Number 18 for Raphael/the Rythm Thief from the prompt meme pretty please?
Thank you for the Rhythm Thief prompt. I’ve been needing to write more for this game!
Apologies— this isn’t narrated by Raphael— and it’s more about Marie trying to be strong for Raphael… But she and Charlie taking care of him, so hopefully that’s ok?
This came out a little more angsty that I anticipated— something something Marie and Charlie go to save Raphael from the chevaliers something something… Raphael’s not doing too good after being imprisoned. There’s one mention of blood and maybe the chevaliers weren’t feeding him but it’s kept vague.
-
“You don’t have to be strong all the time.”
Night after night, for a whole year, Marie had dreamed of how her reunion with Raphael would play out.
Would he approach her backstage after a concert? Would he leap up onto the balcony outside her bedroom? Or would he encounter her in the street, like when they first met?
Marie’s dreams definitely hadn’t involved a gothic castle once belonging to Jean— Graf— or a cold, dark dungeon. She never would have imagined seeing Raphael, after all this time, unconscious and in chains.
Cradling Raphael’s head in her lap, Marie tried not to cry as Charlie picked the locks of his chains. Marie’s tears wouldn’t cure Raphael now— they weren’t part of some fairytale…
This felt more like a nightmare.
Fondue whimpered and nosed Raphael’s face. Up until that point, Fondue had been nothing but brave, noble and resolute; he had escaped captivity and led Marie and Charlie all the way back to Raphael.
But, despite Fondue’s best efforts, it seemed they were too late.
They had finally found Raphael, but Marie almost wished they hadn’t.
He had existed in her memory as an unbreakable hero, an enduring angel or (for lack of a better word) a benign phantom.
Nothing could touch Phantom R; the artful thief who laughed in the faces of the Paris Constabulary, who could soar over Montparnasse Tower if he so desired, and who had bested (the so-called) Emperor Napoleon in a sword fight.
He had fought his way through armies, gunfire, and the Hanging Gardens to rescue Marie.
Using the Bracelet of Tiamat, he had channelled the hopes and willpowers of millions of Parisians to save their city.
Now, though… All Marie saw was Raphael. A poor, orphaned boy, one year older than her, who had set out to locate his missing father, only to be met with violence and despair.
Even in that gloomy prison, Marie could tell how pale Raphael was— paler than when he had been shot by Graf on the Eiffel Tower.
Marie smoothed Raphael’s hair and shuddered when she felt dried blood there.
Charlie frowned at her, and Marie swallowed. Marie would not— could not— lose her nerve now.
If Raphael could survive (mon Dieu, please, let him survive) months in this prison, then Marie could last a few more minutes.
“Hurry,” Marie whispered, with a glance at the heavy dungeon door.
Charlie had knocked out the guards with a football, but they could wake up at any time, or reinforcements might come along.
There was a click and the chains finally fell away. Fondue licked Raphael’s freed hand.
Marie adjusted the violin case strapped to her back, before she gently pulled Raphael’s right arm over her shoulder. Charlie took his left arm. Together, they lifted Raphael off the floor. (He was so light… When had he last eaten?)
“Fondue,” Charlie grunted quietly, “you go on—“
A weak voice rasped, “No…”
“Raphael,” Marie gasped as he stirred against her.
But his head was still hanging low. His words were little more than an incoherent mumble:
“Please… Jus’… Leave me alone—“
“Nope,” Charlie huffed, taking a determined step towards the door. “We didn’t come all this way just to leave you behind.”
Marie tried to reassure him, where Charlie most likely had not. She patted his arm. “It’s us, Raphael— Marie, Charlie and Fondue. We’re taking you home—“
“Don’ know where…” Raphael shifted his head, dazed. “Fondue’s gone…”
At this, Fondue let out a whine. Marie frowned; had Raphael been punished for letting Fondue escape?
As Charlie opened the door, Marie was left holding Raphael up on her own. She hugged him against her and promised the worst of it was over. He wasn’t alone anymore.
This was by no means Phantom R’s last performance— He would dance again!— but for now, he could step behind the curtain and let them take over.
Marie heard Charlie sending Fondue on ahead to check for more guards.
When Marie and Charlie emerged from the dungeon, carrying Raphael between them again, Fondue came bolting back to them.
A stampede of clanking footsteps and angry shouts pursued Fondue.
“You were seen?” Charlie hissed— as if anyone could miss a white Alsatian Cheesehund in a grey stone castle.
Fondue pinned his ears back. “Hrrrrn,” he replied sheepishly.
The guards were fast-approaching through the corridor Marie and Charlie had used to get in.
Marie glanced past the dungeon door— down a different corridor.
Maybe there was a another way out? Wasn’t there always, in these old castles?
How had Fondue broken out in the first place?
Fondue was quick, and Charlie could keep up with him. Charlie was strong enough to take Raphael alone. And only Charlie could fly the hang glider off the tower. (They had done it before.)
Marie kissed Raphael on the cheek, before she removed his arm from her shoulder. She passed him over to Charlie completely.
“Y-you three go on— find another way out. I’ll hold them off—“
“What?” Charlie exclaimed, at the same time Fondue yelped, “Woeuf?!”
Marie unstrapped the case from her back. She withdrew her violin and her bow.
Charlie protested, “You can’t—“
“I will.”
With the power of her violin, Marie had summoned the Hanging Gardens and later, she had helped Raphael bring them crashing down.
She didn’t want to destroy the castle, but maybe she could deter their enemies. (At least giving Charlie enough time to get out with Raphael and Fondue…)
Charlie reached for Marie’s arm, but thought better of it. Charlie was already saddled with Raphael.
“For the record,” Charlie breathed, “I never doubted you. I just made a promise to your mother—“
“Promise me you’ll keep Raphael safe,” Marie said.
Charlie nodded. “You’d better catch up with us.”
“Roeuf!” Fondue agreed, pawing at Marie’s shoe.
Marie smiled at him softly. “Go on, boy.”
Lead Raphael home.
Fondue tore off down the corridor. Charlie followed him with Raphael.
Marie took a deep breath and prepared her stance. Then, she faced the oncoming surge of guards.
2 notes
·
View notes
Percy at ease
Percy calm, but a little on edge
Percy when mildly angry
Friendly reminder that Percy jackson - our beloved silly adorable seaweed brain - is absolutely terrifying. When he’s angry, when he’s scared, when he’s on edge - he’s not warm and fuzzy.
No other character gets that reaction from people. Jason (the sweetie) is perceived as calm and in control, nico (our favorite self-outcasted outcast) is perceived as solemn and creepy, reyna (girlboss queen slay) is perceived as confident and assertive, and annabeth (our girl) is perceived as fierce, clever, and formidable. They are all intimidating to an extent.
But not like Percy. No. Becasue even when he’s at ease, he’s described as wild and disobedient. And when he’s not at ease, even if just little bit, he’s perceived as powerful, dangerous, and scary. Someone who NOBODY wants to mess with. Nobody even questions his power. One look from him has literal gangs running the other way. One look from him has Leo so scared that he’s literally shaking, and feeling the same innate fright and alarm that he does when jason summons an ear-piercing, earth-shaking, deadly bolt of lighting.
like… HELLO??? can we all just sit on that for a moment?? good lord
One angry look from percy has people thinking one thing: Run.
Percy is, canonically, the character that people find the most frightening and intimidating.
And unless he’s in a good mood - which you better hope he is - the reality is that most of us would be completely terrified of him if we met him.
12K notes
·
View notes