Chapter 282 - My SI Stash #82 - Crimson Immoderation by Flux Casey (RWBY) (1/2)
-SI as Vlad (an expy character from Fate) into RWBY~ Like that other work of Flux, this will contain some genderbent characters and lewds ofc.
*QuestionableQuesting fic so you'll need to make an account and have your email verified to get whitelisted for the NSFW contents inside! I suggest using another email if you don't get a verification mail! Let me know in the comments if y'all need more help.
Sypnosis: ???
Rated: M
Words: 53K
Posted on: forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/crimson-immoderation-rwby-cyoa.9080/ (Flux Casey)
PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)
-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)
Chapter 1-3 (exceptional)
You know, it's funny. You see, most scenarios like this? Where you find yourself in the afterlife and get a chance at a new life of your choice? Most of them it's 'Oh, I died saving someone's life', usually by truck.
Turns out? The infinite multiverse is a big place. The standard for being a good person is actually wayyyy lower than that. Be a decent person? Generally try to contribute and try not to hurt people? Good enough. When there's an infinite number of bad people to reincarnate as and an infinite number of good people to reincarnate as, the standard can pretty much be lowered to 'just don't be a shithead'.
Lucky me!
”Welcome to the afterlife.” the little white blob of light bobs around as it speaks to me. ”Because of your general good intentions and deeds you have the privilege of choosing your next–”
”Lewd CYOA in the Ruby setting!” I blurt out before it even finishes talking.
The blob seems to sag in the air. ”Really? Really. Weren't you a writer in your past life? Can't you be a little more creative than that?”
”I was a fanfiction writer.”
”... Of course you were. All right. Pervert special, coming up,” the blob sighs as menus appear in front of me. I rub my hands together gleefully as I scan through the options. Or I get the feeling of doing so, despite not having hands. Or a body. Or eyes to see any of this. Afterlife is weird.
First things first. Let's build new 'me'. Who should I be...? I recall an off-hand comment I made recently to an FGO player when he summoned Vlad III, saying he summoned me because of some minor similarities.
The blob sighs… I think the blob is reading my mind. ”Seriously? Not only are you borrowing this entire creation process, you're ripping off character ideas?”
”Hey, haven't you heard? Everything is a ripoff of something nowadays.”
”You're not just ripping off the character, you're ripping off ripping off a character. Are you sure you're in the right place? Maybe you'd be better off reincarnated as a parrot or a chimp. They're supposed to be good at copying people.”
Err... ”Are... You actually going to do that?” I ask, suddenly worried that that's a real possibility now.
The blob sighs again, hangs low in the air and starts bobbling away. ”No, just... Get on with it and go away. I'd like to lament the dwindling creativity of your species in peace.”
”Thanks, Chief!” I chirp in relief before going back to the creation process.
Now let's see... Vlad. He was a fancy lad so the noble background seems appropriate. I mean, he was a noble. That just fits. And then... Hm. I'll have to think about where. Let's come back to that.
Aura can be average. Nah, maybe a little better than average. I'll come back if I really need the points.
Semblance? Okay. I know what I want for this. I'm not going to use Vlad's phantasm because that's just stabbing people with blood. Even if I expanded it to full on haemokinesis that's just gross. Bloodbending, yes. But I'm having fun this life, thank you. Instead I'll lean on the other vampirey aspect and have it be a draining effect on touch, including touching aura. Draining aura itself is probably beyond the means of a semblance but I can weaken it and in turn strengthen my own. That's... probably fine? I dunno. We'll see how it plays out. So on touch is cheap, it's a little tricky to use and visible, but that lets it be pretty powerful and with the functions I want. Defensive, offensive and with buffs and debuffs.
Now the tricky bit. Traits.
Ferocity? Berserker, so yes. Also cheap and useful to like fighting in an action setting. Learned in mathematics... With a good memory... Eh, that'll do for intelligence. Charisma we'll go with charming (you look at that goatee and smirk and tell me he isn't), intimidating (you look at that goatee and smirk and how he impales people and tell me he isn't).
Combat stats. Hah, this is where sacrifices must be made. Strength average. Speed, yes. Agility, yes. Accuracy... mmm, average. Endurance, weak.
