"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
He dipped his head. "Your escort will see you back to the dormitory."
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
Derik nodded towards him and turned towards the door.
Jerica had gotten bored of her stalemate with the soldier and had taken to wandering again with her escort. She turned out of the stairwell onto the second floor.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Rickard and Sera were on their way up to the infirmary, chatting quietly about what they'd bought and what they thought dinner might be.
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
Jerica did a double take as she saw Rickard. Then she lit up, a broad grin crossing her face. “Mr. Rickard!” She started towards him eagerly.
Derik’s brow furrowed and he started towards the door a bit faster. What was Rickard doing here? And what was Jerica doing here?
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Rickard froze, blinking in surprise as this teenager bounded towards him. She looked familiar but he couldn't--quite-- "Oh my gods," he said softly, tensing up. What was she doing her? Why did she recognize him? Was her father here too? Was it time? "Oh gods--Miss Jerica?" His voice trembled, and he grasped Sera's hand tightly.
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
“What are you doing here?!” She was grinning, but it slowly fell as she realized he was scared of her now. Of course he would be. Everyone hated her. Why shouldn’t he?
Spoiler! :
Flashback timeeee
Jerica headed for the nursery. Sure she didn’t need a nanny these days, but she did swipe cookies from the kitchen and who better to share them with than her old nanny? No one. As long as she pretended she didn’t break rules to get them she thought she had a pretty good shot at convincing Rickard to eat one. Maybe. Hopefully. At the very least she could bother him while she ate them, which would enhance the experience either way.
She, of course, had to pretend to be Mature and Respectable. Couldn’t have the Governor’s Assassin being childish. Especially not in front of her nanny. Rickard had seen her at her absolute worst, but she needed to pretend to have her shit together now. Make him proud. And feed him cookies.
Jerica walked into the nursery without knocking, as per her norm. Her brow furrowed when she saw Biryn’s dark robes ahead of her, facing away. What was he doing in here? He only ever came for her. And he wouldn’t be expecting her to be here. No chance the cooks had noticed and informed him this fast. And no way he would have known she planned on sharing with Rickard this time rather than Rek or her own attendants or anyone else.
“How hard is it to watch a fucking child without letting it get hurt?” Biryn raised his hand and swung on someone. The motion moved him just enough to see who he hit was Rickard, cowering before him.
Rage flashed through her, burning hot, and she dropped her napkin, cookies forgotten in an instant. Without a second thought she ran forward, plowing into Biryn as hard as she could, driving her shoulder into his rib cage and making him stumble to the side. She followed up with a viscous shove to both of his shoulders, forcing herself directly between Biryn and Rickard.
Biryn’s energy changed from annoyed to enraged and he glared at Jerica with a murderous hatred, drawing himself up to his full height so he towered over her short 12-year-old self. She drew herself up as tall as she could, shoulders squared and chin raised, taking up as much space as humanly possible.
“Don’t touch me, you little cunt,” Biryn snarled, taking a threatening step towards her.
“Don’t touch Rickard, you big cunt.”
Biryn backhanded her savagely, making her stumble to the side, but she righted herself in an instant and placed herself back between them, not even a little bit deterred.
“Watch your mouth, bitch.”
“I’ll watch it tell you where to go you fucking bastard.” Biryn went for Jerica’s throat, and she darted to the side, elbowing him in the side as hard as she could. “Which is back to hell where you came from!”
Biryn whirled around on her, Rickard forgotten. He made another pass at her but she dodged out of the way. “What’s your fucking problem?”
“What’s yours?” She skipped backward, out of his arm’s reach as she lured him further away from Rickard. She took on a mocking tone. “My name’s Biryn and I’m insecure about a servant because everyone knows he’s a better person than me.”
Biryn hit her with a closed fist this time, knocking her across the room so hard she fell. She bounced back to her feet, spitting blood and glaring at him even more venomously than before. “This is why no one likes you, you fucking bitch,” she spat.
