#admiral cabral

[nemhaine42]

just me, still here, thinking about them sailors

#greedfall #nauts #greedfall nauts #captain vasco #admiral cabral #greedfall flavia #greedfall jonas #greedfall lauro #arty nemie #does it even go in my art tag if it's just memery??

[seeasunset]

ー Activity levels: ✦✦✦✧✧✧

ー The Nauts' involvement:

The Nauts is a rather large group, mixed with different races, found along the lines of any coastal areas or anywhere that holds a large body of waters. Many of the Dalish elves don't function like many of the others, though it is confirmed that they are Dalish elves, being given up by their clans at a young age.

Much like their canon info, the Nauts still sail the seas, doing both cargo sails as well as having warships of their own. It is unknown how they managed to be advanced so much or so people thinks, though many believe it's the work of magic. A secret the Nauts will guard with their life.

During Inquisition, the Nauts decided to form an alliance with the Inquisition. By doing so, Admiral Cabral sent Vasco over to solidify this alliance while he got laid off.

ー Vasco's involvement:

As mentioned above, Vasco is sent over to the Inquisition to solidify the alliance between the Inquisition and the Nauts, much to his disapproval. He has arrived when they have reached Skyhold, joining in either during their walk there or after they settled, depending if you have talked to Cabral in Haven or afterwards.

Despite being a Dalish elf, he doesn't uphold many of the beliefs and traditions like a normal Dalish Elf has. At least, not in the same manner as they do. You can tell that he hasn't been raised in such things vs him having to do his research. After all, his clan given him up as a child and since then, he's been on the seas, sailing.

His personal quest does involve looking for his family but upon doing so, he will find out the life he yearns for is not one he wants at all. He is happy to be part of a Naut as well as help the Inquisition more than before.

Much like Cole, Vasco has a tendency to use his invisibility skill to pop in and out of places, scaring the living crap out of people. The difference is that, Vasco does this because he doesn't want to get stares every two seconds or stop.

He can be found in the library, talking to Leliana, in his room, or wandering the entire Skyhold.

#tbt

[bride-of-pyros]

The Power of Hopes and Dreams

a fanfiction of  Netflix’s show “The  Sandman” by Laura Vázquez

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters Morpheous/Dream, Lucienne, Matthew, Lucifer, Desire, Death, John Dee, Johanna Constantine, Corinthian, the Fates etc. Some characters, situations, character arcs, dialogues that i have taken literally as they are in the show belong to Netflix and Neil gaiman alone. I have only used them as a means to express my story, I claim no ownership over them.

Also, some lines of dialogue and the mirror of Merlin have been taken from Harry Potter. They are J.K. Rowling’s creation and hers alone.

Finally: the pictures used to illustrate the story have been taken from Google images. The pictures of Raina belong to the game “Shaiya Light and darkness”. The image of the dark faerie is Etayne Goddess of darkness from the same game.

The image of Jack Frost and Elsa is fanmade and I found it on google images. No ownership claimed.

The white dragon is property of Ciruelo Cabral.

And lastly:  the pictures  of Dream/Mopheus and the Dreaming belong to Netflix and Google images.

Dream had been trapped in the magical crystal prison on the basement of Burgess Manor for a hundred years. His captor hadn’t meant to trap him but his sister Death. During his captivity, Dream didn’t say a word. His only confort was the thought of freedom and vengeance. Alex, his new captor, was an old man in a wheeled chair. He came to negotiate with Dream once again but received only silence in return.

What Alex didn’t notice was that he broke the magical circle of protection with his wheeled chair. Things were about to change. 

                          Raina was in the throne room. Like every night, she entered the Dreaming in her sleep. She admired the oniric beauty of this place. Once again, she admired the arquitecture, the columns, the starry sky above and just for a little while the pain of her loss receded. Like every time she came to the Dreaming, she was wearing her Goddess of the Moon attire. White and golden, sexy and beautiful, her hair a cascade of gold, her big grey eyes full of wonder.

                                     She was staring at the stars above. She didn’t notice the presence of the Dream Lord sitting on the throne.

Dream was staring at the intruder, curious to know how she entered his realm.

He couldn’t help but notice how beatiful she was, her heart-shaped face, her eyes, her body…

It had been eons since Dream had felt such desire… But he had more pressing matters to attend to.

A deep, sensual voice came to her ears.

-          Dream : - Do you like it?

Raina was startled. Every time she came here the place was empty. Who was the Dark Lord talking to her?

-          Raina: - Yes. It’s beautiful. Like a Dream…

Dream rose from the throne and started walking towards her. As he approached, she walked away from him. There was something about him that repelled and attracted her at the same time.

Dream: - who are you? How did you enter the Dreaming?

                                        Raina: - I…

She looked straight into his oceanic blue eyes and then turned around and ran away.

Dream ran after her through the maze-like pattern of the palace and guessed where she was headed.

Raina reached a room with only one door. She looked at it, tried to push it but it was useless. There were shapes engraved on the black stone resembling stars, a comet and the solar system. The door of space.

The only figure that had colour was the sun. It stood at the exact centre of the door and there was a yellow orb made of topaz representing the sun. But Everything was out of place.  Raina tried to remember her junior high lessons on astronomy to remember what the solar system looks like.

Ok, let’s go.

There was a small crystal table near the door and there they were: the planets, the moon, a comet and two stars made of the most radiant precious stones she had ever seen.

Raina: - Come on Raina, you can do it.

She first grabbed a smokey quartz sphere and placed it on Mercury’s place. She turned it clockwise and it clicked.

Then, it was time for the fire opal. She placed it on venus and it clicked.

Next, azurita for the Earth. Click. And, a shiny pearl for the moon.

The red ruby for mars and citrine for Jupiter.

Raina: - Come on, come on!

Sapphire with diamonds for Saturn, turquoise for Uranus and amethyst for Neptune. Yes!

 Now, the stars.

First, pink quartz for the Halley comet. And then… she had no idea which stars these were. One was big, the other one small. She closed her eyes and a sweet voice whispered in her ear: the clock in Vega…

Ok, she had to decide. She placed a small diamond in the small star and a round moonstone for vega.

Wait,,, there was another star, and no more pieces. She had been so close…

Above all the others, there was a big eight- pointed star. Tiny engraved snowflakes clustered it round.

Raina: - snowflakes, snowflakes!..... Ah! Polaris! The frozen star!

Dream was fast approaching and  she could hear his deep voice: there’s nowhere to run.

Raina dismissed his voice, grabbed the eight-pointed star pendant she wore around her neck, placed it on Polaris and turned it clockwise.

Clack!

The contures of the door started shining white and the door opened. Raina entered and all morpheus could see was Raina’s shape dissappearing into the gloom.

She went through a dark hallway for about ten minutes. Then, she emerged on a desolate landscape, under the starry sky and full of mist. She started walk8ing and walking and suddenly she encountered a gigantic mirror.

 This was no normal mirror, for it shows the beholder their deepest and most secret heart’s desires. Raina approached it and stood in front of it.

Jack and her in their wedding attires danced with closed eyes.

  Suddenly, she dissapeared .He placed both hands on the mirror and she did the same. Her forehead touched his and she closed her eyes. She forgot about Dream  and everything else, all she wanted was to be here with him. But then, the mirror changed: Jack was pale and greyish like a corpse and the bullett wounds were pouring his lifeblood until it was too late.

She started breathing heavily, all the old love, longing for him and the anguish of knowing that he had died to save her came back to her all at once. She started breathing harder and harder until she refused to take it anymore.

She summoned Excalibur, the  ancient sword that can only be wielded by a person with a fair heart,  and destroyed a part of the mirror.

Raina: - AAAAAHHHHHHH

Jack dissapeared from it and then something happened that Raina did not intend: her reflection on the damaged mirror was Morpheus.

Raina: - What’s this supposed to mean?

And then, Dream’s reflection said:

Dream’s reflection; - Always and forever, I know that in the altar of my own personal faith you’ll always be the mirror where I look upon myself.

Raina took a moment to assimilate the words and then kept on running. towards the distant Ivory Tower.

Clarification: (the name Ivory Tower and this picture belong to the neverending Story movie).

 She descended a dark spiral staircase, crossed the room full tapestries of magical creatures 

( Sight', c1500 (detail), from the series 'The lady and the unicorn', Musée de Cluny –)

to the crystal gates and went out into the garden.

                Dream was about to reach her but she summoned the ancient sword that can only be wielded by someone with a fair heart: Excalibur.

                                              Dream guessed what she was going to do and extended his hand. Lightning came down from the sky and hit the sword and made it dissapear. Raina was terrified.

 Dream:  -There’s nowhere to run…

Dream grabbed Raina and cornered her against a wall of rock and placed his hands on either side of her face. His face was really close to hers and his eyes were locked on hers.

Dream: - Now, where were we? Ah, yes, who are you and how you entered the Dreaming.

Don’t be afraid, I feel it too.

Raina: - I… my name is Raina. I don’t know how I do it, it just happens.

His eyes were locked on hers.

Dream: - You’re telling me the truth. I will not forget this.

Raina: - I will never lie to you.

Dream: - Have you any idea of the things I can do to you for entering the Dreaming without permission?

Raina: - Oh yes? What will you do? Send me a nightmare every night to remind me that I couldn’t save the one I love? That has already been happening for the past six monts.... Or no, even  better! You’ll send me to hell! I’ve been living in hell every single day since he’s gone. Except when I come here. You cannot make me feel any more pain than I already have.

Raina pushed Dream aside and started walking away. But then...

Raina: - You weren’t here before. Who are you?

Dream: - I am Morpheus, Dream of the Endless.

Raina: - Morpheus? The Lord of Dreams?

Dream: - Yes

Raina: - You built this place…

She was looking at him in awe, unable to grasp what kind of being he was, when suddenly the ground shook.

Raina: -  Do you know what that is?

Dream: - Yes

Raina: - The NOTHING! RUN!

She took his hand and they headed to the throne room. Raina looked up at the sky and saw the nothing devouring the stars.

Raina: - Do something!

Dream: - I can’t! I am prisoner in a magical prison! If you want to save the Dreaming you will have to save me!

Raina: - How? Tell me!

Dream: - Destroy my prison!

Raina: - Where are you?

Dream: - In Burgess Manor!

 The ground on which Raina stood cracked open and she fell into darkness…

Raina woke up on her bed filled with sadness.

Raina: - The Dreaming…. Burgess Manor.

She rose from her bed, it was four in the morning. She turned on her computer and browsed “Burgess Manor”. There it was, and there was a sign of “guards wanted”.

She had an idea.

Ten o’clock in the morning, Raina stood in front of Burgesse’s manor front door wearing her Security Guard costume and her fake curriculum vitae on her hands.

She knocked on the front door and waited for it to be opened. The butler welcomed her and showed her in.

Alex read her impressive curriculum and hired her to be Dream’s new guard.

He took her to the basement and showed the naked prisoner to her. Dream and Raina crossed glances but neither said anything. Dream’s glee and anticipation could be seen in his eyes.

Alex warned Raina not to touch the magical circle. Raina gave him a Yes, sir! And Alex went to sleep upstairs.

Apart from her there two other guards with whom she chatted amiably.

At the hour of the wolf, the two guards were bored. She offered to bring them a drink and they accepted.

Raina poured three glasses of Coke and poured the sleeping powder she had brought with her on two of them. She went down the stairs to the basement and took the glass she knew had no powder. The guards drank the Coke and ten minutes later they were deeply asleep.

She took off her shoes and went straight to the magic circle. She erased a part of it and grabbed one of the guards weapons. She shot the crystal prison five times and shattered a part of it. Blue light came from inside it and Dream came out from it. Dream was free.

            He was completely naked, but she didn’t notice. She smiled with joy but at the same time a sense of dread filled her heart. Would he punish her for entering the Dreaming without permission? Would he take out his anger on her?

Dream stood in front of her looking in her eyes.

Dream: - After a hundred years of imprisonment, you extend your hand in friendship to me. What reward do you want for the immense favour you’ve done to me?

Raina: - Reward?

Dream: - Yes

Raina: - You’re not going to send me to hell?

Dream: - I could never do anything to hurt you.

