#somebody please explain that cravat

[tricornonthecob]

My friend who is a Finn IRL sent me clips of a Finnish historical drama from the early 00s called Hovimäki and I was completely unprepared for this man's cravat.

Bonus round: Spot The Swede

#my art #hovimäki #Finnish historical drama #Finnish history #somebody please explain that cravat #it looks like it was made from a topsail #he's about to get blown away by a gust of wind #either SHUT THE DOOR or GO INSIDE bro you are heating the outside

[commanderserwin]

questions and questions.

↦ pairing(s): levi ackerman x reader

↦ word count: 2.6k

↦ anon request: 

Hi, I hope you're feeling fine 💖 May I ask for something for Levi where he visits an orphanage where his crush works to visit her and all the kids are really excited that Humanit's Strongest is visiting and they ask a thousand questions and he is all in all very sweet towards the kids and it melts his crush's heart? 💖

↦ author’s note(s): thank you anon! i hope you’re feeling wonderful! and thank you for requesting, i’m sorry this took a while ☹︎ still, please enjoy & i hope you like it! 

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Levi has been staring into nothing for the past hour. He has been busy contemplating if he should go or not. He rested his arm on the couch’s headrest, his legs crossed as he thought hard and long when the only option is: to go. Yet, he found himself apprehensive. He has never been around children that much which is the main reason he actually doesn’t want to go. It’s not because he hates children... it’s just, they're children. What do they want? What do they like? What if someone cries? What does he know of children? Clearly, everybody has been a kid but he’s slightly insecure of his own childhood. All he could remember was the sweet slivers of moments shared with his mother, and the rough lessons with Kenny. 

But he couldn’t say no to you. 

In the end, he found himself changing his clothes into something more casual. Gone was the brown jacket of the Survey Corps, the leather harnesses, and the knee-high boots. He dressed himself with his black, coat, trousers, and shoes plus his white button shirt. He didn’t forget to wear his cravat.

Levi walked through the district, knowing all the turns he has to get to you. When he finally saw the little curved wall that was the orphanage, Levi thought that he was going to puke his guts out. He’s overthinking this too much, they’re just children. It’ll be trip. It’ll be all new to him. He calmed down a little when he saw you by the entrance, crouched down in front of little boy that he assumed was crying. He looked at himself, visiting empty handed that he didn’t even notice that he passed by the flower stall. 

He quickly turned back, and found the stall that he’s come to love. Levi picked out the flowers; the most colorful dahlias he could ever find for you. 

From the corner of your eyes, you spied the usual figure walking through the entrance. The colors of the flowers he’s been holding was an easy target to figure out that it was him, because of the huge contrast of the blacks and the flowers he’s hidden by the last second behind his back.

Both of you met each other in the middle. Smiling widely, as he tried to avoid the running children that was screaming various ways of ‘Excuse me!’ as they chased each other in circles. Finally, Levi reached you, a small smile on his face as he watched you erupt in a smile he has missed. 

“Here,” Levi handed you the bouquet, his hand immediately finding comfort in his trousers. 

“These are beautiful, Levi,” you breathed, smelling the dahlias. “Thank you.”

Levi only nodded, looking around. He is so nervous. He nudged his head towards the kids, “Is that them?”

“They’re very excited to meet you, Humanity’s Strongest Soldier,” you nodded, tugging on his sleeve to follow you. 

He stayed in his position, stumped, when somebody else tugged gently on his other sleeve. 

“Who are you?” 

Levi looked down, his furrowed brows softening at the sight of the little girl that’s still holding on to his sleeve. The girl followed his furrowed brows, and it made his heart pound a little harder. She's copying me.

“Levi.” He answered, looking down. The girl hasn’t let go of yet.

“Sera, meet Levi,” you smiled, pointing at them Levi. You crouched down, patting at her hair. “Levi, meet Sera.” 

“Hi, Levi.” 

“Hi,” he answered again, and once he saw the look on your face, he cleared his throat. “Hi Sera.” 

Levi made the effort to crouch down, meeting Sera’s brown eyes as he offered his hand. Sera shook his hand, her small one being completely engulfed by his. 

“Why is your hand so... hard?” Sera asked, holding back again to Levi’s sleeve. “It’s scratchy.”

“Sera,” you warned, pouting as you fixed her hair. 

“I’m sorry, Levi,” she apologized, holding on to his hand now. “I’m sorry you have scratchy hands.” 

Levi nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. Sera showed her hands to him, and he tried his best to look surprised as she gave him the widest smile. 

"I have soft hands."

"Yes, you do."

Levi looked around the children he has attracted— nervous and wary. He looked at you for answers but you only shrugged in response. For all the times, he has visited, he's always in the shadows. Children will come and look at him, but they would never gawk like together, especially when he's with you. It's not that he doesn't want the kids to look at him, he's just not prepared for the small audience that is now gathered around him. They all look up with curious eyes, mouths slightly opened, watching the two adults before them. Levi placed his hand on your smaller back, as if pushing you slightly in front of him, while he tries to hide behind you. 

“What am I going to do?”

It was no use. 

You only pull back on his hand, leaning in on his shoulder. Your lips brushed his ear, as you whispered, "Just be nice." 

"I am... nice." 

"I know," you answered back, squeezing his hand. He blinked, his brows raised a little. "Just relax." 

"I am relaxed."

"Levi," you laughed, his hand on your back again. He pulled you ever so slightly to him, still embarrassed, "Levi, you look like you're going to puke." 

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Thirteen pairs of curious and wide eyes has been staring at Levi for a few minutes. He’s been stumped for not saying anything aside from introducing himself. 

So that’s where he was now. 

He’s currently sitting in the middle of the bench, legs crossed, as the children waited for more. 

Thirteen pairs of eyes. 

And it scared him to hell. 

His eyes landed on you, standing up with your arms crossed, holding the dahlias closely. He watched your lips turn to the side, giving him a small, encouraging smile that is even making him nervous. 

“Go on,” you mouthed, gesturing your fingers up for him to smile. He awkwardly smiled in return, glancing back at the children, but they all stayed quiet. 

Levi grimaced as he looked back at you. He wants you to save him. He couldn’t handle all the attention of the curious eyes that is looking at him. 

“I’m Levi,” he introduced himself again, his eyes flitting towards yours again. 

“Mr. Levi, is that your full name?” Amari asked.

“No,” he shook his head, adjusting his cravat to hold on to something. “It’s Levi Ackerman.” 

“Mr. Ackerman, are you really Humanity’s Strongest Soldier?” Isa asked, leaning in closer as she tugged softly on Levi’s pants. 

“It’s just a nickname,” he explained, looking back at you. 

“I want to be called Humanity’s Kindest,” Noah said. 

“That can happen.”

“Will you call me that, Mr. Ackerman?”

“Sure, Humanity’s Kindest!”

Levi looks so pale in front of the children and when you offered to help at first, he refused. He refused even though you could see right through his body language. He shook his head profusely, pulling away when you finally lead him to the bench. He made a mistake of grabbing to your wrist tightly, when you turned your back on him so that the children can satisfy their curiosity on the person in front of them. 

But he wanted to try. 

And you let him. 

But you don’t know if it’s going well or bad. 

Even when he looks like he’s about to pass out. 

“How many titans have you killed?” Triz asked. 

“I haven’t counted.” 

“What’s your favorite color?” 

Levi pondered on the question. He thought hard and long, until his eyes found yours again. He smiled a little, his eyes going to the bouquet of flowers he’s got you. 

All looks good on you, he thought. 

“It varies.” 

“What’s that on your collar?”

“It’s called a cravat.”

“Can I touch it?”

Levi leaned in forward, offering his hand as he helped Jack touch it.

“What’s your favorite food?” Carson asked. 

“Tea.” 

“But, that’s a drink, Mr. Ackerman,” Vico explained. 

“Levi is fine,” he explained, clearing his throat. “I guess, it’s soup?”

“Do you cook soup?”

“I try to.” 

“Do you also like bread?”

“Bread is fine.” 

“Potatoes?”

“Potatoes are great.”

“I don’t like potatoes,” Sylvie whispered, patting her stomach.

“That’s okay,” Levi reassured, nodding.

“Do you like horses?” 

“Sure.” 

“Are they fast?”

“Yes.”

“What color is your horse?”

“Brown.”

“I want a white horse.” 

“We have white horses.” 

“Will you bring me one, Mr. Ackerman?”

“Levi, please,” he said, fiddling with his cravat. “I don’t think she will like it.” 

Levi pointed at you, and they all turned around. Thirteen pairs of eyes plus the grey familiar ones that you like has stared at you. Levi cocked his head to the side, thankful that the attention is now on you. 

He has started to calm down a little, getting used to the questions they are asking him- which are pretty straightforward and he likes it. The children before him are very entertaining, and he patted himself on the back for actually going.

“I don’t think we have the space for a white horse, Jiya,” you pouted. “But maybe some day? In the future.” 

Jiya nodded, turning back to Levi. All the rest of them followed and now Levi’s nervous again. But it was all gone, when they asked again. 

“What do the horses eat?”

“Hay.”

“No soup?”

“No soup.”

“Are they fast?”

“Yes, again.”

"How fast?"

"Faster than me."

“How fast are you?”

“Very fast.”

“Do they bite?”

“Maybe.”

“Did they bite you?”

“No.”

“Are they smelly?”

“Yes.” 

“You don’t bathe them?”

“They’re just smelly.” 

“That’s sad,” Oliver whimpered. 

Levi’s eyes almost bulged out, whipping his head towards you for help. He doesn’t know what to do if they cry. 

“Please give them baths, Mr. Ackerman,” Oliver added as he looked up at Levi. 

Levi sighed loudly, relief filling his chest. “I will.” 

You smiled all throughout the whole exchange, seeing Levi relax a little bit made you relax as well. You could see how well he was trying, even when his eyes found its way towards yours for so many times, while you encourage him. All the children were so excited that Humanity’s Strongest Soldier is coming to visit— you were also excited, looking forward to this. 

But seeing him with children was different. It almost made you turn into a puddle seeing him with children. 

“Is she your wife?” 

He choked. 

But he stopped himself, he coughed for a bit, pounding on his chest. Levi blushed slightly, and this was the first time he didn’t meet your eyes. 

You were glad for it because you were also deeply blushing. You didn’t know that the conversation about horses would turn into the you. Given, that the both of you hadn’t talked about it, this was all new to the both of you. Levi has only begun courting you, and this...

“No,” Levi cleared his throat, uncrossing his legs, and crossing it again. “She isn’t.”

“Is she your girlfriend?”

Levi looked up at you, failing to busy yourself when you fiddled with the flowers on your hands. It’s like he’s found confidence with the question. 

“I’d like her to be.” 

“Well, please do,” Jon beamed, pointing at you for a second. “I think she likes you.” 

“Does she?” Levi smiled. 

“Uh-huh,” Maria agreed. “She gets sad if you leave.”

“Okay!” You blurted, making everybody turn to look at you. You could feel yourself blush a little harder when Levi tilted his head to the side, a small smile playing on his lips as he stared. “I think that’s enough-,” 

“She also likes flowers.” 

“Does she keep my flowers?”

“Yes! She puts them on a vase,” Nika replied, clapping her hands. 

“Do you know her favorite flowers?”

“Nika,” you warned. But it was no use. They’re too enamored with the guy in front of them that they have turned away from you. 

Nike turned around, and pointed at the ones that you were holding. “She likes those.”

“I should buy her that often?”

“Yes, you should, Mr. Ackerman,” Javi nodded.

“How old are you, Mr. Ackerman?”

Grateful for that distraction. 

“Old.” 

"I'm five years old." Isaac announced, counting off of his fingers. 

"That's nice."

“I think you are ten.”

“No,” Levi shook his head, suppressing a smile. “Older.”

“Twenty?”

“Older.”

“Thirty?”

“Maybe.”

“That’s old.”

Levi only sighed, untangling his legs as he leaned in closer to the children sitting on the ground. They all huddled closer together, speaking up after one another.

“Do you like her?” Jacob pointed at you.

“Yes, I-,” 

“Children,” Mary, the orphanage’s cook called out from the window. She wiped her forehead with her apron, waving her hand. “Dinner is ready!” 

Very grateful for the distraction. 

“See you soon, Mr. Ackerman!” 

Levi waved his hand, watching all of them ran inside the small house, bumping into each other; screaming who gets to sit inside. He watched the children avoid, running around as you called out to wash their hands before they eat.

Then they were gone, and it was just the two of you. 

You padded towards him softly, sitting with as much distance as the bench could offer, yet his knee touched yours, making you look up at him. He caught your eyes that made you look straight ahead. Levi placed his arm on the bench, his fingers brushing your sleeve as he did so. He could see the tinge of pink on your cheek, relishing this moment, thankful that he pushed himself to visit you today. 

“How did I do?” Levi hummed, tapping his foot on the ground. 

“Good,” you nodded, fiddling with the flowers. 

“Just good?”

“Sweet.”

“Good and sweet?”

“Levi..."

"Sweet."

You glanced over at him for a second just to take a peek at his smug face that you’re trying to avoid. This whole ordeal with the children started out good then it took an unexpected turn. You didn’t want to talk about it. “I... Thank you for the flowers.” 

“Don’t forget to put them on a vase,” he mumbled. 

“Stop,” you whispered, hiding your face again, remembering the questions. 

He tapped on your shoulder, making you turn your head towards him. Levi’s head was tilted to the side, his heart thumping, the blood rushing making him feel so alive. He loves teasing you, and with all the information he has gathered from the honest children, his teasing capacity has increased. 

You knew his body language. Very well. That look on his face means that he’s got something snarky to comment. His fingers grazed your shoulders, waking up your goosebumps. Something snarky, you just knew it. So when he opened his mouth, his brows arched, as his lips turned upside-, you beat him. 

“Don’t!” 

#levi ackerman #levi x reader #levi imagines #levi imagine #attack on titan #attack on titan imagines #attack on titan imagine #snk imagines #snk imagine #aot imagines #aot imagine #aot levi #snk levi #levi ackerman x reader

[makeste]

BnHA 6th Popularity Poll Reaction Post - Risky Spoiler-Dodging Edition

hey guys, so seeing as the results from the 6th popularity poll were leaked today, I figured I would do a separate reaction + analysis post this year, rather than piling it in as an extra on top of the chapter reaction post tomorrow. I figure this makes more sense anyway, since they’re really two completely different things. also this way I can write as much as I want lol.

also, just fyi, I am still completely unspoiled for chapter 293. and probably the smart thing to do to keep it that way would be to log off tumblr and hold off posting this until tomorrow, but I apparently have no impulse control today so oh well. anyway, so I’m hoping you guys will keep this spoiler-free if you don’t mind! as always, I would prefer to just jump right in completely unaware tomorrow like Troy returning to the study room with the pizza boxes lol.

okay so this first part is just going to be my predictions. fyi I am writing this part on Wednesday night, and then I’ll add on the results part on Thursday or Friday (ETA: Thursday, apparently, since I am impatient.)

okay so first of all, just as a refresher, this poll was open to Japanese voters from Aug 3 to Sep 30. meaning chapters 279 through 285. meanwhile last year’s poll took place around the tail end of the MVA arc. so between then and now we had Heroes Rising, the Endeavor Agency arc, and the War arc up to the part where the 1-A kids took on Gigantomachia in Gunga, and started battling Tomura in Jakku. so technically only a couple of arcs, but a LOT of stuff going down in them. oh and season 4 of the anime as well

so! firstly, I predict that my truculent africanized honeybee son will hold on to his crown at #1, coming off a year in which he did some internship-boosted soul searching, borrowed OFA in movie canon, and finished out the voting period as the my-body-moved-on-its-own character development MVP. like CALL ME CRAZY lol, but I’m pretty sure his title is safe. and then after him will be Deku and Shouto as usual

Aizawa should hopefully also have a strong showing because the dude had a banner fucking year. reunited with his old dead friend, took on Tomura with his hopelessly inept hero pals, and then chopped his fucking leg off. he had better be in the top 10. his fucking leg died for this, idk what else he has to do

Endeavor also stands a decent chance of doing well given the internship arc and the final episode of season 4. which I’m sure will go down just swimmingly if that does happen lmao. especially if he somehow manages to rank higher than...

Dabi, which I don’t think he will btw, but you never know. anyways though, but I’m thinking Dabi’s going to have a stronger showing than in past years (in the last poll he only got 367 votes and was ranked 19th). mostly because of his fight in the Gunga mansion, and his cheekily censored name reveal to...

Hawks, who is also going to rank pretty high here, I think. might be he loses some points for killing off Twice, but his back was basically to the wall there. and he has always been very popular, and I think season 4 will also give him a boost, along with his heavy involvement in the first half of the War arc

Tomura was already in 6th place last year and I think he cracks the top 5 this year. he’s gotten exponentially more popular since the MVA arc, and got a boost in the last poll even though his flashback had only just barely happened, and he hadn’t finished Awakening yet and all that stuff. anyway, so he’s only gotten cooler and more tragic since then so I think he makes a big play here

Kirishima, Momo, Tokoyami, and Mina should also hopefully do well, since the poll opened right in the middle of all that Gigantomachia action, and Toko had just got done being an absolute badass and protecting his birb dad. I don’t think he’ll quite make it to the top ten, but he should

and last but not least, I’m hoping that Mirko will come out and take the polls by storm, although I have no clue how popular she is in Japan lol. she’s clearly Horikoshi’s favorite though. she SHOULD be everyone’s favorite, but I mean, we’ll see how it goes

anyway that’s it as far as predictions! and so now, through the magic of writing stuff at different times, we will fast-forward to the part where we actually find out the results!

