#numbered anon

YES YES YES YES YES 

“Think Nothing Of It”

Writer: Numbered Anon

Warnings: Character death, Depictions of death and dead bodies, Descriptions of body mutilation, Multiple POV, Out of character-ness,

  -Offhand Betrayal-

  He doesn’t think anything of it.

The Commander not meeting them at the camps’ first line of defence.

It’s not the first time the Commander has been caught up with something.

It won’t be the last.

He frowns as they pass by the second line of defence and he firms his grip around Sohothins hilt as they draw closer to the camp.

Because he sees the white-blue auras of allies tinted with reds, greens, purples, yellows and greys -of anger, satisfaction, pain, happiness and mourning- move around them.

Because he feels Rox’s blue aura of trusted friend twitch with unease as she, the Sylvari and the two Humans pick up on something he can’t sense but isn’t eye catching enough for the Norn to pick up on.

Because he hears weapons being sharpened and cleaned and armour being hammered out and the hitches of breath of soldiers shifting slightly, leaving a mix of purple and red riding up over their white-blue aura that’s slowly turning a yellowy orange of an unknown.

Because no one told them that this camp was attacked.

They press into the camp and he flinches.

Because the blue auras of trusted allies’ recoil in horror and disbelief as the group swears.

Because Glint’s overbearing presence of protection and safety retreats and starts twisting into anger.  

Because there’s a heavy mass of green-black festering at two points in the camp, the bigger one off to the side is tainted with satisfaction and joy, the smaller one in the centre and not on the ground is overrun with confusion, pain and betrayal.

He doesn’t hesitate in ripping his blindfold off.

And he wishes that he didn’t.

Because once humour and intelligent filled eyes are now empty and clouded over.

Because once a healthy shade of sinkfurbark is now an unnatural shade of death.

Because wounds that shouldn’t’ve been inflicted are now left open and festering with small insects.

Because there are signs of magic exhaustion running up fingers on someone who seemingly held endless amounts of it.

Because there’s an arrow piercing though a heart.

Because there’s a body propped on a spike and left on display for everyone in the ruined and shattered camp to see.

He doesn’t think anything of it.

Turning Sohothin on those red auras that mark an enemy.

Not when they turned on the Commander first.

  -Betrayal of Self-

  He doesn’t think anything of it.

Blaming the Commander.

He’s not the only one to blame the Commander and it’s the easiest thing to do.

It’s easier then admitting his own faults.

So he yells.

He accuses.

He acts out.

He doesn’t listen.

Because if the Commander can’t protect what matters and won’t take the steps to avenge the fallen, then what good is the Commander?

So he sets out to kill Jormag on his own.

Hunting down the Jotun scroll that Legend said to have been used by Asgeir Dragonrender during the battle against Jormag that removed the fang of the Elder Dragon.

And it nearly gets Rox killed.

But he doesn’t care.

Because the Commander is telling him to give up, that he should leave killing Jormag to them, that they are the only ones who can kill the Elder Dragons.

It’s with gritted teeth that he leaves Rox and the Commander in the cave.

It’s with gritted teeth that he shoots the arrow at Jormags tooth.

It’s with gritted teeth that he tracks down Jormag.

It’s with gritted teeth that he watches Jormag retreat back into the ice with a roar of anguish.

It’s with gritted teeth that he blames the Commander for this.

He doesn’t think anything of it.

Tracking the Commander to the Crystal Desert and letting an arrow fly.

Not when the Commander let him down first.

  -Unknowing Betrayal-

  She doesn’t think anything of it.

Not telling the Commander about her worsening condition.

She’s kept it to herself for a long time now.

It’s second nature to not tell the Commander everything.

She holds her tongue as Gorrik continues to talk, tears building in his eyes as the Commander kneels in front of them, eyes gentle but broken.

The Commander stays silent as the people in Sun’s Refuge move away from them in some semblance of privacy.

Stays silent until Gorrik chokes on his words and sniffs.

Because the Commander promised to look after Blish.

And Blish didn’t come home.

The Commander starts talking then.

Telling them that the power source for the tracker had, at one point, died.

Telling them that the only way to fix it in that moment was with Blish’s body.

Telling them that Blish sends his apologies to them both.

Telling them that Blish says to stop keeping secrets.

Gorrik leaves then and she rings her hands together, her mind racing as she thinks and when she takes a breath, mind made up and looks up to the Commander her mind stops.

Because she sees the shattered look in the Commanders eyes.

And when the Commander notices her attention, she gets a soft, broken smile in return.

Slowly the Commander moves to place a hand on the top of her head, and she lets it rest there as the Commander touches their foreheads together.

“I’m sorry.”

With the words echoing in her ears, she watches as the Commander stands up, eyes shifting from broken mess to Commander of the Pact, Dragon’s Watch Leader, Dragon Killer, Champion, HeroLegionnaireSlayerSavantValiant.

She doesn’t think anything of it.

Letting the Commander walk away as Blish’s words echo in her head.

Not when it looks like the Commander will break apart with a single brush of the wind.

  -Betrayal from Mutiny-

  You think about it.

