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Well, the old one has served us well, but it's two years old there's a new game out and hopefully this will bring in a whole bunch more activity.



the usual rules apply.
-The only wank with want is the sexy kind. Leave pairing wars, name wars, and kink wankery at the door, please.

-one request per comment.

-not everyone has played Dark Dawn yet, so make sure to label anything with spoilers in the title of the comment.

-you can use the Japanese names and pairing names when making requests, but make sure you put the English names in parentheses for those who aren't in the know about them.

-if you prefer Japanese names, you can stipulate in your request that you'd prefer them, or fill with them.

-a list of kinks to get you started.

-there's no limit on requests at the moment, but the meme will die out if no one fills too, so in general there's a big suggestion of 'if you can, fill for request you make.' However we know that not everyone is a writer or artist, so if you're just here to read, then don't think you can't make requests too.

-just because this is a kink meme doesn't mean PG-13 and under fics can't come play too.

A new posting rule applies. If you want to fill out an old request from the past meme, copy it over and fill it here, but leave a comment at the old meme, so if the op has it tracked, they can find it again.

Re: ...

Date: 2011-08-04 04:19 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I love both of you. <3

Someone, MAKE THIS HAPPEN!

Date: 2011-08-04 07:09 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Not OP, but if you're still working on that, it sounds like a great idea to me.

Re: ...

Date: 2011-08-04 08:29 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
well, the plotbunny's bitten; I had bits of dialogue stuck in my head at work. check back soon XD

Date: 2011-08-05 01:32 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
OP is fine with this headcanon.

Re: Garet/Ivan fill (pt 2)

Date: 2011-08-06 09:22 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
NotOP already likes where this is going. Hope you'll continue, author-anon. :D

Re: ...

Date: 2011-08-06 11:43 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Anon who made the original Alex/Babi request would also love you if your ideas came to fruition. <3

Date: 2011-08-08 09:07 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Feizhi/Isaac, because Feizhi's not the kind of girl to give up just like that.

Date: 2011-08-10 03:49 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
No, the best use of the Insight Glass, IMHO, would be catching someone with dirty needs in mind. Hilarity ensues.

Because it had to happen.

Date: 2011-08-11 09:33 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Remember that one bonus boss from DD? The one who would posses your teammates? He`s a kinky bastard. Non-con & begging shall abound!

possessed!Tyrell & possessed!Eoleo x Matthew

possessed!Sveta x Karis (Karis should be dismayed at seeing Matthew raped, until Sveta jumps her)

possessed!Rief & possessed!Himi x Amiti (Make this humorous; Amiti flips out and tries to run. THERE IS NO ESCAPE.)

Date: 2011-08-12 06:14 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Star Magician plays with his balls. Interpret that however you like.

Date: 2011-08-29 05:09 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
I think this would be awesome to read, so I am thirding this. (I vote for Felix, because the possibilities there are hilarious.). :)

Date: 2011-08-29 05:14 pm (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Anon is adopting this headcanon as well. :3

Date: 2011-08-31 06:32 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Amiti's a sweetheart. He's so sweet and amiable, and he never seems to get really angry, just flustered and upset...

And then Eoleo makes one too many crude jokes, and Amiti snaps, throws him against the nearest flat surface, and furiously tops the fuck out of him.

Bonus: After this incident, Eoleo starts harassing Amiti even more.

Ingratitude - [Babi/Kraden/Alex] - 1

Date: 2011-09-05 03:17 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
[AN: Okay. This one bit hard. Is this... remotely what anyone else was imagining? ]


The streets to the west of Tolbi Palace were still piled high with debris, and though they had been cleared of all the bodies that could be found in the days immediately following the fire, anyone could tell by the stench that there were certainly more to be found. Babi breathed a sigh of relief when he finally reached the edge of the reconstruction efforts. As he made his way to the healers' marquee, he took the time to stop and greet all those who approached him; to offer his sympathies, to congratulate them on their hard work and solidarity in the midst of such a difficult time, and a myriad other platitudes.

The Mercury Clan had made it to Tolbi within a few days of the disaster, and nobody could thank them enough for responding so quickly to their messages. Kraden's carrier pigeon had been the first to reach Imil, and Babi couldn't be more proud that his protégé’s excellence had saved lives; it had given him one more reason to praise him. Babi knew he asked a lot from Kraden, and a generous helping of praise seemed to work wonders at helping him deal with his lot in life.

