#apprentice gail

Did @timmys-and-scribbles flower masquerade challenge. I was so focused on designing the dress I completely forgot about the mask so... We'll just say Gail lost hers.

Anyway, here's my arcana apprentice, and I'm going to tag some of my faves.

Gail and Lucio at the masquerade!

I took the pose/general reference from @lucio-a-day2020 where you can add in your apprentice. I would have loved to use the original template but I am useless when it comes to computer art. Also I switched to Lucio's masquerade outfit which was AWFUL to try a) color in that much black with colored pencils and b) try to do all that detail work on his shirt alone.

Preface: I saw the prompt for today’s @lovelikeyoursfest​ and couldn’t resist since Gail had many first meetings with Muriel, so I threw this together. Even though I use Gail for all the routes, I think Muriel is my favorite for her. Some notes for those unfamiliar with my apprentice: Gail is an empath and has an anxiety disorder because of it. The over-stimulation of being around a lot of people can lead to panic attacks.

The first time Gail met Muriel, she didn’t catch his name. She had hired Asra to help her in the shop once she decided to keep it, and on his first day, someone had followed him. Gail was just a few years older than Asra, and felt fiercely protective of him like all the other kids back home that she had declared her younger siblings.

That someone lurking in the shadows sent Gail’s protective instincts up, so she sent Asra to start organizing some stock while she stayed outside to keep an eye on the lurker. But a moment later, she could sense that the young man was no threat; he was only anxious and worried, and said instincts suddenly extended to this stranger as well. She would have approached him, but he turned and left the moment Asra was inside, so she let him go.

She would later learn his name and that he was a friend, and she would try to offer him a place to stay with her and Asra. The bed wasn’t big enough for all three, but they could alternate nights until they could afford more cushions.

He would refuse, giving even Asra very little information as to where he would sleep at night, but Gail would enjoy the rare bits of company she received from him, and develop a crush. She would confide in Asra, who would be delighted, saying they would be perfect for each other.

And when she never saw Muriel again, she figured it was because Asra told him how she felt, and that she had pushed him away, that he didn’t feel the same.

Asra had told him, and so Muriel figured it would be better to stay away to keep her safe.

The second first time Gail met Muriel, he was lurking outside the shop, and he looked familiar, but Gail wasn’t sure if she had met him before, maybe she had before the day she woke up. She sensed he was concerned; maybe he was a friend of Asra’s, and was looking for him, so she called out. “Excuse me, are you looking for Asra? He went to the market, but he’ll be back soon. You’re welcome to wait inside.”

The man pulled up his hood and walked out of sight.

Gail looked up at the sky, trying to remember what she was doing, and why she was suddenly so sad.

The third first time Gail met Muriel, he was in the marketplace (albeit reluctantly) and Gail thought he was handsome. She could sense that he was uneasy around all the people, and she hated crowds as well. She thought she would offer a kindness and recommend a spot away from people.

“I don’t like crowds either, they’re overwhelming.” Muriel did not seem to realize Gail was speaking to him at first, hoping that he could slip away unnoticed.

“There’s an interesting little alcove just a block away. The buildings align just right so that very little noise from the market makes it through, I could show you if you like. I’m Gail, by the way.”

Muriel knew that he should just walk away so that she would forget him, but he had not heard of that spot, and figured he could indulge himself just this once. He took her offered hand in his as delicately as he could.

“I’m Muriel.”

The tenth first time Gail met Muriel, she was having a panic attack. He had sought refuge in the spot she showed him, taking a break from the people and noise when she stumbled in the small alcove, shaking like a leaf in a thunderstorm. Tears were streaming down her face and she collapsed, and Muriel rushed to help.

“Gail, are you hurt?”

Gail could not speak, so she shook her head in the negative, and Muriel knew what was happening, had seen it happen many times before she died, before she forgot him, so he held her hand. “Just breathe, you’ll be alright.”

Then, once she was able to speak again, he asked her to list as many flowers as she could think of. She had listed 23 when the attack had passed. “I’m sorry,” she said, “I didn’t think anyone else knew this spot. Thank you for helping me, that... that was very kind, especially for a stranger.”

She looked up at him, her green eyes made all the brighter by the redness of her face from crying. “But... maybe not a stranger? You knew my name, but I think I’d remember you.”

So Muriel ran, and Gail was still too weak to chase after him.

She knew she was having an attack, but she could not remember what happened after... but now she was fine, breathing easily.

The thirty-third first time Gail met Muriel, he was covered in blood.

Muriel became the heart and guardian of the forest; Gail became guardian of Muriel. Most people don't remember them, and they can't remember much of others. Day after day they become more at one with both the forest and each other. Perhaps one day the very earth will pull them in with a blanket of moss, wrapped in each other's arms to vanish from the world entirely.

For now, though, Gail is content to be held by her loves: Muriel and the flowers.

I posted a while back to gauge interest in a Muriel fanfic and got a great response! Here’s chapter 1, posted on AO3! If anyone would like me to post it on here, message me and I’ll do that!

I also asked if people wanted to be tagged but I don’t think most people saw that bit, so I’m tagging those that reblogged the post to indicate interest in this fic.

Special thanks to @marinmuffins for helping me plan the plot a bit!

Should I be doing homework? Definitely!

Should I maybe work on one of my many WIPs? Yeah!

Am I going to write a ship fic of Gail and @scaredy-apprentice 's Miena because I love her apprentice and her art and I can't draw but I can write and I think she and Gail would make fabulous girlfriends? ABSO- FRICKIN- LUTELY

(so to allow both Gail and Miena to exist in the same universe, Miena's backstory remains unchanged while Gail never died of the plague. Gail knew Asra and Miena, but not too well, and ever since Miena's resurrection, has fallen in love with her, but since she's a disaster bisexual, she hasn't said anything about it yet)

Okay! On with the story!

Gail woke to Loki nudging her face with his beak. She blearily blinked in the sunlight, and was surprised that Loki was choosing to be so quiet. By this hour of the morning he'd usually be causing mischief and living up to his namesake, making a racket.

And then Gail remembered that Miena had spent the night, and was still sleeping soundly beside her in the bed just large enough for the two of them.

"you love her just as much as I do, don't you, Loki?" Gail wondered silently.

Clearing the sleep from her eyes, Gail's heart leaped into her throat looking over at Miena's sleeping form. The sun was behind her, casting a golden glow around her head. Her face was relaxed, long blonde lashes brushing over soft rosy cheeks.

Gail had never wanted anything more than to kiss her in that moment, but she resisted.

Asra had given half his heart to bring Miena back from the dead, from before Gail had really known her long enough to fall for her. How could she possibly compete with that?

Miena and Gail had become great friends in the past year completely by chance. Gail barely remembered the person she was before the plague. Her shy sweetness and quiet bravery drew Gail in and before she knew it, she wanted nothing more than to hold her, to protect her, to kiss her senseless and be with her in any way she'd allow.

They stayed up late the night before, talking and teaching each other about their different magical strengths. They passed the evening with laughter and casual affection between friends, those light sort of touches that Gail cherished like gold. Then, it was after dark, and Miena was worried about getting back to the shop.

"you could stay here until morning, I don't mind," Gail had said, forcing a casual tone and easygoing smile. Miena agreed, saying she felt safe there with Gail. Miena might as well have given Gail a handful of diamonds for saying that.

Gail very slowly moved her arm to brush a stray lock of Miena’s soft hair out of her face, just barely daring to caress her face in the process. She stirred a little, and Gail wondered if there would be a day she could wake her with a kiss.