WELCOME TO THE LABYRINTH

MASTERPOST!

Burning Hiraeth (original work):

Chapter 1 Excerpt The Hiram Squad Wilko and Anatolia Wilko excerpt Commander Gone Crackers

The Desalunier Chronicler (Identity V fanfiction):

Prologue: The Letter Chapter 1: Newcomer Chapter 2: The First Game Chapter 3: Death Has No Meaning Here Chapter 4: Aesop's Theorem Chapter 5: Joseph

Poetry Tag:

Can I think about this? Can I think about you and the times that we shared? Can I think about deaths that we thought and prepared? Can I think about watching, through night after night? Can I think about running my ship just too tight? Can I think about you when you first spoke to me? Can I think about you when we were lonely? Can I think about work that we both put in? Can I think about stars and new strategems? Can I think about how, when it all just went wrong Can I think about how...you let me stay strong. Can I think about how, when I faded to black You saved all my colors, and just had my back. Can I think about this? Can I think about you, and all that you gave? Can I think about fearing the stars were your grave? Can I think about sleeping as close as could be? Can I think about fearing you'd also leave me? Can I think about the day you finally woke up? Can I think about that being more than enough? Can I think about how you tried sending me home? Can I think about you, dying lost and alone? Can I think about choices I made in the past? Can I think that now...I'll make one and my last? Can I think of the friend, the dear friend I had made? Can I think that for once...I am not afraid?

I will do my best to continue various works. I even have a few I should move from Quotev over to here and continue. HOWEVER, I do not know how frequently I will be posting here anymore and refuse to make any promises since my schedule and memory have been terrible lately and I apologize for that. Once I can get a plan together, I will try to make a schedule again for posting.

I have a new art blog, @ram3n-d00dles, that I will be posting art from all my originals and much fanart as well.

guess who still hasn't finished stuff for Burning Hiraeth again ;u; Here have a poem in recompense ;~; I got some randomly generated words and worked them into a poem bc I read a challenge and felt like it lmao

Reprimanded for Quiddling

Oh, you foolish foolish mortal In your endless task of quiddling You grow numb to all the enthrall In your box of mere existing

Box your feelings, box your soul Turning down that sense of whimsy Repeating deeper in your hole For arguments so flimsy

Oh, you foolish foolish mortal Can’t you feel what you have lost? Compartmentalizing pieces Closes paths for spiral thoughts

Thoughts, an endless stream of beauty enclosed in straight, right-angled walls How can a person be so silly? And keep what must break out so far from falls?

Oh you foolish foolish mortal Why stay in your box still quiddling? Feel, hear, and see the enthrall And never stop, keep living.

today's excerpt is from: A Megaman X fanfic I do not remember if I made a name for, but I will update this when I get one. Chapter 2. I have most of chapter 1 published somewhere on here and I have the intention of finishing it.

While Copper was disoriented and frequently existential, she couldn’t really say her existence was horrible. She was working with robotics hardware, a familiar field despite some of the advances, and Dr. Caine treated her well. She almost hated how he seemed to notice everything. True, she wasn’t the best at keeping her emotions in check, but he often knew the whens and whys anyway. But he was kind, fatherly and full of bright, almost mischievous curiosity.

And then there was X. Copper still couldn’t get over how like Rock he was. She’d even called him Rock by accident on a few occasions. X didn’t mind. Copper offended herself with that far more than him. As much as she hated to admit it, he was a comfort to her. Someone somewhat familiar in an ultimately unfamiliar world.

She felt more relaxed at the Caine residence than anywhere else, away from the bustle of society, a concept now rather estranged to her. She would observe quietly and pick up on things, but there were so many new things to pick up on that for months a mere hour or two in the city could feel overwhelming.  As such she got a reputation among Caine’s peers for being “the quiet one.” They were kind to her. Most treated her as an equal. She never felt like it. She felt like a little lost child. If she did need to speak she would address them formally.

Many days were simply filled with a pressing melancholy Copper never fully shook off. Just random moments, unbidden, it would press upon her. She missed them. She missed Rock, Roll, Top, Quick…all the masters, Kalinka…her dad. She missed her own flesh and blood body...what had been left of it. She’d gone back to the ruins of Light Labs several times in the hopes of finding something, anything to explain why Dr. Light had converted her into a robot against her wishes. They’d discussed it multiple times and he had agreed and respected her decision. So what changed his mind?

X would often find her sitting listless somewhere, lost in such thoughts. One such day, during the first spring since she was found, he tapped on her shoulder as he’d become accustomed to do.

“Cop?” He asked. She startled from her thoughts, her idle hands returning to what she was supposed to be working on.

“Hey, X.” She replied. She said it wholeheartedly, but only half of it was there anyway. X let a worried frown cross his lips.

“Hey, you wanna go for a walk?” He asked. “The weather’s finally nice out.” Cop looked at the nerve tech tester in her hands and sighed. It wasn’t like she was doing a good job focusing anyway.

“Sure.” She sighed at last. They walked out to the back of the Caine property. There was no snow anymore and the small grove of trees was beginning to grow their flower buds. It was pleasant, however damp and cloudy it was.

“Cop?” X asked after several minutes of silence. Cop looked over, her fingers gently toying with a tree branch near her face.

“Hmm?” She replied. X paused, seeming to be putting his words in order.

“When you first came here, you asked what my story was. So…I guess what I want to ask is what is yours? I mean…you knew about Light Labs before Dr. Caine told you. And while he says we’re of very similar make, there’s a clear difference between the two of us. I was wondering if you knew what that was.”

Copper hesitated. Oh, she absolutely knew. She struggled, however with telling X the entire story. Or anyone for that matter. It was something she only felt comfortable thinking about. She opted for a half truth.

“Well…I used to be human, X.” She replied. “Back when Dr. Light and all were around, I contracted a terminal illness when I was a teenager, so I left home and busied myself as a small-time vigilante for the rest of my days. They digitized my consciousness as you see me now. I’m not sure exactly why. I asked them not to but something changed their minds. When I woke up, Dr. Caine was opening my pod.”

“Oh…That helps me understand why you seemed so shocked.” X said.

“Heheh, yeah. It’s a lot to thi- to process.”

“Mhmm…do you want to talk about it?” He asked. Again, Cop hesitated. On the one hand, she felt she could trust X…and it’d be nice to confide in someone. On the other, she wasn’t sure if she could stand repeating all the things that had happened before.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he said quickly. Copper nodded.

“Thanks. I…just don’t think I can yet. It’s silly, I know. It’s been seven months.”

“It’s not silly.” X said firmly. “You can still feel things you know. Probably even more than I can. Take the time you need.” Cop felt a little bubble of her self-control pop and blinked quickly and hoping X didn’t notice he’d almost made her cry.

“Thanks.” She said again. “I appreciate that.” Silence followed as they kept walking, but it wasn’t awkward. X smiled, looking up at the trees around them slowly growing pink with tiny buds. Copper felt a drop of rain and looked up. It began to drizzle steadily and X laughed softly and reached his hand up to catch the raindrops. The drops were cool, but not frigid. It almost felt…comforting. Copper smiled too. Then she laughed.

“I’m glad we can feel the rain,” she told X, “I miss a lot of things from being human, but I’m glad this isn’t one of them.” X grinned.

“Just goes to show how well Dr. Light was able to make us, I suppose.” He smiled. “All the little things he appreciated and wanted to give us.”

“I guess you’re right.” Cop replied. She sighed and looked up into the deep grey abyss of the sky. It felt like it sank forever upwards, drawing her eye further and further until a raindrop fell directly on one of them. She blinked and looked at X again.

“We should probably get back. Dr. Caine will need us. Thank you…for…you know. Talking to me.”

“No need to thank me. It’s nice.” X replied. The two of them walked back to the building and grabbed towels to dry themselves off before heading to the lab side of the house. Dr. Caine was speaking to a larger, taller reploid before turning to the two of them, cutting him off just a bit.

“X! Copper! I was just about to call you two. I’d like to introduce Commander Sigma.” The two of them nodded politely, unsure what to say. Copper wanted to shrink under his gaze. It felt like it could cut through butter.

“Commander?” X asked. Sigma nodded.

