It's Coming Closer + Off Balance
Title: It's Coming Closer
Story Continuity: The Lethean Glamour
Flavors: Blueberry Yogurt 20: observation, Papaya 29: I wouldn't miss it, Cheesecake 2: Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns!
Extra/Topping: Pocky, Hot Fudge, Butterscotch (Helene is 19)
Rating: PG
Summary: Helene can see forever.
Note: Or, experimenting with Helene's visions. Very last of the Cheesecake prompts, yay~
A crow is devoured by his brothers. A group of friends discuss the war with the Draconians. One is Draconian himself.
The universe is melting at the seams into Helene's brain, and she can see everything. She sees Vera sleeping with a man. She sees the man's blood sweetly clinging to her own fingers. There will be blood enough to drown cities when she's through.
The friends discover Ludwig is Draconian. There's only one thing they can do, as patriots. Thestris Hall erupts in laughter.
She will bring great misery, but it's laughter and not contrition that bubbles up inside her.
Title: Off Balance
Story Continuity: The Lethean Glamour
Flavors: Mango 28: 15 minutes of fame, Blueberry Yogurt 11: out of my hands, Papaya 26: when you least expect it
Extra/Topping: Whipped Cream (Cygnelius is 15)
Rating: PG
Summary: Cygnelius wakes up to find things have changed.
Note: And now I'm done with Mango.
Cygnelius woke up with a dusty ray of sunlight streaming into his eyes and with his hand resting on the cover a book under his pillow. He'd just closed his eyes for a few moments, he remembered, promising himself that he would continue reading in a few moments. And now it was morning. He huffed a sigh, realizing he'd fallen asleep before he could draw any definite conclusions. Just a typical morning, then. Probably Thursday. Cygnelius was always off on Thursdays.
Except when Cygnelius left his room and entered the castle proper on his way to the labs, something of the entire castle erred on the far left of typical. The alchemists had ventured out of their huts, rushing about corridors and stairwells carrying King Leodane's things, and occasionally Lysandro's. Some of his scientists joined them, barking out quick stabs of instructions as they trailed behind the alchemists.
"They say Apollo is going to display Leodane's head on a pike outside the castle gates," a passing maid said, not bothering to whisper. "Although I'd say we best ask if he means his thinking head or the one he used to prop his crown on."
"Pardon me," Cygnelius said, catching up to the maid, "but what the hell were you just talking about? Apollo who?"
"You haven't heard? The Melmans have been overthrown! King Leodane was assassinated last night," the maid said. "He was done by Apollo Merces, the man who lead and trained the Thirteen. His ascension is tonight."
Lysandro would never stand for that, Cygnelius thought. Was he safe, or was his head being prepared for a spike, too? How many would die at the ascension tonight, when traitors to the new crown were traditionally executed as entertainment before the feast? How many of them would be people Cygnelius knew or worked with? Too many questions.
"Valentio," Cygnelius said, being not quite sure how to finish his question. The maid's eyes softened, and Cygnelius wished he'd had the luxury to get angry about it.
"Oh, you're the young Dr. Corvo, aren't you? The princes' fate will be decided at the ascension feast," she said. "Apollo says they'll be given a chance to redeem themselves, so, ah, they have a chance?"
Cygnelius knew that tone of voice. That was the tone his mother had used to tell him why his father wouldn't be visiting him of his own volition anymore. The one he'd gotten every day for weeks when his father died, and all he'd wanted to do was move on. It really wasn't the maid's fault he was seeing red, Cygnelius told himself, in fact she had been very helpful. Pity just set his teeth on edge. She could never properly mourn any of the royals, anyway. He was unintentionally brusque when he thanked the maid, regardless, and she swept off hurriedly elsewhere. Cygnelius headed off elsewhere himself. Being cleverer than a room full of celebrated intellectual pantywaists could wait for once, he thought. He turned over his thoughts, trying to make sensible order of them, but when he finally arrived at his destination to find Valentio's room empty, there was no order to be had.
