A/N: Going stir crazy while waiting for my leg to heal T_T
Messed up a nerve, got some nasty bruises, but hey, that's what I get for working on the roof. Nothing seems to be broken, but I'm going to be laid up for awhile, and the pain's driving me up a wall.
Its gotten to the point where its interfering with my ability to write...
To make matters worse, the Site's gone batty again, but I'm tired of delaying because of this bloody message:
Invalid Message 3 We cannot find the review you are replying to.
As stated above, this time, the glitch pertains to reviews. They aren't appearing on site but they ARE visible in my email inbox, and the site number does go up. However! I can see them thanks to my mail client. So don't hold back. I CAN reply to them, just how to go the long way round to do it via PM. I'll answer anonymous questions in the author's note of another chapter. Looking forward to your feedback!
Hopefully if everyone informs the site admins via email and fiction press twitter we can get this fixed.
As ever, the Embers rule remains. If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Now lets answer some questions, concerns, demands...
Q: WHERE ARE YOU?! What's taking you so long?!
A: Not long at all. Monthly updates, bi-monthly if I'm not feeling well. That said, I'm updating this early to prove a point, don't mind me. This chapter wasn't quite ready, but here we are and . Here we go~!
Q: What are you updating next?
A: A great many things. Not just Elden Ring. I CAN update that weekly because of the following. First, I have help, second, easier to write, ironically...and third, everyone is beating down my door for it. Fifty emails a day at the least. Of course it helps that my muse is burning to write more. I've not abandoned my other stories, as you can see, though it does help that a great many of them "Audience with Eternity, Remnants, Just A Bid of Bread, All Things Must Die, Best Served Cold, Kiss of Death, etc" are in their final arcs.
Remember, I don't get paid for any of this. Not a jot...and I'm not sure I want to.
What would I do if this became a job, like the two I already work?
I shudder to think about that.
Lets be nice, eh?
Q: More Beidou please.
A: As you wish.
Q: Update faster! And sod off with the Elden Ring stuff, Arcane and Genshin is where its at!
A: Do you WANT smaller updates? It sounds like you do. Stories take time. At the end of the day, I'm just one person. I've a family to look after.
Q: Give us some lemons already, old man. You scared? DO IT!
A:...I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that. Occasional drunken antics aside, romance in this story won't be rushed. I want it to be done right, tastefully, and moreover, in line with how a character would act. Beidou, for instance. She's a free spirit who does as she pleases. Shenhe, however, wouldn't leap to that. She strikes me as more of a cuddler. Lisa...is...well, Lisa.
Not mentioning the others yet~!
Alright, then. I think I've kept you waiting long enough.
Hope you're ready; because this chapter's got a bit of everything in it!
As ever, I own nooooo references, quotes, memes or themes. Not a wit or a one.
Title is a reference, because hey, God of Contracts be Morax. And if sounds like Elden Ring, weeell...
"How did you acquire that Gnosis? What will you use it for? Good? Evil?
That is the answer I wish to know.
I would have your answer."
~?
Offer An Accord (Interlude)
Angel's Share was a fine place for a drink.
Refined yet rustic, it hosted a wide variety of wine and liquor; many of which they were all too happy to partake of.
...
.
..
...that said, Naruto still wasn't sure why he'd come, much less accepted Maeve's invitation tonight. He and his party -sans Paimon and the kids, who'd fled upstairs the moment bottles appeared! -found themselves seated across the enigmatic Maeve and her...associate? Was that Beidou's purpose here? Semantics, he supposed. Regardless, the captain was here now and didn't seem keen on leaving. Quite the contrary! If anything she still seemed inordinately pleased with herself for reasons he didn't understand.
Shenhe scooted a little closer to him, hip brushing his under the table.
Naruto shivered, and not at all in a bad way. 'Ignore it. She's just being friendly.'
Lisa less so on his left. Her free hand traced his thigh and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"Friendly. Sure. Riiiight.
"Ahem!" he coughed to stave off an impending lust attack, "So, the reason you wanted to meet...?"
"All in good time." Maeve smiled and sipped at her wine. "First, let us thank the proprietor for letting us use your venue.
Diluc muttered something less than pleasant under his breath, but prepared another bottle for them nevertheless. Naruto winced his way. Seemed a decent fellow that one. At least he wasn't falling over himself to worship him like all the rest. Good to see a sensible sort in this crazy city. Just how much money had Maeve thrown at this man? Or did she have something else over his head...?
Of course, Beidou wasn't about to leave him be.
"Ever drank before?"
The ghost of a smile touched Naruto's mouth. "Once."
"Good." she leaned across the table, all but purring the words. She'd been drinking this entire time, the absolute lush. "Then you won't mind a drinking game while we wait for our...friend."
