#forced start

[wily-fox]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Salsa AU - “Forced start” 

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Note: current chapter contains a brief scene of poisoning and a non-graphic description of the injury. Please, be careful. 

[wily-fox]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Salsa AU - “Forced start”

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[wily-fox]

Salsa AU - “Forced start”

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I think I will color pages this way. And I changed font a bit (frezer font medium is my favorite |･ω･))

[wily-fox]

Salsa AU - “Forced start”

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Please, read :)

I`m sorry. As it turned out I overestimated my skills in drawing comics (primarily the background, lol) and... I also overestimated my patience. Unfortunately I just don`t have enough perseverance to draw a page. And when I see that the comic strip is moving in a snail's footstep (literally), I'm covered by a slight panic. So I decided to act differently and start expressing my thoughts in the form of text.

I never wrote 1) for a wide audience and 2) in English. And yet this is a whole chapter (let's still be proud to call this drabble "chapter"). I would like to sincerely ask you to read it.

And to answer my only pressing question: is it generally readable (and understandable) or not?

“Where`s it?! Where`s your fucking spell?!!” Rus impatiently growled into the phone. This whole situation so pissed him off that it was just impossible to restrain the rage that was rattling inside his bones.

“Ohoho~ Why should I even tell you?” Muffet laughed in return. “You are so silly! We are enemies; do you remember that, dear? Or did this knowledge completely faded from your skull while you were running? Besides,” she coughed, “I don't want to miss the show~”

“It`s not a show you, filthy spider bitch! It's a murder!!” Rus looked worriedly at the police station, but so far everything was quiet.

“…”

“Don`t forget to greet my warrior, Rus,” Muffet hissed low and then hung up the phone. The conversation was interrupted.

“The fuck!!!” Skeleton so tightly gripped the tube in his bony hand that it slightly creaked.

From where the hell did this bitch know about Edge?! Nobody, nobody knew about him! Except his baby bro and Gerson, of course. But they couldn't tell anyone, right? They were silent until this moment!! Crap… Crap!..

Rus kicked the trash can which stood in front of him in that alleyway where he was, and sharp pain in the leg a little calmed him down. Okay, right now he needs to concentrate. There will be time for righteous anger but later. If she really wants to hurt Edge, then the process is already running. He must hurry up.

Skeleton inhaled the warm summer air and slowly exhaled it back. Shutting down his sockets a little and crossing arms over his chest, he sank deep into thoughts.

Okay, Rus. Let`s think. She told you she cast some spell on Edge. But spider bitch doesn't really need him, right? As usual, she needs you. And Edge just... a live bait. Your death in the process of his rescue will be real pleasure for Muffet.

Rus put the phone in his hoodie pocket and began to walk slowly back and forth along the alleyway lightly swaying his head. These weird actions were a kind of his personal way of dealing with emotions and he liked it.

But, well, probably he looked strange from the side.

It's unlikely that she started a countdown for a powerful destruction spell to kill you. Even she won`t be able to manage with the consequences of her actions if she takes down a couple of blocks and kills a bunch of monsters. Yes, this is your certain death, but at what cost? No, no.

And Phoebe is here (it was Phoebe there with Edge, right?), she won`t kill her. Muffet never touches her girls. No, no way, nope. Massive destruction spells are unambiguously excluded.

Rus stopped and looked again at the police station in front of him.

Then it's more likely that this is something targeted. Like a curse. That will allow selectively harm only to Edge. In that case, Phoebe acts as a courier, which means the spell is with her.

But it could be in the car though...

Or in his house.

Or in his locker at the police station... Fuck, almost anywhere, where he's more than five minutes per day. Even in that stupid mini mart with the flashy signs where he buys groceries every time he goes home!

But! But. As far as you know, curses strike only their aims. And Edge is a bait. So, whatever curse Muffet theoretically uses, it must also hurt you. Otherwise it just doesn't make any sense…

Arrgh! Yeah, okay. You should check all the places then. What else could it be?

