#the church scene is a nightmare to color ugh but i think i did a decent job idk

[ronsenthal]

"Slim, fairly tall, dark hair, stern, ruggedly handsome"

#not my words Stephen E. Ambrose wrote it #ronald speirs #band of brothers #bobedit #hbowaredit #hbowardaily #hbo war #ron speirs #the church scene is a nightmare to color ugh but i think i did a decent job idk #mc* #gifs *

[wordsysayswords]

After picking Wash up on Sidewinder, it’s going to take everyone a while to get used to the new living arrangements. Especially Wash, who’s a bit directionless now that he’s finally free of the Project. Tucker doesn’t care for Blue Team’s new leader. But he can’t help noticing some of the man’s odd habits and wondering what caused them.

-

Part 2: Sleeping Habits

It hits Tucker that violently shaking the sleeping Freelancer out of a nightmare might be an exceptionally stupid idea at the exact same time Washington headbutts him in the nose.

Or, Wash wakes up swinging.

-

Tucker doesn’t know how he manages to fall asleep, but Caboose’s snoring wakes him at about 6 am. He blinks around the room, taking in the crayon drawings and machine blueprints—also drawn in crayon—plastering the walls.

Beside him, Caboose is spread-eagle on the bed, drooling into his pillow. Tucker rolls his shoulders, trying to relieve the stiffness earned from sitting up against the wall all night. His gaze falls to his deactivated energy sword in his lap.

Right.

It isn’t like Tucker forgot what happened during the night. His chest is still tight with the remnants of nightmares that had seen the incident end differently. Bloody.

Somewhere in the base, a floorboard creaks. Tucker jolts, sword flashing to life in his hand. His eyes fly to the door.

The handle doesn’t turn, the door doesn’t open. There isn’t even the shadow of feet passing by. The base is eerily silent—save for Caboose’s cartoonishly loud snores. After five minutes, Tucker’s starting to think he imagined it. He almost misses the distant sound of a door clicking shut.

Tucker listens. One minute. Two.

Pushing Caboose’s beefy arm off him, Tucker hops off the bed and tiptoes across the room. Ever so slowly, he reaches up and unlocks the door. He takes a deep breath.

He opens the door.

The kitchen is empty. So is the common area. The base feels cold and gray in the hazy morning light. The coffee pot is off, which is weird considering the unspoken rule that the first person up and about is in charge of prepping it. That’s usually Washington, what with his absolutely fucked sleep schedule.

But Tucker doesn’t want to think about Washington right now. What he wants is an ice pack for his nose because it might not be broken, but it hurts like a bitch. Deactivating his sword, Tucker grabs some ice and heads for the bathroom.

After nudging the door open to make sure a rabid Freelancer isn’t hiding inside, Tucker looks in the mirror to check the damage. Oof. The bleeding has stopped, but his shirt looks like a crime scene. Tucker hadn’t thought to grab tissues or gauze or even a medkit before locking himself and Caboose in the blue soldier’s room for the night. He gingerly inspects the colorful swelling he’s going to be sporting for a while.

He wonders if he gave Washington any bruises to add to his already sizable collection.

Tucker pulls back from the mirror and scoffs. He doesn’t give a shit about how Washington is feeling because it serves him the fuck right after almost murdering Tucker.

Tucker heads back to the common area. There’s a basket of laundry beside the door that the teal soldier hasn’t gotten around to folding. Tucker is fishing out a clean shirt to replace his blood-stained one when he notices the boots lined up neatly in the entryway. The two sets of boots.

There’s supposed to be three.

Wash’s room is empty.

The sun has barely crept above the distant glacier peaks on the horizon. There’s no snow this close to Sidewinder’s equator, but the landscape remains a tundra of frozen earth and hardy brown plants.

Tucker catches up with Washington two miles up the road, slowing the warthog to a crawl beside him.

“You goin’ my way, baby?” Tucker drawls, leaning out of the driver’s side with a wink.

Washington doesn’t stop walking. He glares ahead at the long dirt road stretching into the windswept wasteland, pointedly not looking at Tucker.

Okay, well, fuck. Dead silence wasn’t an option Tucker considered when mapping out this conversation in his head after he realized Wash had up and left. Then again, catcalling the guy hadn’t been on the agenda either, but Tucker’s mouth is always one step ahead. He’s a lot better at this whole banter thing when the other person can dish it out as good as they get. That was one of the nice things about Church. The asshole always had an answer, even if it was just “fuck you.”

“It’s cold as balls,” Tucker says, jumping on the first thing that comes into his head. “Where the hell are you going dressed like that?”

Washington is wearing the poorly fitting fatigue pants and shirt Caboose and Tucker had gifted him (though, Tucker was a lot more begrudging about it than Caboose). The Freelancer must have found the frayed military jacket somewhere in the abandoned base they’d taken over following the fight with the Meta. One of his hands holds it shut against the perpetually icy air. The other grips a sagging duffle bag thrown over his shoulder.

Washington picks up speed.

“You going somewhere?” Tucker prods, the engine of the warthog growling as he gives it just enough gas to keep Washington’s pace.

Tucker watches the man’s jaw clench, mouth set in a grim line.

Tucker sighs dramatically. “Listen, I don’t wanna have to be the one to tell Caboose that his pet ran away, so get your broody ass back t—”

“Take it!” Washington snarls, rounding on Tucker and causing him to slam breaks. Wash hurls the duffel bag to the frozen ground beside the warthog.

“Just fucking take it, okay?” Washington snaps louder, dragging a hand through his hair as he paces the road. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have taken anything, so just fucking take it, okay?”