Raina started thinking and came up with an idea. But it was impossible.

Raina: - Something impossible. It can’t be done.

Dream: - What would it be?

Raina: - One more day with my husband. To properly say goodbye.

Dream’s face approached hers.

Dream: - Granted

He opened his hand and golden sand engulfed Raina. She passed out and Dream carried her bridal style to the portal and both of them appeared on the Dreaming. Raina was sleeping…They reached the outer doors of the Dreaming which opened and Dream was greeted by Lucienne.

Dream laid Raina down on his bed and told Lucienne he had to punish his captors. He asked her to make sure that nobody disturbed Raina. He went to Burgess Manor and punished Alex with eternal sleep.

He came back to the Dreaming and entered Raina’s fantasy.

Raina and Jack were having breakfast. Morpheus watched everything but had decided not to intervene.

Raina and Jack spent the day together as they had for so long. They had lunch, ate chocolate mousse, watched their favourite movie and went to the park.

Raina made dinner and then they made love. Dream felt a pang of jealousy and couldn’t watch.

Raina tucked him in and they went to sleep. She woke up in the middle of the night and when she checked the other side of the bed he was gone. She sat in bed with her legs crossed and started crying copiously. She had lost him again.

She was still crying when Dream spoke.

Dream: - I’m sorry

Raina was startled. She got up from bed and approached Dream. She placed her hand on his face and looked at him.

Raina: - Don’t be. You’ve done the impossible. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to be with him one last time.

Dream was about to cry, he had never known such a generous person.

Raina and Dream locked eyes and she held him tight. Dream held her too and placed his head on her shoulder. What was happening to him?

Raina started crying again and Dream couldn’t stand it. When she stopped her eyes were red. She looked Dream in the eye and told him:

Raina: - I cannot ever repay you. I cannot thank you enough… What happened to the Dreaming? Did the Nothing?...

Dream: - you can see for yourself.

   He took her hand and took her to the throne room. It was in ruins.

Raina felt a sadness she could not explain.

They reached the center of the throne room and Dream tried to repair it, to no avail.

   The stones started floating in the air but the effort was too great for Dream.

Raina felt so sad she was about to cry again. She looked at Morpheus and an idea occurred to her.

Raina: - They say that in dreams you can be whatever you want. She closed her eyes and the Moon Goddess attire covered her body once again.                           

  She opened her eyes and smiled at Dream. She knelt beside a wall and touched it. She closed her eyes and white light started coming out from her. The stones started floating in the air and they started placing themselves on their place. But this effort was too great for Raina as well. Half of the throne room was rebuilt but the other half was rubble. Raina started feeling weak and Dream caught her just in time.

Raina: - I can’t.

Dream: - How did you do that?

Raina: - I don’t know

The mystery surrounding Raina was getting on his nerves. He wanted to know really badly.

Raina: - What are we going to do?

Dream: - I have to recover my artifacts. Will you help me?

Raina: - Anything you need.

And for the first time in a hundred years, Dream smiled.

                                Dream didn’t know where his artifacts were, so he summoned The Fates to ask for their help. Raina stood away from him, she didn’t want to interfere.

Hecate, the one-who-is-three answered Dream’s three questions. But before leaving, they turned to Raina. They approached her slowly, smiling.

Hecate: - Look, sisters, he brought a friend. Hello child, how are you?

Raina: - Greeting your Majesties. The one-who-is-three.

Hecate: - Good gracious, you don’t know who you are!

You will find out soon enough. Do not leave him, no matter the cost. You are fated to each other. We’ll meet again, Child of the Moon!

Hecate disappeared. Raina repeated to herself: Child of the Moon…                                   

  Dream and Raina and Mathew the raven went to hell. A demon showed the way. As they approached the door of damnation, Dream encountered the soul of his former lover Nada. She asked him to free her but he said he hadn’t forgiven her. As Raina passed the place were Nada was, she looked at her. Nada took her hand and begged her to make Dream forgive her. Raina said she would try.

Lucifer and Dream battled, playing an ancient game. Lucifer declared she was a bacteria. Fream chose to be a world, life giver, Mountains, lake and forest. Life…

Lucifer was a nova, world destroyer, life consumer, fire… and blood.

Dream tried to shield his face with his arm but the nov burned him badly. Raina began to feel anguished.  The world was consumed by the flames and Dream fell to the ground,  eyes closed. He took a moment to recover but couldn’t move. He looked at Lucifer from the ground and said:

Dream: - I am… a universe. Life encompassing, light and darkness intertwined. The power..of creation… in all its glory…

Lucifer remained silent for a moment and then…

Lucifer: - I am… anti-life.

Dream didn’t know how to counter this. He was laying on the floor, pale and weak. Raina was desperate, he couldn’t lose. She sat on the floor beside him and placed his head on her lap.

Lucifer: - The game is over

Raina: - No! Please Your Majesty, one minute.

Dream! Dream! Don’t give up! Dreams don’t die!

Dream: - I cannot beat her Raina. What can counter anti-life?

Raina: - Anti-life…

She started thinking hard, trying to find the answer.

Lucifer: - Your time is about to run out.

Raina shook her head. Her eyes went left to right, left to right. Then suddenly, the answer hit her. She stared at Lucifer with a look of triumph on her face.

Raina: - You wanna know what can beat anti-life? The ONE THING not even YOU CAN DESTROY!

She started whispering secret words on Dream’s ear until he got up and faced Lucifer.

Dream: - I am, HOPE.

                                   A beautiful yellow light shone through the window and Lucifer recognized her defeat. She told one of her demons to return Dream’s helmet and Matthew, Dream and Raina returned to the Dreaming. With the helmet back on his possession he could repair another portion of the castle.

 The leather pouch with magical sand was in the hands of Johanna Constantine’s former lover. The sand was not made for humans and it killed the woman little by little. Dream recovered the sand and granted the woman a peaceful death. Johanna thanked him and left. The most difficult part was about to begin.

John Dee had Dream’s ruby, the magical stone that makes dreams come true. He had been imprisoned on a psychiatric facility for ages.

When he finally broke free, he was hellbent on creating a world without what he perceived as lies. Dreams were included in this category as well.

Morpheus found John Dee in a restaurant, torturing its guests and employees and using the ruby to induce them to give up their dreams and commit suicide.

John Dee called Morpheus King of Lies. But Dream counter attacked.

John Dee: - This is the truth of mankind.

Dream: - No. THIS is the truth of mankind.

John: - They’re lying to themselves. All lies.

Dream: - Not lies John. Dreams. /…/ Their dreams inspire them. Their dreams kept them alive. But if you rob them of their dreams, if you take away their hope…then yes, this is the truth of mankind…

John opened a portal into the Dreaming and attacked Dream with the ruby. He said the Dreaming belonged to him now and that he would be the new Dreamlord. The Dreaming started burning. Raina came running and grabbed John’s hands with hers. The white light started engulfing john, but the ruby was too powerful for her. The red light sent her flying in the air and she hit her head on one of the columns.

                 Dream started feeling the murderous rage he had been trying to control.

John: - Your kingdom is mine now!

The red light started consuming Dream.

John: - Your life and your lies end now!

John destroys the ruby…

Everything exploded in white light and then John was standing on the palm of Dream’s hand.

Dream: - Thank you, John.

John: - But I killed you…

Dream: - You destroyed the ruby and released the power inside it. I would have never thought of that. I’d forgotten how much of myself I’d placed in the jewel.

John: - Are you going to kill me?

Dream: - I could. Perhaps I will. But the Dreaming was not made for mortals.  Good night John.

Dream brought John back to the looney bin. He kissed his forehead and bid him good night.

Raina laid unconcious on the Dreaming floor. Dream carried her bridal style to his bed. He couldn’t help but admire the courage she had shown by confronting John.

Dream took her hand and told Lucienne not to worry. He caressed her hair and her face. He kept on holding her hand until she woke up.

Dream had all his power back now. Raina shed a tear of happiness. They raised from bed and hug each other tight. Raina smiled and so did Dream.

Dream: - Ready?

Raina: - Yes

They went into the throne room and with their forces combined restored the Dreaming to its full glory. Raina and Dream couldn’t stop smiling.

Raina took Dream’s hand and ran to the garden. Raina placed her hand on the earth and the garden started blooming. Iridiscent flowers, butterflies and a waterfall illuminated by the moon gave the Dreaming Garden a supernatural aura.

Raina looked up at Dream and took his hands. She intertwined her fingers with his and she placed his other hand on her waist. Her right hand went to his shoulder.

Music that seemed to be sang by angels started sounding in the garden.  They started dancing slowly at first and then faster, describing circles on the floor. He looked at her as if he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Dream grabbed Raina by the waist and lifted her in the air. She smiled and looked at the stars. They described a few more circles and he lifted her again.

The music went on and Dream encircled her waist with his arms. Raina placed one ofher hands on his neck and the other one on his face. They kept on dancing until the music died. Dreams’s eyes were dark with desire, love and longing for her. He had never wanted something so bad in all his long existence.

He pressed Raina against one of the rocky walls and pressed himself against her. They kissed with such a passion that he breathed with difficulty. They kissed for a while and then he went down on his knees. Raina touched his face and looked down at him. There was a plea in his eyes. He extended his hand and asked:

Dream: - Will you be my queen?

Raina: - I… who was that woman? The one trapped in hell.

Dream: - Her name is Nada, we were lovers 10.000 years ago, but she defied me and I condemned her to hell.

Raina: - What? You condemned someone you loved to hell? What kind of monster are you? Would you do the same thing to me?

Before he could answer she pushed him aside and started running to the throne room.

When she reached it, she summoned Excalibur. Dream got to her in the nick of time, but she was determined to run away from him. She extended her hand and white light started coming out from her. The light was so intense that Dream had to close his eyes. With one swift movement Raina used Excalibur to cut the fabric between the worlds.

When Dream opened his eyes, she was gone, but he knew where she had went. Raina’s words echoed in his head. What kind of monster are you? And indeed, Dream started wondering, if she wasn’t right about him.

                                    Raina had returned to her home, where she had lived with Jack for so long. But, even though this place had been her whole world once, she felt out of place.

She was washing the dishes with her back to the door when the familiar voice came to her one more time.

Dream: - Why have you returned here?

Raina was startled by his deep voice and didn’t answer for a while. At last, she looked at him and said:

Raina: - This is my home.

Dream: - is it? An old house full of memories of a time that is never going to return.

Raina didn’t say anything, she knew he was right.

He extended his hand but Raina didn’t take it.

Dream: - What can I do to restore your faith in me?

Raina: - Release her.

Dream closed his eyes and a moment later opened them.

Dream: - Done.

Raina: - Are you going to do the same thing to me?

Dream went down on his knees and extended his hand again. His face full of love and longing.

Dream: - You said I’m a monster and it may be so. Can you love a monster?

Raina stared at his extended hand and walked three steps towards him.

Dream: - Do you remember what I told you when we met?

Raina: - That you could never do anything to hurt me.

Dream: - I keep my word. This I promise you.

Raina extended her hand slowly until their fingers intertwined. She pulled him up and they kissed over and over. Dream embraced her and Raina placed her hands on his face. The longing for each other was so great that  they couldn’t think.

                                         WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! aDULT CONTENT. eXPLICIT SEXUAL CONTENT. gRAPHIC DESCRIPTIONS. 

 Dream pushed her against the wall and touched her face with his hand. The other hand touched her leg and started going upwards. There was no escape now.

Dream started kissing her neck as the hand on her leg reached the desired spot. He carresed her gently and Raina’s breathing accelerated, just like Dreams’.

He shoved a finger inside and she moaned. His breathing was hard. He had never felt more fascination for anything or anyone. He started moving his finger and she started moaning louder. Then, suddenly, he stopped.

Raina: - What?...

Dream: - I will not take you like this.

He extended his hand once again and asked her:

Dream: - Will you be my queen?

Raina smiled at him and answered:

Raina: - Yes.

She took his hand and they kissed. As they did, he opened the portal. The entered the Dreaming hand in hand and ran to his bedroom. Magical sand removed their clothes and they kissed and carresed each other for a while. Then Dream laid on his bed and extended his hand to her. Raina smile and accepted the invitation.

