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bastogne-boys-blog · 5 years

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Forest Fires and Hurricanes

Pairing: Eugene Roe x Fem!Reader

Warnings: some angst, some steamyness, some cursing, and some bad french translation

A/N: This is an adaptation of the actor’s portrayals and not the actual honorable and respectable veterans.

Word Count: 2600 ish

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“Doc, I swear it’s just a scratch. I swear.” Y/N rested on a slipshod cot that had housed too many injured soldiers. The material was torn and stained with dry blood and one of the legs was on the verge of snapping. The smell of rubbing alcohol and sweat filled her nostrils while the sound of heavy artillery and her own foot being wrapped in gauze filled her ears. The only source of light in the small medic station was a keroscene lamp that was being encircled by moths eager for a portion of the sacred treasure. Despite the the brightness issue, Y/N could easily make out the focused expression of her friend and the company’s medic, Eugene Roe. Y/N couldn’t help but associate his dark eyes with dry wood. On the outside they appeared drab and dreary but once ignited with passion became a powerful flame.

“If a clear fracture is what you call a scratch, then yes, you have a scratch.” Eugene attempted to keep the playful remark to himself but his rough voice abandoned his normally closed mouth. “Your toe is swollen and not its normal shape. I want you to take it easy for a while.”

Y/N had a plethora of reasons why she should do the exact opposite of what he just asked but none were able to slip past her tongue. Her embarrassment of the accident left her too timid to a mutter a word.

“How did this even happen Y/L/N?” Gene asked not looking up as he tended to her pinky toe as it ached to be healed.

Y/N didn’t injure her toe on the hell that was D-Day. Y/N didn’t even get a paper cut in Carentan. Neither Eindhoven nor the crossroads did she feel any jabs. But her luck quickly betrayed her in a small Dutch town just shy of the Ardennes. It wasn’t even in the fields! “I was walking Talbert’s dog, Trigger, and he somehow got loose from his leash. I ran after ‘em but I wasn’t exactly looking where I was going and just like that, I collided with something hard. Turns out I stubbed my toe real bad on a dorm frame.

Roe tilted his head downwards to get a better angle at Y/N’s injury but Y/N could tell by the movement of his shoulders that Gene was trying to cover up his chuckles. “I guess that means no purple heart, huh?”

Y/N rolled her eyes but the genuine curve of her lips betrayed her. “I guess not but I can feel my good luck changing. Today I got…” Y/N paused for dramatic effect. “… a hangnail.”

“You have got to be kidding.”

“I wish I was! But seriously, everything that could of gone wrong, went wrong today. I mean for Christ’s sake, I feel like this cot is going to break any second and I’m gonna fall on my ass.”

Eugene was about to offer a rebuke but the interruption of his fellow comrade stopped him. Vest entered the medic station with a substantial amount of envelopes occupying his arms. He smiled. “The Dear John letters have arrived.” He rifled through his stack and tossed three to Eugene. “Go crazy.”

Vest furrowed his brows as he searched. He let out a huff and he set the envelopes on a nearby table. “I could have swore I saw something for you. Y/L/N are you expecting anything?”

Gene felt Y/N’s body go stiff at his question. He looked up just in time to notice the clouds begin to darken and the wind pick up speed. Her sails should of been lowered but instead were inflated and shaking violently. The rough waters struck the hull and at any given moment the ship was sure to capsize. The thin line that was her lips struggled to open as she muttered “I… I don’t believe so.”

Y/N avoided her gaze in the direction of Vest and his letters and turned her head toward Eugene’s stern glance. His eyes searched for an explanation to her reaction as if the answer could solve the world’s biggest mysteries. If only Gene could feel a sliver of what was going through her head. His heavy gaze should of made her uncomfortable but all it did was ground her and calm her waters. It offered her a nostalgic feeling of the old pine trees that grew in her backyard.

“Oh here it is. Knew there was something in here for you. Here you go.” Vest grinned as he handed Y/N a small white envelope before exiting the room to deliver the rest of his bundle.

