an excerpt from bandit's landing
on flickr, ban sidhe mustered up the courage to post some of her writing, and it inspired me to also want to post some more of mine hehe anybody on my nanowrimo filter has most likely already read this, it's nothing new. but obviously this is mostly for anybody not on that filter.
this is NOT the beginning, it's part of the 2nd chapter. it gets a tiny bit naughty, and features alister, chase, and edmund. i wish i could post some of the stuff from later on cuz it's written a lot better, and i love it *squishes rey* but too many spoilers, sigh.
A sea of fire stretched for what seemed like an eternity; a thick blanket of smoke filled the air, blending the flames seamlessly with the horizon and choking the life out of the night sky. Struggling for a breath, Alister choked. The air was thick with the taste of burning oil.
Something was pulling on his feet. He struggled to stay afloat, trying not to look at the devilish faces screaming at him from beneath the water’s surface.
The flames parted, and he could see something in the distance. Kicking off his tormenters, Alister fought his way through the water to the floating debris. He knew this dream; he knew what he would find before he even reached it.
Meryll, half in the water, clung weakly to the singed and broken crate, unconscious. Her face and nostrils were smeared with soot. The water was stained red with the blood that poured from the piece of twisted iron imbedded in her side.
He dragged her lifeless body further onto the crate so he could examine her wound, desperately calling out her name. He closed his eyes and tore out the ragged shrapnel.
Meryll, can you hear me? Stay with me! Hold on! I’m here!
His voice sounded like it was a million miles away.
She wasn’t breathing, but he could feel a faint pulse. Pale hands gripped his feet, fighting to pull him under again. Salty water gushed into his mouth as he pulled himself back up for air.
Just out of his reach, Meryll began slipping back into the water as the waves began to form hands, pulling her in.
No! You can’t have her!
Pooling together the last of his strength, he flung himself onto the crate, reaching out for her arm before it could disappear into the dark water - before he would lose her to the sea. His palm flashed with a white light, brightening until all he could see was white.
Alister’s eyes fluttered open, blinded by the bright morning sunlight streaming from the window onto his face. His cheeks felt wet; he’d been crying.
He closed his eyes, rubbing them with the heels of his palms.
Why can't I ever save her?
“Good morning, stranger.”
Alister groaned, turning to face the smooth voice to his right. A pair of brown eyes was looking at him over the edge of the bed. Startled, he bolted to a sitting position, his face turning a deep red as he realized he was naked under his blanket. Chase was sitting on the floor putting on some stockings.
“Um… Where are my glasses?”
“On the nightstand. There’s breakfast on the table.”
Reaching for his glasses was difficult while trying to keep the blankets close, and Chase laughed at his fumbled efforts. He wished she would look away.
“You weren’t so modest last night, y’know,” she chuckled, tossing his pants onto the bed. “You should have whiskey more often. You’re a lot more fun that way.”
Images from the night before invaded his mind; he tightened his grip on the blankets bunched up over his crotch as he felt the back of his neck grow hot. Alister found himself vowing to never touch alcohol again - he was perfectly happy with not being fun if it meant not waking up in strange hotel rooms with women who took pleasure from embarrassing him.
He pulled the blankets over his head so he could get his pants on without her constant stare. Her voice was muffled as she continued talking.
“…Your money’s still there. I make it a point to never fleece the men I sleep with.”
Pulling the blankets back down, he straightened his glasses. Her back was to him as she dug through a bag, pulling out a brush. He slid off the bed, fastening his pants as he walked over to the table and sat down.
“Do you, uh… you sleep with men often…?” He uncovered the tray of food, avoiding eye contact as she turned to face him. He grimaced; there was an overabundance of food. What a waste, he thought, taking a couple pieces of toast and getting up to fetch himself some coffee.
“Often enough. A girl has needs, y’know,” she said, twisting her hair into a knot. He glanced at her and she winked. “Well, you do now, anyway.”
He blushed, looking away. He wondered if it was possible to wake up from one nightmare only to be stuck in another without realizing it.
“If you’re not going to eat anything more than that, you should hurry up and get dressed. I promised Seraph I’d bring you back in one piece but we’ve got to get going ‘cause I’ve got a train to catch.”
Alister paused. “A train? But Corvis isn’t connected to-”
She sighed, cutting him off.
“It’s just a figure of speech. She’s got me on an out-of-town job.” Walking up behind him, she slid her hand along his shoulder, pressing her chest against his back as she leaned close to whisper in his ear. “I should be back in a few days. We should do this again.”
He tensed; she wanted to see him again? She laughed, walking towards the door and slipping her bag over her shoulder.