Tucker cranes his neck out of the idling car to look down at the contents of the bag now spilled across the dirt. Two MREs and a flashlight.

Tucker doesn’t know what Washington sees in the confusion on the teal soldier’s face, but the man lets loose a harsh laugh. Washington rips off the jacket and flings that to the dirt as well.

“There,” he says, folding his arms firmly across his chest. “You have everything. Now, just fucking go.”

Tucker just sits there for a moment.

“What the—god damn it,” Tucker snarls right back, throwing the warthog in park and clambering out. “I don’t give a fuck about a flashlight and some bags of chicken-fucking-flavored rice!”

Wash has the nerve to look pissed.

“What do you want then?” He yells, throwing out his arms. “WHY THE HELL ARE YOU OUT HERE?!”

“That’s MY LINE, you ABSOLUTE ASSWIPE!” Tucker shouts back. “What are YOU doing out here? Are you actually running away?”

“What do you want? An apology? Like that’s going to fix this?” Wash shouts. “Fine! I’m sorry!”  

And the words come pouring out.

“I’m sorry!” Wash yells again. “I shouldn’t have fallen asleep, but I did, and I’m sorry. Is that what you want to hear? I’m sorry I’m broken, I’m sorry I killed Church, and I’m sorry I wasted your time.”

With that, Wash drops to the dirt, the fight sucked right out of him by the outburst. He sits there, head drooping and silent save for his uneven panting.  

For some reason, it hits Tucker at this exact moment that this is the longest conversation he and Washington have ever had.

“There,” Wash says finally, voice subdued. “I said it. You can go. You don’t have to worry about me anymore.” He doesn’t make any move to stand up.

Tucker actually laughs. “Seriously, dude? The nearest settlement is like 70 miles away. What are you going to do? Walk?”

“I can handle it,” Wash says dully.

“Dude,” Tucker says, pointing to Wash’s shirt. “You’re bleeding.”

Wash startles, looking down and finally noticing the slowly growing patch of blood at his side.

“Shit,” he curses, lifting the fabric to reveal a soaked square of gauze.

Tucker pulls a face. “Ugh, I thought Doc stitched you up.”

“Tore them,” Wash mumbles, pulling at the bandage to inspect the wound and face pinching at what he finds. “...Last night.”

Wash glances up at the cold, dirt road ahead and then down at the blood seeping out from around his hand pressed to his wound, frowning.

Tucker rolls his eyes and sighs. “Alright, get in.”

Wash narrows his eyes. “Where are we going?”

“To Mars,” Tucker says flatly. “Where the fuck do you think? Back to base to get your sorry ass stitched up again.”

Wash blinks. “What?”

“No, you heard me,” Tucker says, turning heel and climbing back in the car. Last night is still too fresh for him to offer the man a hand. “Get in the car.”

Still looking a little like a deer caught in headlights, Wash shakily climbs to his feet, wincing all the way. He hisses in pain bending down to pick up his things before limping around the warthog to climb in the passenger seat.

Staring straight out the windshield, Tucker grits his teeth and grips the steering wheel like it owes him money. It would be so much easier to hate Wash if he made excuses or pretended last night never happened. It’s a lot harder to hate someone when they’re standing in front of you in the cold, bleeding and apologizing for taking a coat and some meager rations. Goddammit.

“I still hate you,” Tucker blurts out, every word tasting like a lie.

Wash just nods, tired eyes still fixed on the place where the dirt road meets the horizon in the distance. He sags against the seat, pale and with sweat beading at his brow.

“Look,” Tucker says, slumping his shoulders, “I’m not stopping you from leaving. You’re a grown-ass, presumed KIA adult and can do whatever the hell you want. I just…recommend doing it with proper supplies and when you’re not bleeding everywhere.”

Wash looks over at him.

“I can leave later?” he asks quietly.

Tucker shrugs. “It’s up to you. You don’t owe us anything.”

Wash looks like he’s about to argue but seems to think better of it. He’s visibly shivering now. Tucker cranks up the heat before turning the warthog around and heading back towards base.

“Are...are you okay?” Wash asks softly.

Tucker looks over at him, taking in how he’s slumped against the seat even as his hands tightly gripped the wound. Up close, Tucker can see a ghastly bruise peeking out from under the collar of his t-shirt. Whether it’s from him or the Meta, Tucker can’t be sure.

He turns his eyes back to the road. “I’m fine,” Tucker says, even as his nose pulses in pain at the memory of the previous night.

“I should have warned you not to come near me when I’m sleeping,” Wash all but whispers.

“Is screaming like a...like an opera-singing howler monkey... normal for you?”

Wash shrugs.

“Whatever,” Tucker says. “Just try not to get blood all over the seats. I just had this thing cleaned.”

“What? How?”

“It’s a joke, Wash.” That’s weird. When did Washington become Wash?

“Oh.”

They ride in silence for a few moments before Wash speaks up again. “Tucker?”

“Hm?”

“...Thanks.”

Tucker stares straight ahead as the base comes into view. “Don’t mention it.”

#red vs blue #agent washington #lavernius tucker #rvb #fanfic #fan fic #fanfiction #fan fiction #wordsywriteswords #wordsy writes words #blue team

[doe-praeludiumofred]

Chapter 1, Section 2-Chance Meeting of a Sworn Friend; Scene 4

Praeludium of Red, page 52-69

♣ Yukina ~In the Beelzenian Empire, "Langley Unit Garrison"~

.

Chartette explained that a ghost town was being used as the army garrison. Next to a worn out water wheel clanking and spinning around, some muscular men were training with swords and lances.

"Is she here?"

I briefly looked around. But I couldn't find the person I'd come here to see.