The whispers and looks and cut off conversations and parents herding children away and-

Hard not to when you’re the cause of it all.

And you don’t know what you’ve done to cause this reaction.

You only did what everyone asked you to do.

What everyone demanded you do.

You keep walking.

Ignoring everyone as they stop what they are doing to watch you.

-No one bothers in hiding their distaste, their glares, their hate-

Ignoring words that ring in your ears as your back presents itself to people.

-You always did have better hearing than anyone else-

Ignoring laughter be cut sort as children notice where their ball landed.

-You’ve long since learnt not to bother trying to give toys back to children-

Ignoring.

Ignoring.

Ignoring until you leave the City and you can’t ignore the mob that’s following your footsteps anymore.

So you stop and the people behind you stop as you turn to face them and you note the weapons they have picked up in an attempt to intimidate you.

And you wonder as the main ringleader of this mob talks and says everything you’ve heard from the pass groups that have tried pulling this before, what will be worse.

Letting them kill you and seeing if the Judge will keep you this time around.

Or.

Killing them all and give into the person everyone says you are.

You think about it.

Watching as the mob grows tense as you reach for your weapon and you let your magic drift off of you.

After all, you’ve only ever given them what they wanted of you.

And they want an enemy.

Then there's the new bloods, a couple of Charr they just picked up from the Black Citadel before the alarm sounded for the attack on Smokestead. The Warband has gone through a number of members. Members who have died in battle. Members who fell to illness. Members who betrayed and turned to Flame. Members who had enough and retried from the front line. It's a 'band name well known across the Legions. A 'band name the newest Cubs either dream about joining or mutter the name in fear 2/ -Numbered

In front of the Crypt, OS looks between the entrance and the waves of ghosts that may as well be cockroaches because they know Rytlock is down there, but they also have a duty to stop the ghosts here. And that's when OS's Sparing partner gives them a shove, a smile on their lips as the rest start digging at OS's relationship with Rytlock and the newbies hold an air of confusion and OS heads off down into the Crypt with a sarcastic remark thrown over their shoulder. 3/ -Numbered Anon

Side ideas, OS has a catchphrase of "Look alive Cubs!" as they enter battle. Charr of all ages try to guess what age OS is, no ones been brave enough to simply ask OS. Tybalt is the cub of one of the past warband members. OS needs glasses to read but refuses 'cause "I'm not THAT old." OS keeps the dogtags of all dead warband members. OS brings their Cubs first teddy bear with them everywhere. 4/ (I have more to talk about, but I need to do a few things - Numbered Anon

(and back) When OS picks an Order, their Sparing partner joins them, effectively leaving the Warband to the younger generation. One of Rox's dead band mate is a Cub of a Warband Member. Rytlock refuses to tell OS what happened to DE -mainly that Logan, someone Rytlock gave his Blood Legion Emblem to, effectively making them brothers, abandoned them- OS would've jumped into the Mist after Rytlock if not for Sparring partner and Smodur jumping them. 5/ -Numbered Anon

I ADORE the idea that OS looks at fighting the Dragons as their last fight, only OS and their Sparring Partner think this, to Rytlock and everyone else this thought doesn't cross their minds -or if it does, it pushed way to the back of the line. ...Oh...Balthazar...that'll be a mess and a half. Rytlock is running through the stages of grief before he gets off of the air ship, he snarls orders at OS /to get up! You're not done here!/ all while ignoring the tears that sting his eyes 6/ -Numbered

I wonder how much OS would interact with Ryland and what impact would they have on Ryland, I mean, OS can't say anything against how Rytlock interacts (or lack there of) with Ryland because that's just how Charr /work/ but OS feels the hole in their being where their Cub and mate once were. And then there's Bangar. OS coaching Trahearne through being a leader and a Soldier, if they use a GS they teach Trahearne how to use one cause burn me you're going to take my tail off! 7/ -Numbered anon

as for the olmakhohan, and maybe this is because they confuse me, but I think OS would find them odd, not in the fact they hate violence or that they use magic but in the way they've somehow removed the idea that Charr are beings of War (and I think there might have been mentions of them not understand that there are Charr outside of their tribe or something, not sure on that) in a mere 200 years. 8/8 -Numbered Anon

JDHIGHBIFHD ah the ol’ ‘I no longer vibe with you  BEGONE’ mid tutorial xDDD

and yes! I keep trying to mentally think what Legion they could be from and honestly any could work! They just pick up and move between legions practically all the time - maybe they stick to the black Citadel because they’re an old friend of Smodur - they fight the frontlines there, but every warband has stories of their warbands heroics - doing the impossible, breaking the front lines. They live for the thrill of the vanguard, even if they’re Ash or Iron. Cubs playing make-believe all argue over which Legion they’re in. Truthfully even they’ve forgotten at this point. 