OH MY GOD YES, STEAMPUNK KHLKSLLKL. HERE FOR IT. JOLLY GOOD SHOW. 5 STARS

Kacchan looks SO COCKY and SO HAPPY and SO ADORABLE, YES I SAID IT. he is adorable as FUCK. I don’t quite know what it is about this particular Kacchan that just screams “LOOK HOW FUCKING CUTE MY STUPID, LOUD SON IS WITH HIS BIZARRE WINDOWPANE-LOOKING CONVERTIBLE SUNGLASS GOGGLES and his POORLY TIED CRAVAT”, but I think it’s because he looks like if a Digimon character and a FMA character had a baby

anyway, so it looks like most of the people present here are more or less who we expected to see. except that I can’t tell for sure if that’s Dabi or Shindou, and if it’s Shindou I’m going to punch somebody in the face so you will have to excuse me

Iida wearing a TRENCHCOAT and a TOP HAT with ENGINE EXHAUST GOGGLE ACCENTS is my new favorite Iida of all time. take note how there is no possible way he can wear those goggles with them sitting on top of his hat like that. plus he’s already got glasses on. these are just purely for aesthetic and IF THAT AIN’T JUST THE STEAMPUNK WAY

Deku out here speaking softly and carrying a lead pipe. Kacchan you best look out. seems like he’s done watching you take first place year after year while he languishes in the number two spot. your only hope is that he trips while attacking you because his boots are unbuckled

Shouto’s standing over there with the rest of the non-first-and-second-place characters, but what are the odds his results are actually within spitting distance of Deku’s same as always. anyway he doesn’t mind, though. also his outfit is by far the most sensible one here, but if you look closely he’s got some sort of fire extinguisher/jet pack thing strapped to his back that’s got a control switch on his belt. Shouto are you jetpacking or putting out fires

Kirishima out here all “I’m not sure what steampunk is so I’m just going to take off my shirt and pose”

AIZAWA WITH THE EYEPATCH SKLKSDLKFJLSKJLDFKJSLDFFJLDKSJFL:KS. SIR. SIR. also, lowkey furious that Horikoshi refuses to show us the automail leg that he is clearly sporting here but which we just can’t see, SHOUTO MOVE GODDAMMIT

Endeavor has TWO fire extinguisher-slash-jetpacks. THE BETTER TO... WHATEVER. look at you here in the top ten again. you really live for that controversy

HAWKS OUT HERE WITH HIS STEAMPUNK BEATS BY DRE AND HIS WEARING A RING ON EVERY FINGER. nice to see you’ve still got your wings there, kiddo. then again Deku still has both of his arms too so who even knows what is going on

BUT SERIOUSLY THOUGH, IS THIS DABI OR SHINDOU. as if I don’t know the truth deep down in my heart. y’all I am gonna flip lmao. it’s not that I dislike Shindou, strictly speaking. but just... I can’t explain what it is, but if you put him and AFO next to each other and told me “you can only punch one”, I would be having a serious crisis. just, THIS FUCKING GUY, idek. STOP SMILING

Tomura looks like he just wandered onto the set here by mistake and has no idea where he is or what is going on. it’s because you’re wearing a bigass severed hand that’s blocking your entire view, Tomura. just take the hand off your face my sweet murder dumpling

anyway! so I managed to also find a link to the full poll results while somehow managing to avoid spoilers, and then I wanted to compare the results to last year’s poll, and so I made... this

hopefully you can all see this. if you’re on desktop you might be screwed, but on mobile you should be able to click and enlarge it. I mean, assuming you actually give a fuck about boring poll analysis spreadsheets lmao

anyway, so there were actually 13k fewer votes cast this year which is a bit of a surprise. is the series not still growing in popularity? do people apparently have better things to do during their quarantine lol

anyways but despite this, and despite getting 8k fewer votes overall, Kacchan still managed almost twice as many as his closest competitor. well fought, Deku. please put down that pipe

I somehow always underestimate the power of ship popularity to influence these things. but for example, it looks like Present Mic got that Vigilantes Trio bump. ride that wave for all it’s worth my man! hell, you got me on board

Iida fucking Tenya somehow got some sort of POWER BOOST out of NOWHERE which I can’t explain at all lmao, but I’m here for it. NOT BAD FOR AN OLD MAN

Sero managed to get the exact same number of votes in both 2019 and 2020. clearly the most loyal fans in the business

Mirko being all the way down at #20 is, of course, a travesty, and I hereby nominate her to be the one to punch Shindou in the face

ngl though, the lack of a single female character in the top ten hurts just a bit. it’s not overly surprising, but still. the worst part of it is that even if you kicked Shindou to the curb and moved everyone else up one slot, it would still be all dudes since Mic beat out Momo by a margin of a little more than a hundred votes. hard to stay mad at Mic for too long, though. ah well

Tomura actually lost a bunch of votes which is a genuine surprise to me. I know the villain standom isn’t as dominant in Japan as it is in Western fandom, but still. you can go ahead and punch Shindou too I guess

Tokoyami lowkey doubled his vote count over the past year while hiding down there at #18. he is slowly becoming more powerful. biding his time

anyway so I think that’s it! I mean not really, but I’m getting kind of tired lol. so just, you know, insert the usual gripes at Overhaul’s ranking here, although we can be happy about Magne making her way onto the list (r.i.p.), and Mineta and AFO taking a very satisfying slide down (all the way out, in AFO’s case; good riddance you bum). Hadou also got a huge boost which is awesome. Mustard’s persistent ownership of the #36 spot will forever remain a mystery to me, but oh well

anyways, this was fun. and I really do feel like everyone is looking away on purpose so that when Deku brains Kacchan with that pipe in about two seconds from now, there will be no witnesses, oh my fucking god

#bnha 293 #bnha popularity poll #bakugou katsuki #midoriya izuku #todoroki shouto #aizawa shouta #shigaraki tomura #bnha #boku no hero academia #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha manga spoilers #makeste reads bnha

[melodyofgraves]

The Real Wedding (Chambers x Konevi)

A/N: I originally wrote it for the first day of the Choices March Challenge but didn’t post it yesterday due to being an anxious mess. So I’m not submitting it and if the post suddenly gets deleted then it’s because I freaked out.

Anyway, it’s a kind of more detailed version of the wedding I mentioned in my Fluff ABCs. It’s pretty much just shameless fluff tbh. But I hope you enjoy anyway!

Words: 1430

Tagging: (please tell me if I forgot anyone or added someone by accident. I have terrible memory): @hellospunkiebrewster @queerchoicesblog @brightpinkpeppercorn @itsbrindleybinch @pixieferry @akrenich @thehonorarybeaumont @wolfmckenzie

„Have I already told you how much I love weddings?” Bart leaned against his partner’s side as they sat in front of the fireplace. They’ve just returned from the Sinclaires’ wedding and were sipping one last glass of brandy before sleep.

„Only a couple times today, my love.” Konevi chuckled.

„Then that’s definitely not enough.” Chambers smiled, his thoughts going back to the ceremony. He was always a romantic at heart and weddings especially seemed had this effect on him that he couldn’t quite explain. „Oh, it was so beautiful! Have you seen the way they looked at each other? How in love they are?”

„But they have been like this for quite some time already.”

„I know!” Bart continued excitedly „But there’s something about all of this that makes me so happy. The vows, the celebration of love, oh, how I wish…” he stopped abruptly, biting his lip as he lowered his gaze.

„What were you saying, love?” Yusuf asked, slightly concerned at the man’s sudden silence.

„Oh, it’s stupid. Don’t mind me, I think I just had a little too much to drink.” he stood up, avoiding the barrister’s eyes. „We should go to sleep now. It’s been a long day.”

Konevi followed him to the bedchambers before pulling him into a tight hug.

„I’m sure it’s not stupid at all. And now I’m curious and I won’t let go until you tell me what is it.” He chuckled and pressed Bart closer to his chest, kissing the top of his head. „Besides, you know I would do everything I can to make you happy.”

„It’s really nothing. I just sometimes get sad about things like that. That our relationship can’t be like the ones other people have.” He sighed but tried to laugh it off. „Don’t worry about it, dear. It doesn’t matter, I probably won’t even remember that in the morning anyway.”

„I love you, Bart. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” he pressed a kiss to his partner’s lips. „Even if we have to keep that love to ourselves, even if our relationship has to be different from what other couples have. All that matters is that we have each other.”

„I know. I love you too.” Chambers nodded and kissed him once more before going to bed. „Forget I said anything and let’s just go to sleep.”

And before Konevi could respond he was already under the covers, pretending to be asleep to avoid any more of this conversation.

-

„You look rather sullen for a man who gets married in a few hours.” Yusuf pointed out, fixing Bartholomew’s cravat. „What’s bothering you, love?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.” Chambers sighed before taking a seat on the bed.

He knew that the agreement with Annabelle was a good solution for both of them and he was happy that even though they didn’t love each other in a romantic way, he was marrying somebody who was his friend and not some spoiled lady that wouldn’t even look at him if not for his money. But it still just didn’t feel right.

„Bart…” Yusuf sat next to him, tilting his head to look into his lover’s eyes.

„I just wish there was a way for you to be the one by my side today.”

„But I will be by your side.” Konevi reached for his hand and laced their fingers together.

„As my groomsman. Not the person I love.”

„Oh, I can be both.” he grinned, kissing Bartholomew’s cheek. „Look, Bartie, you deserve to have the most romantic wedding in the world. And if there was a way, I would marry you in an instant. But even though today is not what your heart wants, please try to enjoy yourself.”

„I’ll try, promise.”

„Good. It’s time to get ready now, so let me kiss you while we still can.”

„While we still can?”

„Well, I don’t know how I’ll feel about kissing a married man.” he teased as Chambers smacked his arm playfully.

-

The weather was lovely so Yusuf suggested a picnic, despite the fact that the sun had already set when they reached their usual spot near the woods. They sat on a blanket side by side, enjoying the food and the lack of prying eyes, gazing at the stars above that seemed brighter than usual.

Bart quickly noticed the barrister unusual behaviour as he was fidgeting so much Chambers had to remove his head from the man’s shoulder where it was previously rested.

„Is there something wrong, dear? You seem nervous.”

„Don’t worry about it.” Konevi laughed but continued avoiding his partner’s eyes. „Would you like some more biscuits? I know they’re your favourite.”

Bartholomew eyed him suspiciously but didn’t say anything, accepting the treat. They sat in silence for a couple minute before Yusuf suddenly pointed out at the sky.

„Look! I think it’s a shooting star.”

„Are you sure? I didn’t notice anything…”

„Well, it wouldn’t hurt to make a wish, would it? Now, close your eyes…” Konevi smiled as his partner did so and reached for his hand, kneeling beside in front of him on the blanket.

„What’s going on, Yusuf?” Chambers stared at the man before him with widened eyes.

„I know you’re not supposed to say your wish aloud. And I know it may not be that good with words, especially in this kind of situation.” he cleared his throat before meeting Bartholomew’s gaze, smiling softly. „But I also know my biggest wish is to spend the rest of my life by your side. I have never thought much of marriage, knowing that I would never be able to marry somebody I truly love. But with you, Bart, it’s all different. I cannot imagine my life without you and I don’t want to ever imagine it. And even though a traditional wedding is out of our reach, I still want us to have our own one. I want to celebrate our love and promise you that I will be by your side for the rest of my days, in front of the people we hold dear. So that is why I’m asking you, Bartholomew Chambers, will you marry me?”

Bart threw his arms around Yusuf’s neck, nearly making them fall over on the grass, as he felt his cheeks getting wet.

„I love you so much.” he pressed a kiss to barrister’s lips, smiling while some more tears run down his face. „I don’t even know what to say.”

„The answer to my question would be most appreciated.” Konevi chuckled, brushing a strand of hair off of his lover’s forehead.

„Yes! I don’t know how we’re going to do it but if it’s with you, then my answer is yes.” they both grinned before sharing another kiss.

-

They knew that if anyone untrustworthy found out, it would mean great danger to both of them, so only the closest friends were invited.

The house was decorated with some fresh flowers and the delicious breakfast was prepared to be served right after their ceremony.

Instead of wedding rings, they got similar pocket watches, something they found in one of the shops in London last time they were there. They were rather small but elegant, yet what initially caught Bartholomew’s eye was the birds, subtly engraved on the back, one with a crane that was for Yusuf and one with a duck for Bart.

They decided to go with just the simple vows, promising they will be by each other’s side, no matter what, for as long as they live. And when they kissed, it felt like the world around them disappeared until the sound of their friends’ cheering brought them back to reality.

Annabelle joked that she finally saw Bartholomew Chambers happy at his own wedding and patted them both on the back.

Mr Sinclaire congratulated them as his very pregnant wife pulled each one into a hug, quickly followed by Briar and Prince Hamid, who decided to extend his visit to England to attend the event.

Mr Marlcaster gave them his best wishes, Luke Harper shook their hands and expressed how glad he was that they found each other.

After the meal Annabelle volunteered to play pianoforte, so Yusuf and Bart could finally dance together at a party, alongside other pairs, and they have never felt so happy before.

That night, as they were lying in bed, Bartholomew Chambers looked back at the events of the day and a big smile found its way to his face.

Because this time, it finally felt right.

#chanevi #desire and decorum #mr chambers #mr konevi #chambers x konevi #i dont even know what this is #late wedding prompt #maybe ill get the other two posted on time lol #long post

[aliceslantern]

Beyond this Existence, a Kingdom Hearts fanfic, chapter 8

Summary:  After Xehanort's death, Demyx finds himself unexpectedly human in Radiant Garden. With nothing but fragments of his past and a cryptic statement from Xemnas, he's left to figure out who he is. When Ienzo asks for his help with a project, the two find common ground, but the trauma and secrets in both of their pasts could tear it apart. Zemyx (Demyx/Ienzo), post-KH3 canon compliant

Read it on FF.net/on AO3

For the first few weeks little about their relationship seemed to change. The acknowledgment sat between them. Perhaps Ienzo grew a little more casual, shedding his coat and loosening whatever cravat or tie he wore; when they worked together, he would let Demyx hold his hand, or kiss his cheek. The air still felt charged, but there was a certain innocence to it, an ease. Demyx wasn’t sure what would push him into another shutdown. He also wasn’t sure what he could take either. He felt simultaneously more brittle and stronger than ever before. Being open, vulnerable, and patient was difficult. Sometimes the moments felt like a test.

“Are you still having nightmares?” Demyx asked him.

“Not as frequently. And yourself?”

“No. Not really. I’ve been kind of distracted lately.”

“By what?”

Demyx raised an eyebrow.

Ienzo nodded. “Right. Forgive me.”

He smiled. “Sometimes you’re immune to flirting, you know that?”

“Perhaps my way of expressing interest is far different than yours.” He smiled.

“You make me read too much into it.”

“Isn’t that the point, as it were?”

“No!” They were spending less and less time working, more and more time talking.

Ienzo laughed in that quiet, stifled way of his. “It is… strange, being known this way.”

“What do you mean?”

“I feel as if I’m to let you see a part of me that is guarded,” Ienzo said.

“You feel vulnerable.”

“Yes. It’s frightening.”

“Very,” Demyx agreed.

“I had thought for so long that being open was a bad thing. Maybe it’s… necessary. Maybe in a way this is what I need.”

“...And now you’re flirting with me.”

“Very astute of you. You’re catching on.” He kissed him, all softness and light, and Demyx kissed him back as long and as deeply as Ienzo would let him. His skin seemed to burn where it was touched. When they broke apart, they were both breathing hard. “When you first kissed me,” he admitted, “I could not get it out of my head. I thought there might be something wrong with me.”

“What, that you’re a person that has hormones? Congratulations, Ienzo. You’re like most of the human race.”

He didn’t make eye contact when he said, “I’m not used to feeling want.”

Demyx kissed him on the forehead. For a long time they remained there, half touching. He wanted nothing more than to hold him tightly and not let go. Ienzo’s hand was trembling where it rested on his arm. Demyx felt sure this was already pushing his boundaries. Instead, he said, “And you decided you wanted me. There was a lot of thought behind your decision. That’s pretty gay of you.” He realized he didn’t even know Ienzo’s orientation, not that it mattered at this stage in the game.

“Don’t make me regret it.”

A few more weeks passed. As soon as he thought his connection to Ienzo could not get deeper, it seemed to grow, to become more intense, until it was so deep that he felt the same fear Ienzo did. Maybe Demyx had kissed a few more people, but he sure as hell had never felt anything resembling intimacy.

The bright, sparkling longing seemed to take over the time they spent together. He had no idea what to do with it. He felt giddy and reckless, but he had to tread carefully, and doing so left him feeling constantly stifled in an indeterminable way.

Their work was suffering horribly.

“I’m going to be spending a few days with Master Ansem,” Ienzo said one of those afternoons. “You might not see much of me.”

“The simulations?”

He nodded. “The more time passes, the more everyone worries that Sora’s drifting farther away. He and I will be doing what we can, and a few of the others will be visiting too.”

“The others?”

“The guardians of light. I’m sure you know all of them.”

“We didn’t exactly… talk all that much.”

“Well, you can see this as an opportunity to get to know them, then. It would be good for you to make some connections.”

Demyx knew that on some level, Ienzo was right. He did need friends. But as it was Demyx would rather spend time with him. “I’ll try. Just like you better take care of yourself.”

“Or what?”

He smirked. “For me to know and you to find out.”

“I see. Not much of an incentive, then.” Ienzo rested his hands on Demyx’s shoulders and kissed the top of his head. “I like your hair soft like this. It suits you.”

He’d been rationing the last bit of the tiny tube of hair gel from his Organization coat for weeks. It was finally gone. Without the coat, and a different hairstyle, Demyx barely recognized himself. “You think so?”

“Yes. A tad more mature.” Ienzo smoothed down some of the strands. Demyx felt goosebumps that had nothing to do with the temperature break over his skin.

“Do you have to go?”

“I’ll be right here in the castle. We’ll see each other at dinner.” Ienzo hugged him from behind, a first; and rested his cheek against him for a moment.

“Do they know?” Demyx asked weakly.

“Who knows what?”

“Ansem and the others. About us.”

“I… do not know how to bring it up.”

“Do you think he’ll be mad?”

“Master Ansem? No, I don’t think so. Surprised, no doubt. But he likes you. You did save him, after all. I know you two have not spoken much.”

Thinking about how the others would react sent a cold wave of anxiety through him. Even, Aeleus, Dilan; they hadn’t cared for him in the Organization days. He was changing, but could he ever reach their standard of being good enough when they had the old Demyx in mind?

“We will cross that bridge when we’re ready,” Ienzo said. “Maybe, for now, try and get to know them better. They haven’t seen you change the way I have.” He turned and kissed him again, slowly. It was clearly meant to be a short kiss, but somewhere in the interim Ienzo had changed his mind. Demyx brought him closer, trying to keep his grip loose and unconfining. He always smelled so comforting, like detergent and the sweetness of ink and something indefinable but purely his.

Demyx felt a sliver of something against his lips. His tongue, he realized, and was momentarily startled.

“I’m sorry--I should have asked--” His face was flushed. “I have thought of this as an experiment. It… helps.”

“An experiment,” Demyx said slowly. “Yeah. I like that.” And kissed him again. This time he let his lips part. He let Ienzo experiment. Admittedly it was clumsy and uncomfortable and it wasn’t exactly like he could explain how to do it the way they were tangled. But gradually the discomfort faded, and the kiss went from being awkwardly moist to sending a completely different kind of chill through him.

Ienzo pulled away abruptly. “I really must go. They’ll be waiting.”

“Do you have to?”

“Yes. As much as I’d be happier sitting here with you.”

“Making out.”

“Well. Yes.”

Demyx kissed him on the cheek. “I’m serious about you taking care of yourself.”

“I’m aware. I will try.” His hand slipped free from Demyx’s and he left him sitting there, dizzy and almost painfully turned on and trying to will his body to please calm the fuck down at least long enough to get back to his room. He couldn’t see how Ienzo was going to do science after all this. He really must be wired differently.

Everything just felt so goddamn intense.

So Demyx went back to his room. He was even able to sanely and normally greet Dilan. But as soon as it went silent in the hallway he thought of the kiss and touched himself, feeling weirdly guilty all the while even though (and he repeated this) it was a perfectly normal, human thing to do, especially if that human had very strong physical and emotional feelings for another human.

He felt momentarily better. And then he scrubbed his hands until they were raw.

Demyx tried to listen to Ienzo, and meet up with the guardians of light. As he went towards the infamous lab, a cold, anxious sweat started building under his arms. Meeting new people didn’t usually make him feel like this, but these were not new people. He didn’t know how they would react to him.

Demyx saw them before they saw him.

There was Lea, of course, calming a worried Roxas; Naminé, blonde and wraithlike; and a dark-haired girl Demyx could only half remember. His eyes passed over her and caught the last person in the room, the only one who had noticed him so far.

Isa.

Saïx’s somebody regarded him curiously. Demyx’s anxiety spiked with memories of being told off and he blanched. This was going to be harder than he’d thought.

Isa approached him. “Peace,” was the first thing he said. “I know you must have bitter memories of me, and I you. But times are different. I think it’s best if we let that be water under the bridge.” He offered his hand. Demyx hesitated, but shook it. “You performed admirably in our little heist. I knew you would. Xehanort vastly underestimated the strength of boredom and spite.”

Demyx froze. “You mean you’re the one who planned the whole thing?”

“Yeah, he did,” Lea said loudly. “Good to see you, man.”

To Demyx’s surprise, they were all looking at him warmly. His face burned. Lea came over and clapped him on the shoulder. “Glad to see you’re back in one piece. When nobody had heard from you we were worried that Xehanort had got you. Or a little bit of him was off somewhere. But that looks like it’s taken care of itself.”

“Yeah. I’m human now. Mostly. It’s a work in progress.” He felt a bit breathless.