"Can't see her. Maybe she's in the main office."

"Where's the main office?"

"I'll show ya."

Chartette once more walked forward, and I followed after her.

"The Langley Unit's core forces is composed of the Lucifenian Revolution's soldiers…Basically former resistance members, yannow."

Chartette began an explanation into the unit as she walked ahead. Passing soldiers greeted her. It felt less like it was out of respect towards a superior, and more out of a sense of affection.

"Former resistance members?"

"Yeah. After the revolution, the resistance kept fightin' against King Marlon when he announced he was absorbin' Lucifenia, yannow."

Apparently at first, they had the advantage in the battle. Within a short span of time, they had occupied the Lucifenian territory's Breck Mountain and Retasan Fortress.

"But things didn't go as good as they did durin' the revolution, yannow. After Lucifenia's lady general Lily Mouchet started her counter-measures we kept getting losses--eventually they took back Retasan Fortress, and we fled to Beelzenia."

Lily had said as much when I'd first met her. Even after becoming governed by Marlon, Lucifenia and Beelzenia still had their skirmishes for one thing or another.

It seemed the cause of the skirmishes was regarding treatment of the resistance members.

"The Beelzenian Emperor refused Marlon's demands to turn over the resistance, yannow. Thanks ta Master Gumillia puttin' in a good word for us."

Gumillia, the topic of conversation at the moment, continued to walk behind us with no expression, appearing uninterested for the most part.

"In return, later on the resistance ended up workin' for Beelzenia as one of their units."

So it seemed their interests overlapped--the resistance who needed a backer, and the Beelzenian emperor who was struggling with dwindling manpower.

I gradually understood Marlon's reason for being on guard against Beelzenia.

The resistance and the "witch" Gumillia were assembled here in this country. And on top of that, the Beelzenian Emperor leading them was ignoring their demands entirely.

Basically, this place had many sources of anxiety for Marlon, and they couldn't just let that slide.

It was here that Chartette said something unexpected.

"…Well, I only heard all that from other people, myself, yannow."

"Really?"

Surprisingly, it seemed that she hadn't been participating in the resistance this entire time.

"I got to Beelzenia maybe about one year ago, yannow. When the resistance got officially recognized as a unit, I became commander in York's stead, on account a him having to retire from the front lines 'cause of his injury."

"You must be an enormously popular person, Miss Chartette, becoming commander so soon after joining."

"Heh heh, I do my best, yannow!"

Chartette puffed up her chest.

She didn't seem to hear Gumillia murmur behind her, "There just wasn't, anyone else to vie for candidacy."

"But then, where were you until you got here, Miss Chartette?" I asked.

Chartette replied without turning around, "Just like you, I was travelin'."

.

In the center of the garrison was a building larger than the others, one that might have originally been the village chief's home. Chartette opened the door of that building.

"This is the main office. Come on in!"

When I and Gumillia entered after being invited in, there were two men each sitting in their respective chairs. One of them was a large, one-eyed man, and the other was a man with green hair and delicate features.

"I brought 'em over!" she said.

The one-eyed man stood up, extending an arm to shake hands. He leaned on a cane, as though he had a bad leg.

"I'm York le Corbusier. We met once before, long ago--remember?"

I was able to recall soon enough with a little bit of thought. I gripped York's hand and replied, smiling, "Long time no see, Mister. I last met you at the Corpa mansion in Lucifenia, right?"

It was after my home in Elphegort burned down, and the whole family was taking refuge with an acquaintance in Lucifenia. There were some people who visited my father to negotiate his financial aid in the revolution. York was one of them.

"Your father was a great help to us back then."

Having made his greetings, York once again returned to his seat.

"Have you got bad legs?"

At hearing my question, York patted his right leg embarrassedly.

"They got stabbed through with a lance by Lucifenia's lady general. Now the right one's made of iron."

At that, the other man who was writing a letter at his desk said, looking exasperated, "You can't fight squarely anymore; you should retire already."

York retorted, a miffed expression on his face, "Shut up, Minage. You oughtta go home every now and then and see your brats, you cur. Sekka's been complaining to me."

"Yeah yeah, got it, 'father-in-law'…Oops, sorry. Didn't mean to keep you waiting."

The man called Minage seemed to be writing some sort of composition on a piece of paper he had on hand, but after taking a break and setting down his pen, he stood and bowed his head.

"I am Deputy Commander Minage. I hail from Elphegort, so I have no last name."

In Elphegort, common people who weren't members of the royal family or aristocracy generally only had first names.

I had heard the name Minage before. If I recalled correctly, that was the name of the revolutionary who made contact with King Thorny in Elphegort during the revolution.

"Pleased to meet you. I know of your role in Elphegort in the revolution."

"I was just a negotiator."

"Oh no, I've heard that if it weren't for you connecting with the Elphegort army, the revolution would never have been able to succeed."

While Minage was being humble, Chartette restlessly looked around next to him. Then she asked York, "Where's Big-Sis?"

"Who knows? Probably getting drunk somewhere, huh?" York immediately replied, sounding disgusted.

"Yukina came here to meet her. She's heard stories about her, the leader of the revolutionary army."

"-Sigh-…What's this, then?" York asked, turning again to look at me.

"I intend to write a story someday regarding the 'Daughter of Evil'. And so I want to interview people who were connected to her."

Half of that was true, and half was a lie.

"…That's reasonable enough."

It seemed the authenticity of what I was saying wasn't very important to York. He turned away, expression saying clearly showing he thought I was wasting his time meeting up with him for a "hobby".

"Well, she can't have left the garrison, so you should try to properly search the area."