When Sofia and Victor had first arrived with their family in tow, they'd found Tolbi in a state of ordered chaos, and they'd spent the first night and day working without rest, using up a psy crystal every few hours as they healed the better part of the population of their injuries. In the meantime, their spouses had joined the Sanctum's workers in changing dressings, preparing food, filtering through the wreckage, and watching over the children too young to help with the work outside. Now that the worst of the crisis was over, Babi had it on good faith that the Adepts had started sleeping and washing again, and he'd decided it was high time he paid them another visit.

As soon as he entered the marquee, Babi was able to see the difference Imil's miracle-workers had made in a scant few days. Last time he'd been here, the place had been packed wall to wall with those most in need of attention. This time, Sofia and her brother were seated on a couple of low stools near the entrance, from which they were treating a steady trickle of patients for exhaustion, heat stroke, and the odd minor accident. Victor's wife, Nadya, was sitting near the back, cradling her daughter in her lap while she wet nursed another child. Over in the corner, it looked like Sofia's husband, Nikol, was lending one of the Sanctum staff a shoulder to cry on, while their young son was helping the others prepare herbs for a fresh batch of medicine. The boy looked up as Babi headed over to speak to his mother and uncle, and Babi flashed him a quick smile.

Sofia sent her current patient on his way with a squeeze of his hand and a blown kiss, the buoyant cheer in her eyes immediate evidence of the resilience and goodwill that so many of his citizens were describing as a lifeline through these most troubled days.

"Can I help you, my lord?" Sofia asked, sounding every bit as gracious and composed as she had on the day they'd arrived.

"I should be the one asking that question. After all you've done, can I ever hope to repay you?" Babi replied, stepping out of the way as Victor's last patient set off with a respectful nod in his direction.

"We are doing what anyone here would do, if they only had they the means," Victor assured him. While his voice matched his sister's in sincerity and warmth, the sorrow of these last few days appeared to have more of a hold on him; there was a tiredness to his eyes as he glanced over at Nadya and little Mia. Though he couldn't exactly relate, Babi supposed having a young daughter to look after would be enough to shake almost any man into a fresh appreciation of the dangers and woes of the world.

Ingratitude - 2

Date: 2011-09-05 03:23 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
"You might at least admit that you have travelled a long way, and given of yourselves more thoroughly than I could ever have imagined. Before you leave, you must allow us to show you all the hospitality we can muster. I would be honoured if you would join us for dinner at the palace tonight." Babi held up his hands to forestall any complaints. "The food will not be substantially different to that served anywhere else in town, but my staff are keen to meet you, and I'd say you deserve to take a turn at sleeping in a proper bed."

"Thank you. We'll be there." Victor sounded genuinely touched by the offer. He looked away for a moment, then met his gaze again with a laugh that hinted at the depths of his exhaustion. "Honestly, we could use a chance to rest up before the journey home. I think Sergey and the others can handle things around here. If there's an emergency tonight..."

"They'll know where to find us. The palace isn't all that far from here," Sofia agreed, looking slightly lost in thought. "We should think about heading back tomorrow, shouldn't we? I'm sure Maria's holding the fort just fine, but still..."

Her son came over to listen, standing on tip-toe to lean his head against hers as he wrapped his arms round her shoulders.

"Hear that, my lovely?" Sofia asked, reaching up to ruffle his hair. "We're going out for dinner tonight. Isn't that exciting?"

Alex nodded, the movement ruffling her hair in return. When he thought of something, his eyes widened slightly, and he turned to her to voice his concerns. "We haven't finished the salve yet. I said I'd show them how to make it properly."

"Would another hour or so give you enough time to finish?" Babi asked the boy, who met his gaze and nodded. "In that case, I'll send someone to pick you up at seven," he told them, shifting eye contact back to the child's relatives. "Now, don't let me keep you. I seem to have jumped the queue here..."

The healers laughed and waved him away as he left them to their work. The Adepts of the Mercury Clan were almost as elegant as the Lemurians, all of them tall, pale and lean, but there was a determination about these people which set them apart from anyone he'd met on that dratted island. The Lemurians could certainly be called pillars of strength, in their own way, but he couldn't imagine them accomplishing so much so swiftly, with no hint of complaint or bureaucracy.