Fighting style... Wait. So weapon-reliant means I'm dedicated to armed combat but better at it, but I could get weaponmaster for the same price and be absurdly competent with it? No demerits? Alright. Yes, weaponmaster please.
Background traits?
Important family is covered by noble. Criminal contacts, no. White F– no. … Hunted, huh? That's a lot of points to get back and I've been pretty spend-happy... Okay but by who... Hm. Infamous too, that fits the backstory... Okay. Okay, this is coming together.
Noble background, starting in a free town in Mistral, hunted by bandit tribes and infamous in Mistral. Because I'll be going to Vale anyway so none of that will matter as soon as I leave.
Right... Most of this other stuff is skippable... Mentor? Wait, so I can just cut all my skill costs by two-thirds? For free? Why would I not do that? Well... Okay. Let's... Alright, let's add some more skills. Fix endurance to be average, get people skills... Finance, why not.
… Man, if I wanted to I could just break this thing over my knee with mentor alone.
Shopping!
… Okay, this... I guess the shop is a bit fast and loose as far as buying things goes. I'll get some fancy clothes as a fancy lad. Then weapon designing. Collapsible spear for The Impaler, obviously. Let's make it... My semblance is going to be a pretty significant part of my arsenal so let's have it open into a retractable, ballistic grappling hook. For Scorpion-style get over here moves or just to get around the battlefield faster.
Huh. Don't really want much else from the shop... Camera? Nah, scroll is a camera. Oh! Scroll! Glad I noticed I had to pick that even if it's free. I'd feel like such a moron making a mistake like that.
And now... The reason I picked this... Heeheeheehee...
God I'm such a deviant. Oh well.
Designing my form. Alrighty! Tall. Fate Vlad was six foot two so in RWBY terms he'd probably be like six six or six seven. And slim. Dude practically had spider limbs in his artwork. Long, flowing, platinum blond hair, bitchin' goatee...
… Hmmm. To gigap.e.n.i.s or not to gigap.e.n.i.s.
… Gigap.e.n.i.s. P.o.r.n physics will make it work. I hope. A lot of halfway s.e.x in my future if not.
Victory conditions! Time to get some... Oh, hey it says ”within your life” instead of ”two years”! Nice! No rushing to do shit for no reason. I mean it doesn't even say what the failure consequences are.
Rich? Sure. Subversion? Sure. Marriage. They're called waifus for a reason.
… Breeding slave. I mean the term for it is weird? But making the babies is not exactly something I'm against. And there's nothing in there that says they have to actually be slaves, just pop out kids.
Growth, I'll take variety. Quick and easy points.
Bonuses! Pre-f.u.c.k.i.e.d is a given, though I'll set it to going forward so I can actually experience it rather than just having memories of it. More fun that way. Fetish acceptance? Eh, put it as a maybe. Gender flip? Sure, let's go all out. Kama Sutra... It feels like cheating. But at the same time it would assuage my concerns about the ol' gigap.e.n.i.s. So sure.
How many points does that leave me? Five to start... One from the extras? Take off fetish acceptance that makes seven total.
Extra girls cost four. I need a drawback.
Needs seems... Well, in the long term would probably be fine? But in the short term before I've met or seduced anyone? I'd be in trouble. Blue Balls is like that but less dangerous and I can (theoretically) deal with the consequences on my own if I need to. I'll take that one.
Thank the white blob I didn't give my self gigantoballs alongside the gigap.e.n.i.s or I'd be in for a rough time real quick.
Now. The girls section. I tab over to it and I'm greeted by a wall of ahegao faces.
… This is gonna be so great.
Alright. I have six choices from stocking up points and gaming the system like a montherf.u.c.ker, even without going all the way with it. So. Who's on the list.
Roman is a good shout. Every girl crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man. And Vlad is a snappy dresser. Ilia would be nice to give girls a break from the gigap.e.n.i.s... Or make it an ultimap.e.n.i.s if I ever run across Salem? Hm.
Winter? Winter. Definitely. Summer would be nice... We'll see. Neo is another must. Cinder and Emerald I'm not crazy about but those are some good perks. Yang is good for more assertive women and would pair nicely with Winter and Cinder's perks. If I have Winter I want Weiss because sisters should enjoy doing things together.