“I don’t give a rat’s ass if people like me,” Biryn snarled, advancing on her again. “But I will be respected.”
“I’ll never respect your punk ass.” Jerica dove towards him, landing a solid blow on his jaw.
But also getting within arm’s reach, which let Biryn get a solid grasp on her arm. He hit her again and again and again until she eventually didn’t have the wits about her to keep swinging at him. She turned and bit his hand, hard. He yelped and gave her a savage shove away from himself.
She tripped over her own feet and sprawled across the ground. She tried to push herself up to her feet but he was upon her in an instant, kicking her squarely in the jaw. She collapsed. Biryn kept kicking her until she eventually stopped trying to get up or fight back. He gave her another savage kick for good measure then spat on her. “Get yourself pulled together. You’re not excused from your duties. Cunt.”
With that Biryn turned and swept out of the room, so infuriated he had forgotten all about Rickard. Jerica faded in and out of consciousness. When she had enough wit to piece together that Rickard was bent over her, fussing in concern, she managed a weak, “I brought cookies.” Then promptly passed out.
When she woke again she was in the infirmary. And cookie-less. She hoped Rickard had eaten them, even though she kind of doubted it. Biryn had ruined the cookie-mood. Like he ruined most things.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
(My god dude Big oof, that was good Heartbreaking but freaking amazing)
"I-I-I--" He glanced helplessly between her and Sera. Sera looked at him in concern, letting go of his hand to wrap her arm around his shoulders; she could feel him shaking. "I'm--" He took a deep breath, then another. "Have you come to take me back?" he asked finally, in a small voice.
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
(Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed ^^ I think I captured her personality pretty well there to give you an example of the righteous indignation I mentioned lol she absolutely puts herself in harms way to protect other people even knowing fully well she’s going to get thrashed beyond belief… while at the same time being incredibly disdainful towards any sort of authority figure outside of Derik haha)
“What?” She looked at him in genuine bewilderment. What was he talking about? Why was he so scared? Did he really think she’d ever hurt him? That cut deep. Had she really been so young and naive to not even notice he hated her this much? She’d thought they were friends. But. Then. She didn’t have many of those. She was stupid to believe he liked her. She was an assassin. Scum. Biryn must have been telling the truth for once: Rickard quit because he hated her now that he saw for himself what a defiant little bitch she was.
(I’m thinking Biryn probably sold Rickard shortly after this just to upset Jerica and tell her it was her fault. What do you think?)
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"I'm so sorry I disappointed you," he said, and he moved to kneel. Sera held him up, glancing at him. "Whoever this is," she said very quietly, "you owe her nothing. You're free, remember?" Rickard gave her a frightened look, then glanced back at Jerica, swallowing. "You--" He took a deep breath. "I--has he...changed his mind?"
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
Jerica was so confused, but she was clearly frightening him so she took a step backward to give him more space. “I…” she hesitated. What was he talking about. “I… mean I… I guess I could… maybe… get him to hire you back?” She furrowed her brow, perplexed. “But… but I mean… do you… want that? I thought you quit? Not-not that I blame you. It’s… understandable after… what happened. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you with it I just wanted him to be nice to you.” Her minds eye played the last time she saw him.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
He blinked. "Quit? I didn't--what?" Had Biryn lied? "I couldn't quit, miss. I was sold."
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
“Sold?” She blinked at him, mind coming to a screeching halt. “What?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
He shrank into Sera a little more, looking down at the ground. "I....thought you knew. I thought you wanted me gone, that's what he said."
"The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words." --Ursula K. Le Guin
“What? I’d never have wanted you gone, Rickard. You were one of my only friends.” She was trying not to get too worked I so she wouldn’t frighten him, but she was pissed. “Oh, that bastard. He told me you quit because you thought I was a bitch and didn’t want anything to do with me after the fight.”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Gender:
Points: 2806
Reviews: 935