“The world is changing, X.” He said. “Robots with free will call for a different system of justice in order to keep the peace. The standard police force no longer cuts it to maintain the law. And I am afraid the number of Mavericks is increasing at an alarming rate.” His voice was deep, regal…powerful even. Copper couldn’t say she didn’t like it, but she sure wouldn’t want to hear him yell. It reverberated in the room and seemed to fill it even when he was speaking normally.

“So…what does that have to do with us?” She asked. He looked her in the eye and she averted her gaze.

“We are putting together a force of Reploids,” Sigma replied. “We call ourselves the Maverick Hunters. Our goal is to maintain peace and order specifically for other reploids. A counter measure for those stronger than human forces can risk handling. You two would be assets to us for our reputation and morale. You two, out of any reploids, have the highest reputation. With you two on our side, it will be easier to get the sway we need for support.”

“So you want us for our names?” Copper said.

“I want you for your potential.” Sigma replied. “The rest of the committee wishes to use you for…public interest.”

“Is fighting really the only way to do this?” X asked. “Reploids may have free will, but isn’t there something corrupting the programs of Mavericks?” Sigma shook his head, though not in denial. Regret, perhaps?

“We’re not sure, X.” He replied. “There have been theories about such things, but no confirmation. In the meantime, these Mavericks are putting the lives of other reploids and humans in danger. It will be safer to disable them now until we can come up with a better solution. We will only have that when we know more about Mavericks, and that will take time.” X looked down for a moment, then back up at Dr. Caine.

“What do you think, Dr. Caine?” He asked. Dr. Caine scratched his head.

“It’s not up to me, X.” He said. “It’s up to the two of you if this is something you want to be a part of.”

Copper looked at X. He was standing with a hand on his hip and another on his mouth looking at the floor. She knew he hated violence, but also knew his morals would probably win out if he actually made a decision.

“This…is what I was made for. To maintain peace. I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to violence, but Dr. Light made sure I’d have the tools I needed if that time came. I will join the Maverick Hunters. And…hopefully it won’t have to be around for long.” Sigma nodded.

“I appreciate your willingness.” All three looked to Copper.

“I will as well,” she said at last. “I don’t think I have a purpose, like X does, but it is a cause I’m willing to spend my time on. And I’ll probably be of better use there.”

“Right. Then it is settled. You two will join us at Headquarters tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you both.” Signas bowed and left. Dr. Caine looked at both of them.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” He asked. “I will ask him to leave you two alone if you want.” X changed his hand out for his buster canon.

“I have made my decision,” he said. “I was built to defend peace, even if violence is ever necessary. I want to help. It’s my job. And the Maverick Hunters seem to be the type that will only fight for peace.” Copper nodded.

“It’ll be okay. Hard, but okay in the end. Don’t worry, Dr. Caine.”

“I know.” He said, “And I’m proud of you both for your intentions and actions.” He reached out and pulled them both into a hug. X hugged back tightly. Copper less so, though she still did. Her mind was turning at the thought of working for the law. It’d be strange, since she’d worked outside it for the past couple years before digitization, but perhaps it’d be easier.

Hours later, long after Dr. Caine went to sleep, Copper walked down to the parlor and turned on the remote fire place. She sat for a while, staring into the flames. Tomorrow her life was changing again. Why did she even say yes in the first place? Her morals weren’t that strong, were they? After all, she’d befriended robot masters on impulse, she’d left her family on impulse, she’d done all kinds of legally questionable things on impulse. Why would she make a decision based on morals? Was that how Dr. Light had programmed her? Was that what he’d thought of her?

“Can’t bring yourself to sleep either, huh?” A voice startled her and she turned around. X was standing behind her, staring into the flames as well.

“Oh, X.” She said. “I didn’t notice you were up.” He nodded and tilted his head toward the other seat by the fire. She waved a hand over to it and he sat down. He sighed.

“Well, we got ourselves into something today, didn’t we?” He asked with a half-smile. She nodded.

“I’m surprised you decided so quickly,” Copper commented. “I thought you’d ask for time to think about it if I’m honest.” X shrugged in reply.

“It…felt right, I think.” He said. “I don’t know how to explain it. But as much as I love working here with Dr. Caine, I feel like I have to do this as part of what I was made for. And then it just…slipped out.” Copper nodded.

“I guess that’s how I feel about it too, except for the made for part.” She said. “I guess it was pretty impulsive either way though, right?” X chuckled.

“Yeah,” he said, “I guess it was.” He put a hand behind his head, embarrassed.

“We both were, don’t worry.” Having X’s thoughts about it gave her a secret sense of relief. It was just impulsivity. She might still be herself.

“I wonder how organized they are.” She wondered out loud.

“Probably decently well if they’re asking us about for public face,” X answered. “Though it’ll probably still improve with time.”

“Do you think…it’ll be around for a long time?” Copper asked. X’s face turned down.

“I hope not.” He answered. “But I have a horrible feeling it will be. Longer than anyone would wish for.”

“I just hope it isn’t shorter than it’s needed.” She replied. X nodded, but there was a heaviness in his motion. He still seemed frustrated, so Copper glanced around the room, hoping for inspiration. A word, a sign, something to help him. She spotted the old chessboard.

“Chess?” She offered. X looked up at her and half-smiled. He understood.

Today's excerpt from: Burning Hiraeth (aaayyy we get some Sebastion content today! I wrote this a few months ago, but I'm hoping to continue this story soon since the Sebastion squad is finally talking to me again. I think they went on vacation or summat. ;~; anyhoo enjoy!)

Commander Gone Crackers

Sebastion flinched a little as the General put his hands down on the table with a bit of a pound, wordlessly demanding the attention of those in the room. He didn’t know the guy’s name. In fact, few people actually did. He was always “The General.” Makes sense. The less you know about your infamous leader, the less you can give away if you’re captured.

“GENTLEMEN,” the General’s voice resounded like a church bell. “There is a third option.” As the General’s glance fell upon him, a skinny, tall man gulped. The following silence settled in about as well as a cat on mousetraps.

“Yo-You can’t be serious!” Sir Lightning Rod spluttered in a light accent. “You want to bring her back?” Sebastion’s quirked, pale blue eyebrows bounced from side to side in the room, his gold eyes trying to study every pallid face. A murmur of reciprocation buzzed through the room to the skinny officer’s sentiments.

“Now, now,” A rather elderly woman in a trim uniform said, raising her hands to quiet them like a group of school children. “As dangerous as she may be, she is unfailingly loyal.”

“But Lady Guinivere!” A rotund officer protested, “We haven’t been able to break her out of jail for the past two years. Can we really afford such a risk?”

“And even if we DID get her out,” The most square man Sebastion had ever seen added with a wagging finger from his ham fist. Or perhaps he was simply a very round Gobkin. “Who’s to say her endeavors might just give more of our positions away?!”

“I’ve heard stories about her. She’s the strangest terror to ever appear in the East!” The most average-looking man Sebastion could imagine shuddered. Probably a Shifter, the boy couldn’t help but think.

“No one knows where she came from…or what she’s capable of.” A Tuarian officer murmured with a swish of her spikey tail. Sebastion almost jumped to avoid its dramatic gesture.

“She’s insubordinate and dangerously feral.” A white haired, frail-looking gentleman agreed with a serene, authoritative wheeze. “Forgive me, Lady Guinivere, but despite your trust in her, I still question her loyalty and perhaps sanity.”

 “Regardless…” Lady Guinivere stated above their concerns, “She has proven herself loyal before and I believe it shameful we haven’t gotten a loyal companion out of captivity much sooner. She has intelligence and tech like no other. We still use her private networking systems to remain unseen by the UAC internet monitoring and have been safer because of it. General, I nominate ex-officer Tiz to be Commander of the Engineering Corps.”

“If we do that she’ll be the only member of the Engineering Corps.” The General replied with a wry smirk. “And we have procured bail money. There will be no need for a prison break. However, we will need two volunteers to meet with the Guard.”

This time, Sir Lightning Rod didn’t even have to meet the General’s eyes to know who he had in mind.

“But, SIR!” He exclaimed. Sebastion couldn’t help but wonder why he looked as if he’d been asked to clean a snake ridden latrine…or rather, he wished he’d been asked to clean a snake ridden latrine rather than take the bail money for this apparently valuable ex-officer.

“You are the head of Diplomacy, Colonel Beaufoy.” The General replied to the stutters of protest issuing from the skinny colonel’s goldfish mouth. “It falls under your duty. That said, you are encouraged to take someone with you.”