“We wanted to say thanks. Me and Naminé,” Roxas said. “While we’re here.”

“I really didn’t do much,” Demyx insisted.

“But you did do something,” Naminé pointed out.

“And for you that used to be asking a lot,” Lea added, with a wink.

“I’m sorry,” Demyx said to Roxas. “For how I treated you in the Organization days--”

Roxas shook his head. “I think after this we can consider ourselves even.”

The dark-haired girl, who had so far been hanging back, joined the group. “I don’t know if you remember me,” she said. “I was… well, my body was one of the real vessels. But that was before I was me again.”

Demyx squinted. “I sort of do,” he said.

“I’m Xion,” she said. “I was number XIV. We didn’t really have any missions together. That doesn’t help.”

A sudden wave of dizziness came over him. He could still only half-remember her, like dreams. “I think I owe you an apology too,” he said.

Xion giggled. “It’s okay.”

“So,” Demyx drawled. “You guys are here to get Ansem’s help, right?”

The mood in the room, which had been light, darkened considerably. Almost everyone looked away from him.

“Something like that,” Lea said.

“We’re exploring our options,” Naminé said. “Riku’s looking for Sora. But if Sora’s lost for good--”

“Do you think he is?” Demyx asked.

“That’s the thing. We don’t know,” Namine said. “Kairi’s gone too. I want to help get her back. Only we have no idea where to start.”

Demyx frowned. “Well, I hope you can get the answers you want,” he said, even though he knew from his conversations with Ienzo that it was unlikely. “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know. I promise I’ll actually do it this time.”

Roxas smiled a little. “We’ll keep that in mind.”

“I guess I’ll leave you to talk to them,” Demyx said. “You in town long?”

Lea shrugged. “Depends. Isa and I were probably going to bum around town though later. See what’s changed.”

“Oh. Cool.”

“If you want to join us,” Lea added. “That was an invitation, you know.”

“He’s still oblivious,” Isa said, with a slight shake of the head.

“Thanks,” he said. “I guess I’ll see you later then?”

Lea gave him a small salute.

He caught up with them later that afternoon. The sky was turning pink but the air was noticeably cooler. Soon it would be winter. He watched the parts of town he could see from up at the postern, tracing patterns in the cool metal.

“You been waiting long?” Lea called.

Demyx turned. “No, not really. Just getting some air. Where are the others?”

“They’re staying behind to answer some questions,” Isa said. “Ansem was intrigued about their connection to Sora. There wasn’t much else for both of us to do. Lea here was getting stir-crazy.”

“Hey, what can I say?” Lea said with a shrug.

Demyx hoped Ienzo was okay. He hoped Roxas could be of some help. Anything to ease his stress. “What is it you wanted to see?”

“Anything,” Lea said. “I’ve barely been here since the town’s been repaired.”

For a few hours Demyx followed them as they wandered through town. They commented on changes, voices caught up in reminiscing, old teenage misadventures. (“There’s still a mark here where you set off fireworks,” Isa said. “I cannot believe you only got a warning from patrol.” “And I’d do it again. The look on old man Miller’s face was absolutely priceless. I wonder what happened to him.”) Demyx tried hard not to feel left out, even though that was implicit.

It grew dark. Lea lit a small fire in his hand. “Hey look. It’s still here.”

“What is it?” To Demyx, it just looked like a utility shed.

“Our old hideout,” Isa said.

Lea pulled a hairpin out of his pocket and jimmied the lock. The door took some forcing open, but then they were standing in dusty, dank darkness. “Hold on… let me…” Lea fumbled at the wall and tugged a barely visible chain. A light bulb popped on above their heads.

It wasn’t a big space, barely big enough for the small card table and chairs in the center. Moreover, it was cluttered. Milk crates of comics and papers lined the walls. A hand-drawn diagram of the castle was pinned to the wall. Isa touched it. “Good intentions that were sadly misguided,” he said. “I wonder what it is that would’ve happened if we hadn’t gone to the castle that day.”

“What happened?” Demyx asked.

Isa and Lea looked at each other. Lea took one of the empty milk crates, flipped it over, and patted it. “Pop a squat,” he said. “It’s a long story.”

Lea and Isa took it in turn to tell the story. As teenagers, they used to sneak into the castle, because around then the experiments had started and people were disappearing. In there, they met a girl, a girl without any memory, and befriended her. Eventually, they decided to become apprentices in order to help not only her, but the others who were trapped there. And the rest was history--while Xehanort convinced Dilan, Even, and Aeleus to cast off their hearts voluntarily, Ienzo, Isa, and Lea were not so lucky.

At this point, Lea pulled out a flask and both he and Isa drank deeply. They offered it to Demyx and he took a mouthful, but it burned and made him cough.

“We don’t have memory of what happened exactly,” Isa said.

“But all of a sudden we woke up and there were eight Nobodies.”

“Wow,” Demyx said softly. “That’s… really shitty.”

“Well, it’s over now,” Isa said.

“Did you ever find out what happened to your friend?” Demyx asked.

Lea shook his head. “We have our guesses. She probably became a Heartless, or died. Either way, she hasn’t reappeared.”

For a moment, none of them spoke, and the only sound Demyx could hear was the quiet slosh of the flask and the crickets outside. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“We’ve already grieved her,” Isa said. “But… I think I will always wonder.”

“Anyway, how have you been?” Lea asked.

“I’m… okay,” Demyx said. “Still figuring things out. You know. I have no idea what it is I’m supposed to do with my life.”

“Tell me about it,” Lea said.

“We’ve been involved with Xehanort for so long. We scarcely know where to begin,” Isa said.

“Isn’t this what you wanted, though?” Lea asked. “To be human, just you and your sitar?”

The old lightbulb wavered. “I don’t have it anymore,” Demyx whispered.

Lea and Isa glanced at each other. Without another word, Lea handed Demyx the flask, and he took several good swallows.

“...They say it’s part of being human,” Demyx said. “We don’t need our weapons.”

“But I’ve still got mine, and the Keyblade,” Lea said. “Isn’t this part of you?”

He was starting to feel woozy, tipsy. “I thought so.”

“I was glad to be rid of mine. But I can see how that would be painful,” Isa said.

“You can’t give up on it,” Lea said. “Maybe the connection’s still there.”

“I don’t know how to find it. I don’t even have memories to help me. I just--”

Isa cut him off. “You don’t?”

“I thought you kept your old name as preference,” Lea said.

“I really don’t,” Demyx said. “It’s all fuzzy. It gets fuzzier day by day.”

“Did you tell anyone?” Lea asked.

“Not really. Not fully. What could they do for me? I’d get the same tired excuse, that my heart is still forming.”

Isa raised an eyebrow. “That’s not how that works. Why else would we have retained our memories as Nobodies? The heart only holds connections. It’s the mind that makes sense of things.”

It felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the room.

“Demyx?” Lea said softly.

A hot, tight nausea washed over him. He ran outside of the shed and was promptly sick.

“...You think he’s drunk?” He heard Lea ask Isa.

“Maybe so. Maybe it’s something else.”

Still half in a crouch, he felt Lea’s overly warm hand on his back. Weird, disjointed tears were running down Demyx’s face.

“We should take you home,” Lea said.

He was again feeling the same faintness he’d felt before, but this time there was no pain involved. Demyx tried to stand. Lea helped him up.

“Lean against me,” he said.

“Deja vu,” Demyx said.

“What do you mean?”

He was still salivating, his whole mouth sour, and he spat. “FYI, I’m going to pass out,” he whispered, and like clockwork, he did.

A cold hand on his face. Demyx flinched, treading consciousness.

“It’s all right. Go back to sleep.” Ienzo’s voice.

He blinked. His vision was so fuzzy. He’d been put back in his own bed and tucked in. It was still night, and the lamp on the bedside table gave the room a weird glow. “You came,” he said.

“I heard you were ill.”

Demyx sat up. His eyes were still adjusting. Ienzo was again pale, his complexion washed out. He blinked like it hurt--exactly like he’d been spending too many hours in front of a screen. “You’re tired,” he said. His voice was scratchy.

“It’s nothing I can’t handle. Don’t worry about me right now.”

His stomach was still off. “It’s okay. We were drinking, and I guess I’m not used to it. I’m fine.”

Ienzo’s gaze was sharp. “You don’t believe that,” he said simply.

“Well, it’s true.”

“Please don’t lie to me.”

Demyx again felt tears in his eyes and blinked them back. “I was with Lea and Isa,” he said falteringly. “They were talking about their human memories, and how it connected to their weapons, and how my sitar should still be a part of it and I…” He was hiccuping now. “I don’t remember, Ienzo. I don’t remember anything.”

“Nothing?”

“Almost nothing.”

Ienzo’s brows furrowed together in confusion. “I don’t see why that is. If you’re human--or at least getting there--you should have no trouble remembering anything. I…” He seemed ready to keep thinking aloud, but seeing the expression on Demyx’s face, he kept it to himself. He pulled him into his arms, and Demyx couldn’t help but cling tightly. Everything in him seemed to be breaking down all at once. He sobbed against Ienzo’s shoulder until the muscles in his stomach hurt. Ienzo stroked his hair. Demyx tried to focus on that instead. “I’ll help you figure this out,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” he sobbed.

“Demyx, I’m positive this is not your fault.”

--Ancient Keyblade legacy which slumbers within you--

Tell him.

He couldn’t get the words to come, no matter how hard he tried. He was so exhausted, and sick.

Ienzo kissed his cheek. “Try to get some rest,” he said. “I’ll come find you tomorrow.”

Don’t go. He wanted so badly to ask Ienzo to stay with him. But he didn’t. Demyx watched the empty door frame after he left, cold to his core.

#beyond this existence #demyx #ienzo #zemyx #demyx/ienzo #plot? what is plot

[rike-with-love]

Out of sight, out of mind? (chapter 2)

Summary: Okikagu week 2018 day 2: Unrequited Love. Hi hi! It was requested by many of you sweeties that I would write a sequel, so here we go!

Pairings: Okikagu

Rating: T for bad language

Disclaimer: I don't own Gintama or it's characters, Sorachi Hideaki does. I only own this story.

Author’s notes: I have a link to my fanfiction masterlist on my profile. Please check it out for more chapters and fics!

Chapter 2

Sougo stared at Hijikata and Kondo with dead eyes. ”Mind repeating yourself Hijibaka-san?”

Hijikata sighed. ”We have arranged a marriage for you. Her name is Tokage Haru.”

”She is a young and beautiful princess from the nation of Uwabe. Uwabe is in a planet not far from earth,” Kondo explained and Sougo nodded like he was listening to him.

”Okay...well, how should I put this nicely for you? I have zero interest in getting married with some strange chick,” Sougo said.

”Oh? Do you have somebody then?” Kondo asked with a smile.

”N-no, I didn't say that,” Sougo said. He sure had a woman in sight, but he couldn't quite say he had her.

”Then it's not a problem for you to get married,” Hijikata said.

”Give me one good reason to do this,” Sougo said.

Kondo crossed his arms over his chest. He seemed a bit distressed for a cheerful gorilla. Hijikata patted his shoulder. ”You don't have to tell him Kondo-san, he has to follow your orders no matter what,” Hijikata said to his superior.

Kondo patted Hijikata's hand. ”Ma, ma Toshi. I want to tell him.”

Sougo observed Hijikata and Kondo and cocked his eyebrow. He felt very repulsed by the thought of getting married to a stranger. Still, seeing Kondo behaving somewhat nervously, brought up an uneasy feeling in Sougo. ”Telling me what?”

Kondo took a deep breath. ”Listen Sougo, Haru-hime is a very wealthy woman, and her family send us a marriage proposal. She wants to marry the strongest man from the earth's police force, and that is you. She specifically requested you.”

It sure was flattering to be recognized as the strongest by a stranger, but it wasn't enough to change Sougo's mind. ”I'm still not interested in marrying her,” he said plainly.

”Listen brat!” Hijikata grunted which only made Sougo feel even more agitated.

”Shut up Hijibaka-san!”

”Stop it, both of you!” Kondo ordered, making the two bickering men silent. ”Sougo, I haven't told you earlier, but the Shinsengumi is in some financial trouble, and this marriage is a way to fix that.”

Kondo's words struck Sougo. He wasn't aware of such trouble looming behind the scenes. Now he was torn between helping his beloved Shinsengumi family or living his life freely. ”I'm sorry Sougo, I don't enjoy making your life decisions for you, but this is-”

”I'll do it.”

Hijikata and Kondo stared at the young captain. He agreed to the marriage, and quite easily even. ”Sougo? Are you sure?” Kondo asked.

Sougo got up silently. ”Yup,” he said and exited the room without uttering anything else. Kondo and Hijikata heard the door close behind them.

”Uh, well that went well, I guess?” Hijikata said with a slight hesitation.

”Sougo is such a hard one to read, let's see what he's like tomorrow Toshi,” Kondo said.

Sougo closed his room's door behind him and crashed on his futon. He loosened up his cravat and exhaled deeply. He tried to take in the information he had just received. Apparently he was all of a sudden engaged to a freaking princess from some other planet. Sougo felt angry about being forced into something like this, but after seeing Kondo's face when he talked about Shinsengumi's troubles, he had no choice.

Sougo's loyalty had always been with Kondo and the Shinsengumi. Now that he could do something for the samurai who was like a father to him, how could he say no. There was some pretty and rich princess wanting to marry him, some might say it was a dream situation for a young man. There was just one tiny problem in this equation for Sougo. It was the woman he had just kissed a moment earlier, the woman he had wanted for years, the red fire-cracker called Kagura.

It had taken a long time for Sougo to accept his budding feelings for the foul-mouthed girl. He had planned that he would tell her about his feelings at her birthday party. As the night had went on it didn't feel right to confess to her in front of everyone, so he came up with a plan to act drunk.

After she helped him back home, it was the moment to come clean. Rather than telling her with words the moment kind of carried itself into the kiss. The magical kiss he wanted to experience over and over again. Unfortunately Kagura had disappeared after he was gone for a few minutes.

There were a couple of options in his mind on why Kagura had left so suddenly. He didn't know which option felt the worst. First he though she had gotten tired and left home to sleep, which made the least sense. Second thought was that she had gotten hesitant about spending the night with him. This option felt the most painful.

The third option was the one he was seriously worried about. What if she heard Kondo-san and Hijibaka-san talking about my arrangement, he thought. Sougo decided to find her the next day and ask her in person. Also, he wanted to let her know about his situation, he thought it was important that she would hear it directly from him.

Before Sougo fell asleep, he remembered what it was like to kiss her.

*

*

The next morning, Sougo was up and ready to go. He was already at the gates When a familiar mayonnaise-filled voice called after him. ”What the hell do you want Hijibaka-san?” Sougo asked without bothering to turn around.

The vice-commander walked to Sougo and stopped to stand next to him. ”I just wanted to check something Sougo.”

”And what might that be?”

”Are you still on board with your arrangement with Haru-hime?” Hijikata asked. ”You haven't forgotten it, right?”

Sougo sighed and kicked the ground a bit. ”Yeah, yeah. I remember.”

”Good,” Hijikata said and slid a cigarette between his lips. ”Oh, forgot to tell you yesterday. She'll arrive here in one month, so you have some time to adjust your life before she comes.”

”What do you mean by adjusting my life?”

Hijikata inhaled his disgusting cigarette and puffed some smoke out. ”I mean, if you have any loose ends in your life, tie them up and move on.”

Sougo glanced at Hijikata and frowned. ”And what are you referring to by loose ends?”

”That's for you to figure out brat,” Hijikata said and made his leave.

”Tsk.” And with that Sougo left the compound. Hijikata's words annoyed him a lot. That mayonnaise-freak sure knows how to be cryptic and irritating as hell, he thought.

Sougo's direction was crystal clear, the Kabuki district, the Yorozuya shop. On the way there, he tried out different scenarios in his head. How was he going to tell her about...everything. How was he going to tell her to forget their kiss. And most importantly, how was he going to keep his hands off her when they would meet.

*

*

”Coming!” Gintoki's voice said from the apartment. He opened the front-door and picked his nose casually. ”Huh? What are you doing here Souichiro-kun?”

”It's Sougo, Danna as always,” Sougo said. ”Is China here?”

Gintoki flicked his bugger to the roof and leaned against the door frame. ”Uh, Kagura is not here right now.”

”Okay, where is she then?”

Gintoki hesitated for a moment to answer Sougo's simple question. ”She's out, taking a walk or something.”

”I see, thanks Danna,” Sougo said and was about to turn on his feet.

”Ne, Okita-kun?” Gintoki asked. Sougo glanced at the silver-perm, absolutely stunned to hear his name come out of Gintoki's mouth and not some strange variation. ”I was just wondering, did something bad happen yesterday? You, know at Kagura's birthday party.”

Sougo squinted his eyes for a second. ”I don't know, why do you ask?”

”No reason, just wondering,” Gintoki said and stepped back inside. ”Bye then!” With that the samurai closed the door. Sougo left the Yorozuya feeling a little confused of Gintoki's question. Why did he think something bad had happen? Did China tell him something, Sougo wondered.

Sougo decided that the best way to get all the answers he desired was to simply find her. Gintoki said that she was out, but where? Sougo knew most of her favourite places to spend time and it was smartest to star from those.

Gintoki watched from the window as the young captain left. ”Gin-chan, you promised you wouldn't be nosy, yes,” Kagura said quietly. Gintoki turned around to look at her. She was curled up, sitting on one of the couches. He approached the couch and sat next to her.

”Sorry Kagura-chan, but I'm worried. When you told me and Shinpachi to help you avoid Souichiro-kun for a while, it's alarming for a guardian.”

Kagura glanced at Gintoki, but she didn't know what to tell him. ”Kagura, did he do something bad to you? You can tell me.”

Kagura sighed and jumped off the couch. ”NO!” she huffed. ”He didn't do anything bad. It's not something he did.”

Gintoki scratched his perm. ”Then why don't you wanna see him?”

Kagura turned to Gintoki, eyes glistening a bit, she didn't enjoy thinking about the previous night. Kagura had decided that it would be easier to pretend that his birthday present for her, the kiss, didn't happen. ”You promised not to ask any questions Gin-chan!” Kagura said, voice nearly cracking up and stomped to her closet to get some privacy.

Gintoki was left utterly baffled. He didn't understand why Kagura wouldn't tell him what bothered her if it wasn't anything bad. Still, after seeing how strongly Kagura reacted, he was certain of one thing. Something had happened between the two rivals, he just couldn't figure out what.

Gintoki snapped out of his thoughts to sounds coming from the hallway. ”It's me, I'm back,” Shinapchi announced.

”Ah, Patsuan. Did you get me my strawberry milk?”

”Yes Gin-san,” Shinapchi said and walked towards the kitchen. Kagura's closet door opened up a bit.

”Shinapchi?”

”Kagura-chan? What is it? Why are you hiding in there?”

”Did you deliver my letter?”

”Uh, yeah.”

”Good, thanks,” Kagura said and closed the door shut. Shinpachi turned to look at Gintoki.

”What happened while I was gone?”

”The one who we were supposed to keep away from her came by,” Gintoki said.

Shinpachi tiptoed closer to Gintoki. ”Okita-san came by?” he whispered.

”I CAN HEAR YOU IDIOTS!” Kagura growled from the closet.

”Let's talk later Patsuan,” Gintoki whispered and grabbed a JUMP to get his focus on something else.

*

*

It had been one month since Kagura's birthday, one full month of the last time he had seen her. Sougo had been looking for her every single day. He checked the Yorozuya everyday and he got the same answer each time. Sougo knew Gintoki and Shinpachi weren't telling him the truth, but there wasn't much he could do about it.

It seemed like Kagura had disappeared completely and he didn't like the feeling it brought him. He wasn't sure was he angry at her or angry at himself for not trying hard enough to find her. Now, it didn't matter anymore, he was supposed to forget about her and move on. Though it was hard to move on from someone without getting any closure.

