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Well now to say dear Fleur slipped into rage would be an understatement but of course we can understand why. But the mental crossover to ZuZu, now that was interesting...What will happen when / if they Really meet? Anyone for "Pyromania"??
Hanging on the edge of my seat as always!!
To get that " Disco" tune right outta yer head quick, just BLAST that particular, and VERY fitting ' Def Leppard' tune at top volume, as we all break out the beer and snacks to watch such a most "Mouhahahahahahahahaha"-laden meeting almost guaranteed to unfold in an extremely 'incendiary' way!!
"GO, FLEUR, GO!! GO, FLEUR GO!!" (etc...)^^
(The rowdy, hot-blooded and sadistically-vengeful crowd, being of ONE spirit with Fleur, is on it's feet, and raucously and loudly cheering....)^^
Cheers, dude!
"Badger" is now a fully-carbonized, smouldering, smoking charcoal brickette, big enough to cook off of...provided you can stand the stench, that is....
Can't really vouch for how anything would actually wind up tasting, however^^...EEEWWWW....
Personally, I love those spiders for their VERY handy venom: for poisoning things, or dying leather black. (With the absolutely wickedly-wonderful and damn-near essential "Bandoliers" mod.)^^
Thus, Rathe might just as well have gotten those spiders' totally FREE venom-sacs, since he HAS used such venom before, no doubt on MORE than one occasion, and is therefore quite familiar with it's properties and uses^^....
What a wonderfully-tense, suspense-filled, Marcinko/SEAL-like execution of this little Seek and Destroy "op"!^^ Seriously Jess, you might actually like his books, as they are totally badass, kinda like Rathe!^^
Rathe was right to be concerned about all the damned racket that the two woefully inexperienced BRATS^^ were making in the cramped and echoing interiors while he's trying to keep quiet. Aaarrrgh!^^
I absolutely could NOT get enough of all the various, subtle but totally LOVELY little nuances and intrigues, sprinkled here and there throughout this chapter:^^
--Rathe's mixed feelings about not having his enhanced Beast senses any longer...
--The contrast between Fleur's clear revulsion and reluctance and Darius' seeming gleeful and eager disposition during the mission...hmmm...what could Rathe possibly glean from that, I wonder...^^ Typical boyish excitement, or perhaps something far more subtle?
--It's a bit curious, how the Punk didn't seem to be too impressive or useful this time 'round, unlike before, when the Trio fought outside with ferocity and devastating distinction, thus pleasing the Battle-Gods....
--The brief flashes of Regan/ZuZu in Badger's stead, BOTH times...WOW! That was VERY powerful, propelling Rathe into a white-HOT Bezerker-Rage....(perhaps with the very violent lyrics of "Valhall Awaits Me" by Amon Amarth blasting thunderously in his head!! ) ...He has GOT to watch that "short fuse" of his...it HAS gotten him badly-dummied in the past....
--Fleur MOST definitely saw, also in a brief flash, HERSELF as that poor, brutalised and murdered girl manacled to the wall, quickly triggering her own lethal WRATH, and damn-near taking out Rathe along with her intended target! She's GOT to hone and practice her spell-aiming a lot better....
--Fleur's innate Magicka-reserve is obviously quite impressively large, as she just kept on literally pouring out her scorching flames of pure, unbridled RAGE before Rathe finally got through to her.
--Rathe's second flash of his Satanically-estranged Sis in the Charcoal's stead might just be an ominous premonition....^^
--That brief, precious moment of tenderness and silent understanding was most cathartic for both Rathe and Fleur, so many hauntingly beautiful meanings on many levels there....
--Darius' disgusting and shocking attitude as he displayed total disregard and disdain towards such a morally-essential act of honour for a brutally murdered innocent....
I wouldn't have even bothered burying the Charcoal, though, IT doesn't deserve such an honour in my most cruel and savage opinion^^....
--Rathe ought to keep a much closer eye on this most unpleasant little PUNK Darius from now on, due to his wholly bad attitude...what's that old wisdom about "friends and enemies" again? Keep one close, but the other closer?^^
>Light-bulb!<
What about collecting all the thugs' heads to prove to the Jarl of Riften that Fort Greenwall has been totally cleared, and collect any bounty for that?
Caveat: "Badger" might be a bit hard to ID, so hopefully all the other "trophies" might just do as the proof.^^
Very swiftly endorsed! This chapter is right up there alongside your old, precious chapter 11 in terms of pure awesomeness! ^^ ...Please don't get me wrong, I enjoy all of your captivating chapters.^^
Many most warm and kind thanks, Jess, and hearty cheers for another very entertaining literary masterpiece, dear!
You cracked me up whilst simultaneously astound me with your attention to detail in your feedback! You don't just read these chapters, you LIVE them don't you?! I so appreciate it my dear!
I thought you'd enjoy Fleur's little 'disco inferno' (that was the song SHE had playing in her head)! But as I said to wolfgrimdark below, damn she's got issues! To fry someone in such a barbaric way (even though Badger deserved it) shows how far she's come from that frightened little girl that rathe pulled out of that Dwemer ruin all those months ago.
Both rathe and Fleur definitely had ZuZu on the brain when they fought Badger and although Fleur's feelings to ZuZu/Badger were more than clear, I still feel Rathe's were a bit murkier. Rage at her, yes. But the need to annihilate her? Well... it's telling I think that master swordsman that he is... he didn't land the killing blow...