She sat on top of him and as she did, she grabbed his member with her hand and guided him inside. She opened her legs for deeper pentration and grabbed his shoulders with her hands. She started mobing and he grabbed her hips with his hands. He pushed towards him over and over and they started moaning. She closed her eyes and gave in to the immense pleasure he was giving her. Dream stopped her and half rose. They kissed and then he turned so that she was underneath him. He opened her legs wide and penetratedher hard. He grabbed her hips and started punping inside her. Her eyes closed and with her hands she grabbed the pillows. He started pumping harder and harder and the two moaned loud. She opened her eyes and grabbed his face with her hands. They locked eyes and kept going. He felt he was going to come too soon and stoped. He laid on top of her, the two of them locked in a tender embrace.

Minutes passed and Dream felt his desire inflaming again. He got off the bed and stood behind her. He made her turn her back on him in four legs. He penetrated her alowly, little by little. He then grabbed her hip with one of his hands and with with the other he grabbed her shoulder. He asked her if she was ready and she said yes. He started pumping inside her harder than before and the moans turned to screams. He took everything from her and gave her everything he had. The screams receded giving way to tears. He came inside her with a gasp of absolute pleasure and he stood still. Raina gasped for air for a while. He was about to pull off but Raina said no. She started moving in circles, inflaming his desire one more time. He penetrated her again with all his strenght. He came for the second time inside her, filling her with his seed.

END OF ADULT CONTENT

They were exshausted this time and laid on the bed gasping for air. They slept more peacefully than they had in years and they dreamed that they wore amazing outfits and danced and danced in the garden…

Desire was looking at them dancing trough his/her mirror on the Threshold. He had never seen his older brother smile as Dream was smiling now and his/her red lips spread in a malicious smile.

Desire: - So he has found his fated love. Jjajajajajajaja

             Raina slept peacefully and Dream observed her. The tenderness in his face was incredible.

He instructed Lucienne to look after Raina and went to see his sister Death.  

Dream was feeding the pigeons in a park. Raina made him happier than he had ever been but a lingering sense of emptiness crept in his soul. 

                  Dream was feeding pigeons in a park.

 Death sat beside him and expressed her concern about him. Dream confided in her this feeling of lacking a purpose. Death told him to accompany her and he observed her doing her work. Death was the kindest of the endless siblings, even though he had the toughest of jobs. Each person she took with her took her hand and she took theirs. In this way, they didn’t feel lonely. Dream realised he had been a fool and remembered there were dreams and nightmares wreaking havoc in the waking world and decided to bring them back to the Dreaming.

 Legend claims that Time and Night created the universe. They had seven children who are known as the Endless.

The seven siblings represent aspects of human experience and each of them has a purpose and a task to perform. The seven siblings are: Destiny, Death, Dream, Destruction, Desire, Despair and Delirium (Delight). They affect human life in many ways and sometimes, they argue with one another.

Legend also claims that the endless aren’t the only creatures who affect human life. Magic comes to those who believe in it.

Eons ago, Moon Goddess and Sun God fell in love with one another. Moon Goddess is the embodiment of light, magic, the uncanny, sorcery and guidance. Sun God is heat, power, life and destruction.

                                                              They were happy for eons but Sun God’s fiery temper led him, as they argued, to direct harsh words at her. He told her she was nothing without him and that she couldn’t shine on her own.

Moon Goddess answered “we’ll see”, got on her silver chariot and dissapeared into the night.

After brooding for a while, Sun God realised the bad mistake he had made and started looking for Moon in the night, but she was always a step ahead.

The legend says that whenever there’s an eclipse, Moon and Sun fall in love again and they conceive a new child. And legend also claims that one day the youngest of Moon daughters will harness a power so immense that not even the Fates will be able to stand against her. But this is just a legend, you can believe it or not.

  As Dream spent time with Death, Raina tended the Dreaming garden. She was watering the rhododendrons but suddenly she felt someone was observing her. She turned around and there he was. A tall, handsome man elegantly attired with sunglasses covering his eyes. Raina didn’t know why but something told her she should be aware of him.

Corinthian: - So, the new queen of the Dreaming. Greetings your majesty.

He gave her an appreciative look from head to toes and Raina felt disgusted.

Corinthian: - I have to say Morpheus is a lucky bastard. I wonder what you did to him to take his life by storm.

  Corinthian: Are you afraid Child of the Moon?

Suddenly, the Corinthian summoned a dagger. Raina summoned Excalibur and the fight began. Raina tried her best but he was too cunning. He cut the hand that was holding Excalibur and the sword fell to the ground. He grabbed Raina’s arms and made her show her back to him. He hit her on the neck with all his might and she passed out. The Corinthian grabbed her and opened the portal into the waking world.

They arribed in a luxurious hotel where the Ceeereal Convention ( a gathering of serial killers to “share their experiences).

Raina’s hands were tied with a rope that hung from the ceiling so that She was suspended.

The Corinthian approached her and lightly carred ser golden hair.

Corinthian: - I’m sorry. I have nothing personal agains you. But I’m going to enjoy seeing his heart shatter as you die, knowing he couldn’t save you.

 Dream came back to the Dreaming with an uplifted heart. But as he entered the throne room he knew something was wrong.

Dream: - Where’s Raina?

Lucienne: - She has dissapeared Lord. We Can’t find her.

Dream closed  his eyes and started searching the realm for some sign. His mind went to the garden and he felt it.

Dream: - There has been a disturbance.

He ran to the garden and with his hands started feeling the fabric that seprates the worlds. He found the place whaere the portal had opened and opened another one.

He landed on the hotel conference room whaere Raina was held. He walked towards her but the Corinthian stopped him.

Corinthian: Not so fast boss.

Dream: I’m going to make you dissapear. No one will remember you when I’m done.

Corinthian: - Oh, yes? I’d love to see you try.

Corinthian grabbed Raina’s leg and sunk his dagger in it.

Raina woke up with a scream of pain. Morpheus walked towards them but two men grabbed him and put magical shackles on his hands that can hold even and Endless. They brought him to his knees.

Dream: - Corinthian, why are you doing this?

Corinthian: - Maybe I want what you have. Maybe, I want to believed in!

Corinthian summoned a supernatural spear that could even kill the endless . The attendants entered the room and filled it complete.

The Corinthian addressed the crowd and announced that today, dreams would die. The crowd cheered.

Corinthian turned to Dream and smiled.

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!! EXPLICIT VIOLENCE AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Corinthian: - I’m going to enjoy seeing your heart shatter as she dies and then I will kill you too.

Corinthian turned to Raina. She was trying to undo the knot on the ropes but it was too tight. The Corinthian pointed the spear at her and penetrated her body with it just under her heart.

Raina: - Ah!

Raina garped in pain but the torture was not over. The Corinthian turned the spear forming circles until the spear went out thrugh Raina’s back. Her scream of pain delighted the audience. Dream was trying to brake the shackles but it was useless. With a swift movement of his hand, Corinthian released raina who fell hard on the ground.  Dream was going to explode of anger.

Corinthian turned his back on Raina to face Dream. Raina breathed with difficulty, her eyes closed. She opened them and Dream’s connected with hers. She grabbed the spear and drew it out of her body. With great effort she got up, one hand in the wound which was pouring blood.

END OF VIOLENCE

Corinthian looked at her with a little admiration.

Corinthian: - You still wanna fight? Ja! So…weak, so…vulnerable.

Raina: - You’re the weak one and you will never know love or friendship and I feel sorry for you.

Raina closed her eyes and pictured an image of the moon in her mind. She whispered a prayer to her mother.

Raina: - Mother, please, give me the strenght.

She didn’t know if she could do it in the waking world, but she had to try. At first nothing happened but then a white eight-pointed star floated above her chest. The star started getting bigger and brighter and Dream closed his eyes for he knew what was coming. Corinthian tried to attack Raina but it was too late, white light came out from Raina and it grew stronger and stronger until it exploded in a huge explosion of white light. Corinthian passed out and Dream’s shackles dissapeared.

The light dissapeared and raina fell to the ground. Dream hurried beside her and opened the portal.

He laid her on the throne room’s floor and covered her wound with his hand.  Raina moaned as the wound healed. When Dream finished, there was no sign of wound or blood but the danher wasn’t over, she had lost too much blood.

Dream: - Lucieeennneeeeee

Lucienne was carrying the instruments for a trans fusion. Dream gave her his endless blood and her breathing started normalizing.  He laid her down on his bed and started for the throne room, anger boiling up inside him.

Corinthian was still uncouncious and when he woke up he saw Dream looking at him, his face dark with vengeance.

Dream: - You dissapoint me Corinthian. You and these humans you’ve inspired and created dissapoint me.

Corinthian: - I’ve done my best to be what you’ve made me.

Dream: - No, you’ve done your worst. Which was in so many ways what I had hoped. You were my masterpiece. A dark mirror made to reflect everything humanity would not confront.

Corinthian: - That’s what I am. That’s what I’ve done.

Dream: - No, look at you, walking the Earth for over a century infecting others with your joy of death but what have you given them? What have you wrought? Nothing! Just something else for people to be afraid of, nothing more.

Corinthian: - So what now? Are you gonnakill me?

Dream: - No, way worse.

Dream extended his hand and Corinthian started dissapearing. Dream sent him to the Nightmare cells of the Dreaming, condemning him to be assaulted by his own fears day and night.

Dream turned to the audience.

Dream: - And you, you call yourselves “collectors”. Until now you have sustained fantasies in which you are the victims. Conforting daydreams in which you are always right. But no more. The dream is over. I have taken it way for this is my judgement upon you, that you shall know from this moment on exactly how craven and selfish and monstruous you are.

That you shall feel the pain of those you have slaughtered. And the grief of those that mourn them still and you shall carry that pain and grief and guilt with you until the end of time.

Dream left the hotel and returned to his bed. He held Raina tight trying to shake off the horror of almost losing her…

 It was many and many a year ago, in a kingdom by the sea that Caliope, daughter of Zeus and muse of poetry met the Dream lord. They fell madly in love and got married. From their union, Orpheus was born. For twenty years, Dream was happy, but his child, now a man, fell in love with Euridice. The day of their wedding, Euridice was bit by a snake and died.

Orpheus sank into deep depression but when he recovered he decided to descend to the Hades to recover his beloved.

Dream and Caliope tried to convince him not to go but it was useless. He descended to the Hades and almost recovered Euridice, but he turned around in the last minute and she returned to hell.

Caliope blamed dream for what had happened to Orpheus and they broke up.

Demons from the abyss ripped his body to pieces, but miracolously enough, his head remained alive.

Present day

Caliope had been imprisoned for sixty years in the house of a writer who raped her everytime he needed inspiration.

She summoned the Fates but they couldn’t release her. She played her last card: she wrote the name Oneiros in a piece of paper and cast it into the fire. She closed her eyes and said a prayer.

Dream appeared in her room. Caliope looked at him in wonder and said:

Caliope: - You came.

Dream: - You called. After all this years I… Let me help you.

Caliope: - You can’t free me Oneiros. Could you… inspire him to free me?

Dream: - I will do that and more.

Caliope: - What are you going to do to him?

 Dream condemned Caliope’s captor to have too many ideas at a time and feel Caliope’s pain in his own flesh.

The writer opened the door of her room and freed her. Dream condemned him to not have one single idea for the rest of his life.

Caliope thanked Dream and asked him if she could visit him in the Dreaming to grieve their son properly.

Dream said the Dreaming had a new queen and Caliope understood. She kissed his cheek and walked away. Dream stopped her and told her he had the suspicion their son was alive. She said she’d contact the Fates and walked away.

He came back to the Dreaming and told Raina the truth. She felt a pang of jealousy but then understood.  She had to accept that, even though they didn’t love each other anymore, Caliope would always be part of his life.

The Fates told Caliope that Orpheuse’s head resided in the isle of ithaca. Morpheus and Caliope went together and Raina stayed behind. This was something he needed to do on his own.

Dream asked orpheus wht was his heart’s desire and Orpheus said he wanted to die. Dream gave him a boon of death and Orpheus used it.

