’d be nice to give Asuka something after her seemingly random dethroning, but Lacey seems more predictably random. Cruiserweight Championship: Tony Nese vs. Buddy Murphy (c.) 205 Dead Crowd. I watched the Cruiserweight match from the Rumble pre-show the other day, and Buddy Murphy seems like a pretty good wrestleperson. Let’s say he retains, because he’s marrying Alexa Bliss and the company still loves her even though she’ll probably never wrestle again. Andre Roussimoff Memorial Battle Royale (ARMBaR) Just look what it did for Mojo Rawley! How can they make up for having Braun Strowman win the tag titles with a ten year old last year? Have him feud with two schmucks from Saturday Night Live so WWE can end up on a legitimate sports program the next morning! So either he wins, or after he eliminates the aforementioned schmucks he eliminates himself and chases them to the back leaving it open for (randomly points at list of entrants with eyes closed) Curtis Axel to win. Side thought: I think next year they should bring back Nicholas and rehire Matt Striker, putting them against the Bar, the Usos and the New Day. Striker can tutor the kid on the road, and putting them over the entire division will really solidify Nicholas’ legacy as an undefeated two-time tag team champion. Raw Tag Team Championships: Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins vs. the Revival (c.) The Battle of the WWE Random Name Generator Recipients! ...good lord, they’re actually giving the Edgeheads a Mania match? For the titles? I know the belts don’t matter and that maybe a dozen people give a rat’s ass about both teams combined, but still - Ryder and Hawkins’ whole shtick is that they never win. That ALWAYS gets over. So obviously they have to win here to get their “Wrestlemania Moment,” in their “home state” of “New York.” Smackdown Tag Team Championships: Nakamusev vs. the Bar vs. Blackochet vs. the Usos (c.) Aren’t I so witty with my portmanteau tag team names? I’m glad Wikipedia exists to not only tell me all 107 matches, but to remind me that yes, the Usos are tag champs again. What with them losing in Brooklyn, I expect Black and Ricochet to win the titles to start off their big show (no, not that one) debut with a bang and to finally tie them to Smackdown instead of Raw. they’ll have better matches on that show anyway. Or the Usos retain because they’re related to the Rock, who cares. Shane McMahon vs. the Miz Because Super Shane needs to get his annual hyperventilating stunt show in. God bless the Miz, he may be the best company man since John Cena for doing whatever stupid shit they come up with for him. Case in point: this fucking match. Does anyone besides Shane or Vince give two shits about this? Logic says the Miz wins because he’s (somehow) the babyface, so I’ll say Shane wins and the Miz’s dad hugs him afterwards because even though his son main evented Wrestlemania and defeated John Cena (there he is again) and got married to a smokin’ hot model and had a kid, NOW he’s finally proud of him because he put up a valiant effort against the 50 year old son of the owner of the company. Women’s Tag Team Championships: the IIconics vs. Nia Jax and Tamina vs. Beth Phoenix and Natalya vs. the Boss n’ Hug Connection (c.) Who’s got the worse name, the Australians or the champions? I guess Trish and Lita said no, so they dusted Beth Phoenix off and pretend she’s important enough to justify her Hall of Fame induction. Nia and Tamina suck, Billie and Peyton don’t matter, Beth won’t be around the next day and I can’t see them changing the titles so soon after creating them. Bayley and Sasha retain. Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin John Cena Oh, shut up. You know it’s going to happen. Cena beats up Corbin on the way to the ring, spouts some jargon about hustling respect loyally, he drags Angle through three minutes of suck hoping he doesn’t accidentally kill him, somebody wins and they both go away. (Flips a coin) Cena wins, LOL. AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton Fighting because reasons! Um... let’s say AJ wins, because Orton is a made man and they wanna thank AJ for not leaving for All Elite Wrestling (what a terrible name). Christ, how many pointless matches could they trim to make this a show of reasonable length? Not everybody needs a Wrestlemania payday... do those even exist anymore with the Network? United States Championship: Rey Mysterio vs. Samoa Joe (c.) I’ve got nothing sarcastic to say about this match, I’m actually looking forward to it somewhat. Rey Mysterio can still go, and although people say Joe has lost a step since coming to WWE I’m actually a bigger fan of him now than ever. I think he’s benefited a lot from having to tone it down and only do two or three big spots in matches as opposed to a billion, although whether that’s due to the restrictions of the “WWE Style” or age/injuries is up for debate (I felt the same about Cesaro slowing it down going from Ring of Honor to WWE). Rey can survive a loss here and I think they wanna get as much out of Joe while they still can, so he retains. WWE Championship: Kofi Kingston vs. the New Daniel Bryan (c.) Remember when the “World” title wasn’t likely to be in the middle of the show? As much as I’d hate to see the Hempyweight Championship belt go (and no matter what it’ll eventually have to), I think the crowd would riot if Kofi didn’t win. So I reckon Kofi wins, then Big E. and Xavier turn on him right afterwards to piss the crowd off right after throwing them a bone. Y’know what? I think it would be interesting to see a riot at a wrestling show. Fans have threatened it with signs ever since Cena vs. Van Dam, but we’ve never actually seen one. It’d certainly be a “Wrestlemania Moment.” Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre Yay, Roman’s back! And he’s not in the main event again! Yet! I’m as glad as anyone that Reigns seems to have beaten leukemia, but the entire feud with Drew seems like something they threw together at the last minute because they didn’t expect him to come back so soon. I can never tell if they’re behind Drew or not, they seem to change their minds every other week. Roman wins, obviously, then probably goes right back into the Universal title picture. Triple H vs. Batista The epic final battle between Drax the Destroyer and whatever Triple H’s character was called in Blade 3. I’m interested in this match due to sheer sideshow curiosity. Big Dave hasn’t wrestled in however long, and last time Hunter wrestled he ripped a titty off his chest in the beginning of the match. I have enough faith that’ll it be something watchable at least, Triple H’s match with Angle and Rousey was good last year. Batista wins and rides off into the sunset, and Trips “retires” for about a year. Let’s give it a year and a half if we’re being generous. Universal Championship: Seth Rollins vs. Brock Lesnar (c.) Prediction for number of German suplexes: 11. Now this one is a sticky wicket. On the one hand, it’d be nice to have the Rumble winner, y’know, win, and have someone with the belt who’ll be around every week. On the other hand, I’m sure Vince is already salivating over the thought of Roman conquering the unstoppable once every four months onslaught of Brock Lesnar. On the THIRD hand, they did make a t-shirt for Rollins that says “Beastslayer” which would be completely pointless to peddle at shows if he lost. I’ll go out on a limb and pick Lesnar, but whoever wins is getting Roman as a challenger Intercontinental Championship: Finn Balor vs. Bobby Lashley (c.) Can we get this show over with already? I’m already bored just writing about it. The Demon wins back the title that he just lost for no reason a few weeks ago, Lio Rush probably gets beat up and the crowd continues to go mild for Bobby Lashley. Next. Women’s Championship, winner takes all: Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (c., Smackdown) vs. Ronda Rousey (c., Raw) Becky. Becky, Becky, Becky. Wait, I have to say something other than that about the match? The build for this has been all over the place. Becky taps to Asuka at the Rumble, then takes Lana’s spot to win the Rumble match itself. Becky’s suspended, but she’s on every show anyway. Then she’s not suspended, she and Ronda break the fourth wall on Twitter, Charlotte replaces Becky, then she wins the Smackdown belt from Asuka and it’s a triple threat, and my God I think I’ve gone cross eyed. Who wins will really depend on where they place this match on the card. I know they’ve said it’ll be the “main event,” and if it truly goes on last then they’d be insane not to give it to Becky. I’ve been trying to reasonably predict the order in which the matches will take place. BUT... we all know WWE has been saying double main event, triple main event, whatever for years. If it DOESN’T go on last, it’s probably gonna be Charlotte. She’s already beaten Trish’s record for number of Women’s title reigns, and lord knows WWE wants to make her seem like the best at everything due to her name. I’ll (perhaps foolishly) put all my chips on Becky, but won’t be surprised in the least if it’s Charlotte. Oh yeah, Ronda’s in the match too. How ‘bout that. *whew* So yeah, sixteen matches on what’s liable to be a seven hour show. I’m likely to watch it in spurts, because A) my TV is always at the risk of being hijacked by a six year old, and 2) I’m going to fall asleep if I try to watch it all in one shot. I won’t be drinking, because I’d rather fall asleep due to boredom rather than alcohol consumption this year. I almost don’t want the women’s match to go last, because the crowd will be fucking exhausted by then. Of the sixteen matches, I’m confident about half will be good. So there’s that. We’ll have a couple overblown entrances, some forced “Wrestlemania Moments,” the possibility for an entertaining car wreck or two, maybe an Undertaker appearance. This is the first year though where I’m sort of dreading the Grandest Stage of the Showcase of the Immortally Ultimate Thrill Ride in twenty years of fandom, and that’s pretty disheartening. That Takeover sure was something though, wasn’t it?

