In which Yun's curiosity continues to lead to bad things, and Luca Blight makes demands.
Please don't try this at home. I do not personally condone the contents of this chapter.
This is is unhealthy on so many levels.
The contents of this chapter are inferred from a chat log that has been lost, but took place in February, 2005.
"This was the best idea I think we've had in ages!"
Yun giggled and passed Mamie the last written dinner order of the night. The Budehuc Valentine's Dinner was wrapping up, and it was undoubtedly a great success judging by the flurry of attendees. "Your wild boar roast seems to be the winning menu item! I took three orders for it, and everyone was singing its praises. Are you going to be able to keep up with the demand after this event?"
"Heh," the chef tapped her spatula against her shoulder and grinned, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Don't underestimate me, ma'am. You've done enough to help me, so get outta here and enjoy the rest of your evening."
"I would hate to walk through the main exit and disrupt things...did you see how nervous poor Master Thomas was? How forward of Sir Kinnison…!"
"Did I ever…" Mamie snickered, "Actually, if y'can just pop by the storeroom and check t'make sure I have enough dried tomatoes? Mister Wan Fu hasn't been back since the war, so my stock is pretty consistent these days, but—"
"Say no more," Yun bowed. "I'm happy to help, Mamie."
Yun slipped out the back exit as she made her way to the storeroom. A light layer of snow coated the ground. She rubbed her hands together in attempts to keep warm and admired the next round of lazy flakes falling from the sky.
Even if the work was hard, even if it was straining and tiring, even if the air was cold and biting, they were all undeniable signs of being alive. The young shaman embraced every emotion, good and bad. Whatever the purpose behind her resurrection was, she was determined to enjoy as much as she could in the meantime. She closed her eyes and turned her head up to the sky, delighting in the touch of snowflakes landing atop her eyelashes.
All these sensations… spirits, I'm so grateful for another chance at life.
"You look like an idiot standing in the cold like that, you know."
Yun quickly blinked the snow off her eyes and turned to face the sound of the voice. Luca leaned against the stone wall of the sublevels with his arms folded. His dark, heavy brows were set in a judgmental frown.
"I'm just appreciating the snow," she smiled. "Same as you."
"Tch. There you go again with comparing us. What makes you think I'd do something so worthless?"
"Well...your hair," she gestured at the smattering of flakes dusting his hair, "meaning you've been standing out here long enough to appreciate the snow as well."
"I'm not appreciating anything."
A playful smile tugged at her lips. "Why else would you be standing out here for so long then? Or were you waiting for me?"
He glared in silence and his aura flickered.
He really did wait. I didn't think he'd actually listen when I said I'd make him participate on Valentine's Day.
"Don't delude yourself, woman. Do you think I'd be as stupid as you to waste my time on others?"
Yun smiled and laced her fingers behind her back. "Putting the happiness of others first isn't a waste. If anything, it makes me happy in return. I guess that makes me selfish too in a way."
"Selfish? Don't make me laugh," he unfolded his arms. "If you're so focused on putting the happiness of other weaklings before your own, then I have something I want."
A curious fluttering sensation pressed against the walls of her chest. The voices of the spirits rose in protest—nothing good was ever going to come of this—but the temptation was too much to deny. "A request? On Valentine's Day?"
"Request?" he snorted, "Don't be stupid. I don't make requests. I take what I want, holiday or not."
"And what is it you want?"
"Tell me more about this war of yours. Tell me about my war. No… better—show me. Like what you did before."
"My...my visions?"
"I don't care what you call it," he grabbed her hand. "Whatever it was, I want you to do it again."
Yun blushed. Did he think he could trigger a vision through sheer willpower alone? "L-Luca, it doesn't really work that way. The spirits choose what they allow me to see… I can only receive what they decide."
He frowned and tightened his grip on her hand. Yun could sense he was suppressing his strength. "Are you saying what you showed me is false!?"
"N-no! Not false, but…" her fingers twitched uncomfortably. "Not everything I see sometimes comes to pass. I see...possibilities, potential outcomes, futures that may or may not happen. I can't look backwards, only forwards."
Luca's expression was dark. The fluttering sensation in her chest only worsened under his gaze. "Then...the details behind what happened to Highland...I'm going to have to find out the old-fashioned way," he growled under his breath. "And those other things you showed me… I want answers, dammit."
"I...I'm sorry, Luca. I wish there was something I could do for you. It's...difficult," she hesitated, searching for the right word, "difficult returning to a world that's almost familiar, but not quite. You feel like everything moved on without you while you were gone."
He grimaced. The shaman didn't even have to read his aura to know that her words struck a sore spot. "Why...why do you understand? How do you understand when months have passed, and I still know nothing?"
"But I don't understand," she answered, "I don't always understand what I see, or the meaning behind it. I don't know why I'm alive again. I don't know why my body aged and yours did not. I don't know why people are appearing here from all over time and space," Yun drew a slow breath, the tips of her fingers beginning to grow cold in his grip, "All I can do is keep moving forward and take what the spirits show me to heart—and maybe try pushing my own desires through and shape my destiny around them."
Luca's stare was unsettling. It was growing difficult to read him, and the falling flakes of snow were beginning to accumulate between the two of them.
"I...I'm sorry," she sighed.
"Why do you even care?" Luca growled. His hold on her hand seemed to intensify with his frustration. "Be selfish for a change. All this apologizing... it makes you weak."
"Because I'm just like you. We're looking for answers," the shaman lowered her voice, "and because...the spirits are telling me not to… I'm curious to see what happens when I defy them. I'll just have to take ownership of the consequences, that's all."
"Consequences, huh…" Luca looked down at her hand still locked within his grip, then jerked her closer, his lips lightly grazing hers.
Wh...what?
Yun's eyes went wide as he drew back with a cocky smirk. "I don't make requests. I take what I want. And today," he released her hand, "I'm taking ownership of you. I will get my answers."
"I...L-Luca, are you asking me out?"
"Feh, whatever you want to call it. You're mine, woman."
Color rose to her cheeks. Without a doubt, this was not something the spirits encouraged. Their protests rang in her ears. All possible outcomes for this path did not end well. But this was a second chance at life, after all. Maybe things would go differently.
Spirits...I hope I don't come to regret this.