#kbtbbweek2020

Hello and welcome to #KBTBBWeek2020, a week-long fan event dedicated to celebrating Kissed by the Baddest Bidder’s iconic cast of characters! The schedule will run from September 27th to October 3rd for a week’s worth of creating and sharing KBTBB content, from art, fics, edits, etc.

For more information regarding the guidelines, please check our info page.

@kbtbbweek2020

day one: game, danger, gamble 

Lost

Vivian sat on the bench, watching her beautiful daughter run around, pretending to be an aeroplane. She laughs as Emiko started making engine noises, circling around one of the trees of the park. Footsteps slowly made their way to her and eventually sat down beside the frail woman.

‘Vivian, you know, Eisuke would never want to see you like this.’

‘Like what, Soryu? Heart-broken?’ She looks over at the mobster who turns away from her burning gaze.

‘Eisuke was reckless but he always thought of your safety. Your life was the most important thing to him-‘

‘If that was the case, why didn’t he think about me? How I would feel?’ She hisses, bunching the material of her dress in her hands.

‘His life was the most important to me. How do I raise our daughter, fatherless?’ Vivian wipes away the tears that threaten to fall.

‘We are all here for you Vivian. Eisuke put you and your daughter in my care. I won’t allow you to forget your feelings for Eisuke, nor will I allow you to hurt yourself. Emiko needs her mother, now more than ever.’ He says, stroking her hair.

‘I miss him.’ She whispers.

‘Yeah, we all do.’

Vivian sniffles and takes out Eisuke’s pocket square, dabbing her wet eyes with the silky cloth.

‘What happens now?’ She asks.

‘Don’t worry about that. Baba and I will take care of everything to do with the auctions. As his wife, you’ll need to make a decision on what happens to the Ichinomiya Group.’

‘To be honest, Soryu, a part of me wants to take Emiko and run away. Another part of me wants to give the group over to Akira and Eiji and let them deal with it. But the Eisuke part of me wants to take over as CEO and do my best to be just as Eisuke wanted me to be.’

‘And what’s that?’

‘His wife.’

‘You always will be. Make sure to make Eisuke proud, wherever he is.’ Soryu pat her shoulder before standing up.

‘I’ll wait in the car.’

She watches Eisuke’s best friend walk away. Mrs Vivian Eisuke Ichinomiya looks up at the golden sunset.

‘I love you, Eisuke. Always.’

Taking a deep breath, she shouts out to Emiko.

Welcome to the KBTBB Event 2020 Account! Currently, we’re in the planning/conceptualization stage for a celebration event for Kissed by the Baddest Bidder and its rich (literally and figuratively) cast of characters. 

For this event to come into fruition, we’d love it if you answered our interest check so we can gauge the length of the event (whether it be a week or a weekend). 

The interest check will end on July 26, 11:59 PM PST! Should you have any questions, feel free to ask via the ask box on this account!

The Kingdom of Spades is very famous. I was fortunate enough to be born in such an incredible place. I worked at a small library in a village named Wintershire when the library burned down in an attack from a neighbouring kingdom. The owner, Yuma, recommended that I attempt to find a job at the main city, the Tres Spades.

So I said goodbye to my family, my friends and my life to find some excitement. When I got there, I was overwhelmed at how extraordinary the city was. I’m just a small village girl but when I arrived there, I realised that I wanted to be more than that. My life suddenly became very small.

Yuma told me that I could try to find a job in the Palace of Spades, where the King lives. My parents agreed to it since they wanted me to be safe. Yuma used to work there himself, so he sent me with a letter of recommendation and all of my money. I arrived at the gates and told the guards that I was there to speak with a man named Mr Kenzaki and they let me in. Apparently, he’s a Minister in charge of the city and knew Yuma quite well.

That’s how I became one of the librarians of the Palace Library.

*

‘Vivian! Stop dossing off! You’re being paid to organise the books, not read them!’ The head of the library tosses a raged cloth at my face.

‘Ah! Sorry, Miss Erika! I’ll get right on it!’ She huffs at me and saunters off with her twin assistants, Rina and Kana.