#wwe #wrestlemania #wrestlemania 35 #nxt takeover #cenawinslol

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blogging-phelddagrif · 7 years

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EDH Deck Tech: Gisa & Geralf

[you can see every deck tech here]

Hello & welcome to this weekly deck tech! This week we’re shambling into EDH for a very spooky deck: Gisa & Geralf.

Since I talked about Merfolk, Goblins, Humans & Elves already, the only major tribe missing was Zombies; while there is some zombie decks floating around in Modern & Standard, they are often subpar and so different from each other that doing a deck tech about them would feel weird. EDH on the other hand is where zombies thrive, where they can roam free and use their full potential. The new addition of Gisa & Geralf with Eldritch Moon just gave zombies the commander they needed & deserved. Let’s jump right into it.

Oh Lord!

Let’s start big and cut straight to the chase: Lords. Zombies have access to plenty of good lords to pump them up & give them really nice utility. Cards like Metallic Mimic, Cemetery Reaper, Undead Warchief, Lord of the Undead, Zombie Master, Death Baron, Mikaeus the Unhallowed, Risen Executioner, Door of Destinies, Coat of Arms, Urza’s Incubator, Obelisk of Urd & Graf Harvest. With those cards your zombies will be bigger, badder & meaner.

Zombie Harvesting

Now that you’ve got some Lords to pump up your nice little decaying buddies, you need more ways to generate as many zombies as possible, as quickly as possible. Zombies are extremely good at overwhelming a board via tokens. You’ve got plenty to choose from, with cards like Diregraf Colossus, Army of the Damned, Ghoulcaller Gisa, Grave Titan, Stitcher Geralf, Noosegraf Mob, Rite of Replication, Undead Alchemist, Liliana’s Reaver, Havengul Runebinder, Kalitas Traitor of Ghet, Empty the Pits, Dark Salvation, Dread Summons, From Under the Floorboards & Moan of the Unhallowed. Just try to swarm your opponent with some 2/2s (that tend to be bigger, but whatever) and unless they have board wipes, there’s not much they can do about it.

Cycling Zombies

A good thing with Black decks is that most of the time if you don’t need something on the spot you can just discard it to get something else & just bring it back later if needed. You have a few nice cards that play with a discard synergy like Crypt Breaker, Forgotten Creation (which I always forget exists...), Ancient Excavation, Geralf’s Masterpiece, Advanced Stitchwing, & Grimoire of the Dead (which can be an amazing game ender); or cards that feed your graveyard straight from the library like Corpse Connoisseur, Entomb, Buried Alive, Geralf’s Mindcrusher, Epiphany at the Drownyard, Fact or Fiction & Forbidden Alchemy. Just fuel your graveyard while getting some card advantage.

