Next Turn: SDS (Survive the Digital Sacrifice) by @the-spam-specialist and @Gaymez (?) !
Wheel -/- THIRD SPIN
SDS Master Post !
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Next Turn: SDS (Survive the Digital Sacrifice) by @the-spam-specialist and @Gaymez (?) !
Wheel -/- THIRD SPIN
SDS Master Post !
made the thing for my friend but i have nothing else to show u, so...
First up for the rewrite!
Princess Elizabeth! Well kinda, her motives are similar to cannon. Shes not seen as a real princess in her castle and is kinda seen as bad luck. Mercy is something that can be taken in two directions to those around it. After all even death is a mercy some times. Her farther and sisters truly love her but the workers, knights and cictizens dislike her because she was born after the Queen's death and no mother to be seen.
So Story wise Elizabeth is still the MC and after the war reached Liones which is seen more as a religious and pacifist unless pushed. Elizabeth decided to go another route than what others had plan.
Elizabeth felt ill every time she heard any mention of the war and decided to go to the heart of the problem to fix it. The Seven deadly Sins, people of legends almost long forgotten at this point. But they were the ones to start the war, she also knows their punishments and the fact they could barely reach a holy knights potential right now.
She is surprised the first Sin she meets is the Sin of wrath.
Very surprised considering he's a joyful young tavern owner with a talking pig. Nothing like the demon of legend, the only thing that confirmed he was one of the people she was looking for was the branding on his arm.
A horrible punishment for any being of magic, the magic used for the punishment was one of a kind nothing to be used again or any records of being used before.
It locked their magic or anything of the sort. It took account for ages and factors into one's life but left the users as pretty much normal humans who lived longer or taller or small it left them stuck.
Elizabeth plans to prove they have reformed, that the stories were wrong and these good people shouldn't live like this. They have to be after all, they want to find each other and help!
Unfortunately, unknown to her, their actions where not overstated. Their worst moments will define them. And its not the first time they have been grouped together, they are actually quite found of each other.
So Meliodas had always had a hard time keeping a good sleep schedule in the human realm cuz of the whole nocturnal thing, and over the past 3000 years he had been running on nothing but stress, not letting himself rest for even a moment as he tried to figure out how to break the curses he and Elizabeth had.
Because of this, when the curses were finally broken- or rather, when it actually hit him that it was all over- the mental, physical and emotional exhaustion all caught up to him at once, and he just kind of... Collapsed.
He was out for DAYS, if not WEEKS, as his body was desperately trying to catch up to him again. The sins were growing more concerned with each day their captain didn't wake up, but they let him sleep as per Merlin's instructions.
I’m thinking of an offset AU of Superstar Daycare Secrets where Sun ends up in the SAMS universe. The portal is broken and that universe collapsed somehow, so SDS Sun is stuck there.
I imagine they somehow tame him. Not in a “oh I won’t kill anymore” kind of way, but in a sort of “I won’t kill you guys SPECIFICALLY” kind of way.
He’s still quite violent, as it’s engrained in his code, but he redirects his violence. He forms relationships with most of the cast that varies.
He HATES:
-Ruin
-Bloodmoon
-Stitchwraith
He’s NEUTRAL ABOUT:
-Moon
-Solar
-Lunar
-Earth
He LIKES:
-Eclipse
He REALLY LIKES:
-Sun
Meliodas Never "Betrays" the Demons Au
Season 1 Pt.1
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Trigger Warnings: brief discussion of suicidal ideation, implied neglect, implied violence, implied annihilation of a city, dead animal, eating said dead animal, magical mind fuckery
________________________________________________
first episode and prologue to the Adventures!
---two mothers in a place that’s no place for kids —
Far, far, away in ye olde land of Britannia, there’s a fortress in the depths of a forest that serves as the last line of defense for the small, growing kingdom of Liones. The capabilities of the warriors within are unknown, but over the years, they have saved whole research centers from extermination, which, in turn, prevents the downfall of Liones - a kingdom formed in the gritty jaws of the most unexplored, wild sections of Britannia. They say the first village there persisted on nothing but hope and spite - which could be said for most villages, if you understand the ins and outs of living sustainably, but I digress - but it has a pretty good sized population now. The skilled use of the information therein and quantity of holy knights has landed Liones a reputation as one of the safest small kingdoms in the entirety of Britannia.
The leader of this fortress, Wilmot Fane, is leading a ceremony on the summer equinox: a heartfelt celebration of how far she and her team have come in the past ten years. They are now capable of defending their kingdom from “natural disasters” without having to pay for outside help. When she and her girlfriend go back to their quarters for the night, they feel a dark presence and draw their swords. Wilmot notices a winged silhouette standing on their balcony and motions for them to put their swords down. The girlfriend, seeing the stranger, doesn’t think that’s a good idea - but Wilmot awkwardly explains that she knew this person, and that she’s mentioned it before.
This is told in like ? minutes. just glimpses of memory. Like so:
druid mission, though she can’t feel the “mission”: The cold from the mountains wouldn’t be so bad if she had chosen to be here. A girl sweeping a set of steps that are grimy beyond saving with a pressure hose, and definitely not with a broom, is thinking that to herself. She slips, barely catching herself but smearing grime across her clothing as she does so. There are other kids - you hear them talking and walking through the hallways as she makes her way through the darkness of the evening, but you don’t see them. She slips into a room, bows, explains what happened while one hand cradles a bruised arm. The looks on the adults’ faces say it all. There are a lot of kids, all visible, but the girl doesn’t exist to them, nor do they to her. They are nice enough, but this isn’t where she belongs. The black-and-blue figure nestled under her bed is cold too, but only because of the weather, and because she didn’t get him that soup she promised. she says ‘Sorry...’ and he chuckles at her, saying he is lucky just to have the company while he heals. he is warm and a person and not something to be struck down with thoughtless violence. He covers her in swirls of warm, purple magic as she crawls under the bed. Magic is what she wants to see more of, and not the scriptures she sees less god in than in a crow creeping along the ground, in the wildlands crawling with life and death in equal measure while she sits here, not a part of it at all.
to prevent a civil war: Out of view people are talking in low, downfallen tones, murmuring, and a frustrated woman in a full set of armor is walking into a secured meeting hall. She leaves the room, and the closing door blots out the sunlight, leaving her in a dark hallway with the blue, orange, and red tones of sparse medieval decor fading to dull brown and grey. After walking a short distance, she sinks to her knees in defeat. She’s called to a meeting with the people she looks up to - not because of her skill and accomplishments but because everyone is dying, dying before they can come up with answers as to why. What can she, who has yet to become a full knight, do against a tragedy that almost feels... supernatural? Wait...
Should I expand more on that? Idk, let’s get back to the story
Wilmot made the acquaintance of a wounded demon as a child, saving him from her druid leaders by dragging him into the one place they’d never look: inside their own damn house. He had been shot down from the sky (where he had been minding his own business, according to her), breaking bones and almost knocking him unconscious. When she had helped nurse him back to full health with her druid magic, he thanked her and flew off again. Two months later, after going to bed in tears of frustration as she often did, she woke up in a completely different place with the demon standing over her. He said cheerfully that he had been watching over her and heard her complain about not being able to leave and fulfill her dreams of becoming a knight, and he decided to come back for her. After explaining that this was called kidnapping and please talk to the next person before you randomly take them from their bed, she thanked him. He asked her to help him choose a new home since he wanted to live with people again. After their quest was complete, and he had taught her all the survival skills he could, the demon brought her to this fortress and she began her apprenticeship.
When civil war threatened to break out due to nightly slaughterings of humans in major towns, Wilmot visited him at his new home and asked if demons could also grant blessings. She thought something like that would help resolve the situation. The investigation was going nowhere fast. All participants would eventually report feeling a magical presence and something watching them. They would be found lying outside, mauled and unrecognizable, several days later. He told her that they could grant blessings - usually for a price - but it would be easier and more entertaining to just solve the mystery himself. In exchange, she owed him a favor of his choice.
