One-Year Interval

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Quote

So, everyone, I'd first like to say that I have clearance to make this thread, so worry not!

This thread is for anything you want to tell about that happened to your characters during the One-Year Interval. So post that sort of thing.

The story below is first from Tena's perspective, then Anthony's. I wrote both, and Ark edited Ani's POV.

“I don’t know why I let you convince me to do this,” Tena complained as she walked beside Ani. He was staring around at the surrounding hills and little cottages, goats everywhere. Seriously, you couldn’t look at a place without seeing a goat. “This trip is making me hate goats,” she informed Ani.

“Good for you. Oh, this place is amazing.” He looked like he’d never been outside before, or like a boy scout given the chance to get the credit of discovering a new species of ant. Tena was liking the trip too, she’d never seen mountains before, but Ani was having a heart attack over it.

A little awestruck, but not wanting to show it, she looked around at the surrounding hills and mountains disinterestedly. The mountains looked like gods rising into the sky, with those areas of shadows and stone, all covered in lichen and stunted evergreens. They were amazing; piercing the clouds and standing watch over the earth. Guardians, that’s what they are.

Kind of like Ani.

She didn’t know where that thought had come from. She looked over at Ani, at his unbelievable height and proud stance. He seemed to sense that she was watching him and turned to meet her eyes. She thought she saw a flash of something in his face… like he saw her, and was trying to figure out what might be wrong with her so he could help fix it. He was her guardian, except that he was different than some in that he loved her as well as protected her. Would that make him more determined to care for her?

But no. I can take care of myself perfectly fine, and I don’t know that he wouldn’t betray my trust if I allowed him to have it. She did love him, but in the past she’d never let anyone deal with her life for her, and was going to continue that trend. If she couldn’t take care of herself, who could?

They continued to walk down the cobbled road between the single row of houses, Ani gawking like a tourist, and Tena taking pains to look like she wasn’t a gawking tourist.

After a half hour of walking in silence, Tena and Ani were out walking along a wagon trail, beside a stream filled with visibly freezing cold water. Tena felt something click into place within herself as she looked around at the rocks and evergreens, breathing the cool air, smelling the fresh pines and wind. She loved it.

Turning her head upward, she closed her eyes and breathed, stopping in her tracks. She opened her eyes after a moment, looking at Ani, then gesturing with a nod at a boulder nearby.

“You can just talk to me, you know,” Ani said, looking her in the eyes.

“Sorry, I know. Can we go sit on that rock over there?” She pointed at it.

Ani nodded after seeming to get lost in his thoughts for a moment, then said, “Lead the way.”

She walked over to the boulder, and looked at the side facing her. She loved rock climbing. She analyzed the face, picking out potential handholds. Then, she began climbing.

After a moment, she stood on the top. She raised her arms to either side of her in triumph, tilting her head back and grinning at the sky.

“Hey, how did you get up there?” Ani called to her, and she looked down at him, letting her arms fall to her sides.

“I climbed the rock.”

“Yeah. I can see that. But how? Can you help me?”

“I’m glad to.” She loved helping people, for some reason. It was probably why she’d become an Edgedancer. She winced at that memory, and at the realization that the loss of her spren wasn’t all that painful to remember anymore. Having Ani around just seemed to fix everything.

Tena guided him up the rock face, then grabbed his hand and tried to lift him up onto the top, but he was far too heavy. She was used to helping smaller people, that was for certain. He had to lift himself up the rock, and then sat down with his legs hanging over the edge. The drop was about ten feet.

Tena sat down next to him, her irritation at him melting away as she rested her head on his arm, and turned her head to bite him lightly. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders after a moment,  ignoring the nip since it was something she did fairly often (he had a scar that Tena had (accidentally) given him to prove it), and she scooted closer to him, loving, as ever, how warm he was. And the fact that he wanted to share his warmth with her, that he gave it to her without reservation. She wished that she could give herself over to him like he had to her, but something told her not to. She had to stay independent, not become reliant on other people. Other people could let her down.

Quote

Anthony's POV:

“I don’t know why I let you convince me to do this,” Tena complained as Anthony walked beside her. He had no idea why she was acting the Grinch so much; this place was beautiful. It still doesn’t compare to her. It was deep in the mountains, with the strange, rustic little houses and the wildness of the area, great trees in the valley, stunning mountains, crystal waterfalls and lakes. It also had goats. He didn’t recognize the little creatures when he saw them, but thought they looked like tiny horses. That was also odd, since he’d never seen horses in his entire life, as far as he could remember. “This trip is making me hate goats,” Tena continued grumpily.

Anthony looked over at her, confused, then said, without thinking, “Good for you. Oh, this place is amazing.” He quickly looked away at the surroundings, which were distracting, though that wasn’t the real reason. He wasn’t sure why he had said that, and regretted it. He managed to stop the faint blush he could feel coming on, but it still wasn’t something he wanted to repeat.

It really was amazing. Just beautiful. Thinking of that word made him think of Tena, the words just seemed to match, almost just one word, and he felt his eyes drawn back over to her. She was looking away at the mountains-- focusing on them, actually. She was gorgeous; her sharp jaw, prominent cheekbones, piercing eyes, like gems… He realized he was staring at her, and forced himself to stop, tearing his eyes away. Just in time.

She looked at him, and he turned to meet her eyes. He looked deep into her blue eyes, an instinct, deep and primal, as much part of him as his heart or lungs, told him to find anything wrong so he could try to help her. Keep her safe, if even from herself, from any pain. She averted her eyes after a moment, and Anthony could’ve sworn he’d seen insecurity within them, if only for a second. That was big, coming from someone like Tena. Sure of herself, always confident… he wasn’t sure what it meant.

They continued walking, and he turned his eyes back towards the surroundings. The mountains were impressive, strong, large, but they intimidated Anthony, at least a little. Merely seeing them reminded that there were things even bigger than him, and that was… strange. He was well used to being the biggest thing around, the strongest.

He ignored that, pushing it down and just walking next to Tena, enjoying her company while watching the goats and trees. Seriously, goats were so strange. Tena and he walked outside of the village, and continued down a road into a valley, cut through by a clean, cold river. Looking up at the rock faces on either side of the path, the rock jutting out from slopes nearly covered by red-barked evergreens, gave him an odd sense of vertigo. It seems kind of silly that I’d be afraid of heights, given that I’m a foot taller than most, but… He craned his neck to see the top of the mountain and shivered. How could something be that huge? Tena probably asks herself the same question every time she sees me.

Thinking of her made him look at her, just as she seemed to notice something. She gestured with her head at a boulder nearby, and Anthony didn’t know what she meant, so he said, “You can just talk to me, you know.”

“Sorry, I know. Can we go sit on that rock over there?” That’s odd, Anthony thought. Did she just say sorry to me? She never says sorry to anybody. Does that make me special? He answered himself a second later. I’m her boyfriend, I guess I am special. And lucky. That last word… he always thought of it when he thought of himself. He was lucky, though. Despite all her faults, Tena remained his best friend, and the kindest person he knew.

He snapped out of his contemplations and answered her question with a nod. “Lead the way.”

Tena walked over to the boulder and stood before it with her Bow before me, mortals posture. Ani was surprised that the rock didn’t disintegrate into ash out of fear. Tena always seemed unstoppable, like a dragon in thrall of her realm. Or maybe something less dramatic than that.

After a moment of staring the rock down, Tena started climbing. She swung herself up, mostly using her powerful arms somehow, and was suddenly standing at the top within ten seconds. So fast, Ani thought. How does she do it? When she was on the top, she spread her arms and tilted her head upward, looking triumphant and more like she was at the peak of a mountain than a boulder at the bottom of a valley. She was so… something undefinable. Beautiful, strong, in charge, graceful. More than that, even. Suddenly, he wanted to get up there so he could be with her, so he reluctantly said, unwilling to alter the way she was standing, “Hey, how did you get up there?”

“I climbed the rock,” was her immediate answer, and she stopped looking like she’d conquered the world, her arms dropping to her sides as she looked down at him.

“Yeah. I can see that.” She could be so Tena-ish sometimes. “But how? Can you help me?”

Her face lit up. That word, ‘help’, always made her shine, because she had the soul of what she’d explained to him as an ‘Edgedancer’, one of which she’d apparently been until that one time when she’d turned Mistborn. She still hadn’t explained that to him, and he didn’t want to press her about it, since it had appeared to be painful and strange even for her.

She gave him advice, and he climbed up the rock, the grain of it (he’d never known that rocks had grain) biting at his hands, though his far greater height giving him access to some handholds she wouldn’t’ve been able to reach. His weight, however, was another thing entirely. He didn’t notice most of the time, but he did weight a lot. Tena proved it when he held up his hand, unconsciously trusting her to help him up, and she couldn’t lift him at all, even given how strong she was. He felt bad about that, so he worked a little faster and got himself onto the top of the rock, turning around and sitting down with his legs hanging over the edge.

Tena sat down beside him after a moment, and she rested her head on his arm, which he knew meant she wanted him to hold her, then nipped him. He ignored the slight pain that caused. Thinking of that little scar he had on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her torso lightly. She went closer to him and let her head fall back on his shoulder, closing her eyes (not before Anthony saw her irises, that lovely blue they had). He loved her so much. Just sitting on a rock with the cold wind blowing in his face felt like the best moment of his life, at least with her.

Edited January 29, 2019 by Lord Meeker

[+Ark1002]

Quote

Should this get the little star, so we get maximum awareness?

@Voidus @Kidpen @Lord Meeker @Archer

[Silva]

Quote

There's something for almost every Acute and then some. More is to come.

Spoiler

 

Grass.

Grass.

Lineage’s hand pressed into the ground.

Grass.

Grass!

He tried to tilt his head, but couldn't. Pain overwhelmed him.

Grass. How?

He remembered the cell. Then. Mejin. Right. Mejin. Tia cards. Dawn. Lineage cracked open his eyes. It was too bright and he shut them again.

Wait. Had he seen?

Storms.

He cracked open an eye the tiniest bit. Metal imbedded in sidewalk. Sixteen different types.

He was...he was...he was home.

Never before had that word meant so much to him. His eye shut again just as he heard someone call.

---

"They're physically going to be alright," a voice said, cutting into Dawn's consciousness. "Mentally is another story."

She groaned. Her eyelids fluttered. Great. People. She shuddered. People. Hellbent. Crow. Those murderers and thieves. A shudder went through her frail body.

"She's coming around," the voice said. "You may want to take a step back. She'll be a little disoriented."

Dawn curled up into a ball. People, her subconscious told her bitterly again. Good people. she told it and forced her eyes open. Ofrira and her parents. They looked like they hadn't slept in weeks and likely they really hadn't. People. her subconscious said again, angry. GOOD people. she reminded it. But it was futile. Dawn was fighting a battle in her own mind.

She couldn't win yet and so she shut her eyes again.

"It's going to be hard for them all," Ofrira said, likely to her parents. "And it's going to take time. A lot of time."

A hand trailed across her forehead, lingering on the brand before moving in. She felt someone press their lips on her forehead.

Then she drifted off again.

---

Unity dangled his feet off the edge of the roof and for the first time in a long while stopped draining away Connection. Sure it was mean, but it kept people away. They always wanted to talk with him. He didn’t want to talk. He wanted to be alone.

A leaf landed on his shoe. Unity kicked it off. Summer had come and gone. Now leaves were falling and turning colors. He’d already managed to convince his parents that standard schooling wouldn’t do him any good, but they were stubborn that he would get an education. What that was was still getting decided, he’d overheard them considering sending him to his mother’s sister’s family, the Obtuses. He didn’t want to. He didn’t want to see Fauna when he was like this. Yes. Even after all this he still cared what his cousin and best friend thought of him. How sad.

He moved back until he was completely on the roof. All the way to the spot where it stopped going up and instead started to go down.

“I was told I might find you here.”

Unity turned. A blonde woman, around twenty, was comfortably sitting on the other side.

“What are you doing here, Caywren?” he asked, recognizing his cousin - from his dad’s side.

“Trying to figure you out,” she said.

“Why do you care?” Unity automatically began draining into his duralumin. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with this right now. Not that he ever was.

“I’m your storming cousin. I have the right,” she said.

“I know that’s not why,” he told her.

“You’re right. But you already know the real reason,” Caywren said.

Unity bit his bottom lip. “Crisda.”

“She’s worried about you.”

He had no response for that.

“You canceled a meeting with her. You never cancel.”

More silence.

“She wants to come by. Our parents are just scared that you’ll hurt her more than you already have.”

He swallowed heavily.

“Why?”

“You know why.”

“Pretend I don’t for a minute. Pretend no one told me exactly what happened. Pretend I’m her. What would you tell her?”

“Nothing.”

“And if the situation were switched? If you were her, and she was you?”

“It isn’t though.”

Caywren sighed. “Just think about it.”

---

Light Acute. That’s who she’d always been. Second oldest of many, Aluminum ferring. Identity had never been a problem for her before.

Now it was.

Because of the metal spike in her chest that could cause her to do things against her very essence.

That was why she’d locked the door. That was why she kept away from people. That was why she barely ever left her room.

To protect them all.

When Mejin had told her that Crow wasn’t dead, Light had frozen. It’s one thing to carry a scar after a battle. It’s another to keep a sword in a still bleeding wound. But that’s what she had now. A sword stuck in a bleeding wound. A spike that could cause harm instead of just another reminder of her time there.

Light pressed her back to the door. She could hear people on the other side of it. Telling her to come out. Telling her it was okay. Telling her it was safe.

They didn’t understand.

They likely never would.

---

Color by symbol. Connect the dots. Add the numbers together. Figure it out. Compile missed those puzzles. Now it was all blocks and dolls all the time. Everyone treated her differently. They acted as though she ought to be broken because of what had happened.

Well guess what, Compile Acute was perfectly fine. If anything she was better than ever. She knew it was wrong to feel that way, but it was true. Now she saw purpose in everything she did. She knew what was out there. She knew what she wanted to do. Now it everything was just a matter of how. How to get there. How to react.

She understood that she wouldn’t be allowed to do a Pry or Freedom for a long while. No one in their right mind would ever let a five year old go off on their own - smart or not. But watching the others she knew that one day she would have to. It hurt her to watch them. Light. Unity. Brethren. Dawn. Lineage. Warmer. Eon.

Precious, Freedom, and Pry were mostly okay. But the others? They were barely holding together if at all. Compile understood why. It was a perfectly legitimate reason. She just didn’t want to become like them. And it really didn’t help how their parents were coddling her. They seemed to expect her to shrivel up into a ball one day and not come back out.

Compile would prove them wrong. She had to.

---

Caywren Pushed against the coin she had just dropped - bounding back into the sky. She wasn’t far from her destination, that much she remembered, though it had been a while since she’d visited this neighborhood.

Landing lightly, Caywren walked up the path to a home. It resembled that of her cousins in design, but in darker shades and she doubted it had quite as many rooms or subterranean levels. Not many people needed that. She knocked on the door and waited. There was no response. No sound of footsteps coming. Nothing.

She watched a man walking down the road with a noticeable limp. He turned and noticed her standing there.

“Are you looking for the Yins?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Well you’re quite a few years too late.” he said and started walking up the path towards her.

“What do you mean?”

“No one told you about it? They’re dead,” he told her.

Caywren’s eyes widened. “All of them? How long ago? What happened?”

“We never found the youngest. It was around six years. I still get nightmares. So much blood,” he said, not far away now.

“And you are?” she asked.

“Ugre,” he said.

“And how would a fine gentleman like you know how much blood there was?” Caywren said. Her hand had shifted over to her coin pouch. “You don’t look like the type to be dealing with funerals.”

Ugre froze. She’d caught him.

“Why return to the scene of the crime?” she asked, stepping forward.

He took a step back. “The youngest.”

“What about her?”

“She’s alive. Boss wants her dead.”

“Well you’re not going to find her anytime soon,” Caywren said and hoped it was true.

“What would you know?” Ugre said.

“Wouldn’t you like to know,” she dropped a coin and Pushed off and away, leaving Ugre standing there alone.

It had been a productive day.

---

Viness watched Warmer feed his worms. He first measure the mush precisely then gently put it down beside them one at a time. He did it with much care and didn’t tremble.

Good.

She remembered when she’d started doing this with her little cousin. He’d refused to go near them out of fear of hurting them. It had taken her taking away all electrum touching his skin for him to stop being determined against trying. But he’d been scared and trembling. Now he did it willingly. Progress. She still heard his breathing waver slightly when he came near them, but to anyone not able to burn tin, it wouldn’t have been recognizable.

Still, he still had a long way to go. Viness just hoped she could get him back into decent shape.

---

Eon sniffled. These days he had a perpetual cold, gold or not. Other than that he was mostly fine. A miracle really. Everyone who heard about him was shocked that he was alive. “He ought to be dead,” they’d say. They called him a miracle child.

But was he really?

Eon didn’t think so. He was alive. So what? All it meant was people constantly watching him. He didn’t like the attention. He’d rather be left alone. People left when he started to cry. He did that and soon they stopped coming.

Of course, his parents assumed it was just a lasting effect. Loud noises set him off now. That wasn’t it. He just didn’t like being watched. Not that he could tell anyone. He didn’t know how to talk.

Really unfortunate.

---

“I just hate it,” Dawn said. She was sitting on the floor in their room with Brethren. “It...it...it just is horrible!”

“I know,” Brethren said. “I get it too. Remember?”

“You at least know how to shut yours up. Mine refuses to go away,” she said.

“Is it here now?” Brethren asked.

“No. Because it’s just you,” Dawn said.

“See? You do know how to get rid of it.”

“But I don’t want to be stuck living a life with just you. I love you and all - just to never be able to go around other people without a voice in my head screaming at me not to trust them…?” she let her voice trail off. Brethren understood.

“My voice appears whenever I’m away from you. I don’t like it either,” he said. “It shouldn’t be this way. We shouldn’t be forced to stay together. Twins or not.”

“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said. “You know you’re my favorite person ever.”

“I know. And you’re also my favorite person,” he said.

“But we should have a choice in that matter even if we’d come to the same conclusion,” they said in unison.