Y/N let her eyes roam the jumble of letters sprawled across the envelope. Her index finger outlined each and every character as if the action could make the words clearer. She gently opened the envelope like it was gold, ignoring its disposability. The letter unfolded at her shaky touch and her calloused fingers grazed the paper like it was a fine harp.

Gene let his own letters go completely unnoticed as Y/N’s frustration took center stage of his attention. The area above her eyebrows creased like waves crashing in the sea and caused a ripple effect that reached her frown. That same sea was once tranquil and delightful but was now inhabited by a dangerous hurricane that no brave sailor should dare venture into.

But Gene was willing to take that risk. “Are you alright, Y/L/N?” He asked softly afraid that the storm would release a flood of rain or a gust of cold wind if startled. “Never better.” Y/N replied without a moment’s hesitation. Gene didn’t buy her answer even for a second. He could tell a storm was brewing.

Roe gently placed his hand on the girl’s knee and tenderly kneaded the skin just above her kneecap. He tried to meet her gaze afraid if he didn’t offer her reassurance, she would sink and never resurface. “Y/N, what’s in the letter?” His tone was demanding but lacked harshness or volume because he hoped the use of her given name was enough to get his point across.

Despite Eugene’s efforts, they were no match for Y/N’s stubbornness and pride. Already feeling the storm surge gain height, Y/N tightly closed her eyes and exhaled. She crumpled the letter in the palm of her hands until it was much smaller than its original form. Just a few moments earlier she treated the piece of paper with mother’s care but now it was worthless in her eyes. “Nothing. It’s not anything important.”

“Y/N…” Eugene’s voice didn’t lose its composure. “Just tell me what’s in the letter.”

Y/N opened the slits of her eyes and were met with Gene’s solemn ones. The winding pine forest the circled his pupils was now ablaze in a spreading wildfire. It was terrifying enough to make Y/N release her grip on the paper. “Please, Roe, drop it.”

Eugene could sense the anger, sorrow, and fear wash over her features like a flash flood. Quick and unable to be stopped. In spite of this, he was willing to take his boat through rough and raging waters. “Y/N/N, what was in the letter? Tell me what it said.”

“No, Gene.” Y/N’s voice became desperate as she felt a crack in the levees. “No.”

“Y/N, I promise whatever it says, I won’t think any less of you. Tell me what was in the letter and I promise you, I will help with anything you need. You just have to tell me.” Another crack.

“Eugene… just… please stop. Leave me alone.”

“I can’t stand to see you like this with your eyes on the verge of tears and a frown on your face. I have seen grown men give out cries but I was able to give them morphine and the sobs would subside. But with you… I just don’t know what to do. I need to help you because that’s all you ever do for me.” Another crack.

Eugene stood up from the foot of the cot and kneeled down by Y/N so he was face to face with the girl. Y/N tilted her head to her lap and avoided Roe’s somber irises. The forest fire dwindled as a thundercloud released fresh rain upon the earth. The fresh water hydrated the dry, brown soil and filled the rivers that ran down his pink cheeks inhabited by a rose garden. The delicate rose petals that danced their way below his eyes to the tip of his nose and ears became submerged by a refreshing shower. The thorns laced with worry, frustration, and fear were washed away never to be seen again.

As Y/N balled up the letter in her palms, Gene lovingly placed his hand on Y/N’s and unraveled her fist. He took her hand and traced every knuckle and every crevice. That same hand had pulled the trigger that ended a man’s life. That same hand had been an access for cigarettes to touch her lips. That same hand had torn and ripped many other letters in the past. That same hand was the hand that Gene kissed delicately with such respect and love. Another crack.

“Please, Y/N, I am so grateful for all of the happiness and laughter you have managed to give me on my bad days. You always seem to find a way to wash away my worries… and I… it just kills me that I can’t give you that same thing. Just please, let go, you’re drowning. Let me help you… I love you.”