When he'd first learned of the Mercury Clan, he'd assumed they were Lemurians who'd left their homeland behind at one point or another – and perhaps that was true, or vice versa, but only if the migration had happened countless generations ago. He'd made a few initial enquiries without giving too much away, and they hadn't been able to tell him anything of much use. They could have sailed his ship, if they'd been willing to enter into his service, but apparently their lives were sworn to their duties in Imil, and there was absolutely no chance that any of them would ever leave that life behind; they had never even deigned to visit him here until they'd gotten wind of the current disaster.

After scouring the continent and beyond for clues to the route back to Lemuria, Babi was fairly certain that the Mercury Clan was the only other group of Adepts left on the face of Weyard. He hadn't given up hope of running into other Lemurian expats – surely they didn't own all those ships for nothing – and he certainly hadn't given up hope that his own people would prove themselves. Right now, though, getting Tolbi back on its feet was everyone's main concern, and by speeding that up, the Clan was proving itself invaluable after all. The fact that they'd agreed to spend the night under his roof was a bonus; it didn't look like he would have any trouble making the most of their visit tonight.

**************

Ingratitude - 3

Date: 2011-09-05 03:29 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)

Kraden lifted the hood of the fume cupboard to clear up the burned remains of his last batch of experiments, immensely cheered by the promising results he'd gotten from the upholstery samples doused in formulas J6 and L19.

It was a relief to be back at work; he hadn't been allowed to take dinner in the labs today, thanks to the Mercury Clan's visit. Not that he'd have minded so much, if he'd been able to speak to them himself. The hall had been packed to bursting, though, and he'd been stuck over at the other end of the main table, unable to even make out much of the conversation over the music. Perhaps that was what he got for cutting his arrival rather fine (not that he'd been late; he would never dare be late), but he really shouldn't be expected to step away from his work for so long. People weren't going to wait for him to finish before they started rebuilding their homes; if he wanted to make a real difference to his city's future, every hour was of the essence. When Nadya had taken the children upstairs to get some rest, the others had finally retired to the parlour for drinks, and he had been permitted to take his leave.

Kraden sat down at his desk to record the last half hour's work, and barely managed to put quill to paper before the door opened to admit another blasted interruption. When Lord Babi walked in, Kraden swallowed his irritation and rose to his feet. He would probably have to swallow a whole lot more than that in a minute, but he would also have the chance to report on his work and request that more of his associates were delegated to this project, and wasn't that what really mattered?

"How are the flame retardants coming along?" Babi asked, casting a curious eye over his equipment.

"Very well, my Lord. Exceedingly well, I might dare to say. I've come up with several varieties which might prove useful in resin production and timber treatment. We'll have to provide samples to the guilds for the final stages of quality testing. As for soft furnishings and - "

"Interesting. I'll read your full report later." Babi interrupted, resting a hand lightly on his shoulder.

"Yes, my Lord." Kraden sighed and knelt before him. His duties weren't all as pleasant as his studies, but they were a part of his life all the same, as inevitable as death and taxes. He untied his Lord's robes and took him into his mouth, aiming for a fast pace at first, until he felt Babi's fingers drumming at his shoulder in warning. When he slowed down, Babi hummed his approval and started to slide his lab coat down his shoulders.

A knock at the door interrupted them; Kraden sat back on his heels while Babi went to answer it, making himself presentable en route.

"Thank you, Annika. That will be all."

Kraden looked up when he heard Babi addressing one of the housekeeping staff; he'd more expected it to be one of his colleagues dropping something off, or something along those lines. The door wasn't open very wide, and he couldn't see into the corridor from this angle. His heart sank after a second, as he saw the boy from dinner follow Lord Babi into the room.

Alex glanced around, stared at Kraden for a heartbeat, then tried to bolt back through the door. Babi caught his arm and swung him round as he kicked the door closed, then shoved him up against it, twisting his arm behind his back.

"I've just gotten over a bout of CBD. You could still catch it if you - "

"Little liar." Babi cuffed him, then continued unbuttoning the back of his tunic.

"What makes you think I'm lying?" Alex asked, thoroughly indignant.

"Nikol has just been telling us how well you've been doing in your studies lately. These last few weeks in particular." Babi paused to stroke the boy's free arm, letting his hand linger over his slender little wrist. "He couldn't be more proud of you."

Alex let out a slow breath, slumping slightly against the door. His voice was soft and distant when he spoke again, staring dead ahead. "Thank you, father."