They sighed together.

“We really are quite the duo,” she said.

“No stranger than the Wered wonder triplets,” he said.

“Yeah. Those three are piece of work.”

“Mum and Fa aren’t really going to send us there for a few months, are they?”

“I think they want to,” she said. “Fild isn’t too bad.”

“Fild also is jealous of us. We intimidate him,” Brethren said.

“Freaky twin powers, am I right?” she smiled and he joined in.

“Definitely.”

---

“Just don’t forget to visit,” Mejin said, giving Tino yet another hug.

“Of course,” he said. “You just don’t forget to write this time.”

She nodded and wiped away a tear. There was no telling when she’d see her brother next.

“It was nice to meet you,” she told Juon who had come along.

“You too,” she said.

The plan was for her to make sure everything was running okay in Bassopolis then head back to Alleycity. There she’d decide meet with some people and make some last arrangements. She hoped to settle down soon.

Mejin had done her part.

It was time to let others take over.

---

Pry threw another knife at the target. It hit dead center.

Beginner’s luck. She told herself, then threw another. This one landed the ground a few feet away. Yep. Stupid things are too unwieldy to carry around anyways.

As though reading her mind, Ofrira walked on to the field. He quickly took in the two thrown knives. “They can be useful,” he said. “If wielded properly.”

“Which appears to be an issue for me,” Pry said, not fazed by his sudden appearance. He did that a lot.

“Pick one up,” Ofrira said.

Pry bent down and retrieved one from the bucket with her left hand.

“Now get into a throwing stance.”

She started to transfer the knife to her right hand.

“Stop,” he said suddenly and she did. “Do you see what you are doing wrong there?”

“Maybe,” she said. “No. I don’t know.”

“Prism, you’re left-handed. Why waste the time switching to your non-dominant hand? If instinctively you reach with your left, you need to throw with your left. Enemies would take advantage of those few seconds.” he said.

Pry let her right hand fall to her side. “When was the last time you saw real combat?” she said.

“You doubt my word?” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“No. I was just curious,” she said.

He thought for a moment. “Six years ago. And it was a loss. Though the man I fought with probably still has issues walking. Cut his sciatic nerve.”

“What happened?”

“A group of hemalurgists taking advantage of an innocent family. I got there too late to do much good. They were already dead…”

“What should I do, Ofrira?” she said suddenly. “I don’t know what I should do.”

“What’re your options?” he said, somehow knowing what she was referring to.

“Go off again or stay here and help out,” she said.

“You know what you need to do,” Ofrira said.

“I do?” she asked.

“Yes, you do,” he said then turned his focus back to the throwing knives. “Just mirror your position the opposite way. Do it over and over a couple hundred times.”

As she nodded it did become clear what she would do. Just as he’d told her. She really had known all along. It just helped to have a second opinion.

 

Quote

And the  Acute family tree.*

Spoiler

*Disclaimer: This does not include every single one of the cousins and in a years time this family tree will no longer be accurate for the Wereds. Nola and Inden did not only have one sibling each. More relatives exist. These are just the ones that they interact with the most. Also, the Wereds are all allomancers (it isn't marked) and the other Acutes are mixed (it is marked with 'a's and 'f's). There's probably more stuff I'm forgetting to say here right now that will be added in later.

 

Edited January 27, 2019 by Silva
Getting rid of the bold.

[Vargo Seldon he/him]

Far below, in the wreckage if the Den of Thieves, a below of anger drifted up from a chasm.  It was a primal below of anger, of loss, of hatred.  It was the unbridled rage of a man who had lost everything, and had nothing else to lose.  A man who wanted nothing but revenge, embittered by the injustice of the world, cast his ideals to the ground and sought to bring the world to its knees.  Sought to destroy the ones who had taken everything from him, and then everyone else just to be safe.  Yes, he thought, humanity doesn’t deserve the things they have, they need to be exterminated...

——

Birds were singing a merry tune as sunlight filtered down through the bows of a green oak.  Returned walked along a path, whistling a quick rhythm, watching the wildlife tumble in the grass about him.  Yes, he thought, humanity has done a fine job with this world.  This place will do...

[+Sorana she/her]

Quote

I don't have everything ready, as Damaya is still bound in a thread. So I'll add another scene for Althea, and something for Damaya, depending on how that ends.

===========================

“Let me tell you of the death of Sir Wilfried from Calvi. Sir Wilfried from Calvi let Onnurth’s forces against the White Witch with the goal to free the monastry Aurium’s Glory. He and his around one hundred men and women travelled deep into occupied territory, behind the enemy’s lines. At the same time a larger force staged an attack at one of the larger fortresses to keep the soldiers of the White Witch occupied. So when the travelled north, they only encountered the usual patrols, but no larger force itself. They made camp a few miles away from Aurium’s Glory. It wasn’t the best place for the camp, but it was the best one they could find. They were attacked the first time shortly after they managed to set up their tents. It didn’t take the soldiers of the White Witch long to push them, so that they all clustered in one part of their camp. The sun had already set and they were exhausted from their days march. They had no choice but to share their beds, a part of them sleeping, while another part was up defending the camp. The next morning arrived and finally the forces of the White Witch pulled back, gave them some space to breathe. They set out, and discovered a magical crystal poisoning the water and the land itself. In a large ritual they managed to destroy the crystal and returned to their camp afterwards. Unsurprisingly, the camp had been ransacked. They spent the next hours removing poison from their food and then got attacked again. This time the attacks lasted for several hours until in the end all those able to wield a weapon were injured. The healers cared for them, the mages were exhausted. It was only a matter of time, until their enemies would win.
It was during that situation that the White Witch managed to kidnap some of those standing watch. And Sir Wilfried from Calvi met with the one commanding the White Witch’s troops and exchanged himself. A young apprentice ran up to him, asked him after something belonging to him, something she could use to find him. It was the first time ever she participated in the war raging in her country, only shortly before she got the permission by the one teaching her to leave the temple.”
Lena paused.
“Back then the magicians were taught together with the novices of Jaara at a temple. That changed later though.”

“Sir Wilfried gave her his book with his prayers, as a was a paladin of Hope. She pressed it against her chest, held it close and then he left, leaving his second in command in charge. What happened afterwards - His second in command looked over what he had left. Everywhere moaning and crying people were lying around, all warriors were either dead or severly injured. Mages, alchemists, scholars and cooks were mounting the watch. When the apprentice approached him, told him that they could follow Sir Wilfried, that she could find him he gave a single order. Nobody leaves the camp. And the apprentice followed.”

“Later that evening cold crept into their camp. They were still discussions what they could do, those that were able to talk that is. And still nobody was allowed to leave the camp. They marched into the camp carrying torches and then in the middle of them a litter. The priestress of Raggok herself had appeared and she brought the winter and the cold, suddenly you could see your breath forming in the air in front of you. The apprentice was still clutching the book, held it close. She knew why they were here, knew they had lost. The soldiers set down the litter, showing them who was lying there. Sir Wilfried from Calvi was dead. And the apprentice knew, that something like this would never happen again. She would never listen to such an order again, not if it meant death. She had barely known Sir Wilfried, but his death changed everything for her. From now on she carried a personal item of her friends with her whereever she went. She would be able to find them, she would never again listen to an order condemning someone she cared for. She realized that she had grown up in a protected environment. Life on Onnurth had never been easy, but still she had lived a sheltered life.”
Lena stood up, observed the man that was lying in front of her on the ground, his lips tainted blue.
“Do you know why I like this story so much?”
she asked him.
“I like it, because the apprentice has a name. Some call her Lena. When I left Sel I looked for another name and I chose her name. Because she is brave and strong, because she makes mistakes and yet she goes on.”
With a grin she got up and let him lying there. She had a meeting to go to, probably a new customer. And she wanted to try out another poison first.
==============================

Shortly after the ending of Era 2

Althea touched the water and smiled satisfied. It was warm to the touch, almost hot. Just as she liked it. Absently minded she lit a candle and left the bathroom to go and fetch her newest book. She was alone for the moment and she had decided to take the time for herself, to relax and take a hot bath, read a book. When she returned  she closed the door, took a deep breath, enjoyed the smell of the oil she had added to the water. She placed the book next to the bath and walked over to fetch the candle, so that she could turn off the light. The candle. The flame was small, harmless, it was red and orange and now that she concentrated she could smell it. It was a candle. And then it was not. The smell of burning houses, of a burning city invaded her nose, easily grabbed her mind and pulled her down, far down. She heard the shriek of the phoenix circling above the city, saw the shadow it cast on the houses. It attacked, again and again and again. The smell of blood, of those that died, that killed themselves or were attacked by others. Emotions that raced through her body, tore her apart until there was nothing left, until she screamed and screamed, until she felt something break, shatter and then drift apart. Heart racing Althea slowly surfaced, enough to realize that she had trouble breathing, that her heart was beating too fast, so fast it felt like it might break any moment. Her hands were wet and she was shivering, shivering so violently, that she could hear her teeth meet each other. The fire, screams, fear. Something soft touched her hands and instinctively she grabbed it, pulled it close to her chest. She needed both hands to hold it, but she managed. The cloth was soft and it smelled - Max. Althea pressed her face in his shirt, breathed in. Once, twice. A third time. Slowly she managed to get at least a bit of control back and realized, that she was lying on the ground. It took her a few tries to sit up, her shaking arms offering almost no support. But then she managed and sitting somehow helped, at least she could pretend she was in control again. Taking another deep breath she continued to sit there, buried her face in the shirt, her body still shaking. Behind her, the water was cold.

 

Shortly before the new era starts

Althea sat beneath the tree and looked out over the sea. The sun was hidden behind some clouds and while she was still wearing her sunglasses, she had waited for a day like this for a while. Dry, not too cold and the sun was hidden. Althea smiled, observed the soft waves, enjoyed the smell and the cries of the seagulls above.
“It’s been a while.”
Brashen hopped down from her shoulder and settled down on the ground next to her.
“Almost a year.”
she replied.
“But it felt right. To return here.”
It had taken her a while to work through everything that happened. To stop lying awake at night, because her mind returned to Oasis City, to that white room in the Foundation Building, to the city where they finally had confronted Sephtis. To stop waking up, because her dreams were full of fire and pain, full of Max body lying on the ground, a sword stabbed through his chest. Full of Steve laughing at her, telling her that Max was dead, but if she was willing, he wouldn’t say no to someone to warm his bed. Full of Septhis waving a hand, ripping into her mind and doing with her, influencing her in whatever way he pleased.
Althea shivered at the thought, pulled her jacket tighter around her shoulders. She had managed, she was able to sleep again, the nights without nightmares finally in the majority. She even had bought a new candle, but hadn’t found the courage to lit it. Maybe later, maybe never.
“You spoke your first oath here.”
Brashen recalled and Althea laughed quietly, enjoyed the part that she felt like laughing again.
“You saved me. Annoyed me until I spoke those words, until I chose to live.”
He laughed as well and she glanced at her hand, her smile deepening.
“I’m married Brashen. I’m married and it’s been almost a year now.”
Her spren only laughed again.
“Yes you are. But your next oath is mine again.”
Althea nodded.
“I’m sorry you have to share me.”
“No, you’re not.”
She laughed, louder this time.
“I’m not. I wouldn’t be here without him. I don’t think I could have managed on my own.”
Althea looked out at the ocean. The last year had been complicated. Maybe the most complicated year of her life - but it also had been the best. It had taken a lot of strength to confront what had happened, to learn to live with the fact, that Solace had free access to her mind whenever he wished to, to face her memories and more or less come to term with them. Max had helped, had held her, had listened when she dumped everything on him, all the while fighting his own demons as well. And yet, they had found a perfect house outside of Alleycity and moved there, had taken some time for themselves to built up a working relationship. And it worked. She was married to the love of her life and it worked. For the first time in her life, she had a family.

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Quote

Well, everyone, I have another story for y'all. 

Fun fact: the first was the shortest.

Also, remember to give Ark upvotes for Anthony's POV. He did a fabulous job.

Tena's POV:

Tena had been feeling really tired lately; a product of her working in construction sites as manager and laborer. That was why she’d taught Ani how to cook, so she didn’t need to make dinner on top of working all day. Plus, men were always cuter when they were making food for you.

She was resting her head on the back of the couch, waiting for Ani to finish his dinner. She always got smaller portions than him, and he took forever to finish his dinner, but this time and the past times she’d gotten larger servings, nearly as big as Ani’s. Another product of work, though she certainly didn’t think she was getting any fatter. Not that she’d ever been in the first place (living on street rations didn’t exactly leave an aspiring criminal with extra calories), but she worried about that constantly.

Ani finally finished his food and gathered up their plates, standing up and walking to the sink, beginning to wash the dishes. Tena curled up on the couch, then dozed for a few minutes, waiting for him to finish so they could go to bed. She didn’t like sleeping without him; the bed always felt empty and cold.

Tena only realized that she’d dropped off when she felt someone setting her down on her and Ani’s bed. She opened her eyes blearily, seeing Ani taking off his shirt and putting it away in the dresser. He walked back over to her and asked, “Not feeling up to anything, I assume?”

“Nah, I just wanna sleep,” Tena said, shoving the blankets out from under her with her hands, then pulling them up to cover most of her. She closed her eyes and heard Ani come settle down next to her, then felt him wrapping his arms around her. She hummed a little, loving how great that felt, then snuggled up to him with her head resting on his arm.

“Are you alright?” Ani asked her anxiously, and she felt his lips touch her forehead.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Tena said, relaxing. Then, she wriggled up to exchange a kiss with him for a moment, falling quietly asleep after.

***

A jolt of pain from Tena’s abdomen woke her up, and she made an annoyingly girlish squeak. “Ouch! What was that for?”

Ani opened one tired eye to look at her, then the other. “I didn’t do anything. What’s wrong?”

“Something just hurt in my stomach. That’s really weird…” She trailed off as she thought of something. She’d been sleeping with Ani for months now, hadn’t she? Could she be…?

“Oh moons,” she gasped, squeezing her eyes closed, though it was too dark to make a difference, trying to convince herself it wasn’t true. “No, not again.”

“What is it?” Ani said, his voice concerned, and she felt him hug her softly. Ani, her wonderful Ani… he really cared about her, didn’t he? He wanted her to be safe, all the time. He tried to make her comfortable whenever he could. He was almost too surreal to be there with her.

“Try not to freak out,” Tena told him quietly. “But I might be pregnant.”

Ani stiffened, and she heard him start to breathe quickly. Tena barely kept from bursting into tears, accidentally letting a few drops fall onto Ani’s arm.

She was going to fail him, the baby was going to die. She’d been pregnant twice before, and knew well what it felt like. She was pregnant, and the baby was going to die for some reason after she gave birth to it. Her first had been stillborn, her second had had a problem with its lungs that killed it-- no, her-- in seconds. Both of her children had been girls.

“That’s… wow,” Ani started, then stopped. “It’s my kid, right?”

“Yes, of course it is,” she answered with a grin, unable to contain herself. What a ludicrous idea, that it would be anybody else’s. Did Ani mistrust her, or was he just cautious?

“I’m going to be a dad?” he continued in a slightly scared whisper.

“No,” she answered, her amusement shattering as her fears broke in again. She squeezed her eyes closed for a moment, trying to forget what would happen to the baby.

“What?” Ani asked her, meeting her eyes as she opened them. “Are you not actually pregnant?”

“Yes, I’m pregnant. But the baby is going to die the second it gets out of my womb. Maybe even before that.” She started crying in earnest, pressing her face against his chest and trying to stop herself in vain.

“No, Tena,” he said after letting her cry for a minute. He squirmed to get to her eye level, and his eyes were so scared and sad and concerned that she stopped crying, suddenly wanting to make him happy. He didn’t look right sad. “Why would the baby… die?”

“Because that’s what happens to my children,” she answered honestly, choking a little on her tears, “they die. My first was stillborn, my second had a fatal something with her lungs.”

Ani was silent for a moment. “You never told me that your second was a girl.”

“Both of them were,” Tena said, remembering two scenes at once: laying in a nice hospital bed, a nurse at her side with that expression medical people get when they have to tell the family of a patient that their loved one had died, and laying in a tub of water in an old wooden house, her grandfather standing nearby with that same expression.

“Oh. Okay.”

He knew her so well. He knew that pressing her didn’t work most of the time, and would wait for her to continue. She breathed for a moment, feeling safe in Ani’s arms, then decided that she could tell him her fears. “Both of them are dead, and that means that this one will die too. All of my births are failures.” Illogically, that made her feel that she was a failure too, despite the fact that neither death had directly been her fault. Had they? She desperately hoped not.

“No,” Ani said, somehow keeping his voice level. “No, you have me here this time. I’ll keep you safe, and I’ll keep our baby safe.” Our baby. Ani was her baby’s father. I’m-- can it be all right? Yes it can. Ani is strong, and he’ll protect all three of us. She had to work to convince herself that that was true. She felt like she was putting her life in Ani’s hands. But I trust him. He can take care of me.

“You’re right, my love,” Tena said, leaning forward to kiss him. He was so wonderful, he could make her forget her fears, so she could be with him in the real world. The kiss lasted longer than usual, and was softer as well. Tena felt calm with him here, to be with her and keep her grounded.

She pulled away after a minute, then said, “You are my world, Ani. I love you more than you can know.”

After a moment of silence, he spoke. “I’ll return that to you,” he said quietly. Tena turned around so her back was touching his chest, then smiled as she felt Ani kiss the hair on the top of her head. She pressed up against him and felt his arms wrap around her abdomen, softly. He was probably paranoid about hurting their baby, even though she wasn’t more than two months pregnant.

Tena fell asleep like that, calm and with a faint, yet very present, feeling of love for and from Ani.

Quote

Note: the following scene was written by Ark, I'm just too impatient to wait for him to wake up.

Anthony POV:

Anthony hummed as he cooked. Tena had taught him, because she didn't want to, and was tired from work. He handed her a plate, whopping servings. She had been eating a lot lately.