Colonel Beaufoy mastered himself and gave a nod as weary as if he’d already accomplished cleaning the snake-ridden latrine.

“I-…uh…I can go with you if you wish…uh- Sir Colonel.” Sebastion stuttered out. His wings flicked inward to his shoulders in embarrassment and he prayed his face didn’t look as close to combusting as it felt. The silence that followed, with every eye and eyepatch in the room on him, Sebastion felt only slightly less comfortable than he had at family dinner mere months before. He tugged at his talons in nervous habit as he tried to get his mouth to work again. Not professional…but he had to do something to get his throat to cooperate.

“I know I haven’t been here long,” his voice rattled out, “Only a few months…and you probably don’t trust me yet. Oh, who am I kidding…it’s not even probably…but I…I can accompany you and help. Maybe we can even use my family name as leverage. I mean! Only if you approve, Sir!”

Too many words dropped from his mouth and bounced off the table and to the walls of the room far too quickly and his entire body shook from hair to toe. He shut his shaking jaw and put his arms behind his back in almost too perfect posture that probably only made his tremor more obvious. Stilling his knees at this point was a pointless struggle. He’d just have to pretend he could walk regardless of the officers’ decisions when the meeting closed. Who was he kidding, anyway? The only reason he was even AT this meeting was because he was babysat by Lady Guinivere. Again…of course it made sense since he could easily betray them after all. The less he was left unattended, the less chance there was of being a plant or turncoat of the UAC.

“The boy’s got a point, Olivier,” The square officer sighed with a glance to Beaufoy, but turning to the General. “You should tek ‘im. Who knows, maybe he’ll join you in diplomacy or summat. If he ken get over his stage fright.” He gave a friendly, teasing smirk to Sebastion, who just wanted to slide into the crack in the concrete floor he’d been kicking with his boots for the past fifteen minutes. He was almost surprised…and maybe in the slightest disappointed, to hear murmurs of approval of his offer. Beaufoy sighed.

“Very well. Sebastion and I shall take the bail money to Gesherne Jail and retrieve ex-officer Tiz and offer the position of Commander of the Engineering Corps. You know she won’t come back without her machines.” The General nodded at this.

“Offer her escort wherever she needs to get her machines or parts to make them. And…” The General trailed off with a reluctant sigh as he took a small bag from Lady Guinivere. “If all else fails…offer these.” He handed the bag to Sebastion as he was currently closer to him than the colonel. Sebastion felt something hard and round inside. What’s this? Money? Too brittle feeling…maybe it’s some kind of mechanical part…but that doesn’t make any sense. It feels more like food…

“Any questions?” The General interrupted his analysis. A crisp silence followed. “Very well. Colonel Beaufoy and Sebastion are to be given the money and depart within the hour. Meeting dismissed!”

Two hours later, Sebastion was questioning his existence as he and Colonel Beaufoy approached the Gershene jail in casual clothes. The UAC would never accept a military officer from a military whose existence they refused to acknowledge publicly, so they would just have to pretend they knew Tiz for other reasons.

The guards let them in to a sort of front desk, where a haggard, half-shaven mid-life-crisis aged man blinked up slowly from his folders in his desk drawer below.

“State yer business,” he drawled. His accent would have been pleasant if he were a bit more coherent.

“My name is Antoine Desrosier,” Beaufoy lied, “I have bail money for an inmate here.”

“I see.” The man behind the desk monotoned. “Name?”

“Tiz, sir.”

“GREAT GONZOR!” His half-shaven face looked even more disproportionate as his mouth gaped to reveal three missing teeth and his left eyebags seemed to deepen. Almost shaking, he turned to the guard to his left with a key. “Get this curse away from us.” He hissed, failing to be as quiet as he thought he was. The man turned back to Beaufoy.

“Very good, sir. Hand over the money and follow my associate down the hall.”

“That’s…that’s it?” Beaufoy asked. “No forms to sign? Nothing at all?”

“THAT’S IT!” The man half-thundered. It seemed everything he ever did was half. “You’ve nothing to fear, my good man! Once you and your companion escort her out everything is finished here.” Beaufoy looked at Sebastion for a beat, then back at the man who wore a half-smile, shrugged, and handed over the sack of coins before beckoning the boy to follow him and the guard down the hall.

The white-washed walls were depressing to say the least. The whole place either stank of reeking waste, sweat and blood or stung of disinfectant and harsh cleaning chemicals. Sebastion shifted uncomfortably in his hoodie as they passed countless creatures of every type sitting in these hellish hovels. The occasional jeer, the clanking of chains, scraping of metal on concrete, every sound echoed painfully off the pristine walls. It felt as if the reeking, stinging air itself was holding all the sounds right by Sebastion’s ears. Even the Resistance orphans don’t have it this bad. He thought, realizing almost every one of these poor souls was probably a political prisoner. Those punished for opposing the UAC, just like he was doing now.

The guard opened a door at the end of the hall and held it for them. As soon as they passed through, Sebastion felt like an anesthetic had been applied to his senses as the sensory overload was cut off quicker than it began once the door slammed shut. It was oddly numbing and disorienting. They turned left as the smell of bleach still stung his nose, but the only sound was their footsteps. He tried to tread lightly. Beaufoy’s steps were light because he was, but spoke of a certain amount of cautious confidence. The guard, a pretty average build, clunked more than either of them simply due to size, but also he seemed as weary as the man at the desk with the way his boots dragged and clunked just a bit harder than those who were fully awake. He opened another door at the end of the hall, exposing the blackness beyond.

“Daugh,” the guard groaned. “They forgot the lights. Please, stay here for a moment while I turn them on.”

“May I ask why the lights are off?” Beaufoy queried with his eyebrows quirked. Does he suspect it’s some form of torture? Sebastion wondered, but not for long.

“It keeps her calmer.” The guard replied, sounding not unlike a mother kept up until three by her child.

Calmer? Why would they have to keep her calmer?

The guard walked off and Sebastion glanced at the door, then back at Beaufoy who was checking his watch and his foot tapped in the slightest irritation. The only clear display about exactly what the colonel thought that Sebastion had yet seen. He looked at the door again.

“Is there a stain on the door?” Beaufoy asked, snapping Sebastion out of his thoughtful stare. Sebastion jumped and looked at him. He had a subtle smirk on his face that somehow made the boy feel a bit better about himself. But still not better enough not to stutter apparently.

“No, sir, I…uh…heheh you see I was just…”

“He never said you couldn’t peek. I just don’t bother because I can’t see. But perhaps you can.” Sebastion sighed in embarrassed relief, his wings flicking outward a little again as he peered into the room. He saw nothing but the steady glow of two eyes in the top right corner of the room, inches below the ceiling. There was a soft crunching, smacking sound and something hard and almost hollow sounding clattered on the ground. A growl from the darkness below the eyes, displeased it had dropped whatever that object was. The crunching continued. Sebastion began to back out of the room, wings poised to take off at any second remembering how unpredictable and feral the other officers had described her. Then the light came on.

In the top corner of the room, a small creature, surely no more than three feet tall…was sticking to the walls, munching on something. Her hair was shaggy and black with a single white streak sticking out. Her skin was pale, reptilian green and yellow, her sclera were also yellow and she had two little fangs peeking out of her mouth and a snake-like tail. Her little outfit was hidden by her tattered black poncho, but Sebastion noticed it was mostly tan and black. If the man at the desk earlier had half eye-bags and definitely less than half energy, this little creature had the full version of both. She detached herself from the ceiling and wall, grabbed the small cardboard cannister she’d dropped and walked up to the door of her cage, ignoring the guard when he returned and glancing back and forth between Beaufoy and Sebastion as she fished out and munched on the crackers in the cannister.

Beaufoy turned to the guard with a baffled expression on his face.

“I see no reason for her to be kept calm.” He commented. “She’s just eating crackers.” The guard sighed.

“We didn’t give anyone crackers today.” He replied. “In fact, we haven’t given anyone crackers in a month. And those aren’t even the usual ones! They’re a different brand we got two days ago and locked in the storeroom!” His tone made it clear that this wasn’t the first or even second time the guards had had a situation like this concerning Tiz. He took a deep breath and straightened his wrinkled uniform as if trying to look official.