I guess that technically applies to Ruby too... And her perk applies to ninety percent of the cast... But I'd still feel squicky. She's out. Come back to it when she's a year older at least.
Still, that's too many girls. I need to take some out. Roman while nice can be cut. Ilia I covered that flaw already. She's out. That's seven...
… Dammit. Fine. Summer is off the list. But I'm putting her back on ASAP! With the growth perk I should be getting another six points for basically free soon.
So is that it? Am I done?
The blibbity blob is back. ”... You know, you'll probably come back as an asthmatic sea slug after this.”
”Then I'll be the best damn asthmatic sea slug I can be if it means I can come back and live the harem life again.”
”Fine, fine. Off you go.”
Wait. Is that–? ”Wait! Waitwaitwaitwait–!”
-(-)-
”Wait!” I shout as I lurch out of... bed.
… Dammit.
No, nevermind, it's fine. Don't bitch about living the harem life. So I ended up setting myself on Team Evil by accident! Turn 'em good with my gigap.e.n.i.s. Problem solved.
Pulling my very comfortable silk pajamas away I inspect it. It is a pretty good p.e.n.i.s.
It's twice the/same size as mine–
Oh.
Ohhhhh, okay that's a migraine, that's a migraine. I flop back in bed and close my eyes. I don't know how long I lay there, but information – memories – flood into my brain. Or connect? I guess they were always in this body but–
… It doesn't matter. The memories of this life come in and blibbity blob seems to have not pulled any punches with my roughly filled in backstory. I am Vlad Dracul the Third. Son of Vlad Dracul the Second and brother of Radu Dracul.
Both deceased. Less than a week ago.
Cliff notes of his– my life story then. Vlad was born the second son less than a year after his brother. The Dracul were once a noble family in Mistral, ruling over a town of middling size in the west of Anima. But with the dissolution of the nobility in the Vytal Accords, they lost their noble title. Still, they maintained control of the town of Wallachia (cute) through sheer competence. And perhaps some more underhanded occurrences that the young sons of the family weren't told about. Father to son to daughter to son, the Dracul ensured when the matter of rulership was in contention, a Dracul was still the best candidate for the job. The family were educated in history, economics, politics, culture and combat. Should the city come under attack from the Grimm, they would defend it, joining the militia to drive them off.
And so, when the town was attacked, the Dracul joined the defense. However, it wasn't a roaming pack of Grimm. Bandits were assaulting the town, Anima's own self-made plague of people who gave up on the lopsided society of Mistral and created their own societies of murderers and thieves.
Bandits are scavengers, but they are also survivors. And surviving in the wildlands is not something that can be done without strong fighters. Vlad didn't see his father die. His brother delivered the grim news (no pun intended) as the brothers tried to drive the marauders away from the shelters. Radu never saw the bandit that killed him, a short sword shattered his aura and drove through his back in one stab.
There Vlad stood. Watching his brother die and his killer flee. He neither saw, nor heard anything else as he lunged after the killer, not even of conscious enough mind to use the grapple on his spear. And as Vlad reached out for his quarry, he grasped hold of the bandit's neck. And drank.
And drank.
And drank.
It hadn't been long until the bandit could no longer stand, Vlad following him down as he kept hold. Then the bandit began to beg. Then he stopped begging, hanging limp in Vlad's hands.
And he drank.
It had been the first time Vlad had used his semblance to drain someone of their very life. He had no idea of the consequences of doing so. His semblance could drain a person's strength and heighten his own but there was a limit. If he crossed it, his mind would temporarily degrade, entering a berserker state. He hadn't drained enough raw strength from the bandit to hit the limit but that didn't matter. Killing with it, it seemed, had the same effect.
Radu died alone. The only sound his brother's mad laughter as he tore through anyone who came at him, every single one impaled through the chest or drained to a husk.
The bandits fled. They swore vengeance. It wasn't clear whether they were running from him or from the Grimm. Either way, the dark creatures swarmed after both the town and the fleeing marauders.
Vlad fought on through the night as the Grimm continued attacking. Without the presence of humans or faunus, he was no longer sustaining his berserker state but it was no longer about satisfying his vengeance or his bloodl.u.s.t. Instead it had become a matter of protecting his home, doing his duty. If he allowed himself to falter, that would be it. The great Dracul family wiped out by bandits and Grimm. Just another footnote of Mistralian history.