When they were done eating, he quietly gathered the plates, still humming. As he pulled up his sleeves and got to work, he changed to a faint whistle, a tune he had learned as a boy. He washed the plates in the sink, thinking. Tena has gotten tired more and more often lately. He smiled, looking at her. She was sleeping. A slight nap; if she didn't wake up he would have to wake her. But for the moment, he didn't. He scrubbed a particularly nasty piece of their dinner off a plate. I wonder why she’s getting tired so fast. She was fine earlier this year, even though she works the same hours most of the time. Maybe it was just catching up to her now.

After he was done, he looked at Tena. Still sleeping. He carefully picked her up, carrying her up the stairs into their room. Gingerly he put her down on their bed, then walked to his dresser, taking his shirt off. Finally, seeing she was awake, he walked over. “Not feeling up to anything, I assume?” He felt bad asking, since she was obviously exhausted, but he wanted to know.

Her response was sleepy. “Nah, I just wanna sleep.” He grinned. She was still tired. He was tired too, but she slept a lot more than he did. Strange, that. It’s probably because she works so much. He climbed into bed beside her, extending his arms and putting them around her. She was so small, so beautiful. It was amazing to have her with him, but he was worried about her. Maybe she’s sick. That could be why she is tired.

He looked at her. “Are you alright?” He leaned in, kissing her forehead. She was nice and warm. It felt good to just be with her. He loved her with all his heart. She responded, and he was reassured. Partially. She fell asleep quickly, breathing deeply. He wrapped himself around her, and followed suit.

***

Anthony woke with a jolt. “Ouch, what was that for?” Tena’s voice said. He was confused, a slight sense of fear along with it. Is she hurt?

He forced his tired eyes open, looking at her carefully through the darkness. It seemed to be about two in the morning. What could have woken her up? “I didn't do anything. What's wrong?”

“Something just hurt in my stomach. That’s really weird…” She stopped, going silent. What is it? Did she figure it out? Can I go back to sleep? He berated himself. The love of his life was in pain, and all he could think of was sleeping. But he was tired. “Oh, moons. No, not again,” she continued quietly. What the hell was it? Was she sick?

His voice filled with concern as he spoke, no matter how much he tried to hide it. “What is it?” She had to be okay. He had promised himself, promised he would keep her from harm. What is it... please…

“Try not to freak out, but I might be pregnant,” she said. Anthony felt himself go clammy. A child. Tena was going to have a child, and he would be its father. He knew he'd been a father before, but that wasn't truly him, not anymore. I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO FREAK OUT? I'm going to be a FATHER!

Finally it came out in words, though he almost turned it into a mindless jumble. “That's... wow.” Then, something occurred to him. He didn’t want to think about it, but… “It’s my kid, right?”

“Yes, of course it is,” she said with a grin, and Anthony was relieved. He’d worried… but no. Tena loved him, not anyone else, and he’d been sleeping with her every day besides.

He was almost panicked, but also happy, exhilarated. Shocked. “I'm going to be a dad?” he asked, maybe a little afraid; he didn’t know how to raise kids, or, really anything else to do with the subject. Were there things he needed to do while Tena was pregnant to keep her safe? What were the chances of her dying in childbirth? That second one started to haunt him.

“No.” She closed her eyes like she was trying to forget something painful.

What the hell? Was it a joke? Really? He was really confused, he couldn't understand. What was happening? “What?” He stared her in the eyes. What was going on? “Are you not actually pregnant?”

“Yes, I’m pregnant. But the baby is going to die the second it gets out of my womb. Maybe even before that.” Why would that be? She'd had two miscarriages before, but it was just a coincidence that both of those pregnancies had ended with death. Just a coincidence. He forced himself to believe that. Tena couldn't handle it otherwise, and he had to protect her. He had to. She was crying, so he hugged her a little. Having her feeling sad so close to him always made him want to cheer her up, but he knew that that wouldn’t work in this case. He had to protect her. He would protect her. Those thoughts kept repeating. He let her cry for a bit, looking across their room at the one of the dark walls, knowing that she’d talk to him after all the tension was gone, then looked her in the eyes.

“No, Tena.” He moved himself until he was at her eye level. Her eyes still seemed to glow despite the dark, and they were beautiful, like a clear sky. But she was depressed and terrified, for some reason, and it stained her eyes, like blood on a carpet. “Why would the baby,” he paused, “die?”

“Because that’s what happens to my children. They die. My first was stillborn, my second had a fatal something with her lungs.” No. She's wrong. It's a coincidence. He meant to reassure her, tell her it would be okay.

Instead he said, quietly, “You never told me the second was a girl.” It was just bad luck. Yes. It had to be true. It was true. He had to protect her. He would protect those who could not protect themselves.

“Both of them were.” Two. He felt so sorry for her. He wanted to put it in words, but he knew pity wouldn't help.

“Oh, okay.” Storms, was that too flippant? Well, I can't take it back now. Why had he said it like that? No, he’d said the right thing. That was what she would need. He just had to wait.

It took her a moment, but then she continued. “Both of them are dead, and that means that this one will die too. All of my births are failures.” He sensed something else beyond those words. Did she think of herself that way? A blot on the world? She couldn’t possibly think that way: she was beautiful, intelligent, athletic, kind… she was everything he had. She had to be okay. I will protect her.

“No. No, you have me here this time. I’ll keep you safe, and I’ll keep our baby safe.” He had barely managed to make his voice stable. But he had to, for her. Now he just had to convince himself. There’s too much I don’t know.

“You’re right, my love.” She kissed him, and he kissed back, reveling in her touch. She was happy. Happy was good. Happy meant he was succeeding. He kissed her softly, making it as long as she wanted. After a minute, she pulled away from him. “You are my world, Ani. I love you more than you can know.” No, she was his world. She still didn't understand how much she meant to him, and… did she love him that much? But she still couldn’t possibly love him as much as he loved her.

He responded quietly, a response he hoped would convey that. “I’ll return that to you.” She shifted so her back was pressing against his chest, and he kissed the back of her head reassuringly. He again wrapped his arms around her, gently. It was illogical, but he couldn't help worrying he would hurt the child somehow. He waited, letting her fall asleep, listening to her breathing slow. He dropped his head to the pillow, murmuring in her ear: “I love you.” She didn't hear a thing.

Quote

The third shortest out of five is up! 

Also, the longest is thirteen pages.

 

[kenod]

KanMien walked through the empty alleys. They looked around, wondering how long ago it has been since someone had last visited this place, for so far as time actually meant something here. Of course, the lack of time was important here, even more so than in other alleys, since this was a storage area. They had first read about this place in an old book, detailing some of the history of the DA. Apparently, this place held artifacts from back when universes other than the Cosmere were first discovered.
Walking through a door, they saw a sign on the wall: "Universe 180976, Earth, Notable weapons". A thin smile appeared on their face, and they started going through the small amount of boxes stored there. After discarding a number of them, they finally found something interesting. When opening the box, it contained two guns, as well as two holsters, and a number of additional tools. They read the document attached to the box: "Twin pistols, called Glocks locally. Notable because of material used, called plastic. This seems to be an artificial material. No current time estimate for how long it will take Cosmere worlds to develop this. The weapon seems compatible with standard bullets manufactured on Scadrial, and includes tools for loading them into magazines (specialized holders, pictures attached). For more detailed information, including usage, view the accompanying manual, as well as its translations." Smiling, KanMien closed the box, and took it with them.

KanMien stood in a large hall, watching the opponents surrounding them, some carrying guns, others bags of coins, and a few with dueling canes. Grabbing their guns out of their holsters, they slowly lifted them in their direction. They took a deep breath, and started moving. Their opponents took this as the starting sign, and started moving as well, those with ranged weapons taking more distance and preparing to shoot KanMien, and the Thugs charging at them. Taking aim, KanMien started shooting at the Thugs. Their first shot missed, as did the second. The third hit one of them in the belly, while one of the coinshots hit them in the shoulder. Starting to heal the damage, they moved in a circle, guns in both directions. Quickly they fired at the people charging them, more than half the shots missing their targets. Still, two more of the Thugs went down, but a number of bullets slammed into their stomach. Their reactions slowed down, and one of the Thugs was only three meters away. They took a deep breath, and started tapping their zinc. 30 seconds, that was how long their testing showed they had until their spikes stopped working. Still, that was enough. Their hands moved quicker, more precise. They shot two bullets in the face of the nearest Thug, and moved moved around, feeling bullets and coins pass through the air around them as they did. Without looking, they fired five more bullets, each taking out a gunner. Their left gun clicked, out of bullets. They ejected the magazine, while emptying the right gun at three other Thugs, each bullet hitting their heads. Quickly they moved around again, dodging the incoming fire, one bullet gracing their cheek. Quickly reloading their guns, they fired at the gunmen. A thin smile appeared on their face. Then their spike stopped working, their mental speed suddenly dropping back again, the shock blanking out their mind. As soon as that happened a number of bullets smashed into them, and the last Thug tackled them, knocking them to the ground. Sighing, they slowly stood back up, the people they had shot healing back from their goldminds, the exercise over. Healing their wounds, they thanked the men who helped with the training. "I'll have to wait for my spikes to work again," they said, voice cold. "I'm expecting you back here again in three days." With that they holstered their guns and walked away. A thin smile on still lingered on their face. The next time something happened they would be able to fight as well.

[I think I am here. he/him]

Quote

I'm going to use spoiler tags like a normal person

Shortly after Era 2:

Max: Moving In

Spoiler

Max cracked his knuckles as he oversaw a large orange truck arrive in the driveway, ready for the work that would ensue. He grabbed his coat, exited the new house, and went off to greet the person coming out of the truck. “Hiya!” the man said in some sort of accent. “I’m Thraeden. You the couple that nees furniture?”

Max nodded, smiling. “Thea’s doing something right now, but I’m here if you need any help.” Althea. Max smiled again, remembering her face, how they decided on a house near AlleyCity. Well, the house was ready and done. All they needed was things to fill it with.

“Ah,” Thraeden said. “I won’t be needing too much help. But there are some couches and somesuch we’d need to lift together. Sound cool?”

Max nodded. “Sounds great to me.”

Together, they emptied the large transport truck, moving couches, chairs, tables, inside the house, making everything come together nicely. Max couldn’t wait for when he and Althea would be able to finally live in it, all setting up done.

His own house. With his wife. It brought him a happiness he hadn’t had in a while. This was a slice of responsibility, something he’d need to come to terms with in the coming months. Althea would help him, she always made it all easier, and so Max was eager.

“So,” Max said as he lifted another large box with Thraeden and carried it into the home. “Got any family yourself?”

“Nah,” Thraeden replied. He was the epitome of what some would call a ‘country guy’ in his appearance. Thaylen farmer’s tan, some sort of simple and practical hat. It was evident he had been doing labor for long from his calloused hands. “Well, I have a son, but he’s off with his mother,” He grinned. “Likes guitars though. I think I might gift him one for his birthday.”

Max smiled and nodded, though he thought about what Thraeden had said. He and his wife had split up. It was a very real possibility that could happen to a relationship. Max hoped that wouldn’t happen with him and Althea. He loved her, completely, and she loved him. The thought of being alone, without her there, it made Max feel empty. “I hope you find a good guitar for your sun,” he said.

“Thanks,” Thraeden said, looking into the truck. “Hey, there’s still one more thing in here, but after that we should be done. What do you want to do with this?” Curious, Max hopped up, banished his thoughts, and looked inside of the truck. It was an armour stand.

With a gleaming pile of Aonic armour resting on it.

It hung silently in the far back corner of the truck, a faint glow illuminating the darkness surrounding it. As Max stared it down, he swore it stared back, like two warriors having a showdown, or two enemies finally meeting.

That was Max’s old life. When he’d dueled and lost Mara, when he’d gone insane, fought Solace, when he’d Rioted Oasis –

He shut his eyes, blocked out the memories. He felt sick, like he might collapse. He reached out and laid a hand on the truck for balance. He looked up at the armour and images flashed at him, a man destroying a city, killing people. Him killing people. He resisted the urge to fall to his knees and stayed in that position for a good five minutes, breathing in and out, in and out. It was just a pile of armour.

“Hey, friend, you alrigh–”

“Put in the basement,” Max almost growled, his breath returning to him slowly.

Lusk: Liver Failure 

Spoiler

“On eighth of Doxil, just as the sun was about to dip under the horizon, a Lusk Uwik, atium Ferring, collapsed on the ground in agony.

Cause of pain: Liver failure.

It is believed Mr. Uwik had a liver problem for years, but the failure only ensued because of a high emotional outburst at the time of injury.

Said injury took place in a dueling arena, specifically the Challenge of Champions. Witnesses say Mr. Uwik was warned against competing in the duel against accomplished warrior Walker Drown. Part of this was also because Mr. Uwik, at age 45, was around 20 years older than his opponent. Mr. Uwik is thereby charged as responsible for his own injury and should not be liable to receive any sort of reimbursement by the arena.

Witnesses say he collapsed in pain, but it was “at least fifteen minutes before someone actually bothered to send [a healer]”

Mr. Uwik was immediately transported out of the arena and into the hospital next to it, ending the duel, but not before his opponent punched him in the face. This was noted to only make the liver injury worse.

Sources vary on what caused the emotional outburst that caused the liver failure, but there is a common thread. Witness recounts and notes from the mediator explain Mr. Uwik was currently winning the duel when he “stopped in place, patted [Walker Drown] on the back and shouted at us for being disgusting or whatever.”

It is believed Mr. Uwik was deeply critical of the dueling culture.

Mr. Uwik was saved from death only barely, though it was believed he was in pain for a good portion of that time. Doctors at the scene said: “He was on a very thin line; any sort of anesthesia or magic means of healing would probably toss him over the edge for good, so we had to do it the slow, traditional and [painful] way of doing things, unfortunately.”

A statement for Mr. Uwik himself was collected. “Rusting journalists.”

Mr. Uwik is expected to be able to walk in eleven to twelve months, though doctors say he may be irreversibly injured. More on the Channel Radiant news station, later.”

The news reader finished, then laughed when she was off the cameras. “Great, now that we’re done with that loser, let’s put on the article about that cat some Misting rescued, hm?”

Shortly before Era 3:

Alask: The Hunter Shade

Spoiler

Now was the time. Now or never. Loss positioned herself, knife in hand. Someone had actually come into the alley. Idly twirling the knife between her finger, she looked to her partner.

East was a friend she’d made on the street. She’d mugged someone only to find he had tried to mug them too. The two had competed for weeks this way, finding the best riches to rob and seeing who could get them first. Eventually, they decided to settle for teaming up.

“Seems quiet tonight,” he said. He often said phrases like that, which didn’t really mean anything. “I don’t like it.”

“Oh, calm down. That’s just your nerves tingling because we actually get to eat tonight. Now shush.”

None of them were Invested. The interesting thing was, people looked at them like they were rats for it, without considering the majority of people were Uninvested. Not everyone was a storming Radiant or an Allomancer, though lots had sure as hell Snapped. But the world was like that.

A light tap-tap of steps sounded from the side of the alley. Loss held her breath and tried not to jump in joy when she heard the steps coming towards them. Now was the time. Now or never.

It was an older man. The tips of his hair were frosted, and he wore a large overcoat. Loss had been on the street long enough to know when someone was hiding their riches. She looked to East. His eyes stared hungrily onwards.

As the man approached, Loss jumped out, pointing her knife out. It was steel. Not everyone could afford storming aluminium.

The man took a step back, his eyes wide. It was beautiful. He turned to run where he had come from but East appeared from the dark, his own knife shining in the dark. “P-please,” the man said, putting his hands up, then charging for Loss.

She was taken aback. People didn’t usually attack. But people did crazy things when they were about to be robbed. Especially when they were rich.

 

She grunted as the man charged into her. He seemed unnaturally heavily. The man tried to pin her down, and that was when she saw the glimmer of iron under his sleeve. “Skimmer!” she only barely managed to yell out as she brought her knife and stabbed it into the side of the man. He screamed, clearly not accustomed to pain and hopped off. Loss stayed where she was, trying to recover but she was half crushed by his weight. The man crouched on the ground in pain.

East ran to her first, seeing if she was alright. With his help she managed to stand up, looking at the bleeding man hatefully. “I want to kill him,” she whispered. Not just rob. Kill. East looked at her questioningly, but then nodded when he saw how much trouble standing. His eyes hardened at the man.

“N-no, please,” the man said, bleeding. “I’ve got money, I can give you that. I’ve got a family, a kid, please.”

But they didn’t listen. They were onto him like jackals, tearing into their prey, leaving nothing left. When they were done and their knives were stained in red, they searched his body and found golden jewelry. The man was carrying a gift for someone.

“He deserved it,” Loss said bitterly, stuffing the riches in her backpack and rubbing blood from her face.

“Did he?” A voice spoke. Not East’s.

Loss turned quickly, eyeing where the voice had come from. Further along the alley, there was a man draped in dark. About average build, nothing too special. Was he shaking?

“Who are you?” East called, standing up, rubbing blood off his shirt. Loss stood up too. She’d finished packing the money. East stepped forward, towards the man. “Did you see what happened to that man?”

“No, not really,” the figure said, also stepping forward. It was a man around 20 years old. Tanned skin, dark hair. Yeah, he really was shaking. Why? It wasn’t cold. “But I did see the blood. All of it.”

It took a few moments for it to click. “No,” Loss said, taking a step back. “No, no no!”

“The Shadebent,” East whispered.

Though most of his face was still obscured by darkness, Loss swore she could see a barely imperceptible nod, maybe a flash of a smile. The Hunter Shade, or Shadebent. He was here. Now.

The rumours had started maybe six months ago. A Shade, hunting in the dark. Terrorizing those who killed. One that walked in the skin of a human but exploded into its true form when attacking. No detail was given about the human’s face. Mostly because all who saw eventually ended up dead.

“No, you can’t do this!” Loss shouted. She knew they wouldn’t be able to take him on. Piles of skeletons in half-abandoned alleyways seemed to agree. The figure seemed to mutter something to himself. Who was he talking to? He had a spren? Finally, he looked up. “You shed blood,” he said. “Stabbed an innocent man in an alleyway,” His shaking was increasing, like he was controlling himself. Restraining himself. “And I promised Shez a couple kills tonight for good behavior.”