That was the final crack. The dam split in two and the levees breached.

Y/N released her tight grip of the letter and with her shaky hands grasped Gene’s shoulders. The flood swept through villages and roads and destroyed anything that came in its path. it submerged houses and vehicles. It took away people’s lives. And then it reached the pine forest.

Gene tenderly placed his palm on the girl’s face so that the tip of his overworked fingers touched just below her earlobes. His thumb brushed her puffed cheeks and just like the sun, dried up the raging river. Whatever water was left was soaked up by the dark soil. “Don’t cry. You are going to be alright. I will make it alright.”

“H…how..”

Eugene softly smiled. He leaned in ever so carefully and inhaled as if it would be his last breath. His lips touched hers and their beating heartbeats became one. His lips were soft, Y/N noticed. They were the petals of of forget-me-nots and the wings of butterflies. They were four leaved clovers and lily pads. It was the feeling of freshly fallen snow and walking through a creek that was just recently rained upon.

Y/N broke away and was met with the winding pine forest but this time it wasn’t on fire. Y/N noted that the reason a forest fire spreads is because it is starved of showers. But now the pine trees were watered and the soil was full of health.

Gene ran his thumb along the ridges of Y/N’s chapped lips, the same lips that had filled his heart and lungs of passion just moments ago. He delicately parted her lips so that he gently held her bottom one in between his index finger and thumb. Gene connected his mouth to her open one and pushed his body against hers. His hands discovered everything she had to offer. Every curve and bump was adored and then finally rested on her waist. Y/N pulled Gene’s hair and caused sounds to escape his throat and send vibrations through her veins.

The medics trailed his open mouthed kisses across her jaw, down her neck and collar bone. His eager hands unclasped the top button of her jacket and continued down to the second.

Snap

Suddenly, the leg of the makeshift cot split in two and sent the couple tumbling to the ground with a large thud. Y/N’s back collided with the dense wood planks making up the ground and her head followed suit. She let out a yelp as the warm chest of her partner came in contact with hers. “Shit…”

Eugene hastily bolstered himself up on his hands that were located by her abdomen.”Fuck… you alright?”

Still a little shook up, Y/N nodded and tensely gripped Gene’s forearms. She let her fingertips graze the intricate designs oh his uniform until they came to rest on his jaw. Y/N bit her lip. “Gene?” She whispered with a fine mixture of innocence and seduction. Eugene’s breath got caught in his throat. “Yes?”

“I told you the cot would break.”

Y/N erupted in loud laughter and the man above her was forced to grin. “You’re terrible!” He declared in jest. The cheerful girl ignored his comment and continued to heartily cackle. The tempestuous currents stilled and the sun escaped from its stormy jail cell. The sun returned to his rightful place above the sea. The ocean mirrored the star’s excitement and it appeared as if fragments of the sun fell and were floating in the waves.

“Vous êtes si belle.” (You are so beautiful.) Eugene breathed as he lightly peppered her giggling face with kisses. Each feature was well accounted for as his lips brushed against the surface of her smile. Y/N carried on laughing as Gene’s tongue caressed her outer ear and gently nibbled on her earlobe. “Vous trope rire, Y/L/N.” (You laugh too much.)

Y/N kneaded the roots of Eugene’s dark locks in an attempt to stabilize herself. “Ok. Ok. I’ll stop. And can you get up? I can barely breathe.”

Eugene wistfully rose to his feet and offered her a kind hand but she politely declined. Y/N chuckled. “My toe is still fractured, remember? I’m surprised you forgot because you were so adamant that I needed to take it easy.”

“Then what do you propose I do?”

Y/N scratched her chin and pretended to think. “How about you… carry me?”

“Y/L/N…”

“Roe, you were the one that decided making out with me on that crappy cot was a good idea. I mean if you ask me-”

Y/N’s sentence was cut short as Eugene’s left arm hooked under her legs and his right arm held her abdomen. Her body was lifted from the protruding wood that was sure to give her a splinter if she wasn’t careful. Eugene’s light pink cheeks rose with the curve of his lips. “How about I carry you to a more sturdy cot but in turn you…” Eugene gave Y/N the most pleading look he could muster. “…tell me was in the letter?”

