TLR prompt fics!

[pez]

Prompts from storme.

Rush & Emmy - travelling

Set during that "half a year", spoilers to first half of the game, work safe, implied David/Emma and Rush/David. (Mwahahahaha.)


They put their hands on the teleport sphere that will take them to the Ivory Peaks, from where they can travel to Ghor and then onwards to the east continent. The device comes to life with only the slightest of suggestion, starting to spin after a short ringing sound. Light illuminates both their faces, and Rush can't help but think once again that Emmy looks a lot like her mother.

"Rush?"

"Eh?" he asks innocently, inwardly wondering if she has read his thoughts somehow.

"Is it really okay for us to go?"

He follows her gaze, turning towards the castle just beyond Virtus Parish. What's David doing now? Turning down yet another request to use his Remnant to quell the violence erupting across the continent? Reading reports on the progress of rounding up the remaining members of the Third Committee? Standing at one of the castle's many balconies, looking back at them?

"Yeah. He'll be fine," Rush lies through his teeth, recalling David's rueful smile when Emmy asked if she could go away for a few days with Rush to see the place where their mothers met. He granted them permission without any hesitation, and assured them that war was not about to break out again and they could take as long as they needed. After that, David had gone straight back to work. With Emmy running off to take care of her own responsibilities before the journey, it left Rush to go and see if this was really all right with David.

And of course it wasn't. Rush knew David well enough to recognise that frown not to be one of concentration or stress. In the study, he stood at the other side of the huge desk, the godwood timber furniture separating them. David welcomed him with a smile, which dropped when he decided to talk around the obstacle. Rush could almost see David draw back within himself.

"Come with us. You can go and see Ghor on the way or something. I'm sure you can make up an excuse."

"Thank you, Rush. But I'm needed here."

Rush breathed out heavily, the sound of it just like a sigh. "You're sure?"

"Yes." David didn't look at him.

"I'll get Mum to lend you the key for later."

"It's just a place. An empty place. I don't need to see it."

There was little left for Rush to say. "Okay. We'll be back soon."

It was then that David's eyes finally found Rush's. "If I have need of you I will send a message to the nearest embassy. Take as long as you like. I mean it."

It took a long silence for Rush to understand why.

"But what if the fighting reaches Athlum?"

Rush's mind snaps back to the present. He grins. "Then Dave will fight them head-on and we'll come running back and kick them in the a."

Emmy rolls her eyes at Rush's frivolous attitude.

The light from the teleport sphere glows brighter. It's ready. He offers Emmy another smile, then prepares himself for the monsters at the Ivory Peaks as Athlum fades around them.

Even with such different facial expressions, Emmy still looks very much like Emma. Too much. What David needs right now is not to have Rush by his side, but an excuse to not see this face. Rush will do that for him.

He wonders if David will miss him this much if he died.


Khrynia - people-watching

Set after giving Khrynia the Witch's Signet. Work safe, because I'll scare myself if I write anything involving Khrynia that's NWS. DX


The thing about having stood around and watched people for months was that on top of learning how to spot people who'd buy her junk - because, let's face it, it was really all just junk except for the rod - she also learned how to spot the creeps and weirdoes.

Though, she had been wrong on occasions. For example, when she first met Rush she was so sure he was a weirdo. Granted, she wasn't entirely wrong, but Rush was the good kind of weird. (She wasn't so sure about his marquis friend, though. Look at that red and green jacket! Someone call the fashion police!) Such a good kind of weird that she ended up telling him about the whole witch thing, and he actually went off and found her the Witch's Signet. He said he'd picked it up by chance at the customisation shop, but she wasn't going to believe that.

Another thing she wasn't so sure about was who Rush really was. She couldn't say if it was because of her months of people-watching or if it was her supposedly-witch's-sense tingling, but there was something about him...

Ah well. Who cares about some guy who, like, wore a flag over his ass? And a bolero?



David & Qubine - fashion tips

Set after Qubine's visit to Athlum. Work safe. Implied David/Rush. Er, not really fashion tips, but it starts off fashion-related? >> Oops.


David's mouth fell open.