East took another step forward. By his position it looked like he was going to charge. Good. That left more time for Loss to run. The figure looked up at them, then looked back down, “Goodnight,” he said, looking back up, directly into the sky, and outstretched his palms in front of him.

He stopped shaking.

East charged ahead, yelling. He had his knife up, ready to stab.

The figure exploded in a flash of darkness. Loss gasped.

Darkness itself seemed to curl around the figure, blacking their skin to an almost luminescent blackness. Smoke began to emanate, and curl around in tendrils. The figure no longer looked human. It was like a phantom, a nightmare. Green eyes burst alight, then looked up at East, and slowly bled red.

It lunged the entire distance between it and East in one leap. Before he could even get a stab, he was a pile of bones, charred and falling to the ground to a heap. Loss screamed, and sprinted in the other direction. She was going to die, she was going to die.

She looked back, and The Hunter Shade looked back, darting to her direction.

She turned to another alley. The Shadebent trailed. 100-meter gap between them. 50-meter gap. She was tired. Her legs ached and pained. Adrenaline fueled her, but she knew the Shade would never give up.

She ran past a door with a silver handle. She stopped. She looked back and screamed as the Shade continued to run after her. 25-meter gap. She found another silver door handle in the distance and prepared herself.

Now was the time. Now or never.

She approached, and with one adrenaline surged heave she took the door handle straight off the door and weakly tossed it in the direction of the Shade.

0-meter gap.

The Shade screamed, sparks flying off of its translucent black in a show of light. It fell to the ground, on its knees. Now Loss saw closer, it was different to a Shade. It was like somebody had made an outline for a human and forced the Shade to take the shape. But Loss wasn’t taking any chances, and she ran further away.

She was about 50 meters away when she heard the roar again. She twisted and turned through alleys, determined to lose its trail. She ducked and weaved, made her way between buildings and ruins. They were in the ruined parts of AlleyCity. Things had been better after 17 years, but there was still something here and there. She turned around and stopped. Was she alone?

She passed house after house, looking for any silver. She found a windchime hanging gently in the breeze, and cut it from its place.

A low growl emanated from the dark.

Loss jumped, pointing her knife and silver in that direction.

Red eyes glowed dangerously back at her. It knew silver was dangerous, and it wasn’t going to fall for the same trick. Loss’ heart pounded and she took deep breaths, tired from all that running. The Hunter Shade didn’t seem to share the feeling.

It feinted a pounce and Loss threw the windchime by reflex. It clattered on the floor next to the Shade. 5-meter gap. There was no way that she’d make it. The Shade pounced for real and she screamed as it grabbed her hand and stared her in the eyes. She swore she could see a human look in its eyes as it withered her to a skeleton instantly.

Redatrick: In the Middle of Nowhere

Spoiler

5 minutes before Era 3:

There’s a lot of places that could be called ‘nowhere’ in the Alleyverse. Empty spaces of land no one really cares about or has cared about since the Seven Day War. A person could appear from thin air in one of these nowheres and nobody would really care, partly because that sort of thing is normal in the Alleyverse, and also that nobody would be there to see it.

If a man dies and nobody sees, did he really die?

Redatrick appeared in nowhere. Or at least, one of the nowheres. It was a large, empty plot of farmland. One moment it was resuming its status as a place no one had been in in a long, long, time, and the next moment a man materialized out of thin air and fell about two feet to the ground.

“Oh,” Redatrick groaned. He tried to move but as is custom with people who have crossbow bolts stuck in their thighs, it hurt like hell and almost made him black out. His back housed a couple of bullets like it was running a motel and there was a dagger pointing out of his hand.

He groaned again, but there was no one to hear it. No one to hear the dying man. It was only fitting. Redatrick had killed many more people in far worse ways and had indirectly killed many more by not doing anything while others did.

He was a Worldhunter. And if you thought there was enough secret societies to go around, you were wrong. But Redatrick had a different title now. Ex-Worldhunter. Sometimes people get confused when they’re fired from a job, but when you’re shot at by practically your whole gang, it becomes pretty clear.

Plus, it wasn’t like Redatrick had been fired anyway. He’d quit. Of course, he’d tried to do it in a little more of a subtle way, but it was something.

Unfortunately, ‘something’ was not good enough to prevent him from bleeding out on the grass. His body would probably be eaten by animals, the blood washed away by rain, and no one would care. After all, this was nowhere.

He gritted his teeth as he laid in place, in pain. Crazy pain.

Redatrick removed the knife poking out, and other stabby things in his body. The crossbow bolt was lodged in his arm, though, so he couldn’t do anything about that. He tied his injuries with fabrics, and took a deep breath. Now he would survive a few more hours in nowhere.

He crawled a little forward, and then stopped in agony. He took another crawl, and stopped in pain. He did it again, and again, and again. He would survive. He would make sure of it. The ragtag ex-Worldhunter continued. He had all the clothes of a bandit. Cowboy hat, boots, trousers. All were stained red. Redatrick made a little prayer to the divine Phoenix, wherever it was, and continued on his way.

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by I think I am here.

[Nohadon he/him]

3 hours ago, I think I am here. said:

I'm going to use spoiler tags like a normal person

 

Quote

Oof. Devaan and Astiel story coming through, my computer I had the document on bricked so I have to re-write it. 

 

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Quote

Aaaand another one bites the dust. 

This one is the second-longest, and Archer told me that not putting them in spoiler boxes is fine, so here it is. Also, I’m sorry if it sucks, since apparently the forth one is best.

Tena’s POV:

Tena was lying on the couch, leaning against Ani as he read one of her books. He was so big that her weight didn’t make him uncomfortable, and that was one of the perks of having a seven foot tall boyfriend. She had her eyes closed, and felt surprisingly calm, given that she was four months pregnant with a baby she was still convinced was a dead child kicking.

Another jolt of pain from her abdomen. A dead child kicking was an appropriate metaphor.

Ani looked over at her as she squirmed, probably knowing what that meant. His face was worried, but she’d gotten used to that by this point. “You’re a sweetheart,” Tena noted to him as she opened her eyes. He looked at her, and she noted again how beautiful those infused-amethyst eyes of his were. He was obviously concerned.

“What do you mean?” he asked. The question was so ridiculous that Tena felt like laughing, but she didn’t; that would make Ani feel bad.

“I don’t know if I can explain,” Tena confessed. “You just care for me. You’re here. You make dinner. You’re worried about our baby. You let me nap on your shoulder when I get tired for no reason.”

“You have a very good reason,” he said with a nervous glance at her abdomen.

“I’m only four months in, you can stop worrying about it,” Tena said, giving him an affectionate kiss for a moment. “But you’re right, I guess I am getting tired for a decent reason.” Her first sentence unnerved her, since the first baby had been stillborn, and had kicked her like this one nearly all the way through. That made her worry more. Would the baby wait to die until the last minute? She dispelled those unproductive thoughts by pressing up against Ani’s arm until he moved it, wrapping it around her shoulders. Tena closed her eyes and dozed off. They both turned back to their tasks, Tena enjoying her day off in the best way she knew of, and Ani reading his book while he waited for the chicken they were having for dinner to finish cooking.

The sound of feet thumping on the balcony woke Tena up from her half-nap, and she straightened up. Ani appeared to have dropped off as well, he’d been leaning his head on hers, so he woke up as well. “Who is it?” Tena called, though it was probably Lenare. He’d found out the baby two months ago and had shown up at least once a day to check on her since. She was well used to him showing up while she and Ani were having dinner or spending time together, so she didn’t move.

Rena walked in the door. Tena’s immediate thought was, I shouldn’t’ve installed stairs outside. But she unfortunately couldn’t Steelpush any longer, and anyway, she didn’t know if Steelpushing was safe for the baby. Tena stood up quickly. Well, tried to. She felt way heavier than she usually was, so she ended up pushing herself into a standing position with her hands.

“Hello, Kay,” Rena said as she walked over to the dinner table, looking over the various items scattered about it. A book Tena had finished, two ten-pound dumbbells, a scented candle… “You’ve been enjoying your time?” Rena glanced at Tena, grinned at the roundness of her cousin’s belly, then looked back at the stuff on the table. She picked up one of the dumbbells and hefted it. “But you haven’t let up on your exercise regimen?” she said, seeming to be thinking aloud. She glanced again at Tena’s abdomen, then over at Ani, who had stood up and was moving to put himself in a position to protect Tena, like the dear he was. “Oh.” Rena paused. “Are you pregnant?”

“Yes,” Tena growled, then realized she was pacing towards Rena in a combat stance, made awkward by the weight on her.

“No, Tena,” Ani said quietly to her, placing his hand her shoulder and effectively securing her in place. “You can’t fight her in your condition; you could hurt the baby.” Tena looked over at him, and knew it was true. She backed down next to him. If Rena started a fight, she just had to hope that Ani was good enough to fight her cousin.

Ani went in front of Tena, his eyes blazing like an angry polar bear’s. Rena brought her hands up to either side of her head, then spoke. “No, please, I just wanted to get in a little tussle. Not anymore. I won’t fight her if she’s pregnant.” Tena was surprised. Wasn’t this just the sort of chance Rena wanted?

Ani was obviously confused. “But… she told me that you want to kill everyone she’s close to.”

“I only try to annoy her, hun,” Rena said drolly. Tena growled. Had her cousin just called her boyfriend “hun”? “Anyway, if I wanted to kill any of the people she thinks I want to, most of them would be dead. Including you. But I don’t want to kill you. If I’d wanted Mace dead when I attacked him, then he’d be dead. Anyways, he wasn’t any good for you,” she added, meeting Tena’s eyes. Tena knew that now, but why would Rena care? “I’ll leave now, Anthony, you can stop looking so confused.” As Ani tried to rearrange his face into something resembling calm, Rena walked back out to the porch, and the clangs of her walking down the metal stairs were audible.

“Is she, um,” Anthony asked, and Tena shook her head.

“No, she’s not telling the truth. She’s more bloodthirsty than that.” Tena walked back over to the couch, then to the stand nearby, picking her guitar up off it and sitting down on the couch. She was decent at playing while sitting down. Ani sat at the other end of the couch, probably knowing that she wanted to do something to distract herself.

She played and sang “Give up the Ghost” by Storyhill for Ani, because she thought it was mostly appropriate. The only real difference was that it was about people who had broken up, but she wanted with Ani as long as she could. “I’ve loved before,” she finished quietly as she stared into Ani’s eyes, “love you the most… give up the ghost.” She’d gotten rid of the past-tense in the line, since she was talking present-tense.

Ani caught on to lyrics pretty fast, and was an excellent singer, but he hadn’t interrupted her despite the fact that this was maybe the fifth time she’d performed it for him. That was yet another thing she loved about him, he was patient.

Tena set her guitar down on the coffee table as she finished the song, then scooted over to Ani and kissed him. She was so lucky to have him, she could hardly believe he was hers. After a moment, she settled down, leaning against him. He wrapped his arms around her and she sighed. He was wonderful. She couldn’t stop thinking about that.

“Did you like the song?” she asked him without opening her eyes or looking at him.

“You know that I think you’re amazing,” he said simply, and she smiled. “But I think you hit one or two of the chords late.”

“Okay, I’ll work on that,” Tena said, then sat up again and grabbed her guitar, going to the other side of the couch and doing a repeating chord pattern for a minute. She thought that Ani found it annoying, but he shouldn’t’ve told her if he didn’t want her to practice. Once she got them on time again, she started playing again, the same song. Ani joined in with her on the chorus this time (he could go surprisingly high-pitched when singing), then Tena switched sharply into another song by Storyhill, “Highlight”. It was infinitely more appropriate to their situation, she thought.

“There’s something even greater, weaving us together,” she sang. “Unseen, the tie that binds us... unknown, the path before us… but unclouded the sky above… and unbelievable love.” She kept plucking for a moment, then continued, “Wade in the water, hold on to my hand… the current can be strong here, but no stronger than I am.” She was staring into Ani’s eyes the entire time. By the moons, he had lovely eyes. Did he know that?

It was, of course, that moment that Lenare chose to come inside. A loud thump from the porch resounded, and he walked in. “Hey, Tena, Ani,” he said, obviously aware of their situation. He was grinning.

A weird thing about Lenare was that he almost never acted like a grandfather, always more like Tena’s mature older brother who cared way too much about her wellbeing. “Anyway…” He tossed her a black leather bag as she set down her guitar, and Tena hefted it.

“Easy, it’s a ukulele. Are you going to learn to play?” she asked.

“Yes. Your turn.”

She grinned, already having something prepared. She took the uke out, put it on the coffee table with her other assorted instruments (bass guitar, uke, normal guitar, etc.), then stood up, feeling a little unsteady. Lenare knew her well enough to not try to help her, but Ani almost stood up. Lenare gave him a death glare that Tena appreciated, then she walked over to Silas’s old room and rooted around for a few minutes before finding the desired items. She heard Ani and Lenare talking, and wondered what about.

She walked back out of the room and passed Lenare the bag, then plopped down next to Ani. Lenare sat down on one of seats at the (glorified) dinner table, which Tena only used for putting random stuff she brought home from work on, while Ani preferred to put things for Tena on it. Lenare shifted the bag, noting with a raised eyebrow the size and weight of the objects inside, then said, “A gun.”

Tena nodded. “What kind?”

“Revolver.”

“Correct. Anything else?”

“Two clips of ammunition, and a pen.”

Tena growled, then grinned. “I didn’t think you’d notice the pen.”

His expression was droll. “I’m not that old yet, kid.”

Tena rolled her eyes, then saw Ani’s incredibly confused expression and explained. “This is a game me and my grandfather play. We put something in a bag and give it to the other person, then have them guess what it is.”

“It’s like a board game,” Lenare continued when Tena paused, “except for true intellectuals.”

Ani didn’t have time to express his confusion in words. The stove beeped that the chicken was done, and Ani and Lenare stood up at the same time. Lenare mock-formally bowed to Tena, then picked up his ukulele and walked out of the house. She and he could practically telepathically communicate at this point, so she knew that he wanted to let Ani and Tena share their dinner together. Tena appreciated the gesture of respect, and Lenare probably knew that.

Once Ani was done putting the food on plates, he brought it over to her, handing her plate to her, then sitting down a foot away. They ate for a while in silence, then finished. Ani took her plate and his to the sink, washing them. Tena curled up on the couch, pretending to fall asleep, then restrained a grin as she felt him pick her up after a minute. She waited as he walked upstairs, then, just as he was about to set her down, she rolled over, making him drop her, and agilely twisted to land on her feet.

“You could hurt the baby doing that,” Tena accused softly, her voice monotone.

Ani had been standing, completely shocked, for a second, then he breathed out a sigh of relief. “I’m sorry,” he said, his shoulders sagging, his voice sounding like he thought he’d actually done something wrong.

“No, honey,” Tena said, her attitude switching completely when she saw how ashamed he was. She looked up at him and grabbed his hands, making him meet her eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It was just a prank. I’m sorry. You have no reason to be.” She stared into his eyes for a moment, feeling like an awful person to have put Ani in this mood, then let go of his hands and walked over to her dresser. She took her bra off (she forgot to do that a lot, and it hurt like hell) and put it in one of the drawers, then lay down in bed, pulling the covers up over her shoulders. She waited tensely for a moment, her eyes unfocused, until Ani moved, taking off his shirt and tossing it in the laundry bin. He walked over to their bed, then paused. Tena felt a sudden bolt of fear lance through her brain, not even really knowing why. It was her fault. What if Ani didn’t want to date her anymore? That didn’t make any sense, it had only been one mishap, one scare, but humans rarely made any sense.

Then, finally, Ani made up his mind and lay down beside her. Tena sighed in relief. He still loved her. It seemed ludicrous that he wouldn’t, but her mind liked making up scenarios and playing them out to amuse itself, and terrify Tena. “Tena,” Ani said quietly as he stroked her cheek softly with one hand, rubbing his thumb along her cheekbone, “I forgive you. It’s alright. I was just scared. But please, don’t do that again.” He paused, then continued with a slightly amused tone, “I love you. Even if you are a lot obnoxious sometimes.”

Tena smiled at that memory. Sitting on a rooftop together… early on. That had been before their relationship had become grounded, before it had become serious. It seemed so long ago. She looked into his eyes, still scared. She waited for him to get up and leave… or something like that, but he just stayed there, like he was waiting for her to do something.

Then, as if realizing that Tena wasn’t going to take the initiative, Ani pulled her close and kissed her. Tena closed her eyes and kissed back, suddenly figuring out that what she’d done hadn’t been all that bad. She’d just given Ani a fright on accident. Usually, Tena was the one who started the kiss, but this time Ani had. She loved him. So much. It was practically ridiculous.

Tena didn’t know much about relationships in general, but she did know that most had more fights than her and Ani’s. Why was that? Maybe because me and Ani always end a fight with kissing. That’s probably not good. But she and Ani did get things figured out. They just always apologized at the end. I like that for certain. No grudges, just apologies.

Eventually, Tena bit Ani lightly on the neck, unconsciously, and he said, “I think we’d better sleep. We both have things to do tomorrow.” Tena nodded her agreement, then settled down with her forehead lightly touching Ani’s collarbone. Ani’s strong arms wrapped around her, and she felt three times safer like that. He was warm, and her eyelids were drooping. Then, she fell asleep.

Quote

Now, you may be asking yourself: What the storms is with all the melodrama, Ax? And honestly I don’t know. I’m pretty sure I wrote most of that one is tending to 80s rock, so blame the tainted love, alright?

Anthony’s POV (I repeat, give upvotes to Ark for this one, since he wrote about half of it):

Anthony was engulfed in his book, Ancillary Justice. AI-run spaceships, an intriguing protagonist, suspense, truths unearthed, a god split. It was interesting. He had heard the author lived on Reckoner’s earth. He read and read. He felt Tena squirm, and looked over at her. Was it the baby? Is she okay? How can I make this better?