The more Rus thought, the more he realized that in fact the options that Maffet could do with the edgy skeleton were countless. And he had no time to sort through all of them. He thinks too much. In this situation time is too valuable to make wild guesses. Even if he has no idea what kind of spell or curse is imposed on Edge, one thing is certain - sharp skeleton in danger. And, therefore, Rus should be next to him.

The skeleton nodded to his thoughts in approval and reached for the small bag that hung on his belt. After a short search among the small colored jars with incomprehensible liquids and amulets of various shapes, he took out white leather gloves. Most part of them were occupied by a huge metal circle with triangular ornament and inclusions of small orange gems; around the circle was embroidered something that looks like sun rays. Both, the threads and the gems, slightly sparked even in the half-darkness of the alleyway and seemed to shine from within. The center was simpler and only contained one metal lightning framed by the same threads.

Rus took off his old gloves and put on a new ones; soft leather slightly creaked around his bony hands. Sending the usual gloves into the bag, their owner hurried to the exit from the alley. He crossed the road, walked past the numerous police cars in the parking lot and, easily ran up the stairs, reached for the door handle. At the same time, Rus took his long-suffering phone from his pocket and pressed the speed-dial key. Before talking with Edge, he should have made one very important call.  

And no one, nor the lanky skeleton monster passing through the double doors, nor the officers basking in the morning sun, saw the black spider`s paws began to erupt out from a strange pouch under the back seat of the car that had recently arrived to the police station parking lot.

I finally figured out my headcanons about the magic in Salsa AU (hooray!).

First of all, there are 3 general types:

1) Formative magic (this is the basic magic that forms the monster's body, in particular ecto-parts);

2) Personal magic (this form of magic is used to attack and/or defend: bones, fireballs, etc.);

3) Applied magic (magic schemes in monster phones, computers, and such).

However, in addition to this, there is also the fourth type - special magic - which only singular monsters have. The main reason is that this magic is quite powerful and dangerous, both for those who use it (it needs to be trained in order not to hurt yourself) and for others (because some spells can literally turn mountains over).

The primary thing that gives access to special magic (and the main source of energy for the battle spells) is Runes. No Rune - no special magic. Some simple spells can, of course, be used by ordinary monsters (due to the energy of his soul: divination, for example) but the main admission to the fourth type of magic gives only Rune (like a beacon to gather more powerful energy than a monster's soul). In addition to the Runes in this AU applies alchemical symbols, amulets, potions, herbs, and other similar stuff.

Rune-patron for Rus is Sowelu (Sun). Rune of light and fire, it carries solar energy. Form of Sowelu is lightning; this is another meaning of the Rune. Although lightning and sun are different forces, but they have one thing in common: both are manifestations of the fire element.

Stone of this Rune – amber/ruby, metal – gold, color – white, element – air:

>>1) Source for Runes (on Russian, because I didn`t find another. Sorry);

    2) You should know that I just simply tried to find the rune in shape of lightning;

    3) Threads and metal circle on gloves contains gold, small orange stones are amber;

   4) Color of Rune is white, but I drew pattern on black background for better looking, not because I found out about the color in the last moment, no;

    5) Also source for alchemical symbols on the pouch (Mars, Steel and Caput Mortuum)<<

Thank you for reading! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

[wily-fox]

Salsa AU - “Forced start”

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OK, I finally did it!  ＼(￣▽￣)／ Yay!!

But I'm not very satisfied with the color on this page, that`s why I`ll try to find a better decision (for your eyes and for my time). 

So don`t be surprised if the next page will be veeery different from this one  |_・)

[wily-fox]

Salsa AU - “Forced start”

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Maybe I`ll try one more coloring style on next page. I dunno, I just... not satisfied with this one on 100%...

[wily-fox]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Salsa AU - “Forced start”

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Note: I slightly edited the tags, added "Body Horror" and "Poisoning" (the last one will be applied to the next chapter though). Maybe I'll add more...   

[wily-fox]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

I uploaded this part of "Forced start" on Ao3 so next time I'll use "under the cut" (especially since the following chapter will be longer). But I think that most part of Salsa AU still will be on tumblr. 

P.S. Please tell me If I missed something ┬┴┬┴┤(･_├┬┴┬┴