"I'll do that."

Gumillia, who had been silently watching everything behind me up until this point, suddenly spoke up.

"Can I go back, soon? The introductions are over, and I have work to do."

"Hey hey, you're not gonna leave this guest here are ya, Master Gumillia?" York complained, but it fell on deaf ears. She turned around without getting permission from anyone.

"I don't mind. Thank you for everything, Miss Gumillia. I might go to talk to you again one of these days, so I hope you'll be willing to receive me."

"…That would be alright, if I have free time."

Saying only that, Gumillia went outside and returned down the road we'd come from.

After seeing her off, Chartette offered up her left hand and said, "Then I'll escort ya around, Yukina!"

But Minage interjected, "You have to do your work too, Commander~. Help me out sorting these documents. You're the only other person who's literate here."

"Ugh, but…"

Chartette made a troubled expression. Was that because she had wanted to show me around, or just because she didn’t want to work?

“It’s alright. Let me walk around properly on my own. I won't trespass anywhere that looks classified, so you have nothing to worry about."

I curtseyed, and then left the building. As I closed the door, I could see York grabbing Chartette by the collar and pulling her back as she tried to follow after me.

 .

I faintly heard the sound of bells from far away.

They were probably ringing from the church inside the graveyard that was set along the road that led here.

It’s teatime.

When I was in my native country, I could look forward to having cream tea that the servants would prepare for me. I'd sampled quite a few delicious dishes of each country I'd been to during my journey up until now, and so the simple flavor of that cream tea was something that I missed.

Maybe I was suffering from a little homesickness. I wondered if Aile and Shaw were doing alright.

Huh? What’s that?

I could see a silhouette moving in the shade of a tree. I'd approached it thinking perhaps it was a cat or something, but I realized it was actually a collapsed person.

“Urgh…”

This is bad!

“Are you conscious? I am going to go get someone now, so please wait here for a little bit okay?”

As I was about to go do that, the fallen person—they looked to be a woman—grabbed the hem of my skirt with her left hand.

“Don’t go…”

“…”

“I don’t—I don’t want to be all alone…Dad…Allen…”

Was she having a nightmare? The woman was murmuring deliriously.

And in her right hand she was clutching a liquor bottle.

 .

“—Have you composed yourself?” I asked.

As I did, the woman sitting in the shade of the tree nodded without a word.

"Sorry for the bother, young miss. Looks as though I had a little too much to drink," she said with gratitude, looking up at the sky and resting a thick cloth drenched in cold water on her head.

The soldiers in the garrison all, men and women alike, were either clad in military uniforms or armor of a deep crimson, the main color of the Beelzenian army. But she was wearing a red dress.

Although I don’t think she’d realized it yet, this was not the first time that she and I had met.

I came here today to see her.

"I don't think much of drinking so heavily this early in the day, Miss Germaine.”

“—Have we met before?”

My impression of her now was much more lethargic and melancholy than she had been five years ago, but it was no mistake. She was the hero of the revolution, Germaine Avadonia.

“I am Yukina Freezis. I had the pleasure of seeing you before at the Corpa estate in Lucifenia, Miss Germaine."

After introducing myself I lightly curtseyed.

“Ah, Keel’s daughter? You’ve gotten big.”

Germaine looked my way one more time, before once again turning to look at the sky.

“How is Keel?” she asked, her gaze still on space.

I didn't know, myself. I hadn't heard any news of his death at least, so he was probably alright.

"I'm not sure? I haven't seen him for about a year, so I don't really know."

"Hm? Did you run away from home?"

Germaine pulled the cloth off her head and set it beside her.

"I'm not sure I'd put it like that, but...Right now I'm in the middle of a journey to broaden my views."

"A journey, huh? …That's good. I went around various places myself up until last year."

A small smile played out on her lips.

“Were those journeys of yours with Chartette?”

She had just told me that she'd arrived here one year ago, too.

"Yeah. After the revolution everything just sorta got really tiresome. I'd planned to leave Lucifenia by myself, but before I knew it she was tagging along."

"Everything got tiresome…? Just what was the specific reason?"

I adopted an inquisitive tone without thinking.

"The reason was--nothing in particular."

Germaine looked at my face with an expression that seemed to say that even if there was, she had no obligation to tell me.

"Why'd you come here today, Yukina?"

"I came to see you. I wanted to talk to you."

In truth, seeing Germaine Avadonia was another one of the goals of my trip.

There was a rumor regarding her, relating to the Witch Hunt Order. I wanted to hear from Germaine herself whether it was true or not.

So when I'd heard from Gumillia that Germaine was in this place, I'd begged Gumillia to take me here with her.

Germaine looked the slightest bit bothered.

"I don't have anything that interesting to tell."

"What about the Witch Hunt Order--"

The moment I said those words aloud, Germaine's expression turned grim.

"Three months after I left the country, the Marlon government put me on a wanted list, didn't they? Publically they said it was because I'd been plotting treason." She made no attempt to hide her displeasure. "It was just an excuse. I wasn't planning any treason."

"But your allies--the resistance members--revolted against Marlon after that. I heard about that just a little while ago."

Germaine objected that the order of things was the other way around.

"Kyle was the one who suddenly started trying to get rid of us--we had no choice but to oppose him after that."

Why would Kyle try to purge the members of the resistance? It seemed Germaine didn't know the reason either.

"It was pretty lucky that I was out on a trip at the time. York said he didn't know how things would have gone if I'd been in the country when it happened."

"About that," I prefaced my next words by explaining it was strictly gossip, and then broached the real issue at hand: "Maybe King Kyle thinks that you murdered Elphegort's diva, 'Michaela'."