    She looked at him and told him, “You’re a sweetheart.” She stared into his eyes, and he stared into hers, like calm pools, the kind found only deep in an ancient forest, shaded. The type that had a sense of magic around them. She was so beautiful.

    “What do you mean?” He was confused. Why had she said that? Nothing about him would bring that up. It just didn’t make sense. He could sense joy in her eyes, almost like she wanted to laugh. She didn’t, which he was glad for, but it increased his confusion.

“I don’t know if I can explain.” She sounded strange. What was going on? “You just care for me.” Of course. What else would he do? She was the only thing he lived for. “You’re here. You make dinner.” He grinned at that. He hadn’t been the best cook at first. “You’re worried about our baby. You let me nap on your shoulder when I get tired for no reason.” So… she loved him. That made him glad, though for some reason a deep part of him still doubted it. Doubted anyone loved him.

Then he thought about the last part. She doesn’t have a very good reason? “You have a very good reason.” He glanced, almost nervous, towards where he knew the baby was.

She kissed him, saying, “I’m only four months in, you can stop worrying about it.” Yeah, right. Did she really think he could stop worrying about it? Really? “But you’re right, I guess I am getting tired for a decent reason.” Ah, better. She pressed herself against his arm, and he moved it, carefully wrapping it around her. She fell asleep, and he went back to his book. He had free time until dinner was ready.

Feet thumped up the steps, and Anthony pulled himself out of small slumber he had dropped into, and brought his head off Tena’s head. She had been sleeping as well. “Who is it?” Tena called. He had been about to ask that. Maybe Tena’s grandfather? Lenare? He came over often now, Anthony suspected it was because of the baby. That wasn’t anything new though, and he just stayed there, leaving his arm around Tena. He watched as some strange woman walked in the door. She looked a lot like Tena. He had some vague memory of her, he thought. Not from before, no, just a faded memory, after he had awakened. Who is she? He felt Tena stiffen, and try to stand up.

“Hello, Kay.” The woman said it like a normal person, but Anthony could tell, she was looking around the room, surveying it. Like a warrior. Yes, I must have been one. He looked at what she was looking at. Some dumbbells, a candle, a book. “You’ve been enjoying your time?” As the woman said it, she looked at Tena. He stood up, face cold. The woman picked up one of the weights and lifted it. “But you haven’t let up on your exercise regimen?” Anthony could almost hear her think. He moved himself into a more protective position. He wouldn’t let her hurt Tena. The woman looked at them both, at the bulge where the baby was, at him where he stood, then back at Tena with an inquisitive expression on her face. “Oh. Are you pregnant?” Anthony had to withhold a groan. This woman seemed dangerous. That couldn’t be good.

He heard Tena stand. “Yes.” Her voice was aggressive, and she walked over to the woman with a face like thunder. He could see her prepare to fight, see in his head how this fight might play out. And he could see the gaping hole. The baby.

“No, Tena. You can’t fight her in your condition; you could hurt the baby.” He had kept his voice quiet, firm, and he was ready to step in if she continued. He wouldn’t let anything happen to either of him. Tena backed up, and he exhaled. She had to be safe. He would die to keep her safe, and be glad at the trade.

“No, please,” the Tena-looking woman said. “I just wanted to get in a little tussle. Not anymore. I won’t fight her if she’s pregnant.” Something clicked, and he felt a strange confusion. Knowing who she was just made it worse, more complicated.

“But… she told me that you want to kill everyone she’s close to.” His voice came out puzzled, and he lectured himself on letting on too much emotion to his enemies.

“I only try to annoy her, hun,” the woman said in an obnoxious voice. He heard Tena growl. He felt just about the same. He wanted to kill the woman. “Anyway, if I wanted to kill any of the people she thinks I want to, most of them would be dead. Including you. But I don’t want to kill you. If I’d wanted Mace dead when I attacked him, then he’d be dead. Anyways, he wasn’t any good for you.” Anthony listened, confused. It seemed like he was missing something. He didn’t know what had happened. Tena had made her seem much worse. Why had she cared? “I’ll leave now, Anthony, you can stop looking so confused.” He tried to school his face back to stillness, and the woman left, clanging down the stairs.

“Is she, um,” he said it so awkwardly, and Tena just filled in the blanks.

“No, she’s not telling the truth. She’s more bloodthirsty than that.” He watched as she walked over and grabbed the guitar. He walked over, a violent thump as he landed on the couch. She needed something to get her past the woman.

She played a song to him, a song she had told him was called Give up the Ghost. She sang it while looking into his eyes, and he looked back into hers. That ice-blue she’d gotten from confronting her cousin had melted to reveal a clear sky. Four minutes he listened to her playing (she was excellent) and her voice. He didn’t join in, since he was far too busy just watching her eyes as they slowly changed, the pupils getting larger, slowly. “I’ve loved before, love you the most… give up the ghost.” Love you the most… Those four words held so much for him, encompassed everything important about his life.

She finished, and set her guitar down on the coffee table, then moved over to him and kissed him. He kissed back, loving her in such a damnation indescribable way, then grinned a little to himself as she settled down, closing her eyes and resting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her, gently, since he was paranoid about the baby, and she sighed in a happy way.

“Did you like the song?” she asked him.

“You know that I think you’re amazing,” he said simply, and she smiled in her wonderful way. “But I think you hit one or two of the chords late.” He knew that she would want to know, and she had. Nobody is perfect. Even her, as unbelievable as that is.

“Okay, I’ll work on that,” Tena said, then sat up again and grabbed her guitar, scooting to the other side of the couch and doing one of those odd chord repetitions. He preferred when she actually played, but tried not to show his annoyance on his face, despite the fact that she could probably tell anyway. Once she got all the chords right, she started playing again, the same song. Anthony joined in on the singing part this time, since it was the second time she was performing and the song was a duet, then Tena switched sharply into another song by the same artist, one he thought was called Highlight or something like that.

“There’s something even greater, weaving us together,” she sang in her beautiful voice. “Unseen, the tie that binds us... unknown, the path before us… but unclouded the sky above… and unbelievable love.” She kept plucking for a moment, then continued, “Wade in the water, hold on to my hand… the current can be strong here, but no stronger than I am.” Wow. She… that was a great way of saying it.

And it was, of course, that moment that Lenare chose to walk in. He grinned that insufferable grin of his that he only used when he saw Anthony and Tena in a situation like this. “Hey, Tena, Ani,” he said with a delighted tone, something you’d expect to hear from a younger brother who’d caught his sister kissing her boyfriend. “Anyway…” He tossed Tena a black leather bag as she set down her guitar, and she hefted it.

“Easy, it’s a ukulele. Are you going to learn to play?” she asked, and Anthony became confused. Was there a ukulele in that bag?

“Yes. Your turn,” Lenare said.

Tena grinned, then stood up and walked into her son’s old room. Lenare gave Anthony a measuring look for a minute, then said, “Is Tena alright thus far?”

“Yeah, she’s fine. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the baby, so there’s that.”

“Okay, good.”

Tena walked back out of the room and passed Lenare the bag, then plopped down next to Anthony, leaning on his shoulder, as she often did unconsciously. Lenare sat down on one of seats at the (glorified) dinner table, which Tena only used for putting random stuff she brought home from work on, while Anthony preferred to put things for Tena on it. Lenare shifted the bag, then said, “A gun.”

Tena nodded, and Anthony’s apprehension increased. Why was there a gun in the bag? “What kind?” she asked.

“Revolver,” Lenare said matter-of-factly. How had he figured that out?

“Correct. Anything else?”

“Two clips of ammunition, and a pen.” At this point it was just downright cheating. Had Tena told him what was in there earlier? Was it a memory exercise?

Tena growled her terrifying growl, then grinned her sunny, beautiful grin. Anthony started to wonder whether she had Multiple Personality Disorder. “I didn’t think you’d notice the pen.”

Lenare’s expression was droll. “I’m not that old yet, kid.”

Tena rolled her eyes, then saw Anthony’s likely-obvious confusion and explained. “This is a game me and my grandfather play. We put something in a bag and give it to the other person, then have them guess what it is.” That was strange. Why didn’t they just spar or something? Then, he remembered that Tena was pregnant. Not that she wouldn’t try fighting, like the reckless woman she was, but this was definitely a safe alternative.

“It’s like a board game,” Lenare continued when Tena paused, “except for true intellectuals.” That was probably the least helpful thing he could have said, honestly.

Then the stove beeped, and Anthony and Lenare both stood up. Lenare left, and Anthony got a little annoyed at the old man for not at least saying bye to his own granddaughter. Anthony ignored that, however, and took the chicken out of the stove, then prepared it and served a portion to Tena, sitting down next to her with his own food. They ate for a while in silence, then Anthony took her plate and his when they were both done and washed all the dishes in the sink. When he was done, he noticed that Tena had fallen asleep, then walked over to her and picked her up, breathing out a little hurf at her weight.

He carried her upstairs, since he hated waking her up (and she was usually in a foul mood after a nap), and then dropped her involuntarily as she turned around, surprised. Tena twisted in the air to land on her feet like an eel, then, as he stepped back in shock, she said in cool, calm voice, “You could hurt the baby doing that.”

Oh hell. He could’ve hurt the baby. “I’m sorry,” he said, quietly, sure that his voice was as sad as he felt. It should be.

“No, honey,” Tena said. She looked up at him and grabbed his hands, making him meet her eyes, her beautiful eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong. It was just a prank. I’m sorry. You have no reason to be.” She stared into his eyes for a moment, her own looking like she was concerned about him a lot, then let go of his hands and walked over to her dresser. She took her bra off and put it in one of the drawers, then lay down in bed, pulling the covers up over her shoulders. Anthony waited for a moment before taking off his shirt and tossing it in the laundry bin, then walking over to their bed. He paused for a second, breathing slowly. He didn’t deserve to sleep with her if he was careless enough to drop her, but her eyes were scared, like she was afraid of him not being with her. That was ridiculous; he didn’t have anyone else to be with.

He walked over to the bed, and lay down on his side of it. “Tena,” he said quietly as he stroked her cheek softly with one hand, rubbing his thumb below her eye, which she liked for some reason, “I forgive you. It’s alright. I was just scared. But please, don’t do that again.” He paused, then continued with a slightly amused tone after quickly thinking of something to lighten the mood, “I love you. Even if you are a lot obnoxious sometimes.”

Then, after waiting for a moment for Tena to kiss him or something, he pulled her close and kissed her. Tena closed her eyes as she indulged a little, then moved to nip him on the neck. Anthony started to think she getting a little too involved, so he said, “I think we’d better sleep. We both have things to do tomorrow.” She nodded, and settled down with her forehead touching his collarbone, and quickly fell asleep. It took him longer, it always took him longer, but eventually he did, with Tena warm in his arms.

Quote

You may or may not have noticed by now that Tena has a bit of a... biting thing. Don’t worry about that.

 

[BitBitio he/him]

Quote

Geez, Ax. I know you and Ark wrote those together, but it's still a lot for just you two. Seriously.

*reads Ax's earlier post* *double take*

 13 PAGES?!?!?!?!?

 

[Nohadon he/him]

4 Months in:

Spoiler

Silphio awoke to Astiel standing over him, the young Sheonar was wearing a Jacket cut from the canton leader robes. It still had the insignia emblazoned on the back.
"What is it now Astiel?"
"Gladiator City, A man with absolutely no investiture has been climbing the ladder in the underground fighting arena with skill in weapons alone."
Silphio considered this for a second. "It's not him"
"It might be"
"We buried him mate. Let go"
Astiel shook is head
"I was just about to head off, want to come with?"
"I got to take care some stuff over here"
"Got it"

Astiel had arrived in gladiator city and was watching the man fight. He was tall, with more squared features but there was something familiar about the fighting style.
Well, half the time anyways.
The other half the man was vicious and didn't care about how hurt he got.
But he fought with a certain melody. The confidence in each kick, punch and swing of a weapon showed that he knew what he was doing. A master of combat.
The fight ended with the man knocking out a dust bringer. Storms! How does that happen!
Astiel jumped onto the field. The man nodded to him.
"A challenge?"
"Accepted"

***

That's my kid.
I'm well aware.
Let me fight him.
Go for it.

Astiel began to glow with stormlight, bits of metal swirled around him in a maelstrom of edges. 
Devaan assumed a fighting stance, taking out a large staff.
Astiel sent a wave of metal at Devaan, who blocked the pieces with his staff. Jumping at Astiel and ducking under a punch that would have branded Devaan, He landed a punch to his son's throat, sending Astiel sprawling.
"That was easy" Devaan muttered
Astiel looked at the person who beat him in a fight.
"It is you" A tear rolled down Astiel's cheek
"Father"
Devaan smiled at him softly

"I'm Back"

 

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Quote

I actually wrote 4/5ths of all the stories, since Ark was busy and I was not. 

All of the following thirteen pages are my own.

Tena's POV:

Tena looked up from the floor, which she’d been staring at for at least fifteen minutes, as she heard steps thunking up the metal stairs to the house. She tilted her head, listening, then noted the uneven quality, the stumbling, how some of the sounds were louder than others. Her conclusions were simple. She stood up as the person outside stepped onto the balcony, then crossed her arms as he pushed open the door with his shoulder.

Anthony stared at her for a full five seconds, probably noticing that her eyes were a little red. He looked for things like that.

“Anthony Nightshade,” Tena said, her voice steady and cold, “you are drunk.”

“No, I’m not,” he said, sounding scared, but his voice was slightly slurred. Indeed he was. “It was… two beers. That’s it, I swear.”

“Lying to your girlfriend never pays off,” she stated, her voice unchanging. She wanted to strangle him really bad. This was the third, or maybe fourth (depending on how good he was at hiding it), time he’d come home like this, and she was sick of it!

“Tena, I don’t see what’s the problem,” Anthony said, snappish and obviously irritated. “It’s just a little bit. Every once in a while I go out. The rest of the time I’m completely sober. You’re just overreacting.”

Tena remained silent, glaring at him with a force of a woman whose best friend and true love (melodramatic, but it felt like it was true) had slighted her. She could think of countless reasons why he shouldn’t. One: she couldn’t go with him, even if she wasn’t pregnant. Two: people recognize him as Hellbent, and someone would eventually kill him (the very thought of that almost made her sick). Three: he could get way too drunk and hurt himself, or do something stupid and get in trouble with the authorities. Or… Sisters, no.

“Did you visit a brothel?” Tena asked him with steel in her eyes.

He opened and closed his mouth for a minute, then spoke. “No. Why would I ever do that?” His inflection was far too… far too Ani-ish. It made her want to not be mad at him and instead tell him that she loved him, that everything was alright. But she didn’t, and it wasn’t. She was still vastly too frustrated, and scared, and sad.

“Because maybe I’m not enough.” Now there, that was a secret fear in the back of her head. He told her she was beautiful constantly, and having him around boosted her confidence, but did he just do that just because he wouldn’t have money or a house otherwise? “Maybe you don’t really love me.”

Anthony backed off two paces, putting the rail of the balcony at his back, and further shrouding him in darkness, since the clouds were covering the moons. But his face was terrified, not his she’s caught me expression (which he usually used when she found him trying to strum on her ukulele). He shook his head violently, another expression replacing the fear. That expression looked something like oh moons, what have I done.

“I’m going to go sleep,” Tena said, voice still. “You aren’t going to bother me until you can explain yourself. Is that clear?”

Anthony nodded, once, and Tena sighed, then turned and walked to the stairs, then up them. She lay down on the left side of the bed, leaving plenty of room for Anthony to have to himself, not bothering to undress at all because she was too angry. Sisters, the bed is cold. I’m cold. She scolded herself for those thoughts. She’d slept alone for nearly twenty years, she was fine. She kept telling herself that as she pulled the covers up over her shoulders, then grabbed another blanket from the small stack near her nightstand and threw it over top of the others.

As she tried desperately to fall asleep, she listened to the sound of Anthony washing the dishes. She realized that she’d left them for him to do unconsciously and felt bad about it, despite the fact that he deserved worse than that for what he’d done. She seethed as she heard him walk up the stairs, then she purposefully turned away from his side, closing her eyes and pretending she was asleep. She obviously didn’t fool him.

“Tena, you want to talk about it?” he asked, sounding afraid. Of what? He was the one who could make all the decisions now, he could do whatever he pleased! Now Tena just had to watch. Make do with whatever he did.

“No,” she said, just loud enough for Anthony to hear. She tried to ignore the sound of him taking his shirt off, then the creak the bed made when he lay down. He lightly touched her shoulder, and Tena scooted a little further from him, mumbling, “I do not want to smell alcohol as I try to sleep.” She was so mad. How could he ever…? His hand dropped away, and she exhaled a frustrated breath that he probably noticed.

It took Tena a long time to fall asleep, like it had before she’d had Ani. She ended up staring at the wall for a long time, her thoughts getting progressively less infuriated and more resigned. Third time he’s done that. I need to take a day off, from him. Just once, hopefully. Maybe he’ll get his act together by the time I get back. She liked the idea, and so began to develop it further. Hell, there’s a ship sailing for the other side of the world tomorrow. I could just buy a ticket at the docks and sleep in the lower decks. The more she thought about it, the more determined she was to do it. She was on maternity leave anyway, no one would care. Anthony could get drunk all he wanted and she could be at peace for once. It sounded wonderful, and she was going to do it.

She grinned at the dark wall, then closed her eyes and finally managed to sleep.

***

Tena awoke the next morning to feeling cold. That was downright unusual, and where was Ani?

The past day came back to her, and she groaned, shifting to press her face into the pillow. The vacation still sounded amazing, though.

She sat up, looking over at where Anthony was supposed to be and frowning. He wasn’t there. She took advantage of that, and went over to her dresser and stuffed the three standard-issue Calvin and Hobbes t-shirts her grandfather had gotten her for maternity. She’d wondered, at first, how Lenare had acquired them, and had then decided she actually didn’t want to know. Then she put some jeans and various other stuff in there as well, and stood up, swinging it on and walking downstairs.

Remember that you’re going to go on a vacation. He can bask in the freedom of not having me around, and see how he likes it. She waited nervously for him to show up, just in case he could change her mind or apologize, but he didn’t. Eventually, she gave up and wrote a quick note on a piece of paper that she stuck to the fridge with a magnet.