“Tiz, these men have paid for your bail and shall escort you out.” He said, unlocking the door. She was silent for a moment.

“Can I keep the crackers?” Her voice sounded like it’d been shredded with a vegetable peeler at a young age, never fully dropped and still had some sandpaper stuck diagonally across her vocal chords. It was oddly fitting for her small, shaggy appearance and wide, lidless stare. The guard just sighed.

“Yeeeeeeeeeees, you can keep the crackers.” He droned with an exasperated sigh and eyeroll. He looked at Beaufoy and Sebastion. “She’s all yours now.” He quickly left. Sebastion hoped he was going to find some coffee.

Sebastion glanced back at the little creature to find her staring at him. He quickly broke eye contact. The next thing he knew, she’d crawled up onto his shoulders and head and was now looking him in the face almost upside-down inches away from his nose.

“A new one? Avixian?” She was addressing her words to Beaufoy, who nodded.

“Tiz, meet Sebastion. Sebastion, Tiz.” The greeting was now official. After a few seconds of the most uncomfortable stare Sebastion had ever endured, Tiz crunched one of her crackers, holding the cannister in her tail.

“I like him.” She rasped, and sat almost like a cat on his shoulder, her tail curled about her cracker cannister efficiently near her hand.

“Uh—Pleased to meet you?” Sebastion faltered, hoping he wasn’t as red as he felt. He scratched beneath his thin ponytail in an attempt to regulate his mild panic about suddenly being the climbing pole of someone the General thought of as a worthy officer before he could even blink.

“NOW!” Tiz said, raising her arm as if to get Sebastion to just give her a ride out. “Let’s go rescue my babies!”

“You…have kids?” Sebastion asked, trying to make conversation as he and Beaufoy walked. Tiz remained riding on his shoulder.

“Oh yes, I have many babies!” She replied. “I made them all myself!”

“I—would assume you did…” Sebastion was almost reduced to a mutter by her bluntness.

“Colonel Beaufoy?” Sebastion asked almost an hour later as they waited for Tiz to “rescue her babies” who were apparently in a high-tech security center of the UAC and she had insisted she go alone.

“Yes, Sebastion?”

“I don’t want to be rude or anything,” he started his reply, “But…what IS uh…Tiz? I don’t know how to address her right now…but I’ve been through the Books of Species and travelled all over with my parents before I left and…I’ve never seen anything like her before.” Colonel Beaufoy chuckled.

“Heh, don’t worry about it, kid. Nobody has. Or probably ever will again.”

“What do you mean?” Sebastion shifted to fully face the Colonel.

“Nobody knows what she is.” Beaufoy explained. “And she never talks about it. Even when asked.” Now Sebastion’s brain took an even more disturbing turn.

“Then…how does she…you know…have—”

At that moment, he was cut off by an enormous explosion removing the front of the security building. An attorney on a losing case couldn’t have been more grateful than him to be interrupted by something so unrelated.

The chaos after the blast was only increased by a literal horde of vehicles of varying sizes, shapes and uses charging out of the hole. Front and center was a large, horse-shaped vehicle, and Tiz was perched at the very top.

“MAMA’S HOME SO BAKE COOKIES FOR THE REUNION!!!” She whooped. Sebastion was amazed he could clearly hear her voice over all the pandemonium she had no doubt caused. Despite his initial shock, it suddenly clicked what she meant by “she made all her babies herself.” If possible it was more terrifying than his original understanding of the statement.

“I think it’s time we returned to tell the General our mission was a success.” Colonel Beaufoy suggested, a bit paler than usual if that were even possible.

“But don’t we have to bring her back with us??” Sebastion exclaimed, watching her ride her horse-mobile and cackling above all the shouts and explosions about her. NOW he understood why the other officers had their doubts.

“Do you think we can sneak all those vehicles into the base without being noticed? Let her hide them. She knows where to find us now. Unless you feel up to some experience training in dodging falling debris, I suggest we leave.”

“Right. Yes, sir.”

As the two of them ran back through the streets, Sebastion could only sit back in his mind and try to process what just happened…and just what kind of Commander of Engineering Corps the General had just gotten himself.

just a lil blip from something I started the other day :3 untitled oneshot for now perhaps I shall finish one day.

Luca closed the door to his room and leaned against it with a sigh. It was quieter here, and he kind of needed that. He let himself slide to the floor, his heels shoving the paper, pens, pencils and scraps that lay littered all about. What had he come here for again? His head ached and no amount of wincing and rubbing it helped. Might as well take his mind off it. He started picking papers up off the floor. The words were foreign to him. Was it his handwriting? He picked up a pencil and wrote “Don’t Forget” on the page. The writing matched exactly, but what had he written about that ended up on the floor? He let the scrap he’d written on fall to the floor and stacked the rest of the pages. He tried to read them, but they made as much sense as a land jellyfish would.

He looked further on at the blueprints scattered about the room as if they weren’t even his. When had he written all this? What was it for? Whatever it was, it was worth working on right away, but what were all the abbreviations about? The shorthand was even messier than the regular notes. They littered every surface in the room along with small metal spare parts. Had he bought those? A cold feeling began to clutch him in the gut.

Today's excerpt from: Burning Hiraeth

 Wilko woke up to the start of a sunrise. And a lovely one at that. The sunlight stretching over the sea seeming to melt into liquid gold below and fade into the rose and purple hues above. He stretched, rolled out of his cot and flicked his hair straighter in the mirror.

"At least there were some things that were still nice nowadays." The old folks would say if they were awake to see it. Then he'd probably get a lecture about how invasive the government is and why the Underground must prevail and how awful everything is. Wilko rolled his eyes at the thought. Hopefully he'd be out before any of them awakened. He had a plan today after all.

The previous afternoon he'd conspired with two other orphans to leave. Seriously, how bad could it really be out there? He slipped silently down the stairs, having memorized where they creak and lightly trotted across the concrete floors to where Rosa and Stjan were already waiting for him.

"Everything ready?" He whispered. "Do we have what we need?" Stjan nodded.

"Rosa has food, I have a water bottle. Enough to last for a while."

"Good. Maybe even enough to get us out of this forsaken region."

"There's nowhere else to go, Wilko. You know it's like this everywhere now." Rosa chided.

"Let's just go." Wilko scoffed. There was a small electronic beep as Stjan entered the passcode to open the doors. In ten seconds, they would auto-lock. The three slipped through in five and heard the door shut behind them.

"FINALLY!" Wilko breathed, looking at the liquid gold sun now oozing down the sides and tops of the buildings around it. Everything about this part of the city really looked perfect. The pristine streets, perfectly spaced and pruned trees, perfectly landscaped, symmetrical parks, the buildings were cleaner than the sparkling streets. Not a scrap of trash or splash of mud in sight. Wilko felt rather out of place as he stood there in his grubby outfit. The looks early morning walkers gave him solidified those feelings and he shrank back a little.

“Let’s go to the north side. We’ll blend in better there.” He said.

Today's fanfic: Naib sick/comfort fic I started several months ago, part 1 bc I never finished it. I apologize but TDC will be on hold until I figure out the details of Claude's skill as most of the next few chapters have a lot to do with that and I'm having more trouble than I anticipated. But enjoy what started as a one-shot for now :3

Luca yawned as he plopped down the stairs to the breakfast table…late as usual. He was quite tempted to just ask for the staff to take it up to his room so he could read his notebook again. He’d been up two hours before trying to work out what past him had meant by a “reconstructed converter.” His eye stung again. He must have slept on it. But that would pass.

“Morniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing…” he greeted the others at the table, still holding back another yawn. He took his assigned seat next to Demi and Kevin, across from Eli and Naib.

“Good morning!” Clark and Demi said in tandem. They both had morning-person brightness in their voices, though of different notes. Clark’s was a bit calmer…more peaceful perhaps, than the boisterous Bourbon girl.

“You’re up early,” Kevin commented with a grin. Kriess murmured a reply that Luca didn’t quite catch, plus the gravekeeper’s mouth was full, and Kreiburg didn’t even deign to respond. Most of the others simply nodded to acknowledge his presence. What surprised Luca was that Naib nodded as well. Usually he’d get a comment like Kevin’s from him. But he was quiet today.

“You good, Naib? Clark’s night-owl keep you up?” Luca quipped. Naib nodded with a yawn and stretched a bit.