During the hellish month Sougo had endured without seeing Kagura, he had come to the conclusion that she didn't want anything to do with him. Was is something he did, he didn't know, but it sure as hell pissed him off.

Sougo was standing next to Kondo in Edo's main terminal. He had his casual green clothes on because Kondo told him to wear something other than his uniform. It was finally the day, the day his fiancée would arrive. Princess Tokage Haru, wonder what she's like, Sougo thought to himself.

Suddenly his thoughts were rudely interrupted by someone yelling at the terminal. He sighed and tried to see the person he might have to arrest for pissing him off even more. Then he saw her. It was the living, breathing, Kagura. ”China?” he asked quietly. Why is she here of all places, he thought and walked towards her.

Their encounter wasn't good, but it wasn't bad either, it was painfully neutral. He didn't know how to act, so he fell right back into being a casual jerk. Kagura didn't know what to say and where to look. It was a mess. Then Sougo saw her luggage and his heart skipped a beat. He asked her was she going somewhere and she said yes.

Sougo wasn't prepared for a bombshell like that, he wasn't expecting her to leave. And the thing that made it just that must worse, was that she apparently wasn't planning on saying goodbye to him. Sougo felt like she was abandoning him without any explanations and it hurt, goddamnit it hurt so much.

No way in hell, Sougo though. There was no way in hell he was going to let her go like that. No explanations, no goodbyes, no nothing. He felt that he at least deserved to know why she was leaving. Sougo merely had the time to utter her pet name before Kondo interrupted them.

”Just a sec Kondo-san,” Sougo said and focused back to Kagura. Then and there, he decided to tell her about his arrangement. In middle of his explanation Kagura interrupted him. She brushed everything of like she didn't know anything. Then suddenly she stopped in mid-sentence and her eyes widened from seeing something.

Sougo turned around to see what was so horrible, and there they were. Kondo and Sougo's fiancée, Haru-hime. She had dark blue eyes, ebony hair and fair skin. Only a blind man wouldn't recognize her radiant beauty. She had a white kimono with a green obi. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun and she had a long green veil hanging from it, an Uwabian tradition a he would later learn about.

Kondo introduced her to him and they greeted briefly. That was the moment Sougo realized why Kagura had kept her distance. She knew. Why else would she look so shocked to see a strange woman next to Kondo. Normally she wouldn't pay any attention to such things. She knew, he concluded.

Without changing any words with Kondo or Haru, Sougo turned to check on Kagura. His heart sank, she wasn't there anymore. Kagura was gone. Was that it? No-more China? I didn't get to say anything I wanted to say. Fuck...he cursed to himself.

”Sougo, let's get going!” Kondo said cheerfully. The young (heart-broken) captain turned around and forced his face to be emotionless.

”Yes Kondo-san.”

Sougo activated his cold demeanor, it was the only way to keep his shit together in front of everyone. He would deal with his emotions later or just deny them completely, just like would normally do. Kondo directed Haru and Sougo with him towards the main elevator of the terminal. Before entering through the doors, Sougo took one last glance behind him. But he didn't see the one he wanted to see.

*

*

Kondo was driving with Sougo sitting on the front seat. Haru, her father, her advisor and her servant travelled in another car, driven by Yamazaki. Sougo's eyes were blank, his mind was empty and everything felt numb. Kondo noticed that something was wrong. ”Sougo, are you okay?”

No answer.

”Oi, Sougo! Can you hear me!” Kondo asked louder and his voice reached Sougo.

”Yeah, what?” he asked and tried to sound as normal as possible.

”Is everything okay? You seem a little distracted,” Kondo said.

”Nah, it's nothing.”

”Good, good,” Kondo said. He thought is was perfectly normal for the young captain be a little nervous. He had met his future wife for the first time after all. Kondo wanted to find away to ease Sougo's mind. ”Well, did you like her? Isn't she beautiful with those blue eyes?”

Sougo thought about those blue eyes for a moment. They were the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Her long eyelashes framing the shape of her eye perfectly. The color of them was so mesmerizing he could look into her eyes for hours upon hours. ”Yes. Yes she is,” Sougo said, but he wasn't talking about Haru. He didn't even remember what she had looked like.

After a while, Kondo and Sougo arrived to the Shinsengumi compound. Hijikata was ready with a dozen of officers to receive their quests. Kondo took Sougo to a private meeting room to wait for Haru. Sougo sat down on a pillow on the floor. He saw another pillow right in front of him, obviously meant for her.

”Wait right here, she will be here in a moment,” Kondo said, but Sougo seemed to be lost int thought again. ”Sougo?”

Sougo jumped a bit. ”Uh, yeah yeah, I heard you Kondo-san,” he said, hoping that his made-up answer would fit with Kondo's words. Apparently it did, as Kondo smiled for Sougo and exited the room.

The second he was left alone, Sougo covered his eyes and forehead with his hands. China left, she just...left, Sougo thought and massaged his forehead. Everything felt overwhelming. How was he supposed to get over this and focus on the damn princess.

”Okita-kun?” a soft voice spoke from the door.

Sougo dropped his hands to his sides and hastily got up to his feet. It was Haru standing at the door accompanied by her father and Hijikata. Sougo walked to greet Haru and her father. ”Hello, I'm Okita Sougo, 1st division captain of the Shinsengumi.”

”Tokage Hayato, king of Uwabe, Haru's father. It's a pleasure to meet you captain Okita,” Haru's father said.

Haru giggled sweetly. ”We met already, but again I'm Tokage Haru, crown princess of Uwabe,” she said and bowed. Hijikata observed Sougo's every movement and word. He wanted to make sure that Sougo knew that he needed to be serious for once. To Hijikata's surprise, it appeared that the young captain was genuinely focused on Haru. (Sougo had a real talent in hiding his true thoughts. He could fool anyone, expect for Kagura who always saw right through him).

”Well, Hijikata-san was it? Let's give the kids some time to get to know each other, shall we,” Hayato said. He gave a peck on Haru's forehead and left with Hijikata.

Sougo felt like he was in a dream and it was hard to function properly. He barely had the manners to introduce himself. Sougo slapped himself mentally and tried to focus. He stepped away from the door to let Haru enter. She sat down on the pillow and crossed her hands neatly on her lap.

Sougo sat down on his place and took a quick look at Haru. He felt deeply uninterested of the woman sitting across from him. Haru was shyly playing with her kimono sleeves, apparently she was a little nervous. She was the first to speak. ”So, uh. It's really nice to meet you. I've been waiting for this,” Haru said and smiled.

”Mmh, yeah,” Sougo said, utterly unable to say anything more than that. He wasn't excited to meet her, but he couldn't say that to her.

”Sougo was your name, right?” Haru asked. Her calling him by his name so easily felt shitty, like she didn't have the right to do so. ”May I call you Sou-kun?” Haru asked and lifted her gaze to Sougo.

Sou-kun...it sounded too intimate for him. No matter how much he wanted to forbid her from using that name, he didn't. Sougo couldn't afford to upset her and mess everything up, this marriage was the way to save Shinsengumi and Kondo. ”Call me as you like. How about you, do I call you Haru-hime?”

Haru giggled softly. ”No need to be so formal. Actually, my friend has a nice nickname for me, I would like you to use it Sou-kun.”

”What's the name?”

”Tehe, Haru-aru.”

Sougo's eyes widened immediately. ”Not gonna happen,” he blurted out without thinking. A second later he realized how rudely he said it. ”Uh, I mean-”

”It's okay, it's only a silly name,” Haru said and smiled. ”You can call me whatever feels comfortable.”

”Haru-hime feel the most appropriate to me, at least for now,” Sougo said. There was no fucking way he would call her Haru-aru. It reminded him of Kagura's way of speaking and if he was ever going to get over the damned girl and her absence, he should avoid things that were somehow related to her.

Haru and Sougo talked casually about couple of things before Kondo walked in with Haru's servant. ”It's almost time for supper,” Kondo said. After Haru and her servant left to prepare for dinner, Kondo sat down with Sougo.

”So, how is she?” Kondo asked.

”I don't know. I don't know her.”

”Sougo, why do I get the feeling you don't even want to know her?”

Because it was true. ”No, it's not like that,” Sougo said. ”I just don't know her yet.”

”Okay then. I hope she is as nice as she appears to be,” Kondo said. ”Let's go Sougo. The food is getting cold.” With that Sougo got up and followed Kondo to the dining hall.

*

*

The wedding day was set on March by Kondo and king Hayato to. They figured that it would be smart to let Sougo and Haru to really get to know each other. The wedding was to happen about three months from the day they met. They would be wed first in earth and a second time in Uwabe.

Sougo wasn't very happy about the fact that he would have to leave earth for good to support the future queen of Uwabe. Then when he gave it another thought, what was so great about earth anyway. Sure he had Shinsengumi there, but earth and Edo weren't the same without her.

During those three months Sougo and Haru spent a lot of time together. He learned that she was many things; Haru was a noble lady, polite, soft-spoken, light-eater, and she was willing to do what ever Sougo wished. His conclusion was that Haru was the polar opposite of Kagura. It was impossible to forget the fiery red-head when she popped into his head from pretty much everything.

One slightly chilly day, Sougo and Haru were taking a walk around Edo. It was two weeks before the wedding, and they had made some progress in being more relaxed with each other. Haru seemed to be very happy every time they were together. Sougo was still forcing himself a bit, but he didn't hate the woman. He thought it was much better to get along with Haru, than to be secretly bitter forever.

After all the weeks, neither had made any kind of physical gestures. Then, on the day they were taking a walk, something happened. Sougo had lead Haru into Edo's park (the same one he and Kagura used to hang out). They were standing near a small pond, side by side. The bond was still partly frozen and the sunlight was glistening beautifully on its surface..

”It's pretty in here Sou-kun,” Haru said.

”Mmh.”

”It's almost romantic,” Haru giggled and turned to look at Sougo.

He merely side-eyed her. ”Maybe.”

Haru brushes her arm against Sougo's. ”I think every place is romantic, if I'm with you,” she said and smiled shyly.

”Thanks,” Sougo said almost bluntly. What the hell am I supposed to say to that, he thought.

Haru hummed. ”The wedding day is almost here,” she said. ”I can't wait.”

”Yeah,” Sougo said.

Haru took a step closer to the pond and calmly swinged her body from side to side. ”Sou-kun?”

Sougo looked at the back of her head, green scarf covering her neck. ”What is it?”

”I don't mean to offend you in any way, but something is bothering me,” Haru said. ”Sometimes, it feels like you don't like me, at all.”

”Oh.”

Sougo knew he had to fix the situation somehow and fast. He thought he had been trying hard enough, but apparently not. Sougo stepped to stand next to Haru. ”That's not true,” he said and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.

They looked at each other for a moment and Haru blushed a bit. ”Prove it to me Sou-kun,” Haru challenged. Sougo was surprised, he didn't expect the princess to be so boldly demanding. He blinked his eyes a few times, trying to make up a sentence that would make sense. Haru giggled again. ”Aren't you a shy one for the prodigy of the Shinsengumi.”

Before Sougo could do or say anything, Haru approached him and he kept his hand on her shoulder. She smiled for him and cupped his cheeks. Sougo kept his face straight, he didn't know what to feel. She pressed her body against his and tenderly traced her fingers to his hair. Haru had her thumbs on his temples and it felt like she controlled his whole head, he couldn't escape.

Then Haru leaned to kiss him, eyes closed and lips puckered. Sougo froze, he didn't pull away from her, he allowed the kiss to happen. Sougo closed his eyes and felt her lips on his. The sensation of her kiss made Sougo think about Kagura. He forgot for a moment who he was kissing. Sougo answered the kiss and moved his other hand to her waist.

Sougo thought he was kissing Kagura, his mind was playing tricks with him. He felt her pressing her fingers harder on his head, maybe she was expressing her excitement. Then she made a tiny sound during their kiss and it hit him like a truck. This wasn't Kagura. Sougo's eyes popped open. He squeezed Haru's shoulder softly and began to push her away.

Haru opened her eyes and let him push her away. She looked a little flustered and she softly touched her lips with her fingers. ”S-sorry,” Sougo mumbled and made some distance between them.

”N-no no, I'm sorry. I was too pushy,” Haru said bashfully. ”I don't know what came over me.”

”Uh, it's okay,” Sougo said, but couldn't quite look straight into her eyes. He wasn't sure did he feel guilty or angry, but neither feeling was appropriate to show after kissing his fiancée. ”We should head back Haru-hime.”

Haru smiled and skipped next to Sougo. She wrapped her hands around his arm, and he let her. ”Still too formal, but it's okay. We'll get there,” she said.

On their way to the compound Sougo saw how people looked at them. They looked like a real couple with Haru being so close to him. Sougo wished he could be as happy with her as she appeared to be with him. Too bad his heart was already fully occupied.

It was utterly tragicomic. Sougo wondered was the rest of his life going to be like this. When Haru would touch him, he would think of Kagura. When Haru would kiss him, he would think of Kagura and so on. Doesn't sound like much of a great life to me, Sougo thought and sighed silently.

*

*

Two weeks later, the big day arrived. Sougo was wearing his formal black kimono. He was in his room, walking in circles, head exploding with thoughts. Well, it wasn't thoughts running in his head, it was one simple sentence: I can't do this.

Right at that moment everything felt too real, too suffocating. He didn't want to marry Haru. In his mind it would be unfair for the both of them. She isn't a bad person, she deserves someone who can love her, Sougo thought.

Sougo didn't even notice Hijikata entering his room. ”Oi Sougo? What are you doing?”

Sougo stopped walking and looked at Hijikata, his eyes unwillingly gave away his distress. Sougo walked to Hijikata and grabbed his Kimono and shook the stunned vice-commander. ”I can't do this Hijibaka-san, I can't do this Hijikata-san, I absolutely can't do this!” he rambled.

Hijikata yanked Sougo's hands of his clothes. ”Oi Sougo! Calm down!” he said. ”Of course you can do this.”

”No Hijikata-san, you don't understand! I can't do this!” Sougo rambled some more. Then he pulled his hands away from Hijikata and continued walking in circles. Hijikata knew Sougo well enough to say that the captain was on the brink of losing his shit. There was no way he would be so openly emotional if his mind wasn't a mess.

”Sougo please, stop!” Hijikata said and went to forcefully stop Sougo's walking. His usually deadpanned eyes weren't focusing on anything. It was Hijikata's turn to shake Sougo and he did it brutally enough to get him to calm down for a moment. ”Sougo! Listen to me.”

Sougo looked at Hijikata and took a couple of deep breaths. He was too much of a nervous wreck to even get annoyed by Hijikata. ”I-I can't do this,” he simply said.

Hijikata guided Sougo to sit down on his work chair. ”Yes you can and you have to. Remember?”

Sougo slammed his elbows on his desk and dropped his head a bit. ”I know,” he said quietly.

Hijikata was still unsure of Sougo's state and he decided to get Kondo. There wasn't much time, the wedding was supposed to happen in an hour. ”Sit there! I'll go get Kondo-san.” As soon as Hijikata was gone Sougo dug out a pen and a piece of paper from his desk.

Sougo wasn't an emotional person, no way in hell, but the situation he was in proved to be much to handle. He had to marry a woman he didn't want to marry and he loved another and had suddenly lost her without any warnings.

But the one thing that finally made him freak out was the fact that he was about to betray Kondo and his whole Shinsengumi family. Sougo felt selfish for even thinking about escaping from the marriage and the guilt was eating him alive. He talked himself out of it many times, but a man has his limits. Finally one hour before the wedding his feelings for Kagura bulldozed any rationality he had on the matter.

Sougo was going to do it, he was going to escape the wedding, for her, to find her. Now that he had made his final decision, he had to really calm himself down and act fast. Sougo knew that if he would see Kondo right now, he couldn't leave the wedding, Kondo's influence on him was that powerful.

Still, he really wanted to leave. So he wrote a short note and left it on his desk. Then he took his ID, car keys, katana, and ran. Sougo knew he couldn't exactly walk out of the main gates, so he decided to go out from a side-entrance. On his way there Sougo ran past some Shinsengumi officers but none dared to stop the captain, he wasn't one to be messed with and they knew it.

Finally Sougo got out of the compound and ran to his police car, conveniently parked near the side-entrance, maybe he had planned this a bit, maybe. Then he drove like a mad-man, sirens giving him way from other cars. But, where exactly was he going? Sougo didn't know where Kagura was, so he decided to go to the place where someone might just know something, the Yorozuya shop.

*

*

Sougo drove to the Kabuki district and ditched his car somewhere a little further away. He ran like he was some sort of Joui member on the run. Sougo reached the stairs leading up to the Yorozuya and he climbed them up with two leaps. Then he banged the door. ”OI DANNA! MEGANE! OPEN UP!”

Inside the Yorozuya, Shinpachi and Gintoki both jumped at the loud banging. It sounded like Goku and Vegeta were battling their way into the apartment. ”Wait! I'm coming!” Shinpachi yelled and hurried to the door.

As soon as the door opened, Sougo barged in. ”Close the door!” Sougo said and walked into the living-room where a confused Gintoki was with his JUMPs. Shinpachi did as was ordered and followed right after the captain.

Sougo sat on the couch in front of Gintoki and calmed down for a second to catch his breath. Shinpachi sat next to Gintoki, they shared a look of  what-the-hell-is-going-on. ”Well, hello Souichiro-kun! What are you doing here?”

”It's Sougo, Danna,” Sougo said calmly. He felt like he could keep his cool again. Thank god, this was getting annoying, Sougo thought to himself.

”Uh, Okita-san? Shinpachi asked as he stared at the captain's attire. ”Why are you dressed like that?”

Sougo exhaled once more and lifted his gaze to the two men in front of him. ”Oh this, it's just my wedding kimono.”

”YOUR WHAT?” an unison question echoed around the shop.

”My wedding kimono, but that's not important. I'm here to get some information.”

”Information about what?” Gintoki inquired.

”Where's China?”

”Oh? Well, she's not here, she's taking Sadaharu for a walk,” Gintoki said casually. Shinapchi shook his head and looked at Gintoki with disappointment in his eyes.

”Gin-san?”

”What?” Gintoki asked and looked at Shinpachi and then back at Sougo.

”The dog is right there, Danna,” Sougo said and nudged his head towards the sleeping fur ball.

”Oh, right,” Gintoki said. ”Well, she's not here.”

Sougo sprang up from the couch. ”I know she isn't here!”

Shinpachi's eyes widened a bit, he hadn't seen Sougo behaving like that. Gintoki however didn't seem to mind. ”How do you know that?” Gintoki asked.

”I saw China at the terminal three months ago, and she said that she was leaving,” Sougo explained. ”Now, where is she?”

”She left with the baldie to hunt some aliens,” Gintoki said. Shinpachi elbowed the samurai.

”Gin-san! You shouldn't tell him,” Shinpachi hissed.

”Why is that?” Sougo asked.

Gintoki got up from the couch and walked to Sougo. ”It was on the day after Kagura's birthday. She told us to keep you away, so...” Gintoki said and grabbed Sougo's collar and lifted him off the couch. ”...what did you do to her bastard?”

”Gin-san!”

Sougo looked at Gintoki with neutral eyes, he had gained full control of his emotions again. ”It's not like that Danna.”

”Then explain it to me brat.”

”I'll tell you everything if you could kindly let me go Danna,” Sougo said annoyingly calmly.

Gintoki grunted. ”Gin-san! Let him go!” Shinpachi yelled.

Gintoki grunted again and unclenched his grip on Sougo. ”Fine.”

All three men sat down again, two of them eagerly waiting for Sougo's explanation.

