Isaac look at the entrance to the village, framed beautifully by cherry blossom forests on either side. It was perfect beyond words, already soothing him after his long trek here.

Alvin had written to him, inviting him to enjoy the festivities here and as Isaac had nothing else calling his attention he decided to make the journey out. He was glad that the just the sight of the village made it worth it.

...But why did everything smell faintly of...fish? No, shark???

Now, where's the big guy in question...

"Alvin!" Isaac spotted him at last, waving a hand over his head to catch the mercenary's attention.

“You can totter, more like. Come here.” If Ludger was going to insist on attempting to walk, Alvin would allow him just until he collapsed enough that he couldn’t argue further. He racked an arm over Ludger’s shoulders and was promptly rewarded with sobbing.

“Life ain’t fair, ‘specially when it comes to ladies. It’s probably for the best anyway. Can you imagine the kind of debt you’d be in if you tried to take her out to a restaurant?”

Alvin’s words weren’t comforting. All they did was twist the knife that was already in his heart. “NO!” Ludger pushed off Alvin, stumbling backwards few steps and landed on his butt. “Why can’t it work out?!” He cried, words getting muddled by the booze and the sobbing now. “I could--I could afford it!”

@broadswordandpistol

His stumpy legs carried him as he waddled about the cemetery, tending to the areas where grass was overgrowing or weeds threatened to climb the tombstones. It was a quiet day for once. No children around to jeer at his swollen-over eye or warty, sagging face. He could work quietly and guard those that still slept here.

His hands stopped in their work to pull weeds.

Those that still slept here--those that hadn’t been taken to the necromancer to be revived. A warrant by the Church had been put out for him. How much longer would he remain in business now, that Necromancer?

@broadswordandpistol

After Sheena, who Stacy and he had agreed on being the godmother to Isaac, the next person Regal wanted to tell was his cousin, Alvin. He had little family to speak of these days, and Stacy less so with hers all back in her world. It would be difficult with the rumors flying around about Stacy, but as of their marriage she officially was Anastasia Bryant and was theoretically untouchable by society. Hopefully Isaac would be accepted without issue.

CARING FOR STUBBORN MUSES

“You’re still giving me a choice?” Wherever they were, the real world felt achingly far away, although the pain was far more fresh than last time.

What had happened? He barely remembered. There was a fight – there was always a fight, wasn’t there? a blur of beating wings, a scream, and diving talons – but they’d gotten through that –

Hadn’t they?

He grabbed at Death’s robe in an attempt to haul himself upright, but his fingers closed on nothing. “I gotta get back.”

“Your mind and body teeters.” Death explained, twisting his head as he looked down at the other. “Your end is not yet assured, unless you choose it to be.” All animals had it in them the instinct to lay down and die or to fight back. Humans there the puzzling ones, wavering between the two for such drawn out times.

He could see it reflected in the man’s eyes, the battle he endured. The battle that could be his death.

“I’d promise not to tell, but he could zip back and check in whenever, couldn’t he? Course that assumes it’s actually worth it to him.”

A great mood was an understatement. Spending the afternoon with Stacy, even without the promised picnic, sounded like a fantastic way to pass a perfect Indian summer day.

Stacy hadn’t said Alvin should bring anything, but he never could resist. He stopped for a tiny bunch of brightly-colored sunflowers that seemed to call up the last of summer, and a hand-sized box of bonbons, and went off to meet her with a lightness in his step.

The blanket was rolled out under a tree with the bento near the edge. Stacy checked the time on her GHS as excitement bubbled in her. Alvin would be arriving soon according to his ETA. When she looked up there he was coming down the path! And with gifts in hand! She should have guessed he would.