Y/N practically plummeted into an endless pit of panic as the fear hijacked her brain. Her eyes frantically searched his for any devious intent. Any sign that he would stab her in the back and spread her secrets.

But she found nothing because he was Eugene Roe. Her Eugene Roe. The same man that was too shy to introduce himself on the first day the met but was won over by her infectious smile. He was the only one that was a constant source of nurture and joy. When she was around him, she could truly be herself, faults and perfections in all. He was her rainbow after the deadliest hurricane. She felt captivated by him. She felt cherished by him. Her comrade. Her ride or die. Her best friend. And she was in love with him.

“… will you kiss me again?” Eugene nodded.

“Then yes.”

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A/N; I might make a part 2 to this because I know what’s in the letter and it is in fact NOT a dear john letter kinda the opposite actually. So keep on the look out for that :)

#band of brothers #band of brothers fanfic #band of brothers fanfiction #band of brothers x reader #eugene roe #gene roe #doc roe #eugene roe x reader

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whstletomyheart · 5 years

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Why YG TREASURE BOX is a complete mess and YG is playing with us. (A rant?)

First, its important to understand what or YGTB is and how it was promoted for this we should understand the events that happened before.

NOTE: YG will be referred to as a they since there are other people besides YHS Making the Decisions.

All of YG’s boy groups were made through survival shows.

BIGBANG=BIGBANG DOC

WINNER=WIN

IKON=WIN/M&M

So it was pretty obvious that they would reuse this concept for their new bg.

Now its safe to assume that the group was set to be made around Bang Yedam, he’s popular in Korea plus that he was the moat famous trainee .

Now this is the general assumption that the original silver boys lineup ot11 were the lineup set up to debut. This is the reason why they were promoted through Mixnine (GonSukKyu) and Stray Kidz (YG vs JYP). But we all know Mixnine failed and that some trainees left making YG To rethink their concept and lineup.

Now we must remember that prior to the show starting YG teased that Yedam, Hyunsuk and Raesung were basically confirmed members.

Raesung, due to personal reasons decided to not participate in the show (the best decisions honestly).

Currently YG as a company is at a point were every fandom in it has problems with the company. This is all due to the amount of mismanagement towards the majority if not all the groups and artists. YG despite being the house of great and unique artists doesn’t know how to mange them which leads to long hiatus, less music and cbs,etc.

Now lets analyze the problems with the shows format. Moat idol survival shows have the same format. Which is simply individual competition. This means that the contestants will be evaluated and the voting will be individual or 1 pick (produce 101).

YGTB showed the beginning to be more a team survival show in other words a group compete with other groups (Win). But around the second and third episode its revealed that the show will be individual, shifting the format. This is first seen strange since a consistent theme in YGs previous groups is their teamwork but this is because since predebut the trainees are grouped into groups.

In the show we are never truly explained about how the show works and if it is its vague and very contrictdactory. Plus a lot of unfair and frankly weird things are shown ( compared to other survival shows)

Examples of this are:

• Number of final lineup is always changing: from 7 to 9 to 7 to 6 to 5 to 7 it would change depending the mood od the ceo.

• YHS changes rules at whim: YHS changes or adds rules

• Missions: the missions to compete against the treasure team were barely explained. Winpink came to the show mostly just for name Dropping cause they didn’t show why they chose who they chose. The ep were winner 2seung was going to examine their performances was cut to almost nothing more than click Bait.

• The rounds or missions made little sense , at the beginning it 1:1 , then 2:2 (duo), then team genre(?)/concept (in my opinion they weren’t that different in my opinion to be a concept eval but oh well)and putting a position battle at the end ……makes little sense

In Produce and other shows its usually a cover, position, concept and then original song evaluation. Showing the growth.