The incident regarding the singer "Michaela" was one of the causes of the Lucifenian Revolution.

Marlon's King Kyle had been engaged to the "Daughter of Evil", Riliane. But he had fallen in love with Michaela, and broke up the engagement. Enraged, the princess retaliated by invading Elphegort, and in the midst of that war Michaela was murdered by someone.

Michaela had been popular, and her death had amplified the anger of the people of Elphegort, as well as intensified the rebellion in Lucifenia. It's said that it invited success for the revolution as a result, as the main forces of the Lucifenian army became unable to return home from Elphegort.

"Germaine Avadonia, in order to stir up the people's opposition to the Lucifenian royal family, found the hidden Michaela and killed her. King Kyle has found out, and in his anger is trying to take revenge on Germaine--that's the story as I've heard it."

Germaine listened to me silently. I couldn't tell from her face whether she was angry or aggrieved at hearing it.

After a short while, she opened her mouth.

"Where did you hear something like that?"

Well, I guess it was natural she wonder that.

"I've overheard some things while I've been out traveling," I replied.

Though in reality, I had obtained that information by keeping up with the characteristic information networks that the Freezis family had laid out all over Evillious.

There were people employed as "information brokers" under my father's patronage in every country. I didn't interact with them much normally, but they had served me well in my travels whenever I ran into a bit of trouble.

Controlling information is the key to success--that was my father's motto.

“…I see.” Germaine sprawled out in the grass under the shade of the tree. "I don't know if all that's true, but that would explain Kyle's sudden change."

I peered into her face, gazing directly at her eyes.

"Then what happened? The rumor that you killed Michaela…is it true?”

"…You're awfully serious. Is that really so important to you?"

“I knew Michaela when she was alive.”

Germaine lifted the upper half of her body.

“Hm? What sort of relationship did you have with her?”

“Michaela was—a servant of the Freezis family. Didn't you know that?"

“I see. …That’s how it is. Well then, what will you do? If I am the culprit, are you going to arrest me here and hand me over to the Marlon government?"

“…First I’d like to know if it’s true. --I want to know whether or not you really killed Michaela.”

Germaine was silent for a short period, looking into my eyes. I had thought so when we first met before, but she had quite pretty features.

“…I didn’t kill her. I’d never even met Michaela.”

We looked at each other for a little while.

Finally, I slowly closed my eyes and said, “I see, understood. For the time being, I believe you."

"…Ha ha. You must have a lot of faith in me."

Of course, I didn't swallow her version of events completely. But I didn't have any proof that she did do it, and her supposed motive felt a little off to me.

Even so, I'd still wanted to hear it directly from the person herself. Was Germaine Avadonia evil or not? Unlike five years ago, having grown to be fourteen years old I wanted to ascertain that with my own eyes.

"As I thought. The hero Germaine Avadonia isn't the sort to imperil another person's life for her own goals."

"…You don't know anything. Nothing at all, about me."

I'd been trying to give her praise, but for some reason it seemed to have made her sad.

"You're right. I haven't yet gotten to know you, Miss Germaine." I would need more time to learn her true nature. "Well then, what ought I to do in order to get along better with you?"

I pretended to think for a minute. It was just a ruse. I had already decided before I came here.

A place related to the "Vessels of Deadly Sin", Elluka's apprentice, and people related to the "Daughter of Evil".

Everything that I'd been seeking was assembled here. I couldn't afford to overlook that.

Germaine looked puzzled, apparently unable to figure out what it was that I was considering.

"Right! I've got it! I'm going to spend some time here with everyone for a while!"

"What!? Why would you do that?" Germaine was dumbfounded at my words. "A civilian can't accompany a military unit!"

"All the people of this unit were originally just civilians themselves, weren't they?"

"Everyone will oppose you."

"Oh, the Langley unit would treat unkindly the daughter of their benefactors, the Freezis family?"

"…You don't have permission from a higher-up."

"But it seems the commander of this unit is a huge fan of mine. I'm sure if I told her it was for research she'd be more than happy to give me permission."

"Not Chartette, someone from the top brass!"

"Don't underestimate the authority of the Freezis clan. My father provides support to the Beelzenian emperor as well."

“…You’re not embarrassed to use your parents’ connections?”

“Not at all."

"…What an unexpectedly ill-natured girl you are…"

Germaine appeared to be so flabbergasted that she said nothing more than that.

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[maculategiraffe]

When you get this, post ten facts about yourself and pass this ask along to ten of your favorite followers. If you feel like it! This is a friendly, low pressure meme. :D

1. I have grapheme-color synesthesia, meaning I perceive (Roman) letters and (Arabic) numbers in color.  A is yellow, B is orange, C is pink, D is red, etc.  I didn't realize this wasn't a universally shared experience until sixth grade, when in language arts class we were discussing a story we'd read and I got two characters confused, "Mary Louise" and "Cynthia Parker," and by way of explaining my confusion offhandedly said, "sorry, they're both pink and blue" and everyone was like "...what."  I had a whole lot of trouble studying Greek because the alphabet wasn't in colors that made sense to me.

2. I find horses unnerving on, like, an existential level.  They give me the whole-body shudders, like one of those Lovecraftian things that Simply Ought Not to Be, that offend mine eyes and sanity by their proportions. The first time I watched the movie Willow and there was this scene where "unicorns" (white horses) galloped in slow-mo towards the camera, I let out this involuntary scream and hid my face and my viewing companion was like "wtf is wrong with you."  This is one of the 16 reasons I cannot tolerate the Western genre under any circumstances.