I quickly pick up the cloth on the floor and start organising the books by name. Copies of every book to ever exist in the entire world, live here in these expensive bookcases. When I first arrived here, I was astonished at the amount of books here. I fell in love with each cover, each name, each genre of every kind. For three years, I have been working here and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Maybe the library that burned down was destined to happen if it meant that I would come here to the Palace. There is a bundle of houses in the garden of the Palace dedicated as living quarters for the servants and staff. I met my friends, Chisato who works as a maid and Sakiko who works in catering. The three of us live together and we have a lot of fun.

‘Vivian! It’s your turn to lock up the library tonight. Remember to give the keys back to Mr Kenzaki before you go.’ Erika shouts into the empty library. I hear her and the twins stomp off and I let out a sigh. I swear it’s like walking on a mine field with that woman. It’s even worse when her two assistants start taunting me because I’m from Wintershire, which is a small, low-class village near the outskirts of the kingdom.

In an hour I finish my work and sit down on a chair. Last year, Chisato was able to help me gain a scholarship for a part-time degree in Literature so I gained permission from Kenzaki to use certain books in the library for my studies. There is literature from all over the world in the library which helps me a ton because I have to study different books from different countries.

Just as I open a book, the large doors open. I stand up when I see who it is.

‘Your Highness…’ I say and bow to the king, Eisuke Ichinomiya. His rule over the kingdom is absolute.

‘Hm, I wasn’t aware there was anyone still here.’ He says, looking at the books sprawled over the table beside me.

‘I had finished my work and was studying, your highness.’ I explain.

‘Ah yes, Kenzaki told me about this. You’re the librarian studying Literature.’

I nod.

‘Is there anything you need? A book or tea?’ I ask.

‘Coffee. And I want the strategy books written in the 1700s.’

‘Very well, your highness. The war fare and military strategy books?’ I ask and he nods at me, taking a seat at the plush sofa by the fireplace. I heard from Sakiko that the king likes to drink sweet coffee so I put sugar cubes and milk into the mug with some cookies I baked. Hopefully, he’ll eat them?

When I place the tray down, he looks sceptically at the cookies.

‘Oh, don’t worry! I made the cookies so they’re not poisonous. I’ll even eat one now if you want?’

‘No, that’s not necessary.’ I bow and head upstairs. I bring the books in a basket and lay them on the coffee table and stack the rest on the floor.

‘This coffee is adequate.’ He mumbles and I look up at him, shocked to have been praised by the king himself. As soon as we make eye contact, he looks away and picks up one of the books.

‘You can continue studying.’ He says.

‘Of course, thank you your highness.’ I bow again and let the books fly me away for a few hours.

*

Hello, hello, hello! So, I never posted the last four days of #kbtbbweek2020 and this is because I had to send my laptop away for two weeks to be repaired. And then I was distracted by my uni work so I never ended up finishing these!

But I have now! Here’s the first story released for 2021, I hope you all have a wonderful and safe year.

*

When I was a child, I found a baby dragon starving by the side of my house. My father and I took her in and nursed her back to health. She told us that she is no baby and had been living for nearly fifty years. Her name is Alexia, and she has this rare condition which prevented her from growing into a full size dragon. Alexia is 50 inches in length and most of that is her tail. She is a silver Cryoback Dragon and my best friend.

My father ran a dragon sanctuary in the countryside. We take in wild dragons, old dragons, injured dragons and even healthy ones. I spent my entire childhood and the beginning of my adult life with the dragons. I played on their tails and cuddled with some of them at night, watching the stars.

Then, my father died, and I inherited his property. I became the Lady of the Dragon House.

‘Lady Vivian! Sir Eisuke and his friends are returning tonight! Here is the letter he sent.’ My handmaiden and friend, Chisato, hands me the document and I see my husband’s handwriting.

Vivian

I am on my way back. Prepare a feast.

Eisuke

Ever the one to be short and curt, but I feel pride and affection in his words.

‘Chisato! Have the maids begin cooking!’ I run from the rooftop down to the gardens where Alexia likes to bathe in the sun.

‘Alexia! Eisuke is coming home from the war!’ I shout out and all the other dragons perk up.

‘Really?’

‘He’s victorious then?’