Learning that your partner owes a mystery favor to a mythological creature that isn’t supposed to exist anymore is, by rule, terrifying. The number of emotions that went through Fortune Hopton as her partner let the demon inside was not ideal for thinking on her feet, so she just stared as the firelight in the room revealed a small child holding an infant.
His golden hair was matted, his clothes stained with mud and torn in places that made the two women suspect he was injured. But the infant herself seemed to be in pristine condition and was sleeping soundly in his arms.
“I have no home again.” His voice, utterly toneless yet soft, sent shivers down her spine. “I know you would welcome me under any circumstance, even though it’s not easy to explain a stranger’s presence here. So. Hello.”
“Hello, Meliodas. I’m so sorry to hear about your home.”
“Mm. I’m grieving,” he replied. “Except for me and her -” here he indicated the baby. “- there’s no one left alive. They were slaughtered. I . . . I came here out of desperation.”
It was the same thing Wilmot had told him.
“I’m glad you thought to come here. You’re welcome to stay for as long as you like. I’ll make sure none of my friends bother you if you want some space.”
“I destroyed the ruins of the city in a fit of rage. I’ll probably be blamed for the massacre. I don’t want you - or her - to get caught up in this mess. All the other people I trust who are still alive aren’t human. So . . . I . . . I need a favor. Could you make this child yours?”
The women gaped at him. Most people would not say yes to this, demon promise or no demon promise. But these two weren’t even thinking about the promise as they responded. Most people would never consider spontaneously adopting a child. Just like most druids would not save or try to befriend a demon.
“Sir - Sir Meliodas,” Fotrune stammered, “are you serious? You want us to have this kid? I know you’ve met my partner, but you don’t know me . . . are you okay with entrusting her to us?”
“I am. If you’re willing to do this for me.” He hesitated for a moment before asking, “What do you think of all this?”
“Oh,” Wilmot said, practically glowing. “I’m thinking, demons do really give blessings after all.” She choked on her laughter. Even now she couldn’t help being a big sap. “Though, I wasn’t trying to - this is quite possibly the worst thing that could have happened to you both . . .”
He actually smiled at that. “I was hoping I’d get to see you smile before I have to go. I never seem to visit you at a good time.”
“In your defense, there are no good times. Don’t you want to sit for a moment?”
“I’d never get up.”
She didn’t press him any further. “Does the kid have a name?”
The demon looked at the child, then back at them. “You can name her whatever you like.”
“Then we’ll think about it. And, hey. I still owe you a favor after this. So don’t hesitate to come back if you ever need anything.”
“I won’t. Hesitate, I mean. I rarely do.”
“I don’t either. I’ll do right by the child. I promise you.”
“We both will.”
He breathed a sigh of weariness and relief. Then he placed the baby securely in her new mother’s arms. His arms twitched, fingers flexing when he backed away as if he didn’t know what to do with them. He must have been holding her tight like that for quite some time. Possibly since the disaster.
“I’ll be seeing you again. Don’t start thinking I’ve been killed or anything.”
“Be well, okay?”
He didn’t answer that.
After some thought, they named the girl Elizabeth. Their friends suggested it, saying the name meant, “God’s oath.” A fitting name for the most precious responsibility they’d ever taken on.
At 6, she proclaimed that she would be an adventurer. At 9, she ran away to prove she would rather stay at the fortress than move to the city and live a normal life. At 11, she had massacred ten apple pies, each baked good worse than the last. At 12, she was the best tree climber out of all the knights. At 16, she vowed she would ride a dragon one day. At 20, she had mapped out more wildlands beyond the fortress than anyone had dared to in the past ten years. Her portrait hung with the other knights’, her delighted face more innocent in her enthusiasm than as she held up the prize of her first solo mission, a relic she had recovered from the ruined city of Marakia. A carved stone of a woman’s face and stars in her hair. A part of a dangerous ancient relic, but to her, it’s just a good luck charm.
- - - Elizabeth
Here we've got an Elizabeth that's resourceful, emotionally intelligent, and selfless. She's a competent adventurer, praised and depended on, but she's soon to find out that her skills and knowledge won't be enough to save her kingdom from this mystery threat. In fact, they're woefully inadequate for the task. Which brings her to one conclusion: she's going to need help.
Can this socially naive, passionate badass save the kingdom she's sworn to protect? Can the strangers please hear her out why are they always running away from her? Will her mothers’ plan to unite the outposts against the growing threat succeed? Why is she lugging around this stone carving with her? Will she ever ride a dragon or stop having to stab monsters in the face at the last second to save her own life? Find out next time on a seven deadly sins spinoff that doesn't exist!
(pls throw your plot ideas here. I will write more you cannot stop me but if you give me a crumb of something you’d like to see well I’ll work that in. I will come back and update this I’m serious)
Ideas include:
- crashing through a bar in order to escape the holy knights
- classic overly friendly girl in a small town energy. Except slightly, slightly feral. She tries to warn everyone of danger and everyone’s like who are you what are you doing. literately what are you climbing onto the podium that’s not what it’s for. stop that.
- The fortress knights ask Elizabeth’s moms why they’re not sending a search party out for Elizabeth, who after all told no one before she left because she thought the corruption had infiltrated her home. They say that she’s a smart girl and soon she’ll realize she’s in over her head and come back home for help (or something like that). The screen cuts to Elizabeth bashing a vicious creature in the head with a battle cry.
I don’t know how exactly but she has to get knocked down (metaphorically) pretty hard. And it has to be poignant. How would a random 20-year-old who’s lived on the outskirts of society, basically cozying up to the Creatures, her whole life would really go about trying to save a kingdom that a) has no idea who she is, she’s not even in the magical identity database where everyone is, wtf, where did this girl come from? and b) is made up of mostly small towns/villages where no one in their right mind would go ‘adventuring’ into the countryside, much less get involved in some sort of unknown vague crisis problem, nope nope, move along conspiracy theory girl
episode 2!
--- fateful encounter ---
A walk through the forest. The most dangerous part of the forest where “only fools” aka people without the skills to handle it, would go. It was the last place she wanted to be when the snow was still falling over her head like an anointment of failure. At least the bruises were numb. That’s what she told herself as she trudged on. She had to go somewhere. Find some answers.
A flicker of light. She couldn’t believe what her eyes were telling her for a second. The cold and the dark went hand in hand this time of year, and she knew better than anyone that there were no bioluminescent creatures in this part of the kingdom.
Her whole body seemed to turn, seeking out the light that was, to her troubled mind, as soothing the heat of a fireplace on her back. Consumed by it, she came closer and closer until she sidestepped a hedge and parted the leaves to find the source: a large campfire, a crackling dark purple flame the likes of which she has never seen. It was warm and absolutely devoid of smoke. A smile crept across her face as she stared in wonder. There were other sounds, too, besides the fire and what she recognized as the wildlife. Crunching. Tearing. After a long moment, her eyes lifted from that frame to take in the rest of the scene. The carcass of a bear and several scattered bones. And behind that, a man, tearing the flesh with his teeth. He brought his face up from his meal to chew and Elizabeth saw his mouth and bare chest were drenched in blood. Sharp purple claws held the bear in place.
“S. . . Sorry to interrupt your meal-”
He looked up, face contorted in shock.
“-but would you happen to know where the. . . the nearest. . . ” Shoot. Deliberately not thinking meant she had no clever opening to start with. “. . . ah, actually, I do know this area, and exactly what direction and where the nearest town is. I just thought, hey, look, is that a campfire? I sure would like to see the intelligent soul who managed to start a fire in this weather. So, hello.”
The man swallowed. Blood flowed down his chin - it looked like he’d taken a mouthful of it. There was a kind of raw horror in his eyes that, coupled with the firelight dancing across his face, made her stomach twist with guilt.
