A/N: Vacation begins today, posting a few things before I go, should be back by Sunday.
Having a few friends look after the house for me in the meantime, as a favor. They're good lads.
I'll be taking my computer with me, so I'll try to post if possible, but I can make no promises. October really messed up my update schedule with all those crises happening one after the other, I'm hoping the next few months will be better. I am TRYING to catch up in November, but everything is all over the place.
Alas, it seems site notifications are busted at the moment.
Folks get them in the app, but not on the web browser, which is becoming a proper pain for some of us. Hopefully they'll fix it soon...though it has been almost a month days with no response about the emails...
If this chapter gets a ton of feedback as well-hopefully!-then I'll do my best to ensure a weekly update again. If not...I don't know. I really don't.
Amazing what a bit of feedback can do. Really spurs me to write faster.
In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. I've been writing here for fifteen years and yet sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. I can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head. I don't even know why! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes. My doctor is of no help at all. Can't find a proper therapist to save my life.
Trying to find a decent an AFFORDABLE one is absolute hell, and its driving me bonkers. *siiiigh* Don't mind the rambling of this geezer...
No questions this time. Someone complained. Ah, well. I think I've kept you waiting long enough already, dear reader.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one!
They're tributes to legends far greater than little old me.
Here we go.
"Oh, oh! Is it my turn?!
"Ah, Daniela. Excitable as ever."
"Of course I'm excited! Do you have any idea how patient I've been?!"
~?
Ninth Bite
"Mother Miranda has called meeting between the four families."
.
..
...is that a bad thing?"
Alcina looked like she was contemplating smacking him off the chair he'd perched upon. In the end she thought better of it; they both knew he was much to quick to be caught by some boorish broadswipe. In the end she snatched up a glass of wine -he really hoped that red liquid was wine- and plonked down in the larger chair beside him.
"Yes." her golden eyes gazed long into his blue, "A very bad thing indeed."
Naruto looked up from his journey and blew out a sigh. "Lovely."
This could only end well.
He admittedly knew little about them. Dimitrescu and Donna of course, but of Heisenberg and Moreau he knew next to nothing. Naturally he'd reasoned he would have to deal with them sooner or later, but he'd hoped to have more time to prepare, ya know? For something like this to just be dropped into his lap out of the blue...
"What does that mean exactly?"
"It means you, no, we," she amended after a moment's pause, swirling the wine in her glass, "Need to get our affairs in order within a week's time. A summons from Mother Miranda cannot be ignored. Moreover, I do not wish to." Another pause now, as she took a long, lingering sip from the foblet." She was bound to see you sooner or later, or notice you at the very least."
The urge to dig his heels in was a strong one; he only narrowly resisted it. "Fair enough. What do we do, then?"
"You need to make yourself certain of Daniela and Donna's loyalty. Beyond a shadow of a doubt."
Maybe, but if he dealt with this Mother Miranda lady directly he could fix things-
Alcina scowled at him. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Do not do whatever it is you are thinking!" She slammed her glass down, fracturing it in her haste. "If you're thinking to negotiate with her, then don't. Mother Miranda is unlike the rest of us. Her mind does not work as you think it does. Love, compassion, hope, these mean little to her. She cares only for three things, Her daughter, strength, and her experiments."
Now who did that sound like? "She has a kid?"
Alcina grimaced. "She HAD a child, yes."
Oh. Ohh. Ohhh that was really bad.
He wasn't so foolish as to think himself invincible; he could be surprised, shocked, even. Donna had unearthed some rather nasty fears back in the manor and while things were more civil between the two of them, he needed to sit her down and have a talk with her once she woke up. Assuming she wasn't awake already. If so, she'd been hiding away from him much like Alcina had.
Speaking of tall busty vampires...his gaze slid to her.
Lady Dimitrescu noticed at once. Why are you looking at me like that?
Just thinking. He thumbed his chin. Just thinking. Technically she doesn't have power over you and yours, not anymore."
"And yet she still saved my life."
"Is it really saving if she left you a starving mess?"
"Such a fiery debate. Careful now." She palmed her right cheek with one hand and leaned into it, considering him as a starving woman might a red juicy steak. "I said I would wait until my daughters have their turn and I am being rather...gracious towards Donna at the moment. You, however, are trying my patience."
Naruto knew what would calm her down, of course sighed. "...here."
He held out a finger to her.
"Don't mind if I do...
Dimitrescu didn't hesitate. She bit the lone digit and sucked on it oh so slowly, drawing blood from him with languid ease. He let her, knowing the alternative meant letting her sink her fangs into his neck and then where would they be? A tangled tattered mess on the floor with no clothes, the manor a ruined wreck around them. He wasn't ready for that just yet.
Nor was he ready when she yanked him forward.
