A/N: Quadruple update today. Took a lot out me, but I had to update something fun, lest I lost my mind.
Running to the Edge and Claws of a Lion need more time.
Slifer's helping me with Blood Upon the Snow; I definitely need it.
In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Like a sledgehammer paired with concrete.
Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head anymore.
I don't even know why I'm feeling this way! 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. On and on, round the bend, forever and without end! 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. Meanwhile, my doctor insists that I'm fine. Take a health walk he says. Go fishing. You'll be fine.
*siiiigh*
Right. Suuuure.
Don't bloody feel fine, doc.
As ever, I own no quotes, references, quotes, themes or memes! They're simply tributes to legends far greater than I.
I'm just an old man who writes as a pastime. I don't make any money doing this, not a single cent.
This is a bit from Everybody Wants to be My Enemy that got cut...
...or did it?
"Good evening. I've come to bargain."
~?
Twentieth Fragment
Mel Medarda had a rather hard time believing those words, given the knife sent against her throat.
In hindsight she knew it was foolish of her to let her guard down like this. She'd made enemies throughout her career. Climbed atop the shoulders of others to stand where she was now. Backstabbed her enemies and allies alike, all to reach the highest point. was only logical that one might seek to confront her here in her chambers, were she was most vulnerable.
Still, she considered herself a woman of reason. He hadn't slit her throat...yet. That must count for something, surely.
"What do you want?"
Warm breath caressed her ear. "A moment of your time, nothing more."
Mel shivered a little despite herself. She wasn't sure if t was from fear or excitement.
Terrifying as this was, as the prospect of imminent death might be, it had certainly broken the boring hum-drum of her routines.
"Do you know who I am?"
She did, or suspected at the very least. "Naruto Uzumaki of Zaun."
"Presently of Zaun." he corrected her with a rueful laugh. "Formerly of somewhere else."
"Where?"
"You wouldn't know it."
Stall. Buy time. Do something, anything! "Rest assured, I'm rather well-traveled...
"Even so, you haven't been where I'm from." the knife tightened against her jugular, drawing a bead of blood. "Still, the fact that you know me makes this easier. It means you know why I'm here. Saves me the spiel. So why don't we talk this out like adults, hmm?"
She stifled a gulp. "If you remove the knife from my throat, I'd be more than happy to.
Naruto smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. "I think not."
Mel Medarda stifled a whimper in her throat. "What do you want...?
"Want? I want you." his words made her shiver again, for an entirely different reason. Sending the wrong message there! "You're going to help me with my little Piltover problem."
This time, she did gulp.
"And why me come to me with this? Why not Sherrif Grayson or the Kirammans?
Her captor smiled. "Whose to say I haven't already? You could be my third stop for all you know."
Was she? The thought nearly unnerved her.
"I'd like us to be friends, Mel." he crooned suddenly, startling her. "I can be a very good friend, But you don't want to be my enemy."
"You seem to have a great deal of those...
"Ha!" For some reason that seemed to amuse him. "Everybody wants to be my enemy. Most of them will be either be my friend in a few days...or they'll be dead. I'd prefer you not be among that number.
The knife left her throat
"I'll be in touch. See you soon."
Mel whirled, too late. He was already gone.
A/N: Aaaaand scene.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. Meaning folks don't like this, it won't be continued. If the story itself ain't popular/well-received...well, I won't be able to continue it. I'm working two jobs, holidays are here too, meaning 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 matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during this dark and crazy time. I ain't joking.
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas... Review...Would You Kindly?
Have some previews, brief though they may be.
(Previews)
A bullet screamed in at his face.
He caught it between his teeth.
The shooter lowered their pistor. "Well...shit. Errors have been made."
They have." he bit down with an audible crucnh, shattering the bullet. "And they were yours.
Then he was on them.
A little late for a stroll, isn't it?"
"That depends. Are the Kirramans in? I'd like to have a word...
"Papa!"
He swung her into his arms.
"Ahaha! There's my darling girl!"
Still no previews this time. I'm too tired these days.
R&R~!