“I know, right? What are the chances you’d meet another person in this neck of the woods?”
“H...heh... you’re not even screaming.” His voice was rough from lack of use and full of a kind of amazement that saddened her. She had encountered that same feeling many times in the wilderness, and the bloody scene before her felt as comfortable and intimate as her own bedroom as she drew closer to him.
“I’m not a heathen. I know people eat bears. Though, I hope whatever species of creature you are can eat raw meat. Because that’s RAW raw. Like it was still alive when you started eating it, raw.”
He blinked. Then his claws moved, bear slouching noticeably as they did so, and he patted the space next to him on the log. She sat, tucking her pack away where blood wouldn't drip on it.
“We don’t cook meat.” The note of melancholy rang in her ears. “It’s . . . delicious just the way it is.”
She took a hard look at the - uh - flesh, trying to imagine how raw meat would taste if it was any good. “Um, like a mixture of good things,” she finally said. “Like . . .” she remembered the meals in the wilderness with the knights, and the stews she loved at home, “. . . nice juice and crunchy things. I’m imagining that’s what it tastes like. Plus it always feels kind of sacred when you’re eating a meal you hunted for.”
He took a human-sized bite. Then, after a second, took another - because of course he wouldn’t have been eating like that all this time if it didn’t have some kind of benefit. She appreciated the attempt at politeness but wanted to laugh.
“Actually, I’ve eaten raw bugs before! Those tasted good. Like little hard candies. But meat.”
“... I think I’ll call you Candy. Just for that.”
As far as an alias went, it wasn’t . . . bad. But no. “Please call me Elizabeth. That’s my name and it’s quite a good one too. I’ve met six or seven Elizabeths in my life.”
“I’ve met more than that in my lifetime,” he replied, and she nodded in approval.
“We could form a cult of just Elizabeths. I wonder if anyone’s ever tried to do that. But anyway, will you tell me your name?”
“I’ll skip that question.”
“Okay.” Elizabeth reached down to pull a small piece of bread and some fresh leaves from her pack. “Want a leaf?”
“A leaf?”
“Vegetable,” she said helpfully.
A tendril of dark magic reached over and plucked the leaves out of her grasp. “Don’t eat random stuff you find in the woods.”
“Oh! Oh, well - ” Fascination from witnessing an unfamiliar magic made her forget her handpicked vegetables had just been tossed unceremoniously onto the floor. “ - you see, I’m actually a bit of an expert in that area.”
Her bread had warmed by the time she finished explaining how she was not, in fact, eating random plants, but plants she had been studying since childhood. After what she’d call a passable show of knowledge, the man seemed convinced, and gingerly and quickly handed her vegetables back to her. A quick glance assured her he had succeeded on not dripping blood onto them.
Elizabeth didn’t know if this question was appropriate, but well, what else to ask? “What brings you this far into the wildlands?”
“My pack is gone, and it’s all my fault,” he responded, muttering “again” as he took another bite. “Ohhh, that doesn’t sound good.” She searched his face for some kind of clue as to whether they were alive or dead. ”Do you want to talk about it? I’m a good listener.”
“Hm.” He stared into the fire. “Well. It’s because of this.” He pointed to where his forehead held a dark spiral that bled down past his eye.
“Wha- they couldn’t handle meeting someone of a different clan!?”
A strangled, shocked kind of laugh was his immediate response. Then he swiveled to look her in the eye. “There’s a whole lot of good reasons they could have been apprehensive. Even some reasons to kill me on sight.” “Don’t talk like -”
“I’m a demon. It was never going to go well but it’s just my goddamned luck that it came out at the worst time and wrecked what was left of our trust in the process.”
“. . . Ah . . .”
His pretty, raspy voice held the sharp edge of rage. “I’m supposed to be stuck in the Demon Realm right now, and trust me, I’d like nothing more. I’ve . . . I’ve tried everything.” A bitter, exhausted demon, alone in the woods.
Elizabeth frowned at him and tried to speak as gently as possible. “What happened?”
“Ah -” he choked. “I - uh - “
“Oh, you don’t have to -”
“No, just, you caring startled me. I can tell you were actually being sincere when you said that. . . and for me, that’s rare.”
“I can see how that could happen, considering no one back there in the city seemed to care about what I had to say at all. And I’m just trying to catch some murderers. I wasn’t asking for them to understand me as a person or anything, or to help me save the whole damn kingdom.”
He nodded slowly. “I . . . was sent to trial, and spared a while ago, on one condition. That I helped fulfill some ancient prophecy passed along the generations of the Liones family. I’m not opposed to making sure some idiot doesn’t make the world more of a hellhole than it already is, so of course I said yes. I can’t die by normal means anyway so it was like a gift with two parts. It would have been really awkward if they tried to stab me and I, just, didn’t die. I only just realized how convenient it was while I’ve been sitting here in this forest. I realized I . . . it kind of destroyed me, when they left . . . not just because, I thought we could really . . . be something . . . but also that it had awakened some ancient part of me that I thought I’d strangled long ago. I can’t believe it, but for a second there I really thought I could have some greater purpose. Be a part of something again. Some kind of reason to keep breathing that doesn’t die as the seasons pass.”
“I understand.” Elizabeth tried to communicate with her eyes that she truly meant it. That she had come close to feeling like just another leaf that will wither and die, the day her mothers told her they were considering moving to the city just so she could have a “the kind of peaceful, ordinary life that a kid should have.” She would never forget that scare. Her whole world almost escaped. She couldn’t imagine what he was going through when his world had actually left.
“I spent, what, ten or so years tracking down the people foretold by the prophecy. I’m appointed as their captain and we start to get to know each other. And I . . . lived. Actually lived. I didn’t know if I’d ever get that again. So three years go by and there’s all kinds of trouble between us, but I’m like, that’s to be expected. You throw seven of the most “I’ve got baggage!” people in Britannia together and of course we’re gonna clash like no tomorrow. But hey, maybe we can get through it together, right?” His mouth twitched in a tiny, tragic smile. “It could have turned out that way. That’s what hurts the most. If I weren’t such a colossal fuckup when it comes to people, I could have done better. I tried to do better. But stuff started coming out at the worst possible time, when tensions were already at a breaking point.”
He took another huge bite of bear flesh, crunching bones between his teeth. “You have to understand. Merlin’s not a bad person. She was raised like I was, a weapon with no knowledge of feelings. She’s a kid. A kid. I don’t know how long she’s been around and I don’t know how long she’s been up to that - cult god stuff - or how long that thing’s been digging inside her head. But she wasn’t a lost cause. I had to try to help. It all came out . . . like that . . . and it just . . . everything got quiet and I could feel it like a stake through the heart. Just fell apart.” He exhaled. She had no idea how he said all that in one go and still had breath left to exhale so sharply. “I couldn’t stop it.”
“Why . . . they didn’t try to talk it out? A-”
Crack. She barely registered he had moved because of the lack of change in his expression. But she didn’t miss the meaning, or how he then gestured to the broken pieces as they fell dramatically to the dirt.
“Yes, that’s how talking usually turns out in- I’ve watched arguments. I mean, afterwards, when you’ve all cooled down and . . . what?
From the look on his face, she could tell there had been no “waiting to resume the discussion until they’ve had time to ruminate on their thoughts.” No “cooling down.”
“What?” She repeated,her shock twisting her voice into a whisper before it picked up again. “Excuse me, I don’t know your circumstances, but I can’t imagine what could . . . After three years together. . .”
“They didn’t have anywhere to go when they came here. Just like me. But they couldn’t . . . couldn’t find the way to be comfortable with each other, I guess, and when push came to shove, well, they made up their minds. They decided there was nothing to fight for.”
He was staring into the fire again, the dancing flame deepening in color. Elizabeth watched his face and noticed a hint of longing there with the emptiness. “And the ones who didn’t resent me, well, they had better things to do than stick around.”