• Lack of original ygtb songs most survival shows make their own songs fir the concept and final evaluations (example Mixnine). YG is company that prides on self production but not once was this used despite various trainee being able to ( Yedam, Hyunsuk, Byounggon, Asahi, Yoshinori, etc.) . Even if the boys couldn’t yg producers could’ve made songs just like in Mixnine.

• Lack of fan events besides liking a trainees video and channel there weren’t chances for the fans to feel really close to them. With the individual channels they could’ve done random lives but no. Or fanmeetings.

Despite this the show did release a series of interesting content that honestly saved the show.

• Not letting all the trainees participate in the treasure swap and cutting and not airing the performances certain trainees made. Leaving the fans to have to watch fancams.

Now to explain the real mess, throughout the whole show fans were confused on how they could help their faves in terms of voting. YG opens voting till the last 2 episodes and makes it a group voting meaning you have to vote for a group of trainees. According to fans this means that the lineup with most votes will have an advantage to debut. On the last ep its revealed that Isn’t case at all. The trainees only got extra points depending on how many ranks or lineups they were in. In other words again it was individual voting. They didn’t explain this till ep 10 when the voting’s was done. Along with this they added the final nail to the coffin. These online votes were only worth 20% of the final score. With onsite votes at a 30%. But YHS gets 50% of the score, so basically YHS gets to choose at the end od the day so fan votes mean close to nothing. If a trainee did well on votes but isn’t YGs fave they wont pass and vice versa.

On top of all of this YG makes sure fans aren’t in the recording of the ranking to obviously avoid discord and only announces half the lineup for what we can only assume is for drama. Only YG and some staff know the lineup. Instead of releasing it all its adding more anxiety and desperation . Which can be seen in the fighting, the rumors and spamming.

Now that we’ve established that YGTB is a mess of a show that makes Mixnine look good, lets talk about favoritism and screentime. And why I don’t understand YGs intentions and the lineup.

Ok let get this out of the way YG/YHS always plays favorites, this isn’t new at all. We can see in the show that there are trainees YHS likes way more compared to others. In other words he tends to be very biased. On top that he likes to brag. The first ep is basically look at all the visuals I got.

All it takes is to watch the show to know who Yg/YHS like more baaed on screentime and arcs made. Lets Look at the confirmed members most got solid screentime. Yedam is pushed from the get go to being a super star trainee that is basically god where other trainees don’t want to be against him. Junkyu is cute and talented a good future asset, we see how he gets screentime from the start with his confidence arc. Plus its important to note that in Mixnine YHS’s fave was Junkyu . Haruto from the start was the Japanese trainee YG was interested in and he Gets the most screentime from the Japanese trainees. Jeongwoo was promoted through his vocal and how yg likes him, he gets attention. Junghwan On the other hand gets way less screentime then the other member but still way more than other less known trainees.

That being said a lot of the team b, team c and team j trainees get very little to no screentime. Jongseob who won Kpop Star didn’t get much screentime and performance was cut. Mashiho’s screentime is mostly reactions or being a friend.

Silver boys got the most screentime overall they focused a lot on their teamwork and bond giving fans the hope that they would debut. Which is were im frankly confused and would love to understand the why.

Why make silver boys participate in this show and emphasize so much on them for basically nothing?

Why bring Jihoon back?

Why bring Seunghun back?

After hours and hours of thinking and reading opinions. I came to a few theories:

A) YG wants to debut a fresh, young and visual new bg. For whatever reason, so choosing the younger trainees makes sense. Probably modeled around Yedam for a more pop sound in comparison to WinKon Some accounts state that a lot of kfans were pushing yg for a younger and visual group. Basically discarding the older trainees. Also this lineup has YGs faves who were the younger ones. If this is true YG will debut Yoonbin and Masiho or Yoonbin and Jaehyuk (his screentime in the last episodes makes me think so). Basically in this theory YG had an idea from the get go and they only used the silver boys for clout. This is the theory that makes me the saddest tbh. But still it doesn’t explain why yg would care so much about silver boys. Like bringing them back and emphasizing so mucho on how they’re a team. Plus it discards the power Hyunsuk has with one of the most stable fandoms.