“Think about it. You comin’?”
“I-Yeah, just uh… yeah.” He hurried to grab his shirt and tie, grimacing as he caught his reflection in the mirror on his way out. His hair was going everywhere.
In the hallway elevator, she leaned against him as he buttoned up his shirt, her hands mingling with his, tucking it in. He mumbled a thanks, his breath catching in his throat as her hands slipped further into his pants. A chill ran up his spine. What has Seraph gotten me into?
The elevator reached the ground floor and she stepped out, holding her bag out to him. “Can you take this? I need to check something. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
Grateful for some alone time, he took the bag and made his way out to the bright lobby. It was empty; he breathed a sigh of relief, absent-mindedly trying to tame his hair with his hands.
A voice behind him made him jump. “Alister? Alister, hey!”
He turned to see a man with short black hair walking towards him.
“E-Edmund… What, uh… What are you doing here?”
“Me? I’m staying here. What about you? It’s been… How long has it been? Four years? I haven’t seen you since you just suddenly left town. Your hair looks terrible, what in the world happened to you?”
Alister grimaced. Compared to his old friend’s tidy haircut, he could only imagine how he must look. “I… yeah.”
“How long have you been back in town? Have you been to see Sparrow?”
“No,” he groaned. “I’d rather not.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Edmund’s smile disappeared. “I take it you haven’t been talking to her, then?”
“What do you mean?” He hadn’t talked to his sister - foster sister, he reminded himself - since he’d left. He could still hear her crying and screaming his name as he slammed the door behind him.
“She’s gone, Alister. After you left, she just ran off. She came to visit me a few months ago. I guess she’s a druid now… It’s like she’s a totally different person. What happened? Why’d you leave?”
Alister swallowed audibly. This was not a conversation he wanted to be having.
As if she’d heard his prayers for a distraction, he spotted Chase walking up with a sour look on her face. Edmund turned to see what Alister was looking at, and an uncomfortable smile spread across his face.
“Ah, Alister, you should meet my… uh, roommate. Associate. Acquaintance. Something. Either way, this is Chase.”
She smiled. “Oh, we know eachother already.”
Edmund looked surprised as she wrapped herself around Alister’s arm, tracing a finger along his chin. Alister tightened his grip on her bag, wishing he were somewhere else.
He could feel Edmund’s eyes boring holes through him. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be his best friend? Not to mention his best friend who hadn’t even been given a proper goodbye. Edmund laughed loudly, making Alister jump. “Where are you headed? Want to walk with us? We need to catch up!”
Alister floundered for an excuse, but Chase interrupted. “He’s actually going to the same place we are. He knows the friend I was visiting yesterday.”
“That’s great!”
A quick glance at Chase told him they were in silent agreement over how not great the situation actually was. How does she know him? Are they…? Alister felt his cheeks grow hot. The weight of Chase’s tiny frame hanging on his arm was suddenly too heavy to bear.
He shifted his weight and she let go, backing off a little. He switched her bag to the other shoulder.
“Shall we go then?” Chase led the way out the door.
They filed out of the hotel, Alister and Edmund falling behind a few steps, talking.
“So why did you leave?”
Alister’s chin dropped to his chest. “I, uh… I just needed some space.”
“Four years of space is a lot of space, Allie.”
He sighed, staring at his feet as he walked. His reasons for leaving were solid enough - though extremely personal and not something he felt comfortable talking with anybody about, even somebody he considered to be like a brother - but his reasons for not keeping in contact were shaky at best. How could you explain to a priest who was raised in rich society that you’ve been slumming around with pirates for the past four years?
Then again…
Glancing up at Chase walking in front of them, Alister wondered again how Edmund knew her. Maybe his friend wasn’t as upright of a citizen as he once was…?
His eyes drifted, and he found himself watching Chase’s butt as she walked.
“Alister.” Edmund’s voice cut through.
“Oh, uh…” he coughed, redirecting his gaze. “I went to Five Fingers.”
“To where you grew up? You could’ve told me that, I could’ve gone with you.”
He mumbled a half-hearted apology. At the time, company had been the last thing he’d wanted.
Edmund stuffed his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t changed much from what Alister could remember. His clothes were pressed and well-tailored, and every strand of hair was in its place. His eyes, however, looked to be carrying a heavy amount of stress.
“I was lost. Spiritually, I mean. I just… I wanted to remember why I was doing all of it. I needed a reminder to keep myself going.”
His friend began to protest, but Alister kept going. “I went to the church I grew up with before my-Sparrow’s father… adopted me. It had been long abandoned, which hit me pretty hard, and I just kind of wandered around depressed after that. Then I ended up running into Talia, and we spent an afternoon catching up…”
“She’s the girl you knew as a kid, right? What are the odds of running into her?”