“It sounds like. . .” she murmured.
He crunched a bone.
“Is there a way I can help? I, also, have nowhere to be. Except home. I can’t do that yet though.”
“Not yet?”
That was dodging the question, but Elizabeth didn’t mind. “I have something I need to accomplish, but as it happens, I’m confident I can help you out while I’m at it. Not just saying it . . . to say it . . . like people sometimes do, for some reason.”
He hummed, staring into the fire. “Maybe. You got something that could kill a cursed demon for realsies?” She gave him a look. “Plotting your own suicide isn’t going to do anything.”
“It’ll do something, alright.”
“Bullshit.”
He choked on his food. The coughing fit sent her into a peal of laughter. She smacked him on the back until he looked like he could breathe again. He choked again, this time on some choice words, if she had to guess. She did hit a little hard. But a minute turned into two, turned into five, and she recognized with horror that he had nothing to say.
She couldn’t tease him about being awkward after he said such a mortifying thing. He couldn’t refute her, she couldn’t refute him. All that was left was the method that had failed her so badly back in the city. Could she try it again?
Elizabeth took a deep breath.
“I think you’re worth fighting for.”
He said nothing. Kept chewing his food. She kept watching the fire. It struck her with suprise when his hand came to rest on hers. It was warm, very warm, and just a little wet.
Her smile came so easily, light springing back into her voice as she spoke.
“As it happens, I’m going on a journey myself. To save the kingdom. You could come with me. It’ll definitely take your mind off all this, and even if you’re not in a saving-the-world kind of headspace, I’d still appreciate the company.”
“For you, my company would be more trouble than it’s worth. On top of it all, me and my friends are fugitives now. Yep. We’ve been exiled from Liones.”
“What a coincidence! I am also, somehow, a fugitive.”
He looked at her like she’d grown a second pair of arms.
“Yeah I know, I haven’t even been out of my homeland two weeks and now I’m in trouble with the Holy Knights for reasons I don’t understand. You should have seen some of the looks people gave me. Yikes.”
“Now that’s strange.”
“I thought so. I’m sure it’s part of the scheme. But I’m still trying to investigate what the scheme is for, so I don’t have time to worry about whatever habits city people have that I don’t.” She shifted her legs to point her feet more at the fire. The snow was soaking into her shoes again. “Yeah, I have schemes of my own to worry about. I don’t care if they think I’m some kind of lunatic. If I have to be a lunatic . . . I will.”
“Bold words.”
“Yeah, I’m good at that.”
“Sticking to them will be more difficult than you imagine.”
She scoffed. Took a deep breath. “Everything’s more difficult than I can imagine.”
Accepting that, the demon surveyed the mostly fleshless carcass one last time. He took the last bit of meat between his teeth and pried it almost gently it off the bone, swallowing the small bite like a delicacy.
“You understanding that means you have a chance at success.”
Elizabeth took a thoughtful breath, her stomach twisting as she foolishly imagined how the raw organs might have tasted to him. Blood and bits of flesh sank into the snow as he nudged the leftovers away from the fire with one foot.
Another deep breath, because the anxiety was starting to crowd her brain again. “I want to ask you something.”
He tilted his head to gaze up into the sky, but she thought his hand gripped hers a little tighter. Their interlocking fingers carried a warmth that melted the black sludge in her minds into something lighter. She could feel the same happening in her companion, and that gave her the confidence to ask this next, vital question.
“Would you still fight for them?”
A painful sounding inhale. “I would.”
“Excellent.” She stood up, legs trembling just a bit as movement shot blood through them. “Let’s search for them together.”
Elizabeth didn’t get out another word before her companion recoiled, falling backward. “Whoa!” She registered the closeness of his face before her brain caught up to what had just happened. Her knee had hit the log, though she’d managed to catch him by throwing an arm around his back. “Easy. Are you-”
“What are you saying?” It was a command, but she didn’t notice, too occupied with how those purple eyes glowed even as her shadow blocked out the firelight.
“Just what I said. Let’s find your friends so you can tell them what’s on your heart. If you would set out on a journey for them, then, you could do it. Like you said, right? Even if you don’t succeed, the fact you set out in the first place has meaning in itself. So you can have peace. I’ll do what I can to help you fix the misunderstandings.”
His eyes locked onto their still-joined hands. “You . . . fuck . . . “ That voice wavered like . . . like this was the first time he’d seen the sun in years. It clamped down on her heart like a fist.
“Hey, “ she said, feeling ridiculous as all hell now. “What do you think “I think you’re worth fighting for” means?”
The bloodstained demon’s blank expression broke into a smile, the first she’d seen on him. An incredulous one, but whatever.
“. . . It’s okay, right? For me to care. . .?”
The rigidness flowed out of his body as quickly as it came. “Yes. Thank you.” His smile was so warm. “Could you say it again? And sit with me. Please.”
“Okay.” She got back down on the log. “Stranger. Tell me your name. And come with me on a journey. Even if you’re not in a place where saving the kingdom is a thing you can do, I’d sure appreciate the company.”
“I can’t.”
“Hu-”
“I can’t tell you my name.” He pried the words out of his mind like nails out of wood. “I can’t claim it anymore. Not after what happened.” His other hand wound into his golden hair, pulling hard at the strands. “I can’t.” Hard swallow, and his voice dropped to a shaky whisper. “I can’t call myself . . . can’t be this version of me if I want to accomplish anything - which, I’m deciding I do. If I don’t go back . . . to that ruthless person I used to be . . . I can’t win. I can’t win against the gods, or the fate they damned me to. Kindness isn’t enough for that battle. I’ll be killed. No, obliterated.”
“Do not do that. That sounds like exactly what the gods want - for you to backtrack and scramble all your progress. And anyway, that won’t work. To fight injustice you need the kindness of many people. Not just one. Ruthlessness can’t replace that. I’m only failing my quest because - no, I’m NOT failing, and neither are you. We - ah, damn, it sucks, but we hit a roadblock. It has nothing to do with our ability at this point. We’re alone and we can’t accomplish goals like these by ourselves. We gotta find people who believe in us. We can work together to find them. Or, at least, I can help you. So you can’t claim your identity right now.” She searched his eyes for his reaction. “You can still come with me. We can do this. My moms and friends are more than capable of taking care of everything back at home, and as long as no one suspicious thinks I’m a threat, I’ve got lots of time before the conspiracies start turning into action. They’re still in the plotting stages, but -”
“I’m coming with you.” The demon interjected. “I can help you save the kingdom. I can’t forgive the court for not even hearing me out, or for treating my friends so harshly, but I can’t help but feel an affinity for the people.” She couldn’t comprehend the softness in his gaze - this deep compassion from a demon who was ostracized everywhere he went. “I don’t want to stop trying just because people are terrible to me.”
“I - I’m glad. Welcome aboard, my nameless new friend.”
A laugh tumbled out of him. The hand she wasn’t holding shot to his face in an attempt to muffle it. Then, failing that, grabbed at her cheek, missed, and pinched her nose instead. She loosened her grip on his hand when he drew hers up to his mouth and kissed it with fierce reverence. After seconds of holding it there, against his lips - which drew an embarrassed giggle out of her - his face melted into a genuine, peaceful smile, as freely as if he were the most familiar person in the world.
“You’re gorgeous,” she told him. “That smile, I mean.”
His breath hitched audibly. For a minute she thought he might have gotten cramps. Those purple eyes glistened, moisture sparkling in the firelight.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m not sure this is real. That my mind hasn’t just deteriorated so much that it made someone up to come and comfort me.”
She blinked, then reached over to grab his hand. Drawing it close to her, she put it on her breast and squeezed. “Hmm. Well. Supposedly, a man can always tell if this is real. According to my guy friends that is. Like, you can’t replicate it in a dream.”
He looked at her, then at his hand, then back at her, with an open mouth and awe in his eyes.
“So, can you tell?”