Recycling Zombies

Since you’re already fueling your graveyard with zombies from your hand library, why not use the ones on the field as well? Keep the tokens & the lords, get rid of the rest! Or you can also get rid of your tokens, it’s all up to you. You have some great cards that benefit from sacrificing cards; stuff like Grimgrin Corpse-Born, Sidisi Undead Vizier, Corpse Harvester, Corpse Augur, Scourge of Nel Toth, Stronghold Assassin, Nantuko Husk, Carrion Feeder, Eliminate the Competition, Grave Pact & Dictate of Erebos. Just sacrifice those zombies and be rewarded by great value and a lot of pain in your opponent’s eyes.

Bring Out Your Dead

So now that your graveyard is filled with goodies and the board filled with more goodies, what are you going to do? Just bring back the sleeping zombies from your graveyard to join the party! You have so many options (we’ve seen Grimoire of the Dead just a second ago) with cards like Gravecrawler, Prized Amalgam, Relentless Dead, Havengul Lich, Magus of the Will, Yawgmoth’s Will, Geth Lord of the Vault, Gravespawn Sovereign, Phyrexian Delver, Possessed Scaab, Fatestitcher, Sheoldread Whispering One, Gravedigger, Ghoulraiser, Cruel Revival, Victimize, Living Death, Living End, Ever After, Dread Return, Rise from the Dark Realms, Ghoulcaller’s Chant, Dread Slaver, Rise from the Grave, Cemetery Recruitment, Patriarch’s Bidding, Reanimate, Beacon of the Unrest, Nim Deathmantle, Whip of Erebos & Animate Dead. Use your graveyard as another resource! Oh, and try getting some huge zombies while the graveyards are full, like Soulless One, Unbreathing Horde, Liliana’s Elite & Wight of Precinct Six.

Zombie Food

There is no way around it, you need to deal with cards. Every deck needs some removal and this one is no different. Here are some good options to consider: Fleshbag Marauder, Yahenni’s Expertise, Fatal Push, Noxious Ghoul, Custodi Lich, Skinrender, Vengeful Pharaoh, Cyclonic Rift, Sudden Spoiling, Doom Blade, Hero’s Downfall, Decree of Pain, Tragic Slip, Life’s Finale, Damnation, Call to the Grave & Black Sun’s Zenith. To be honest you have access to way more but it’s really up to personal preferences.

Slow Zombies, Fast Mana

Little know fact, black has access to quite a bit of mana acceleration; you just have to know where to look! You can play stuff like any mana rocks, Ashnod’s Altar, Phyrexian Altar, Sol Ring, Cabal Coffers, Nykthos Shrine to Nyx, Phyrexian Tower, Magus of the Coffers, Crypt Ghast & Songs of the Damned. Ramp up and swarm your opponents with zombies!

Vampire Zombies

Weirdly enough, zombies have a tendency to drain life out of your opponents. Odd, yet very reliable win condition! Cards like Lich Lord of Unx, Vengeful Dead, Shepherd of Rot, Geralf’s Messenger, Gempalm Polluter, Raging Dead (not really draining, but it deals quite a chunk of damage), Exsanguinate & Foul-Tongue Shriek. It’s not a lot, but just with a few of these cards you can finish off a game quite easily.

Dawn of the Dead

Now that we’ve seen the pillars of the deck, let’s see how to take this overboard & really make sure that the zombies take control of everything. Obviously Rooftop Storm is pretty much a game ender, but other cards like Liliana the Last Hope, Liliana of the Dark Realms, Liliana Vess & Liliana Heretical Healer are all amazing cards that will help close the game. You have also access to amazing card advantage to really take the game away from people like Phyrexian Arena, Necropotence & Graveborn Muse.