”Look, I don't have much time so I'm going to make this real simple for you. Me and China, we shared a moment, but I won't go into detail with it. After that China overheard that Kondo-san had arranged a marriage for me.”

”Oh, when did you-” Shinpachi began to ask.

”Just shut up and listen. Then she apparently didn't want to see me anymore and she left earth. I tried to get over it and focus on the princess-”

”Princess?” Gintoki asked.

”Again, shut up and listen. The whole arrangement was for financial reasons, to help the Shinsengumi,” Sougo said and felt that same guilt climbing up in his heart again, forcing him to stop talking for a moment.

”So, Okita-san. When is the wedding going to happen?”

”Uh, if I remember correctly...umm, if today is saturday and last month was February. Oh, now I remember. The wedding is going to happen, right now.”

”NOW?” Shinpachi asked.

”Yup.”

”Now? Like, now now?

”Yup.”

”Then why are you here?” Gintoki asked.

”I already told you, I want to know where China is,”

Gintoki glanced at Shinpachi. ”What do you think Patsuan?”

”I think this whole thing is bizarre and crazy,” Shinpachi said. ”What do you think?”

Gintoki took a quick glance at Sougo and sighed a bit. ”I agree with you Shinpachi-kun. However, Sofa-kun here, he seems to be serious about finding Kagura.”

”I am, otherwise I would be a married man right at this moment,” Sougo said.

”Yeah, I think it doesn't matter if we give him any information or not, he's still going to look for Kagura-chan,” Gintoki concluded.

”Also true.”

”But Gin-san, we don't know where she is either,” Shinpachi said and Sougo's eyes darted at the speaking glasses.

”You don't?” Sougo said and got up from the couch. ”Well, I'll be going then, bye.”

”Yare, yare, wait a second Soup-kun,” Gintoki said and stood up. ”Shinpachi, we have her letters.”

”Oh, you're right! I'll go get the latest one.”

Gintoki sat back down and looked at Sougo. His face was deadpan, but his eyes were a bit gloomy. ”What is it Sponge-kun?”

He didn't bother to correct Gintoki for the millionth time, it wasn't so important. He got lost in his own thoughts. She wrote to them, she said her goodbyes to them. Am I making a mistake? What if she doesn't want anything to do with me, Sougo thought.

”Oi! Spore-kun! Earth to Spore-kun!”

”Uh, this was a mistake, sorry Danna,” Sougo said suddenly and walked to the hallway. Gintoki was usually a very lazy person and didn't care about a lot of things. JUMP and couple of parfaits a week were all he needed. But for some reason Gintoki felt it in his gut that he wanted to help Sougo. Gintoki hurried after him to the hallway.

”Oi, wait So-do-re-mio-kun! Wait!”

Sougo stopped and turned to look at the natural perm-head. ”It's Sougo dammit.”

”Yeah yeah. Listen, you can't leave. How are you going to find Kagura-chan without our help?”

”That's easy, I'm not going to find China,” Sougo said, eyes telling of his defeated feeling. ”I don't think she wants me to find her.”

Gintoki huffed loudly, making Sougo frown a bit. ”I was Kagura's guardian here in earth. Then she turned 18 and was free to make her own life decisions.”

”And she went to space.”

”Yes she did, but to be honest, she wasn't herself after her birthday,” Gintoki said. ”Now after you cleared up some things for us, I think I see the whole picture now.”

Sougo's heart jumped. ”Oh.”

”Mmh. As much as it pains me to admit this, but I think Kagura may have a thing for you. I don't understand what she sees in you, but that's not my business.”

Sougo's heart jumped harder. ”Oh.”

”So, if I were you Samba-kun, I would think twice on giving up on her.”

Before Sougo could answer anything Shinpachi ran to them with a letter on his hand. ”I found it!”

”Good job Patsuan, let's take a look,” Gintoki said and walked back to the living-room with Shinpachi. ”You coming Soul-king?”

That was a good one Danna, Sougo thought. ”Yeah.”

In the living-room Shinpachi read the letter as fast as he could. ”So?” Gintoki asked.

”Uh, this is one week old and she tells here that they are at a planet named Sukonbia. It's famous for its sukonbu products and Kagura-chan says she could stay there for good.”

”Sukonbia huh? Where is it?” Gintoki asked.

”The letter doesn't tell the location, but I think it's public information if we make some research.”

”Okay, but the letter is one week old, she and the baldie are most likely on another planet already,” Gintoki said.

”Oh Danna,” Sougo chuckled. ”Danna, Danna, Danna,” he said. ”Don't you remember who we are talking about here?”

”Yeah, Okita-san has a point. Kagura-chan wouldn't leave a place called Sukonbia too quickly,” Shinpachi said.

”Hmm, so we need to find out where this Sukonbia is,” Sougo said.

”Yosh! Let's do it. When we have the location, we leave at once,” Gintoki said and prepared to leave the apartment.

”Wow wow, what? What do you mean we leave?”

”Oh we are coming with you Sokita-kun and that's it,” Gintoki said.

Sougo sighed, who was he to deny her family. ”Fine.”

”Okay then, me and Shinpachi will go and find the location,” Gintoki said.

Sougo watched the two men walk to the front door. ”What about me?”

”If I remember correctly your wedding is happening right now, and I think you are a more wanted man than Zura at the moment,” Gintoki said with a smirk. ”Don't let anyone in.!”

The door closed after them and Sougo was left alone. He sat on one of the couches and roamed trough his thoughts. If he didn't think about Kondo or the Shinsengumi, he could keep the guilt under control. So he thought about Kagura.

Everything Gintoki had told Sougo made him very happy. Maybe she would be even happy to see me, Sougo thought.

After a short while he got bored, but he was too nervous to take a nap. Sougo wandered around the Yorozuya-shop, patted the furry dog deity and tried to find something to eat (all he found was shit ton of rice and sweets).

Then Sougo happened to walk by Kagura's closet. He didn't know it was her room, but he felt a need to open the closet. So he did. Sadaharu observed him closely, but didn't stop him in any way.

Sougo saw Kagura everywhere in the closet. The cute little stickers on the walls, frogs, flowers, stuff like that. A pink stuffed bunny on the bed. It was clearly her area. Sougo knew it wasn't the best idea, but he couldn't resist himself. He stepped into the closet and sat down on her bed.

Sougo made himself comfortable, he adjusted the pillow and laid on the bed. He felt his whole body relaxing completely, it was something he hadn't been able to do for months. Kagura had been gone for a while, but her scent was still there in her room.

He relished in the feeling what her room brought him. All those good memories soothing him. It didn't take long before her scent lulled him to sleep.

When Gintoki and Shinpachi returned home, they weren't sure how to react. They found Sougo from Kagura's closet, snuggling her bunny, sleeping peacefully. Gintoki made his decision, he closed the closet door and told Shinpachi to let the captain be.

*

*

The next day at the Shinsengumi compound. The whole place was a mess after Sougo's disappearance. The king and Haru were both deeply offended. They gave Sougo a time-limit. If he wasn't going to show up by the dawn of the next day, they would leave. Hijikata had ordered a search party, which roamed all over Edo.

Hijikata had personally paid a visit to the Yorozuya, but Sougo was sleeping at that moment, conveniently hidden in the closet. Gintoki and Shinpachi had managed to assure Hijikata that they didn't know of Sougo's location.

Right now, Hijikata was begging for Haru and her father to stick around for couple of days. ”Please, we will find Sougo, I promise!”

”Save your breath, we have been offended enough,” Hayato said before getting into a car after Haru.

”But Tokage-sama, please-” Hijikata tried to say, but the king slammed the car door shut. The vice-commander was left watching the car driving away.

”Dammit,” he hissed.

Hijikata returned inside the Shinsengumi and went to Kondo's room. The commander was sitting on the floor, balling his eyes out. ”Kondo-san?”

”Waaah! Toshi! I can't believe this!” Kondo cried and banged his fist against the floor.

Hijikata sat on Kondo's work chair and dug out a cigarette. ”It's not your fault they left.”

Kondo lifted his gaze to Hijikata, lips trembling, snot vibrating out his nose. ”I'm not sad about them going Toshi,” he sobbed.

”You're not? But what about the Shinsengumi?”

”Ma, ma. We'll have to find another way,” Kondo said. ”It's my fault that our boy ran away, I put him in this situation.”

Hijikata sighed as Kondo cried some more. ”Sougo really surprised me, I thought he wouldn't dare to go against your orders Kondo-san.”

”Don't make me feel worse Toshi!” Kondo cried. ”I just want him to return home.”

”Mmh, we couldn't find him yesterday and we looked everywhere.”

Kondo sniffled. ”What if something happened to him?”

”I don't think so, I actually may have an idea on where he is.”

”Tell me Toshi!”

”In Sougo's note he mentioned that he was going to fin her. And only one woman comes to mind if you think about him.”

”Ah, the Yorozuya girl,” Kondo said immediately, both of Sougo's superiors had noticed the special kind of bond between the two rivals.

”Yes. So I visited the Yorozuya yesterday and that lazy candy-addict told me that the girl has gone to space.”

”To space?”

”Mmh, I think Sougo knew it too and has gone after her.”

”Oh that is so romantic of our Sou-kun!”

Hijikata sighed. ” Romantic or not, we don't know where he is. But we know where the girl is.”

”Where is she?”

”She's travelling with her father, you know Umibouzu-sama. I think we should sent an urgent letter to Kagura.”

”Yes! Let's do it right now! Thank you Toshi. I don't know what I would do without you,” Kondo said with teary eyes.

”If I sent the letter right now, the express line will deliver it today,” Hijikata said and began to look for some paper and a pen. ”Hang in there Kondo-san, we'll find Sougo and get him home.

*

*

It took one day for Gintoki and Shinpachi to find out where Sukonbia was and lucky for them it was quite close to Earth. They agreed to leave the very next day. Shinpachi went home to prepare for the trip and he took Sadaharu to his sister's care.

Gintoki and Sougo were sitting in the Yorozuya's living room. Sougo tried to play it cool about the fact that he woke up with the bunny plushie and Gintoki was feeling nice enough to let him be. They were discussing about the details of the trip.

”Jeez, the tickets are going to cost us four times the rent,” Gintoki grunted.

”Don't worry Danna, I can take care of the payment,” Sougo so generously offered.

”Oh, are you rich or something Soma-kun?”

”Well, something like that,” Sougo said and smirked.

”Nice.”

”Eh, are you flirting with me Danna?”

”You wish brat,” Gintoki huffed and got up from his desk chair. ”We're leaving tomorrow at dawn, be ready.”

”Yeah, about that,” Sougo said and motioned Gintoki to look at his kimono. ”I think I should wear something less flashy.”

”Mmh, you're right. You can take one of Kagura's cheongsams.”

Sougo stared at the samurai. ”Thanks, but no thanks.”

Gintoki shrugged his shoulders. ”Sorry Soccer-kun, I don't have any clothes for you,” he said and went to sleep.

Sougo had no other choice but to improvise a little. He kept his gray hakama and black long-sleeved undershirt. Sougo removed the coat and every accessory he had. This way he could blend in more easily. Sougo didn't know was the Shinsengumi still looking for him, he didn't know that Haru was long gone, he had to play it safe.

The next morning, the trio was at the Edo's main terminal, waiting for their flight. Sougo felt quite happy, in few hours they would be at Sukonbia and he hoped from the bottom of his heart that Kagura would still be there.

”Oh, it's time to aboard the ship,” Shinpachi informed.

”Well then, let's go,” Gintoki said.

Sougo let Gintoki and Shinpachi go first. He was standing next to the ship. Sougo took once last glance of the terminal, he wondered what Kagura was thinking when she jumped on her ship. Sougo was about to step into the ship, but he froze on the spot. Suddenly he felt a powerful presence close by, it felt familiar. It was Kagura's presence.

Sougo turned around immediately. First he didn't see anyone, but his heart kept racing. Sougo was certain Kagura was there, somewhere close by. He walked away from the ship to look around. Still, he didn't see anything. ”Tsk.” Sougo felt ridiculous for being so desperate that he imagined her there.

”Hey! Okita-san! Are you coming?” Shinpachi shouted from the ship's door.

”Yeah,” he said and tuned to the ship. Sougo walked swiftly to the ship. He was so focused on walking he didn't register a landing spaceship. Sougo didn't want to waste any more time and he entered the ship.

At that same damn second Sougo disappeared into the ship, Kagura jumped out of another. She and Umibouzu had received Hijikata's letter and they travelled instantly to Earth. Kagura inhaled deeply as to get familiar with Earth's smell again. She was home and she had missed it so much.

Kagura jumped back into the ship to help Umibouzu with all their stuff. Sougo, Gintoki and Shinpachi's ship began to ascent. Sougo was sitting alone at a window seat and he was looking down. All the people there, all the ships there, all of it began to turn into a tiny unrecognisable mush as their ship rose higher into the air.

”Bzz...bzz...can you hear me?”

”Yes.”

”Do you have the target at your sight?”

”Yes commander.”

”Good work, what is the destination?”

”Sukonbia.”

”See you there...bzz...bzz.”

#okikagu #gintama #okita sougo #kagura #okita x kagura #fanfiction #sponsoredbytaemin

[misedejem]

The Ethics of Revenge

During a pit-stop in Florem on the way to challenge the Kaiser, Edea and her friends end up running into some familiar faces, claiming to also be in pursuit of the Empire, but not explaining why. 

Word Count: 17,958

Spoilers for the end of chapter 3/beginning of chapter 4 of Bravely Second

(This fic has two endings. Please follow the link at the end of this first chapter to the ending that corresponds with your choice.)

Victor S. Court, the shining prodigy, and holder of the Spiritmaster asterisk. Despite his youth, he once stood on the Council of Six, outmatching his peers in his keen wit, cool attitude, and brilliant intellect by a sharp mile. Yet beneath his calm exterior lay a heart overflowing with the bitterest of despair. A despair that overcame him and destroyed him when he lost somebody dear.

And Ciggma Khint, the enigmatic mercenary, and holder of the Spell Fencer asterisk. He once served the Khamer & Profiteur Merchantry as a bodyguard, for a steep price, in order to help fund a part of his life that he deigned to keep a secret. He vanished one day after being caught in an altercation with the duchy, and not a single soul had seen him since.

By what strange trick of fate do your paths cross anew?

“Hey, Yew! How many Phoenix Downs did you say we had?”

Yew started at Edea’s words, despite her having been talking to him for almost ten minutes now.

“Oh, um… We have twenty-three left on the ship. Do you, uh… Want to take that up to a round thirty?”

“Fine by me,” Edea replied, shrugging and turning back to the items vendor to continue placing their order.

Yew’s eyes dropped back towards the water he had been gazing at, and he sighed. He distantly registered the brightly coloured shoal of fish that scooted past him, the garish neon lights of Florem’s business district dancing as the tiny creatures disturbed the water’s glassy surface, but they were a poor distraction from the turmoil that rumbled within his mind – a turmoil that had been present ever since their altercation at the Temple of Water with the Empire.

The altercation that had led to Sir Nikolai’s demise.

It was all so much simpler when the opposition conceded. Many of the Imperial soldiers they faced ran, or were still breathing when the four of them claimed their spoils in battle. Edea’s old duchy companions were no different, simply giving up when they knew they were defeated. But those Imperial asterisk holders… They would keep going, and going, and going until the party had no choice but to kill them just to stop them from wreaking any more havoc and taking more innocent lives. Only one of them had ceased the battle while he still drew breath, and even he intended to slay himself until he had been convinced otherwise. Why couldn’t they all be like that? All Yew, and his friends, he presumed, wanted was to save Agnès. These fatalities were unnecessary. Yew had accepted long ago that he would have to fight for his life. But he had always hated the idea of having to kill for it. He hoped he would never be responsible for the death of another Imperial soldier again.

“You know, I never noticed these before. Magic bottles?” Edea asked the vendor, snapping Yew once again out of his stupor. He hadn’t noticed them either.

“Ah, yes. I’m not really sure what they do, but apparently they undo some kind of ‘exorcist magic’. A young man asked us to produce and sell them here about six months ago. They’re made with hot spring water.”

“You don’t think maybe they undo you-know-what, do you?” Tiz suggested, clearly catching the mention of hot spring water in the same manner that Yew had.

“Well, I’ve been studying exorcism ever since we got hold of that… thing…” Yew trailed off once he remembered the vendor, not wanting to mention asterisks or the Empire in public. “And a specific branch of their magic coincides with Necromancy, even though they’re both from different magical classes entirely. Exorcists have been known to assume a form like the people in Hartschild. And those two did work together, so I suppose they could have developed both this curative and the recipe that inflicts the ailment it cures themselves. But why have it sold in Florem, I wonder?”

“Oh, the man who commissioned them is from here. He’s been around for years,” the vendor supplied, “I haven’t seen him in a few weeks though. I hope he’s alright…”

“We’ll take ten of those, too,” Magnolia interjected, delving into her bag to fish out the pg to purchase them. “Just in case there’s more of them,” she added in a whisper.

Yew nodded. Who knew if the only ones in the Empire with access to the ghost ailment were Geist and Panettone, or even if the man who commissioned the bottles was one of those two. He felt an insatiable urge to go and investigate – one so strong that he had completely overturned his growing despair. The occult branch of white magic, that encompassed such things as Exorcism and Spiritism, was something he’d never really had the chance to explore before. He made a mental note that if they escaped the Skyhold with Agnès, he would go straight to Al-Khampis and research it.

After finishing their purchase, the party pulled away from the item shop and checked over the wares they had purchased once they reached a seating area in the city square.

“I think we have everything here we need,” Tiz affirmed, pouring over the servicing supplies they’d bought for their weapons from the blacksmith.

“Oui. We have all the spells the shops sold, and we’ve replenished all the items we lost in Sagitta and the Temple of Water,” Magnolia stated. Edea nodded and beamed.

“Then are we ready to go kick some Kaiser butt?”

Yew was about to meet Edea’s enthusiasm with some of his own, but before he could get the words out, he was interrupted by a voice he did not recognise.

“Pardon the intrusion, but I would like a moment of your time, if I may.”

Edea was the first to react, erupting in a small scream. Tiz stumbled back, and Yew just stared in the direction of the voice, completely stricken with awe.

***

“Do you hear that, Private?”

“That I do, sir! Even this high above sea level, the ocean is still incredibly loud.”

Sergeant Sapp pressed his hand to his brow and sighed irritably.

“No, Private. I meant the damned machine.”

Private Piddler’s mouth hung open briefly, before he laughed and nodded with vigour.

“Ohh, you mean this?” He patted Vucub Caquix’s dented head. “Yeah, I hear her loud and clear, sir! She’s roaring like a real beauty.”

“I… I can’t believe I actually fixed her. Maybe we can get back to the Skyhold after all?”

“You can do anything if you put your mind to it sir.”

“Ehhh… Don’t get your hopes up too soon. We still need to make sure she can fly.”

Piddler climbed into the cockpit on the robot’s back and looked curiously at the buttons on the control panel.

“Well, I can’t make out any of these weird squiggles, sir.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “She’s mighty complicated.”

“Yeah, didn’t the Kaiser get a different mechanic to make her? I don’t even think we stole the blueprints for this one from Anchiem.” Sapp mused, climbing in behind his subordinate and looking at the panel himself. “Uh… I know the green one is the fly button, and then the purple one makes her transform… Ahh, but that one’s all busted. Good thing she broke down in her aerial form, I guess. I have no idea what button makes her descend though, once we’re up in the air.”

Piddler shrugged. “Only one way to find out.” And before Sapp could stop him, he pressed a stubby finger to the green button. The gears began to whir, and air blasted out around them as the mech began to rise into the air, it’s noises so deafening that even Piddler could not hear the various curse words that Sapp was spewing behind him.

“You idiot, Private!” He roared. “I just said I don’t know how to get her back down!”