“. . . this is real.”
“Neat!! Glad I finally got to test that, it’s been floating around in the back of my brain for years. I’ve spent my whole life collecting weird facts but I’ve got so few about people as a whole.”
He stared at her.
“Is . . . there something wrong?”
“Nothing at all! What made you think that? My mind wandered for a second. Hey, maybe we should find somewhere better to sleep.”
“Oh, that’s a good idea. The nearest village should be a couple of hours away, calculating in our trip through this forest - we can get there by the afternoon and see if there’s anywhere to stay.”
The demon pulled her back onto the log as she went to stand up. “We’re not going anywhere tonight.” Seeing her shock, he added, “Have you noticed the weather?”
“You’re shirtless,” Elizabeth countered. “Obviously you think it’s okay to do that in this kind of weather, why not go gallivanting through the night?”
“Ha!”
“Where is your shirt, by the way? Are you just relying on this magic fire not to freeze to death?”
“My body is compensating well for this temperature. The shirt would make it worse, actually.”
“Ah, a demon biology thing?”
“Pretty much.”
“O-oh. . .”
Elizabeth tilted her head back up at the sky, flinching at the icy touch of the snowflakes. Habit had her checking the stars, but leaves and clouds blocked her view. She couldn’t remember where she had planned to go if he had agreed to get up and just start walking. Her face fell back to the warmth of the dancing fire. It crackled, laughing at her as she answered her own unspoken question. Desperation. That was what made her heart sink just now - the rush of emotions from that day realization overwhelming her. Her desperation was the most frightening. Every bit of the competent adventurer that she was despised it.
Ah . . . she couldn’t find anything else to say. Or think. So as the adrenaline and excitement of this encounter ebbed away, Elizabeth Gesmira began to cry.
Tap. tap. tap. She blinked at the demon gently tapping her chin to get her attention.
He’s -
Warmth swallowed her next thought as this stranger clutched her firmly against his chest. He was her personal pillow now and taking no arguments about it. He’s so short . . . I’m practically lying down now . . . and, she realized, the chill she felt on the surface of his skin was melted snow. Despite the cold, he’d scrubbed all the blood off his skin before hugging her. How considerate. It was so distracting, she missed the way he was smiling so genuinely. The truth was, if she was the kind of person with a hint of wariness . . . well, when she looked up and saw the light that had sprung up in those blank purple eyes, the way they glittered with the hint of their own tears and that emotion just seemed to to fuel that smile . . . she would have left that demonic campfire far behind.
Elizabeth looked down into that far-off gaze with its intense, gentle smile and sniffed, slightly comforted. “Normally I know what to do, at least, if I don’t know where to go,” she swore through the tears. “I do. I’m not as naieve as that girl at the bar said I was - ah, but you didn’t see that, I don’t actually have to mention that . . .” she sniffed again. “Look, she was a bitch. People don’t know all kinds of things. I’ve never actually . . . seen coins exchanged for goods before. So what? I live in a remote fortress on the outskirts of the kingdom, what the hell do they expect, that every single person from everywhere has the same baseline knowledge? I barter just fine.” That last part became more and more of an indignant mumble.
“Human currency is fucked,” the demon proclaimed. He gave no further explanation, and honestly, Elizabeth thought it hadn’t been that difficult to pick up on, but okay. Legit. She appreciated the solidarity.
“. . . are you . . . going to be hungry in the morning?”
“Why are you thinking that right now?”
“Because if nowhere else. . . I know a grove of trees with the most delicious winter apples.”
“Apples, huh?”
“They’re my favorite. And while we’re on our way we can check up on the druids who live nearby and - and get some more information.”
“. . . yeah. I like that plan.” He yawned, and Elizabeth yawned reflexively. “Where is this grove?”
“Ah . . . near the Forest of White Dreams? You’re not scared of urban legends, are you?”
“I am an urban legend. And I’ve actually been there before. I went traveling with a friend once, and the last item on her bucket list before she became a knight was a hike through that forest. As it happens, we found . . . apple trees . . . growing there. Just, in this clearing atop the hill. It looked like something you’d see in mythology - a place you would go to fight a dragon and acquire an ancient treasure. I’ve fought dragons before. I don’t know if they like apples. Heh, I’m rambling now . . . I can’t help it, though . . . you know I’m pretty old, right?”
Elizabeth yawned again. “Don’t demons age differently than humans? Like giants do?”
“It’s true. I mean, that’s right.”
She wrapped an arm around his waist. “Are you going to tell me why you’re nervous about that?”
“My friend’s name was Wilmot. She was born a druid. And . . . ” he looked over her like he couldn’t forsee what she would say, and that upset him. Before he could speak again, she poked his cheek. “Have you been sending letters to my home?”
“H- hm?!”
“I was given to my mother, Wilmot, by an old friend. I think he happened to be a teenaged demon just like you, right?”
“. . . I’m not a teenager anymore.”
“Well, good! Being a teenager can really suck.” She laughed gently. “Wait, you’re not thinking I’m your niece now or something? Right?”
“Should I?”
“No - goddesses - don’t!”
“I’m going out of my mind,” mumbled the demon in a resigned and sleepy tone. “Go to bed, and kill me in the morning.”
“No, I think I’ll keep throwing you for a loop until dawn. Until your whooooole mind is wiped clean like, uh, the fresh morning snow. And you -”
“That’s full of dirt.”
“I can debate that.”
Suddenly she could feel his body shaking as he cackled. “Why?”
“I don’t know, maybe we should find your friends quickly before I drive you insane.”
“You’re joking.”
“I -” yawn, “- am not . . . joking.”
“You have to be.”
“I don’t. Mm. You’re so warm, even in the snow… how come?”
“You’re keeping me dry. Like an exotic blanket.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll believe that when you lay down.” She murmmered with her face against his chest, the words spoken almost right up against his skin. He shivered, the closeness more than welcome - as she knew. He told her he had already made himself comfortable.
“Mkay.” She rubbed the mostly dried tears off her face, blinking away what remained. Then, on the cusp of unconsciousness, she perceived his whisper like one would a disconcerting but not unpleasant dream: “I acknowledge you’re not joking. If you were aware, you’d know this casual nonsense makes me so happy I’d rather fall into unknown depths than stay away.” He sighed, that gentle smile from earlier returning. “Thank you finding me today. I guess I needed to see you again after all, huh?”
—- a girl who can be saved —-
[Merlin voiceover:] “It is not a black void. It is not made of steel, or brick, or anything else that could possibly keep me in. It is not a place where life comes to die. In fact, it is right where life begins and ends, a precarious balance between the souls wherein. But it is a prison all the same.”
A black screen fades slowly until the audience can see ins and outs of a dusty, witch’s workshop through the haze. Potions. Cauldrons. Old books. Experiments. Things that shouldn’t be in a jar, kept in a jar. Dry, crusty blood from the …incident… a few months back. And of course, the explosion that almost wasn’t contained in time created a hole with a 1-foot diameter in the floor.
There is a suave woman in an over-sexualized outfit in the middle of this room. She looks uncomfortable, almost as if she should be squirming in pain. There is something wrong about her. Like she doesn’t belong in her own skin. And the cloth does her no favors, an oddly textureless gown without shading. The whole woman looks photoshopped into this scene now that the audience is paying attention.
Sitting near the hole is a child who looks much like her, clearly around ten or so, wearing an outfit that should have been replaced years ago for all its wear and tear.
“Six hundred years have gone by, since living became an afterthought. I’ve discussed my research with countless people and calculated the current trajectory of both goddesses and demons, as well as the side projects and the favors for mankind. My word is indisputable among several important circles. So why can’t you believe me?”
There is a long pause, but the woman is patient and does not say another word. Her eyes and glare demanding a response, she walks right up to her companion.