Wrap-Up

That’s it for this week! I hope you guys enjoyed this deck tech as much as I did. If I missed anything let me know. I’ll see you guys next week for a Standard deck tech.

#mtg #magic the gathering #magic: the gathering #magic blog #edh #deck tech #mtg blog

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roadtripwarrior · 7 years

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Negotiations.

Marquis Dumia the Third was attending a peace negotiation in the fifth of January. A storm blew outside the windows of the chambers where the meeting took place. Fashioned in his golden armor and helm, which he never removed. People said he must have be mad and afraid he’ll be attacked at any minute. Other just said it was because it looked fashionable.

Beer and liquor and cakes and coffee were served after a feast fit for the king. Baron Deligant was hosting the event, and it would a be a turn for both Dumia and Deligant people. Dumia poured beer down his throat and sighed. “Thank you for the pleasant feast. The foods of your people are quite exquisite.” “But of course.” Deligant waved his ringed hand though the air to show that it was no trouble at all. Smiling and revealing several golden teeth. “Money is no object for my people. We prefer to buy our way out of situations, what we lack is, how you say, A certain glee for combat.” Dumia finished another beer quickly sighing, his face turning red. “Why thank you for the compliment! I do enjoy a good tussle. May I have another?” The Baron waved his hand nonchalantly once more and a servant placed another brew in front of the Marquis. “Thank you my good man!” He exclaimed, eyeing the man up and down, noting that he was well armed for a servant. “Now. To business!” The Baron exclaimed. “As you know, we are here to discuss peace between our people. Not that there has ever been an conflict between us but ehh, times are getting a bit trifled, no?” “Indeed. Our empires are each growing and people are becoming numerous. As you know, we need certain foods to survive that only your trading clan can offer. And my king has wished that we be friend for some time!” Dumia plucked a cake from a silver plate and shoved it quickly into his mouth, making several noises of satisfaction. “Indeed, indeed. Boy, bring me the treaty papers.” He pointed to one of the servants, who bowed before exitting the room. Returning quickly with a large stack of papers and scrolls. Placing a small ink quill beside the Baron. “Now. There is a bit of business I am sure you have heard, growing rumors as it were.” The Marquis slowed down on chewing the third cake too listen. “Rumors? Of what sort? Has the one about my britches being the same color as my mother gotten out?” The baron laughed joyously. “No, no. My friend. Matters of far more... Concern.” He paused a moment. “The folk to the east have been growing powerful.” “One-claw and his people? Why yes! I was actually going to visit them once the snow cleared.” “Alas, we were also planning a visit.” Deligant handed a scroll to the Marquis, who looked it over. “If we are to make peace amongst ourselves, then I purpose we create a common enemy as well, no? War is most profitable. And their power is growing twice the scale of any of us!” He shouted slamming his fist onto the table. The Marquis stopped eating. Looking at the Baron, then back at the scroll with the declaration of war scrawled on it. “But the Folk in the East have always been scholars. Wise-men. They would not use there power to harm us, or anyone for that matter.” “So they say.” The Baron rose from his chair. Clasping his hands behind his back he crossed around the other side of the table. “They mock us from there towers, in truth. They keep there secrets from us. Deeming only those worth can lay eye on them. But what secrets are they really holding? What do they know? Magic, I say!” Dumia scoffed. “Magic? Magic is not real, Baron Deligant. You know that. Wives tales of the sort. No more real than dragons.” “Dragons, are real, my friend...” There was a heavy silence in the room now. Like thick cloth had shrouded the dinning hall. Marquis looked about the declaration again. King Lowentid would not approve of this, nor would the Marquis want to speak on his favor. He eyed the servants in the room. Their fingers played against the hilts. The Baron who was on the opposite side of the table now turned and leaned against the table, using both arms to support himself. “And if you do not follow us into this war, you too, will be our enemies.” Not a word was said. The Marquis stared down the Baron, his brow soured at the man. That was all the answer Deligant needed. He relaxed his shoulders and lifted off the table. “Very well then... Shame. We can’t have you leaving here. You might run off and warn the Folk in the East of our plan.” “I suppose it is a shame isn’t it?” The Marquis said, sighing. “To spoil such a delightful evening.” With that he grabbed the bottle from earlier, spun up from his chair and smashed it across the servant who had crept up from behind. A second leaped forward, blade drawn. The Marquis, whose weapons were on the far side of the room, picked up the chair his had been using and hit the man flying at him so hard that the chair broke in half, knocking the man side ways into the table. After which the Marquis kicked the table up sending it flying towards the Baron and the remaining two guards. Giving him just enough time to crash through the window and out into the streets. He could hear the Baron shouting at his men to pursue as he fled into the night.