“Huh… Maybe it’s the green button again?” Piddler suggested, jamming his finger into the same place he had done before. Vucub Caquix whirred again, and began to rise even higher, levelling out at the height of the Temple of Water’s crest. Sapp squeaked and gripped the sides of his seat.

“Stop pressing buttons without my permission! Gah!”

“Haha. Looks like that didn’t work. Maybe this red button?”

Sapp seized Piddler’s arm. “No, Private. No more. Look, we need to be airborne to reach the Skyhold anyway, so… Let’s just stay like this and ask once we get there.”

“Alright, sir. I might not know how to get us down, but I think I learned how to get her auto-pilot to work in that battle we had with them kids.”

“Excellent. Then to the Skyhold!”

“Alrighty!” Piddler punched the air, and then did nothing. Unable to see his face from his position, Sapp was left confused that he wasn’t acting.

“Private?”

“Uh… Sergeant Sapp, Sir? Which way is the Skyhold?”

Sapp’s face plummeted and he let his arm drop. And then he began swearing again.

***

Edea stared in bewilderment, clapping her hand to her mouth once she realised she had screamed. Of all the people she had expected to see there, in Florem, on that day, this was the last person she would have thought of. And yet, the voice matched the appearance she knew so well, and had known for her entire life, albeit in a different form. The man she had known had been paler, gaunter, and thinner. He had no life in his eyes back then. The man before her looked healthy, healthier than he had seemed even in his youth, before that harrowing moment when his life had come crashing down around him in front of everybody he had known. Even his hair, though as long as ever, had been pulled back into a braid, which was more effort than she’d ever seen him make in the years she had known him. But if the white coat and red cravat, and the spectacles, and the floating staff he used as a weapon did not give him away, that was undeniably his face. Even the way he carried himself was the same.

Then, behind him, there was another man, whom Edea was even more certain she had met. He had not changed at all in the three years since she had last seen him – in fact he looked no different from the man in the pictures who had served her father eighteen years ago, save the long, dark green robes and the fact that there were more lines around his one visible eye. Edea knew there was one more difference to his face as well, a scar, even though his right eye remained covered by his curly, green hair. But these were not enough to hide the fact that the man from then was who she saw now.

Edea had run into many of the duchy’s asterisk holders on her quest to save Agnès, and had soon come to believe that by some trick of fate, she had not killed any of them after all. But these two had been different. Of all the people in the duchy, there were six of them she felt sure she would never see again. One of them, she knew to be dead. The other five, she assumed, had met the same fate.

Yet, undeniably, Ciggma Khint and Victor S. Court stood, very much alive, in Florem with her right then.

“Why are you screaming, child?” Khint asked with a sense of urgency, turning his head behind him and placing a hand on the hilt of his blade. It hadn’t occurred to him that it was his sudden appearance that had startled the others.

“Yes, why are you screaming, Edea?” Magnolia asked, seizing her glaive. “Are these men dangerous?”

“No… I mean… Maybe? Are you?”

“We aren’t here to hurt you, if that’s what concerns you,” Victor assured them, “please, ma’am, Ciggma. Put down your weapons.”

Magnolia and Khint obliged warily.

“I… I have so many questions. How… Are you here?” Edea asked them, still struggling to find the right words.

“I might ask the same of you. Especially you, Tiz Arrior. Did the duchy find a way to restore you that I could not?”

“Well… Sort of. Truth is, if I hadn’t been kept in your elixir, I’d have died a long time ago.” Tiz grinned. “I never realised you were directly responsible for my treatment though. I mean… I knew you designed the Vivipod, but I thought you were… Umm…”

“Dead? Well, considering I was very much hidden from the public eye when you collapsed, I am not surprised. For a time, I wanted the world to believe I was dead.” Victor smiled slightly. “Yes, I was partially responsible, though I cannot take all the credit. You have Victoria to thank as well. I’m glad to see that you’re alright, Mr. Arrior. I’m… happy… that she did not have to die for nothing.”

Tiz started slightly at his words, but could not say a thing. Edea only felt more bewilderment as the conversation had grown longer. Victor was… smiling? Victoria was dead, and he was standing in Florem, looking… Happy? Three years ago, he had threatened to kill himself at the very thought of the child’s death, and Edea remembered clearly how he had reacted when she had actually passed. It was an image of despair that she would never, ever forget. This was so strange to her. What could you even say in a situation like the one she had found herself in?

Luckily, neither Edea nor Tiz had to say anything at all, for Magnolia took the silence that followed as an opportunity to express her utter confusion at everything that was going on.

“It’s a long story, Magnolia.” Edea affirmed, hoping she would not push for clarification. The entire Victor and Victoria affair was among one of the worst things she and her friends had been through three years ago, and she didn’t want to recount it.

“…But anyway,” Tiz blurted out suddenly, sensing that his friend was uncomfortable and quickly changing the subject, “it was actually a man who didn’t come from the duchy who managed to bring me back. Professor Norzen Horoskoff, if you know him? I owe my life as much to him as I do to you.”

“I see… So that’s what he was doing…” Victor placed his hands on his hips and hung his head. “It pains me to say it, but the professor was actually murdered several weeks ago by the Glanz Empire.”

“Yeah, we know…” Tiz sighed. “Oh, but you knew the professor?”

“Yes, I did. In fact, he was my uncle. After I-”

“Whatever happened to urgency?” Khint interjected curtly.

“My apologies… I would love to hear about how my uncle restored you, Mr. Arrior, but now is not the time. We do have some questions for the four of you though.”

“Never mind those now, doctor! Didn’t you hear what the Templar’s daughter said?”

“You’re referring to her comment on the Kaiser?” Victor turned to address Khint directly and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Yes, I heard it. I suppose that is of greater importance than my previous queries.” He turned back to Edea and the others. “Are you, perhaps, pursuing the Skyhold as well?”

“As well?” Edea spluttered, “you mean that’s why you guys’re in Florem?”

“Yes. We are here to board the Skyhold, and ask the Empire some questions. That is all you need to know.” Khint’s face was stony, and his words had an air of finality to them. He would certainly not be divulging anymore.

“You made it sound as though you know how to reach the Kaiser. But all the airships in Eternia were destroyed… how do you intend to get airborne?”

“We actually have an airship… just got it actually. Another long story,” Edea said, grinning nervously.

Khint and Victor both exchanged a wide-eyed glance.

“Then let us accompany you! If it would not be too much trouble, that is.”

“W-w-we would be honoured if you were to join us, Sir Victor,” Yew stammered, speaking for the first time. Edea hadn’t noticed until he spoke that he had the same look on his face that he got whenever Tiz did something impressive. Or Magnolia. Or just about anybody he had a giant crush on, which was surprisingly quite a lot of people.

“Sir?” Victor raised an eyebrow.

“Uh, allow me to direct you to our Rubadub – aah, airship. It’s this way!” Yew ran off, in the wrong direction.

“Ah, la vache…” Magnolia sighed, running after him and calling his name.

“What interesting new friends you have now, Edea,” Victor mused. “They’re a different sort to the Vestal of Wind, that’s for certain.”

“They’re oddballs, but you gotta love ‘em.”

“Is that why you’re after the Skyhold? I understand that your friend was kidnapped by the Kaiser, wasn’t she?” Khint queried.

Tiz furrowed his brow. “Yeah. They got Agnès. We’re going to do anything we can to get her back.”

“No wonder the world wept for you when you collapsed. You’re a noble kind, that’s clear to me.” A whisper of the old Victor, filled with despair, appeared on his face. “But don’t let protecting someone else cost you your life.”

“That’s rich, coming from you.” Khint said briskly. Victor shot him a venomous glare.

“I would… Disagree.”

Khint shook his head, but did not retort. Instead, he turned his attention towards Magnolia and Yew, the former dragging the latter behind her as he frantically tried to pull away and cover the beet-red colour of his cheeks.

***

“You didn’t tell me you knew Sir Victor!” Yew plopped himself down next to Edea with so much enthusiastic force that it looked as though his dinner would overturn.

“Our fathers were buddies,” Edea replied, shrugging. “You seem pretty damn familiar with him though.”

“Oh, uh… Well, I’ve never actually met him in person. I’ve only ever seen him in pictures. He’s like a legend in Al-Khampis! He’s the youngest ever person to graduate with six stars, and he pretty much wrote the entire syllabus for crystal studies, along with his father. He’s amazing.”

Yew cast a glance to the upper floor of the Rubadub, where the party’s new companions were conversing with Lotus and Sakura, a wistful glint in his eye. Edea sighed.

“How many more celebrity crushes do you gotta meet before you’re no longer completely star struck?”

“Hey, Edea… About what he said earlier,” Tiz said tentatively, perhaps choosing that precise moment to save Yew the embarrassment of replying. “What happened to Victoria? I mean… He made it sound like she died for my sake, but…”

“Ahh… Well, I don’t really know if I can say she died for your sake… More like her choice to die benefitted more than just herself…”

Edea sighed. She hadn’t wanted to do this, but Tiz had the right to know. She launched into a description of everything about the incident that she knew. How Victor and Victoria had suddenly fled the country after they were defeated by Agnès’ party, only to return just over a year later to use Eternia’s healing facilities.  So she had heard, once it became known that if Tiz was not given a stronger dose of curative than the ones he was able to take in the city that he would die, Victoria took the opportunity to give him the chamber that had kept her alive for so long. And so, in exchange for her own life, Tiz was allowed to be kept around long enough for Professor Norzen to bring him back.

“As far as I know, she’d already been written off. Everybody on the Council knew she was going to die; it was only a matter of time. So I guess she chose to end it quickly?”

Tiz remained silent, but nodded solemnly.

“Then shortly after she died, Victor just… vanished. He was in a real bad way, and when I asked father and Alternis about it, they just looked sad and said nothing. I really though he’d… you know.” Edea brought her knees up to her chin. “He seems to be doing okay now though. I can’t remember the last time I saw him look so well.”

“He said he’s Professor Norzen’s nephew, right?” Magnolia said. “He seems to be quite familiar with what the Professor was up to before he died, so maybe he just went to stay with him? Sometimes when you witness something horrible, it can help to get as far away from the place where the event happened as you can.”

“But what about the other man? Uh, what was his name again?” Yew queried.

“He’s called Ciggma Khint. He’s just a mercenary as far as I know. My guess is that Victor hired him to help out with whatever business he has on the Skyhold.” Tiz replied nonchalantly.

“Nah, that can’t be it,” Edea interjected curtly. “Khint’s a wanted man. He’s not gonna just go ahead and work with a former member of the Council of Six for money. Even he’s not that desperate. Whatever he’s doing with Victor, there’s got to be more reward in it for him than just pg at this point.”

“What? No way, what did he do?” Tiz gaped and leaned forwards.

“He was caught assisting Dr. Qada in one of his creepy schemes. Heinkel’s been out to get him ever since. I assumed he’d got him to be honest, given I hadn’t heard of him since.”

“Dr. Qada? The death-row inmate who was assassinated in his jail cell before he could be executed?” Yew’s eyes widened, and he looked quickly back up at the two men on the top deck. “That’s his accomplice?”

“Khint’s a total enigma. I don’t really know what he was up to with Qada, any more than I know what he’s up to now. But… if it was anything fishy, Victor would hand him over to the Sky Knights faster than anyone. He was always on very close terms with them, even after the war ended.”

“So what you’re saying is that whatever issue those guys have with the Empire, it has to be incredibly serious?” Magnolia frowned.

Suddenly, before anyone could reply to her, there was a tumultuous roar that heralded a huge, bird-shaped shadow that swept over the Rubadub like a cloud.

“What the heck-!?”

“Is that what I think it is?”

“Imperials above us!” Magnolia cried out, dropping to the deck.

“Imperials? That thing is one of the Empire’s machines?” Victor called out over the sound of the air gushing past the clamorous wings.

“Yes, but – Vucub Caquix? I thought we destroyed it in the Temple of Water?” Yew looked to the others for guidance, but they could offer none.

“Yew, what do you want us to do?” Lotus’ voice cried from the ship’s helm. “It’s headed in the opposite direction of the Skyhold!”

“The Skyhold should be our main priority,” Yew tried to say, but he was interrupted by Khint’s voice from above him

“If that’s an Imperial weapon, we need to go after it. It may contain the answers we need.”

“But… The Skyhold…? I thought you wanted to confront the Kaiser and-?”

“The Kaiser? I don’t recall ever mentioning the Kaiser specifically. Ciggma and I merely wish to find an Imperial, period. Soldier, officer, Kaiser, whomever may come our way.” Victor stated, his eyes affixed firmly on the disappearing shape of Vucub Caquix out in the distance. “This monstrosity may be dangerous. It is simply unacceptable to let it go unchecked.”

“You can’t be serious!” Edea hissed.

“Ah la vache!” Magnolia cried suddenly, clapping her hands to her mouth, “the wing just broke off!”

Everyone on the airship turned to face the machine in the distance, which was smoking profusely from its left side. It teetered, and began spiralling towards the ground at rapid speeds, leaving a plume of smoke in its wake. All the party could do was watch as it cascaded down, down into the ground, where it smashed into a field with a calamitous, final crunch.

“They’ve crashed in Florem Gardens. Now is our chance to make a move,” Khint announced, to Victor moreso than anybody else. The doctor nodded, and without another word, the two of then cast a teleport spell in succession and vanished from the ship in an instant.

“…Huh. They teleported…” Tiz folded his arms across his chest and frowned. “Do they expect us to wait for them and give them a ride to the Skyhold?”

“They didn’t really say, did they? I don’t know…” Magnolia replied, her own expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

“They seemed to just want access to an Imperial soldier, but… I dunno, guys, do you think we should go after them?” Edea said, her voice wavering.

“The Skyhold hasn’t made a move yet… I think we’d have time to go after them, but why do you suggest we do?” Yew cast a glance towards the beam of light far off in the distance. So far, nothing had changed. The Kaiser had not made use of it yet.

“It’s just… I don’t really know what Victor and Khint have planned, and what if the people on the mecha are hurt? It’s gotta be Sergeant Sapp and Private Piddler, right? I don’t want them to die or anything. They’ve kinda grown on me, haha.” She rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

“That crash did look pretty serious… Maybe we should go and check, just to make sure everything is alright.” Tiz nodded.

“Right.” Yew pounded his fist into his palm. “Lotus! To Florem Gardens!”

***

Sergeant Sapp was on fire. There was a ringing in his ears, and every inch of his body ached, but most alarmingly, he was on fire. Somehow, this was the last thing he registered once he realised that the pinprick of white light he saw was the moon, and not the heavens opening up to take him away. Only when he had convinced himself that he was alive did he suddenly notice the burning, which he resolved to put out by rolling into the tiny stream that was running alongside the crash site. Alas, he had been too slow to respond. His military jacket had been reduced to a smoking wreck.

“Private?” he called out, shakily rising to his feet in the water and taking in his surroundings as he surveyed the area for his subordinate. The crash had scorched much of the plant life to a black, smouldering crisp, but if he strained his eyes, he could make out a vast field of brightly coloured flowers that stretched all the way out to the grey silhouettes of the mountains in the distance. It looked as though they hadn’t even made it out of Florem, let alone to Harena where the Skyhold had headed. There was no sign of the Private anywhere.

“Private!?” he called again, slightly more urgently this time. He still didn’t reply. Sapp’s pulse quickened. He couldn’t have… He wasn’t… Was he?

“Piddler?” He dragged his feet out of the stream and wobbled back over to the wreckage, his stomach sinking. He’d already ruined another one of the Kaiser’s robots, but that could be rebuilt. But if he’d killed his Private… He had always been a handful to deal with, and Sapp was astounded that he had lasted this long, but he’d been the one to fix the robot, and he was the one who declared it safe to use. If his own mistake was responsible for Piddler’s death, he didn’t know how he would live with himself.

“Sergeant?” he heard a quiet, but comfortingly familiar voice reply from the other side of the crash site. Instantly, all his doubt flushed from his body as he turned to see the Private rise from the wreckage. His coat was also damaged, torn along the front, and his helmet was missing, but he seemed fine otherwise.

“Shit, Private…” he began, wanting to tell him not to scare him like that again, to express his pleasure in knowing the man was alright, but as always, his words failed him. Try as he might, he could never manage to express himself in that way. “…what a mess we’ve landed ourselves in…”

“Poor thing. I don’t think she’s gonna go back together again, Sir…” Piddler nudged a sheet of metal gently with his foot.

“She’s well and truly dead. Rest in peace, old girl.”

“Yep, rest in pieces.”

The two of them stared at the wreckage for a few moments, only the sound of the wind rustling the grass and the babbling of the stream breaking the otherwise silent atmosphere. Sapp placed his hand on his forehead and sighed.

“So now what?”

“Wanna explore?” Piddler suggested, taking off his ripped coat and inspecting it.

“…I guess we probably better, huh?” Sapp was slightly taken aback at a sensible suggestion coming from the Private, but he didn’t mention it. “But first, we should probably check for anything salvageable…”

***

“Hey!”

Sapp snapped his head up and he looked around. He and Piddler had been working on moving a sheet of metal. It wasn’t particularly big, but both men were still aching terribly from the crash, and Sapp was afraid to put too much strain on himself in case he injured anything more. He’d healed them both with the White Magic he knew, but he was concerned it wasn’t enough. They wouldn’t be moving it at all, had it not been covering the control panel of the mecha, which Sapp hoped had a transmission device built into it so they could call for help.

“Did you hear something, Private?”

“Hear what?”

“It sounded like a woman’s voice…”

“Oh, yeah. There’s a couple of people walking over with guns out right now, Sir. It was probably them.” Piddler smiled and pointed out across the stream behind the Sergeant.

“WHAT!?”

“Hey you two!” a different voice snapped. “Put that down and step away from the machine. Now!”

“Are they pointing guns at us now?” Sapp asked in a wavering voice.

“Yup. Fingers on the trigger and everything, sir.”

Sapp nodded and slowly placed the sheet metal back on the ground, before turning with his hands up to face the gunmen. As soon as he saw them, he let out a choked sound that was something between a gasp and a scream.

Piddler had failed to mention a few key things, apparently. Firstly, that the two women preparing to shoot them were Imperial Sniper Vans, wearing the khaki green uniform synonymous with the soldiers the Kaiser had dispatched to Eisenberg. Secondly, that there was a third person with them, not carrying any weapons but still no less intimidating. And thirdly, that the third person was an asterisk holder.

“Oh, hey there Lord Angelo.” Piddler was still beaming. “I didn’t know your ghost haunted these here gardens.”

“…What? Ghost? I’m not… What?”

“That’s Imperial property,” one of the snipers barked, apparently ignoring Piddler’s remark. “Step away, or we will shoot you.”

“We’re Imperial soldiers!” Sapp said, his voice no less strangled than it had been earlier.

“Unlikely. Imperial soldiers are not allowed to remove their uniform except for showering or sleeping,” the other sniper replied sharply.

“They caught on fire... I… I’m Sergeant Charan Sapp, and this is Private Poran Piddler. I swear, we’re Imperial soldiers! Look, I’ll show you.” He attempted to move in order to grab the remains of his uniform, but the sniper’s finger on the trigger of her rifle twitched and he froze to the spot.

“I know those names. But how do we know you’re not posing as them?”

“I have my name written in my underwear if you want to see that I’m me,” Piddler supplied.

The snipers both went bright red. “You don’t need to-!”

“It’s alright. They’re legit. I don’t recognise them as such, but only the Kaiser’s idiots would think to call me ‘Lord Angelo’.” The third person, whom Piddler had dubbed as such, held out his hand, and the two snipers lowered their weapons. “Why on earth do you think I’m a ghost though?”

“You are Lord Angelo? B-b-but you died! You went to Yunohana to fight Yew Geneolgia and you didn’t come back!” Sapp lowered his arms and moved forwards to get a closer look.

