Autumn Preferences – Alex

Rules: Bold what your muse prefers and then tag some people!

Go apple picking vs. Go on a hay ride 
Scary
vs. Sweet

Sweaters vs. Boots
Socks vs. Mittens
Bonfires vs. football
Trick-or-Treating vs. Watching scary movies
Bake pies vs. bake cookies (Both!)
Rain vs. Fog
Black cats vs. Owls
Ghosts vs. Wizards
Harry Potter vs. Halloweentown
Go hiking vs. Sleep in
Cinnamon vs. Nutmeg
Reading vs. Writing (Neither? XD)
Hot Chocolate vs. Tea
Live in a cabin in the forest vs. Have it be fall 24/7
Candy apples vs. Caramel apples
Blankets vs. Pillows
Roasted marshmallows vs. Roasted chestnuts
Coffee vs. Apple cider (Spiked with booze :P)
Red leaves vs. Orange leaves
Braids vs. Bows
Scented candles vs. The smell of fresh baked goods
Carve pumpkins vs. Make pumpkin pie
Pumpkin spice lattes vs. Chai lattes
Coats vs. Oversized sweaters
Beanies vs. Berets
Candy corn vs. Peanut butter cups
Jump in a pile of leaves vs. Swing on a tire
Corn maze vs. Haunted house
Bob for apples vs. Visit a pumpkin patch
Whipped cream on hot chocolate vs. Marshmallows

Tagged by: @ofawitheredrose

A Thorn in the Side

rei-sekiro:

Previous Reply / @nebula1984

The Seeker’s gaze narrowed as the Elezen walked away from him. He craned his neck, trying to see what he was doing. When the man threw something his way, Rei flinched noticeably, only to be draped in a heavy blanket. He blinked his surprise away, frowning. He was not expecting that. He may or may not have muttered a quiet thank you in Hingan under his breath. 

“I thought I was being rather polite,” he shrugged, “I talk the way I talk because I’m bored…” he was smiling again, “I get kidnapped a lot, for some reason. Also almost killed and getting into random fights…I’m used to dealing with people like you.” He tried to adjust himself in a way to get the blanket closer to him. He was still shivering but not nearly as bad as before. “I like talking about myself, especially since someone like you shouldn’t be messing with me to begin with. In fact, you should be bragging to others you had the honor of meeting me!” He sneered at the Elezen.

His ears flicked at the sound of cursing. The Seeker politely bowed his head again a the man figured things out for himself. “Belong to? No, no… I am the adopted son of one,” he corrected, “Imagine angering the leader of a multi-content wide operation just so you can get paid a little extra pocket change. Scary, isn’t it?” he canted his head slightly, still testing the chains as though something would change this time around.

Rei flinched slightly as the Elezen punched the wall and stormed out. He sat silently, figuring that the man wasn’t returning, only to be proven wrong. “A deal?” he raised an eyebrow, “What’s in it for me? I can get away from you any time I want to,” he frowned, “Just so you know, I don’t kill innocent people,” he went silent for a moment, “Are you asking me to pay you off? Because that’s not very fair to me either…”

He was silent for a long moment, and even closed his eyes to think. It would be a good few minutes before he said anything else, “Right now my father thinks I am out on personal business. The Sekiro-Kai won’t expect me back for another week regardless. For now, they won’t be suspicious since I rarely check in. Too much of a hassle,” he shrugged, “You are lucky I don’t kill children. Or spouses. Or idiots,” he was looking at the Elezen for the last point, grinning widely. The truth was he really only killed other criminals, so this man had nothing to worry about. But Yuuta wasn’t that nice. 

“What are you interested in? Protection? Money? Secrecy?” he listed them off, “Do the Sky Pirates know you have me, because I’m sure they won’t be happy that you’re changing your mind on this deal either…”

Alex wanted to punch that smile off Rei’s face. The boy’s mouth really made him think long and hard about changing his deal on the Sky Pirates like this. But he wasn’t about to bring this sort of trouble down on Sanagi.

“I was interested in the price the pirates were paying. But…” He made a disgusted face at Rei. “What I ain’t interested in is tangling with some kind of crime lord. Been there, done that.” A huff as he rolled his eyes. “All I want is you not bothering people I care about, dumbass.”