#Flash Fiction #short story #writings #spilled ink #writers on tumblr #knights

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recentanimenews · 5 years

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Anime NYC 2018, Day Two

Yesterday was light to nonexistent. The same for tomorrow. But today? We had ALL THE THINGS! Starting off with the joint Kodansha and Vertical panel, which was in a nice big panel room and there was no line. A good start!

Ben Applegate was there from Kodansha and Tomo Tran from Vertical. They talked about all the giveaways they had at the booth, with Summer Wars stickers, After the Rain music download cards, Devils’ Line stuff, Pop Team Epic “shitty merchandise” (nicely done), and some of the Monogatari art exhibit being available to look at. Vertical then announced a new artbook from VOFAN, the artist for the Monogatari Series novels. This is actually a collection of his non-commercial art, so it should be far more intriguing than just another collection of stuff you’ve seen before in a larger size. It’s coming in Fall 2019.

Kodansha ran through some of their titles currently being released, including the Sailor Moon Eternal Edition, and mentioned the Sailor Moon musical is coming to NYC and DC. They then got on to new titles, though one is a collected edition: Princess Jellyfish is getting a Complete Box Set! Given at one point they weren’t sure they’d even finish the series, this is terrific news. Tales of Berseria is a three-volume series from Ichijinsha’s Comic REX, and is a fantasy title based off of a video game – I think it has an anime as well.

Fate/Grand Order gets its first manga adaptation license with the mortalis stella series, a 2-volume manga that is also Ichijinsha, from their Comic Zero Sum. I believe this stars Mash. Lastly, Kodansha is doing a new Cardcaptor Sakura edition with all the bells and whistles – hardcover, some new covers, new translation – the whole nine yards. I was a bit surprised by this, given it wasn’t too long ago that Dark Horse had re-released the series, but I’ve heard this will be worth the repurchase.

There were also two new digital announcements, coming out the first and second week of December, respectively. Red Riding Hood’s Wolf Apprentice (Akazukin no Ookami Deshi) is a Betsushonen title with Little Red Riding Hood as a beast hunter, and it’s supposed to be amusing. And on a more ridiculous note, we have Crocodile Baron, a Weekly Morning title that is three volumes long. Kodansha emphasized that the synopsis was irrelevant because there was a crocodile in a top hat on the cover. They’re not wrong.

After this there was Q&A, but I had to leave right away to get to the debut panel for Denpa Books, run by Ed Chavez (ex-Vertical) and Jacob Gray (ex-Fakku). They had special guests at the panel, though they quickly had to leave, so weren’t the focus – Range Murata, character designer for Last Exile and others, whose futurelog artbook is out next month and has ALL the bells and whistles – seriously, I could not believe how tricked out this artbook is. Hiroyuki Asada is known here for Tegami Bachi, but is putting out a more experimental title via Denpa, PEZ.

Most of the titles talked about have been mentioned before in some way or another. I was most interested in Invitation from a Crab and Maiden Railways, both of which seem to come from Hakusensha’s Rakuen Le Paradis, as well as Dining with the Emiya Family, for Fate/Stay Night fans who know what the most important thing in the Fate franchise is – FOOD.