“Just tired.” He replied. “Didn’t sleep well.” He sneezed and a ripple of “bless yous” went around.

“You’re sure you’re not coming down with something?” Alice asked with a sudden glance of concern.

“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” Naib insisted. Alice sighed and returned to her coffee. Luca focused on his breakfast for a moment, but kept an eye on Subedar when he wouldn’t notice. He was definitely off today, but he preferred not to interfere until he knew why.

“Well, anyone up for some chess later?” Luca offered. Naib shook his head.

“I’m helping Ms. Plinius in the gardens today. The groundskeeper is bringing in some new plants at her request.” All but Alice eventually excused themselves and she joined him in one of the parlors for chess. It was just down the hall from Kreiburg’s room, so Luca was surprised to not hear today’s Selection of Moody Frederick Music while they played.

“Mr. Subedar isn’t quite himself today.” Alice remarked as she moved her white pawn. Luca nodded.

“Did he say anything about it before I came down?” He asked.

“He said he had a migraine, but that it is a fairly common occurrence for him.”

“It is…but it doesn’t usually take this much out of him. Must be a pretty bad one…if it’s a migraine.” Luca moved his bishop.

“You suspect he’s lying?” Alice moved her knight.

“It’s a more common occurrence than his migraines.” Luca smirked dryly. “I’ll go check on him after this game. I’m sure Ms. Plinius can keep him in check for a while.”

Alice nodded and they played for a while, almost an hour, before they agreed it was a draw. Alice said she was going to the North Wing to help Luchino record some of his recent studies, and Luca, as promised, headed to the gardens.

The gardens had recently been added on to, bringing their size to almost double what Subedar had seen when he first arrived at the manor. It was no wonder that Melly would have requested or recommended more plants to the lord of the manor. There was now much more space, not only to move about in and enjoy nature, but to fill.

No one could see Melly’s expression, of course, as she watched Subedar carrying a heavy young tree into the proper place where Andrew had dug it a hole in its new home, but anyone could see her lips were pinched into a tight, small frown. She had brought one of the smaller pots herself, one of the many variegated ferns to be planted nearby, cradling it against her chest with crossed arms. She stopped for a moment and watched the mercenary catching his breath.

“You seem fatigued, Mr. Subedar,” she commented. “Perhaps you should retire for a while to your room and rest.” Naib waved a hand, the other resting on his back as he straightened it.

“Naah,” he panted, “There’s not many left. I’ll be fine.”

“There’s six.” Melly informed him.

“That’s not many.”

“Two for you, mister.” Luca interrupted as he approached the three of them. “I heard the end of that. Andrew and I can each take two ourselves.”

“I don’t need—”

“I think that’s a splendid idea, Mr. Balsa.” Melly said. “At the very least it won’t take longer than it has to.” Andrew gave a tiny nod in assent and the three of them went to pick up their first trees. Andrew, however much is complexion and build resembled paper, was much stronger than he looked, picking up the small peach tree with ease. Luca had a stockier, shorter build than Andrew, but lacked the consistent physical strain Andrew regularly practiced, so he puffed a bit more and had to drag his tree the last yard or so because the bag was too awkward to grip for any longer. He didn’t miss the smirk from Naib, who struggled almost as awkwardly due to his height, but didn’t have to drop it. He made sure to carry his second tree over even faster.

Melly thanked them for their help and the four of them sat at a metal table and chair set with glasses of water provided by one of the maids for a while, mostly in silence. Luca leaned back in his chair with a sigh. The windows of the garden greenhouse were open and a slight breeze blew in, carrying the birdsongs in with it from the many oak trees outside. Naib sneezed again, making Luca raise an eyebrow.

“Allergies?” He asked. Naib rolled his eyes. Luca sighed and got up.

“Well. Thank you for your time, Ms. Plinius. I’ll probably see you all later.”

He retired to his room, more specifically his desk, and lost track of the time completely, trying to decipher his old scrawlings. He had eventually figured that it must have been written not too long before the Alva Incident. Perhaps only a year or so. But all the terms that he had used to name all the constituent parts made no sense to him now, or where Past Luca had been going with the at least three variable trains of thought he thought he could make out. He scratched his head and ruffled up his hair in frustration at his own horrible handwriting. Some soft thumps from down the hall interrupted his internal rantings and ramblings. He flipped the book shut and poked his head out of his room.

The sound was coming from two doors down. Naib’s room. Luca sighed and walked down the hall and turned the handle, not bothering to knock. The mercenary’s room was rather sparse of furnishings, despite the fact they could ask for almost anything they wanted that would fit. A bed with soft sheets and a singular, fluffy pillow, a writing desk and chair, a small dresser, and a small table that Naib had covered in several trinkets and candle stubs and a torn, faded photo. And off in the corner past the foot of the bed, rolled tight and hanging from a hook on the ceiling, was Naib’s sleeping mat he’d brought with him to the Manor, serving as a punching bag.

“You’ve gotta be kidding—NAIB!” Naib was sparring with is “punching bag.” If sparring could even be used to describe his actions. His feet were braced apart like a stubborn mule and his shoulders slumped. The bag still swung from his sloppy punches, but that was more due to what sheer strength he had left rather than any skill or accuracy. The taut position of his feet was probably the only thing keeping him up at the moment. Naib stopped and turned to face Luca, relaxing the position of his feet and trading their support for that of his hand gripping the foot of the bed. He wiped the non-existent sweat from his brow. Luca didn’t fail to notice his friend’s knuckles trembling on the bed’s footboard.

“What?”

“I thought you were resting!”

“I did!”

“Mhmm. Fat lot of good that did you. Your whole…what? Half hour?”

“Get off my back!”

“You look worse than Kreiburg. You’ve got some serious eyebags. And I know eyebags.” Luca pointed to his asymmetrical eyes. Lack of sleep from obsession almost made his right eye match his nearly perpetually bruised left.

“It’s nothing.” Naib scoffed.

“Last time I checked, about to pass out wasn’t ‘nothing.’” Luca deadpanned, making air quotes with his fingers. “I’m getting Emily.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I would.”

Naib sighed and rubbed his temples. “I don’t need a doctor.” Luca crossed his arms.

“Alright. Prove it.”

“I don’t have to.”

“Chicken.”

“That doesn’t work.”

“You still can’t prove it.”

“I just don’t have to.”

“You do to convince me.”

“Believe what you want.”

“I’ll act on it.”

Naib’s shoulders dropped even further than Luca thought possible as he let go of the bed board and stood up straight, looking Luca in the eye…or so he thought.

“See?” Naib slurred. “Fine. Nothing’s…wrong…” Luca reached out to his friend the second he saw Naib’s eyes looking past him and unfocused. He winced as Naib’s nails dug into his shoulder as he collapsed. Luca’s eyes widened as he felt his friend’s forehead fall against him. Sweet Yhidra how long has he been burning up like this? I should have checked on him sooner. Luca brought Naib around and laid him on his bed.

“Didn’t want to say I told you so.” Luca sighed. He walked out of the room and quietly asked a maid for a bowl of cold water and a cloth to be brought to Naib’s room. He ran down the stairs and up the hall, not even having to count seven doors before knocking and opening the right one. Eli jerked up from his book and smiled at Luca. A smile that vanished when he saw his friend’s expression.

“Naib got worse,” Luca explained before Eli had a chance to ask, “I’m getting Emily. He’s in his bed. Would you keep an eye on him?” He almost smirked at the irony of who he trusted with keeping an eye on his friend, but he was pretty sure out of everyone, Naib would mind Eli being in his room without permission the least. Emily? Well, neither of them had enough useful knowledge about medicine for that to be a choice.

“Of course.” Eli replied, already at the door. Luca nodded and ran out the hall to the outdoors. It was faster going around the outside than trying to find your way through the hopeless number of twisting hallways between the different sectors of the Manor. Each wing was straightforward enough, but the ways between each were a nightmare. Some people even doubted the halls actually connected the wings at all.

Fifteen minutes later, Emily stood up from Naib’s bedside with a sigh.

“He has a respiratory infection,” She said to Luca and Eli, who stood behind her, “Normally, it wouldn’t be serious at all, but honestly, I don’t even know how he stood for this long.”