Ingratitude - 4

Date: 2011-09-05 03:35 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)

"He'll be asleep soon. Your mother, too. This ought to go without saying, but if you want your family to make it out of Tolbi alive, you'd better think twice before giving me any trouble."

Alex nodded silently, the last dregs of colour draining from his face. To the best of Kraden's knowledge, Babi had never entirely followed through on this sort of threat. It often kept people quiet, for what it was worth, but he'd never seen any child manage to put up much of a fight either way.

Sometimes, when Kraden threw himself into his work and managed to communicate its importance and urgency, Babi would avoid taking up too much of his time with other matters. It wasn't as if Kraden wanted to be let off lightly at anyone else's expense. On the contrary, he would sleep a great deal easier if Babi never turned to anyone but him. Nevertheless, now that his Lord had set his sights on something younger for tonight, Kraden couldn't pass up any chance of minimising his involvement. After struggling to find the best way to phrase things, Kraden spoke up, hating himself already.

"May I ask how long this is expected to take? You know I am always at your service, but with another evening's worth of solid progress, I could have the entire - "

"Honestly, Kraden. Any fool knows to mix work with play."

Kraden knew better than to protest that the two were one and the same to him. Babi carried the boy over, brushing past him and laying his burden down none too gently on the desk. When Babi's hand nudged his head down impatiently, Kraden worked his robes open again and swallowed him down as deeply as he could, pulling out all the stops for the sake of getting this over with. Babi didn't slow him down this time.

Every so often, Kraden heard a quiet gasp or hitched breath from the desk above.

He could feel very clearly that Babi was close to his limit by the time he dug his fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck and pulled him back. Kraden closed his eyes and caught his breath, remembering the time a few years ago – more than a few years ago now, in fact – when Babi had arbitrarily told him to grow his hair out until it reached at least shoulder length. Kraden had fervently made the case that this would be an inconvenience in the labs, and Babi had relented and given him permission to keep his hair short.

The small victories meant everything, on the good days.

Babi kept pulling until Kraden fumbled his way back into the chair behind him. He slid Kraden's coat down his arms until it was bunched round his wrists, then hooked his arms over the back of the chair. Kraden leaned back to ease the strain on his shoulders. Babi pulled his shirt free of his breeches, undid his fly buttons with one hand and started stroking him, rough and efficient as usual. As soon as Kraden was half hard, Babi turned his attention back to the boy.

Ingratitude - 5

Date: 2011-09-05 03:42 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)

Kraden risked opening his eyes in time to see Babi lift Alex from the desk. The poor boy was still white as a sheet, and already blotched with marks and slicked with oil. Babi settled Alex on Kraden's lap; the servant and the guest locked eyes for a moment, mutually horrified, until Kraden turned away, staring down at the floorboards as he felt his face burn with shame. Babi started groping between them, pushing him inside the boy, and it was all Kraden could do to keep quiet, choking down his body's reactions to the misery and the heat.

It seemed silence was beyond Alex; he could hear him grinding his teeth and still letting slip a pained gasp or whimper with every movement. When he was all the way inside, he felt Babi shove the boy against his chest; he stayed huddled there, leaning against him and all but sobbing, even when Babi stepped back.

"Go on. Ride him. Don't just sit there, stupid boy..."

Alex pushed himself upright, leaning his hands on Kraden's shoulders, and started rocking, his pained sounds gradually quieting as he fell into a shallow rhythm.

Kraden dared to glance at him, wondering how this child was managing so much better than most. Looking up was a mistake; he was crying as he moved, eyes glazed over, tears streaming down his face.

It wasn't as if Kraden had found this any easier than him, when he'd been that age. Still, it had been different. Babi had given him everything – he'd rescued him from the streets, fed him, clothed him, nurtured his interests and his talents, and promised him a future of safety and intellectual fulfilment in his service. He'd told himself over and over that Babi had every right to take something in return, even on the nights he'd cried himself hoarse.