Slowly, the girl turns, staring through empty eyes leaking black and white tears over a cracked, leaking face like a mask. There is rot somewhere deep inside that skull, something more grey than black or white, something living and dying at the same time that holds together a girl smiling a blank smile of innocence and, if you look closely enough, amusement.
[Sweet little girl:] “You can’t keep this up forever. There’s no need to say I will have you. You have always been mine, my priestess. From the second you were born, you were destined to defy fate.”
“I will defy you. I chose to defy you!”
“My child, your journey is not yet complete. You are asking for your own destruction.”
“Destroy me, then. I won’t hurt anyone else that I care about.”
“You will never see them again.”
“If you’re going to continue on like this, then I don’t plan to. You will never, ever leave this room unless you leave my body first. Like I’ve said.”
“Oh, Merlin. You couldn’t be more wrong. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you. I always have. Didn’t the kingdom survive, just like I said it would?”
“Because the experiment failed. Because I realized the truth in time to -”
(with obvious affection): “No, sweet. Because I guaranteed it.”
“The only thing you can control is my mind. I know that now.” Her teeth grind as she speaks, the disgust on her face more than appropriate. “You can’t take that knowledge away from me.”
“Hmm. That’s what you think.” She smiles prettily. She cups her face with one hand, all cutesy-like. “It’s still true, you know. If not for me, you would have no hope of healing that hole you’ve got there in your heart.”
The giant hole materializes on the woman’s body. She glances down briefly, but is unfazed. If anything, she seems even more confident now.
“I don’t care anymore. I’ll do anything I have to do. Just like I swore to you all those years ago.”
(with excitement and obvious affection): “Very good. I don’t expect anything less, Merlin~”
This earns her a frown. “I can’t see how you could possibly win if you keep me as your priestess.”
“That’s because ~ you’re busy looking down!”
Merlin looks down.
Blood rains down from the ceiling into the floor, into the image of a city no one could possibly save. Broken and bloodied silhouette stare back at Merlin in terror.
“I can’t let it happen again. Why can’t you understand that?” She sounds genuinely upset. “Why can’t you understand, that I would rather die and be nothing than be the cause of it again? That I don’t claim you as mine, and never will again? You shouldn’t… you shouldn’t talk like nothing has changed…”
“But nothing’s changed! Eeeeeverything’s the same as it always was. The humans, the gods, and you and me?” Toothy smile. “There’s nothing that can separate us now, Merlin. This is the fate you’re meant to defy - the fate of a lost, broken girl with no one, who lives and dies as fleeing and ultimately meaningless as a single flower in the breeze. That stunning beauty was never yours. Yours is something that endures, and with me, enduring all it takes to get there will be effortless as breathing. Just like it was. All kids go through a rebellious phase at some point in their lives. And people abandon them when it gets to difficult. You’re not my tool, Merlin. I’m never going to replace you with anyone. Wherever I go, you are going, too. Up to heaven and right down to hell! You have to meet my other children, after all. They’re just going to love you.”
“You can only influence my mind so much!”
“I never needed all that much.”
[Merlin voiceover:] “Life itself has become my prison, more than it ever was before.”
____________________________________________________________--
Thank you for reading!!
Link to the rest of the AU:
fuckin,,,, cowboys,,,
No clue what I’m doing bro
Britannia Student Coucil NNT! Arthur x reader
(I requested some headcanons like this to @pendragon-of-chaos, an amazing Arthur blog and I couldn't get the idea out of my head. Make sure to go to their blog, it's always fun to look through. I tried to keep this gender Neutral so please tell me if you find anything off. Criticism is more than appreciated, just keep it friendly please. This is my first time doing something like this, please enjoy.)
Britannia Academy~ First day
Merlin slowly entered her sibling’s room, making sure not to make a sound. Usually, Merlin didn’t do anything like this. Pranks were stupid and not worth her time. However, you wouldn’t get up, and you had promised to get up early. In middle school, you were horrible with that sort of thing. You would never wake up. This was just Merlin getting some well deserved revenge. You needed to get used to waking up, this year the school had implemented dorms. It was like Hogwarts in the sense of being a house where each person was to stay. Merlin had transferred to Camelot just that year, since she had a lot of kids from that house who she tutored. Switching of houses happened often, your sisters friend, Meliodas, transferred from the Demon House to Liones. Elizabeth transferred from Angel realm to Liones, as well. That didn’t mean Merlin was waking you up every day. Can you think of a better way to learn that than getting ice-cold water poured on you while you are sleeping? Apparently, Merlin couldn’t. She lifted the blanket for a split second, and dumped the water and ice. “Ahhhhhhhh! COLD, COLD!” You looked Merlin up and down, “Seriously, Merlin? I thought you were above that!” You yelled while Merlin just snickered. “You told me you would wake up on time, guess who didn’t do that?” You rolled your eyes, and got out an outfit. Though you were expected to wear at least one piece of clothing from the original uniform they gave the students. You decided on wearing the red and gold lined school blazer, the colors standing for Camelot House. As well as a skirt and a turtleneck, for the Academia aesthetic you were feeling, currently. You put on some jewelry, did whatever felt right at that moment. You grabbed your suitcase, and stepped out of your house with Merlin, who was waiting by her car, swinging her keys around. She motioned for you to get in with your bag. “Are you going to run for House Board this year, for Camelot?” You asked Merlin, looking through the Brochure they handed everyone at open house. “No, I am already the Treasurer of the Liones house.” She stated, with her eyes still on the road. “Okay, a few things with that. 1. How are you already the Treasurer when we haven’t started school? 2. How are you the Treasurer of Liones when you are in Camelot now?” You asked, looking to see if anything mentioned what you two were discussing. Spoiler alert: You didn’t find anything. “There isn’t any rule that I have to be a part of Liones to be on the board. Even if it’s recommended. Second, I was on the board last year. They wanted to keep most of the same people since we did well last year.” “I still think it’s wrong.” You told her looking out the window. “What about you?” You turned back to your sister, “Hm?” “Are you going to run for House President? I think you could do it.” Merlin stated, pulling up to the very large academy. It looked more like a University to you, though. “Definitely, I mean- why wouldn’t I? I think I could do it. I am your blood, after all. Though, I’d like to think I am more fun.” “In your dreams.” She boldly stated, getting out of the car and grabbing her stuff, “Come on, I’ll get you settled in. The first few days are usually just what you will do in each class, and of course the whole House Leader thing-” “-That I am definitely going to win.” “Sure, but make sure not to get to caught up in it.” Soon enough, she walked you into the behemoth of a school. If you thought it was like Hogwarts before, it was about to get a lot worse. There was signs leading to each house. Liones was on the North side of the school, while Camelot was directly opposite of that, residing in the south. Giants were west, Fairies in the east. On the map, it showed a huge building on top of the school, which was the Angel building. An arrow pointed down and stated, Demon Realm. It oddly looked a lot like dungeons on the map to you, but you tried not to dwell on it to much. The entrance room was huge. Just above the entrance doors was a whole building in white marble (like the rest of the school) Labeled