Dream had “killed” a human who had blood of the endless running through his veins. This amounted to a mortal sin. Caliope said goodbye and they never saw each other again.

Dream came back to the Dreaming and found the Fates destroying it. He told them to stop and offered his life in exchange. Raina was stopped by a magical barrier that prevented her from reaching Dream. She placed her hands on the barrier and summoned as much power as she could. She shattered the barrier just when the Fates were about to stab Morpheus with three spears made of fire. Raina pushed Dream aside and he fell to the ground. Raina extended her hand and the spears froze in the air. With one movement of her hand she made them fall to the ground.

Raina: - You… you dare threaten my realm and my beloved. I will kill you if you touch him!

Hecate: - You dare confront your own blood, Child of the moon?

Raina: - Yes I do! Begone! Leave and never come back!

Raina  looked up and saw the moon shining down on her. She started shining as powerfully as she never had before. A stormy wind started blowing pushing the Fates backwards. The light became so intense that the throne room was engulfed by it.

  Hecate: - aaaaaahhhhhh

An gigantic image of the moon appeared on the throne room and when the light went down, the Fates were gone. Raina and dream were safe, but this wasn’t over yet.

Dream couldn’t believe what raina had done. No one had ever loved him like her.

She helped him get up and they embraced for a long while. Afterwards, he opened the portal and came out in a dark beach.

The Fates appeared and Raina stood in front of Dream, shielding him.

The first of the tree spoke first.

Hecate: - Raina… you have finally discovered who you are. Your power is truly a force to be reckoned with.

Hecate 2: - Your mother must be really proud child.

Raina: - You’re not going to punish  me?

Hecate 3: - No, child, you were just protecting what is rightfully yours. Love is not a sin child, it never was and it never will be.

Dream: - What about me?

Hecate: - You commited a mortal sin but by a selfless act as offering your life in exchange for the realm of dreams, you have attoned for it. You’re both forgiven, goodbye.

  Raina and Dream were in the garden, trying to assimilate what had happened.

After a long time, Raina stood up. She went to flowery bushes and smelled the jasmins. Then, she walked away a few steps and suddenly white wings sprouted from her back. She looked at him with a playful and mischevious smile on her face and:

Raina: - Catch me if you can!

She started running through the garden and flapped her wings as she did so. She jumped and flapped her wings harder, leaving the ground. Dream smiled and conjured up wings as well and followed her into the nightsky but raina had a little advantage. She went up and up in the sky and Dream followed her close behind. She described a semi circle and flew downwards. Little stars came out from her hands and where they landed they transformed into flowers, butterflies and the garden grew ever more beautiful.

She started flying faster and faster until she reached the montainous area.

She formed a bubble of lightning with her hands and from them a phoenix bird was born, then a white dragon, then a mermaid, then a dark faerie then a unicorn.

Each creature flew away and took up residence where they saw fit.   

She touched the surface of the lake with her hand and then flew higher than the mountains. She flew high into the sky and stopped to thank her mother for what she had done for her.

She closed her eyes, suspended in the air and said in a silent prayer:

Raina: - Than you mother, for everything, for fating me to meet him. Thank you. She looked at the moon and Moon Goddess smiled at her.

Dream took advantage of this moment of distraction and grabbed Raina by the waist. His face looking up at her. She placed her hands on his beautiful face and both of them smiled. The sunset clouds engulfed them and when they exploded Raina and Dream were in the same embrace but their clothes had changed. She wore a white and silver dress with no sleeves, flowing around her in the sky. Dream wore a t-shirt, trousers, shoes and his flowing coat but everything was white. They kissed and smiled and then landed at the entrance of the forest. Before they went in, Raina grabbed Dream’s hand and placed it on her belly. She smiled at him and Dream smiled knowingly. They were going to be more than two soon. Then Raina took Dreams hand and they walked away through the forest into the starry night…

[queen-scribbles]

One thing I did differently in this Ves playthrough from her first one is that after Admiral Cabral spills the beans regarding your parentage, Ves did not go running to talk to Constantin right away, even though the dialogue implies you will. Instead, she went and did the quest stuff in Vedleug/Eden/Vedvilvie. Call it denial or needing time to process or whatever, I kinda like having that gap between that revelation and the other two big ones that usually hit right after it. (It also gives a couple extra weeks for her and Kurt to go from suspecting they’re attracted to each other to being sure that’s what this is :3)

This way, she has time to work through having her world turned on end re: her birth parents. She makes an ally of Derdre, helps settle things peacefully in Eden, and “ends” on the high note of helping Sister Eugenia’s expedition up through the discovery about Saint Matheus and convincing the Mother Cardinal to go public with the knowledge he’d at least partially(if not fully) embraced the natives’ faith at the end of his life..

...and then goes back to New Sérène in relatively good spirits and gets clobbered with the one-two punch of Constantin having the malichor and the Coin Guard coup attempt. :) (narratively, I might even say she got back late at night, had a Very Promising[but nothing blatant] conversation with Kurt before bed, and the Very Bad Day kicks off in the morning :3) idk, it’s just very satisfying to me from a storytelling and character/relationship development angle and I like it a lot.

#queen in teer fradee #vesper de sardet

[herederosdelkaos]

Arte y literatura : "Dos maneras de ser el amor", un cuento de Adrián "fino" Sosa

Unas pocas palabras bastarían y tal vez alguna frase introductoria.

Ella estaba dispuesta a oír. Ya lo tenía pensado. Se encontraba segura de todo, sin ánimo de pelear ni discutir. Y eso sería una sorpresa para quién tenía a su frente. Ella respondería a todo diciendo que si, se dejaría envolver en el discurso que Soledad había preparado. Estaba segura que ya estaba todo preparado, incluida la frase inicial. Alma y Soledad, sentadas frente a frente, ya habían pasado dos semanas desde la última vez. Dos largas, eternas y convulsionadas semanas, pero eso no era todo. Lo peor había sido la nebulosa, lo retorcido e inexplicable de sus propios pensamientos. A Soledad la conocía demasiado, siempre adivinaba sus palabras, sus gestos, pero eso ya no era gracioso ni admirable. La tristeza se había comenzado a comer eso, lo aniquilaba todo, incluso los restos del amor. Alma esperaba en silencio restando los segundos que faltaban mientras Soledad revolvía un café sin espuma con los ojos clavados en la tétrica oscuridad del líquido ¿Qué loco todo, no? pensaba mientras gastaba otro segundo. No quería más dramas, ni histerias ni celos propios o ajenos. No quería. Siempre había jurado que el amor, su amor, era sincero, simple. Ahora dudaba de eso y de cientos de cosas más, la única certeza que tenía la apretaba contra el vaso de cerveza y era su amuleto fiel, de que la amaba no tenía duda alguna. Era momento de soltar y eso se desprendía de la escena que estaban viviendo. Alma y Soledad. El café humeante de Soledad... Leer post completo»

Foto de Fernando Cabral (pexels) public domain.

#Adrian fino Sosa #cultura #literatura #narrativa #herederos del kaos #relatos #escritores #ficción #autores

[flordemayomaf]

Lo entendí. Entendí que amar fue un proceso admirable de mi ser, que tuve paciencia, delirio y absoluta dificultad, pero QUÉ FELIZ HE SIDO.

He sentido un gozo, un amor y una paz inexplicable. Entendí al fin que mi proceso por esa persecución de aires terminó, no sé si en algún otro momento retomaré el camino, más sabía, más linda, más madura... Por el momento me tengo paciencia ❤️

Es la primera asamblea que Cabral no me arruina con su estúpido secretismo, la primera presencial en años, sin enfermedad ni dolor.

Estoy aquí como nunca antes había estado. Sirvo con alegría... Ay, Jehová, que estúpida soy a veces.

¿Por qué amé personas que no amaban esta parte de mí? ¿Por qué estaba dispuesta a renunciar parcialmente a este gozo? Nuevamente estaba buscando entrar en un placer efímero sin asumir las consecuencias. Gracias, gracias por alejar su corazón. No entendía por qué, me dolió como nada nunca me había dolido. Pero sé que si es tu deseo me harás la persona más feliz del mundo, sé que sabes lo que necesito.

Necesitaba que alejaras su corazón, yo sería incapaz de alejar el mío.

Adiós. Gracias por tu tiempo y probar mi paciencia, te amaré siempre. Te llevaré conmigo como el recuerdo latente de que se puede amar con tanta intensidad que el mundo se desmorone. Aprendí tanto de ti, sé que serás mi amigo; pero no permitiré que mi corazón siga sufriendo por ti. Te amare siempre, A.

[freckled-lili]

Admiral Cabral: Listen. I have very good reasons for keeping you ashore.

Admiral Cabral: *points at De Sardet* You see that cute girl? Right beside you? On your right?

Admiral Cabral: I’m gonna make sure you two kiss and bang.

#lili plays greedfall #greedfall #captain vasco #greedfall vasco #admiral cabral

[bitofpoisononmyblade]

Babe ❤

Wish I could romance the badass, pirate Admiral

#greedfall #admiral cabral #nauts #de sardet #vasco

[nemhaine42]

04.11.2022 | I just got this vibe from them, you know? Like Flavia, Jonas and Lauro have their own little mishaps and adventures while Vasco is away being a Main Character.

#arty nemie #greedfall #greedfall nauts #nauts #admiral cabral #greedfall flavia #greedfall jonas #greedfall lauro #this was way too much effort just for memery btw

[utterrandomness]

Greedfall DLC Headcanon

So after playing the new Greedfall DLC with Vasco as a love interest for my Naut Benjamin De Sardet I had an idea.

It seems men can't marry each other in Greedfall, which is pretty sad. I also don't doubt the Prince would eventually send Benjamin a lovely lady to wed, so they're both distraught. Vasco would be far too ready to keep his promise and sail away with him...

BUT then I had the idea that what if Admiral Cabral heard about this? What if she found a way of changing the laws amongst the Nauts so that they can in fact wed or at least have a similar ceremony, meaning that they boys can legally be together and the Prince can't do anything about it. What’s he going to do? Turn on the one group of people that enable him to trade and everything else?

Cabral is a queen, I love her, and we all know she always looks after her own and she owes those two a lot. Besides, Benjamin was already taken away from the Nauts once, I doubt she'd let it happen again, especially when she's never seen Vasco look so happy. I like to think she’d do all she could to enable them to be happy, as well as so many other Nauts.

#greedfall #captain vasco #Benjamin De Sardet #Admiral Cabral is amazing and it really wouldn't surprise me if she did this kind of thingq #She basically got De Sardet and Vasco together #Pardon the saying but i bet she ships them so hard #I could also imagine Vasco giving De Sardet so much comfort during the DLC because he'd be so stressed #in my playthrough i got kicked out of the palace by Governor Burhan as well as my boi looked so sad and mad #he'd need Vasco cuddles after that #My De Sardet really doesn't get on well with him... #last playthrough he wouldn't help me in the final fight where everyone else did #so I've just accepted it

[visceralcoma]

#greedfall edit #greedfall #greedfall admiral cabral #greedfall vasco #part of vasco's arc #free to use

[fictitiousbeing]

IN CONCLUSION

It is my pleasure to present round three... Will there be a four? Who knows? In the past few years these 10 men, like the ones before, have come to be an obsession of mine - possibly even an addiction. And I must say, I really do love their work. And most of them, like the others on my previous two lists, prove I have a type.

***The following 10 men, or rather characters, were selected simply because they were the first to pop into my head, and are presented in no particular order.

Part One Part Two Part Four

Masterlist

1. Cullen Bohannon (Anson Mount) in the series Hell on Wheels (2011-2016).

Bohannon's revenge turned him into a railroad man, and I can't say I'm disappointed.

2. Thomas (Tommy) Shelby (Cillian Murphy) in the series the Peaky Blinders (2013-present).

Tommy's got a broken heart and I have half a mind to mend it for him.

3. Alfie Solomon (Tom Hardy) also in the Peaky Blinders (2014-present).

Alfie... Tom Hardy in general can get it anytime-anywhere. Well really, any of the men on any of my lists can get it.

4. Yi Bang Won (Jang Hyuk) in the k-drama My Country: the New Age (2019).

Bang Won did what he had to to create a country for the abandoned... He did well.