Most citizens of Tolbi were free to move away if they pleased; the law was set up to benefit one man above all others, and not everyone could get along with that fact, even if they were given plenty of opportunity to thrive within the city's hierarchy. The one time Kraden had tried to run away, though, he'd been dragged back to Tolbi by the army and publicly whipped in front of the fountain – and that had been before he'd come of age, back when his Lord had been more forgiving of his mistakes. Kraden very much doubted he could leave Tolbi alive today – without Babi's permission, at least. When he turned his mind to the relative poverty of every other settlement he'd been given reason to visit, and tried to picture himself living as a weathered farmer, or a shrill merchant, or a weary healer watching over a sickroom, exiled from everything he'd ever known and loved, the pursuit of Alchemy to which he'd dedicated his mind and soul.... He couldn't even deny to himself that he was glad, in a way, that he would never have to make that choice. For the longest time, he'd told himself that he was getting used to his duties, though he hadn't truly been able to believe it until the next time Babi had wanted to watch him with another boy; that was the day he'd realised he really was coping better in comparison. Nowadays, he was long past feeling anything much when he was alone with his Lord, but nights like this were another matter. He never felt so ashamed as when it was his body hurting someone. When his unspoken orders left him feeling like dirt right down to the core, he still desperately wished, even after all these years, that he might somehow, someday, have a say in who he shared himself with.

Ingratitude - 6

Date: 2011-09-05 03:52 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Alex shuddered to a halt, slumping against his chest again. Kraden couldn't tell whether he was exhausted, blanking out, or simply in too much pain to go on. Babi straddled the chair behind Alex and slipped his fingers inside him, working around Kraden, trying to stretch him even further past his limits. Alex clenched his fists in Kraden's shirt, whimpering again, and outright screaming when Babi forced his cock inside him, rubbing up against Kraden's inch by inch.

Kraden wondered why Babi was in such a brutal mood tonight, before succumbing to the friction, letting the sensation itself distance him from its cause.

He was sweating by the time his Lord came. Dragging himself back to his senses, he swore in his mind, though not aloud. He'd hoped to finish first, to leave the child with one less intrusion to weather. Babi couldn't have insisted that he stay in once he was soft. As he cooled off slightly, he became very uncomfortably aware of the blood pooling in his lap. Heaving a satisfied sigh, Babi rested his weight against them for a few moments. Kraden rather wished he'd hurry up and heal the boy.

Instead, when Babi pulled out, he sat back and gripped Alex by the hips, running his thumbs over his skin. Alex mewled and lifted his hand in a weak gesture of protest. Babi caught his hand and placed it back on Kraden's shoulder.

"You're not finished until he is," Babi promised, leaning in to speak in Alex's ear.

Kraden wished he could have complained that this was spectacularly unfair.

He knew too well that it would only make things worse.

Instead, he closed his eyes and tried to relax by working out the digits of pi from scratch. He skated through the first few terms of the arctan series formula, gradually getting into the calculation in earnest...

Curling forward as he moaned, Kraden accidentally headbutted Alex while Babi was kissing his neck, though it took him a few foggy seconds to piece this together afterwards.

"I suppose we should leave it there," Babi sighed, rising to his feet. "I still have a thousand things to do tonight..."

Kraden blinked as Babi lifted Alex from his lap and set him on his feet. The boy crumpled as soon as Babi let go. Wholly ignoring him, Babi rifled through the desk drawer.

After taking a few deep, shaky breaths, Alex started glowing faintly with white light. It faded after a few seconds. Alex took a few more long, slow breaths, drawing himself together, then tried again.

Kraden counted almost a dozen heartbeats before the light faded. Alex's face was, perhaps, an ever so slightly less deathly shade than before, but he made no move to get up from the floor. When he spoke, his voice came out in a flat whisper.

"It still hurts."

"Of course it does," Babi replied scornfully. He finally found a bottle of potion in the drawer, and he turned back to his guest while he opened it. "Here, now. This should do you a world of good."

Alex's eyes never left the potion as Babi knelt and handed it over. When he tried to take it, Babi clasped a hand over his wrist.

"What do you say?" Babi asked.

Alex's expression couldn't have been more blank.

"Didn't your parents teach you any manners? I've just given you something. What do you say?"

"Thank you...?"

"Thank you, what?"

Alex drew another blank. Kraden was fairly sure he could still see blood building up on the floor.

"My Lord, surely this isn't necessary..." Kraden protested.

Alex's eyes flickered across to Kraden, then back to Babi. "Thank you, my Lord..."

"There you go. That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Babi released Alex's wrist, and he finally managed to manoeuvre most of the potion into his mouth. A fair bit of it spilled onto the floor. Alex half-closed his eyes and laid there for a while, letting the expensive medicine kick in. His gaze eventually flicked back to the spilled potion. He seemed to struggle with himself for a moment, then started trying to scoop it up and lick it from his fingers. Kraden looked away in embarrassment, but he could understand the boy's desperation. There was hardly going to be any more where that came from, at a time like this.