Camelot, and had a red and gold flag cascading above the huge door entrances. The stairs leading up there went above the entrance doors, and had balconies in a square around above the room, all the way to Liones House. Liones had two cascading and swirled stairs to intricately designed door arches, with a Silver and Dark Blue flag above it, instead. On the ground to the right, was stones as their Arch, and a dark spruce doors. They had a brown and orange flag, that was a bit tattered, above their doors. To the left, was a very light and airy atmosphere, the opposite of the Giant house. Flowers decorated along the delicate white doors. Above that, of course, was a unique flag. It was a very light green, with not very saturated reds, and mostly pink flowers that were presented on the flag. There was no clear entrance to Demon, or Angel houses, but you assumed they would match the vibe of each house. Below the Liones House, said, “House Guardian Office” with paintings of 6 different people. Three on each side. One of the Demon King, one of the Supreme Deity, First Wielder of Excalibur, King Batra, Gloxinia, as well as Drole. The last two seemed far younger than the rest. You remembered something Meliodas told you about them being more like students than house directors, but they were the only people willing to take the job. Also saying that the Camelot Head is so secretive, he never shows up at the school, or anywhere really. You had met Batra through Elizabeth, he was nice enough. It was the other two you worried for. Merlin lead you up the stairs, straight into the Camelot house. It was somewhat cozy, but still very formal. The living room had a fireplace, but it was huge and very modern. It had paintings of every single House President and Vice- President on a far wall. There was a kitchen, but you assumed people didn’t use it much. The lights were warm toned, but not overwhelming. It had hardwood floors. Red curtains draped across a lot of the huge windows. There were three levels of dorms on each side, not split up by Boy or girl or Non-binary, but instead by year. The first floor, was obviously the first years. Second years, the second floor. Third years, to no ones surprise, were the third floor. There was a hall dedicated to multiple rooms, Camelot Private Library, Camelot Board Meeting room, and several others you couldn’t read from where you stood. A giant red carpet rested under your feet, as well as over in the living room. “Go to that hall, you should find your room. Your name will be on it, and you can unpack your stuff. People will start the ceremony and explain everything at 12. You can find me then. I will be with Meliodas, Elizabeth, the rest of “The Sins” and a few of their friends. I’ll see you later” she informed you, and walked off to your hall. You read the names, you got to about halfway when you spotted it. ‘Lou Ellen, Micheal Yew, Everleigh Andrews, Y/N L/N, Arthur Pendragon. Y/N!’ You doubled back around from where you were. You had gotten room 218, next to someone named Everleigh Andrews and some random dude named Arthur. You walked into your room. There was a whole TV in a living room, as if having one in the house quarters wasn’t enough. A small kitchen, with enough room, but not too much. You made a mental note to head to IKEA or another store with room decor. All you hoped was that this was going to be a good year. You set up your computers and everything else you brought from home. The clock read 11:45, you should try to head over to the Ceremony soon. Which was being held in the auditorium. Guess what? That was eccentric and over-the-top as well. There had to be around a million seats and people there. You called out to Merlin, but you only got drowned out by the talking of the crowd. It was a miracle you heard your phone ring. It was Elizabeth, you clicked the answer button. “Where are you all? I can’t find you guys here!” You shouted into the phone, hoping she would hear you over all of these people. “We are on the tenth row, 15th section from the left, so um… I think that’s the
middle one” She told me, “I’m waving my hands, it shouldn’t be that hard to see me. Meliodas is, too.” “Well, I definitely won’t see him.” You snorted and walked over to where you thought they were. “That was cold, Y/N. Real cold.” You heard Meliodas in the background, even if only faintly. “It’s true, you shouldn’t even try.” You heard another Demon in your group talk. “Like you can talk, Zeldris!” “Why do you think I didn’t try? Oh, hi Y/N. Gelda is going to get here soon as well.” “Hold on, I think I see you guys!” You tell them, heading over to Elizabeth. You barely saw one hand above her head, which must have been Mel’s attempt at waving his arms. You saw Helbram, King, and Diane. There was no Elaine or Ban, though. Gowther stood in front of Meliodas’s seat. Two empty seats sat next to Elizabeth, which were saved for you and Merlin. Then in a row were some of your friends, Gil, Howzer, Griamore, Veronica, Margaret, Guila, and Jericho all sat in a row next to you. Everyone you knew was here. Everyone but Merlin and Escanor, and Ban and Elaine, that is. The stage was enormous, with red curtains covering whatever was behind it. “Where is everyone else? They should be here right?” You asked Meliodas and Elizabeth. “Merlin was telling some first-year information about the ceremony, he’s in the first year group she’s directing.A bunch of the 3rd years are giving you guys advice and tips for your year here.” King explained, “I’m directing the Fairy class, Mel the Liones class, Diane is doing the Giant class, Mael: angels, and Zeldris- well you get the point.” “Which sucks since I was trying to switch to Liones. I don’t even like my House.” Zeldris said, crossing his arms. Gelda patted his back reassuringly. Merlin entered with Escanor behind her. She walked over to our section. You were pretty sure you saw her holding his hand for a split second. “Hello, has it started?” Merlin sat in the seat next to you, with Escanor behind you. “No, it is set to start soon though.” Diane leaned her head on King’s shoulder. You heard a ‘tsk’ from the seat in front of you. A puffy blond boy sat there, arms crossed and glaring at the empty seat beside him. “He should be here by now.” He stated, before glaring forward at the curtains. Merlin looked up at the top of the auditorium, then tapped the boys shoulder and pointed in the direction of a red-head, rushing towards your direction. Probably with a clock and yelling ‘I’m late! I’m very, very late’. Red rabbit scooted over people to fill the empty seat next to the blonde boy. “I’m sorry, Kay. I had to get my stuff set up.” He apologized. “When you have no idea about the school rules, I’m not helping you.” Kay stated. “It hasn’t even started!” Not long after, the curtains pulled away. Gloxinia stood up there with Drole, who were waving in Meliodas’ direction. They graduated last year, but they were more like students then some of the actual students were. So much for “Guardians”. The Supreme Deity stood on Demon King’s Left, not next to, because they were about 11 feet apart. The Camelot Guardian was no where to be seen. Batra had to do his speech for him. While Batra was talking, the ginger turned back to your sister. “That was the man I told you about.” He said, pointing to Batra. “Really? That’s Batra , Arthur. He’s the guardian of the Liones house” she informed him, pointing at Elizabeth’s Dad. Arthur frowned, “Well I know that now.” You didn’t know who this kid was, but you knew there was someone named Arthur Pendragon who you were neighbors with. You didn’t dwell on it to much, though. The ceremony lasted a few hours, after their speeches, Gloxinia and Drole came to sit with us. “That was too long and boring! At least now, as guardians, the Fairy and Giant Houses came practically do whatever they want.” Gloxinia stated, putting his feet on the seat of the kid in front of him. “We might have to actually do work, Gloxinia.” Drole crossed his arms and looked at him. Helbram, threw his arms up in the air. “A party and some freedom sounds awesome!” King frowned
and lightly smacked Helbram. “How were you even on the Fairy Council last year?” “Because everyone loves me.” Meliodas perked up. “Speaking of love,” he changed the subject, “where are Ban and Elaine?” King paused for a second, then stormed off yelling “Ban! You sneaky little-“ before slamming the exit doors behind him. “I’m going to go get him before he kills Ban.” Diane turned away, heading towards the exit, “It was nice seeing you again Y/N!” “You too Diane!” You turned back to your original position, with the ginger boy, “Arthur”, staring straight at you. “Do you need something?” He faltered for a second then asked “Are you a first year in the Camelot House?” With him closer, you could make out his features. He had bright amethyst eyes that had the slightest cat-eye, and a childish expression. His orange hair was mostly slicked back, or it looked like it was attempted but kept messing up, except for a giant cowlick that came across the left of his face. He had smile lines, which added up with his cheerful personality. “Yeah I am, why do you ask?” “I’m Arthur! Are you running for House President?” He asked, speaking at about a million miles an hour in a happy-go-lucky-tone. You weren’t sure how to respond at first. Why did he want to know so badly anyways? “Oh, yes I am, actually.” You flashed a small smile, or… more of a smirk. You just had to be confident, right? “Oh, that’s a shame. I am running also!” He stuck his hand out in front of yours. “May the best man win-“ You were startled, he was very bold and outgoing for your taste. Friendly, maybe? Though it could have been for a vote or a good impression. Those eyes said otherwise, those eyes… “-or any other gender./I will..” You added, trying to get your focus on the conversation. You needed to stop trying to figure this guy out. Hopefully somebody wouldn’t get the wrong idea. He laughed awkwardly, “Sorry, I guess I