#code realize asks

I, Mod Apostle, apologize for the tardiness of my response! I kinda went overboard on these ideas. I wrote three Halloween fics, featuring three different aspects of the holiday.

The first, “Rematch” Features a Turnip Carving Contest with everyone’s three favorite scientists. (Impey Barbicane, Victor Frankenstein, Neeeeeeemooooo)

The second, “The Thief’s Hunt” has one Gentleman Thief rescuing an apostle’s shapeshifting daughter from the clutches of a certain witch... and the Wild Hunt... on Halloween night. (Arsene Lupin)

The third, “Wayward Souls” is a ‘ghost story’ featuring a lady seeking information about an old family tragedy on All Hallows’ Eve in the French countryside. (Saint Germain)

Due to length, I will include links to “The Thief’s Hunt” and “Wayward Souls”

I hope you enjoy them, and, no, I won’t always write thousands of words for Asks in the future. I just love the themes of Halloween and wanted to do the holiday as much justice as I could!

—Mod Apostle

.....

Rematch

....

“I have the turnips!” Impey called, walking through the door with an armload of vegetables, “They’re perfect for carving, too!”

“Okay! Bring them in.” Fran replied, “I’m just getting set up.”

Impey walked in and put the turnips on the table, “I brought candles, too. We can put them along the walkway to surprise San and Cardia when they come home.”

“Sounds good.” Fran tied on his apron and picked up his knife, “We should try to get done quickly if we want it to be a surprise. They’ll be home in few hours.”

Impey pulled on his own apron, “Got it!”

The two of them got to work quickly, carving the turnips into alchemical symbols, rocket ships, moons, and an attempt at self portraits that were truly terrifying to behold. They laughed and carved happily, until they heard a loud knock at the door.

“Impeeeeeey Baaaaarbicaaaaane? Are yoooou heeeere?”

Fran’s face fell, “Oh, no. I keep forgetting Nemo got out of jail. But... Why is he here?”

Impey smiled sheepishly, “I forgot to mention I invited him over. He’s just so lonely. I thought it would make him happy to carve a few turnips with us.”

“I-It’s okay.” Fran couldn’t help but wince a little, “Your heart is in the right place... Do you mind if I—

“Victoooooooooor Fraaaaaaaankenstien....!!! You have come to join the fuuuuuuuuuun!!!”

“Ugh... Um, hi, Nemo.... Woah! WHAT IS THAT THING?!?!”

Nemo, who dressed like a deranged tatterdemalion at the best of times, had apparently decided to get into the Halloween spirit by wearing—

“Uh.... Are you supposed to be... a um... what exactly are you supposed to be?” Impey asked, not quite able to figure out what the tentacles had to do with high heels and human skull hat.

“Isn’t it oooooooobviouuuuus?! I am AN ABOMINATION OF SCIIIIIIIIIIENCE!! A MAAAAAARVEEEEEEL!! Nemo cried, waving his tentacles.

“Right then!” Impey said, not looking at Fran, “You’re a... sexy deranged monster squid... got it. But that knife is a little... and I hope that’s not real blood... no don’t answer that! I don’t want to know! Um...” he picked up a turnip, “Here! We’re carving turnips! Why don’t you make a few yourself!”

“Haaaaa haaaaa! You are just jealoooooooooous you didn’t think of it!” he pressed a button on the knife and it whirred to life.

“Is that an electric knife?” Impey asked with interest, “That’s amazing!”

“Of cooooourse it is! Do you want to seeeeeee?”

“Yeah!” Impey said excitedly, while Fran slowly crept backwards out of the kitchen.

Nemo cut the turnip with surprising delicacy with the vibrating knife, the lines were finer and more artistic than Impey and Fran had managed to produce. A fact that Nemo was quick to point out.

“Why don’t we have a coooooontesssst? Eh?” Nemo asked slyly, “Let’s seeeeeeee who can caaaaarve the best turnips!”

“It’s a deal!” Impey shouted over Fran’s groans.

Impey and Nemo engaged in a vigorous carving contest. Soon all of the turnips were carved and lined up.

“Okay! Let’s clean up before San chan and Cardia chan get back! We’ll let them choose which is best!”

They cleaned up quickly and Fran took the completed turnips to the entrance and the front walkway to light the candles inside them. Fran was pleased with the effect. He was much less pleased that Nemo decided to stay until Saint and Cardia returned.

Saint and Cardia came home from their afternoon shopping just after sunset. The the candles inside the turnips danced and cast eerie, shifting patterns on the walkway.