Luca grit his teeth as he watched Naib’s labored breaths under a lighter coverlet Emily had opted for him in lieu of his normal thicker one. He’d helped take off the hoodie and bandages Naib usually wore. He’d cursed when he saw the blisters and calluses all over his friend’s bloodied knuckles and palms and the scars all across his arms. He knew Naib had been in a war, or at least, he’d only talked about one. But it was easy to tell he hadn’t gotten some of these small scars from that. Some weren’t even fully healed yet. Eli had offered to take the hoodie and cloth bandages to wash them.

“A maid can take care of it.” But Eli shook his head.

“I need something to do,” He admitted. Luca couldn’t argue with that as Eli excused himself. He sat on the chair he’d pulled from his room to sit by Naib’s bed. Emily was using Naib’s desk chair.

Luca dropped his chin on his folded hands, his elbows resting on his thighs. Emily had put fresh, clean, bandages over Naib’s knuckles after treating them and cleaning them. He reached over and flipped the wet cloth on Naib’s forehead again.

“How long do you think before he could wake up?” He asked. Emily tugged on her gloves and pushed a stray strand of hair back into her bun.

“I don’t know…” she admitted. “It could be a few hours. It could even be a day or so. I know he’s quite hardy, but in my experience in tending him his body has been through so much stress and wear it just doesn’t heal as fast as it used to.”

“I see…” Luca trailed off, trying to think of something, anything, he could do. But he drew a blank. Naib’s hand twitched on the coverlet, but was otherwise painfully still aside from breathing. Naib was never this still. Even when he tried to sleep. Luca knew better than anyone how his fellow night owl fared even after an exhausting day. He never got more than an hour at a time, and little good that hour does when constantly plagued by nightmares. They’d had several sleepless nights together. Luca because it was the only time he really had to himself in prison to think, and thus trained himself to awaken his mind after ten pm, and Naib because he’d wake up screaming or grabbing his knife for some undisclosed night terror should he even try to sleep at all. But now his eyes were shut tight and a twitch was a noticeable movement. It must have been almost an hour by now…

“Luca?” Luca jerked up. From Emily’s posture it looked as if she’d been trying to get his attention for a while now, like she was just about to try tapping his shoulder. She smiled.

“It’s time for dinner. Why don’t you head on down? I’ll keep an eye on Naib.” Luca shook his head.

“Nah I’ll stick around,” he replied. “I’ll ask for my food to be brought up. You can go if you want.” Emily nodded.

“I’ll be back within an hour, then. Please send word to me if anything changes while I am gone.”

“Of course.” Luca nodded. He sat crisscross applesauce in the wooden chair and rested his elbows on his knees, fingertips touching each other, allowing his thoughts to take over during his vigil.

*

Eli tried not to let the tension in his body flow out his arms and rip the fabric he held in the champagne-pink water. He’d gripped the soap too hard and sent it flying once already. Faster and faster he unconsciously scrubbed up and down the washboard, quickly letting go with a cry to check his hand. He’d rubbed the skin off the side of his thumb and it was bleeding a little. He shook his head and leaned against the wash basin on both arms, supported by his palms and tried to take a deep breath.

“Mr. Clark?” Eli jumped turned around, hiding his injured hand behind his back. It was Alice.

“Oh…Hello, Alice,” Eli smiled, “What can I do for you?” The journalist smiled back, but a much more knowing smile.

“You seem troubled,” she replied, “Is something the matter?” Eli didn’t spare himself a sigh.

“Not really. Just cleaning up a few things for Naib as a favor.” He lifted the sopping wet bandages out of the wash basin to show her.

“They’re bloodstained? Was he injured this afternoon?”

“Not seriously,” Eli assured. “But he is resting now. I’m sure he’ll be alright.”

“I suppose Mr. Balsa’s worries were founded then.” Alice remarked. “Is there anything I can do to help? It’s almost dinnertime and we’ll be called soon.” Eli shook his head with a warm smile.

“I’m almost finished here. But thank you.” Alice smiled back and turned to leave, but a thought struck Eli.

“Oh, Alice?” She turned around again.

“I have the feeling Luca will forget to eat again. If you could ask a maid to send his food up to Naib’s room I would greatly appreciate it.” Alice smirked and nodded.

“Of course.” She said as she left the laundry hall. Eli shook his head, resting his weight on his palms on the wash basin. Bloudewedd preened at his cheek to comfort him and he smiled at her, but it faded. His little gash wasn’t too serious, so he hung the clothes to dry, put his gloves back on, and headed down the hall to dinner.

The table felt quiet and oddly vacant, though only two or three seats were unoccupied. Eli ate a little and then quickly excused himself to Naib’s room. Naib hadn’t really moved. Luca sat in the wooden chair near an ignored bowl of soup. He nodded to Eli as he came in.

“How’s he doing?” Eli asked.

“Hasn’t moved. Fever’s the same.” Luca muttered back as he flipped a page in the notebook he’d apparently run to his room to get. Eli nodded and sat by the bed on the floor. Luca quirked an eyebrow at him.

“You can have a chair if you want.”

“Ah, no worries.” Eli replied, “I’m fine here.” Luca went back to his notebook. Emily returned shortly after and took a seat, reading a book. The three watched over Naib in silence only broken by Emily and Luca turning their pages and the rain that began to patter on the windowpane.

Luca kept watch late into the night as Emily and Eli nodded off. He told Emily he’d wake her if there was any change. He resoaked Naib’s cloth. His fever hadn’t improved. In fact, Luca thought it might be a bit worse.

today's writing: A poem

Vesper's Crisis

I have one specific spot of a song running in my head and it works well for a four-line stanza. So I just kinda let Vesper (my sona) rant out to it unedited bc I'm trying to get more specifics from her lore. It's a little darker than I typically like posting for poetry but it is what it is atp. Stand just a little out of sight Hoping not to be seen Yet hoping for help or information or something in between

Just some confirmation My existence isn’t cursed Am I that odd and strange to you? I’m made from things from earth.

I’m not quite sure what cosplay is or maybe I’d say “yes” That’s all that this body is And why that’s how I dress

Not really sure quite where I am But I’ll put up a façade Isn’t that what people do when scared? I guess it isn’t odd

Soon all of these masks compiling When I’m happy or I’m sad Reacting exactly how I’m supposed to Starts to drive me mad

The masks all start to mix and meld Until all that I can see is a monster of misshapen masks all staring back at me

Their eyes are penetrating me as I wonder if I’m wrong wordless in their whispering I hear incessant song

“All of the things you give your interest are a waste of all their time And everything that’s beautiful is all a demon’s rhyme”

“Take delight in the sunshine for The moon you love is cursed Swear off stars or you will find your loneliness is worse.”

The masks begin to shift again Until they look like me but now with a thousand faces Rapt in pain and misery

I begin to wonder if this is all everyone sees As I try to pull of all the masks but they're all glued to me

Slowly they begin to feel so tight Until I can barely breathe I feel everything fade away till they’re all that’s left of me

Behind the masks tears start to fall But nobody can see Standing just a little out of sight I can get info I need

Wearing a beanie on my head and turtleneck and sleeves I listen to everything that’s said Nobody makes a scene

Reacting how I’m supposed to, though, Still leaves me going mad I’m still no further from the edge beneath my mask of sad

SCREAMING IN THE FINAL TWO MINUTES ENJOY CHAPTER FIVE OF DESALUNIER CHRONICLER I AM SO SORRY IT IS RUSHED

Chapter 5: Joseph

The next morning dawned clear, crisp and bright, the cloudless sunrise highlighting the array of autumn leaves in outlines of gilded golden beams for those awake to see it, which Claude was certainly not. He awoke to the sound of knocking at the door and the paler, late morning beams cast upon his bed. He immediately began coughing. His lungs were always wretched in the morning. Rather than trying to answer, he stumbled to the door and opened it himself.

“Claude, are you alright?” It was Emily. Claude waved a hand as his fit subsided.

“Good morning, Emily-san,” Claude said, internally wincing at how coarse his voice sounded. “I’m fine, thank you.” Emily’s face didn’t change.

“The others were worried when you didn’t show up for breakfast again, so I came to look in on you.”

“Ah, I’m afraid I’m just a late-riser,” Claude smiled, grinned even. This answer did seem to satisfy the doctor as her face relaxed to a serene smile. Quite a contagious one at that.