forgot to add that. My mistake. Anyway, I’ll see you later! Good luck!” He ran off in the other direction. Anything he said in that sentence could have been teasing or trying to make you aggravated. “May the best man win”, “Oh, sorry I forgot to add that. My mistake~” But you didn’t think that was the intention. He was genuine through and through. Though he did seem like he was pretty cocky. “So-“ Meliodas stopped your train of thought dead in its tracks, “Does our little Y/N have something going on with this boy?” Darn it. You were waiting for it. Leave it up to Mel to make any and every situation that much more uncomfortable for you. “Not at all. You do seem to tease me any chance you get, don’t you?” Meliodas smiled, “Yup.” He said, popping the ‘p’, “But you were pretty sus when you were staring into his eyes.” Big brother Zeldris decided to enter the conversation as well. Yippee. “Y/N has a boyfriend?” He asked, though it sounded more like a statement than a question, “Please tell me it isn’t someone from the Demon House. Most of them suck, and it would be so awkward. They would try to break your heart, and we would have to pound them into the ground.” That escalated quickly. Mel shook his head, “Nah, you’ll see for yourself when it’s time. Young love.” “I just met the dude Mel. Also, you say that about every boy I’ve ever talked to. Remember the waiter at Chiles?” “He was so checking you out.” Elizabeth rolled her eyes, “Mel, they have a point. They don’t have anything going on with that Arthur boy. Although the waiter was looking at you a lot.” “Not helping El.” You told the girl. “Right, sorry Y\N! We just love and want to protect you. Or tease you,” she nudged Meliodas, ”apparently.” Gelda shrugged, “Whatever happens, I’ll be there to give you advice. Though I’m not sure I’ll be much help since I’m dating a short emo boy. Those don’t seem to be your type.” Zeldris crossed his arms, “I’m not that short.” Gelda patted his head. “Sure you aren’t.” “Yeah, maybe not.” You said, while Meliodas smiled, waiting for the opportunity. “So what is your type?” He leaned over Merlin, who put her knee up, kicking Mel in the
face. He startled back for a bit, before him and everyone else pretended like nothing happened. “I don’t have a “type”. I like boys that are kind, and caring. Also responsible.” Howzer stood up straight and put his arm over on your chair. “I think we know what that means.” Gilthunder put his hand on Howzer’s back “It means it’s not you. It’s okay, Howzer. You won’t be single forever.” “So…. The boring ones?” Was the conclusion Meliodas came to. “No! Ugh- Meliodas, you are the worst.” You crossed your arms. “That has always been a strange phrase to me. You think the miners that were stuck down in those mines, with no food or water, were like. ‘Bro, this is bad, really bad. But you know what’s worse?When your older brother figure starts teasing you about your love life. That. That is the WORST’. “ Merlin smiled, “For your information, that was Arthur Pendragon. He’s a nice boy. We’ve all talked to him before. I’m sure you two could be friends. He’s as smart as he is sweet.” Meliodas snickered, “While you, Y/N. Are as spiteful as you are smart. I’m sure you two can be great friends.” Merlin glared at him. Then stood up. “Come on, we should get back to The Camelot Common room. It’s been over for a while.” Escanor stoop up, only to get on one knee. ”Goodbye, lady Merlin! And Y/N! May you both be of good fortune. I look forward to our morning classes and spending time together tomorrow night, Miss Merlin!” You shot a look at Merlin, when you two were out of sight. “So… you two have, like- a date?” Merlin stopped flipping through her book and started subtly messing with the pages. She was nervous, but to anyone who didn’t know her very well, there was nothing abnormal. She was above confident and collected at the moment. Her smirk turned into an actual smile for a quick second before fading. “I wouldn’t call it a date.” “I think you better tell him that.” “You should focus on your own studies instead of my love life.” “Merlin, school hasn’t even started. I’m sure I will do great. Just wait and see.” Merlin stopped and turned to you. “I was being serious about what I said earlier. About Arthur. He is a good kid, and you need to be friendly with people. Outside of our current friend group. I know Arthur very well, but he’s not “in the group” it would be a good place to start.” “Sure, I’ll make a note of that. “ you told her, but you weren’t really interested in what she had to say. Merlin rolled her eyes, and waved goodbye to you when you got to the dorms. The time read 5:00 pm. The ceremony lasted longer than you expected. You had enough time to take a walk. This school was so huge, you had a map on the back of your schedule. You could stop by some classes, and figure things out. You could stop by Veronica and Margaret’s. However, they were second years. You could ask Guila and Jericho, but they were still in Liones. They wouldn’t have the same classes. Neither would Merlin, since she is a third year. Maybe you could ask that Arthur boy… no, you could do this yourself. And explaining why would be very awkward. ‘Hey, could you come explore the school with me? I don’t have any friends in this grade and house.’ Yeah, that wasn’t an option. Merlin had a point, you really should make friends here. This wouldn’t be as good of a year if you didn’t. You stepped out of your dorm, and locked the door. You left your bag in the room, hopefully you wouldn’t need anything. You walked down one of the halls to find English. Why did we need to have a whole class dedicated to a language we already know? You stepped down a short flight of stairs, missing the last step completely. Sometimes you wondered if you were even related to Merlin. You tumbled forward, the only thought in your head being- “Oh for the love of Purgatory-“ You landed on something. You felt yourself steady for a bit. Hopefully someone caught you. Your body leaned over, and you landed on the cold, hard floor. So much for somebody catching you. Something bright and orange waved in front of your eyes. “Hello? Are you okay? Oh no! I killed her! Kay?
Call 9-1-1!” You rose up with a groan, your eyes widened to see Arthur hovering over you. “Oh thank heavens. They’re alive. Sorry…. um- I never got your name.” He awkwardly fumbled “….Y/N L/N,” “Hey! That’s Merlin’s last name! Are you her sibling?!” His eyes shined, he looked like he just solved a difficult case. “Yeah, actually. So, what happened?” You rose “Oh! That” He rose up, and put his hand out for you to get up with a blush. “Yeah, I tried to catch you. It worked for a split second, but then we both fell in different directions.” You hesitated for a second, you knew something like that happened, but it was still weird to hear. “Thanks, Arthur” desperately wanting to get off of that topic, you turned to Kay. “Who are you?” Kay scowled, “That must have been the rudest way to ask me my name I have ever heard.” He wanted to play that game? Alright, “Oh! I’m sorry, let me just- Oh hello blond boy! I would desperately like to know your name as I am so intrigued by your persona and attitude. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to listen to what I have to say. I am greatly in your debt.” You said, laying on the sarcasm even more than usual. It wasn’t the most witty form of comedic relief, ( least it wasn’t puns, because they are the lowest form of comedy, sorry, you geeked out for a bit) but it was always a lot of fun. Arthur let out an awkward smile, trying to be the balance in the middle of the chaos. “Alright, that’s enough.” Arthur stepped in between you two. “…I had better get going, I’ll see you two later” you said, heading back to your dorm. What was that? “Oh thanks for trying to break my fall, BYE!” That whole conversation was so awkward! You gave a small wave as Kay and Arthur continued a conversation, you didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but that’s what happened. “They are a lot like their sister, they are confident and smart, from what I’ve seen.” Arthur shared his thoughts. You doubted that was true based on the conversation you just had with him, but okay. “She’s got a good chance of winning.” “That’s true! I can always try, though. No matter what happens we are probably both ending up on the council.” Kay pondered what he was going to say for a while, then looked at his brother with a smug look. “They are kind of pretty.” “I guess, they are polite as well. I think we could be friends” Kay raised his hand to his forehead, “They are not. They are extremely rude. And I meant, They are going to be difficult to beat. They have all that going for them. That means, you might not win, idiot.” “-and you are happy about that?” “I couldn’t care less.” You decided to walk away. You hadn’t even remembered the election till they brought it up. Kay was very rude as well. Wait… wasn’t the English classroom the other direction? You were NOT going back in that direction. You could just go back to the dorms. That sounded the best at that moment. You were sure you could figure it out in the morning.