5. Geralt of Riva (Henry Cavil) in the series the Witcher (2020).

We all know Geralt has a limited vocabulary of two words... One of them is more of a sound and the other, well, that's what I'd like him to do to me.

6. Sigtryrgrr Ivarson (Eysteinn Sigurðarson) in the series the Last Kingdom (2020-present).

When Sigtryrgrr yelled "SHIELD WALL!" my panties dropped in half a second.

7. Johnny (Coco) Cruz (Richard Cabral) in the series Mayans MC (2018-present).

Coco, if anything, is loyal but he does make mistakes. That's his bad.

8. Crixus (Manu Bennett) in the series Spartacus (2010-2013).

Crixus may have a hard - very hard ;) - exterior but he's real soft on the inside.

9. Oscar (Spooky) Diaz (Julio Marcias) in the series On My Block (2018-present).

Spooky wants adult problems and a forever hyna.

10. Rollo (Clive Standen) in the series the Vikings (2013-2019).

Rollo can't necessarily be trusted, but he'll look good fighting with you or against you.

I really do love these characters and the actors who bring them to life on the big screen. These lists may have started as an expression of my particular taste in men, but they have also come to be lists of appreciation. They all have my admiration and infatuated affection.

#cullen bohannon #anson mount #hell on wheels #thomas shelby #cillian murphy #the peaky blinders #alfie solomons #tom hardy #tommy shelby #yi bang won #my country the new age #jang hyuk #geralt of rivia #henry cavill #the witcher #sigtryggr #the last kingdom #Eysteinn Sigurdarson #johnny coco cruz #richard cabral #mayans mc #crixus #spartacus #manu bennett #oscar spooky diaz #julio macias #on my block #rollo lothbrok #vikings #clive standen

[queen-scribbles]

Do Ves/Kurt for 20. Alone, finally or 49. nightfall. Or both if you're feeling it :)

Honoring Commitments

*insert Both Is Good meme here* 😉

-----

Vesper’s days were always busy, but this one seemed to be going for a record.

She needed both hands to count the meetings crammed into her schedule, three of which ran long because others involved couldn’t stop bickering, there had been the records... mishap Admiral Cabral requested her help to straighten out--two hours in a captain’s cabin, that one took--and of course the formal dinner meant to welcome some scholar from Hikmet who was documenting the successes of the outposts in Teer Fradee. Given the notoriety of Vesper’s recent exploits, he had specifically requested her presence, and Constantin, damn him, had agreed. (Probably hoping her attendance would draw attention and prying questions away from his new.... similarity to the natives, for which she could hardly fault him. She still made it clear how much he owed her for throwing her to the ulgs like this.)

She’d barely had time to wash off the ship smell and change into something suitable before hurrying to dinner, and the dance of words she usually loved left her feeling winded and antsy. She still indulged the scholar’s curiosity, of course. A full day was no reason to be rude.

It was, however, more than enough reason for the sigh of relief Vesper let out as she closed the door behind her and let herself sag against the support it offered. Just for a moment. She loved people, loved her role as legate, but it was wonderful to finally be alone.

Or, mostly alone.

“That bad, was it?” Kurt asked, pushing away from the wall where he’d been waiting. Standing guard. Probably both, knowing him.

“Oh, no,” Vesper said with a laugh as she tugged off her ascot and shoved it in the pocket of her coat. “It was a lovely dinner with my cousin and a visiting scholar.” A wry smile quirked her lips as the two of them drew closer. “A very fascinating, very curious, very loquacious, visiting scholar. What’s bad about that?”

He chuckled. “I’m familiar with your cousin, for starters. And I know you had a very full day” --his hand curled around her elbow when she swayed slightly-- “and it doesn’t take a scholar to know the two together might be exhausting.”

“I will be sleeping soundly tonight, that’s for certain,” she agreed, leaning subconsciously into his touch. “But my day’s not done just yet. I have one more commitment to honor.”

Kurt arched a brow, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth when her hand came to rest on his chest. “Another one?”

“Mm. And it’s the most important of the day, so imagine my chagrin it’s been pushed til last,” Vesper murmured, leaning close and tipping her chin to hold his gaze. After a beat she gave a soft laugh. “You, Kurt. I promised we would spend some time together and the day got away from me.”

“We spent the whole of it together,” Kurt pointed out, a rough edge to the quiet words. He brushed loose wisps of hair back behind her ear, his thumb brushing over her mark before he lowered his hand.

“Alone,” she clarified emphatically, pivoting to loop her arm through his. “As Vesper and Kurt, not the Legate and her bodyguard.” She tugged his arm to pull him toward the steps, but Kurt held his ground and pulled her back against him instead.

“Off duty then, are we?” he asked softly, his hand sliding along her jaw again.

“Very much off duty,” Vesper murmured in confirmation, already rocking up on the balls of her feet as he leaned in to kiss her.

They only let it linger a moment, both well-aware of where they stood, but it satisfied a desire that had been simmering all day. (For her, at least. The number of times she’d wanted to push him against a wall and kiss him til neither of them could breathe bordered on the ridiculous.)

“That’ll do for a start,” Vesper said, a teasing smile on her lips as she tugged him toward the stairs again. This time Kurt followed, let her link her arm through his.

“Any particular plan in mind?” he asked as they made their way out of the governor's palace.

“You can walk me home. Along the scenic route,” she added playfully when he started to point out how very short a walk that was. She gestured with her free hand to the darkening sky. “The stars’ll be out soon. If we take our time, stroll out of the city to that bluff that overlooks the ocean, should be quite the magnificent view by the time we get there.”

Kurt chuckled. “That’s not a scenic route, Green Blood, that’s you suggesting we go sit under the stars. Which” --he kissed just above her temple--“is fine by me.”

Vesper smiled and shifted closer, so her shoulder pressed against his as they walked. It was a walk made largely in companionable silence, which she appreciated after the busyness of the day. And her estimate was correct--by the time they reached the bluff a healthy sprinkling of stars were visible, even as the last vestiges of purple-orange dusk still clung to the horizon. A truly magnificent view, indeed. And one Vesper took in around a yawn.

“Suppose that means we’re not staying long,” she said with a wry smile as she took a seat on a boulder. “Unless you fancy carrying me back.”

“I can, if need be,” he replied, joining her on the boulder. 

The knowledge he was, in fact, capable of doing so made something warm curl in her gut as she leaned her head against his shoulder. “Sweet of you,” she mumbled through another yawn, then tipped her chin back to kiss the edge of his jaw. “But I’ll do my best not to need it. I just... really want some time for us. Just us. And I will take however much I can get before the day catches up to me.”

Kurt must have caught the implied ‘Because you’re important to me’, because he laced his fingers between hers, raising their joined hands to brush his lips just below her knuckles before settling their hand on his knee. (For all his claims he wasn’t made for gentleness, he was very good at it.) “And so will I,” he said, so softly--and further muffled into her hair--that Vesper barely caught it.

She squeezed his hand and gave a contented sigh, taking in the beauty of the twinkling stars and their rippled reflection off the water. It was a perfectly peaceful end to an extraordinarily hectic day, and everything about it was exactly what she needed.

(But especially, especially him.)

#queens fic #micro prompts #vesper de sardet #kurt #ves/kurt #greedfall #greedfall kurt #not 100% sure i have the hang of kurt's voice yet #but THAT WON'T STOP ME #never has beforrreeeeeee #edit: now with a title courtesy of cross posting to ao3 :P

[ragingbookdragon]

I Won’t Let You Be The One That Got Away

Vasco x De Sardet

Word Count: 8.2K Warnings: Angst, Canon-Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Explicit Language, I feel the need to say ANGST again.

Author’s Note: Y’all this is, and I cannot stress this enough, super angsty. Be prepared to cry and hate me for a couple thousands words. Also, Happy Valentine’s Day! ‘Cause we all need angst on VD! Enjoy! -Thorne

           Constantin’s death hit everyone equally. No one blamed the young governor though, all knowing that in the end, there wasn’t a trace of him left that hadn’t been twisted into madness. But of all the people closest to him, no one was more affected by Constantin’s death than De Sardet. They tried their best to comfort him, but words of consolidation could only go so far for the Legate who had to take the life of the man whom he considered his brother.

           They buried Constantin in a remote location, no one but the small grouping of De Sardet’s companions and a few others knowing where. Petrus had given the sermon, a few simple words to bless the life of what it once was. Síora and Aphra laid flowers on the mound of dirt, both consoling the other as they cried. Vasco had placed his personal mariner’s cross beside the flowers, and Kurt laid bottle of whiskey next to it. They took their places back beside De Sardet and waited for him to give his own personal item. It never came. De Sardet merely stared in silence at the stone with Constantin’s name carved onto it.

           One by one the mourners began to leave, starting with Sieglinde and Manfred, followed by Admiral Cabral and Madam de Morange, until all that was left was the small group. And slowly, they dispersed too, providing their final words to De Sardet as they returned to New Serene, leaving Kurt and Vasco with the Legate. Kurt and Vasco shared a look before the mercenary nodded, placing his hand upon De Sardet’s shoulder, simply squeezing it, then he left.

           The Naut moved closer to him, gently resting his head on De Sardet’s shoulder, hand curling in the others. He felt the man squeeze his hand in return, to the point that Vasco almost winced from the iron grip, but he didn’t let it show—De Sardet had always been a man of few words, preferring to let his actions speak for him, so Vasco knew that the hold meant his lover was truly in pain. And Vasco felt it as if were his own, heart breaking with every pulse.

           “What can I do, my Tempest?” he whispered, tilting his head to look up at De Sardet.

           “Can you bring back the dead?” De Sardet replied.

           Vasco sighed heavily. “I wish I could.”

           The man shrugged. “Then you can’t do anything.”

           They fell into a silence after that, and the Naut felt like it was stretching their hearts miles apart. Suddenly, de Sardet’s hand left his as he pulled away.

           “De Sar—”

           “You should head back to New Serene,” he interrupted, not looking at Vasco as he knelt down in front of Constantin’s grave.

           “I want to stay with you.” Vasco countered, but before he could take a step, De Sardet monotoned,

           “I wasn’t asking you, Vasco. I was telling you.” He tossed a cold stare over his shoulder. “Go.”

           That hurt. That hurt Vasco more than he’d ever care to admit, and he wanted to argue. Wanted to beg and plead to let De Sardet allow him to help, but he knew some things had to be done alone.

           He nodded stiffly. “I’ll wait for you in New Serene.” And De Sardet gave him no reply as he turned away and made his way back.

***

           When De Sardet finally returned it was well into the next morning. His footsteps seemed to unfreeze every lip, sending them into a gossiping frenzy, but from the look on the Legate’s face, he could care less. The group tried to engage him, ask him how he was, but De Sardet completely bypassed them, passing through the doors that led to the upstairs of the palace. Vasco and Kurt followed out of concern, but once De Sardet passed through Constantin’s doors, the flicking of the lock came after and they knew he wasn’t coming out anytime soon.

           “What…” Vasco started, turning to look at Kurt. “What do we do for him?”

           “All that we can,” he responded.

           “Do you think he’ll come out soon?”

           “I…don’t know,” Kurt replied, but it seemed like he wasn’t too sure of it himself.

***

           Three of their companions had returned to their respective homes within the month, their own responsibilities calling them away. All that was left were the two captains, one refusing to be assigned anywhere but De Sardet’s side, the other staying for his heart.

           They tried everything they could think of to coerce the Legate from Constantin’s room, but to no avail. De Sardet wouldn’t even speak, hell, he didn’t even make noise. He’d blocked the passage from the kitchen’s with heavy boxes, and not even Kurt could shove them off. He didn’t eat, and Vasco was sure that De Sardet didn’t sleep either. For all he knew, De Sardet just sat in the room and mourned.

           Vasco spent all his time outside the doors simply talking to him. It was weeks before he even heard some form of response from De Sardet, and that was only the pressure of him sitting against the door. The Naut took the other door, pretending they were sitting side by side and that the wood wasn’t between them. He spoke of anything and everything. Of his travels, of his childhood, anything that he hoped would get a response out of his lover. Until one day when he mentioned the position Cabral had offered him.