B) The theory before the lineup was dropped was that yg Is testing the silver boys for the last time which made sense till the last episode. But SB stans have been very loud and spammed his Instagram, trended a hashtag and are contacting companies. This means they have a strong fandom so this might help.

C) YG will add more members to the lineup I think 9 is more realistic than 11. Based on screentime maybe Hyunsuk + Seunghun.

D) YG will debut all of ot13, doubt this since YG hasn’t have that big of a group and I don’t think YG can handle it. If it was SM yeah but not this. (I like this one tho )

E) YG will debut ot13 but in 2 teams a pop team and hip-hop team. Pop=treasure7 Hip-hop=silver boys +a member (I love this)

F) YG will debut SB but under the black label.

G) YG wont do anything except debuting the og treasure7 . And the sbs will leave the company and split up.

These are all the theories I have.

Tldr: YGTB has a lot of flaws as a survival show being extremely unfair and the situation with the lineup is the most chaotic thing ever. Whatever yg does will make people mad.

The worst part is that it worked as always YG doing the minimal manages to pull us in just to disappoint us. Just that he managed to drag more people this time.

At this point I’m done with the guessing and the rumors, I just really want to know what’s going on and the security that my faves are ok even if they’re in or not in the group. Cause not debuting in the group isn’t the end they can debut with another group or go solo. My point is that it isnt the end for their careers.

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sleepyfan-blog · 7 years

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fairy tale or body swap AU maybe? :D

((This one got kinda long. I hope that you enjoy it!))

@aridette

Connor woke up in a strange place. Specifically on a cot, and there was a stranger who was stirring a large black pot. He blinked a little as he slowly sat up, noting that the person was an elderly woman in all black clothes. He knew that colonists wore all black as a sign of mourning. He cleared his throat as he sat up, suppressing a hiss as the world spun unpleasantly around him.

“Good morning, my handsome, strapping young lad.” She called out, voice oddly hoarse sounding, “I found you out in the forest covered in more weapons than an old woman like myself can shake a stick at. I’ve set them on the table over there. I must say, I’ve never seen a Knight quite like you before.”

“… Thank you, but I am not a knight.” Connor murmured, trying to place her accent, having never heard it’s like before. The last thing he remembered was-

Aveline had asked him to help her track down a piece of Eden that the French Colonial Templars had recently procured. Connor had tracked the ship it was supposed to be on, stalking the courier as the other made his way through Charleston. He silently counted until the courier was completely hidden in an alley before leaping onto the hapless French Templar, stunning the man and grabbing the bag.

His father’s voice rang out, amused and exasperated “and just where do you think you are going with that, Connor?”

The young Master Assassin cursed himself for freezing one the spot rather than fleeing… But they were also allies at the moment. “This French Templar has something that an ally of mine would rather not stay in their hands. I have it and will be leaving now - and I have barely injured him.”

“Ah, but this other ally of yours wanted was being sent to me- and by your expression, I take it that they didn’t see fir to tell you that, son.” The Englishman purred, moving closer to the still motionless Connor.

The bastard had probably done that on purpose so he couldn’t help the reaction that he had to his father acknowledging that part of their relationship in front of other… not that very wide-eyed French Templar was doing anything but keeping very still. “… And this will not end up in an enemy’s hands?” He managed out, squinting suspiciously at his father.

The older man smirked a little as he leisurely walked towards the two of them clapping Connor on the back “Of course not.”

A bright light emanated from the bag, blinding the pair of them./

… Arguing with his father of a Piece of Eden. “Where am I, ma'am? How did you find me? The last thing I remember was speaking with my… My father.” Connor asked softly, a worried frown appearing on his face.