Alister shrugged. “She happened to be in town recruiting for, uh…” He glanced over at his friend. Edmund looked completely lost and confused. “For a ship… crew.”
“Oh! You’ve been on a ship? That’s exciting! I’d love to travel, myself. I actually put in for a traveling position recently, but I haven’t heard back yet. I’m jealous!”
Relieved, Alister counted himself blessed that the exact terms of his “travels” had been so easily glossed over.
“So why are you back in town?” Edmund asked. “And how, if you don’t mind me asking, are you acquainted with somebody Chase knows?”
Alister panicked, glancing at Chase again. It seemed like she was ignoring their conversation. Hundreds of excuses raced through his head, but none of them made even the slightest amount of sense.
“I… I, uh…” His heart threatened to break through his ribs.
Edmund gripped Alister’s elbow, pulling him to a stop.
“What’s wrong?” He looked suspicious.
Alister paused to steady himself. He told himself he had nothing to worry about, but still couldn’t calm his breathing. Chase had stopped a few yards ahead and was looking back at them with an eyebrow raised.
“I’m a… or, was… I… I’ve been… a p-pirate.”
Edmund laughed. “Oh! A pirate! Is that all?”
Shocked, Alister gaped and stumbled as Edmund slapped an arm around his shoulder. “I’ve been harboring a thief in my room at the church for the past two months, and you think I care that my best friend has been dirtying his nails with a bunch of scoundrels? Admittedly, I’d be happier if you’d kept in contact, but I’m not about to judge you, Allie.”
They began walking again, and Chase turned back around. Alister felt like his legs might give out.
Edmund’s voice dropped to a hushed tone as he leaned closer.
“So tell me… How do you really know Chase?”
“Um…” Alister adjusted his glasses. “She… knows my boss. Why is she hiding with you? Are you two…?”
Recoiling, Edmund scoffed. “What? Sleeping together? Oh, no way! She’s not exactly the proper type, if you know what I mean. I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole, let alone want to see her-”
Chase stopped dead in her tracks, whipping her head around to glare at them over her shoulder. Edmund laughed nervously, followed by a gulp.
“I, ah… I mean, she’s a lovely lady. Right proper.”
“Damn straight, I am. I fold my panties and everything,” she smiled.
This time, Alister wasn’t the only one to blush.
this is NOT the beginning, it's part of the 2nd chapter. it gets a tiny bit naughty, and features alister, chase, and edmund. i wish i could post some of the stuff from later on cuz it's written a lot better, and i love it *squishes rey* but too many spoilers, sigh.
A sea of fire stretched for what seemed like an eternity; a thick blanket of smoke filled the air, blending the flames seamlessly with the horizon and choking the life out of the night sky. Struggling for a breath, Alister choked. The air was thick with the taste of burning oil.
Something was pulling on his feet. He struggled to stay afloat, trying not to look at the devilish faces screaming at him from beneath the water’s surface.
The flames parted, and he could see something in the distance. Kicking off his tormenters, Alister fought his way through the water to the floating debris. He knew this dream; he knew what he would find before he even reached it.
Meryll, half in the water, clung weakly to the singed and broken crate, unconscious. Her face and nostrils were smeared with soot. The water was stained red with the blood that poured from the piece of twisted iron imbedded in her side.
He dragged her lifeless body further onto the crate so he could examine her wound, desperately calling out her name. He closed his eyes and tore out the ragged shrapnel.
Meryll, can you hear me? Stay with me! Hold on! I’m here!
His voice sounded like it was a million miles away.
She wasn’t breathing, but he could feel a faint pulse. Pale hands gripped his feet, fighting to pull him under again. Salty water gushed into his mouth as he pulled himself back up for air.
Just out of his reach, Meryll began slipping back into the water as the waves began to form hands, pulling her in.
No! You can’t have her!
Pooling together the last of his strength, he flung himself onto the crate, reaching out for her arm before it could disappear into the dark water - before he would lose her to the sea. His palm flashed with a white light, brightening until all he could see was white.
Alister’s eyes fluttered open, blinded by the bright morning sunlight streaming from the window onto his face. His cheeks felt wet; he’d been crying.
He closed his eyes, rubbing them with the heels of his palms.
Why can't I ever save her?
“Good morning, stranger.”
Alister groaned, turning to face the smooth voice to his right. A pair of brown eyes was looking at him over the edge of the bed. Startled, he bolted to a sitting position, his face turning a deep red as he realized he was naked under his blanket. Chase was sitting on the floor putting on some stockings.