3. I sometimes play tabletop role play games, mostly World of Darkness, with my boyfriend and a small group of friends.  The two characters I've grown most attached to are a) a vampire named Alethea who was a bonny lass named Polly Cooper working in an Edwardian-era flower shop when she was Embraced (vampired) by a beautiful seductress calling herself Josephine who was later murdered by a serial killer raised by werewolves, and b) a daughter of the god Hephaestus named Chloe Smith (geddit?) who built an engine so efficient it accidentally tore a hole in the fabric of space-time so she had to team up with a few other gods' children and a human mage-hunter named Anthony who's one of two people she's ever actually (platonically) loved to defeat the eldritch abominations that came through the gap.  Alethea is currently trying to wrangle a wealthy and psychotic vampire hunter she Embraced as part of a Machiavellian scheme involving the vampire city council, who adores her so much he's constantly having people he perceives as obstacles to her murdered behind her back, and she's like "Kaspar for fuck's sake, I'm not ambitious, I've lived this long by keeping my head down" and he's like "but now that you have ME you can assume your rightful place as Queen of All Vampires" and she's like "I don't WANT to" and he's like "because you're so endearingly humble and self-effacing but we can fix all that."  Chloe failed to save Anthony's life from a cabal of mages so she called in nineteen favors from every supernatural being she knew and went to Hell Itself (kind of?  long story?) to get him back, and succeeded, and now her one goal in life is to kill the insanely overpowered mage who killed Anthony in the first place.  She's trying to get the other person she loves (her Russian half-brother Kostya, the son of Svarog) to help, but he's like "Сестренка, не будь дураком, this mage is the fucking worst, let well enough alone" and she's like "HE MURDERED MY WITCHER DAMMIT."  (Anthony has amnesia about the whole thing and Chloe's fiercely determined to make sure it stays that way so she's barely seen him since the Thing but she watches over him from nearby and it SEEMS like no one's going after him again? but we'll see)

4. I was raised in an incredibly toxic fundamentalist evangelical Christian church, which imploded just before I went off to college because the (married, with five kids) pastor was discovered to have been having a passionate affair with the wife of one of the elders (who also had five kids, everybody was very quiverfull), and have gone through a lot of Spiritual Seeking since, but I adore my current Episcopal church, which takes it as a given that our primary duty as Christians is to love and look after anyone who needs it, in the ways they need it most, as best we can.  As such, we educate ourselves and others, which I also love since the Christian culture of my youth was like "don't think about it don't think about it you'll go to hell if you think about it."  Also women and "Practicing Homosexuals" (the parlance of my youth) are allowed to be priests and bishops (we have two female priests and three male ones at my church) and the current bishop of the entire American Episcopal church (the first black man to hold that role) is the former bishop of my own diocese, so hometown diocese represent 😀

5. I love swimming in the ocean.  I'll stay in the ocean all day until somebody drags me out.  I think I have some kind of sense-memory of the womb that activates in the ocean when I'm weightless and being gently rocked.  If I'm ever eaten by a shark just know I died as I was born: being agonizingly and unexpectedly ripped from a state of mindless bliss.

6. When I was a kid I had a hamster named Butterscotch, who lived in a tank from which she was constantly escaping.  She would take her little hamster wheel, pack the bottom of it with cedar shavings, pee on them to affix them in place, climb the now-stationary wheel, muscle-lift the top of the tank, and squeeze herself out to freedom.  She'd do it right in front of me, like, "So?  Watch this." She also climbed the stairs in my parents' house by reaching up, gripping the edge of one with both paws, muscling herself up over the edge, and repeating until she reached the top.  She was the original American Ninja Warrior and I loved her so much and I cried so hard when she died.  

7. I had terrible, debilitating nightmares as a child, which led my mother to purchase a book called Helping Your Child Overcome Nightmares, which was about guided meditation and taking control of your dreams, and I immediately took and read the book myself because it sounded interesting, and I vividly remember the first time I successfully took control of a dream.  There was a striped rug in my room and I dreamed that a tiger materialized on it and growled at me, and I said aloud, in my dream, "Pretend the only thing he's afraid of is not being able to see" and threw my blanket over his head and he yelped and kicked and vanished.  I used these techniques to great effect after my husband died, when I was horribly, horribly afraid that I'd dream he was alive again and it had all been a mistake, and then wake up and absolutely be unable to stand it, so I'd dream of him and say "I'm really happy to see you, but you're dead, you're not really here" and it seemed like it sort of hurt his feelings but I knew if it was really him he'd understand I had to protect myself.  

8.  Speaking of my dead husband: we agreed before he died that if there was an afterlife he wouldn't hang around and haunt me, he'd move on to whatever new adventures might await and I'd catch up later if necessary.  I explained this to a grief counselor who asked if I'd had any Experiences of the dead one since he died (since apparently that's quite common) and I was like "oh no, we agreed he wouldn't hang around" and she was like "oh well that's... good, then?" and I was like "damn skippy, hopefully he's got better things to do"

9. Speaking of weird dreams: while we were on the transplant waiting list and living in hellish limbo, I did a lot of exploratory dream work, and one thing I did was establish a kind of little shop in the dream world that sold tea and tarot cards and geodes and this lady worked there who would help me with what I needed and supply me for my various exploratory missions in dream space.  It was like... near the "entrance" to the dream world, so when I'd lie down with guided meditation I'd go to sleep and come up "near" it.  Now hear me out because I swear this is true: years later, YEARS later, I went to New Orleans for the first time-- I'd never been near the place before-- and THAT SHOP WAS THERE.  It was the same EXACT shop.  Sold tea and tarot cards and geodes and there was a back room curtained off, which was where the lady from my dream always was when I came in, and I was too fucking terrified to ask what was back there and I hightailed it out of there and it's still the most overtly Weird thing that's ever happened to me in real life.