Ani, I’m going to be gone for a few days. Love you! Tena. She looked at it, then added a heart after her name to get the point across. She didn’t want him thinking that she was gone for good (that seemed like something he would worry about). Then, she walked over to the door and pushed it open, locking it from the outside and hiding the key in its customary place: behind a loose-ish board. She walked down the steps (which took forever), still not seeing Ani, then to a bus station, then rode to the docks.

Thankfully, Tena knew the guy attending the ship (that she hadn’t expected, but he was a TUBA emissary), so she got decent rooms near the top after five minutes of bargaining (heavily discounted because of her service in the Seven Day War).

***

Tena leaned against the rail of the deck, staring out at the green-blue sea. A man, about eight feet tall with huge blue-tinted wings and sheep-like horns curling above his head, was standing nearby, his unnaturally large yellow eyes scanning the sea for threats. She looked over at him. The horns were really what intrigued her about their kind. She’d been told these were called ‘Winged’, which was a fitting name since they looked mostly avian, but they still had those intimidating twin horns coming out from above each eye, which looked like something you find on a big-horned sheep.

He noticed her looking at her and walked over. He had proportional legs compared to the rest of him, unlike some others she’d seen, which had had too short of legs. He crossed his arms, standing five feet away. “Hello.” His voice was a powerful tenor.

“I was wondering about your horns,” Tena said, though she was actually thinking that she had to crane her neck even more to meet his eyes than she had to for Ani. “What do they do?”

“I honestly have no idea why Winged have horns,” he said with a shrug, which was awkward with those huge wings; they were probably heavy. He glared at the feather tips as he flicked them into view.

“You speak like you aren’t one,” Tena pointed out.

“I’m actually human,” he said, “but I got a godling to give me wings. The horns are fun too, even if I had to have my skull reinforced to support them. I get to bash heads with whatever I like and not have my head be crushed! It’s great.” He suddenly sounded a lot younger, like a teenager. “Oh, my name is Wereci, by the way.”

“My name is Tena,” she said, answering his unspoken question while pondering what he’d said. A godling? What's that? “Well, can you show me any of the stuff around here?”

“I would carry you,” Wereci said, “but you’re pregnant. And I know what happens to poorly-treated unborn kids. So I’ll just point stuff out.” How could he be so polite one minute, and so blunt the next? It was sort of annoying, but the way he said it probably meant that he didn’t know that what he was doing was odd.

At that moment, another man, completely normal-looking (a little over six feet tall, blond hair, brown eyes), walked over to Wereci. “Ho Blondie,” the man said, and Wereci ruffled the vastly-shorter man’s hair playfully.

“Hey Dusk,” Wereci said cheerfully, and the man, Dusk, apparently couldn’t keep himself from grinning. Tena gathered that they were friends. She also noted that it was getting colder, and darker. She turned to the sunset, which was far more brilliant here than it was in the Alleycity, and watched it for a while, relaxed, but also tired. For no reason whatsoever.

She went back down to her room, and sat down on the bed for a minute, praying to the Sisters that Ani was alright. She suddenly wanted to be back at home with him. Gods above, she missed him. She lay down, then closed her eyes. Even as close to the engine of the ship as her room was, she felt cold and empty. Ani had become such a huge part of her life, completely by accident. She realized that she’d forgotten to eat dinner and sighed, not surprised.

It took her awhile to fall asleep, most of that spent staring at the ceiling, wishing she hadn’t left the house at all. Wishing she’d had the good sense to explain to Ani what her problems with drinking were. Wishing she had him with her.

***

Tena walked off the gangplank between the ship and the dock. The TUBAeer dock attendant nearby saluted, and she saluted back. She sat down on a bench, then took off her pack and sorted through it for a moment, eventually grabbing what she wanted. She stood up, then tapped the Tia card.

Instantly, she was standing on the balcony of her house. Because of wear and tear on the deck, the card teleported her about two inches above the wood, and her feet landing made an audible thump. Tena winced as she heard a crash from inside the house, then walked forward and opened the door, stepping inside with her best impression she could do of total calm.

Ani was scrambling to his feet inside, his face ragged and exhausted. He looked like he’d been sleeping on the floor. Tena was instantly transferred to complete concern. What has Ani been doing without me? Did he just pass out because of alcohol, afraid of falling down the stairs, and was he just waiting for me to come home? Maybe both? “Ani,” Tena said, wary, “are you okay?”

“No,” he gasped, his voice about three octaves higher than usual. He stared at her, swaying slightly, seeming unable to move. Tena slowly walked forward, then stopped four feet from him.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t have done left. It was stupid of me.” She took another step forward. “I’m sorry that what I did hurt you.” Another foot forward. “I am an absolute idiot when it comes to knowing what to about love. So I’ll be an idiot a lot. Because I love you. A lot.” She reached forward and grabbed his hands, holding them between her and Ani. “I know that that’s not a good apology. I’m awful at making apologies too. This is, unfortunately, the best I can do.” She smiled at him as she looked up into his eyes. Those wonderful violet eyes. He didn’t know how handsome his face was, did he?

Or maybe his face wasn’t handsome. Maybe it just looked like that to her because it was Ani’s face, and she loved him. Almost everything about him.

“Well,” Tena said, “I should explain. Sit.” She pulled him over to the couch and sat down, then organized her thoughts as he settled down next to her, still looking dazed. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Only Lenare and I know what I’m about to tell you. And I didn’t tell him, he just found out. I’m not good at telling people things about myself.” She was staring up at the ceiling. Inhaling again, she looked over at Ani. “I’m sorry, honey. I just get like this sometimes. Not your fault.” She scooted a little closer to him, so she could lean against him.

“Okay, here it is,” she said, finally convincing herself she could do it. “So I was sixteen. You know what happened when I was sixteen. I wasn’t in any way rational or in control of myself.” A faint grin spread on her face, but she didn’t quite know why. “I started drinking. A lot. A ridiculous amount. After a while, I could make myself look sober when I was drunk. It was practically my art form. It was one of the reasons I got a death penalty. When my grandfather bailed me out, he knew about it and kept me off alcohol for a while. Five years. But all that time I could still remember vividly what it was like. Peaceful.” She shook her shoulders out a little. “So I escaped. And got back in the habit. And went to the Alleyplanet. When I adopted Silas, I slowed a little. I knew I had to take care of him. But I was still drinking too much. I continued drinking until I saw Lenare again. He didn’t see me, but when I saw him I thought of how clear-headed I had been before. How much more crisp everything had been.

“I went home. I took a bottle of whiskey out. I set it here,” she tapped an area on the coffee table where a scratched-in circle was usually hidden by one of her instruments, “and I looked at it. I scratched this around it with a knife,” she traced the circle with her finger, staring at it, “and I knew that I had to stop. So I got rid of all the alcohol I had.” She brushed her hand over the wood, then leaned back against the couch, setting both of her hands on her knees and looking over at Ani. “So I used to be an alcoholic. I made a lot of bad decisions because of my own poor judgement, and that.

“But that’s not all. I’m scared for you, too. A lot of people disliked the person you were before, and I don’t want you to get hurt by them, even though they wouldn’t know that you’re different now. People do stupid things when they’re drunk. I know about it from personal experience. I don’t want you to get in a fight, or get killed, or mugged, or whatever. You wouldn’t have me there to keep you safe because you always sneak off when I’m working. I just want you to be okay.” She said that last sentence quietly, turning her eyes back to the scar on the coffee table. “That’s all I want, honest to the moons.”

She snapped out of the odd mood she’d been in, then looked over at Ani and smiled weakly. “There, I explained myself. Do you have anything to say?”

“I-- I don’t-- know,” Ani stuttered. He still seemed a little wild around the eyes, like an animal on edge.

“Better question: have you slept since I left?”

“Nnnno,” he muttered, looking her up and down nervously, like he was trying to figure out if she was injured. She wasn’t, but he was paranoid and sleep-deprived, so he probably didn’t care.

“Oh, honey,” Tena said, wrapping her arms around him as best she could and resting her head on his shoulder for a moment. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, trying to keep her voice from sounding as distraught than she felt. She stood up, and hauled Ani onto his feet, then pushed him to the stairs. He stared at her blankly, so she said, “You have to sleep. So go to bed.”

“Can you, um…?” he said with that same mumbling quality to his voice, and Tena nodded.

“Yes, I’m tired too,” Tena said, and he began walking up the stairs, almost robotically. She followed him, then watched for a moment as he took off his shirt and left it on the floor. She picked it up and tossed it into the laundry basket. Ani dropped down on their bed, and Tena curled up next to him, feeling small, but somehow more solid. Everything felt more real like this. She shifted so her back was against his chest, then, like a computer with a command to complete, Ani gently put his arms around her. She sighed, happy, and wriggled a little closer to him.

As she listened to him falling asleep (apparently they needed each other to do that easily), she could smell his breath, and it didn’t smell at all like beer. Had he not gone out while she was away? It seemed like the first thing he would do, but… maybe he’d felt really bad about that he’d done. Scratch that, of course he did. He was her Ani.

She felt more at peace with that. More confident of Ani’s… character? Was that the right word? Probably. She was getting kind of fuzzy. Correction: her head felt like it was getting kind of fuzzy, and warm. Sleepy, that was the right word.

And then she fell asleep.

***

Tena woke up feeling right for the first time in three days. She snuggled closer to Ani and opened her eyes. The window revealed the time to be about seven thirty. Had she really been asleep for thirteen hours? It was, at once, easy and difficult to believe. She usually never slept longer than eight hours, but at the same time, she was with Ani, so…

“Hun, you awake?” Tena quietly asked Ani.

“Hmm,” Ani mumbled, hugging Tena a little closer and then loosening his embrace. Tena squirmed until she could sit up, then did so, folding her legs under her. “I think I overslept,” he continued as he looked up at her.

“Maybe not,” Tena said with raised eyebrows, “given that you hadn’t slept at all for three days prior.” She paused as he got off the bed and stood up, making her crane her neck way up to see his face. He winced as he saw that, then sat back down on the bed. “I think I’m going to make breakfast,” she said speculatively, “since you usually have to do it.” She shuffled off the bed, then stood, noting that she had again forgotten to take her bra off.

“Okay,” Ani said as he got back to his feet. “That’s fine with me.” He stretched with a groan, then said, “I feel like I have a hangover.”

“And you’d know what that feels like,” Tena said with a grin, stretching her arms above her head and rolling her shoulders, then did a few of her usual exercises. Ani watched this silently, as he had long since learned that he was nowhere near as flexible as she.

Tena walked down the stairs, skipping slightly, and went into the kitchen. Ani followed her and got out the bacon from the fridge, which Tena took.

A half-hour later, they were eating on the couch. Tena finished her bacon and leaned against Ani’s arm, closing her eyes and slowing her breathing a little. She waited until Ani was finished, then pushed herself to the opposite end of the couch and crossed her legs in front of her.

“Okay, I think it’s time that we talk about what happened,” Tena said, calming her face down and keeping herself composed.

“I thought we did that yesterday,” Ani said, his face confused.

“No, I talked at you and you occasionally grunted. We have to discuss what happened so we can prevent it in the future.”

“You sound really mature, and it’s freaking me out,” Ani said, alarmed.

“Just take me seriously, okay? Anyway, tell me what you think is reasonable.”

“I swear I’ll never drink again,” Ani said emphatically, his eyes just… so Ani. So honest and lovely. All the greatest things.

“No, that’s not necessary,” she said. “I’m just sensitive about it. That doesn’t mean you can’t, I just want to know first. So we can plan around it, and so that I don’t have to be as worried about you. I’d also like to come with you, even though I can’t drink anything.” Ani opened his mouth as if to say, You could if you were in control of yourself like you are now, and she cut him off. “No, I mean that I’m pregnant, so I can’t drink. I might try again after the baby is… born.” She winced as she said the word. It sounded like stillborn in her ears. Ani seemed to see what she was thinking and moved closer to her, reaching out and rubbing his thumb along her jaw. She loved how that felt, and it made her feel calmer. She closed her eyes and hummed a little.

“Okay, have we resolved this issue?” Ani asked, and Tena grinned at him, opening her eyes. For being a trained psychopathic warrior, he really did hate fighting. At least with her.

“Yeah, I guess,” she said, then sidled up next to him and turned herself around so her back was facing him. She pressed the back of her head into his shoulder for a moment, and he moved his arm so his hand was resting gently on her abdomen, on where the baby was. She settled her head back and closed her eyes, suddenly feeling like she could sleep again, despite the fact that she’d just woken up.

“I love you,” she said quietly to Ani, “I love you.”

“I know,” he said in a frank voice, and Tena turned around to see a grin on his face. She made an offended expression at him, then leaned forward and kissed him.

Y’know, she thought, killing folks and gaining glory and everything is great, but this is so much better. This is all I need.

Quote

Ax Why You Do Dis: Episode 4: Attack of the Cheesy Love Story is now in your local theater, everyone!

And Anthony's perspective is even longer MUAHAHA!

Anthony's POV:

Anthony was drunk as hell.

But he still managed to climb the stairs up to his and Tena’s house.

He didn’t want to think about how mad Tena would be, so he didn’t. He kept climbing those seemingly-endless stairs, his boots thunking on the metal, trying to keep from falling over. Tena would be pissed if she had to pay for a doctor repairing his broken skull.

As he finally got up the last step, he tried to correct his gait. He was walking wrong. He looked down at his feet, which were barely visible through the darkness. It was dark. Like, really dark. How long had he been out? He couldn’t remember.

When he opened the door, Tena was standing in the middle of the room, her eyes blazing like an enraged stallion’s, with a little red at the corners. Was she crying? Why? Though nobody else probably could have known that she was mad. Her posture was relaxed, calm, and her face impassive. And no one else probably could have known that her eyes were angry. You had to look to find the hints of it, though it was pretty easy for Anthony.

Even mad as she was, she was still beautiful. Ice-blue eyes, her face, the way she carried herself… like she was in charge and she knew it. She was unconscious of the way she was leaning on one of her legs, making her hips more prominent. The way she’d tilted her head to express how displeased she was, the line of her jaw becoming more distinct.

All of this occurred to him in a moment, and then she spoke in a voice of steel. “Anthony Nightshade, you are drunk.” He was, but… hell, he hated disappointing her.

“It was,” he thought for a moment about what she’d think would be acceptable, “two beers. That’s it, I swear.” Did lying to her feel worse? Yes, yes it did.

“Lying to your girlfriend never pays off,” Tena stated in that same tone. She was terrifying when she was like this, and Ani wanted badly to run away, sprinting at full speed. But he didn’t. He resisted the urge. He had to face her. It was the only thing that would work with her, and he knew it.

But he couldn’t keep control of himself that well. Instead of calmly owning up, he said, “Tena, I don’t see what’s the problem! It’s just a little bit. Every once in a while I go out. The rest of the time I’m completely sober. You’re just overreacting.” He tried to keep his voice calm, but it wouldn’t obey, and he really didn’t know what her deal was. This was the first time in a half-month, what bothered her so much about it?

She just glared at him, but he didn’t know why. Did she have problems with alcohol he didn’t know about? What could they be?

Her face, he found himself staring at her face. Her eyes were bright, keen, and icy. Her mouth didn’t have makeup on it, since Tena didn’t have time for such luxuries (or so she said), but it still looked… enticing. He almost took a step to her, wanting to kiss her, but she cut him off with one sentence.

“Did you visit a brothel?”

It suddenly felt like he’d dunked his head in a bucket of ice-water, to hear her voice like that. Anthony was shocked, but he didn’t really understand what she meant. Why would she ever assume that he’d do that, didn’t she trust him? The very idea disgusted him. He tried to speak, but couldn’t for a minute, then he figured out what to say. “No. Why would I ever do that?” He was scared; what if she decided he was lying and killed him? Was that something she would do, or was he just drunk? Probably the first.

“Because maybe I’m not enough.” What did that mean? “Maybe you don’t really love me.” He took two steps back, and felt the wood of the rail on his back. He felt about ready to hurl himself off, maybe then Tena would finally be at peace, without him to worry her incessantly. The only thing that kept him from doing it was the thought that Tena would think he was confirming what she’d said.

He couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t think. What she’d said was terrifying. She was everything, how could she possibly think that he didn’t love her? It was impossible.

Before the could say anything (not that he could think of anything to say to that), Tena said, “I’m going to go sleep. You aren’t going to bother me until you can explain yourself. Is that clear?” Anthony nodded, she turned and walked away, up the stairs to their bedroom. Anthony just stood there, his mind feeling like Tena had just dropped him in the middle of the sea.

Eventually, he managed to move, walking into the house and looking around. There was a noticeable indent on the left side of the couch. Had Tena been waiting there for him? He suddenly felt awful about going out. Why had he even done that? He loved Tena, why would he do that to her?

The option of falling off the balcony seemed much more rational now. He looked over at the open door, at the darkness outside, then walked over to the portal, staring out at the night. He almost took a step there, then there would be no turning back, but he stopped himself. I can’t keep Tena safe if I’m dead. I can’t help Tena raise our baby if I’m dead. He closed the door.

Anthony looked around the living room and kitchen, with the ‘dining’ table in the corner, then saw that the dishes weren’t done in the sink. He walked over there and rolled up his sleeves, then spent the next five minutes trying to work out a whole knot of confusing emotions over scrubbing plates.

It didn’t work very well, but he got the dishes done and set them up to dry. He nervously went over to the stairs, then up them. He stood just outside the bedroom, watching as Tena rolled away from where he slept and pretended to be asleep. It stung. He hoped, desperately, that she still loved him. Hell, he felt like he was going to cry, but he didn’t know why.

But Tena was more important. If she was angry, he had to try to help her get happy again. He didn’t know at all how he could manage that, so he just said, “Tena, you want to talk about it?”

“No,” she growled. Anthony winced, then took off his shirt and set it on his dresser, since he’d only been wearing it a day. He walked over, and thumped down on the bed, touching Tena’s shoulder lightly with one of his hands. It seemed really strange that he wouldn’t have his arms around her as he fell asleep. In fact, he couldn’t remember a time that he had slept without her. There had been one time when she’d been gone for two days, on a trip to Scadrial, and he hadn’t slept at all, just stared at the ceiling and worried about her.