The new titles included Super Dimensional Love Gun, a Shintaro Kago title that Fakku had previously released, but this is a nicer edition. It contains the usual Shintaro Kago warnings – if you aren’t a fan of his, you’ll likely be grossed out. Heavenly Delusion (Tengoku Daimakyou) is a brand new seinen series running in Kodansha’s Afternoon, and Denpa managed to license it before the first volume was even out in Japan. They’re super excited for it – it’s post-apocalyptic slice of life, a popular genre lately. The creator may be better known for SoreMachi. The last Denpa title was Pleasure and Corruption (Tsumi to Kai), from Square Enix’s Young Gangan. Honestly, it feels more like a Fakku title than a Denpa title, but it’s being sold to those who liked the sort of dark sexuality of Flowers of Evil. Expect BDSM themes.

After eating lunch, I had a choice: I could go to Viz, or go to Vertical’s Katanagatari panel. I chose the latter (sorry, Viz, I always seem to miss you at these events). Vertical’s panel had the translator, Sam Bett, who walked through some of the things they’re doing with the title – the footnotes, which are half gag and half serious, as well as the hardcover omnibus editions. Given its author, you can imagine how much sword wordplay and how many sword puns there are. Most of the audience has already seen the anime, but Sam was quick to note that even given the novels are short (each is approximately 100 pages in English, meaning the omnibus is 300), there is a lot the anime had to adapt or leave out.

Even leaving aside that it was Nisioisin, translating it could be difficult – these are not “light” novels, and there’s lots of obscure or archaic Japanese terms that need adapting. He also explained why he used “mutant blades” rather than “deviant blades” – he felt the latter made them sound more evil than they really should be seen. It takes him longer to do Nisio’s translation than other titles, but not a LOT longer – about 20% longer, on average. He said even a Japanese reader might find themselves reaching for a dictionary to look up words with this one.

Despite not being at the Viz panel, I will be looking at their announcements anyway, at least the manga ones. My Hero Academia SMASH! is a 5-volume comedy series that ran in Shonen Jump +, and is, as you might have guessed, a wacky 4-koma take on the popular series. This license was obvious, but I am quite pleased nevertheless. Komi Can’t Communicate (Komi-san wa Komyushou Desu) was a very popular license announcement, being a Shonen Sunday title with a lot of buzz. Komi is the cool, aloof beauty according to the school, but in reality, she’s just bad at communication.

Beastars is a Weekly Shonen Champion title (nice to see Akita Shoten stuff out over here in a (mostly) post-Tokyopop world), and it’s an award winning manga about anthropomorphic high school students. It’s 11+ volumes, and looks dark but cool. Lastly, Haikasoru has a new sci-fi novel announcement with Automatic Eve, that seems to be a steampunk title.

I was lurking waiting for Yen Press, so I checked out the GKids panel. They’re a group that puts out a lot of the “anime movie” series we’ve seen recently, the most recent varieties being Mirai and Fireworks: Shall We See It from the Side or the Bottom?. They’re also now in charge of the Ghibli line, with nice handsome DVD/Blu-Ray releases of those titles. They are clearly cery excited about getting these releases into theaters, and the trailers for the movies looked exciting and fun – I particularly liked the Miyazaki documentary.

My last panel of the day was Yen Press, but they also announced the most titles – easily. The panel room filled up rapidly, being near standing room only 15 minutes before, but I think everyone who wanted to get in was able to. Announcing for Yen were Kurt Haessler and Tania Biswas, as well as Carl, Ivan, and Anna, who sadly remained last name-less. Unlike all the other panels I went to, Yen knew it had a pile to announce, so did not do a run-through of any recent releases – through they did have some poster giveaways, including Psycome, much to my surprise.