“Don’t call me that childish name. It's Chef Angelo to you. And no, just because I never returned, doesn’t mean I’m reckless enough to get killed. The Kaiser simply told me never to bother coming back if I didn’t kill those kids, and evidently, I didn’t. So I didn’t go back.” He tapped one of the snipers on the shoulder. “These men need medical help. Go make use of yourselves and get the others.”

“Yes chef!” they chimed, and the two of them ran off in the direction they had come from.

“Others? There’s more people here?” Sapp enquired, not quite sure how to address the man. Was he still technically his superior?

“Oh yeah, about ten others. All from different divisions of the Glanz Empire,” Angelo put his hand to his chin thoughtfully. “Uh, let’s see… There’s two Guards, another Van, two Deserts, and then the rest are all just regular soldiers. They all insist they’re still part of the Empire, so they’ll probably help you out.”

“Are they not still part of the Empire?”

“Would you consider people abandoned by the Kaiser still ‘part of the Empire’? Hmm. It’s not really any different to getting fired from a job. He obviously doesn’t want them anymore, so therefore they’re not Imperial soldiers. They’re just idiots who travelled across half the world chasing a man who probably doesn’t even know they exist.”

“So why are you with them, if you don’t agree with their sentiment?” Sapp clenched his hands into fists. He had never spoken to the baker at length before, and now he was glad of it. He wanted very much to punch him in the face, he was so pretentious.

“I’m not with them. After I left the Empire, I just came here because it’s where Aimee and I were living before we joined you lot. When the Skyhold got blasted by that beam of light, it fled over this way and the soldiers following it wound up getting lost here in the gardens, and now they won’t leave!” Angelo’s voice went up an octave and his speech grew faster as he went on. “And now you guys show up, and you take out half the gardens by smashing Vucub Caquix into them. Do you even know how long it took Aimee to make that thing? It was like her damned child, and you go and wreck it!”

“How can a person have a robot child?” Piddler asked, not seeming to realise just how frazzled Panettone was becoming.

“I didn’t realise Lady Aimee was the one who built this thing,” Sapp said, taking on what was a feigned tone of interest in the hopes that it would quell the man’s irritation. Angelo was well known among the Imperial soldiers, not only for his good looks and his talents in the kitchen, but for his ruthless tendency to poison anybody who got on his bad side.

“Well, it obviously wasn’t any of the regular mechanics the Kaiser hired. It was actually decently built. Yes, she certainly designed it, and helped direct the building process for it. She always had a talent for engineering, especially in the weapons department… She was nothing sort of amazing at it…” His voice became softer, as did his face, but that did nothing to ease Sapp's wariness of him.

“So I’m guessing you know a bit about it then?” Sapp asked tentatively. “Like, perhaps you know if we can contact the Skyhold with it?”

“You ought to be able to. I think all the Empire’s mechs are built with a transmitter, in case of emergency. But…” he tilted his head towards the wreckage. “Whether or not it’ll work in this state, I can’t say. Knowing Aimee, she’ll have built it so that you can contact the Skyhold even if the body of the mech has been blown up, but that’s just an inkling, I’m afraid.” Angelo’s eyes suddenly widened. “Wait, if you can contact the Skyhold then that means you and the other soldiers can leave!”

“Uh… yeah. That’s the idea.”

“Then we’d better find that transmitter.” He rolled up his sleeves and stepped over the little stream, before marching over to the remains of the mech and beginning to peer over it carefully.

“Alright… I’m still a little shaky from the crash, but if three of us work on moving this stuff then it should be possible even with our injuries.”

Sapp pointed out the sheet metal that was covering the control panel first, and the three of them spread themselves out around it so they could try lifting it. They were just about to take hold of it when they were, once more, distracted by a disembodied voice.

“Here’s the crash site. But I don’t see Victor or Khint anywhere, do you?”

“What the hell? Yew Geneolgia?” Sapp felt himself deflate. Of course they’d show up now. He wasn’t ready for a fight.  

The young boy and his friends jumped once they spotted the wreckage, and began to rush over. Sapp tensed, and wished he had a weapon. He really wasn’t ready for a fight.

“Crystals, that looks bad,” the boy with messy, brown hair murmured, his thick brows knitting together with concern.

“Ah, la vache… How did the two of you survive this?” the tall, white haired woman gasped, hopping over the stream and coming towards them.

“Wait…! Panettone? What are you doing here?” the blonde girl gaped and followed the taller one across the water as well.

“Honestly? I was trying to take a nap, before these two showed up,” Angelo sighed. “What do you want?”

“We saw the crash happen, and we came as fast as we could,” Yew stated proudly. “We wanted to make sure nobody was hurt.”

“…Oh…” Sapp raised his eyebrows. Weren’t these people enemies of the Empire?

“We’re also looking for two men,” the blonde girl added. “Have you seen any?”

“But you’ve got two men right there.” Piddler pointed to Yew, and then to the brown-haired boy. “And with us three, that makes five men. You’ve got more than enough men.”

“Ehhhh… No… Two specific men,” the girl sighed, the corners of her lips threatening to twitch into a smile. “A really tall guy in dark green robes, and a guy with long grey hair in a white coat. You seen anybody like that?”

“The only people I’ve seen in these gardens are Imperial soldiers,” Sapp affirmed.

“Same here. None of them fit those descriptions either.” Angelo folded his arms.

“You have a real specific type, missy.”

“Private. Be quiet.”

“Yessir.”

“They probably teleported further in. We should keep going,” the brown-haired boy mused. The others nodded.

“But first, you three need to get out of here,” Yew said abruptly to Sapp, Piddler and Panettone.

“Right,” the white-haired girl agreed. “If those guys catch you by the wreckage, even without uniforms they’ll think you’re with the Empire.”

“They’re both asterisk holders,” the blonde girl explained. “And one unarmed Imperial asterisk holder, plus two injured soldiers, versus two incredibly powerful Eternian asterisk holders… I don’t think you stand a chance.”

“You took my asterisk anyway, remember?” Angelo grumbled quietly, pouting.

“The duchy is here?” Sapp stepped backwards in alarm. “That’s… real bad.”

“Yeah, no kidding.”

“Uh… I wouldn’t really say they’re with the duchy, Edea,” the brown-haired boy said.

“Well… No, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous, Tiz.” Edea replied haughtily.

“They’re after the Empire regardless of who they’re working for,” Yew said in agreement. “So you need to get away before they find you.”

“Why should we trust you? You’re the bastards who killed all our superiors, and countless soldiers. This could be a trap,” Sapp spat. He’d seen these kids kill Nikolai less than two days ago, and now they’d turned up again with that same steely glint of determination in their eyes. It was terrifying.

“It’s not like we wanted to!” The white-haired girl’s voice was choked in exasperation. “Don’t think their deaths don’t haunt us to this day.”

“Magnolia…”

“We only want to save our friend,” Tiz scorned. “And we only take life if we have to. Why do you think you guys are still alive? It’s because you know when to back down. Do you really think that if we were heartless killers, we’d spare you?”

“Sergeant…” Piddler interjected.

“Not now, Private.”

“Sorry, sir. It’s just that ain’t there a whole bunch of other Imperial soldiers who don’t know about these anti-risk people right here? Like them girls who tried to shoot us earlier.”

“…Shit! You’re right! You said there were twelve other soldiers in the gardens, right chef?”

“Yes, that’s right. They’re very deep into the thick of the place, but it doesn’t take too long to get there from here.”

“Say, Edea, or whatever your name is,” Sapp turned to address Edea directly. “These guys – are they dangerous? Are they going to kill the Imperials they find?”

“I don’t know… Victor probably won’t, but I don’t really know Khint well enough to know what he’s thinking. There’s a real chance he will kill them, but I honestly can’t say.”

“My, my, this is Ciggma Khint we’re dealing with?” Panettone piped up, rolling his sleeves back down and stepping over the stream. “Then this is serious. Khint makes me look like an amateur, and I don’t say that lightly.”

“Well, it’s my duty as a Sergeant to protect my subordinates. If they’re in any danger, then I have to go. You in, Private?”

“Yessir! I’m always in for a fight, sir.”

“What about you?” He looked at Angelo.

“Oh, I suppose. I’m not dumb enough to pick a fight, but those idiots are camped right outside my house. I guess I should probably stand by in case I need to put out any fires.”

“Right. Then lead the way, you kids!”

Yew Geneolgia and his friends looked befuddled for a brief moment, but soon their steely looks of determination returned and they took off at speed into the very core of the blooming gardens of Florem.

***

The air was already pungent with a smokiness that anybody who used fire magic knew all too well by the time the party reached their destination.

“It only gets worse from here on in,” the familiar voice of the orange-cladded traveller who always seemed to follow them around affirmed grimly.

“Are we too late?” Edea asked, her heart still in her mouth from the sprinting to get there. The Adventurer shrugged.

“See for yourself.”

Their nonchalant behaviour never really helped ease a person’s nerves before a battle. Edea probably would have kicked them a few times, were they not an excellent resource for items.

The party moved forwards into the huge clearing that led to the thick of the Gardens, immediately discovering the source of the smokiness. Khint was stood in the clearing, his scimitar ablaze with flickering, orange flames. Somehow, the cuffs of his long sleeves never caught fire while he was wielding the powers his asterisk gave him. Some distance away, calm as ever, Victor stood, watching, his golden staff floating gently by his side.

A few meters away from the two men were the reason for their hostility – a huddle of about twelve Imperial soldiers, all dressed in an assortment of different coloured uniforms, carrying an array of weapons. One of them looked no older than fourteen, while the oldest of them had to be in their fifties or sixties. Yet, despite their differing ranks and ages, at that very moment in time, they all had the same look on their faces that brought them together as one. It was a look of nothing less than sheer, undiluted terror. They were all stood next to a wooden house that Edea did not remember having been there before, when they had faced Mephilia in these gardens three years ago. Its roof had been masterfully shaped into the image of a stack of pancakes. Was this where Panettone lived?

“We will not ask you again,” Khint warned them, his voice even and gentle. “Tell us what you know.”

“I swear we don’t know a thing!” A Desert Axeman squeaked, his voice trembling.

“Khint! Victor! I thought you said you just wanted to interrogate one Soldier.” Edea snarled, stomping forwards and attempting to seize the Spell Fencer by the sleeve. He slapped her away.

“Don’t interfere Edea,” Victor told her sharply. His voice sounded nothing like it had before. It was chilling and harsh, like the voice of the man Edea had fought against all those years ago once more. It was a voice that instilled terror into the hearts of any foe. The doctor’s eyes were equally as harsh, an icy blue as biting as the snowfields of Eternia. Edea tentatively placed her hand on the hilt of her katana.

“Please help us…” one of the Sniper Vans whispered through a voice strangled with tears.

“They’re not gonna answer you if you’re brandishing weapons like that. They’re scared to death, look at them!” Tiz argued.

“Maybe he’s right, Ciggma. Let’s not resort to torture quite so soon.”

“Hmph. You may have a point.” Khint extinguished his blade and sheathed it. Edea sighed in relief, but the soldiers remained tense.

“We don’t want to hurt you without reason,” Victor assured the soldiers, stepping forwards. “If you really can’t answer our questions, we’ll take you into custody and move on. No blood should needlessly be shed here today.”

Khint shuffled slightly, and Edea though she saw him scowl at Victor’s words.

“Now, I’m looking for some people the Empire took prisoner when they attacked Eternia. Specifically, the ten researchers I tasked with watching over Tiz Arrior here while I was away. You’re all sure you don’t know anything?”

The soldiers conferred amongst themselves in a hushed whisper.

“I’m sorry. None of us were tasked with taking Central Command. Only us in blue even set foot in Eternia, and we all went to the city,” an Imperial medic affirmed. “We don’t know anything.”

“Uh oh…” Yew could be heard muttering under his breath, and he quickly whipped his head round to whisper to Magnolia. “You don’t think he means those ten researchers, do you?”

“Oh no… Oh Yew, what if he does? How do we even begin to tell someone something so horrible?”

“We can’t really know they’re telling the truth, doctor,” Khint could be heard saying in an equally hushed voice.

“You guys are talking about those research notes we found in Ancheim?” Tiz asked, his voice quavering. “They specifically mentioned the researchers tasked to protect me were used… I don’t see any two ways about it. It’s the same people.”

Tiz dug around in his bag and pulled out the notes he was talking about. He had gone slightly white, and Edea knew why. Both she and Tiz had witnessed first hand how Victor could react in the face of loss, and it was not a pretty sight to behold. There was a very good chance that if he read what was on those notes, he would kill every one of those soldiers right there and then.

But then she couldn’t just not tell him. He had the right to know. They were his handpicked research team, after all. The same faces Edea had seen running after him almost every day for eight years, and after his father in the seven before that. She hadn’t realised until just then, after hearing Victor mention them, that those were the people the Empire’s research notes referred to.

As she walked towards Victor, the papers in her quaking hands, she found herself having to force herself not to throw up.

“H-hey, Victor. You should probably look at this.”

“Hm? Is it relevant? If not, it can wait.”

“No, it’s relevant. I think it’ll answer all your questions… But just promise me you won’t get mad, okay?”

The silence was suffocating as the Spiritmaster read through the notes Edea handed him. On trembling legs, she began to retreat back to her party and braced herself for the potential fight to come.

It took an age for Victor to finish reading, or so it felt like it did. Then the silence was broken suddenly by the sound of his staff dropping to the ground and striking a pebble in the grass. His face went deathly pale and his mouth twitched. His eyes widened. He dropped the papers.

“…What…? This is…? I can’t believe it…”

“Victor…” Edea considered going to him, but Tiz seemed to sense her intentions and grabbed her hand.

“What is it? What does it say?” Khint asked, stepping forwards and making to pick up the paper. Victor stepped on it, and then with his heel, began to grind it into the dust.

“No. No more… Nobody else should ever see these notes again…” His voice was so quiet, but it was obvious that it was breaking. He kept grinding the paper into the ground, the same stony, wide-eyed look on his face. Only after it was pulverised did he look up, and he made a slow turn to face the soldiers again, all of whom had gone rigid and quiet.

“You… killed them?” he grimaced. “No, this is worse than that. Worse than torture, even. I might even be able to excuse that… But this? This is… This is… THIS IS BARBARIC!” He punctured the air with a spine-chilling scream and hurled a holy spell towards the trees to the side of him, his body heaving. The clearing filled with the hot light, but only the flora was singed. The people stood around him remained unharmed.

“Crystals, Victor, calm down!” Edea called, not even sure he could register her words at that point. At least he was taking out his anger on the surroundings. She’d seen him fly into a rage like this before, and he had tried very hard to kill her when he did.

“What the hell did that paper say?” Khint asked her, pulling out his blade again. He could probably cut Victor down if he needed to, but Edea hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

“They… They experimented on them…” Victor replied before she had the chance. “They turned them into a monster… What kind of sick person does that!? What was it for!? Why does this… this thing exist!?” He looked directly at the soldiers, his eyes blazing. “Tell me what you know! Why did your Kaiser let this happen?”

“We… We don’t know what you’re talking about,” the same Imperial medic from before spluttered, clutching at the grass beneath her.

“I’m talking about this Amphisbaena experiment! Those notes… They said you turned my friends into a monster… Why…?” Victor’s voice was suddenly thick with what sounded like tears. “Why!?”

The soldiers were silent. Then one of them, the Guardstave who looked like the youngest, spoke out. “Amphisbaena was… People? It was made out of people?”

“Yeah. It was. I read the notes too, and that’s what it said,” Yew affirmed, his tone dark. “We fought and killed the thing when it attacked us in Ancheim, and we found the notes inside it.”

“That’s so sick…” A Guardspear whispered.

“How… Could they? How could the Kaiser authorise such a thing?” One of the Sniper Vans squeaked.

“That’s fucked up…” Sergeant Sapp said to himself. “That’s so fucked up… What the fuck…”

“How scary…” Piddler quavered, staring at the ground.

“Do the soldiers not know what goes on in their own fortress?” Magnolia asked. Based on the reactions of everyone in the area, she seemed to be on the mark. There was no way all of them could act so convincingly. The looks of horror on all their faces seemed genuine. Even Khint, who usually looked so stoic, looked unnerved. “Surely the higher-ups should have said something to them! That’s insane! How could you keep this from them?”

She and the rest of the party turned to face Angelo and confront him on the matter, only to find him on his knees with his hands clasped over his mouth. He had gone a sickly shade of green.

“How… horrible…” he mumbled meekly, placing one of his hands on the ground to steady himself. He looked as though he was going to be sick.

“Even you didn’t know?” Edea turned back to face the rest of the crowd. “Maybe the experiment wasn’t made public to the rest of the Glanz Empire?”

“We don’t know anything that goes on in the research department. It’s top secret, ma’am.” An Imperial Katana affirmed.

“Then… take me to the research department,” Victor croaked. His voice had gone hoarse, but had regained the confident tone it usually possessed. He rose back to his full height, no longer trembling as much as he had been in his rage. “I’ll deal with these people directly… I’ll find out who did this, and I will kill them. Edea, let me go with you to the Skyhold.”

“Yeah… Of course… I won’t stop you,” she replied, not wanting to look him in the eye. She didn’t blame Victor for wanting to spill the blood of the people who had tortured and murdered those researchers in such a way. Part of her wanted to do the same.

“But first, we need to alert the Grand Marshal that this lot are here. They’re not responsible for anything that gives me cause to kill them, but they’re Imperial soldiers nonetheless. They need to be arrested for their crimes. You said that boy is one of them too?” he cast a stern look towards Angelo, who was still doubled over, but who was staring up at the doctor with contempt. “He’ll have to go in for questioning as well. You two should get out of here – I don’t know who you are, but you don’t look like you can hold up in a fight.” He addressed Sapp and Piddler as though he had no idea they were his enemies as well. “I have no use for you, and it’s probably safest for you that way. Do not repeat anything you’ve heard here.”

“Uh… Okay…” Sapp replied shakily.

Edea expected Sapp and Piddler to take their opportunity for freedom, but she had also expected Panettone to object. Instead, he just stayed quiet. Perhaps he thought he would not be able to resist Victor’s power if it came to a fight. Or perhaps the revelation of the Empire’s sick schemes had made him complacent to the Spiritmaster’s demands? He had chosen to fight the party in Yunohana for a personal reason, so it wasn’t as though he was particularly devoted to the Kaiser’s ideals. Or perhaps he was just being a stubborn ass.

‘Probably a mixture of all three…’

“Ciggma, can you help me tie this lot up?” Victor said, demanding it of him moreso than asking.

Khint remained silent for a brief moment. Then he scowled and spoke. “No. I don’t appreciate what you have done, so I am not going to take your orders.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“You haven’t upheld your end of the bargain, Doctor Court. We made a contract, and you are infringing on it. I don’t appreciate that.”

“We never… I didn’t agree to this,” he hissed, and then lowered his voice. “Khint, I really… can’t afford to pay you for your help. I genuinely do not have the pg for it.”

Edea knew Victor had grown up in relative poverty, pouring all his income and his father’s savings into his research, leaving barely enough to feed himself and Victoria sometimes. There was no way he could pay Khint’s rather extortionate fees for his service, and there was no way he would hire him if he knew that he needed to.

“I never specified that I wanted money,” Khint replied curtly, though even with his harsh tone, Victor still looked relieved. “I’m well past the need for it. But you still owe me blood.”

Victor started. “Blood? You don’t mean… They’re not the ones we’re looking for. They told us who we’re after, so now we’re going to go and get them. You can have your blood then.”

“I don’t think researchers will cut it, I’m afraid.” Khint shook his head. “They are your enemies. Not mine.”

“Your… enemies?” Victor narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing here, Khint? Why did you agree to help me? What is your motive?”