Story Continuity: The Lethean Glamour
Flavors: Blueberry Yogurt 20: observation, Papaya 29: I wouldn't miss it, Cheesecake 2: Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns!
Extra/Topping: Pocky, Hot Fudge, Butterscotch (Helene is 19)
Rating: PG
Summary: Helene can see forever.
Note: Or, experimenting with Helene's visions. Very last of the Cheesecake prompts, yay~
A crow is devoured by his brothers. A group of friends discuss the war with the Draconians. One is Draconian himself.
The universe is melting at the seams into Helene's brain, and she can see everything. She sees Vera sleeping with a man. She sees the man's blood sweetly clinging to her own fingers. There will be blood enough to drown cities when she's through.
The friends discover Ludwig is Draconian. There's only one thing they can do, as patriots. Thestris Hall erupts in laughter.
She will bring great misery, but it's laughter and not contrition that bubbles up inside her.
Title: Off Balance
Story Continuity: The Lethean Glamour
Flavors: Mango 28: 15 minutes of fame, Blueberry Yogurt 11: out of my hands, Papaya 26: when you least expect it
Extra/Topping: Whipped Cream (Cygnelius is 15)
Rating: PG
Summary: Cygnelius wakes up to find things have changed.
Note: And now I'm done with Mango.
Cygnelius woke up with a dusty ray of sunlight streaming into his eyes and with his hand resting on the cover a book under his pillow. He'd just closed his eyes for a few moments, he remembered, promising himself that he would continue reading in a few moments. And now it was morning. He huffed a sigh, realizing he'd fallen asleep before he could draw any definite conclusions. Just a typical morning, then. Probably Thursday. Cygnelius was always off on Thursdays.
Except when Cygnelius left his room and entered the castle proper on his way to the labs, something of the entire castle erred on the far left of typical. The alchemists had ventured out of their huts, rushing about corridors and stairwells carrying King Leodane's things, and occasionally Lysandro's. Some of his scientists joined them, barking out quick stabs of instructions as they trailed behind the alchemists.
"They say Apollo is going to display Leodane's head on a pike outside the castle gates," a passing maid said, not bothering to whisper. "Although I'd say we best ask if he means his thinking head or the one he used to prop his crown on."
"Pardon me," Cygnelius said, catching up to the maid, "but what the hell were you just talking about? Apollo who?"
"You haven't heard? The Melmans have been overthrown! King Leodane was assassinated last night," the maid said. "He was done by Apollo Merces, the man who lead and trained the Thirteen. His ascension is tonight."
Lysandro would never stand for that, Cygnelius thought. Was he safe, or was his head being prepared for a spike, too? How many would die at the ascension tonight, when traitors to the new crown were traditionally executed as entertainment before the feast? How many of them would be people Cygnelius knew or worked with? Too many questions.
"Valentio," Cygnelius said, being not quite sure how to finish his question. The maid's eyes softened, and Cygnelius wished he'd had the luxury to get angry about it.
"Oh, you're the young Dr. Corvo, aren't you? The princes' fate will be decided at the ascension feast," she said. "Apollo says they'll be given a chance to redeem themselves, so, ah, they have a chance?"
Cygnelius knew that tone of voice. That was the tone his mother had used to tell him why his father wouldn't be visiting him of his own volition anymore. The one he'd gotten every day for weeks when his father died, and all he'd wanted to do was move on. It really wasn't the maid's fault he was seeing red, Cygnelius told himself, in fact she had been very helpful. Pity just set his teeth on edge. She could never properly mourn any of the royals, anyway. He was unintentionally brusque when he thanked the maid, regardless, and she swept off hurriedly elsewhere. Cygnelius headed off elsewhere himself. Being cleverer than a room full of celebrated intellectual pantywaists could wait for once, he thought. He turned over his thoughts, trying to make sensible order of them, but when he finally arrived at his destination to find Valentio's room empty, there was no order to be had.