10. The first video game I ever played was Dragon Quest VIII on the PS2, and there was a subplot about a king whose wife had died and he'd been grieving and weeping for two years and the whole kingdom was sad and depressed because the king couldn't deal with his grief and we the adventurers had to go on a quest to find the Moon Shadow Harp and bring back a memory of his wife telling him he was stronger than he knew and him saying "I'd be lost without you" and her saying "no you wouldn't, you're strong and also no matter what I'll always be with you because you love me so much you couldn't ever lose those parts of yourself, the ones that love me, and so I'll always be with you" and I bawled like a friggin' baby, and then I tried another video game (Final Fantasy X) and was like "ugh, so it was just that one video game that was good, never mind" and that was the last time I played a video game until Fallout 4.

[surveys-r-us]

“run away with me”

I have a step or half-sibling. I have velvet pants.  I have a t-shirt from a museum exhibit. I’ve been to Dunkin’ Donuts before. I’ve been on the subway.  I usually get movies from the library. I’m scared of heights. I should be asleep right now. I have something that smells like mint. I have spare batteries. My speakers are off right now. My computer is in my bedroom. I only have one blanket on my bed. I own or have owned a teddy bear. I’ve memorized bohemian rhapsody. I’ve played Runescape. I like to make lists. I’ve listened to the Beach Boys.

I am very flexible. In bookstores, I walk around with my head tilted sideways. I’m wearing a hoodie. I know a lot of weird facts. I’ve watched Nightmare on Elm Street before. I know what pappillon means in English. Sufjan Stevens makes me happy. (lol his music depresses me. who possibly gets happy listening to him?) I wish my nose was smaller. I like to eat goldfish. I smile a lot. I use “however” instead of “but” when writing an essay. I’ve seen The Breakfast Club. I’ve had a burping contest with someone. And I won the contest. I like sharing books with my friends. I usually recognize the poets my English teacher talks about. (don’t have an English teacher anymore) A stranger has given me a high five for no reason. I’ve been to a Harry Potter book release party. I usually need to be reminded to eat. I have tiny hands. I like to look for shapes in the plaster on my ceiling. I prefer pencils to pens. I write on my hands when I need to remember something. 