Hours later it was over. The Grimm were puddles of ichor and ash. The bandits that hadn't fled fast enough just piles of gore.
For protecting the people, he received no thanks. Fear was his reward.
He couldn't be certain that it was fear of him alone that began the movement to have someone other than the last Dracul take over the city. No doubt there was some amount of unrest that Wallachia hadn't 'joined the rest of the world' in moving on from dynastic rulers. They wouldn't want someone they feared ruling over them.
And then the talks turned even further.
They didn't want someone they feared living among them.
He was allowed to stay in his home. It was the seat of power but as the Dracul had always been the ones in power, he had been in no way ready to leave it. But once the funerals for his father and brother were completed, he was asked to leave Wallachia at his earliest convenience.
…
Motherf.u.c.ker!
Well, isn't that bloody clever then! From a noble family. But I didn't pick 'important family' so they had to all die. Didn't pick 'influence' or 'allies' or 'retainers' or 'status' so any power my family had needed to be stripped from me!
F.u.c.k.i.n.g f.u.c.k! I mean... Yeah, this was mostly on me but still! There's a disconnect but I still have memories of playing with him as kids, learning to fight together, arguing about which one of us was going to marry Winter when we... grew up...
Winter.
-(-)-
”–And I was hoping we may be able to renegotiate our arrangement with your family's company once the new government is more firmly in place.”
”That would be something to take up with him.”
I catch a snippet of conversation as Winter and the... new mayor of Wallachia enter my... his estate.
”Ah, of course, of course! I wouldn't wish to presume–”
She spots me walking down the stairs. ”Leave us,” she commands, an order that would be followed. Even from a man whose new station was perhaps going to his head a little, there would be no argument. The mayor (thank the blob I'm leaving because I'll never be able to think or say that without venom) scampers into his office.
”Vlad... It's been a long time.” Winter Schnee stands before me. Standing even now with military poise. Even so, with her hands behind her back I notice her arms shift slightly. I think she's fidgeting.
”Four years,” I agree as I step off of the staircase to greet her properly. Offering my hand, she offers hers in turn and I lean forward to brush my lips over her knuckles. I note a little smile peek through as I rise and release her hand, likely remembering when I... When Vlad... F.u.c.k it. When I used to be especially eager to greet her like that when she visited. ”It has been too long.”
”It has,” she agrees. ”You certainly grew up,” she notes now that I've risen to my full height, not towering over her but certainly taller than her.
The last time I had seen her was not long before she was disinherited. No more fancy trips around the world when her time in combat school was on break. No more business trips with Father. With that, all her reason and ability to come visit went away. It was no concern to little Vlad. Just some time apart for him to grow up and sweep her off her feet.
”I'm sorry I couldn't make it here in time for the funeral,” she continues, her eyes softening, ”Your father was a good man. And Radu... Vlad, I can't even imagine–”
”Please,” I held up a hand, ”It is unworthy of both of us to dwell on loss and despair. Please allow me to escort you to” glance at the clock on the wall ”lunch, and we can reminisce over happier times.”
I watch her, clearly brought up short at being interrupted (which I imagine doesn't happen often), but she soon allows a small smile through. ”I think I would like that,” she says, taking my offered arm.
Lunch was honestly only worthy of the term because there was food present. We barely paid attention to it, all our attention devoted to the other.
”–And then in you ran, little Vlad all of twelve years old, covered in mud presenting me with a 'bouquet' of flowers you picked from your own garden, Radu hot on your heels!”
I laugh, tears in my eyes. ”He was furious with me! Or at least he pretended to be, mostly I think he was mad at himself for not thinking of it first.”
”No, no, it was our fathers who were furious!” she retorts laughing lightly herself, ”Mine livid at the 'upstart brat' trying to seduce his princess–”
”–And mine for digging up the garden!” I finish. ”He made me replant and take care of that flowerbed myself after you left!”
We laugh together and honestly, even if only a part of me needs this, a part of me that only existed to me for about six hours, I feel like I needed it. Like all of me needed it.
Let's be real. Right before those six hours, I died. Maybe a little relief and joy was just what the doctor ordered, for both Vlad and I.