Cardia gasped delightedly when she saw them all lined up and flickering like tiny ghosts, “They are beautiful!”

“Yes, the effect is lovely.” Saint agreed, peering inside them. “So many fantastical designs. I didn’t realize Impey and Fran were such artists. Look at this one—

“HAAAAA HAAAAA!!!” boomed a voice from the house, “Thooooose are miiiiiine!!! I beaaaaat you at laaaaaast, Impeeeeey Baaaaaarbicaaaane!?!!”

Saint stood protectively in front of Cardia as Nemo clattered down the steps in his high heels and bloody squid costume still carrying his electric knife.

“Hey! Nemo! Drop the knife unless you want to become a dead sexy monster squid thing!” Impey shouted, running out to grab the knife away from Nemo.

Saint relaxed only slightly, “I take it there is an... explanation for this?”

“Um, I invited him to carve turnips with us. He was really enthusiastic about it. Most of these are actually his...” Impey explained apologetically.

“Ah. I see.” Saint smiled at last, “A carving contest.”

“Which I just wooooon!!” Nemo declared triumphantly, “I will loooooooook foooooooorward to receiving my priiiiiiiiiiize!”

Saint, noticing Fran’s look of agonized defeat, smiled mischievously, “What, dare I ask, is the prize for this contest?”

Impey looked away guiltily, “A day with him in the lab... and BOTH of us.”

....

Yay! With great pleasure! 

These asks are related to my Contemporary AU fic “Quintessence” which I still need to write a proper summary for and post publically. (It is available on request if you don’t mind a description instead of a truly elegant summary.) It follows the reborn soul of Cardia and the decendents of the Lupin Gang (along with the immortal and long lived members of the Gang.) Since only two people have read it so far, I’m putting this behind a cut. 

Mod Apostle is (perhaps unsurprisingly) overjoyed to receive your request! I hope you don’t mind this rather long fantasy date.

…

Saint would plan every detail in advance. He wants to spoil and enchant his lover with an experience both beautiful and exhilarating. He would acquire front row tickets to the grand opening of a new opera and make reservations at a cafe with a romantic courtyard filled with flowers for dinner before the show.

The morning of the opera he surprises his lover with breakfast in bed and a gift of a beautiful opera gown. He runs her bath with fragrant oils and tells her to relax for the day. It will be QUITE a late night.

The hour arrives and he anxiously awaits his lover’s arrival in the beautiful gown he chose for her. He smiles as he watches her nervously walk down the stairs. Its color makes her skin appear radiant. She looks like a princess in a story. She wonders if she looks foolish in something so grand, but he kisses her in a way he hopes conveys just how beautiful she is in his eyes.

He gives her a courtly bow and takes her hand to kiss it. He can feel her eyes on him. While he he has little interest for his appearance, the heat of her gaze makes him feel almost like a normal man taking his pretty lady out on a date and no more. It was a feeling he could have never imagined before he met his lover. She who changed and remade him.

They arrive at the café in a horse drawn carriage, which Saint arranged because his lover once commented that she found them romantic. Her wide eyes and delighted expression warms his heart.

The meal is unpretentious, but exquisitely prepared and delicious. His single glass of wine, a rare vintage. Saint tells his lover the history of the opera and the story of the unlikely lovers who inspired it. She listens raptly, perhaps sensing that he speaks from intimate knowledge of both the opera and its titular couple. When he knew them he never imagined that his own story might one day be similar to theirs.

Saint leads his lover inside the opera house to find their seats in the front row. Her exclamations of delight make the trouble obtaining them well worth it.

Both of them are transported when the music starts to an ancient world of a radiant god-king and his mortal lover, worlds apart yet drawn together against the odds. Saint’s lover is left weeping at the end from the poignant and emotional music and story. Saint smiles at his soft-hearted lady and lends her his handkerchief, but soon her tears stop and they are both on their feet with everyone else, enthusiastically applauding the exquisite performance.

They leave the Opera House and walk through the park speaking animatedly about the opera. She assumes the evening is nearly over, but Saint has other plans. She asks him where he is going, but he won’t tell her yet.

He finds the right place and takes her hand. They suddenly find themselves near a high stone wall. Saint puts a finger over her lips, “Trust me.” he whispers, before lifting her in his arms and leaping over the wall. She barely stifles a yelp as he lands lightly on the other side and lowers her to her feet.