“My motive is my business. I have reason to take issue with the Glanz Empire, much like you do, but that reason is for me to know.”

“If you have your own agenda, then by all means act on it. Ask them anything, but I will not allow you to kill them unless I am satisfied that it is justified. How does that sound?”

“They’re bartering with human lives like they’re cash…” Magnolia breathed into Edea’s ear. “How awful…”

“I don’t need to ask any questions. They’ve already told me everything I need to know. You, in the blue. You said you and your other comrades in blue went to the city of Eternia, correct?” He pointed the tip of his blade towards the Imperial medic who seemed to speak for her squadron.

“Yes,” she replied quickly, her voice slightly more panic-stricken than before.

“I see you’ve become one of the Empire’s weapons now, Angelo. They must be paying you well. Can you confirm that the ones in blue here went to the city of Eternia?”

“I don’t know,” he sighed. “Probably. Only soldiers in blue were dispatched to Eternia, and I see no reason for her to lie. And for your information, I wasn’t being paid at all. Not in cash, anyway.”

Edea kept meaning to ask how Khint and Panettone knew each other, but this was not the time.

“Alright. Then I’m certain. All the soldiers in blue uniform die here.”

“What? Why? What did they do?” A Desert spear gasped.

“The rest of you can get lost, for all I care,” Khint scorned, ignoring the soldier.

“No, Ciggma…!” Victor growled threateningly, hoisting his staff into the air with a flick of his wrist. “It’s one thing to kill them with no justification... But to squander the opportunity to take in these wanted criminals while we have them in our grasp… I cannot let that happen.”

“So, take them in. I’m not stopping you. I only care what happens to the ones who attacked Eternia.”

“But who is to say they deserve to die for their crimes? You don’t even know what they did.”

“You know what part of Eternia had the most casualties when the Empire attacked, right?”

“Of course I do. Central Healing Tower. But even then, the death toll was in single digits, and only because the White Magic Cables got briefly interrupted. But who’s to say these four individuals in an army of thousands are the ones responsible?”

“They are the ones responsible,” the very quiet voice of Sergeant Sapp whispered to Edea. “They’re our squadron. And we’re definitely the ones who caused the cables to get shut off.”

“Well, don’t tell him that. He’ll kill you for sure,” she replied in an equally quiet voice. Sapp said nothing, but Edea could tell from his face that something was causing him discomfort.

“Give us credit. We may not be the smartest, but we know how to avoid dying when we need to,” Private Piddler told her in her other ear. For a brief moment, Edea cast her mind back to the joke she had with Yew about the Private being some kind of super soldier, and hearing him say something so cunning almost made her believe it.

“Hey, Edea.” Tiz sidled up to join the hushed conversation. “You know how Khint said he was past money? And you know how when we fought Profiteur that one time, he mentioned how Khint was only fighting to pay his daughter’s medical bills… You don’t think he’s doing this because she got hurt, or even died in the Empire’s attack, do you?”

Edea cast a glance back at Khint, who was still holding his sword to the medic’s throat. “Yeah… What else would he be fighting like this for?” she balled up her hands. So many people she knew of, or had met, had turned out to be dead in so little time.

“I’ll excuse myself with them, if you’d like. The gardens go on a little bit further. I can execute them there so you can do with the rest what you will.”

“You’re not executing anybody, Ciggma. I’m taking them to the Lord Marshal, where they will be interrogated properly. And should you resist, I’ll report you. I know Heinkel would love to see you again.”

“Empty threats,” Khint sighed. “Your sense of justice is frustrating Victor. Some people don’t deserve saving.”

“It’s not my job to decide who deserves saving, Spell Fencer. It’s my job to just save them.”

“And it’s not my job to decide who deserves killing. It’s my job to just kill them. And yet, here I am, deciding who to kill on my own. You should break the boundaries you’re tied to, Spiritmaster. Make your own decisions, for once in your life.”

“You fiend!” Victor whipped his staff around to strike Khint, but the Spell Fencer was too fast, and his sword flew from his hand, clashing into the neck of the staff and pushing it away.

“Stop it!” One of the soldiers, an Imperial Shield, cried out. “Don’t fight each other over us.”

“We’ve made a decision,” the Imperial Axe of the group stated.

“It was us who cut off the supply of White Magic to Eternia. It was only brief, but we now know it cost lives.” The Katana added solemnly.

“We’re under the impression that perhaps somebody you care for was among them. It’s only right that you take our lives in return.” Their Sniper wiped a tear from her eye and met Khint’s with determination. There was a small outcry from amongst the other soldiers, and both Sapp and Piddler paled.

“But we have a condition,” the medic added, raising her voice above the din. “Only us five will be punished. You will kill only us, and everybody else here goes free. They will not be taken to prison or interrogated by the duchy.”

“That’s fine by me. Thank you…” Khint pulled his blade away and walked towards the group of soldiers.

“I won’t allow it!” Victor snarled after him, sending his staff at Khint’s head for another attack. Once again, the Spell Fencer’s scimitar batted it away, sparks flying where they clattered together.

“This is ridiculous!” Tiz exclaimed, “they aren’t even trying to reach a decision.”

“Well someone better make them decide,” Angelo said sharply. “If they keep fighting like this, they’ll surely destroy this place, and us with it. If I die here, Yew Geneolgia, I swear I will torment you for all eternity when I see you in Hell.”

“Why is this my fault!? Wait… Hell?”

“Be careful, everyone. We’ve been through this before. If we side with one of them, we’ll definitely have to fight the other.” Magnolia’s expression was stern, and she readied herself into a battle stance.

“But we haven’t had to make this difficult a decision before, either!” Edea reminded them urgently. “These are people’s lives at stake.”

“Right. But it’s gonna cost all our lives if we don’t step in now.” Tiz stated, with an air of finality. “So what do we do? Do we let Khint have his way, perhaps even avenging the death of his only daughter, allowing him to sacrifice those five soldiers in exchange for the others’ freedom? Or do we side with Victor, and let him take all the soldiers, and Panettone, into the duchy’s custody, possibly leading to their entire lives being spent in prison?”

“We have no option but to choose, then. So what should it be…?”

Side with Khint

Side with Victor

#bravely second #edea lee #victor s court #ciggma khint #misede writes

[sfgooglebooks]

The Marriage Bargain by Balise Kilgallen

Harry led them to a group of the Porters' acquaintances. Introductions were made. Wilma chatted and Emily smiled and listened. Emily never tasted champagne. She sipped at the glass eagerly, but the fizzing bubbles tickled her nose. She wiggled her nostrils surreptitiously, but the itch persisted. Her eyes began to water. She inhaled, but that only made it worse.

Oh, good Lord! I'm going to sneeze! How mortifying! And I didn't bring a kerchief.

Her nose twitched. There was only one way out of her embarrassment. "Please excuse me," she murmured and rushed off. She noticed French windows along one wall. Pinching her nostrils shut with gloved fingertips to squelch an embarrassed explosion of sneezing, she all but ran through an open doorway to the balcony outside.

The Rose and the Blue drawing rooms were adjacent to one another with a large open archway between them so that the space could be opened for dancing in lieu of an immense ballroom situated in another part of the castle. French windows were flung open to the balcony outside both rooms. Many of the guests had sought a breath of fresh air this evening. A cool night breeze brushed across Emily's cheeks as she stepped onto the stone balcony. Turning her back, she slipped into shadows beyond the doors. Unable to totally quell her sneezes, tiny spasms exploded from Emily's nose and throat, one after the other.

A male voice close behind her suddenly invaded her ears. "May I be of help?"

Emily gasped for air after smothering another unwanted series of sneezes. Flustered and embarrassed, she shook her head silently, unwilling to face the voice from behind her.

"Forgive me, but you seemed in some kind of distress."

Emily shook her head more fiercely this time. "No, I am n-not at all," she responded, sniffling noisily. "I'm... I'm much better now. Thank you."

A white gloved hand reached over her shoulder, dangling a pristine, cambric square next to her cheek. The kerchief fluttered in the light breeze.

"Oh," Emily sniveled. "You're very kind, sir." She accepted the cambric and pressed it against her twitching nose. Feeling another urge to sneeze, she pinched her nostrils and breathed through her mouth, praying she'd be able to stop the itch.

"I shall be fine in a minute or two," she mumbled, now aware how close the stranger stood behind her. He must be tall. His breath blew across her nape and bare shoulders. Finally, she managed to smother the urge to sneeze. Instead, his proximity and warm breath on her skin became the problem.

"I heard odd noises from nearby, but I first thought it was someone weeping. Has something frightened you, madam? Or has someone been nasty or unkind?"

Emily sucked in a choked breath. "Weeping?" She paused, clearing her throat. "No, of course not. I never cry."

"Well then..."

"I-I'm sorry. Please allow me to apologize." Emily hesitated. "You see..."

Her composure had fallen into place when she turned to explain. The first thing her eyes locked upon was the man's pristine shirtfront and elegantly knotted cravat. A jeweled stickpin winked in the center of his broad chest. When she lifted her gaze higher, candlelight illuminated a very familiar, saturnine countenance reflected on the French windows. Emily gaped, which was followed by a sudden, feminine squeak.

Abruptly, Gavin backed away. He came onto the balcony to smoke a last cheroot. Mingling with other guests during the last half hour, he would now seek his bed as soon as he could politely manage it.

He held out his handkerchief. A subtle perfume wafted up from the inky tresses nestling against the woman's bare shoulders. No other female's scent had affected him so effortlessly during a recent encounter with Lilianne's governess. This experience left him a little giddy. Had his senses deceived him? No, he must be mistaken. It couldn't be her.

"You have me at a distinct disadvantage." Tilting his head to one side, Gavin asked, "Am I seeing someone's twin on the duke's balcony, eh?"

"Oh, good heavens, Lord Leathem!" Emily grimaced. Her cheeks blushed with chagrin. "No, it's only me. Do forgive me-"

Gavin interrupted. "Hold up!" He bent close to peer down at Emily's face. "Aha! It is you."

"Yes. I-I shall return your handkerchief when it is laundered , my lord." She had blown her runny nose in the earl's cambric. She had started to return it, then realized she shouldn't.

"Forget about my kerchief, Miss Dancy. It is of no consequence. Instead, I'm rather curious about a few other things. What were those noises you made?"

Emily was calmer now. "I'm plagued at time by sneezing fits, my lord, caused by what is called rose fever, I believe. But tonight I believe it was champagne bubbles that tickled m-my nose. I knew I was going to sneeze, and I couldn't just stand there amongst the duke's guests and let it happen. I had to get away before I made a spectacle of myself."

Emily's string of excuses trailed into silence.

The earl chuckled, easily amused by her story.

Never having heard him laugh out loud before, a warm sound crept across her bare skin like a gentle touch. "So, you see," she went on to explain, "I was not weeping, my lord, I was sneezing."

"How... very quaint." He coughed. "Well, umm, I daresay I thought I may have to slap a glove across a cheek, demand pistols at dawn or such if someone has upset you in an ungentlemanly manner." Gavin chuckled again. "But let's forget that, Missy Dancy."

______________________________________

Naturally, Emily had to tell Wilma about her encounter with the earl as soon as they managed a private moment.

"Leathem is here at the duke's house party?" Surprised, Emily's friend's brows rose. "Oh my, that's something. I heard the earl rarely attends parties like this. What did he say, Emmie, when he saw you?"

"I don't think he knew it was me until I told him who I was."

"Hmm," Wilma murmured, her smile sly. "I'm not surprised. You looked ravishing this evening. Even Harry commented. His friends pestered him to be introduced. You made quite a splash tonight, my dear, but then I knew you would." Wilma chuckled softly. "But first tell me exactly what the earl had to say."

"He said he thought I might be my twin sister."

Wilma giggled. "What else did he say? Did he say you were pretty?"

"No, of course not," Emily said, ducking her head, her cheeks turning pink. "The thing is, Willy, I was terribly embarrassed.”

"Why? Why should you be embarrassed? You are an invited guest here the same as he is."

"No, not that. It was because I had a sneezing fit. You know how I had those fits during the spring and summer?"

"I do remember. You believed it was caused by roses."

"Well, it was different this time. It was the fizzy bubbles in the champagne. That's why I had to excuse myself."

"Oh dear," Wilma giggled. "Champagne bubbles do tickle your nose, don't they? But don't you love it?"

"Truthfully, the wine was a little tart for my liking, but that wasn't what I wanted to tell you." Emily went on smiling. "The earl heard me... at least, he heard somebody making funny noises. I hid in a dark spot on the balcony when I couldn't stop sneezing. He didn't know it was me... even before he offered me his kerchief and asked if I was weeping."

"Goodness! That was rather nice of him."

"Yes, I thought so, too. My back was turned, but I recognized his voice right off. It's very deep, Willy, and a little raspy. So I grabbed the cambric and-"

Emily stopped, blinked, and started to giggle. "Oh, Willy... my nose was dripping because of so much sneezing, so I had to blow it. Then I was flustered and almost handed the square back to him all wet and gooey!"

"Good gracious!" Wilma snickered along with Emily, her eyes gleaming with amusement. It was like old times, the two giggling like silly schoolgirls. Wilma inhaled a breath then asked, "What happened next, Em?"

"Well, I yanked his kerchief back, promising I'd launder it before returning it." Emily almost gagged on her giggles, chin bobbing. When her breathing calmed, she said, "Can you imagine how I felt, Willy? It was dreadful, I was mortified."

#build up #caretaking #I guess #female #fit #handkerchief #mess #noseblowing #stifle #welcome back everyone

[melodyofgraves]

Keeping company (Chambers x Konevi)

A/N: I started writing this yesterday, after finally playing the latest chapter of D&D. I was so happy I got to see my regency bestie and his man in this one that this fic happened. I’m sorry if it feels kinda all over the place. I don’t feel that great today so editing this wasn’t the best.

Words: 1105

Summary: Mr Chambers visits Mr Konevi during his stay at Edgewater.

Tags: @hellospunkiebrewster @queerchoicesblog @brightpinkpeppercorn

„Good morning, sir.” said cheerfully Mr Chambers upon entering the room. Mr Konevi looked up from the pile of papers that were occupying his attention since the break of dawn.

„Good morning, indeed.” He raised a brow as Bartholomew shut the door behind himself. „What brings you here this early, sir?”

„Oh, since I’m staying at Edgewater for a while, I thought I’d take this opportunity to keep my favourite barrister company.” He winked.

„I’m sorry, Bart, you know I’d want nothing more. But these papers are already giving me a migraine and …”

„Well, what would you say to a message, then?” Bartholomew walked up behind the chair, turning his head a little to kiss Yusuf’s temple.

„Bart, you know we can’t…”

„Hush… I just want to help you with all that stress.” he moved his hands onto Yusuf’s shoulders and started to move fingers over them, pressing the muscles gently yet firmly, trying to get rid of all the knots and tension there. The barrister sighed happily, leaning into the touch.

„Your help is certainly most appreciated. But what if someone walks in on us. Again.”

„Poor Mr Marlcaster looked so traumatized, didn’t he?.” Bartholomew laughed nervously at the recent memory. „Though we were in a far more compromising situation.” He leaned down, still continuing the massage, planting a kiss on Mr Konevi’s cheek and letting out a soft chuckle at the familiar feeling of the beard tickling his face lightly. „However, you have to admit he seemed genuinely happy for us once the initial shock disappeared. And he made a promise to keep our secret to himself.”

„And you have to admit we were lucky it was only Mr Marlcaster. Since people here apparently don’t knock, imagine if it was his mother. Or even worse.”

„Speaking of Duke Richards. How are liking his gracious presence at the estate?” Yusuf only groaned in annoyance at the mention of that name. “ By your reaction, I’m guessing he’s been his usual charming self.”

“Worse.”

Bartholomew leaned over his shoulder, concerned, and put a hand on his lover’s cheek, turning his face to look him in the eyes. „Did he threaten you, dear?”

„Oh, it’s nothing to worry about. Most of the times he just acts as if I’m not in the room. Other than that our brief interactions consist of him either questioning my competence as a foreign barrister or treating me like a footman. Just yesterday, after dinner, he asked me to fetch him a drink. Can you imagine?”

„Believe me, dear, I can. Duke Richards has always been… how to put it mildly?”

„An old, arrogant prick? A swag-bellied, disgusting lecher? Oh, a bloody poor excuse of a man?”

„Yes.”

„Which one?”

„All of them. And whatever else you can think of.” They both smiled at each other. „And that’s why I need to get back to work now, Bart.” The barrister picked up one of the papers from the desk, focusing his attention back on his previous task.

Bartholomew took a look at the tiny print covering the page.

„Are you searching for the solution to this whole engagement problem again?”

„I am. Lady Lucy has been nothing but kind to both of us, the only way I can repay her is to prevent her from marrying that repulsive monster. Though I’m afraid his current position amongst the gentry will not make it easy.”

„I’m sure we will find a way. After all, it seems Lady Lucy has quite a team on her side. But it certainly won’t help her if the brilliant, diligent and, dare I say, incredibly handsome barrister she employed, burns out from overworking himself.” Bart pointed out, wrapping Yusuf in a tight hug from behind.

„Slacking off isn’t going to help her either,” muttered Mr Konevi.

„Well, lucky for you, I know another way how to make you relax.” Mr Chambers pressed a kiss to the nape of his neck while his hands travelled to loosen up barrister’s cravat.

„Bart!” Yusuf gasped, both from shock and the feeling of Bartholomew’s lips moving further down his neck. „Somebody might walk in and…”

„I wouldn’t worry about it. From what I’ve seen the only person currently in this part of the estate is Mr Marlcaster. And he already saw me heading to see you here so I'm sure he won't bother us.”

„But what if…” Yusuf was trying to think rationally but his partner didn’t make it easy.

„Hush. Stop thinking about it and just relax.” Mr Chambers walked around the chair so he was standing in front of the barrister, before capturing his lips in a heated kiss. In the meantime, his fingers started working on the buttons of the man’s shirt, gliding over the now exposed chest. Soon they travelled lower, to the fall of the pants, while Bart’s lips took their previous place, kissing the warm skin.

All of Mr Konevi’s doubts seemed to fully disappear as he was just letting out pleased sighs and moans from his partner’s actions.

Everything seemed perfect before they heard the sound of heavy steps in the hallway, heading their way.

Both men looked at each other in horror, Bart quickly getting up from the floor while Yusuf worked hurriedly on making himself more presentable.

The steps got louder, getting closer and closer to the door, causing the couple to panic even more.

„Oh, um, Your Grace! There’s an urgent matter I need to discuss with you.” Mr Marlcaster’s voice seemed to interrupt the Duke from his previous destination.

„What is it now? Don’t you see I’m a very busy man?”

„Since when?” Mr Konevi muttered under his breath and Bartholomew despite his fear, let out a soft chuckle.

„Well, umm, I was hearing lately that Karlington is on a brink of ruin. Some people have been saying that its greatness is nothing but a lie and…”

„Who said such things?! I demand the names of those gossipmongers. Come, Mr Marlcaster, I will explain to you how wrong they were.” The steps seemed to go away from the door. „You see, Karlington is the grandest part of the whole of England, as it's full of…”

Both Bartholomew and Yusuf could breathe again. The looked at his lover with a raised brow.

„I wouldn’t worry about it, huh?”

Later that day, when Mr Chambers encountered Mr Marlcaster in the parlour, he smiled at him with gratitude.

„Thank you for your help, sir. Know that I am forever in your debt,” he whispered.

„Oh, you have no idea,” replied Edmund, his head pounding after nearly two hours of listening to duke’s rambling.

#let me know if i should add any tags #because that things still confuse me #mr chambers #mr konevi #desire and decorum #chanevi #chambers x konevi #konevi x chambers #choices fic #im still on a break btw #also i suck at summaries