But even so, the moment is over and Winter's expression turns pensive. She reaches across the table to grasp my hand. ”What are you going to do, Vlad?” her thumb running across the back of my hand. Very forward for her.
”I don't know yet,” I half-fib. I know generally what's next but no plan of action. ”I need to leave but, this was everything.” I gesture around dining room, the house, and further, out towards the town. ”This was supposed to be me, helping Radu govern, or governing myself. The idea that I would ever just leave...”
”You could come with me?” Winter suggests and if I didn't know her better I'd think there was pleading in it. ”Join Atlas Academy? I could put a word in with General Ironwood–”
I put my hand over hers. ”I appreciate that, Winter. Really I do. But I feel like I'd chafe under military doctrine. And would Atlas have any more tolerance for what my semblance does to me than Wallachia?”
She looked away. It's not in the same way but she knows it's true. Atlas wouldn't turn me away but with the berserker state and the reputation I earned from it, I would be under pretty strict scrutiny. Not to mention I would be restricted from using it which is not how you train and improve your semblance.
And if they restricted it, I wouldn't want to work for them anyway. They would be literally rejecting part of my soul, after all.
Man, it's strange to think of RWBY superpowers like that but it's true here. Legitimately powers made of your own soul.
”I see,” Winter says and this time it's not imagined, she's disappointed. ”Sadly, I believe you are correct. Even so, perhaps one of the other academies? Your skills in combat could gain you entry to any of them with little trouble,” she tries suggesting again, looking away again and, ”Perhaps Beacon.”
Hmmm...
”Winter?” I call questioningly.
”Hm?” she looks back at me innocently.
”Why Beacon?”
”It is a fine institution. General Ironwood is a good friend of the Headmaster there and they are much more open to–”
I raise my hand and give her a knowing look.
She sighs. ”It seems Weiss has decided to follow in my footsteps and is set on going to Beacon Academy to train as a huntress.”
”You want me to look after your sister.”
”Not 'look after'!” she denies, a little affronted. ”Just... Keep an eye on her. Make sure she's happy...”
”As options go, it's probably my best,” I admit. ”And I'd be happy to keep an eye on her for you, Winter.”
”Thank you,” she says with a full, open smile. Something I rarely saw on her even when we were younger.
My hand twitches. And I realise I'm still holding one of her hands with both of mine. By the look of her and the dusting of pink on her cheeks, I guess she noticed too. Even so, I don't let go.
”You know,” she says, pulling her hand back in a way that pulled me along with it, ”Back then? My father was right to be worried about you.” With her free hand she pulls me in, leaning in to kiss me.
I offer an absent thought to the poor cook that made that meal for us because things escalated quickly from there. Including literally as we stumbled our way up the stairs to what was still for the time being my bedroom.
I kick backwards to open the door, the thump followed by a slam as it hits the wall. Winter leads from behind, pushing me further in before guiding me to and shoving me on the bed. She unclasps her coat at neck and midsection. ”Have you ever...? Before?” she asks leadingly as she throws her coat over a chair and starts unbuttoning her vest, kicking the door shut again with her heel.
I swallow reflexively. ”No.” Vlad hasn't.
And I can definitively say I've never had s.e.x with a six foot amazonian supermodel before. So... Still true.
”Okay, just follow my lead.” She undoes the last button of her vest, throwing it on top of her coat. ”You aren't undressing yet,” she observes.
”Right! Yes!” I agree, throwing aside my own coat... somewhere, and start working on my ruffly shirt.
”Here,” she whispers as she moves in close and deftly starts flicking open the buttons, ”let me.” The shirt comes off and undershirt follows.
Layers. It's cold in Remnant Wallachia.
”Now mine,” she continues to whisper. Following her directions, I grip the hem of her own undershirt and pull it up over her head.
Good Blob.
”Hey,” Winter hisses, waving a hand in front of my face, ”Stay with me.”
”Sorry.”
And then any attention she got back from that is thoroughly lost again as her very functional white, snowflake-patterned bra comes off and I'm greeted by two gloriously firm-looking mounds peaked by tiny pink n.i.p.p.l.es. With great effort I tear my eyes away so I can drink in the whole picture. A toned physique of the palest porcelain, only interrupted by light scars and nicks dotted across the expanse of flesh.