If pressed they laugh and say “anything but Flame”, but still respectfully ask how the Flame Legion are doing at Bangar’s meeting, and welcome any to their band who want to join (bonus if they’re a female or nonbinary Old Soldier)

and HOOHOHO I DIDN’T EVEN THINK ABOUT BALTHAZAR - they’re ready, they’ve accepted death, but then they remember Aurene, the cub they never got to see grow, and the fury drives them back into the fray - the Judge can collected them later, this needs to be done. They come to, to Rytlock crying over their body, head bowed, and muttering a wobbly mantra for the dead. They swear they hear Canach laugh when they place their hand on Rytlock’s face and he jolts in shock as they joke they’re “not that old cub”, despite the blood and stiffness to them now

and the dogstags and teddy bear got me good ngl - they’re their most prized possessions, and ones they show Aurene, or Cre when she’s feeling upset about Ryland - reminds them of what hey fight for, what they fight to leave a better world for.

Their fury when Taimi is taken? Incomprehensible. Dragon’s Watch is apart of their band as much as any of it’s members, they’re family. You don’t mess with the Commander’s family.

OOOOH what if that’s why Bangar kept Rytlock away as much as he did (not saying Ryltock wasn’t at least partially responsible for not going to see Ryland but what if the majority of his attempts are blocked by Bangar), because Bangar knows at least a bit of OS has rubbed onto Rytlock, and he’ll try to pass that down onto Ryland. Bangar can’t wait another generation (how fukkin old can charr get anyway??)

edit: forgot the feckin olmakhan!

A super speedy comic thingmajig based on Numbered Anon’s Icebrood Commander writing’s cuz you hurt me REAL GOOD

OOOOOOOOOOOH Bad guy trahearne! I’ve never even thought of that!

Imagine, we take him to cleanse Orr, and then he reveals he’s actually poisoning it, and has been using our good nature to rally an army before casting us as the ones who poisoned Orr and tossing us out

*cracks the door open* PTSS! Imagine, if you will, a Commander who completely freaks out in the maze. Full blown anxiety attack. “No. nonononono! You can’t have them!” “I wont let you have them!” “They aren’t yours to take!” “Give them back!”  "…Please…“ "Don’t…don’t leave me…” No one knows what to do with the Commander who’s curled up on themselves, who wont move from the wall, who finches at sounds no one else can hear, who starts screaming whenever 1/ - Numbered Anon

(my askbox requires sacrifice sorry Numbered!)

with no Rytlock in sight. “Wha-” you start, but then theres a shift of white and Crecia is running of, Bangar’s name on her lips and you start to run after her, only you hear Braham’s heartbroken whisper of “mum?” and your attention snaps to him and you hardly wonder when he got to the split in the maze as you sprint after him, wanting, needing to catch him before he leaves your sight, because you know, that once he’s out of sight, you’ll never see him again 3/ -Numbered Anon

only, your foot catches on something and you stumble and you only look away for a second to catch yourself, but that second is all that’s needed for Braham to leave your sight, denial twists in your mind and you continue running after him, because maybe he’s still there, maybe…maybe he didn’t leave you. Not again. You round the corner and stop dead and your gut sinks. Because there’s nothing there. You curl your arms around you stomach and turn. (You don’t think about 4/ -Numbered Anon

Jhavi, because how can you imagine up the reason why someone would leave you when you’ve only just met them?) - And yeah, I don’t know, just that if something like that happened, Jormag’s whispers would hold more weight to them. And having another side thought about the maze, can I petition a headcanon that to the others, it was a full on maze, that to them, there were more splits in the maze, deadends that you couldn’t spot by looking around the corner, 5/ -Numbered Anon

and even corridors that would lead them back to points they’ve already been in before. And no, I’m not salty that the maze turned out to be what it was (a one road thing), not at all. Nope. I wasn’t filled with dread and excitement at the same time when the word maze was mentioned only to have that feeling taken away three steps in. Nope, don’t know what you’re talking about. 6/6 -Numbered Anon

HO SHIT YOU’RE RIGHT ANON!!!

God imagine seeing the person who’s faced down death without shattering crumble because they think they’ve been abandoned, like how eveyone else they’ve ever loved has left them. How it’s somehow all their fault. They drove everyone away and they don’t know how. They killed everyone, somehow its all their fault. 

Also I’m not gonna lie but the random hallucinations, besides the ones of our party who attacked us, are terrifying. They remind us of how small we are. And you’ve pointed out perfectly how everyone we know has someone they shove us aside to save

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH SHIT YES THAT’S SO COOL!!!

It's not as concerning as the flinching but when the Commander jumps at a flickering light? there are questions. Then there are the times while in the middle of a battle (the Commander normally fights alone but their friends are concern and try to have someone go with the Commander on missions) when the Commanders eyes pull away from their opponent and they /freeze up/ and my brain is on it's last legs, hopefully I can dig at this more in the morning 2/2 - Numbered Anon

GIMME THE BUDDIES! I feel you buddy this oncoming cold keeps kicking me in the head! Get some good sleep my dear friend!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS NUMBERED YOU MARVELOUS EVIL GENIUS!Maybe they pass it off as a fear of lighting and thunder, nobody mentions how they never twitched at it before.

Nobody mentions how they jump seemingly randomly, or whimper in their sleep and hide under the covers. Nobody comments when lighting crashes mere feet from them, and they don’t react - because it’s not an anomaly