Gesturing for her to stay quiet, he leads the way silently through the trees. He knew this place many long centuries ago, but it hardly changed. He feels her curiosity, certainly wondering where he is going so clandestinely. Eventually they come to the edge of the trees and gaze out at the moonlit lavish gardens. In the luminous light it looked just the same. The breeze bringing the sweet scent of roses and night blooming flowers. He takes her hand and leads her on a stroll through the gardens. The luminous pathways and heady scents make even Saint feel enchanted.

Saint finds the place he seeks and ducks beneath a trellis covered with jasmine into a hidden bower. Pale, silver-white flowers are scattered in the grass like tiny stars. He directs her to sit beside him on the bench, and tells her with delight that they are trespassers in the most beautiful and jealously guarded secret palace gardens in the world, said to be modeled on legends of the Garden of Eden.

Saint loses track of how much time they spend walking the paths. Both barefoot and viewing wonder after wonder. They dance together in the cool velvety grass to distant music playing from the palace far away. Saint feels almost young.

A near brush with wandering guards sends them hiding in the trees, but that only excites Saint. He comes at last to a mirror-still lake where a boat is tied loosely to a dock. The moonlight glitters off the water and Saint lifts his lover gently into the boat and rows away to the center of the lake.

The stars and moon seem closer and shine brighter than usual in that timeless place. Saint stops rowing when he reaches a small island in the center of the lake. He disembarks and beckons her to him. They lay together with her head resting on his heart as he tells her the stories of the constellations one by one. Nothing exists but the feel of her body close beside him. They kiss and touch and love one another until the long night is over and the stars fade, both of them sleepy and satisfied. Saint rises and gathers his lover in his arms. She falls asleep, only awakening briefly when they are home in bed. Before she falls back to sleep she whispers her thanks for the beautiful experience. He kisses her tenderly and thanks her from the bottom of his heart for the most enchanting evening he has spent in all his thousands of years of life.

They both fall asleep with smiles on their faces.

Mod Apostle is most pleased to answer!

Lupin: While he’s working, he is clean and carries only a scent of skin musk and faint soap so as to be harder to track. Lupin is always impeccably groomed. He prefers a warm and sensual gentlemanly cologne with rosewood, red musk and and golden amber overlaid with dry vanilla and a hint of red roses. There is always a faint, smoky gunpowder scent on his coat from his frequent use of smokescreens.

Van: Just clean, no-nonsense brisk soap and a haze of gunpowder on his coat for the most part. If he chose a cologne, it would be a masculine juniper and clean musk, very dry unsweetened vanilla, with a hint of bittersweet red berry.

Fran: As an alchemist, a certain amount of acrid chemical smoke inevitably lingers on his lab coat. He has to shower thoroughly to get it off him. His scent away from the lab is a sweet, mossy herbal with hint of sugar, lemon and chamomile tea.

Impey: You probably don’t want to get too close to him when he’s hard at work covered with motor oil, grease and dirt. Clean and away from work, a faint, lingering petroleum scent under bright warm golden woods, bergamot and orange peel sweetened by a little honey, brown sugar and vanilla from baking cookies for the Gang.

Saint: in keeping with his noble persona, he is always impeccably clean and well groomed. His cologne is a dry, herbal lavender, shadowy mosses, fragile white flowers, a touch of vanilla bean, sacred frankincense incense on his robe and a halo of golden amber… with just a hint of blood underneath.

Hansel: Like a living candy shop. Milk chocolate, sugared vanilla marshmallows, strawberry candies, fresh baked cookies… almost concealing a dry, dusty memory of hunger and poverty.

Aleister: Aleister fashions himself as a gentleman. His scent is a dignified cologne. Black yew wood, deceptively refined golden musk, and underneath a hint of poisoned red wine.

Nemo: A scent of oiled brass, ozone, leather from protective clothing, a memory of sandalwood and spice, under a sharp-edged discordant lime.

Finis: sour lemon and bitter tea, over sweet vanilla cakes, fresh scones and jam.

Thank you for your kind words. Mod Apostle is pleased to answer your request! This is long, so it is going behind a cut.

Lupin was a street kid with no memory of his parents. His fellow urchins were his family. He had a special bond with one, a little girl a few years younger than himself with the same golden eyes. She was cute and harmless looking. No one guessed how quick her little fingers were or how keen her eye was for the sign of hidden valuables. Lupin was a little jealous of the little girl’s skill, but also proud that he had been able to teach her so much. She called him “mon grand frère” “my big brother.” She shadowed him everywhere when they weren’t working. He grumbled about her following around sometimes, but in truth he didn’t mind too much. He realized she was as important as a little sister to him. 