Her lips alighted on his neck and he braced himself for a bite.
It never came. She kissed him instead, mouth lingering just above his jugular vein.
"You're not the only one who can tempt and tease, she crooned in his ear. "Do remember that before you try your luck time, won't you?
Naruto felt his face burn beneath the subtle display of dominance, but only for a moment. Two could play this game. "Oh, I will."
He yanked her into his lap and laughed as the much larger woman squeaked in surprise. Music to his ears!
"How on earth am I not crushing you?!"
He grinned up at her and patted her flank. "I'm the strongest, remember?"
She granted him a growl, cheeks flushing a lovely shade of pale pink. "You won't always be."
"Hm. Care to test that-wait. "There was something different about her toda, He noticed it when he glanced at the pale expanse of her neck and saw the long, dark tresses there. You kept your hair down?
Yes, well," she absently ran a hand through her hair, twirling a strand of ebony around her finger, "I grew weary of wearing it in a bun," and then, spoken so fast he almost missed it, "You said you liked it this way...
Alcina subsided with a pout one wouldn't expect from such a towering titan.
Naruto felt his heart hitch.
Awww! Cute~!
Odd as it might seem, Naruto found that more endearing than the seductive woman who'd tried to suck him dry only a few moments ago. This human Alcina was the one he wanted to know, the woman behind the stern, stony facade, the tender heart of a maiden within. His eyes strayed to hers and he took note of another subtle detail. There was a faint scent about her...a vaguely sweet smell he couldn't quite quantify. Why, it almost smelled like-
...is that a new perfume?"
Alcina went utterly still in his lap. A beat of silence passed between the two of them.
And then:
"Naruto, dearest."
He grinned at her. "Yeeesss?"
Her fangs flashed with intent. "Flee before I hunt you down like a stag and mount you."
Huh, neat. Not mount his head on a wall, just flat out up and mount him.
Which meant...oh. Alcina was rising from his lap.
She really wasn't kidding!
Time to go~!
(.0.0.0.)
Daniela had been a good girl.
Oh yes, a good girl she had been.
A very, terribly, horribly good girl indeed.
She'd kept on her very best behavior these last few days and she knew her faith was about to be rewarded...as was her insatiable hunger. Perhaps the latter was her own fault, that. She had deliberately gone days without feeding, holding herself and her hunger in check, if only just, all for the moment when she knew he would give into her. It was coming, she just knew it. Bela had already been boned, Cassandra had chased him down, and now she would do the deed at long last.
She just...had to be patient.
Acting normal wasn't so bad, she almost enjoyed it sometimes.
At least now she could leave the castle and enjoy her books int he sun.
Yes, so long as she had her books, she could survive and stave off the worst of her hunger pangs. She didn't care what happened to her so long as she had her books. They distracted her, kept her mind from straying back to the darker passions that had consumed her before her purifications.
Now where was-aha!
The door to her chambers swung open and struck the wall with a harsh bang to shatter her thoughts. Naruto flung himself through, all but slamming the door behind him. He flung a finger to his lips, shushing her before she could think to speak. Loud and heavy footsteps -Mother?- pounded down the hallway, then faded into the distance.
"Thanks for that." he granted her a rueful grin and wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. "Might've pushed your mother a liiiittle too far this time. She almost caught me."
Well, that wouldn't be any fun now, would it?
Now was the perfect time to try and woo him in any case. Bela and Cassandra were off on another hunt -of the more visceral sort- and they wouldn't be back for hours. She wondered if mother had arranged that for her sake before Father drove her to distraction. Regardless...
He was hers.
"Are we going to dance again, then?" She rather liked that idea, even as her mind began to wander. And with no one to interrupt this time...
"A different kind of dance this time." He settled into a loose stance. "Lets see how you measure up."
She blinked, not quite comprehending, but eager all the same. "Measure up to wha-meep!"
He was still speaking when his fist flitted in at her face, a classic boxer's jab. She'd read of such things in her books. Why wouldn't she? She read about everything, boring though some of the subjects were. She'd always been faster than her sisters; as such she managed to dodge his attack by the merest margin.
You evaded that. Good."
She glared at him. "Why are we doing this?"
"Your stance is all wrong. Have you never been in a fight before?
A fight? Blood, slaughter, screams as she drank red with frenzy, but a fight? No, never a fight. There had never been anyone to fight before him; the thought excited, a titillating trap of tension.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Here, I'll show you."
Without warning, he stepped behind her and in an instant she found herself flush against him. His breath was warm against her ear. His body pressed against her rear, even his hands caressed hers without fear. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, feel her pulse pounding, her heart racing. She was losing herself. But she couldn't just pounce on him like a wild animal, she knew he didn't like that; he would resist and it would take time to woo him, time she didn't want to waste.