We began with the novel of Wolf Children: Ame and Yuki. Yen had previously released the manga, but they now have the novel adaptation of this popular movie. (Anna spoiled a death when describing the plot, which Kurt mercilessly mocked her for.) Whenever Our Eyes Meet is a yuri anthology a la Eclair, but this time the protagonists are all adult women, for those who are tired of the usual high school girls. Speaking of yuri, we also have Killing Me!, a one-volume title from Comic Cune about two high school girls who are a vampire and a vampire hunter. It looks very much like a “yuri for guys” series.

Also one volume is Little Miss P (Seiri-chan), an Enterbrain series about an anthropomorphic period. As in menstruation period. The audience was taken aback, but Yen clearly really enjoyed talking about this one, and think it will be great fun. Last Round Arthurs: Scum Arthur and Heretic Merlin is a brand new fantasy title – brand new in Japan too, so there’s not much info about it. The author did Akashic Records of Bastard Magical Instructor, the artist does Index. It seems to be about an Arthurian tournament, and is two volumes to date.

On a darker note, they have both the novel and the manga for Torture Princess (Isekai Goumon Hime), whose artist has also done Black Bullet. It’s a Media Factory title and is apparently quite violent, about a man who is reincarnated in an artificial body and the demon hunter who wants his help. The German subtitle is Fremd Torturchen, and the manga runs on Kadokawa’s Comic Walker site. We also get an Enterbrain light novel called The Dirty Way to Destroy the Goddess’ Hero (Megami no Yuusha wo Taosu Gesu na Houhou). No, not that kind of dirty. The demon lord just wants to eat tasty food, but heroes keep trying to kill them. So… they summon their own hero.

Back to manga with The Monster and the Beast (Bakemono to Kedamono), a BL title from Asuka Ciel, about a nice monster and a nasty older man, and their budding relationship. Yuri Life is another yuri title, this one taken from Pixiv artist Kurikurihime, and also features two women in their late twenties, not late teens. It’s very sliec-of-yuri life. For fans of Beasts of Abigaile, we have a title from the same creator. Kaiju Girl Caramelizer (Otome Monster Caramelize) runs in my old nemesis, Comic Alive (pauses to shake fist at sky), but looks good anyway, and is about a girl who has an affliction that when she gets upset, her body parts “monsterize”.

More light novels with Bottom-Tier Character Tomozaki (Jaku Chara Tomozaki-kun), a Shogakukan title (in other words, expect print-only for this one) about a loser gamer guy who thinks the world is awful, and a winning gamer girl who shows him the “cheats” to help him succeed at life. It gets points for not being a fantasy title, I’ll say that. The artist is also pretty fly. (I’m so sorry.) Back to manga for God Shining Moonlight Howling Moon (Mahou Shoujo Flaming Star), by the creators of Trinity Seven and High School of the Dead. Given that combo, you know there will be breasts a plenty. It also runs in Bessatsu Dragon Age, which sort of clinches that, and is about a Magical Girl called upon to save the Earth… but is she one of the good guys?

The last one is another light novel, The Hero Is Overpowered But Overly Cautious (Kono Yuusha ga Ore Tueee Kuse ni Shinchou Sugiru), a fairly recent Kadokawa series. A fantasy world is in desperate straits. They need a hero. They get a really strong one… but he’s far too wary, never wanting to attack unless he knows he can win. What makes this interesting is that the book is from the POV of the goddess who summoned him, and she has to find a way to make him do what needs to be done. It’s five volumes in Japan. After that came Q&A, but honestly, let’s just move along now.

And with that, I wrapped up my second and busiest day of Anime NYC. Again, I was pretty happy. The staff was nice and knowledgeable, the crowds were large but reasonable, and I got to see everything I wanted. Tomorrow I have no panels I want to see, so will take in Artist’s Alley, and may also scope out the AMV contest.

By: Sean Gaffney

#Anime #News #Manga Bookshelf

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