“You were alone, bathed in golden light.” The old woman explained, “You were sent to the forest I live in by magic. Perhaps you will be able to help me. There’s a pair of rotten little monsters who keep eating my house! If you could catch and stop them I’d be very grateful.”

“Very well, I’m good at track and I’ll deal with these monsters of yours.” Connor responded, nodding a little.

“Wonderful! IF you can catch them for stew, I’d be delighted!” the old woman responded with a cackle of delight.

The Assassin nodded and carefully got up having to bed over some as he had hit his head on the roof. He rubbed the back of his head, smelling something sweet. “I shall do my best.” With that he left the small hut his hand sticky from the handle of the door. He made sure to grab his weapons before he left.

HE lightly tasked his sticky had as he realized it was sweet, as if he’d touched sugar or honey… was… was her house made of sugar and ginger bread? He could see her shed, which had been partially eaten. The bites were small, and nothing had been consumed above the height that a ten year old child could reasonably reach.

Connor also found barefoot tracks in the mud, consistent with the tracks of a pair of children. His heart constricted painfully at the implications of this- and that the old woman wanted to eat them was ghastly. He activated his second sight, the children’s tracks painfully were easy to follow.

It didn’t take Connor more than a couple of hours to track them down. The two of them were talking quickly to his father, their eye wide and pleading as the older of the two of them- a girl no older than twelve begged. “P-please sir! We need you to guide us back to the village! Our parents took us out into the woods last night and we cannot find our way home. We tried to use bread to find our way home but-“

Haytham huffed, looking away from the children cutting off the rest of her speech impatiently “But the birds ate the rail, you tried to leave. You two also found a house made out of ginger bread and ate some of it because you were hungry. An old witch appeared and tried to capture the two of you but you managed to escape. We are likely still close to that house and the witch and if the two of you split up, your brother will get captured by her.”

“… You are being rather cruel towards them father.” Connor rebuked quietly. “And there is an old woman who currently lives in a partially eaten home made out of sweets.” She also apparently wanted to eat them for some twisted reason. Unless the old woman didn’t know that children culpable for the destruction of her edible property? A couple of white rabbits hopped out of nowhere and sat on his feet.

A blue jay had landed on his father’s shoulders as the Templar rubbed one of his temples with a hand “I am aware that they are telling the truth. We should let the tale unfold as it should while we find that thrice cursed thing that sent us here. How The Book of Eden ensnared us both I don’t know. Neither of has touched the wretched thing.”

“We are not abandoning these children! We need to get them back to their village at least so that they will be safer. Then we can search for the thing that brought us here.” he wanted to ask what the other meant by letting the story unfold, and why Haytham had said all the things he had, but would ask later when they were away from the children..

“… You do not understand the situation. These two children are called Hansel and Gretel.” Haytham stressed the names as if that were supposed to mean more than the fact that his father had gotten the children to tell him their names.

“How did you know our names, Sir? d-did our parents ask you to find us Gretel asked, her eyes large and hopeful.

”… No they did not.“ The Templar Grandmaster eventually said "You two must be bold and brave in the trials ahead. Stick together and you will overcome them. My son and I cannot help you, for we are lost in these woods, looking for the way to go home. We were brought here by a cursed magical object and we must find it again so that it doesn’t harm anyone else. If you find a river or stream, there will be berries and fish to eat.”

Connor hesitated before handing Gretel, who was older- a knife, hilt first as well as apiece of flint .He instructed them on how to use the flint and prepare a cooking fire that wasn’t dangerous. “I am sorry that there isn’t more we can do. Butter berries will make you sick, so if the berries you taste is bitter, spit them out and wash your mouth.” he moved away from the two kids. Connor didn’t want to, but some unseen force was pushing him away from the pair.

The Templar-Assassin pair walked silently through the woods, both of them using their second sight to find the Piece of Eden that brought them here.“… How did you know their names, if the children didn’t give them to you?”