Alex just spun the keyring around his finger as he kept his distance from Rei. “It ain’t no honor meeting a stuck up brat like youh. I used to be a power in the underground of Ishgard. I worked with the Carver himself as his Jackal. I ain’t washed up. I walked away for something better.” Not that he was going to mention he had walked away from being a criminal for the sake of a girl. Well two girls technically though one was ‘family’ in a sense. But Aeri could take care of herself if someone came after her. Sanagi was the one he was really worried about. “No if I had to gauge… We’re about even in terms of skill. But I have the years of experience you don’t quite have. As far as the sky pirates… They don’t know I have you. Yet. I ain’t as dumb as you seem to think I might be.”

duskrecluse:

nebula1984:

duskrecluse:

There’s a deep peace in the snow-covered forest at early dawn. The sun is trying to show its face, fighting through the clouds to sparkle where it strikes the crisp coating of snow and ice.

The first notes hang in the air, shivery and cold just like everything else. They are tentative, unsure. The sound fades, the artist pausing to adjust the tension of the strings to account for the chill before he draws out another piece of the melody.

Even in the stillness and cold of the early morning, he knows the vulnerability presented by this one act. But it’s more than a desire – it’s almost a calling, a need pressed on him by an outside force stronger than himself. He’s purposely far from home, deep in the trees of the Twelveswood where no one in their right mind would be at an hour such as this. Even so, his bow is strung and ready beside him where he can reach it in an instant.

Basteaux draws a bow of another kind over the strings of his violin, his fingers moving with deceptive ease to coax notes from the instrument. It sings under his touch, a soaring tribute to the brilliance of the shining world around him.

As the final strains ring through the stillness, he opens his eyes. She’s the first thing he sees, and he immediately drops one bow in order to reach for the other. But there’s recognition after that initial jolt, and he bends to retrieve the abandoned object from the crust of the snow at his feet.

(From here)

Destiney didn’t mind that he was out of practice. He certainly didn’t play like he was. Though the difference in the two pieces was clear. As was the tension in his form. Either way it was still a pleasing piece. This piece was still less… Free then the last. It lacked the same heart and soul. Not that this piece didn’t have a heart of it’s own. It was just less. Too structured.

“I’m sorry, Basteaux.” She hadn’t missed that look on his face when he finished. Maybe she shouldn’t have asked him to play for her specifically. But there was something about it that she couldn’t resist. Now she felt guilty for ruining his mood. Never had it been her intention to disrupt his morning in this way. “I did not mean to ruin your morning.”

The instrument fit into a small, padded case that he slung over his shoulder alongside his quiver. With it taken care of, Basteaux turned the full weight of his attention back to Destiney. “You did not attack me, nor did you request anything I did not choose to give freely. If there is any blight on this morning, it would be one of my own making.”

He looked past her, up to where the sun was beginning to make its climb in earnest. “I must be going. Though I wish you well on this morning, and hope whatever task has brought you out here is one that does not bring you trouble.”

She watched in silence as he carefully took care of his instrument. Somehow his words really did little to soothe the feeling of guilt over the sudden change of his playing. But she kept that opinion to herself. He would probably just blame himself again. That was far from what she wanted.

She stepped up beside him, a soft smile on her lips. Intentions perfectly clear that she meant to follow him for a bit. “Where are you heading? I could walk with you for a bit. If you don’t mind of course. I was mostly out here for a bit of peace. My company can be quite chaotic at times. An the woods are calming.”

Destiney couldn’t help but laugh, arms wrapped around her waist. Lance’s bewildered expression was too priceless. Snow still was falling off his hair where he had been hit with a snowball in the back of the head. Some down the collar of his armor.

“So this is how it is?” Lance asked with a raised brow at his cousin. A grin slowly spread across his face as he bent down to scoop up a handful of snow. This sent Destiney turning to sprint away. Still laughing of course. Lance gave chase as best as he could while still armored. Destiney’s warm lighter clothes offered her more movement then his own.

Destiney’s run towards freedom ended too quickly. Not seeing the small rock sticking up as it was covered with snow. As well as she had been too busy glancing back to see how close Lance had gotten. The snowball Lance had been preparing had been thrown just at that moment. The rock saving Destiney from the snowball to the back but it found a different target instead. A small Raen girl that neither of them had noticed in their merriment.

Both of them froze with wide eyes. A silent look between them. Lance was the first to move again, followed closely by Destiney.

“I’m so sorry for that. I fear my aim was poorly chosen. I do hope you are alright.” Lance apologized to the poor girl.