“Um… Where are my glasses?”
“On the nightstand. There’s breakfast on the table.”
Reaching for his glasses was difficult while trying to keep the blankets close, and Chase laughed at his fumbled efforts. He wished she would look away.
“You weren’t so modest last night, y’know,” she chuckled, tossing his pants onto the bed. “You should have whiskey more often. You’re a lot more fun that way.”
Images from the night before invaded his mind; he tightened his grip on the blankets bunched up over his crotch as he felt the back of his neck grow hot. Alister found himself vowing to never touch alcohol again - he was perfectly happy with not being fun if it meant not waking up in strange hotel rooms with women who took pleasure from embarrassing him.
He pulled the blankets over his head so he could get his pants on without her constant stare. Her voice was muffled as she continued talking.
“…Your money’s still there. I make it a point to never fleece the men I sleep with.”
Pulling the blankets back down, he straightened his glasses. Her back was to him as she dug through a bag, pulling out a brush. He slid off the bed, fastening his pants as he walked over to the table and sat down.
“Do you, uh… you sleep with men often…?” He uncovered the tray of food, avoiding eye contact as she turned to face him. He grimaced; there was an overabundance of food. What a waste, he thought, taking a couple pieces of toast and getting up to fetch himself some coffee.
“Often enough. A girl has needs, y’know,” she said, twisting her hair into a knot. He glanced at her and she winked. “Well, you do now, anyway.”
He blushed, looking away. He wondered if it was possible to wake up from one nightmare only to be stuck in another without realizing it.
“If you’re not going to eat anything more than that, you should hurry up and get dressed. I promised Seraph I’d bring you back in one piece but we’ve got to get going ‘cause I’ve got a train to catch.”
Alister paused. “A train? But Corvis isn’t connected to-”
She sighed, cutting him off.
“It’s just a figure of speech. She’s got me on an out-of-town job.” Walking up behind him, she slid her hand along his shoulder, pressing her chest against his back as she leaned close to whisper in his ear. “I should be back in a few days. We should do this again.”
He tensed; she wanted to see him again? She laughed, walking towards the door and slipping her bag over her shoulder.
“Think about it. You comin’?”
“I-Yeah, just uh… yeah.” He hurried to grab his shirt and tie, grimacing as he caught his reflection in the mirror on his way out. His hair was going everywhere.
In the hallway elevator, she leaned against him as he buttoned up his shirt, her hands mingling with his, tucking it in. He mumbled a thanks, his breath catching in his throat as her hands slipped further into his pants. A chill ran up his spine. What has Seraph gotten me into?
The elevator reached the ground floor and she stepped out, holding her bag out to him. “Can you take this? I need to check something. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”
Grateful for some alone time, he took the bag and made his way out to the bright lobby. It was empty; he breathed a sigh of relief, absent-mindedly trying to tame his hair with his hands.
A voice behind him made him jump. “Alister? Alister, hey!”
He turned to see a man with short black hair walking towards him.
“E-Edmund… What, uh… What are you doing here?”
“Me? I’m staying here. What about you? It’s been… How long has it been? Four years? I haven’t seen you since you just suddenly left town. Your hair looks terrible, what in the world happened to you?”
Alister grimaced. Compared to his old friend’s tidy haircut, he could only imagine how he must look. “I… yeah.”
“How long have you been back in town? Have you been to see Sparrow?”
“No,” he groaned. “I’d rather not.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Edmund’s smile disappeared. “I take it you haven’t been talking to her, then?”
“What do you mean?” He hadn’t talked to his sister - foster sister, he reminded himself - since he’d left. He could still hear her crying and screaming his name as he slammed the door behind him.
“She’s gone, Alister. After you left, she just ran off. She came to visit me a few months ago. I guess she’s a druid now… It’s like she’s a totally different person. What happened? Why’d you leave?”
Alister swallowed audibly. This was not a conversation he wanted to be having.
As if she’d heard his prayers for a distraction, he spotted Chase walking up with a sour look on her face. Edmund turned to see what Alister was looking at, and an uncomfortable smile spread across his face.
“Ah, Alister, you should meet my… uh, roommate. Associate. Acquaintance. Something. Either way, this is Chase.”
She smiled. “Oh, we know eachother already.”
Edmund looked surprised as she wrapped herself around Alister’s arm, tracing a finger along his chin. Alister tightened his grip on her bag, wishing he were somewhere else.
He could feel Edmund’s eyes boring holes through him. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be his best friend? Not to mention his best friend who hadn’t even been given a proper goodbye. Edmund laughed loudly, making Alister jump. “Where are you headed? Want to walk with us? We need to catch up!”