Next it's my turn again and my boots and then my unreasonably fluffy pants are sent across the room.
”Oh. Oh my.”
Winter's eyes are practically popping out as she gets her first look at what she'll be working with. Hesitantly, she peels down my underpants and it pops out.
The journey of the gigap.e.n.i.s begins.
I didn't go too absurd with it but it's certainly enough to give Winter pause as she looks it up, and up, and down again. To her credit, there's no fear. Her expression doesn't say she's scared or intimidated.
It says she's come up against a challenge and working out the logistics.
Nodding firmly, her own pants and snowflake panties come off next. For a single moment that I pray to remember for eternity, I see a fully nude Winter Schnee standing proudly in my bedroom, legs spread, ready to take on the world. To describe Winter Schnee is to describe poise, precision and presence. It doesn't matter one iota that this woman is nude and about to take a whole lot of d.i.c.k. As far as her bearing is concerned she owns this room, this house, this world.
Right now, there is nothing I want more in this world than her.
The moment ends and Winter crawls towards me onto the bed. Her first point of attention is, as was inevitable, my crotch. She leans over it, kissing the head lightly, before allowing saliva to dribble down onto it. Her tongue flicks out giving it little licks now and again but it's clear this is not attempt at a blowjob. This is her prep work for what comes next.
When she feels satisfied, she moves further up my body, capturing my lips again. Grinding her lower lips against my length. ”Touch me, Vlad,” she whispers, ordering, not pleading. I can't help but comply as my hands begin running over her body as she continues to slide back and forth. We continue in this fashion, I revel in the feel of her body on mine, as I find the spots that make her sigh.
”Okay,” she breathes, ”I think I'm ready.”
She leans back, now sitting perpendicular to my shaft, it resting on her abdomen and I see just what kind of challenge Winter is taking on. Raising her h.i.p.s, she tilts forward and guides the head to her entrance... and sinks ever so slightly as she gasps out.
I feel the warmth and wetness engulf the head and my h.i.p.s twitch. Before it can be anything more than a twitch, she places a hand firmly on my pelvis. ”N-no,” she gasps, ”You're... Very big. Let me set the pace.”
I nod jerkily in answer and she sinks a half inch further. It's almost enough to overwhelm me and make me break that agreement right there.
She sinks lower, and lower.
”G-Gods, there's still more!” she whispers in astonishment, sighing. ”I'm going to be so sore.” As if she admitted it in resignation, she allowed herself to drop fully onto my shaft. ”G-gh!” she gasps out.
”Are you okay?” I ask, worried I really did overdo it.
”Fine. Just... An adjustment, is all.” As if she took the words as a challenge, she starts raising her h.i.p.s again, I feel her clench shut as my member pulls out of her, only to by pried open again as she drops. ”Kuh, hah... hah... hah...”
And raise.
And lower.
”Vlad... Touch me more. Please.” This time, it is begging and I'm happy to oblige as I watch her struggle to keep going. Working the spots I learned before, she gasps and twitches on my shaft. I ghost my hands over her thighs, up around her h.i.p.s to her b.r.e.a.s.ts. As my thumb flicks over a n.i.p.p.l.e her hands snap up and cup my hands over her chest and I start kneading.
She seems to start getting a rhythm, her muscles growing used to the large insertion and before long she's bouncing and gasping. Her hands leave mine and she plants them on my chest for more leverage. My own hands travel down and grasp her behind, raising my h.i.p.s to meet hers on every down thrust.
”Ah! Ah! Ah! Mm!” she gasps, cute little m.o.a.ns. Winter it seems is a quiet lover. Her channel quivers and her pace becomes frantic. What had been long drags along most of the shaft become short, sharp little movements. ”Kiss me!” she orders in a gasp.
”Gladly,” I lean up to meet her and take her lips, her p.u.s.s.y throbbing and pulsing over my entire c.o.c.k, which responds in turn as I feel my release burst out of me. Our h.i.p.s slam together as we ride out the aftershocks of our mutual orgasm.
Winter pants atop me, basking in the afterglow before she lets herself, graceful even in this moment, slump forward into arms that reflexively encircle her.
”Hmmm...” she sighs, ”That was good. I'm not sure I could have done that without aura.”