When he met his teacher, she was growing up, too. Becoming too pretty and eye catching to be as good a thief as she was as a cute, scrappy little girl, so she started dressing as a boy and became even better. As he spent more time with his teacher, the two began to go their separate ways. He last saw her on the day he left for England. She promised to see him again someday… as a rival! 

He keeps an eye out for her. Expecting to someday see those same golden eyes looking back at him from some genius disguise, as they both reach for the same jewel!

Van: Van had a frail little brother. Van loved him very much and always diligently nursed him back to health when he was sick. Though he didn’t understand why the  meals he cooked for him didn’t seem to help very much, despite the care he put into them. When his brother was healthy the two were rarely apart. Van liked to read him fairytales and his brother would sketch while Van read. He wanted to be a painter when he grew up. Van had no artistic gifts himself, but always tried to support his brother however he could without… much… complaint. His brother found the archery and play fighting Van enjoyed tedious, but he sometimes participated to enhance his strength. 

He didn’t want Van to go join the military. He had a bad feeling about it. He gave Van a sketch of himself and their mom on the day he left. Van told him he would send money so he could pursue his art and take care of their mom without worrying about not having enough to eat. His brother made him promise to write frequently, and not to be too sad if they couldn’t see each other again for a long time. 

Van waved at his brother from the train. That was the last he saw of him. But, much later, he learned that his brother’s skill as a painter had improved, and his handful of works were in high demand and  very valuable. Van takes some small comfort in the fact that part of his brother’s spirit lives on in his art. 

Fran: Fran has three boisterous younger sisters, two of them identical twins. Fran spent much of his childhood trying to find a peaceful place to read and study away from their calamitous fighting and noise. He was absolutely convinced that his parents had them for the purpose of frustrating his goals to become a great alchemist. The twins in particular fought constantly. He wasn’t the most patient older brother until his youngest sister, a little quieter and cleverer than the twins, took a liking to watching him perform experiments. She was 6 years younger than him, but he began giving her simple tasks of writing numbers in his book and measuring harmless ingredients. She was an able little lab assistant, and the two became very close. The family was divided by the twins on one side and Fran and his youngest sister on the other, with the two sides rarely able to come to an understanding. The twins stayed close, got married to a set of twin brothers and settled down to raise their families. Fran sees them only occasionally over the holidays. Fran and his youngest sister continued to pursue their scientific dreams. With Fran wanting to become an alchemist, and his sister a doctor. Fran is very proud of his sister’s accomplishments and the two write and meet as often as their very busy lives allow. 

Impey: Impey and his older brother were separated when their parents died. His brother was taken in by distant family in another vampire village in northern Scotland, being the more promising and well liked of the two. After the war, Impey assumed that his brother had died as so many others had, but like Impey, he was traveling when his village was attacked and was one of only a handful of survivors. He was sure his brother had perished upon learning the fate of his hometown. Impey’s brother has a more serious personality than Impey, but he is also smart and kindly. He helped a small cluster of survivors who were destined to freeze and starve in the wilderness to build cozy cabins and arrange food for themselves. In time he became the mayor of their village. 

It wasn’t until Van and Delly began gathering the vampire survivors that Van met Impey’s much more tolerable brother in the snug little village. Van told him that his brother was still alive. He was astonished and very happy. A few months later the brothers finally got to meet after nearly twenty years. While they are very different people with different lives they stay in touch and Impey went to stay in his brother’s village for awhile to bring them technology to help them live better lives. Impey’s brother promised to come to watch Impey take his rocket to the moon. 

Saint: Saint has no memory of his birthplace or family, but he wasn’t truly born a slave. He lived with his older brother and family on a dry hillside in western Mesopotamia, where his family had dwelled for thousands of years. 

In each generation a wisdom keeper was designated, and Saint was clearly the best choice in the village, being possessed of a extraordinary intellect and brilliant spirit from birth. His 10 years older, sturdier brother looked nothing like Saint, being of darker complexion and having a much heavier build. He was Saint’s guardian, protector and playmate. He loved his gentle, delicate, genius little brother with all his heart. He taught him to read and write, though Saint quickly surpassed him. Above all he protected Saint from all harm. 

When the slavers came he tried to hide Saint in the back of their sacred cave, but he cried when his brother tried to leave and the slavers heard them and took them. 

Saint’s mind shut down after the horrors of what the king’s slavers did to his village and their parents. Saint no longer recognized his brother when he awoke in a pen of other dirty children. It hurt him, but he still did all he could to protect Saint… though in the end there was nothing he could do, and Saint was purchased. 