I’ve been to a roller skating rink. I own a piece of clothing that is rainbow patterned. I own a piece of clothing with skulls on it. I am extremely patient. I wish I could dance well. I’ve been to an ice skating rink. I have a lot of trouble falling asleep at night. I have a purse with flowers on it. I love to people watch. I’ve written an acrostic poem. I have bad posture. I’ve fallen asleep in class. I am very easily embarrassed. I liked to make up stories when I was a kid. Whenever I ride my bike, I’m tempted to start singing bicycle race. I take prescription creams/face washes/pills for acne. I drink milk daily. I’ve been told I act like I’m on drugs. I’ve been told I look like I’m on drugs. I have my hair up in a bun. I own something Beatles-related. I don’t use the caps lock key often. I have very strong opinions. I love to eat grinders. I don’t call long sandwiches grinders. Teachers have asked me if I’m depressed. More than once. I don’t care what you think of me. I have a toothache. Wonderwall is my “I like someone” song. There’s a book beside or on my bed. I hate innuendo. I really admire improvisational comedians. I don’t like gym class. I am going to do better this school year. I don’t use the word fag. Ever. I’ve been told I have a beautiful singing voice. I can read Shakespeare without translations. I adore English class. I know what the Kinsey scale is. I read more than one book at a time.  I love places that sell dollar-a-cup coffee. The Magic School bus taught me a lot. I liked to dance on the kitchen table as a kid. I’ve lived with a relative for more than a year. I hate sharing a bed. I cried a lot as a kid. My friends have excellent taste in music. I know what I want to be when I grow up. Antidisestablishmentarianism! I like to drink coke zero. I watched Labyrinth only because David Bowie was in it. I bite my nails a lot. I’ve been to a music festival. I’ve gotten sunburn before. And it bled.  I hate the noise vacuums make. I prefer showers to baths. Jeffree Starr is way overrated  I don’t like my mouse pad. I love people who look classy. My nail polish is chipped. I’m going to read a book today. My mattress is on the floor. I am an insomniac. Cabaret punk is love. I have a DVD I want to watch. I’m a really picky eater. I take ibuprofen a lot. I tan very easily. The sun is shining right now. I love yellow Jell-O. I’ve made Popsicles with an ice cube tray, juice and toothpicks. And I called them ghetto pops. I’ve never met my neighbors. I’ve drawn on the street with chalk. I’ve been in a tree house. Tire swings are really fun. I love abandoned places. I have a plastic bag near me. I only watch TV when I’m really bored. I can’t wait to graduate. I’ve pulled an all-nighter so I would be really tired the next night. I really hate needles. I get along with my parents. I fall in love with songs that have beautiful lyrics. I listen to anti-folk. I have no idea what anti-folk is. I like to blow bubbles. I’ve won a hula hooping contest before. I’ve almost drowned. I’ve choked on something. I’ve taken a first aid course. One of my friends is in a different state right now. I’ve been to Chicago. I really like mohawks, but I would never get one. I am always warm. I have some weird eating habits. I like to spin in desk chairs. I have a beta fish. I have big lips. Tape is way better than glue. I like stickers. I’ve worn black jelly bracelets before. There is a type of music that I think is awful. My favorite girl from The Hills is Audrina. No, I prefer LC. I don’t have texting on my phone. I prefer New York to California. I’ve read all the Harry Potter books. Lord of the Rings too. I want to get a tattoo that has to do with a band. My family doesn’t eat dinner together. I’m worried that I won’t get into any college. I’m already in college! I own more than one flannel shirt. School is very important to me. I’d live on the beach if I could. Avocado is sooooo good. I can speak five languages fluently. One of my friends already has a kid. I drive everywhere. I hate when people say things aren’t art. I’m currently texting more than 3 people. My best friend wears the same size clothes as I do. I’ve only been in one serious relationship. One of my parents is gay. I rescued my pet from the animal shelter. I want to live in many different states when I’m older. I hardly ever go to the movies. I’ve liked one of my favorite bands for many years. I’m looking for a serious relationship right now. A lot of Starbucks are closing by my house. We don’t have H&M in my state. That’s my favorite store. I never order things online. I’m constantly listening to music. US History fascinates me Oranges are the best fruit. I have lactose intolerance. I always watch the National Spelling Bee on TV. I’m on a family plan. Parties aren’t my scene. I’ve lost many friends in my life and I’m okay with that. There are some friends I still wish I had. Fake nails look gross. I own an oyster card. (I don’t even live in the UK lmao) My birthday is in the fall. 2008 was a horrible year for me. Actually, it was the best. I’ve been on a cruise before. I like chemistry more than biology. I like taking surveys more than making them. I absolutely despise the color pink. I don’t have a significant other. I get all four seasons where I live. I only shop when I absolutely have the need to. I have an older brother. I have my driver’s license. I don’t want to have kids someday. I wear more jeans than skirts. I’d rather wear sneakers than high heels. I don’t go to church. I don’t like having my fringe in my face. I’m very much into heavy metal music. I own like, a hundred hoodies. I couldn’t draw to save my life. I’m a very good cook. I always have to look at the keyboard when I type. I’ve had surgery before. I don’t mind getting shots all that much. I’m not afraid of bugs. I love hot, hot weather! I have huge eyes and long lashes. I’m naturally very pale. I’m usually not very picky at all when it comes to food. My parents are divorced. I don’t like doing surveys, but I find myself doing them anyway. I’m addicted to Tumblr. I don’t have a Facebook account. I have perfect vision and don’t need glasses or contacts. I don’t wear makeup when I go out. I hate stores like Forever 21 I’m very much into sports. I don’t see what the big deal about photography is. Or fashion design. I don’t really appreciate art that much. Horror movies are my favorite. I don’t care if people cut in line in front of me. I don’t even remember the last time I put on a piece of jewelry. My hair is naturally straight. I support gay marriage. I have more friends online than I do in real life. My siblings are all older than I am. My significant other is younger than I am. I curse in almost every sentence I speak. I always get straight A’s in exams. I don’t know how to play any instrument. I only know how to speak one language. I don’t have my own personal blog. I’m allergic to something. I���ve been stung by a bee at least once in my life. This is the last survey I’m doing today. I have seen someone propose in public before. And they got rejected, poor bloke. I wonder if I will ever get proposed in public. Heck I don’t even know if I’ll ever get married. I know what a sake bomb is. I’ve tried it before. I’ve watched ‘Paris Hilton’s My New BFF’. ^ Ew, sad much? I think Paris Hilton is a brainless bitch. I celebrate Chinese New Year. I’m not Chinese or a tiny bit Asian at all. I have a step-sibling. I have a weak tolerance of alcohol. Are you kidding me? I can drink all night long! I want a new cell phone. I have my own bathroom. I sleep on a single bed. Nah, I have a King/Queen size bed! I think one night stands are no biggie. ^ Slut ^Prude I’ve been on a helicopter before. I’m actually afraid of heights. My date rented a limo to take me to prom. Pfft, I wish I had a date. I haven’t had my prom yet. I like clicking on advertisements. Pop-up ads are so old school. I recently took a bath. I never bother, I just take showers. My Christmas holidays were the bomb! Ugh, mine sucked like hell. I’d love to go to Japan one day. I’ve seen a ghost before. ^ I’d pee in my pants if I did. ^ No, I’d run and scream. I can write lyrics! I can, but I’m not very good at it. I would like to become a musician one day. I love finding things in sofa cracks. Black people can sing really well. So can Filipinos! Really, anyone with talent can do that. I know someone that’s trying very hard to fit in a stereotype. Every cup of water I drink equals to a trip to the toilet. I recently received my exam results. They were quite good! Nope, failed it all. It’s my boyfriend’s birthday today. He never gives me gifts. He buries me with them. I wish I had a boyfriend that actually spends money on me! I love him very much. The Beatles rock my world. Actually, a lot of classic rock bands rock my world. It takes me a really long while to get to sleep. I’m a personality quiz fiend. I am and have always been a night owl. I love reading Sarah Dessen books. My earphones are in my ears practically 24/7. I am an only child and that’s not because of any death. I hate school and everything else connected to it. I’ve never been in any romantic relationship. I have a lot of favorite names. And I plan to use those names on my kids. I’m reading a comic book right now. I’m listening to music right now. I memorize lyrics really easily. But memorizing stuff for school isn’t easy at all. Math is my worst enemy. I love bolding surveys. Nice and easy. I pick Guitar Hero over Rock Band. I’m afraid of heights. And spiders. Actually any disgusting insect. I really don’t mind being all alone. I talk to myself. My favorite animal: zebras. I know that there’s such a thing as a Supersaurus. Dinosaurs fascinate me. English class is love. I know how to make layouts. But I’m way too lazy.

#this is the most 2009 survey i've ever taken lmao