Tena moved farther from him, saying, “I do not want to smell alcohol as I try to sleep.” Anthony brought his hand back, his heart hurting. At least this time she’s here. He’d probably be able to sleep.

The darkness was pressing down on him. He looked over at Tena’s back, which somehow managed to give off an aura of frustration. She wasn’t asleep. He worried, for a moment, that she was like him and could only sleep if the other was with them, but then decided that he was an idiot. She’d slept for years without him, of course she’d be fine.

It took him a while of looking over at Tena, but eventually he managed to fall asleep.

***

Anthony woke, feeling wrong. He pushed himself into a sitting position. He was cold. Where was Tena?

He looked around, and saw her on the other half of the bed, facing away from him, her side rising and falling as she breathed. She still looked elegant and beautiful, even when she was asleep. He almost reached out to caress her hair, but remembered what had happened yesterday.

He stood up, then walked over to his shirt and tugged it on, watching her. He had to do something to make her feel better. That was all that mattered. She had to feel better.

He walked down the stairs, as quietly as he could, then paced around the kitchen. What could he do…? He looked over at the fridge, then decided that he’d make her breakfast. Something special.

After checking the fridge and noting its contents, he picked up one of those reusable bags Tena was obsessed with and walked outside, turning his face up to enjoy the sunshine and cold wind, then began climbing down the stairs.

An hour later, he was back home with all the stuff he’d need to make Tena a nice breakfast. He opened the door and walked inside, then closed the door and went over to the fridge after setting the bag down. There was a note in Tena’s handwriting on the door of the fridge. Ani, I’m going to be gone for a few days. Love you! Tena. And a little heart after her name.

Gone for a few days? Where? Is she going to be safe? Why wouldn't she talk about it first? Was she… he looked down at his hands, then around at the house. Where Tena usually sat on the couch to eat, where she would pace back and forth on the floor when she was thinking about something, where she’d stand to play songs on her guitar. Everything was empty without her to take up space, make noise, look gorgeous…

So he couldn’t help wondering whether or not she would actually come home. Or if she’d come home and kick him out. But he wouldn’t be able to take that. That realization was strange. He’d always been so sure of his ability to be stronger than everybody else, to be able to take a beating, to be able to fight. And he could, he was sure of it, but he couldn’t with Tena, couldn’t fight her, resist her will. And if she left him? He would curl up and die. A dark part of his mind spoke. Are you sure you won’t do something worse? He pushed it down, ignoring it.

He was getting distracted. Tena was gone, and he didn’t know where she was. He walked over to the couch, around the coffee table. He sat down, staring at Tena’s ukulele. She hated when he turned one of the pegs out of tune, and sometimes he did it just to annoy her. He picked up the instrument and strummed it lightly on a C chord. He wasn’t very good at playing, and he attributed that mostly to the fact that his fingers were huge.

He set it down on the table where it had been before, over a strange circle scratched in the wood. He’d asked Tena about the scar, and she’d just said that it had been a mistake, but refused to say what about.

Rusts, Tena, he thought at her, wherever she was, come home.

***

Anthony spent the following day in a state of what was almost delirium, never ceasing to worry about Tena; where she was, whether she was safe, if the baby had anything wrong with it…

He was laying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling, when he heard the door open.

He scrambled to his feet, watching the door intently. Lenare walked in. Anthony collapsed back onto the couch, and put his hands to his face for a moment.

“Where’s Tena?” Lenare asked as he looked around the house, probably noting that it was cleaner than usual. Ani had unconsciously tidied up some of the stuff Tena left laying about. Her guitar was on its stand, her books were in their proper places on the shelves, various stacks of paper were organized into their places in the filing cabinet, no dishes were about the counters or coffee table, her construction tools were hung up on the wall in her son’s old room.

Anthony answered Lenare’s question. “I don’t know. She disappeared yesterday.” His voice was flat, emotionless. Empty. It mirrored his thoughts perfectly.

“What?” Lenare said in a commanding tone.

“She left because I came back home drunk,” Anthony explained, his voice unchanging.

Lenare let out a frustrated breath. “Great. Gorramn great. Now I don’t know where she is, and she’s pregnant!” He glared at Anthony. “Don’t ever do that again to her.”

“I don’t think I’ll have a chance,” Anthony said frankly. “She might not come back, or she’ll just kick me out right away.” He stared at the ceiling, then at Lenare when the man snapped his fingers, sharply.

“You’re being an idiot,” Lenare said. “Of course she’ll come back. She loves you. Geez. Can’t either of you just see that? Kids. I swear.” Hearing that was strange, coming from someone who looked as young as Lenare. But, though he looked young, he really didn’t act it.

“How do you know she loves me?”

Lenare made a face that clearly said You are hopeless. He waved his hands in a gesture of I can’t even, then turned and walked out of the house, obviously out of it. Anthony wondered what had gotten on the old man’s nerves, then decided that whatever it was was probably beyond his imagination.

***

Anthony was sitting on the floor, staring at the door from a distance of about four feet, his mind a numb, blurry mess, when he heard thunking from the stairs. If it had been Lenare, there would have been one louder thump from a landing after a Steelpush onto the balcony. So it was either the mailman, Tena’s crazy cousin, or Tena herself.

Any of those options would require me to be standing, he thought, so he stood up unsteadily as the door opened.

And there she was.

With her black hair, bright diamond eyes, beautiful face. Tena.

He felt like he was going to pass out. Then she spoke. “Ani, are you okay?” Never had her voice sounded so wonderful, so precious. He wanted to hear it, to never stop hearing it.

“No,” was his answer. He didn’t really think, though, it was more like a program in his head. He couldn’t really think.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she walked towards him. “I shouldn’t have left. It was stupid of me.” She took another step forward. “I’m sorry that what I did hurt you.” She got closer. “I am an absolute idiot when it comes to knowing what to about love. So I’ll be an idiot a lot. Because I love you. A lot.” She reached forward and grabbed his hands, holding them between her and Anthony. “I know that that’s not a good apology. I’m awful at making apologies too. This is, unfortunately, the best I can do.” He heard the words, but didn’t understand them, just filed them away. And then she smiled at him as she looked up into his eyes, and her smile was like an island of hope in a sea of despair. Her eyes were lovely.

Then she continued. “Well,” Tena said, “I should explain. Sit.” She pulled him over to the couch and sat down, Anthony allowing her to do whatever. He didn’t care. His head felt way too heavy. “Okay.” She took a deep breath, and he knew that this was hard for her, so he didn’t speak. “Only Lenare and I know what I’m about to tell you. And I didn’t tell him, he just found out. I’m not good at telling people things about myself.” She was staring up at the ceiling. She breathed again, then looked over at him with a rueful look in her eyes. “I’m sorry, honey. I just get like this sometimes. Not your fault.” She scooted a little closer to him, and he loved how warm she was.

“Okay, here it is,” she finally said, slicing through the suspense. “So I was sixteen. You know what happened when I was sixteen.” Despite his exhausted brain’s confusion, he felt a wave of anger at that. He still couldn’t believe that someone could’ve ever done that to her. “I wasn’t in any way rational or in control of myself. I started drinking. A lot. A ridiculous amount. After a while, I could make myself look sober when I was drunk. It was practically my art form. It was one of the reasons I got a death penalty. When my grandfather bailed me out, he knew about it and kept me off alcohol for a while. Five years. But all that time I could still remember vividly what it was like. Peaceful.” She shook her shoulders out a little. “So I escaped. And got back in the habit. And went to the Alleyplanet. When I adopted Silas, I slowed a little. I knew I had to take care of him. But I was still drinking too much. I continued drinking until I saw Lenare again. He didn’t see me, but when I saw him I thought of how clear-headed I had been before. How much more crisp everything had been.

“I went home. I took a bottle of whiskey out. I set it here,” she tapped the area on the coffee table where a scratched-in circle was usually hidden by one of her instruments, the one that Anthony had always wondered about, “and I looked at it. I scratched this around it with a knife,” she traced the circle with her finger, staring at it, “and I knew that I had to stop. So I got rid of all the alcohol I had.” She brushed her hand over the wood, then leaned back against the couch, setting both of her hands on her knees and looking over at Anthony with sorrow in her eyes. “So I used to be an alcoholic. I made a lot of bad decisions because of my own poor judgement, and that.

“But that’s not all. I’m scared for you, too. A lot of people disliked the person you were before, and I don’t want you to get hurt by them, even though they wouldn’t know that you’re different now. People do stupid things when they’re drunk. I know about it from personal experience. I don’t want you to get in a fight, or get killed, or mugged, or whatever. You wouldn’t have me there to keep you safe because you always sneak off when I’m working. I just want you to be okay.” She said that last sentence quietly, turning her eyes back to the scar on the coffee table, and Anthony wondered why she cared so much about him. “That’s all I want, honest to the moons.” And, really, who had he been? Were the criminals the ones who disliked him, or was it… something else?

She suddenly seemed to go back into reality. “There, I explained myself. Do you have anything to say?”

Anthony honestly had no idea what to say, since he’d mostly been watching her and filing away her words for later examination. So he said that. “I-- I don’t-- know.” Hell, he was exhausted. It might’ve come out in his voice, though he didn’t want her to worry about it.

“Better question: have you slept since I left?” Yup, she had seen it.

His mind was getting foggier. “Nnnno,” he mumbled, watching Tena’s face. She had such a lovely face.

“Oh, honey,” she said, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder for a moment. Anthony felt a surge of warmth, his mind a little less gotta wait for Tena can’t sleep and more Tena’s back I can sleep. “I’m sorry,” she repeated, and he heard frustration, or maybe worry, in her voice. She stood up, and hauled him onto his feet (he could never quite believe how strong she was, even when pregnant), then pushed him to the stairs. He stared at her blankly, not having any idea what she wanted him to do, then she said, “You have to sleep. So go to bed.”

“Can you, um…?” he asked, not wanting to have waited all this time to have her back but not being able to sleep at the end. He needed her to sleep, for some reason. His mind was feeling weird.

“Yes, I’m tired too,” she said, and Anthony walked up the stairs with a quiet sigh. Now he’d be able to sleep. As he got into their room, he shrugged out of his shirt and dropped it, then plunked down onto their bed. He heard Tena doing something, then she crawled up next to him and lay down with her back pressing against his chest. It was one of her preferred ways to sleep with him while still not endangering the baby (he wasn’t the only one who was paranoid about that) or discomforting herself.

He vaguely remembered what that meant she wanted him to do, so he wrapped his arms softly around her, and she sighed, squirming closer to him. She was so warm, so real, so there.

He started falling asleep, listening to Tena’s breathing as it got slower and more even. Given that she could always control her breathing, she must have been really stressed earlier. Once she was asleep, he positioned himself so that anyone tried to break into the room and attack, they would hit him first, giving Tena time to escape or at least wake up. He had to keep her safe.

Then, reassured that she would be okay, he kissed her lightly on the head and relaxed. After a moment, certain that she was sleeping, he said to her, quietly, “I love you.”

As his eyelids drooped and his mind became cloudier, Anthony noted that her hair smelled nice, a little like lavender, even though he’d only smelled lavender once, at Synod Village’s fields. He fell asleep thinking about that.

***

Anthony woke up as he heard Tena’s voice. “Hun, you awake?”

“Hmm,” he said, not quite awake yet, hugging Tena a little closer for a moment, then releasing her. She sat up, and he said, as his mind de-fogged to an extent, “I think I overslept.”

“Maybe not,” Tena said with raised eyebrows, “given that you hadn’t slept at all for three days prior.” That was true, but wouldn’t Tena be feeling a little out of it? He suddenly felt like it was his fault, but… she probably hadn’t slept much either, and he doubted that he would’ve been able to sleep so long if she wasn’t there. Maybe they’d kept each other sleeping?

He stood up, still looking at her, then sat back down when he saw how uncomfortable it must’ve been for her to look up all that distance. “I think I’m going to make breakfast,” she said speculatively as she got off the bed and stood up, “since you usually have to do it.” That was strange. Usually she forced him to make her food, and he deserved to do it. But she wanted to, and getting in her way was pointless.

“Okay,” Ani said as he got back to his feet. “That’s fine with me.” He stretched with a groan, then said, “I feel like I have a hangover.” He really did feel it; his head felt like lead now that he’d stood up.

“And you’d know what that feels like,” Tena said with a grin, stretching her arms above her head and rolling her shoulders, then doing a few of her usual stretches; crossing her arms behind her head and other such. Anthony watched this silently, as he had long since learned that he was nowhere near as flexible as she. How does she do those, even when she’s pregnant?

After a moment, she trotted down the stairs, looking light as air, and Anthony followed. He was nowhere near as graceful, but he didn’t fall on his face either. He followed her into the kitchen and opened the door of the fridge, handing her a packet of bacon.

Despite all the time she hadn’t spent cooking, she still managed well, and thirty minutes later they were sitting on the couch, eating. Tena finished first, as she always did, and waited for him to finish. He set his plate down after a moment, still chewing the bacon, and she scooted away from him, going to the other side of the couch with a serious look on her face.

“Okay, I think it’s time that we talk about what happened,” Tena said with a calm expression, her shoulders back, holding herself proudly.

“I thought we did that yesterday,” Anthony said, confused. He had gotten all of the information she’d given him, hadn’t he?

“No, I talked at you and you occasionally grunted.” That was true. Going over what she’d said in his head revealed that she’d said a lot of surprising stuff. That part about him. He wanted to hold her, and tell her that she didn’t need to worry… but did she? (And there had been the part where she’d said that he had been disliked before, what about that?) “We have to discuss what happened so we can prevent it in the future.”

“You sound really mature, and it’s freaking me out,” he said, faking being alarmed, trying to put her at ease.

“Just take me seriously, okay?” So this was important to her. Good to know. “Anyway, tell me what you think is reasonable.”

“I swear I’ll never drink again,” Anthony said, honestly. If it hurt her this much, there was no way he would ever do it.

“No, that’s not necessary,” she said, and he was surprised once more. Why hadn’t she just agreed? “I’m just sensitive about it. That doesn’t mean you can’t, I just want to know first. So we can plan around it, and so that I don’t have to be as worried about you. I’d also like to come with you, even though I can’t drink anything.” Anthony opened his mouth to say that he just wouldn’t drink anymore, that she didn’t need to worry about that, but she cut him off. “No, I mean that I’m pregnant, so I can’t drink. I might try again after the baby is… born.” She winced, and Anthony focused on her face. She was worrying about the baby being born properly, obviously. He reached out and rubbed his thumb along her jaw, which he knew she liked. It would help her relax, and she really needed to. She closed her eyes and hummed a little.

“Okay, have we resolved this issue?” Anthony asked, and Tena grinned at him, opening her sky-blue eyes and looking into his. He didn’t want to stretch the issue beyond what was strictly necessary.

“Yeah, I guess,” she said with her Ani is being Ani expression, which meant that she thought he was acting cute. She scooted over to him and turned around, pressing her head into his shoulder for a moment. He wrapped one of his arms around her, and she leaned against him.

“I love you,” she quietly said, and Anthony’s heart lifted. He loved her too, so much… “I love you,” she repeated, and he smiled.

“I know,” he said, and she turned around in time to see his grin. She made a mock-offended face at him, then kissed him.

This is all I’ll ever need, he thought. Her love. Having her with me.

Quote

Worry not, fellow Sharders, the last one is WAY shorter than this one. 

Also, Ark edited Ani's POV to an extent, so go drown him in praise or something.

 

[Silva]

Quote

This little bit is from the PoV of Golda Wered. Basically just to start on why the Acutes call some of the Wereds the Obtuses.

Spoiler

Golda drew her stick of charcoal across the paper as Pry had taught her. She wound up with a curved line - but not the curve she’d wanted. It was a curve the same shape of Lineage’s profile.

Not again. She thought. Lately she’d caught herself accidentally sketching her Acute cousins more and more without reason. There was something she just couldn’t let go. She glared into the mirror she’d set up for a self-portrait. Sure she had their coloring, but she’d never been able to replicate that look they gave people they didn’t like. She’d never been on the receiving end thankfully.

She crumpled up the paper and tossed it out the window. Literally.

“Golda!” Honeed called up. “We’re playing ball, can you stop throwing stuff?”

By ‘we’ she meant the triplets. “An enemy wouldn’t care about that,” she yelled back down. “I’m just giving you practice.”

“Not appreciated though!” Semb said loudly from below.

“Fine,” Golda muttered, also Soothing those three a little. One last way to nudge them. They hated when she calmed them - called it unnatural. She thought them the more unnatural ones. The triplets weren’t identical, but they always seemed to mirror one anothers postures. It was impossible not to notice how freakily they read each other. Semb, Terra, and Honeed. Or the “wonder triplets” as Brethren and Dawn liked to tell her they called them behind their backs. Golda agreed with them. The three acted like they were Harmony’s greatest gift to Scadrial. They really weren’t, but nothing would really convince them otherwise. She was grateful, however, that they did still treat her with some reverence - being two years older than them.

Poor Precious. She thought. From Tanel on, every Wered had a matching Acute in age. Precious was unlucky enough to wind up with the triplets. Yeah Fild always felt a little left out of the Acute twins’ friendship, but Semb, Terra, and Honeed were a whole other level. Super cliquey to each other. It was good Precious and Freedom were both close with Bened.

Bened, the Pull to her Push, was sometimes the forgotten child. Not that any of them were ever really forgotten. He was just the epitome of a middle child. People looked over him. The triplets got attention because they were the triplets. Fauna got attention because she made a big deal of her useless allomantic ability, aluminum. But Bened didn’t stand out. He had his zinc. He had some ability. Not a lot. Not too little. Just enough for people to look over him. With the exception of their skill battles. Soothing versus Rioting. Those always were fun. Golda normally won over more people to calmness by bringing more brass than he did zinc.

She pulled out a new paper and began to try again to draw herself.