Years later, when all slaves were assigned to build the king’s tower, the brothers met again. Saint’s brother’s heart broke at the shadow of suffering and trauma he saw in his eyes. Still, he provided him with what few small thing he had been able to steal back from their captors, and a knife to protect himself. He made sure to take twice the load, since he knew that the life Saint had led did not prepare him for hard labor. They nearly made it to the end when one of the slave drivers caught Saint’s brother doing Saint’s work and decided to put him to death as an example. As he died he prophesied that the tower would fall before the next full moon and they would all die. It was a prediction that turned out to be very true. 

….. thousands of years later, the artifacts Saint’s brother gave him will lead him to discover his lost past and true identity. 

Nemo: The story of Nemo’s siblings is as sad and tragic as Saint’s and Van’s. I think we’ve hit critical levels of sad already. So, let’s look at Nemo and his adoptive little sister Cardia! Nemo, in awe of the glory of the science that created her, Nemo once asked if she would be his sister. Her first inclination was to tell him to get lost, but something in his pitifully pleading manner made her feel almost sorry for him. Reasoning that she needed any help she could get, she warily told him that, yes, he could call her his sister. 

The effect was… even louder and more violent than she had remotely anticipated. But… somehow, she thought he genuinely appreciated it somewhere under the histrionics, and she warily decided to embrace the opportunity. 

Finis was predictably bitter and disgusted, and Aleister amused by the turn of events.  Nemo declared them both wonders of science! Isaac’s daughter and his star pupil! He still obnoxious and loud, but he perhaps didn’t call her a soulless doll as often and was a little less callus about her situation. She decided to ask him questions about her father, hoping to learn more about him. She became adept and decoding his rambles and learned a great deal that helped her defeat her father. 

After Isaac was defeated and Finis saved, Cardia had a new problem- an unexpected new family member who still very much considered her his little sister. She didn’t quite know how to push him away, so she dutifully visited him in prison and brought him homemade cookies and milk. She thought he even became quieter, seeming as if he understood more than she thought possible. She even enjoyed her visits sometimes. Once he shocked her by giving advice. All in all she began to think being Nemo’s sister, even if it annoyed Finis, wasn’t so bad. 

….until he finally got out of prison and decided he would live with Cardia and her newlywed husband. 

It was… not an ideal situation. To put it lightly. There are times a newlywed definitely doesn’t want her “brother” popping up. He was a little too good at that. It took time, but he became marginally less obnoxious, and they settled him in a cottage with a huge science lab to play in. Both Cardia and her husband were very grateful that he was occupied. He still came over frequently from then on. Everyone in the gang called him Cardia’s big idiot brother. 

….

And that’s it! Please let us know if you would like anything else! 

Hi! Thank you for responding! ❤️

.....

As Sisi mentioned, it was billed as a “steampunk” convention, with all of the usual convention activities and contests. Even a dance and concerts Saturday, and a real airship race as the grand finale Sunday afternoon.

I clicked on the guests tab and saw a big picture of Impey Barbicane with a dazzling smile standing next to the rocket he rode to the moon. Professor Gordon told me all about him. How he dared to follow his dream, no matter how hard and dangerous it was. He created solutions for problems that contemporary science wouldn’t even consider for half a century. He built his rocket with his own two hands, not for the adulation of his peers or to gain fame, but to show a weary world the wonders and joy of science.

Here we go! ❤️ This has Smile and laugh!

....

Saint Germain was sitting on the couch in the lobby when I returned. Again I felt a strange sense of relief that he waited for me, “I’m sorry to make you wait.”

He stood and looked at me; his expression much too delighted for the results, “It was well worth the wait to see such beauty.” he brought my chemical scarred hand to his lips as if I were a fine lady at court, rather than an awkward woman in a $30.00 dress standing in a Comfort Inn lobby.

“Ahh.... that’s an overwhelming exaggeration.” my face felt as if it might catch fire.

“Not at all.” he offered me his arm, “shall we go?”

I nodded and hesitantly put my hand on his arm.

The desk clerk stared at Saint Germain with her mouth open as if she had never seen anything like him. As we walked past she gave me an enthusiastic two thumbs up. I had to laugh.

“Hm?” a mischievous smile sparkled in his eyes.

Thanks again! Here we go!

...

I opened the door to see Sisi’s bright smile, “Cardia! Good morning!” she hugged me, “I’m sorry to have missed the party last night!!”

“We m-missed you.” I tried to say with crushed lungs.

Sisi released me, “Lottie and Noreen are off to drag Arsene out of bed. Noreen said something about waking him up from an orgy? What did you guys get up to last night?”