Alister floundered for an excuse, but Chase interrupted. “He’s actually going to the same place we are. He knows the friend I was visiting yesterday.”
“That’s great!”
A quick glance at Chase told him they were in silent agreement over how not great the situation actually was. How does she know him? Are they…? Alister felt his cheeks grow hot. The weight of Chase’s tiny frame hanging on his arm was suddenly too heavy to bear.
He shifted his weight and she let go, backing off a little. He switched her bag to the other shoulder.
“Shall we go then?” Chase led the way out the door.
They filed out of the hotel, Alister and Edmund falling behind a few steps, talking.
“So why did you leave?”
Alister’s chin dropped to his chest. “I, uh… I just needed some space.”
“Four years of space is a lot of space, Allie.”
He sighed, staring at his feet as he walked. His reasons for leaving were solid enough - though extremely personal and not something he felt comfortable talking with anybody about, even somebody he considered to be like a brother - but his reasons for not keeping in contact were shaky at best. How could you explain to a priest who was raised in rich society that you’ve been slumming around with pirates for the past four years?
Then again…
Glancing up at Chase walking in front of them, Alister wondered again how Edmund knew her. Maybe his friend wasn’t as upright of a citizen as he once was…?
His eyes drifted, and he found himself watching Chase’s butt as she walked.
“Alister.” Edmund’s voice cut through.
“Oh, uh…” he coughed, redirecting his gaze. “I went to Five Fingers.”
“To where you grew up? You could’ve told me that, I could’ve gone with you.”
He mumbled a half-hearted apology. At the time, company had been the last thing he’d wanted.
Edmund stuffed his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t changed much from what Alister could remember. His clothes were pressed and well-tailored, and every strand of hair was in its place. His eyes, however, looked to be carrying a heavy amount of stress.
“I was lost. Spiritually, I mean. I just… I wanted to remember why I was doing all of it. I needed a reminder to keep myself going.”
His friend began to protest, but Alister kept going. “I went to the church I grew up with before my-Sparrow’s father… adopted me. It had been long abandoned, which hit me pretty hard, and I just kind of wandered around depressed after that. Then I ended up running into Talia, and we spent an afternoon catching up…”
“She’s the girl you knew as a kid, right? What are the odds of running into her?”
Alister shrugged. “She happened to be in town recruiting for, uh…” He glanced over at his friend. Edmund looked completely lost and confused. “For a ship… crew.”
“Oh! You’ve been on a ship? That’s exciting! I’d love to travel, myself. I actually put in for a traveling position recently, but I haven’t heard back yet. I’m jealous!”
Relieved, Alister counted himself blessed that the exact terms of his “travels” had been so easily glossed over.
“So why are you back in town?” Edmund asked. “And how, if you don’t mind me asking, are you acquainted with somebody Chase knows?”
Alister panicked, glancing at Chase again. It seemed like she was ignoring their conversation. Hundreds of excuses raced through his head, but none of them made even the slightest amount of sense.
“I… I, uh…” His heart threatened to break through his ribs.
Edmund gripped Alister’s elbow, pulling him to a stop.
“What’s wrong?” He looked suspicious.
Alister paused to steady himself. He told himself he had nothing to worry about, but still couldn’t calm his breathing. Chase had stopped a few yards ahead and was looking back at them with an eyebrow raised.
“I’m a… or, was… I… I’ve been… a p-pirate.”
Edmund laughed. “Oh! A pirate! Is that all?”
Shocked, Alister gaped and stumbled as Edmund slapped an arm around his shoulder. “I’ve been harboring a thief in my room at the church for the past two months, and you think I care that my best friend has been dirtying his nails with a bunch of scoundrels? Admittedly, I’d be happier if you’d kept in contact, but I’m not about to judge you, Allie.”
They began walking again, and Chase turned back around. Alister felt like his legs might give out.
Edmund’s voice dropped to a hushed tone as he leaned closer.
“So tell me… How do you really know Chase?”
“Um…” Alister adjusted his glasses. “She… knows my boss. Why is she hiding with you? Are you two…?”
Recoiling, Edmund scoffed. “What? Sleeping together? Oh, no way! She’s not exactly the proper type, if you know what I mean. I wouldn’t touch her with a ten-foot pole, let alone want to see her-”
Chase stopped dead in her tracks, whipping her head around to glare at them over her shoulder. Edmund laughed nervously, followed by a gulp.
“I, ah… I mean, she’s a lovely lady. Right proper.”
“Damn straight, I am. I fold my panties and everything,” she smiled.
This time, Alister wasn’t the only one to blush.