In the background, Shenhe tilted her head and contemplated bloody murder. Her eating fork stabbed into the table. Maeve quirked a brow, but continued to indulge herself.
"This is no Osmanthus wine, but it is a fine blend nonetheless. Now, then-
"Wait!" Klee leaned down over the railing from the second floor, touching a finger to her lips. "If you're playing a game, then does this mean I have another auntie?"
Naruto toppled back with a wheeze even as Lisa giggled.
Maeve merely smiled. "Such a lively young girl. I quite like her. What say you to an additional wager...?"
And just like that, all Naruto's embarrassment turned to ash in his mouth.
...what kinda wager we talkin' about?" he dragged himself back up to the table with a snarl. "You trying to distract me?"
"Perish the thought. I merely see no need to waste good wine with sour talk." Much to his chagrin, she remained unreadable as ever. Beidou at least, he could get a bead on. Easily, at that. She was in this for the laughs, some amusement, maybe a good time. Maeve though...who was she, that she could mask her emotion-her intentions!- from him so thoroughly.
"I like the way you think!"
Naruto sighed. "Beidou, you're drunk."
"Clearly not enough." she winked. "There's still only one of you."
Heat hit his ears. That...could mean so many things; moreso when Shadow clones were involved.
Lisa touched a finger to her lips. "Now there's a thought...
Shenhe blinked. "Whatever is a shadow clone?"
"Wearenothavingthisconversation!"
Beidou flashed him a cheeky grin, snatched the bottle from the table and slammed it to her lips. Her good eye drooped in half-lidded bliss as she drank deeply...and kept drinking. When Naruto made to speak, she held up a hand, forestalling him. Just how much tolerance did this woman have?! She'd give Tsunade a run for her money!
"Ahhh~!" she slammed it down with a pleased purr. "That's much better. Actually felt the burn on that one!"
Shenhe clenched her teeth hard enough to spit sparks; Naruto could them grinding from here, already feel her emotions spiraling down.
A quick pat on the head put paid to that...but not in the way he would've liked. Rather than decompress she latched on. Latched hard. Firm fingers clamped down onto his arm and her head kissed her shoulder. Was she clinging to him? She was? He would've found it adorable, if she wasn't brimming with killing intent towards Beidou. Lisa, of course, cooed happily at the sight, unflappable as ever.
Naruto felt his shoulders slump. He knew where this was going. "...this is going to be a long night, ain't it?"
"But before we begin, a question." Maeve set her wine down. "I would ask you...
Eyes of spun gold met perplexed blue. One force unto another.
...what do you intend with that Gnosis?"
Naruto's blood ran cold.
...what?"
A/N: Aaaaand cut.
So our boy is tempted anew...and Maeve -Morax!- makes their move.
Time will tell if he'll keep the disguise or just cut off a piece of himself to remain as Maeve. Someone asked about that, if I recall.
I wish this could have been longer, but so many were complaining, and I wanted to silence the critics. Next chapter will be thrice the length, at least.
Once more, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story? Well...I'll not continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Right then, as ever, Reviews are love, Reviews are Life.
Reviews keep me safe from any and all strife.
So in the immortal words of Atlas...
...review, Would You Kindly?
Every bit helps out!
(FUTURE! Previews?)
Some are very far out indeed...
Hope you enjoy the taste of what's to come. HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS!
(Previews!)
"Parry, parry, parry! Is that all you can do! I came here for a fight!"
Clenched knuckles barreled up, trailing golden light. The world became stars.
Ooooh, the ground felt pretty soft...
...that answer your question? C'mon, get up. I'm gonna take out all my frustation on you."
Rosaria barred his path. "Answer my question and I'l let you go."
"What would that be?"
"Are you a threat to Mondstadt?"
Something ancient stirred in his eyes. Sh
"Dear girl," it almost sounded like something were speaking through him. "If we were, you wouldn't be able to stop us. Now, move. Kid's tired...
In the end his savior came from an unlikely source.
"He was soooo annoying, Master Diluc!
A little blond girl.
Naruto held back a chuckle. The poor redhead cast him a long-suffering look as the little blond continued to rail at him. Something told him this was a common occurrence.
Help me.
"Nope." he held up a hand. "You're on your own."
"Aren't you just adorable?! Can I keep you? Pleaaaaase?!"
"Gah! Let go! Paimon is not a toyyyyyyy!"
...nice to finally meet you, Lumine."
He woke up in a bed.
"Aw for the love of...not again!"
This time, both his arms were trapped...by two people.
"Please don't be Maeve, please don't be Maeve, for the love of the log...
~Nz.