***

           He climbed the well-worn steps and turned the corner into the parlor, stopping when Kurt rose from the seat in front of the doors.

           “Anything new?” Vasco hoped, heart sinking when the coin guard shook his head.

           “Nothing,” Kurt responded.

           The Naut sighed and nodded his head. “Go then. I’ll take over for the day.”

           Kurt gave him no answer save a tipped head before turning his attention to the door. “Green Blood?” he called. “Your captain is here.”

           No response came from inside save a shift, telling them that De Sardet was moving to rest against the door and Kurt glanced at Vasco before leaving.

           Vasco grunted as he settled against the door, taking his tricorn in his hands. “It’s beautiful outside, my Tempest,” he murmured. “You should open up the window and take the fresh air in.”

           While he held out a hope for an answer, he was used to the silence in its wake, and Vasco simply moved through it, telling De Sardet about his day. Of waking up to the birds singing, to still feeling odd at being served breakfast by a maid, to visiting his former crew to check up on them.

           “They’re coming ‘round to find a new captain after Ruben,” Vasco commented, eyes shifting to his hands as he hesitated, “Actually…they want me to come back. Admiral Cabral has offered me the rank of Commander of the Fleet.”

           He briefly drew his gaze to the door when he felt a shift. “It’s a prestigious position…one of quality and impressive feat for someone of my age.” He paused. “I turned it down though…I told her I was staying here on Teer Fradee…with you.”

           Vasco felt the pressure of the door shift, and listening closely, he heard De Sardet moving around until he came back, then the sound of scratching reached his ears. Was De Sardet writing something down? It had been almost a month and a half since they’d seen him. Maybe he was finally coming back out? Maybe Vasco had finally gotten through to him?

           His golden eyes flitted down when a piece of folded parchment slid under the door and he picked it up, heart beating wildly in his chest in anticipation of his lover’s words. Vasco flicked it open, and when his eyes scanned the paper, his heart sank.

           You should take the position. I’m of no use to you as I am. Don’t stay of some misguided heart and let my grief keep you here when where you truly want to be is out on the oceans.

           Vasco couldn’t believe what he read. Couldn’t believe that De Sardet would say something like that to him. He spun, grabbing hold of the door handle, and when he tried to speak, it came out through a tight throat, hoarse and hurt.

           “How dare you! How dare you assume I’m here because I am misguided!” He pounded against the door with a gloved fist. “You’ve no right to assume what I want when you’ve locked yourself away from the world!” Vasco didn’t mean to let that slip, but he’d be lying if he said there wasn’t animosity because of De Sardet’s actions.

           “I am here because I love you! Because I care about you!” he yelled, warmth starting to bleed into his eyes. “If you would only open the door and let me help you!”

           He pounded against the door again. “Open the door and talk to me! Goddamnit! At least look at me if you’re going to try and send me away!”

           Vasco’s words it seemed, fell upon deaf ears because the door never opened, and he saw De Sardet’s shadow fall away from the door.

           “You are a coward, De Sardet! A damned coward!” Vasco shouted before collapsing with his back against the door, pulling his knees to his chest. He buried his face in them and let the cloth soak up the tears that escaped his eyes. He stayed for a few moments longer before deciding to leave.

           “I’ll come back tomorrow,” he said hoarsely, though something told him it would be for the last time.

***

           New Serene was supposed to be the grandest escapade of Serene. Sold to adventurers and nobles as a wild and beautiful place teeming with riches and wealth. Compared to regular Serene, Captain Vance decided it was exactly the same. Though he was excited to see the vast amounts of natives that lived within the city, so at least the stingy attitude of nobility didn’t follow over.

           That being said, Vance had absolutely no idea where to even begin the search for the Governor of the Congregation. His father’s old maps were worn with age, almost illegible, so if the man had decided to go off into the wilderness, Vance was in a bind. He figured the best way to start would be with the governor’s palace, but first he had to check in with the admiral of New Serene and unload the Seahorse.

***

           He didn’t know what to expect when the guards led him into the palace. His only run-ins with nobility tended to be whenever he let them board to take passage to another location, and most of them were pricks. Pleasantly though, the young man standing next to the throne welcomed him with a smile.

           “It’s not everyday that a Naut captain comes to the palace,” the man said. “My name is Adrian. To whom do I owe this visit to?”

           Vance tipped his head—he wasn’t fond of bowing. “Captain Vance of the Seahorse, your excellency.”

           Adrian smiled, and held out his hand. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Captain Vance.” He shook the Naut’s hand firmly. “But I assume you didn’t come to simply greet me. Is there something I can do for you?”

           “I’m here to see the governor,” Vance replied, eyes scanning the room. “Is he in?”

           Adrian nodded. “Governor De Sardet is upstairs in his study. May I ask the reason for your visit?”

           “My father is an old friend of his excellency’s.” Vance’s smile dropped and he murmured, “I don’t think my father is long to stay in this world. I wished to relay it to Governor De Sardet.”

           “Of course,” Adrian nodded sympathetically. “I’ll show you to him.”

           As they climbed the stairs, the young man added, “I hate to bear some bad news though. Governor De Sardet isn’t of mind to see many people these days.”

           “Is he unwell?” Vance questioned, ignoring the urge to run his fingers along the paneled walls.

           “Not unwell in the mind…just in personality. He doesn’t like visitors when he’s working.”

           “I thought working required meeting people on the throne?”

           “Ha, hardly. I take care of most of that work for him. He finetunes everything.”

           “You are his understudy then?”

           Adrian tipped his head side to side. “Officially I am the Legate of the Congregation on Teer Fradee, the position he once held. Though I assume all his lessons are to train me for governor.”

           They neared the door and he turned, holding out a hand for Vance to wait. The Legate walked to the door and knocked, two quick raps. “Governor De Sardet? There is someone to see you.”

           “I’m busy,” came a muffled reply. “Tell them to come another day.”

           Adrian glanced back at Vance, an awkward smile across his lips, and the Naut sighed, walking up to the door.

           He knocked harshly. “My name is Captain Vance of the Nauts.”

           “I don’t care.”

           Vance rolled his eyes and tried, “I am the son of Léandre d’ Arcy.”

           For a brief moment, there was no response from inside the room, and the two young man stared at each other.

           “…Come in,” the voice replied, softer this time.

           Vance breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door, stepping inside. His first impression of the man was that he was exactly like his father had described to him when he was younger, but this man was older now, hair silvered, age showing across his face and hands. But it seemed that age didn’t stop his body as he stood and held out a hand for the Naut to take.

           “I always knew I’d run into him again, even if it was through his children.” De Sardet said, and Vance shook his hand.

           “You’re sure I’m not some imposter using the name?” he questioned, and the governor chuckled.

           “Positive. No one besides your father and myself know that name.” He looked him over. “So, why are you here?”

           As much as Vance wanted to inquire about his father’s old life with the governor, he decided the more pressing issue was his father’s life now.

           “I’ve come to ask you to board the Seahorse and travel to the Naut island,” he said, and De Sardet’s brows rose in surprise.

           “Well, that’s a request if I’ve ever heard one.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why?”

           Vance frowned. “My father’s health has been steadily declining over the past few years. I believe he is reaching his end.”

           “Ah,” De Sardet murmured, “You have my condolences.”

           “And I appreciate them,” Vance answered, but met the governor’s eyes. “You’re all my father talks about now. I know that he wishes to see you again though he believes it not likely.”

           “It grieves me that your father is reaching his end, and I would make that so, but I have too much to do here,” he lamented, and Vance shook his head, voice taking on a firmer tone.

           “You don’t understand, Governor De Sardet.” He pointed to himself. “I lied to my father and told him I was going to the Bridge Alliance on a mission when I actually came here to get you.” Vance stared straight at him. “My sailors are restocking the Seahorse as we speak because I am leaving tonight to head back. I need you to come with me.”

           “I—” De Sardet started, but fell silent, the words seeming to escape him.

           “Please, your excellency. I have heard the way my father speaks of you. He would be at peace if he could see you once more.”

           The governor’s gaze raised from the floor to the young man in front of him, for a mere moment, simply gazing, then he sighed. “I…will have my bags packed by tonight.”

           A relieved smile came across Vance’s face and he nodded. “Then I shall see you at the docks, Governor De Sardet.”

***

           “How long has it been since you came to the docks?” Adrian asked, side eyeing the old man next to him.

           De Sardet tipped his head side to side. “For business or because I cared?”

           “The latter.”

           “Hmm…fifty-five years…give or take a year or so.”

           “And how many years has it been since he left?”

           “Why do you care to know?” De Sardet snapped, scowling when Adrian merely smiled back at him.

           “I was just curious to know how long it’d been since the one that got away,” he mused and De Sardet scoffed.

           “My personal relationships are none of your concern.”

           “Of course not, your excellency.”

           “I despise your sarcasm, you smart bastard.”

           Adrian grinned. “At least I’m not a prickly old bastard like you.”

           “Excuse me?” De Sardet questioned, but before he could say another word, someone cleared their throat.

           “Governor De Sardet, if you’re ready to go, we’ve ready to pull out as well.”

           They both turned to Vance who was waiting and De Sardet nodded.

           “Of course.” He reached down to pick up his back and Vance waved him off.

           “I’ll take this.”

           De Sardet prickled slightly. “I’m old, not decrepit, Captain.”

           “But you are my guest, and I shall extend my courtesy to you,” he countered, and the governor fell silent as they walked to the brow.

           Vance paused and gestured for De Sardet to go aboard, but the old man stopped and turned to Adrian. He held out his hand, Adrian gazing at it with confusion, but he took it, nonetheless.

           “Adrian, if I were to do this properly, it’d take too much time, and since that’s something we don’t have, this’ll have to do.”

           “Sir?”

           “I hereby relinquish my duty as governor to you. New Serene is in your hands now.” De Sardet pulled away and walked up the ramp but paused when Adrian called after him.

           “Wait! But won’t you be returning in a few months?”

           He glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “I have a feeling I won’t be, Adrian.” Nodding, he added, “Good luck to you, governor.”

           Vance gave the man a firm handshake before making his leave, feet hitting the deck of the ship as he called, “Stations sailors! Weigh the anchor and ready her to wear!” He slapped one of his sailors on the back. “Lively now! Lively!” his hand rose to the sky. “Catch me a wind!”

           De Sardet stared at the young captain, feeling the ache that had dulled itself over the decades slowly begin to burn once more at the familiar scene. His eyes drifted to the water as feelings he couldn’t even begin to describe settled in his chest.

***

           The Naut island was exactly what he expected it to be, though a bit more refined if he was honest. His expectation had been slightly different in that he’d imagined the pirate island from his childhood tales. It was obviously more civilized though, except the number of taverns was mindboggling.

           Vance led him through the crowded streets, giving De Sardet time enough to take in his surroundings, even throwing in a personal story from time to time. De Sardet decided that the time Vance’s father caught he and his younger sister drinking rum in the tavern was his favorite.

           They hailed a carriage and rode for almost an hour until they came to a rather secluded home for such a crowded city. Vance helped De Sardet out and the old man took a moment to look at it. It reminded him of the country home that Aphra had back on New Serene. Cozy…homey…everything he’d refused.

           “The others are probably inside,” Vance said and De Sardet cocked an eyebrow.

           “The others? How many siblings do you have?”

           Vance chuckled. “That are of my father’s blood? Or adopted?”

           “Both.”

           “Eleven. Five his, six adopted.”

           De Sardet huffed in disbelief. “Gods above, what a madman.”

           “You’ve no idea,” Vance laughed and knocked on the door before cracking it open. “I’ve returned,” he called, and the sound of stampeding feet put De Sardet on edge.

           The door was yanked open, revealing a hoard of children ranging from their late twenties to the youngest who looked about ten.

           “Vance!” a young woman called, wrapping her arms around the Naut’s neck. “Oh, you’re home! We’ve missed you!”

           He huffed, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I told you I would be home within the year, Evelina.”

           She pulled away, flipping her long black braid over her shoulder, a pinched look on her face. “You shouldn’t’ve left in the first place. Not while father is…” she trailed off when De Sardet peeked over Vance’s shoulder.