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by Silva

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Quote

Okay, so the following story is one of the shortest. It was also the first one me and Ark wrote, so please excuse us for some errors.

Tena's POV:

Tena skated across the rink, speeding past Ani and spinning around. She grinned at him as she skated backwards, and he gave her a worried look. He was probably thinking that she could hurt the baby if she fell down, but Tena was too excited to be cautious, and she did have excellent balance.

She turned back around to skate forward, looking around the rink. Nobody else was on the ice, and the clock in the corner told her that the open skate time was almost over. The two hours she’d been here with Ani had seemed to pass by too fast. This was maybe the third time she’d brought him to the rink, and he still couldn’t skate better than an ox dragging an overturned cart, but, it had been fun, and wonderful. Times with Ani were always those two things, and Tena still couldn’t forget that she’d been nearly alone before Ani had walked into her life and saved it. Saved her; given her love and given her someone to love.

She slammed her skates sharply to the side as she reached the wall, sending a sheet of snow three feet into the air. She peered at the residue on the wall closely. She could’ve probably gotten it four or five feet up, but she hadn’t been going fast enough. She was about to start again to try for a higher spray when she saw Ani clumsily skating towards her. She grinned at how silly he looked: a full-grown, seven foot tall man tripping over his own feet on an ice skating rink. He looked up at her from his feet (she could’ve sworn she’d told him a thousand times to look in front of him, not at his feet), and she smiled at his expression, that of I love you. He had the best face to give her those looks, did he know that?

He fiddled with something in his pocket, then managed to get it out without falling down. It was a little black box, and whatever details it had on it were inscrutable from her distance. He kept on skating to her, keeping from falling down for a few seconds before stumbling forward onto his knees. He didn’t hit as hard as usual, instead sliding to Tena. He opened that little box and faced it towards Tena.

She gasped.

Inside, a silver bracelet with turquoise gemstones embedded in it sat.

She’d joked about getting married to Ani, and told him that if he wanted to propose, he’d have to get her something with silver and turquoise, but not a ring. Apparently he’d taken that to heart.

Is this what I think-- no, hope-- it is?

“Tena,” Ani said, his face steady, somehow calm, his voice firm and not stuttering. “Tena, I love you. Will you marry me?”

An utter silence descended upon the rink. The guy who’d been walking to get the Zamboni out saw Tena and Ani, his eyes widening, then beat a quick retreat to the skate rental in the locker room. Tena had unconsciously brought her hands to her mouth, her eyes surprised and somewhat disgruntled. I-- I-- this is happening now? He’s really… no way. All the ways?

Review your information and make a decision, her grandfather’s voice seemed to echo in her head. Well, she thought. Well, he’s a sweetheart and I love him. He takes care of me. He can be quiet when I need him to be, and he’ll do things for me even if he thinks they’re ridiculous. And I’ve known him a year, and he’s loved me the entire time. He didn’t reject me when he found out about my first baby. He brought me home when Kezeras broke out. He’s my baby’s father.

He loves me.

She had, of course, only one answer for him.

“Ja mein Liebling.”

Ani’s face became horrified and scared. He probably thinks I just denied him. No! No, get your act together, Tena, this is no time for jokes.

“I mean yes. Yes, of course, my love. Yes a thousand times.” It felt like she couldn’t say yes enough.

His face lit up in the most awesome way.

Suddenly, Tena couldn’t move. She’d just accepted Ani’s proposal; they were going to get married. She was going to get married after so many years alone, without anyone who loved her. Nobody has ever loved me like Ani does, she thought. He’s practically Prince Charming compared to everyone else I’ve known.

While she stood there, shocked, he knelt down. She lifted her left arm, and he took the bracelet out of its case and slipped it onto her wrist. She stared at it, shocked, then looked at Ani as he stood up.

A sudden passion overtook her, so she leaped up and wrapped her arms around Ani’s neck, an instinct making her position herself so her abdomen didn’t hit anything. She pressed her mouth against his as he realized what was happening, then he put his arms around her and lifted her up a foot or so, kissing her back. His height was rusting inconvenient when she wanted to kiss him.

They stood there for a minute, absolutely absorbed in each other, his strong arms holding her up as he barely kept from falling down. Tena didn’t have any thoughts for now, her whole mind was occupied with him, with how much she loved him and how she couldn’t kiss him long enough for her satisfaction.

Then, eventually, she realized that the kissing could wait for a little later; the open skate time was over. “I think we’d better move, since the Zamboni guy has to do his job,” Tena said to Ani as she pulled away from him, reluctantly. He didn’t say anything, just let her down and followed her as she skated towards the locker room.

Tena nearly tripped into the room, immediately walking over to the benches and sitting down, dragging the ice skates bag out from under the bench. She pulled off her skates and put them in the case, then leaned back on her hands, staring at the ceiling. She heard a crash as Ani stumbled into the room, and looked over at him, a small hurricane of love raging in her chest. He stood back up and wrestled his skates off, then put them in their bag. He walked over to the bench Tena was sitting on, then dropped down next to her. The wood of the planks screamed at the treatment, and Tena winced. Ani had to weigh a hundred pounds more than her, and she was fairly heavy because of her muscles and the fact that she was five-months pregnant, but he was also a foot and a half taller than her.

He kissed her on the cheek, softly, and she grinned, somehow more pleased than usual. He kissed her all the time, but… was it more real now? It felt more real. She glanced at the bracelet on her wrist (it was beautiful, and just what she’d wanted), and knew that it wasn’t all a joke. She was going to get married. The love of her life, her baby’s father, was sitting next to her. And she was going to get married to him.

The silence stretched too long. “So, who should we invite to the wedding?” she asked.

He seemed indifferent, or maybe just in shock. “Everyone, I guess. We’ll just take Max and Althea’s route.”

“Okay.”

Another silence began its course, but Tena had so many things to say that she couldn’t keep quiet. She opened her mouth to tell him that she loved him, but instead… “I can’t wait for tonight.”

Tena, why is that the first thing you think of? By the Sisters, you’re quite pregnant. But now that she thought about it, that’s not what she meant. She just wanted to be in Ani’s arms, asleep or not.

“That’s the first thing you think of,” Ani said frankly, smiling at her with that wonderful smile of his. That smile that made her heart lift when she was depressed, that smile that made her feel like everything was alright, because Ani was there and would take care of her.

“I’m tired,” she said innocently, and Ani grinned at her with that indescribable smile of his. I couldn't be luckier, Tena thought. I just couldn't.

Quote

Wow, Axe, that was like twenty pages shorter than the average! Yeah, I know, be quiet. That's only the first half. 

Ark wrote ALL of the following story, so go upvote him if you like it. Please.

Anthony's POV:

Tena zoomed by Anthony, and he paled. She was going so fast… what if she fell? Would it hurt the baby? He’d seen her ice skate before, and knew that she was good at it, but couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Anthony had spent the last two hours sweating, building up courage. And, well, dramatic affect. He grinned slightly, his anxiety about the child melting away in the light of what he was going to do. It turned out he wasn't the best ice skater. His comparison for himself was that he was like a chasmfiend trying to act as an automobile. It wasn't a pretty sight. He started to skate towards her.

Anthony was amazed at the last year, how it had gone. He loved Tena, and he had lived with her since he awoke. She had taken him places, and all the time, was the kindest person he knew. He loved her so much. So, so much. She was beautiful, and he was lucky-- no… the luckiest man in the world.

And he felt ready to show her that.

She’d made jokes, for months, about proposing to him. About them getting married. She’d told him that she liked turquoise and silver, but hated rings, that if he was going to propose to her he might as well get her a silver bracelet with turquoise bits. She’d practically made his plan for him.

Quote

*cough* *cough* I did. *cough* *cough*

He struggled, attempting to get the bracelet in the box out from his pocket, into his hands. She was standing there, at the other side of the rink. He continued to clumsily skate over to her (she somehow managed to make it look easy, natural) while he got the box out. He picked up speed, and then, ten feet away from her, fell onto his knees. She wouldn’t be surprised by that; he’d fallen over many times in their time at the rink. He slid towards her, and opened the box, facing the bracelet inside toward her.

She had grinned slightly as he fell. Not like it was abnormal, he had done that a lot. But this time was different. He slid like a bullet, gracefully, for a change. He could see the change in her face as she saw the bracelet, embedded with turquoise, and made of silver.

She gasped, and her hands covered her mouth, she looked surprised, shocked. Almost scared. He wasn't sure if it was good or bad, or some combination. Her mouth was hanging open. Good? Bad? He couldn't stop sweating. And her eyes... wide, possibly panicked. What was she thinking?

“Tena,” Anthony made his voice hard, firm. He couldn't stutter, it was too important now. “Tena, I love you. Will you marry me?”

Silence descended. The man who had been getting the Zamboni out stared at them, eyes wide and mouth hanging open. He slowly paced backwards into the next room, like a cornered animal with a way out.

She looked... happy? He thought so. That probably means yes, he thought. He hoped. Hope was all he had with his face sweating a waterfall, and his heart attempting to break out of his chest with a sledgehammer. “Ja mein Liebling,” she said. His face sweated more. He panicked. What does that mean. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? Then she continued, and her voice stilled his heart. “I mean yes. Yes, of course, my love. Yes a thousand times and more.”

Anthony felt an overpowering wave of relief at Tena’s answer, and he broke into a smile. He tried to skate over to her, the blades slipping slightly, but luckily was able to stay standing for once. He had to, since Tena didn’t appear to be moving anytime soon. He knelt down as she proffered her left arm, took the bracelet out of its case, and slid it onto her wrist. She watched him doing it, seeming unable to speak further or meet his eyes.

When it was done, Anthony stood back up straight again. He nearly fell over backwards as Tena attacked him. He almost started to defend himself, then he realized that she was kissing him, her arms wrapped around his neck. Is the baby alright? Yes, of course the baby’s alright. There’s something more important going on right now, focus on that. He wrapped his arms around her, lifting her so she had a better vantage, as it was the only way his sheer height didn't get in the way. He joyfully returned her kiss.

They stood there, at the side of the rink, Anthony barely balancing on his skates, for a minute, completely absorbed in each other. Then, Tena pulled away and met his eyes, her own sparkling like diamonds, and seeming even more beautiful than usual. “I think we’d better move,” she said reluctantly, “since the zamboni guy has to do his job.” Anthony let her down, then followed her as she skated over to the locker room, her motions precise and graceful despite the weight of the baby, while he was sure that his own were worse than horrible.

He'd done it. Hell, he'd actually done it. His memories still hadn't given back his first proposal, to his wife from before. He didn't have anything to base it this one off of, and that had scared him like hell. He grew angry at his past self for making him forget nearly everything. Bastard. Why did you have to do this? He knew it was illogical, who knew what would have happened otherwise? And anyway, Tena had hinted he wasn't the nicest person. He had more memories than he’d had when he’d woken up, about as many as the average kindergartener, but still. He pushed down the thoughts. DAMNATION I'M GETTING MARRIED. Oh, hell. Oh, HELL.

He awkwardly half-fell, half-completely-washed-out onto the floor. He shoved himself up, tugging off the skates. Did I really do that? Did she really accept? He forced himself to look up, to her wrist. Yes. He sat down beside her, the wood screaming like a thousand lost souls. Well, more like one-half. Of a baby's. But still, his weight was huge compared to Tena's. She was so small he almost felt a gust of wind would blow her away. He felt heat rise in his cheeks. Being big came with a few advantages. And lots of disadvantages. He brushed his lips against her cheek, lightly. Her skin was soft. Really soft. How the hell did I start thinking about her skin? He forced his addled brain into a slightly more logical thought process. Well, attempted to.

Anthony quickly discovered that it was difficult to make conversation right after proposing. He pulled off the skates Tena had bought for him, silently putting them in their bag. He sat there, next to Tena, feeling awkward for no reason at all.

Then, Tena broke the silence. “So, who should we invite to the wedding?”

“Everyone, I guess. We’ll just take Max and Althea’s route.”

“Okay.”

Another moment of silence.

Tena shattered it again. “I can’t wait for tonight.”

“That’s the first thing you think of,” Ani said to her, smiling. He knew that, for some reason, whenever he smiled like that, she brightened up. She became vibrant and even more beautiful, if that was possible.

“I’m tired,” she said in that tone of hers, and Anthony grinned. She was wonderful.

[kenod]

Kumiko found herself running through a city. From what she could see she was in a different country, the buildings reminding her of old pictures of European cities she saw when she was younger. She felt the people around her stare at her, and heard them talk in a language she didn't recognize. She wondered why they were simply standing there, and not running away. She was an Epic wasn't she? People were supposed to be afraid of her. Instead they just stood and stared. She wondered if she should kill a couple of them. That would make them afraid, right? Still, some instinct stopped her. So instead she ran into one of the alleys, which looked empty.
Kumiko rested in one of the alleys. "hmm, it's nice and cool here," she said to herself. Still, something about the place felt a bit... off to her. That was when she heard footsteps behind her. Quickly she scrambled back onto her feet. "Who's there?" She called out, when a woman came walking through the alley, and started talking to her. Not understanding what she said, Kumiko ran off.
Kumiko came to a halt near an intersection in the alleys, looking around her. Just as she calmed down again the woman appeared again, coming from the intersection ahead of her. "How..." She exclaimed in shock. She saw the woman walk towards her, speaking in that strange language, and felt she needed to get away. She focused. She ran towards her, ears and tail changing, resembling those of a cat, her sense of balance and agility improving. She easily dodged around the woman, and ran away, her form switching to that of a rabbit, allowing her to sprint at much greater speeds. "Goodbye," she yelled at the woman as she raced away.
While running through the alleys, she started feeling nervous. She should have been out of them by now, right? And some of the places she ran past seemed familiar, as if she'd already been there before. But she knew that she had been running in straight lines. Just as she was thinking that, the woman walked out of one of the intersections ahead of her. "Tsch," she said, getting annoyed. "How are you doing that?" She continued to run at her, switching back to her cat form, and at the last moment, jumped into the air, kicking with both legs forwards, aiming for her face. Kicking off against it, she performed a backwards somersault, landed, and ran forward again, laughing.
Only a minute the woman appeared again, no trace of her dropkick visible. "Uh," Kumiko said, starting to feel nervous. Still, she couldn't slow down, and jumping, she aimed another kick at the woman's face. Just as she did so, she saw her expression change, suddenly growing colder. "Ah, spa..." She started, cut short when the woman grabbed her leg while she was flying past her, smacking her into the ground. "Ugh," she murmured, as she blacked out.

Slowly Kumiko woke up, and looked at the room she was in. She seemed to be lying on a bed, which was good. It seemed to be clean, which was even better. Though when she tried to move her arms she noticed that they were chained to the headrest, which wasn't that great. Just as she was looking for a way out of the chains the door opened, the woman walking in. "Ah, I see you have woken up," she said. "Don't worry, I just want to talk to you, which is better than you deserve, given that I almost needed to get a new skull thanks to that kick of yours."
"Well, why did you chain me to the wall when you just wanted to talk?" Kumiko replied, sounding miffed. Suddenly, they realized something. "Wait, how can I understand you? Did you speak in that weird language of yours just to annoy me?"
The woman sighed. "Alright. First question. I chained you up because you'd probably charge off immediately as soon as you'd wake up otherwise, in which case you'd probably have gotten lost in the alleys, and then killed as an intruder."
"ugh," Kumiko replied, not being able to offer a good counterargument.
"As for how we can understand each other," the woman continued, "It's because I've had a Forger create a basic Soulstamp for establishing a language type Connection, an explanation you probably understand nothing about, so lets just keep it at magic. So, can I trust you to actually stay here and listen to the rest of my explanations?"
Kumiko nodded. "Good," the woman said, and released her restraints. "Is there a particular reason you don't like me by the way?" the woman asked.
"Well, you're human," Kumiko answered. "I don't like humans, they're annoying."
The woman sighed. "I have no idea where to even start with that statement, but lets just say that I'm not human myself. I'm a Kandra, a type of shapeshifter. As for more detailed explanations, they'll probably have to wait for later. First of all, you need to use this." She tossed a strange metal disc at Kumiko, which looked like it was made up of multiple different metals.
Palming the disk, Kumiko looked at it, still confused about the woman's talk that she wasn't human.
"Alright," the woman said. "That disk contains a certain power you can tap, that allows you to speak our language. To use it, just focus on it, and you'll notice the power reserves automatically. I'd suggest trying it quickly since it seems the Soulstamp is about to run..."
At that point, she suddenly started speaking a different language. Still, she had managed to tell Kumiko what to do. Focusing, she noticed something about the disk, and on instinct, drew something out if it. "Does this work?" She asked.
The woman smiled. "Yes, good job. Now, I think introductions are in order. My name is KanMien. What is yours?"
Kumiko wondered about the woman's, no, KanMien's name. It didn't sound like anything she'd ever heard before. Noticing her staring at her, she quickly replied. "My name is Takamine Kumiko, but people normally call me Polygenetic." Remembering something she read once, she continued. "Ah, Takamine is my family name by the way. I'm not sure how that works here."
KanMien smiled. "Hello Kumiko. Alright, now that introductions are over, Let me give you the basic rundown on the Alleyverse, and the DA."
 

[+Ark1002]

Kunikio smiled as he preached to the crowd, telling them the Avatar's would protect them, how they could worship at the temples. He preached long, and he could tell, some believed. He had been preaching to masses this last year, and more came, to help him build the temples. The Temple to Ark, the Temple to Voidus, the Temple to Meta. All were used, made. He had written in a scroll what they were gods of, and the people had reacted favorably. By the end of the year, this would be the biggest religion in the Alleyverse. He grinned, turning away from the crowd, his bald head glinting. This was succeeding. Yes, yes it was.

[I think I am here. he/him]

Quote

Wait, so are Kumiko and Kunikio different people?

 

Edited January 31, 2019 by I think I am here.

[+Ark1002]

Quote

Dunno who Kumiko is.

 

[I think I am here. he/him]

Quote

Literally the character in the post above yours.

 

[+Ark1002]

Quote

Lol. Didn't even read that. Different character. He's the head monk of the avatar based religion.