Ingratitude - 7

Date: 2011-09-05 04:04 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)

Though Babi had headed over to a doorway at the back of the lab, he paused before leaving, and laughed slightly at the sight of them. "Run along when you're ready, Alex. Be sure to pass on my warmest regards to your family, so that you might all make it safely back to Imil."

Once the door closed behind Lord Babi, Kraden finally felt safe to free his arms from his coat and do up his breeches, ruined though they were.

Alex was still lying on the floor. Kraden draped the coat over him.

"There's a washroom through there," Kraden explained. "It opens into the corridor from the other side. He never takes long. The door on this side doesn't lock, but the lab door does. I'm not the only one with a key, but, well, I can wait here and make sure nobody else comes through."

"Unless Lord Babi comes back," Alex replied. His voice was still flat.

Kraden didn't reply that it was very unlikely he would return for them tonight. After all, that wasn't Alex's point.

If he could have said something to make it better, he would have. If Alex were in the same position that he'd been in all those years ago, he could have told him that "it gets better", or "I'll watch your back", or "Sasha will sneak you the most treats, out of all the cooks", or picked one of any number of other useful things to say. But Alex didn't need to know that it could get easier, eventually. Alex was never going to go through this again. Poor little Alex was going to go home with a pair of living, breathing, loving parents...

It made no sense to gaze down at a battered child lying curled up on the floor and feel anything remotely resembling envy. Kraden had always gotten through by counting his blessings. He was living a life he couldn't give up, because he'd been raised by someone who had given him everything; someone who had cared for him, deep down, no matter how strict he had been; someone who'd only ever loved him too much. Seeing it from the outside looking in, Kraden had to conclude that there was no love involved in any of this. The more he tried to tell himself that he had been different, the less he believed it. On days like today, it was harder than ever to convince himself that he could still make sense of his life.

Little Alex was doing a particularly excellent job of pointing out his failings. All Kraden knew for sure, then and there, was that he couldn't hate him for it. One could only sink so low.

"… There should be plenty of hot water, I believe, at this time of day. Would you like me to fold your clothes...?"

**************

Ingratitude - 8

Date: 2011-09-05 04:11 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
As he returned to his chambers, Lord Babi wondered what to do about the Mercury Clan. It really was a shame that they'd refused to aid him until now; their powers had worked wonders for Tolbi, but there was no way to keep them all on as permanent assets. The grown Adepts could probably have overpowered his entire army even before the fire. Besides, only his loyal servants could be expected to sail off in his most valuable possession and return with whatever cargo he requested.

Mia was young enough that if something terrible were to happen to her family, she would never even remember them. Alex was a little older than Kraden had been when he'd taken him in, but still, that boy seemed pliant enough. Babi could already imagine them as Tolbi's brightest stars, after a decade or two of the right sort of upbringing...

In the meantime, of course, they wouldn't be as useful as their parents. If another disaster struck Tolbi any time within the next few years, Sofia and Victor might be able to help out again, but Alex and Mia wouldn't be good for much more than warming his bed.

He would wait a while, then, before making up his mind. If Sofia and her clan remained willing to answer his summons in times of need, their lives might not be forfeit after all.

**************

Ingratitude - 9

Date: 2011-09-05 04:24 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
"Remind me what we're doing in Tolbi again," Karst muttered, glaring at the civilians who were giving her and Agatio the evil eye.

"That would be telling." Alex smiled and continued on toward the palace.

"That's your answer to everything," Agatio grumbled.

"Is it?" Alex asked mildly, ignoring Karst's attempts to glare daggers at him in return.

"Fuck off," Agatio replied, falling back on a meaningless response of his own.

They were in Tolbi because Babi had been useful alive, the first time around, and he would now be more useful dead. Alex had never gone out of his way to return here; he'd had better things to do. Nor was he expecting to achieve anything personal from this trip; what was past was past, and no longer subject to change. He based all of his decisions on their future implications.

Alex had decided long ago to take control of all that he could in this life, and to refuse to take the rest to heart.