           “Who is this you’ve brought?” she questioned, and Vance turned slightly, letting them see him.

           “I present Lord De Sardet, the former governor of New Serene on Teer Fradee.”

           Evelina drew her gaze to her brother. “You didn’t go to the Alliance then.”

           He shook his head. “No, I didn’t. And you can get mad at me later.” He gently, but firmly, made his way inside, De Sardet following him. “For now, I wish to see father and introduce his oldest friend.”

           Vance glanced at the youngest one. “Marcel, how is he?”

           The boy shook his head. “Not good.” He glanced at his hands. “Father said my magic won’t do much anymore.” His eyes met De Sardet’s and the old man realized the child was a native of Teer Fradee like himself. “I don’t think it will be long now.”

           Vance cursed under his breath, and De Sardet couldn’t help but apologize. “I’m sorry, Vance. I kept you away from this.”

           “No,” Vance replied, shaking his head. “Truth be told, I made my peace when I left for Teer Fradee.”

           “You mean you left thinking he’d die before we got here?” De Sardet asked.

           Vance met his eyes. “My father’s been extremely sick, Lord De Sardet. I believed he’d pass the day I left.” He shook his head and wandered down the hall. “It doesn’t matter though. He’s still alive and that’s what matters.”

           They stopped in front of a closed door and Vance looked at the old man. “Are you ready?”

           De Sardet inhaled deeply, hands clenching in fists. “As I will ever be.”

           Vance snorted. “If it gives you any assurance, I don’t think father can throw anything at you.” That earned a chuckle from the old man and he opened the door, the two quietly stepping inside.

           “Father? Are you awake?” Vance questioned softly, gently bending beside the bed to take his hand.

           The old Naut cracked an eye open, a smile coming across his lips as he greeted, “Vance? You’re back?”

           “I am, father,” he replied, blinking away the tears. “And I’ve returned with someone.”

           “Who?” the Naut quizzed, white brows furrowing as Vance stood up.

           “Someone important.”

           De Sardet appeared in his vision and he smiled tiredly. “Hello Vasco.”

           Vasco’s golden eyes went wide and seeming to find strength, he held out a hand. “My Tempest,” he breathed and De Sardet sat on the bedside, taking Vasco’s hand.

           Tears filled the Naut’s eyes. “You’re here.”

           De Sardet gave him a grin and looked at Vance. “Your son is stubborn. Wouldn’t leave Teer Fradee without me.” Vasco gave a watery laugh, squeezing his hand weakly. “Told me I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t come see you.”

           “I didn’t say that!” Vance snapped, cheeks warming as his father looked at him. “I just said he wanted to see you again.”

           Vasco swallowed thickly. “Thank you, Vance.”

           The young captain scratched the back of his neck and shifted, pressing a kiss to Vasco’s forehead.

           “Yeah, well…you’re welcome.” He pulled away and glanced at the two. “I’ll give you some privacy.”

           De Sardet watched him leave, and when the door closed, he turned back and stared at Vasco. So long had it been since he’d last seen him. His hair was no longer the chestnut brown it once was, now white as snow, and longer, to his chest. Vasco had gained more tattoos, some of them reminding him of the ones Cabral had. But his eyes—Gods they were still so bright and beautiful.

           “How long has it been?” Vasco whispered and De Sardet let out a sigh.

           “Sixty-three years.” He ran his thumb over the back of the Naut’s hand. “You look good for eighty-eight, Vasco.”

           “Sixty-three years and the first thing you do is flirt with me,” he laughed. “You haven’t changed a bit…well, maybe just a bit.”

           De Sardet patted his stomach. “I’ve certainly let my body go.” Grinning, he added, “Could still take on a horde of lewoilges though.”

           That made Vasco snort. “Sure you could.” He paused and tugged at De Sardet’s hand. “Help me sit up, would you? I can’t do it on my own.”

           He rose from the bed and with one hand grabbed a pillow, the other wrapping around the back of Vasco’s shoulders. De Sardet pulled his upper body up from the bed and placed the cushion behind him, watching as Vasco rested against it.

           “Better?” he checked, and Vasco nodded.

           “Much.” He held out his hand. “Lay with me,” he urged adding, “Please,” when De Sardet looked at him warily.

           De Sardet didn’t have much resistance against his ex-lover, quickly ceding to crawl onto the bed, one arm curling behind Vasco’s head, the other across his waist, their fingers intertwined. Vasco rested his head on De Sardet’s shoulder, breathing the other’s sent deeply.

           “Are you comfortable, Vasco?” he inquired, fingers threading through his long white hair.

           “More than I’ve been in a while, Tempest.” He tilted his head and De Sardet looked down, catching his eyes. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

           “I was heavily persuaded,” De Sardet answered, and the ache in his chest intensified as he let go of Vasco’s hand to cup his cheek, thumb brushing over the faded tattoos. “I’ve missed you, Vasco.”

           “As have I, my Tempest.” Tears filled his eyes again and he lamented, “I thought about you for so long after I left.”

           De Sardet swallowed the lump growing in his throat and he shushed Vasco softly. “Let’s not think back on such things.” He gave the Naut a smile. “Tell me about all eleven of your kids you absolute madman of a father.”

           Vasco started laughing. “It is a sight isn’t it?”

           “Eleven! That’s a handful!” He grinned. “And I want to know all about them.”

***

           When Marcel had said that Vasco’s time wouldn’t be long, he wasn’t wrong in that assumption. As the day dwindled into night, so did Vasco’s life. He was tired, and De Sardet could tell, but there was so much they’d missed out on and so little time—they had to tell each other; Vasco had to tell him everything that had occurred during his time as Commander of The Fleet, sailing the seas and gaining the rank of Admiral, marrying his wife, and having the family he’d never thought he’d get. But he was so tired. So very tired. He wanted to sleep, but there was so much to tell. There was so much—

           “Vasco,” De Sardet whispered, fingers brushing over the Naut’s cheek. He startled a bit, but managed to raise open his heavy lids, chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

           “I’m here,” he replied, feeling De Sardet’s fingers curl in his palm. “What…what happened?”

           De Sardet felt the lump grow back in his throat, but he said, “You started to fall asleep on me. You were talking about your last voyage.”

           Vasco remembered again. He was telling him about the final voyage to Serene, Vance as his first mate. But where did he leave off on? The beginning? The middle? He wasn’t sure anymore.

           “I’m afraid my memory isn’t what it once was, my Tempest,” he excused.

           “It’s quite alright,” De Sardet answered, shifting slightly so that Vasco was once more resting on his shoulder, his arm over the Naut’s waist. “We’ll just speak of something else then.”

           Vasco took a deep breath and started to relax on De Sardet’s shoulder. “I don’t think we have the time, my Tempest.”

           “Don’t say that,” De Sardet lamented, throat tightening with each passing moment. “We still have time.”

           “When has time ever been…on our side, my Tempest?” the Naut whispered, barely feeling the hand De Sardet placed on his arm.

           He looked away as tears filled his eyes, and the memory of Vasco calling him a coward came back to him. De Sardet shakily exhaled and turned his head back, pressing his forehead to Vasco’s.

           “I’m sorry,” he wept. “I’m so sorry that I was a coward all those years ago. I’m sorry I shut you out. I’m—”

           “Shh, my Tempest,” Vasco murmured with a small smile. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”

           De Sardet didn’t like that answer. He let out a quiet sob. “Forgive me for being so foolish. I would give anything to go back all those years ago.” He felt the tears fall down his cheeks, but he didn’t wipe them away, raising his hand to cup Vasco’s cheek.

           “I love you,” he confessed tearfully, thumb brushing over the Naut’s skin. “I love you, Vasco.”

           The Naut seemed to find the last of his strength to open his eyes once more, gazing with a clarity and mumbled, “And I love you, my Tempest…always.���

***

           Vance had offered De Sardet one of the rooms in the home, but he’d politely declined, saying he’d stay at one of the various taverns and let the family grieve. At that, the young Naut wanted to ask to let him walk the old man to one of them, but the look in De Sardet’s eyes begged him to leave the man alone. And Vance watched a broken man disappear into the night.

***

           He wandered aimlessly through the streets, ignoring every sound and sight that passed him by. His heart ached. Oh, it ached terribly. And all he wanted to do was crawl under his covers and sleep it away. De Sardet had outlived them all. He’d left his mother to die, taken the life of his cousin, held the hand of the man he considered his father as he passed, held both Síora’s and Aphra’s hands as they passed too, brushed the sweat from Kurt’s brow before he slipped into eternity, and De Sardet cradled the man he loved in his arms as he took his last breath. What more could he lose?

           When he finally came to clarity, he was knee deep in the water, feeling it lap at his legs. Tears fell down his cheeks and he slapped the water in anger, shouting as if someone could hear him.

           “What was the purpose?!” he screamed. “I watched them all die! And for what?!”

           Maybe En on míl frichtimen or The Enlightened would hear him and answer him.

           “Is this punishment?!” The water was to his waist now. “I’ve learned my lesson!” De Sardet’s throat hurt from yelling and he cried, “I just want to go back! Please!” The water lapped at his chest.

           “I’ll change! I’ll change it all! Just let me go ba—”

           A gasp tore through his chest when his footing slipped from beneath him and De Sardet went under, the current pulling at his body, and though part of him struggled, the other stopped and let it happen. The moon shone above him in a rippled vision as the first intake of water sunk into his lungs. Strangely, as it happened, De Sardet felt at peace and let himself go, allowing the sea to pull him deeper and deeper. If this was his end, let it be. He was tired too. Tired of watching everyone he loved die. Tired of being the last one. His mind clouded with a haze and his last thought oddly enough, was that the moon was getting too bright.

***

           The snap of a shutter down below broke him from sleep, and he sat up straight in the bed, chest heaving with every intake of oxygen. He wrestled with the sheets that were tied around him, realizing he must’ve gotten tangled in his sleep. As he pulled them down from his neck, he stopped to examine his hands. The wrinkles he remembered we no longer there and he reached up, feeling his face. Gasping, he scrambled from the plush bed and onto the floor, ignoring the shooting pain that shot up his legs from the impact.

           He hurried to the corner of the room and stared into the mirror with shock. His young self was staring back at him. A smile of relief so wonderful came across his face and a laugh bubbled in his chest—it had been a dream, a terrible, awful dream. But that’s all that it was. He turned and looked out the mirror on his left and a new wave of relief bled through him—the Seahorse was still in port. Suddenly he remembered his dream. Vasco leaving, for good.

           Cursing, De Sardet spun on his heel and sprinted to the door. He paused to yank his boots on and pull on a shirt, though it was unbuttoned and in disarray. His fingers flipped the lock of the door and he yanked them open, startling the maids who were cleaning, half to death. He merely waved at them and ran out of the parlor towards the stairs, and as he turned the corner, he saw Kurt coming up.

           Joy filled him and he wrapped the mercenary in his arms, nearly causing them to tumble down the stairs. “Kurt!” he cried, squeezing the man tightly, and he sputtered in shock.

           “Green Blood? You—you’re out of your room?”

           De Sardet pulled away, hands grasping his friend’s shoulders. “I am! Where is Vasco?”

           Kurt shook his head and thrust his thumb over his shoulder. “Came by about ten minutes ago. Said his goodbyes before he took off.”

           “Damnit!” the Legate cursed and pulled away, descending the stairs like a madman, Kurt on his heels.

           “Where are you going!” he yelled, waving off the nobles who were rightly scandalized at the younger noble in his starkers.

           “To stop Vasco from leaving! I had a dream!” De Sardet shouted, flinging the doors of the courtroom open and hauling down the stairs towards the entrance.

           “A dream?”

           “I’ll tell you later!” he replied, bursting into the afternoon.

           The townspeople stopped and stared at the barely dressed Legate and confused mercenary running past them, but De Sardet didn’t care. All he cared about was stopping Vasco before it was too late.

           “How are you not skin and bone, Green Blood?” Kurt called behind him.

           He laughed. “My cousin went insane, but he planned ahead!” De Sardet tossed a look over his shoulder. “I’ve been living off the fruitcakes he had stored away.”

           Kurt made a face of pure disgust. “Ugh, gross.”