As for Darius (who shall henceforth be known as the PUNK)... I don't trust him. You pointed out something very interesting... he was sooo helpful on the outside of the fort but kinda hung back inside. Why? Why PUNK? Why?
If Rathe and co didn't need to be so stealthy when they enter Riften I think they'd certainly be in on the idea about bounty. As it is, they are hesitant to draw attention to themselves. Especially from the Jarl... who's in Maven's pocket... who's in a certain someone else's pocket!!
Thanks you again my dera one! I hope to have a new chapter up on the weekend!!!
Surtur, Lord of Muspelheim would VERY much appreciate Fleur for her abilities, BTW, as she's definitely NOT a typically weak "3-shot" mage.
More like 33-shot (or very likely even more)...^^
Cheers, dear!
Handled Fleur really well in this tale I thought - a good way for her to get rid of one of her demons. Darius, however, seems to have a few of his own left. Rathe - unless you have more revelations coming he seems to have come to terms with many things - Fleur, Drinking, Werewolf, and maybe Regan ... not so sure he is over that really though as he got into a pretty heated rage. On the other hand he also didn't loose his cool as badly as Fleur did. Plus he buried both the girl and Badger.
The whole sneaking through the fort was right-on, just like I know Grim does it with Erik and Wolfgar covering his back for him. Did a great job describing everything and the shots were amazing. Although I admit I am glad you did not have shots to match the written text of Badger melting.
Off-topic - this is one of those cases where psychology comes into play a lot. When it comes to werewolves people are all freaked out cause they rip people apart with claws, teat out a throat, eviscerate someone, or eat their heart. Truly - is that worse then what Fleur did to Badger? Who takes the longest to die - someone being burned alive in their own armor or someone with their throat ripped out? Which is the more painful? As for the heart - they are dead. Not much different than eating the heart of a bear by a hunter who wants the bears strength. Also much better than a vampire who tends to get into souls and necromancy.
Anyhow just thought of that based on your description. To me some of the worst ways to die (in a fight, not torture) is by fire and magic that destroys/captures a soul. Very good descriptive detail in all of this Jess. Really enjoyed this story tonight. Very consistent characters and actions - keep the rhythm going
PS - Thanks for the shout out
Fleur has taken a step forward with this tale but by no means is cured of her demons yet. Rathe either. He has his exterior but I suspect most of that is a sham. Underneath he's still torn up over Fleur and Regan. He may have kicked the alcohol but I still don't think either of them have come to terms with their biggest demon - each other.
I love sneaking through forts in the game. As I said to Kami, I get so immersed in the sneak play throughs that I kinda feel like I'm actually there which makes for description writing easier. I once read somewhere, write what you know - and although I DO NOT know about sneaking through forts or killing people, I do know a bit about psychology. Hence why I pepper it through my stories so much. You little smart bottom picked up on it PERFECTLY with the Fleur -burning-Badger scene. I wanted to show how truly horrifying burning someone to death was... and how in many ways, Badger's brigands with their knife thrusts to the stomachs of unsuspecting victims were a lot kinder than Fleur was. Granted, Badger was a monster and had a painful death coming but geez Fleur... that's some serious pain you're dishing out girlfriend!
So yes, I agree that her destruction magic is probably much worse when unleashed than say an aggravated Grim or enraged Rathe... it's interesting that it's poor, innocent Fleur who wreaks the greatest death on her victims.
Sorry. I digress!
Thank you for the feedback and my PLEASURE for the shout out! Time to pay back my fellow Nexus authors!
It seems the bandit leader was much sharper than the rest, sensing someone near, Fleur's fire is a dangerous thing waked by the anger at the sight of the dead girl, leaving the leader to a painful fate. Interesting that weight was lifted from Rathe and Fleur's shoulders in that anger spent on one cruel as Regan. I do fear for them entering the walls of Riften as well, looks forward to seeing what comes next
Thanks jess :-)
Speaking of pups, Darius continues to be annoying to me, maybe because I dislike the zealous young lad types in reality and fiction, especially when they placed to already grown up impressive male figures like Rathe. Maybe it is just me, but Darius seems to be overly exited with all these killings, for what reason it is hard to say. Also it is interesting how he manages to hate and respect Rathe at the same time. I guess if it was not for his family and Fleur Darius could skip the “hating” part.
I was surprised to see that Fleur was right after all about the girl, even if they came too late to save her. The bandit’s leader indeed has reminded of Regan a bit too much for Rathe and Fleur to loose their composure and go into berserk mode.., especially Fleur when she saw that damaged corpse. And the girl sure has power! The bandit leader ended up like Regan should, Fleur definitely should try it again with her, if given a chance and only then the past would be past because this bandit is poor substitute for vicious Red Rose owner in my opinion… But I do hate the likes of Regan with passion and always hope she will get what she deserves.
The moment of understanding between Fleur and Rathe after their kill of Regan’s substitute was powerful and emotional one. Loved it that with one touch Rathe managed to say thousand words… I do love when Fleur and Rathe are like this, and Fleur becomes such a lovable cutie when she is not trying to manipulate and be who is clearly not, with all due respect to her powers she is not an assassin. And now both Rathe and Fleur have new trials ahead which I am sure should not be taken lightly… I am looking forward for continuation and thank you very much for sharing your wonderful work!
I too love it when Fleur and Rathe have those moments of understanding and warmth towards one another - when their chequered past isn't coming between them. Rare and beautiful, those moments.
I'm glad you continue to enjoy this little tale. It really makes my day to have such sweet, loyal and devoted fans out there!!