The tailor had just left after the fitting and the duke gave his final nod of approval. David hadn't expected to arrive in Celapaleis to watch Qubine being fitted, but he'd got here early and been told to come to this room. What Qubine wore was the traditional Celapaleian clothing, with slight alterations inspired by influence from the south. David thought he could recognise elements of the outfit that was similar to what he'd seen Duchess Balterossa wore. The frills behind the shoulder, in particular.

Standing on the tailor's stool, Qubine was at eye-level with David. At the marquis's - ah, not just a marquis now, David was the duke of his own land - reaction, he simply snorted. "If you like it so much, I can give you the tailor's contact details."

David stumbled over what response to use. "That's, er, very kind of you."

"I know I look ridiculous, David. There is no need to be polite." Qubine smiled wryly. "I have little choice. With a face and a body like mine, anything else will make me look even more childish."

With some difficulty, he got off the stool, with David wondering all the while if he should offer a hand, deciding on the last second that he should and being dismissed by Qubine with a quick flick of the wrist. David retreated with slight embarrassment.

"I will get straight to the point, Lord David," Qubine was putting more weight on the walking stick than before, David noticed, "Celapaleis shall have need of Athlum in the future."

Qubine led the way, and they sat down on plush chairs placed next to an unlit fireplace at the far end of the room. Qubine's feet couldn't touch the floor. David stayed quiet, waiting for the other lord to continue. At first those words surprised him, and for a moment he wondered if Celapaleis meant to go back on its word on Athlum's independence, but he reminded himself that although Qubine was cunning, he was not cruel.

"Being bound to the Umbermarici at the age of nine has its disadvantages. I'm not able to sire an heir, first of all," said Qubine, being more frank with David than David could ever remember. "The branch lines of my family know this well and are already plotting murder for each other in order to secure their place on my throne."

David nodded slowly to show that he was listening.

"A child's body is not designed to be functional for nearly fifty years. These joints of mine are worn. One day I will reach the point when even the best mystic art will not help me, and I will be confined to a chair and after that, a bed."

"Lord Qubine..."

"No need to look at me with such eyes," Qubine laughed at David, a grown man's expression on a child's face. "We all pay a price for using a Remnant."

The rest of David's words died in his throat.

"Going back to what I was saying, the next person in line for power is my cousin. And frankly, I want no one other than her to take my place, knowing what rotten souls make up the rest of my family. At the moment she is safe, but as soon as my health shows the first sign of trouble the situation will change. I will not be able to watch out for her then. You have met my cousin, you know she is smart and caring, but against our own family I'm afraid she won't be able to be ruthless even if they do try to harm her. She has the love of my people, but that love means very little if she is dead and the next person has control of the army."

Yes. Recalling the young woman David had met several times before, that did seem likely. Starting to see what Qubine might be arriving at, David chanced a guess. "You would like Athlum to protect her?" It would also be to Athlum's benefit to see the right person succeed Qubine.

"To a certain extent."

"To a certain extent?"

Qubine smirked. "Lord David, I know this is a little early for you yet, but have you thought about marriage?"

Ah, that would explain why there was no one else present in the room, not even the aides Qubine always had with him.

A union between Athlum and Celapaleis. That would create a greater land, greater than Athlum and Celapaleis individually combined. It would mean many things, and most of them were good.

But...

Qubine eyed him. "There is already someone, isn't there?"

David hesitated to answer. If it was for Athlum, for his people... could he do it? "What does her ladyship say?"

"Whatever will be best for the people." Qubine carefully slid off his seat. "Have a think about it. There is no hurry, Da... Lord David. My body will hold for another few years, I'm putting this to you now in case you are already thinking about marriage. But who knows what will happen in a few years' time? The world changes so rapidly these days."

They were almost at the door when they stopped again. The proposition was not something David could wrap his mind around so easily, but he still knew what it meant on a personal level. "Lord Qubine, thank you for your trust in me."

The boy-duke smirked at him again. "In case it is a deciding factor, rest assured that you would not be required to wear such terrifying garb." He gestured at himself.

David returned to Athlum at sunset. Rush was waiting for him at the audience chamber.

"How was your meeting? What did Qubine want to talk to you about?"

Rush received no verbal reply, but he hugged back when David held him tight.

"Dave?"