People were already suspicious of his group after the fuss they'd caused in the area around Lalivero, but not everyone who'd fought them had made it back to Tolbi. Not everyone who'd returned to Tolbi had disseminated clear descriptions. Not everyone who'd heard their descriptions would link them to him and Felix instantly and without doubt. After all, his family had a rather different and more long-standing reputation in this city. If he wanted to dissuade Felix from straying too extensively from the mission, then it was high time he destroyed his own good name.

All in a good cause, of course.

There were two guards outside the palace. He recognised one.

"Sergey? Is that you?"

"… Alex? That's... what are you doing here?"

"It is you, isn't it?" Alex asked cheerfully, unbuckling the man's helmet. Sergey flailed around a little, then let him remove it.

"Of course it's me. When did you get so big?"

"When did you leave the Sanctum?"

"A while ago now. The pay was, ah, you know how it is. When did you get into the area? You know, there's been some business out across the Suhalla - "

"You'll have to fill me in later. I'm here to see Lord Babi."

"Do you have an appointment?" The other guard asked, without quite daring to step in his way.

"Do I need one?"

"Of course not," Sergey answered. "Don't be daft. Uh, those two...?"

"They're with me."

"No, he's with us."

"Karst, my dear, what exactly is the difference?"

"I'll show you the difference any time."

"If you'll all please come this way...?"

**************

Ingratitude - 10

Date: 2011-09-05 04:39 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)

Babi looked old.

That was to be expected.

Alex sat down by the bed. The Proxians seemed content to loiter by the wall. Iodem and a handful of guards looked on warily. As well they should.

He sat in silence for a few minutes, reminding himself that he couldn't expect this to change anything.

When Babi stirred in his sleep, Alex cast enough healing Psynergy to wake him, though not enough to grant him any strength. His eyes opened. Alex leaned over and smiled.

"We came here to help you."

Babi's eyes widened. Alex felt his bitter smile deepen.

"No thanks required."

Babi truly looked terrified.

Alex sat back in his chair and clasped his patient's hand before freezing his blood in his veins. It only took a second. He let the ice build up, even after the heart had stopped, until the skin glinted with frost. When he melted it again, the body sunk in on itself, looking quite thoroughly dead. Babi had only looked half dead beforehand. He'd arrived in time to make a difference.

"...What did you do?" Iodem broke the shocked silence.

Alex smirked. "What do you mean, what did I do? I sat with Lord Babi during his final moments. Didn't I tell you that I was here to pay my respects?"

"But... his skin..." Iodem choked out.

"That happens sometimes," Alex assured him, grinning from ear to ear.

"No it doesn't!"

"Sure it does," Agatio added, grinning wolfishly himself. There was no history there, as far as Alex was aware; he seemed to be enjoying this for its own sake.

"...GUARDS!"

"I suppose it is time we were leaving..."

Alex grabbed the others and hastily warped them out. They shook free of his grip as soon as they materialised outside the building.

"Well, that was fun. What was the point again?" Karst asked, drawing her scythe.

"You'll see soon enough. There is really no need to linger - "

"Nobody's asking you to stay. I'm going to give these punks something to remember us by," Karst sneered, shoving him aside.

"Damn right," Agatio muttered, holding his own weapon at the ready.

Alex spared a glance for the troops filing out of the palace. He asked himself whether he could talk the Proxians out of this, and whether it would be worth winding them up by removing them forcefully. They weren't out to slaughter everyone around them; when they got into fights like this, they were only looking to stretch their legs and instil a healthy respect for the Mars Clan into their opponents. Tolbi's finest surely knew how to retreat. He would certainly have a hard time travelling with these two if he jerked their lead needlessly.

"Enjoy yourselves, then. I'll see you back on the ship." Alex warped out of the way, leaving his companions to their brawl.

If he warped over to the other side of town, he would have time to take a walk and catch up on other news before the word spread.

They had better press on and catch up with Felix's party again soon. He was going to be the one to break the news to Kraden. He couldn't wait to see how he would react.

It was probably only because he'd gone in with such low expectations that this task had proved so satisfying after all.

Date: 2011-09-05 05:28 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
Veriti invents veritaserum - for a cracky version of events. (Bonus points if Amiti rediscovers her stash.)

...thanks to a weird dream...

Date: 2011-09-10 10:42 am (UTC)
From: (Anonymous)
After a switch is flipped, a statue in one of the ruins has to be ridden before the group can proceed. They refuse to believe it until the Insight Glass confirms it, then try to decide who gets the job...

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