‘I hope the dragons he took with him will be returning.’

I skip down the large stone steps to a big blue dragon laying lazily on the ground. He watches me as I run to him.

‘Cobalt! Did you hear?’

‘Yes, I did. But do not forget your duties.’ He says and nuzzles his big nose against my face.

‘I know, I know. Oh, I can’t wait! It has been months since he left.’

‘That tough purple man will be fine. He is far too stubborn.’

‘Hm, that reminds me of another who is far too stubborn.’ I laugh and he snorts at me. Cobalt is a retired military Saptillar dragon, with cobalt blue scales as beautiful as a glittering sky. He lost his captain and his crew and first came to the sanctuary because of the trauma. He isolated himself so much and Eisuke told me not to bother, but with time I was able to get through to him. Now he is as protective as he is wonderful.

‘Vivvy! If we’ll be having a celebration, you should get Eisuke a gift.’ Alexia chimes from the chairs behind me.

‘Maybe, but I’m sure he’ll be tired. I can only hope that he isn’t injured or badly wounded.’ I say, concerned.

‘He is the captain of the Ichinomiya Secret Force. When he comes back, he’ll gloating about how he saved us.’ Cobalt retorts.

‘Ha, I’m sure the others will do that for Eisuke. Oh! I need to start preparing their rooms. They’ll be back tonight so you all should prepare for a ton of food coming your way!’ I say, and the dragons start roaring in delight.

*

‘My lady! Come quick! I can see Kenzaki’s form in the sky! That must be them!’ Sakiko shouts out and a large horn is blown to signal the returning soldiers.

I fix the hem of my dress and run down the outside stairs just in time to see Eisuke’s dragon, Kenzaki, touch down safely on the ground. All eight dragons and all eight men with their crews have returned home.

‘Eisuke!’ I shout out as his feet land on the ground. His dark purple officer suit is completely untouched, as clean and unwrinkled as if I had just ironed them. When his beautiful eyes land on mine, he smirks at me.

‘Well, aren’t you going to greet me?’ He says in his usually confident voice and I breakdown into tears. My feet run to Eisuke and my arms wrap around his torso as tight as I can. I sob into his chest as he returns the hug.

‘You’re such a cry baby aren’t you, love?’ He whispers but I feel his affection laced within those harsh words.

‘Only because you made me worry.’

‘I told you, didn’t I? That I would come back to you. Victorious.’

Eisuke pulls my face away from his chest and his chilled lips press onto mine. I hear cheering and laughter surround us, but I let my husband be the focus of my heart.

After the festivities, we hear the government announce the end of the war. Eisuke and I take a stroll out by the edge of the sanctuary.

‘Let’s sit for a while Eisuke. You must be tired.’

‘Fine.’

We sit on the fountain edge and Eisuke takes my hand into his lap.

‘How have you been, Vivian?’

‘Well, ever since you left, I was praying for your return. For months, I tried to supress my worry and anxiety and continued my duties here. I looked after the dragons, fed them, looked after the staff, servants and maids, and do you know, I started teaching the children of the maids as well?’ I say and ask.

‘I know. You said in your letter. I hope you’re not teaching them how to be silly and strange like you.’ Eisuke teases, pinching my cheek.

‘No! Of course not. I’m teaching them English, History, Mathematics and manners.’

‘Oh? Very serious subjects. Maybe I should join you and begin teaching as well.’

‘On what?’

‘Strategy. Business. How to look after a dragon. Useful subjects. ‘

‘Are my subjects not useful?’ I pout and he chuckles at me, poking my puffed out cheeks.

‘They’re useful. But don’t forget who you should be giving all your time to.’

‘You?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, now that you’re back, we can do that! The both of us can start teaching: you with practical subjects and me with desk work subjects. Oh, and the others can probably help out too! Ota can teach art, Soryu can teach defence and how to tame a dragon, Baba can teach cooking and Kishi… um..’

‘He can teach the kids how to have a proper night’s sleep. Or how to turn a garbage bin into a bed.’

‘He did what?’

We look at each other for a moment before bursting out laughing. After a few minutes, we listen to the rushing water behind us.

‘Eisuke, I’m glad you’re home.’