”Proud of you,” I say, smirking.
Her head pops up again, glaring at my smirking face before she rolls her eyes and leans into my shoulder again. ”Vlad?” she says quietly, slightly muffled. ”Are you sure you can't come to Atlas?”
Well if this was her sales pitch it was a damn good one, I don't say aloud. ”I'm sorry but no.”
”... You can visit me in Vale?” I suggest.
She turns enough to put me in her periphery. ”... I'll get myself assigned to the General's staff for the Vytal Festival.” She wriggles a little. ”Do you ever go down?” she asks incredulously.
”It is going down.”
”... Gods.”
-(-)-
The next morning, my luggage is packed. I don't just gather my own effects. I look through the house for any keepsakes of Radu and my father. Technically the whole house was ours but that isn't an argument worth having. Most of it, I can't take with me. But the little things I take. Photographs, mostly. Some of Father's jewellery with the Dracul family emblem. We may not rule anymore but it's still something I'll take pride in.
And then that's it. I'm leaving with Winter. She's letting me ride with her to Vale for the academy entrance exams, then she's back to Atlas and I won't see her again. ”Ready to go?” she asks as I approach with my luggage.
A stupid but perfect thought strikes me. ”One more thing!” I exclaim as I run around the back of the house.
Once more, I emerge, slightly dirtied but grinning as I approach Winter with a bundle of freshly picked flowers. ”I can't take them with me,” I say sadly. I really had spent a lot of time on them. ”And besides, they were always meant for you.”
As I presented the flowers to her, tied together with string just like the first time, I think I managed to utterly ruin her cool façade. She looked as though her heart was in her throat as she took them in hand. ”Get on the airship,” she croaked, her aura of command fractured in that moment.
Even so. ”Yes, Ma'am,” I acknowledge, climbing into the aircraft. From the corner of my eye I watch her smell the flowers, her shoulders squirming a little and bouncing on her toes a couple of times.
Then she turns around. And the mask is back on. She clears her throat as she closes the aircraft door. ”Thank you. For the flowers.”
She really is just like a grown up Weiss, isn't she?
… I agreed to watch out for her sister when I plan to f.u.c.k her, didn't I?
Well, how could that possibly go wrong?
Chapter 2
Looking down on Wallachia, I'm both reminded and shown for the first time just how beautiful it is. I remember walking the streets and Father telling me of the history. Of how it was founded by our long dead ancestors and through great hardship, flourished. From simple beginnings of wooden structures, some of which still stood to this day, and then as time passed and the place came into its own, more elaborate structures began to spring up. Brilliant minds imbuing ordinary buildings with gorgeous gothic architecture. And then as the town succeeded while others failed, other groups, refugees, arrived and added their own particular marks as the town expanded. Byzantine, Chinese, a few Victorian-tinged Greco-Roman courtesy of some from Argus with a little wanderl.u.s.t. The place was a mishmash of many different cultures from all across Anima but at its core remained the marks of the people who began it all.
I look back on that week before I was me. When I was mourning my father and brother. And I wonder, if I had been stronger, or weaker, or if there was anything I could have done to make this unnecessary. I remind myself that this is just a construct of my own making. Even in error, I chose this. But it isn't like that changes how I feel. That just makes it feel like it's my fault no matter what.
”You can return someday,” Winter tells me, in the same tone she used when she first arrived. When she tried to comfort me from my loss.
”Yes,” I say wistfully, the city sinking further and further into the distance as the airship gets going.
There is a comfortable silence in the cabin. We're the only passengers what is pretty obvious from the utilitarian design to be a military transport. Which gets me curious. ”How did you even get time away?”
”Ah, it was requested for a huntress to look into the surrounding area,” Winter explained. ”Look for any buildup in the Grimm population. I handled it before I came to see you. I didn't want my duties to interrupt us.”
”To... Interrupt...?”
She stiffens in her seat. ”I had not anticipated things to... progress so quickly between us, if that's what you mean.” Her eyes flick to the bouquet sitting, belted, into another chair, flash frozen in a block of ice. A smile breaks through that she doesn't even bother trying to subdue, her eyes returning to mine. ”I don't regret any of it.”
”I'm glad,” I answer, matching her smile. I'd take her hand if this stupid military harness weren't in the way.