“Because we are in a fairy tale. The Book of Eden traps those who try to use it in a fairy tale story. This one is about the pair of children we just saw, their parents abandoned them in the woods-” he told the rest of the tale, “It’s implied that they stay at the witch’s house and tend the guards that surround it after she dies. I want to find the Book before the story ends, as we will be placed into another. This is one of the shortest, but the size of the story means that the world we need to search is small.”

“… Oh. So will the flint and dagger I gave them vanish when we leave?” Connor asked, spotting a glittering, golden object in the distance. “How long do we have?”

“Several weeks, as the witch will lose patience at the fact that Hansel isn’t gaining the weight she wants him to by then. As for that… I don’t know much about how the Book works and what it means when we interact with the characters is known for certain. But there is a rumor that we can affect how the story is told for a time by the actions we take in the story… How long and if that’s true…” Haytham shrugged a little. “That I do not know for certain.”

“I see… and I think that the Book is over there, through that large tangle of brambles. It’ll take days to cut into the clearing if there is one and fire is dangerous. But I… I did not wish the Book and neither of us touched it before it pulled us in.” Connor responded, frowning a little. Not looking forwards to hacking his way through to the book. Some of the thorns were easily over an inch and a half long.

“Yes, but that is our best bet as fire could be dangerous for a number of reasons as the Book will torment us more if w feel fear while trapped in the story… and Fire is also an invitation we do not extend.” Haytham explained a patient expression appearing on his face.

“…Ah.” Connor replied, unable to stop himself from fidgeting. “… How do you know of my aversion to fire?”

“I am a highly observant… and I know that Ziio…” Haytham swallowed, pausing in his speech as if her name caused him pain. “… She died in a fire.” The Templar drew his blade and struck powerfully at the brambles, cutting a large vine down.

“… She did, but I never told you that.” Connor growled quietly as he drew his tomahawk and started to cut through the thick, thorny brambles.

“Johnson told me recently, and I’ve seen the way you shift and cringe when close to flames. Your hands also shook as you told them how to the campfires safety. IT’s nothing to be ashamed of.” His father murmured voice kind and understanding, rather than condescending.

“Oh… She loved you until the day she died. Mother told me your name and I… I wanted to find you.” Connor admitted quietly. The brambles weren’t as bad as they first appeared.

His father’s eyes widened in shock at his words, and Haytham stumbled into the brambles- and could’ve gotten tangled, but Connor darted closer to Haytham and steadied the older man before he fell too far. “I… Oh… I still care for her as well. Thank you for telling me son.”

The two of them went silent after that as it took them several hours to jut the path they needed to get to the golden book. The brambles seemed to have gotten thinner after they had spoken the air clearing around the two of them somewhat. Surely that was just a coincidence?

They reached for the book at the same time, finding themselves back where they’d started. The French Templar was staring at them intently- it seemed as though their trip had taken a couple of moments in the real world.

“… It is said that the Spirits of Those Who Came Before possess the bodies of the persons whose souls are taken by the book. B-but nothing happened when it tried to take your souls! H-how is that possible?!” The French Templar demanded.

“… I was not told that aspect of this Piece of Eden. I have a number of questions, and you /will/ answer them. The truce between our orders does not extend to you.” Haytham demanded silkily, staling closer to the hapless Templar.

“… We should take him to a more comfortable place. He’s traveled so far, father.” Connor murmured, coming up behind the trembling French Templar, placing the hand that didn’t hold the bag that held the Piece of Eden on the other’s shoulders, holding onto him tightly.

Yes, of course. I believe your ship has something that would be suitable for our new… guest.“ Haytham smirked "I shall take that so you can… Subtly bring our new friend.”

“It would be, but Charleston isn’t a port city. We can use the tunnels to get to the one where I had to leave my ship.“ Connor pointed out, handing over the bag.

"To the tunnels! And it’d be wise for you to speak truthfully to us.” The Templar Grandmaster advised as they set off for the closest tunnel entrance.

#my writing #ac ficlet #aridette #I hope that you enjoy it!

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