He was still speaking to her, but Daniela didn't pay attention to those. She focused on...other things.
Rather, she took the path of least resistance and let his words settle over her as her muscles turned to goo beneath his ministrations. Her toes curled in her slippers and she found herself subconsciously grinding her rear against him, ever so subtly at first, but when her proud posterior didn't dissuade him she grew bolder still, arching herself against him with wanton need.
Yet still he denied her.
Absurd! How was he in control?
She could barely hold herself together, much less behave.
"I'm surprised." Sh felt his lips curl against her neck in a small smile. "I thought you would've given in by now."
He took her by the chin from behind, lifting her head to look up at him.
Blue eyes met gold, devouring the very concept of resistance.
Another shiver shot down her spine.
"Tell me you want me." his voice stirred the darkest desires in her. "Tell me you need me. Tell me you can't exist without me, Daniela...
...Daniela...
...my Daniela...
...OI! DANIELA!"
"Bwuh?" Her head snapped up and she blinked, drawn from her pleasant thoughts. No! Was it just a daydream? That was too cruel...!
Naruto stood over her, closed journal in hand, looking mildly bemused. "You were spacing out there for a bit...you good?"
No, no she was not!
Her face reddened. "Dance with me."
That drew a brief, bemused blink from him. "Ha?"
"Dance! With! Me!" She leaned in with every word, practically pleading the last. "Now!"
He laughed and held out his hand to her.
"Alright."
(.0.0.0.)
He was at her door.
Donna heard his footsteps long before he he knocked.
Now more than ever she wished she had Angie, but her doll was gone, shattered, ruined, and her confidence with it.
She eased the door open.
"Evenin', Donnna,~!" He beamed back at her. "May I come in?"
He would even if she said no, she knew. So she let him in, allowed him over the threshold.
In hindsight, he had her then. She just didn't realize it.
"Are you real?
A quick nod. "I am."
"You're not one of his clones?"
Naruto tilted his head. "Would it matter if I was?"
She supposed not. Naruto was Naruto, even if he'd sent one of his strange doppelgangers to chat with her.
"You poked around in my head and drew out some very personal fears." he sat in the chair opposite hers and steepled both hands in his lap. "I didn't appreciate that, and you still need to be punished for it." she wilted a little at that, but he barreled on. "But in the meantime, lets talk about yours.
Donna whimpered and wrung her hands together with a whimper. "Must we?"
Naruto stared at her intently. "If you ever want to get better, yes.
Her face grew red in return. "Tell me your fears first, then!
Stoic blue eyes met hers and she realized at once that she'd overstepped. How easy it was to forget what he'd done to her; despite all appearances to the contrary, he wasn't human. He could take her over his knee at any time, spank her raw, and she wouldn't be able to do a darn thing about it. She wondered if he would now. She'd certainly provoked him enough to do it.
"You want my greatest fear? Alright. But he surprised her again. "Having children I can't provide for; being a failure as a father. There. Your turn."
Donna's determination went not with a wail, but a whimper. How...how could she possibly argue with that?
The last of her resolve folded like a house of rotten cards on her. "I'm afraid of being alone...
Naruto nodded once pulled a notepad and a pen. Was he...taking notes?!
Gods be good, but he was. His eyes met hers, and she was lost.
"By all means, continue. When did this start?"
A/N: Scene~!
Lets face it, all of Resident Evil Village needs therapy!
Hope you're enjoying this. Would you like weekly updates? Do let me know?
So? Should this continue to be a story? Yay or nay! Really need to hear from you guys and girls here. Helps a lot.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story...and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular...? Well, I'll not be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs with ever-increasing hours so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matter! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustains me. Without them, I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
So by all means, speak up! Raise your voice! Make yourself heard! Your reviews matter!
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the previews!
They're mostly the same. Mostly, but not all.
And spoilers for the DLC, though I'm sure everyone's played it by now.
(Previews)
Aha! At last we meet!
...I'm guessin' you must be the Duke."
"Indeed I am! A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Miranda tilted her head towards Naruto.
Tilted it some more, now.
"You may approach."
Donna opened her eyes. "WHere...?"
"You must be pretty tough, huh?"
"Take a swing at me with that hammer. See what happens."
Moreau glowered at him. "We don't need you here. Leave."
"Whoa, hey! Where is this coming from?"
"You can't just take a kid!"
"I did her a service. The poor girl's practically feral. No one in the village wanted to look after her."
Little hands reached for him. At least, he assumed he was reaching. Naruto sighed.
"Well, she is kinda adorable-ouch! She bites!"
"I was first!"
"First at what?" He sat beside the girl.
She tucked her knees into her chest, bunching up her blue dress. "...who're you?"
EDIT: Hope these made you smile, and have a wonderful day~!
R&R~!