“Alright, well there’s still some breakfast on the table if you get there before Naib and Luca, if he remembers.”

“His memory’s that bad?” Claude asked with a touch of concern after what he mentioned the day before. Emily shook her head.

“It’s as he said. He has his bad days. The rest of the time I would say he’s simply absent-minded. He forgets to eat when he immerses himself in his work. He and Tracy might not stop for days if no one reminded them.” Claude chuckled and Emily excused herself.

Claude made his way downstairs to find Eli, Boy, Aesop, Luca and Naib at the table Luca, Eli and Boy waved. Claude nodded and took a seat at the table.

“Help yourself!” Luca invited, reaching over and taking a couple of muffins himself. Eli chuckled. Claude still didn’t feel particularly hungry, but took a croissant to oblige and spread it with jam.

“It looks like the moon will be out tonight,” Eli commented. “Tonight, after the game, we should go speak to the Lord Photographer.”

Claude had completely forgotten about the letter he still kept in his pocket. Now he could feel its outline through the cloth and it was akin to an itch. He wanted to take it out, put it elsewhere, but that would be awkward so he simply bore it and nodded, unable to reply with a mouthful of croissant. Eli seemed to notice his unease.

“Don’t worry too much, Claude. Most of the time, the hunters do us no true harm. Many of us are good friends with each other. I do not think this meeting is going to be dangerous.” Claude nodded again.

“Who’s in today’s game, by the way?” He asked, hoping to change the subject, “I didn’t stay for the invitation last night.”

“Emma, Tracy, Kevin and Andrew!” Luca replied. “Hunter is Jack!”

“Jack…?”

“The Ripper,” Naib explained, “The hunter you encountered in your first game.”

“..oh I see.”

“Andrew’s good against Jack, now that he’s getting better at rescuing and using his skill,” Boy commented. I think this will be a fairly strong team against him.”

“We’ll hope so and cheer them on,” Eli said.

“Skill?” Claude asked.

“Yeah! Each of us has a skill that can give us an advantage against the hunter or at the very least buy more time!” Boy said. “Mine is I can make a wish for something in a chest and then I have a chance of getting it!”

“I rely on my child here, Bloudewedd,” Eli grinned, stroking the owl on his shoulder. The owl seemed pleased with his words and preened herself a bit.

“We never did get to see yours, now did we?” Luca said, the curious gleam back in his eye. Claude didn’t know whether to be just as interested or mildly disturbed at the idea Luca might try to experiment on whatever his so-called skill was.

“No…I guess I was too frightened to use it.” Claude admitted.

“That’s alright! The first game is always the hardest. Especially because you didn’t get the usual explanation.” Claude smiled, a bit abashed, but none of them seemed to be as annoyed as he feared.

“Do the hunters also have different skills?”

“Yep! You got it!” Luca said. Each of the others at the table took turns explaining the skills of various hunters. Claude tried to write each down in the meantime, but struggled with some of the terminology they used.

“You’ll catch on soon enough,” Eli reassured him. “So, what are everyone’s plans for the rest of the day?”

“I will be meeting with Burke-san and Tracy today,” Luca said, “But otherwise I shall be in my lab.” Naib shrugged in reply and Aesop just didn’t, probably in the hopes that someone else would. Boy-kun raised his hand.

“I’m going to help Emma in the gardens today! Claude, you should come too!”

“I could,” Claude replied, I suppose fresh air would do me good. And I didn’t really have any other plans either. Other than the meeting tonight of course.” Boy bounced up from his seat.

“We should get going then!!” He said, taking Claude’s arm starting off. Claude protested in his typical library tone, but followed as quickly as he could anyway. Luca tapped a finger on the air.

“So. You really think you will be alright tonight?” He asked Aesop and Eli. Eli nodded and Aesop shook his head at the same time.

“Can’t be worse than what happened last time.” Naib said.

“True. No need for pessimism,” Luca tried to encourage the embalmer, who sighed and gave two tiny thumbs up in reply.

“That’s the spirit!” Eli said.

***

It was indeed a gorgeous day for gardening. The crisp September weather wasn’t too warm, too cool, or too dry. The ground was pleasantly cool and the sun warmed from above, illuminating every flower petal it could reach with it’s gentle touch. The sky was a thick, deep blue that seemed to grow more intense the more you looked at it, and gentle white cumulus clouds puffed across the sky making various shapes.

Emma talked to her flowers and Boy and Claude helped her water, weed, and trim them to keep them in perfect condition. The work was light since Emma kept up on the it with impressive diligence. The only thing that made Claude regret his decision was the fact that it was, in fact, September. The wonderful fall month when the wildflowers and trees were giving their one last bloom of the season…and all their pollen.

“Claude, are you sure you’re okay?” Emma asked. It must have been at least the third time in ten minutes. In honesty, Claude’s lungs felt tight an itchy and it felt like the pollen was sticking in his throat, drying it out and making the coughing worse. But he nodded anyway. He was starting to feel tired again. The familiar aches of his shoulders, back and abdomen from constant coughing returned with a vengeance. He sighed and leaned himself up against a tree. At least there was no blood today. Boy handed him a cup of water, which he took with gratitude. The cool water felt like it tightened his throat, but it washed the awful dusty dry soreness away.

“I’ll be alright,” he said, clearing his throat just a little to get the frog out of it.

“Maybe we should head back,” she said. “You might need to rest before you meet Joseph-san.”

Claude sighed again and leaned his head back on the tree bark. He didn’t want to go back. He loved being out listening to the other two and feeling, smelling, tasting and seeing everything around him in this gorgeous weather…he felt like he hadn’t been able to do that for a long time. But he knew Emma was right. If he wore himself out now and didn’t make it…what might Joseph do?

“Alright,” he said at last, trying to restrain another fit. “You’re probably right. I should rest before supper. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you finish anything.”

“You don’t have to apologize nano!” She said, “Having friends around makes it more fun!”

“We can always finish what we started tomorrow,” Boy added, offering a hand to Claude. Claude accepted and both Boy and Emma helped him up and supported him as much as he needed. They chattered all the way back, Claude mostly listening. They walked him all the way to his room and then bid him a good rest.

Claude ended up falling asleep for a few hours while reading until Tracy came to let him know the others were eating dinner, so he joined them. Most of the talk was about the up coming game and previous ones. The mucus he’d swallowed earlier from the pollen problem cause his stomach to turn at the thought of much food, so he spent most of his time at the table in silence, writing, sipping on tea.

 Eventually, the others started leaving the table for this, or the other reason until only Eli, Boy, Aesop and Claude remained. They looked at each other and sighed.

“I guess we should get going,” Eli said, “The game will be over soon, and the moon is shining bright.” They other three nodded and rose from their chairs. Claude brought an extra jacket. The weather had been perfect, but now that the sun was gone there was a chill. The last thing he needed was to have a cold on top of his already raw throat.

“Ah Boy-kun!” Luchino greeted, “Eli, Aesop…ahh and the Newbie has come to visit, hmm? Well this is a rare group, I must say.”

“The letter you gave me, from Joseph,” Boy explained, “Requested to meet with some of us.” Luchino turned his head to regard Boy with newfound interest, symmetrically waving his knife.

“Oh?” He hummed, “well that’s an interesting thought. I wonder what the Photographer has in mind.” His attention turned to Claude now, who swallowed nervously as Luchino entered his personal space. “So you’re the new survivor, hmm?”

“Yes, sir,” Claude said, taking the smallest step back from Luchino’s approach. The hunter hummed again.

“You’re about what I expected from Jack’s description.” He shrugged. “I hope you’ll improve in the games before we meet.”

“Now, now,” Eli cut in, “Give him some time to adjust, Luchino-san.” Luchino shrugged and bowed with a toothy smile.

“Robbie is waiting for you, Boy.” He said, turning his attention yet again. “I may join in as well if I feel so disposed.

“I’ll be there shortly!” Boy replied brightly. Claude wondered how he didn’t seem the slightest bit intimidated by this hunter, who was well over seven feet and looming over all of them with a shiny knife. But, he supposed, Boy must be used to it by now.

“I’ll see you later!” Boy said, turning to the other three, “I hope everything goes well!” He followed Luchino as the others pressed on to an area filled with ruined walls.