           De Sardet laughed and flew past the merchants in the Copper District, coming out to the port. He sprinted towards the Harbour Master’s Office.

           “Admiral Cabral!” he yelled out, startling the woman who had her nose in one of their books.

           She gaped at him. “Lord De Sardet? What—”

           “Vasco!” he shouted. “Where is he?”

           “He and the Seahorse set sail moments ago.” She pointed towards the stern of the said ship and De Sardet cursed again, running towards the edge of the dock. The Seahorse was about to clear the two giant rocks of the island, about a hundred meters from them. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted as loudly as he could.

           “VASCO!” the ship didn’t seem to be stopping and he called again. “VASCO!”

           He turned to the crowd of sailors that was growing behind him; he pointed at one.

           “You there! Give me your rifle!” The sailor pointed to himself, shock etching onto his face. “Yes you!” De Sardet griped, yanking the rifle from him. He quickly checked if it was loaded then raised it to his shoulder.

           “You’ll shoot someone at this distance, Green Blood,” Kurt warned, and De Sardet nodded.

           “I know. But that’s not what I’m aiming for.” He closed one eye and took aim with the other, raising the gun a few inches and pulled the trigger.

           The shot echoed across the water and port, and they watched in amazement as one of the pulley’s holding up the main sail at the gaff exploded in a hail of sparks, the cream sail flopping over. From the way the other sails were immediately pulled into the masts and the anchors dropped, De Sardet knew he’d achieved his goal. He tossed the rifle back and cupped his mouth once more.

           “VASCO!” he screamed, and the man who held his heart appeared at the stern, though de Sardet could barely make out his features.

           De Sardet waved like a madman, watching as Vasco raised the spyglass to his eye, then lowered it in shock and he heard faintly across the water, “De Sardet?” A milewide grin crossed his lips and he bent down, undoing the laces to his boots.

           “What are you doing, Green Blood?” Kurt questioned when the Legate shoved his boots into his arms.

           De Sardet yanked off his shirt and tossed it at him. “I’m going to him.”

           “You’re joking?” Kurt hesitated and De Sardet shook his head. “Green Blood, that’s at least a hundred meters.”

           “And you’re acting like Constantin and I didn’t swim in the Serene sea during the summer months.” He winked at him. “I got this.”

           He didn’t wait for a response, immediately diving into the ocean, which was freezing, he might add, but it didn’t stop him. De Sardet broke the surface and forced himself to swim through the frigid water. It would’ve taken him at least a minute and a half, but the coldness seeping into his bones locked him up a bit, and the minute stretched into two.

           As he reached the side of the ship, a rope came down and he grabbed it, feet slipping into the steps on the side of the ship as the crew heaved him up. De Sardet came over the side and someone, he thought it was Lauro, rested a blanket over his shoulders.

           “Thank you,” he shivered, teeth chattering as he rubbed his chest, and stomping came his way. He looked up to see Vasco coming towards him, a look of fury on his face.

           “Are you some kind of idiot?” he barked when he got within ten feet of the Legate. “Do you have any idea how danger—”

           De Sardet stepped the last foot between them, hands on Vasco’s tattooed cheeks as he pulled the Naut to him, sealing the sailor’s anger in a searing kiss. Whistles sounded around them, and he grinned when Vasco hands pressed to his bare chest. He tipped the Naut’s chin up, one hand leaving his face to wrap around the captain’s waist as he pulled them flush together. Eventually, air called to them and De Sardet pulled back, leaving Vasco a bit dazed and red in the cheeks.

           “What—” he floundered, mouth opening and closing like a fish.

           “I love you,” De Sardet professed, staring into his eyes. “I love you, Vasco, and I don’t want you to go.” He breathed deeply, a foolish smile coming across his face. “I’ve been such a fool and a damned coward, just like you said. I’ve been the biggest coward who’s shut himself away from the world.”

           Vasco couldn’t seem to find the words, but that was okay, De Sardet didn’t need him to speak, he only needed him to listen.

           “I dreamed,” he started, taking a moment to will the horrid dream away from his mind. “I dreamed of what life would’ve been if you’d left today. Loneliness and regret are all it was.” De Sardet’s fingers brushed over his cheek. “And I realized something when I woke up. Do you know what it was?”

           Vasco shook his head.

           De Sardet swallowed. “I realized that losing Constantin hurt. But losing you?” He cupped the Naut’s cheek and confessed, “Losing you would be unbearable.” Vasco’s eyes went wide and De Sardet listened to the sharp intake of breath as tears gathered in the Naut’s vision.

           “So, I’m coming to you with my heart in my hands,” he said. “And I’m asking you to stay with me.” He smiled widely at Vasco. “Stay with me, Vasco. Here.”

           It took Vasco a good moment to gain his senses and he whispered, “My crew…I…”

           Someone cleared their throat and they both glanced from the corner of their eyes to see Jonas smiling at Vasco.

           “Captain, if I may?” he asked softly, and Vasco could only nod. “Captain, we Nauts belong to the sea. We are made from salt and water, forged by storms and secrets.” Jonas looked at De Sardet. “The sea is our mistress…but our hearts are ours.”

           Vasco huffed, a smile crossing his lips as he whispered, “Shite, you’ve always had a nugget for the truth, Jonas.” He met De Sardet’s eyes. “Ask me again.”

           De Sardet grinned. “Captain Vasco, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?”

           “I will,” Vasco smiled, wrapping his arms around De Sardet’s neck. “I love you, my Tempest.”

           “I love you t—” he’d barely gotten the reply out before the Naut was pulling him down, crashing their lips together as cheers surrounded them. He pulled back slightly and humored, “I’d love to take the warm up in your quarters, but I really need to bathe first. How ‘bout we get back to shore?”

           Vasco’s lips twisted into a smirk, but it was anything but humorous. “Well…I would gladly take us back to shore, but someone shot my rigging down. We have to fix it first.”

           De Sardet swallowed and objected, “It was that or you leave. I think we should look at the brighter side of things and that is that we’ve fixed a situation that could’ve been devastating.”

           Vasco merely rolled his eyes and shoved him away, pointing to the captain’s cabin. “Go warm up while I get us back to shore.”

           “Aye-aye, Captain,” De Sardet flirted, winking as he escaped into the quarters.

           The Naut huffed a laugh and shook his head, then suddenly feeling eyes on his head shot up and he hissed, “What are you lot standing around for! I’m still the captain of this ship! Lively now! And someone fix that rig!”

***

           The warm glow still remained on their skin as they curled in each other’s arms, Vasco resting his head on De Sardet’s chest, his right arm resting next to his chin. De Sardet’s free hand softly ran through the Naut’s hair, the other gripping the hand on his chest, simply content in holding him. They’d both shared tears when they’d made love, apologies on bruised lips and against each other’s skin, but it meant the world to be together again.

           “I’m going to be the talk of the city for months,” De Sardet suddenly said, and Vasco snorted.

           “You’re going to be the talk of the city for years,” he corrected, musing, “A noble running after a Naut in his starkers, then diving into the bay for him.” He tipped his head up, propping his chin on De Sardet’s chest. “You’ve scandalized them all.”

           “Good,” he countered with a grin, pushing a piece of hair from the Naut’s face, tucking it behind his ear. “We need a scandal every now and then. Keeps it all interesting.”

           “I’m sure it does, my Tempest.”

           They gazed at each other for a moment, then Vasco asked, “What made you come?”

           “Technically it was you doing that thing with your hi—OW!” he hollered when Vasco pinched his side. “Okay! I was just joking! Geez!” De Sardet rubbed his hip, then rested his head back onto the pillow so that he didn’t have to stare at Vasco while he told him of the dream.

           “I dreamed that I let you leave and grew old and bitter about it. Your son came to visit me…told me that you weren’t doing good and that—”

           “I’m sorry, my son?” Vasco interrupted and De Sardet rolled his eyes.

           “Yes, your son. Keep up with the story. His name was Vance, and he came to Teer Fradee to get me so that we could see each other one last time before you passed.”

           The Naut was silent a moment. “And did you? You know…see me?” De Sardet fell silent and Vasco heard the Legate’s heart thump rapidly in his chest. “De Sardet?” he murmured, and the man picked his head up, looking deep into the Naut’s golden gaze.

           “I held you as you took your final breath,” he whispered, and Vasco’s heart broke at the pain his voice held.

           “My Tempest, I—”

           “Sixty-three years since I let you leave, and I spent twelve hours trying to make up for it.” Tears gathered in his eyes. “And I begged your forgiveness for my foolishness and all you did was tell my you’d already done so.”

           He cupped Vasco’s cheek. “I held you as you went.” De Sardet shook his head. “I’d never felt such an agony, even with all I had to do.” His thumb brushed a tear from under Vasco’s eye. “And I woke up thinking that if I had to hold you in your final moments again, then I wanted it to be after a life we spent together. A life of love and happiness, not regrets.”

           De Sardet lips pulled into a weak smile. “And I’m so thankful I got there in time, because I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t.”

           Vasco shifted atop him, leaning down to press their foreheads together. “You’ll never have to wonder, because we’re together now.”

           “I love you, Vasco,” De Sardet murmured, cupping his sun-kissed, tattooed, cheeks.

           “And I you, my Tempest,” Vasco responded, pressing a kiss to his lips. He pulled away and rested on De Sardet’s chest, feeling the other wrap his arms around him, fingers gently tracing up and down his spine.

           They laid there a moment, then Vasco whispered, “But I wasn’t leaving for good, you know.”

           The fingers dancing on his skin stopped. “What?” De Sardet deadpanned.

           Vasco snorted and looked at him. “I was delivering some supplies to San Matheus and coming right back.” He smirked, eyes filled with mirth as he ribbed, “You didn’t really think you were getting rid of me that easily, did you? With a note? Please, I have more class than that.”

           De Sardet’s jaw dropped and he gaped at his lover, who started laughing, and when his thoughts finally caught up with him, he chuckled lowly.

           “Oh, so that’s how it was then?”

           Vasco wiggled, trying to get away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

           De Sardet followed him. “Oh yes you do,” he affirmed. “And I’m going to drag it out of you.”

           They stared at one another a moment, then Vasco jerked, but before he could get far, De Sardet had him around the waist, pulling him down into the sheets, laughter peeling from him.

           He pinned Vasco’s hips into the bed with his thighs as he straddled him and with one hand, held the Naut’s wrists as the other dug into the man’s sides, grinning evilly as he howled with laughter. De Sardet kept at it until tears were sliding down Vasco’s cheeks and he was begging him to stop. He released Vasco’s wrists watching as a few last chuckles crept past his mouth and lowered his arms.

           “Gods, De Sardet,” he heaved, sucking in the much-needed air. “When you said you were going to drag it out of me, I didn’t know you meant that.”

           “What? Thought I was going to ravage you until you begged mercy?” De Sardet ribbed and when the Naut’s cheeks flushed crimson, his eyes went wide. “Oh my god, did you really think that’s what I was going to do?”

           Vasco floundered. “Your eyes said that!”

           “My eyes—what?” De Sardet snorted, running a hand across his face.

           “Your eyes,” Vasco said. “They were lustful,” his cheeks seemed to catch fire with every word until he snapped his mouth shut and De Sardet simply grinned down at him. “Oh, get off me you scoundrel!”

           “Scoundrel?” De Sardet moaned, pressing a hand to his chest. “I’m shocked you’d think that.”

           “No, you’re not,” Vasco spat, though his voice held little heat.

           “Nah,” the Legate replied, bending down to peck the Naut’s lips. “I’m not. But if you did want me to ravage you, I can still oblige.”

           “I love you, my Tempest, but please stop talking.”

           “If I say aye-aye captain, will it turn you on?”

           “I’m deeply regretting my decision to stay at this point.”

           “Oh no doubt, but you agreed to stay, so you’re stuck with me.” De Sardet smiled. “Sorry.”

           Vasco chuckled and shook his head. “There’s no place I’d rather be in this moment in time, my tempest. Nowhere.”

           De Sardet felt a heartfelt smile come across his face and he replied, “I feel the same, Vasco.”

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Admiral Cabral

#greedfall #screenshot #unedite