It was quiet and tranquil. Silver light from the moon lined the edges of the walls and windows, and shone a little bit on the ivy the grew into the cracks in the stone. It was the kind of place one felt like it’s only respectful to tread quietly. No one said a word. There was nothing really to say.

“This is where we met last time,” Aesop said.

“I imagine he’ll be along shortly,” Eli said. A world-weary sigh nearly cut him off as Joseph appeared from behind one of the walls, followed closely by Kuro.

“We’re already here.” Joseph said. Claude realized his mouth was open and shut it. It was like looking into a mirror. Well, not exactly…more like into a window of time. Joseph’s hair, his clothes, his eyes, his appearance matched Claude’s almost exactly, if he’d been perhaps forty years older.

“Ah, good evening, Lord Photographer, Black Guard,” Eli greeted in perfect courtesy. Claude barely heard Eli’s greeting as Joseph’s eyes bored into his. Pale, intense…questioning? Expectant? It didn’t seem like an intentional boring. His eyes were almost half-lidded and his expression was neutral, bored even. But there was still a flicker of searching intensity beneath that Claude couldn’t quite translate. Realizing he’d just been gawking, Claude quickly bowed to the both of them.

“Pleasure to meet you.” He said quickly. “Forgive my stare…It was just as shock to meet someone who looks so alike to myself.” As soon as he said that, the questioning look he thought he saw in Joseph’s expression was gone. Something else replaced it, or nothing at all. Claude couldn’t quite tell. Kuro bowed in response, though it was more akin to a nod. Joseph seemed unbothered. Aesop had been fairly quiet up until now, politely nodding and then stepping to the side shadows. But now he spoke up.

“What do you want, Joseph?” he asked. Claude wanted to try and calm him down, or at least reassure him. Aesop was fiddling his hands together, forcing himself not to tug on his shirt. His shoulders were taut and his eyes bright and sharp with apprehension, looking the hunters boldly in the eye even if only for a fraction of a second at a time.

“And why should I tell you, Mouse?” Joseph droned, looking pointedly at Aesop. “You weren’t invited.”

Claude couldn’t hide the slight smile at the nickname. It was oddly fitting for Aesop. He did his best for Aesop’s sake, but was pretty sure his anxious friend had seen it. That thought sobered him up enough to get his smile under control.

“Well, if we could I would like to get to the point,” Claude said, attempting to diffuse the intensity of the conversation and still get answers, “I haven’t heard who will be in tomorrow’s game and, if I am called, I will need time to prepare.”

“Tch, there’s no point in that.” Joseph’s scoff reached his shoulders. “Everything’s always reset again like nothing ever happened. Nothing gained from victory or defeat. No sense of accomplishment. We’re just toys in a game to be taken out and played over and over again.”

“Oh. I see.” Claude wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Anyway,” Joseph went on, “I wanted to know why you came to the Manor.” Claude blinked. He could feel Eli and Aesop in close proximity to him. They’d moved closer. It wasn’t much comfort, but he found a little comfort in their intentions. He opened his palms, opting for honesty.

“I’m afraid I don’t remember,” he replied, “I received a letter from who I’ve heard called the Baron, but I don’t remember why I was to come here. I’ve thought perhaps I was looking for some people’s stories to write, but I’m not so sure…everyone here seems to have reasons more deeply driven than that.”

“Mhmm.” Joseph shrugged a little bit again. Claude’s head tilted a little in curiosity at his response.

“Is…something wrong?” Claude asked. The end of his sentence trailed off in a cough. His chest started tightening again. He felt Eli take his arm to keep him up in case he needed it. He fought to recompose himself again and ward off the fit.

“You should go.” Joseph said. “That was all I wanted to speak about. If you don’t remember, it’s pointless.”

A break in the fit at last. Claude took a breath, slowly, carefully to not agitate his throat again and nodded.

“Very well then,” he said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t of more help. I should like to come back and listen to stories from you all.”

“Robbie and Michiko will be better use to you.” Joseph said rather curtly. “Don’t ask for me.” Claude didn’t have the energy to contain his slight disappointment.

“Alright then. Again, my apologies. Good night to you both and pleas-“ he started coughing again. He heard Eli give goodbyes for them all as he and Aesop started escorting Claude back.

“Are you alright?” Eli asked when Claude finally caught a break. They’d been walking slow for a spell, but eventually he’d had to outright stop and just hack for a while. His eyes watered, his throat and chest felt sore and raw and he knew his face was flushed. He nodded.

“I’ll be fine, thank you.” He replied, a bit hoarsely. They took the rest of the slow walk back to the survivor’s manor in silence.

***

“So?” Kuro asked. The trio of survivors had long been out of earshot and the two had been sitting in the ruins for almost ten minutes, not uttering a word. Joseph pulled a photo out of his coat pocket and handed it to Kuro. Kuro accepted and looked at it.

Today's excerpt from: Burning Hiraeth

“I’m booooooooooooooooooooooooored,” Wilko droned as he bapped his head on his keyboard. Ana rolled her eyes and refilled his coffee cup. Wilko straightened up again and deleted the nonsense his forehead had typed and sighed.

“Just get it done,” Ana said, “Then we can do the fun stuff.”

“Spreading the posters is even worse because then it’s boring AND work,” Wilko huffed. Regardless, he went back to typing, formatting and moving text on the screen as he’d done a million times before in about as many different ways. Propaganda posters for Hiram, yet again. Agonizingly long difficult work with the program he had, but he had to admit he’d gotten good at it. His wording had gotten better too. He and Hiram could probably talk the entire populace into a war in three speeches if they wanted to. But Hiram didn’t. At least, not yet.

Ana swatted his hat and sat down in a chair on the other side of his desk with a magazine. There were posters he’d made in the picture on the front cover. It only took her a few seconds to throw it aside and look up at the ceiling. The only sound in the room for a few minutes was Wilko’s keys clacking away and muttering a song. Ana caught the word “Rosa” in it, but that was all that was intelligible to her.

“Ana, do you think Hiram will win?” Wilko asked as he typed.

“Huh?” It wasn’t enough to make Ana turn her gaze.

“I mean…He wants to overthrow two governments at the same time. The one now and the one that would take its place. Do you think it’s possible? I mean I think it could be better than either but….” Wilko trailed off as Ana shrugged.

“Never thought about it.” She said. “Don’t really care.”

“You’re not thinking about dying for this whole movement when you don’t care about it-“ Wilko had stopped typing and was straight up in his seat looking at her.

“I’m not dying, or killing for that matter, for Hiram’s little movement.” She replied. “I owe him a debt. That’s that.” She pointed back at his computer to get him back to work.

“Huh…” Wilko hummed as he started clicking again, “I wonder what that makes me…”

“Nothing,” Ana replied, actually sitting up this time. “Hiram didn’t make you who you are.” Despite himself, Wilko let the impatience pricking at his palms leak out.

“Yeah sure. He only gave me everything I have.” He said, his tone almost flippant.

“Not your cynicism. Or your stupidity. I don’t think Hiram would have thought to gift you either of those.” Her tone matched his exactly.

“Hey!”

“Are you finished yet?” Ana let smoke roll off her fingers as she looked at her nails.

“Don’t change the subject!”

“Then don’t miss my point.” She didn’t even look at him when she said it. Wilko sighed, took off his cap and ran his fingers in his hair. He knew what she was trying to say. He just didn’t want to believe it. He put his cap back on and hit another button on the keyboard. Finished. Printed copies would be done in twenty minutes. He flopped back into his chair and fingered his braid.

“I didn’t.” He said finally. “Just didn’t care.” He almost choked on the words as he said them. He knew it was a lie. And he was pretty sure Ana knew it too. He felt like apologizing immediately, but restrained himself, feeling like a coward for feeling apologetic in the first place.

“Then don’t,” was all Ana replied.

She got up and snapped over his cup of coffee. There was a flash of flame in the dark room, a little burble, and she slid the now steaming cup closer to him. He took it with a grunt of thanks. The coffee warmed his innards and he looked at Ana. Her violet eyes had turned misty for just a second. As soon as it was there it was gone. He put down the cup, thinking to ask her about why she’d said that. That vacant, melancholic stare convinced him otherwise. Like the others in the squad, both of them could talk if they were ever ready. Until then Hiram would divulge nothing.

inquire is spelled with an i not an e at the beginning

LMAO it shall be fixed.