Threads Of Destiny(Eastern Fantasy, Sequel to Forge of Destiny)
- Thread starter yrsillar
- Start date
- Original Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- United States
[X] Ministry of Integrity
[X] Polar Theocracy
[X] Polar Theocracy
You know, with the Emerald Seas Nobility at 4 and the White Sky Confederation at 5, the other two may be facing an issue of "look, do you want official relations or do you want rampant smuggling? No, 'no interaction' is not an option"
[X] Ministry of Integrity
[X] Emerald Seas Nobility
[X] Emerald Seas Nobility
[X] Ministry of Integrity
[X] Polar Theocracy
[X] Polar Theocracy
- Location
- Spain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Ministry of Integrity
[X] Polar Theocracy
[X] Polar Theocracy
Δh Chapter 5: Drop
ElizatronicWarfa
Himejoshi Supreme
- Pronouns
- She/They
Chapter 1: Party Animals
Chapter 2: Tea Party
Chapter 3: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Chapter 4: The Slow Blade
Recollection slithered in, late and ashamed, bringing with it a parade of memories that delighted and embarrassed in equally intoxicating measure. Gouwen turned her head to the side, absolutely unable to decide how she felt about what she saw beside her.
Zheng Meisui was spread-eagle on the bed, snoring gently, her large frame only halfway on the kang as both legs and one arm trailed out from under the blankets onto the floor. The woman was immense. It was a wonder she fit through doorways. Gouwen reached out, unsure, but recoiled back in suprise when Meisui snorted and rolled over in her sleep, mumbling gently. The motion exposed her back to Gouwen as the sheets finally gave up attempting to preserve her modesty, and-
Gouwen hid her face under the sheets as it burned with shame. She didn't remember being so… overzealous. She should probably go get her medical kit and… offer to help. Or something. There was no way the large woman was going to flush all those toxins on short notice, especially the anticoagulants. She wriggled out of bed, scooting around the slumbering bulk of Meisui, and tiptoed towards her medical supplies in the main room as she fumbled her arms through the sleeves of her bedgown.
A wooden clatter woke Meisui up, and she kept her eyes shut as she tried to figure out what was going on. This wasn't her nest, so she'd crashed at… Ah. Yes. She cracked open one eye, and when a demonic snake failed to jump out and try to tear her apart, she decided it was safe enough.
Meisui rolled over onto her back with difficulty, and held her arm up. Her body was covered in pinprick bite marks, and even now she still had a hand tremor to match. That was Bai venom for you.
She relaxed and cycled her qi to slowly flush the toxins from her body, though the bite marks themselves refused to fade for the moment - some of the poisons were stubbornly clinging on. Meisui wasn't too put out - trophies of an extremely enjoyable night would be great for grossing out court dandies, though she'd have to ask Gouwen first. If she wanted the mess on Meisui's neck covered up, maybe she'd have some big bandages for it.
The sound of clattering and footsteps was coming from the other room - Gouwen, she assumed, who seemed to have gotten up first. Vaguely recalling the way her robe had been shredded open by clawing fingernails, Meisui chose to gather the silk blanket around her shoulders instead and slowly come to her feet. The tiny thing barely came down to her knees (a far cry from the thick fur bedding she was used to), but it was good enough for now as she peered around with curiosity.
Last night Meisui hadn't wanted to look anywhere other than Gouwen, but in the grey early-morning light she could now see a writing desk, a closet, fancy screens, some racks of funny-looking ivory tools (one of them had been knocked over - oops)... It was a far cry from a dark lair of schemes and sadism that most Zheng associated with the Bai. Well... maybe no schemes, at least.
Meisui rotated her shoulder with a grunt of pain and bent down to start picking up the fancy little implements onehanded, nudging the wooden stand back up with one foot and trying to figure out what belonged where.
She was about halfway through the rack, trying to figure out which way up an uncomfortably-bulbous looking implement was meant to go, when there was a short squeak from the now-open doorway. Gouwen had come back in carrying a tray of bottles and stuff, and for some reason was embarrassed to see Meisui up and about. Gouwen's gaze flicked down briefly, and her face reddened.
Oh, right. No clothes.
Gouwen found comfort in the banal ritual of washing toxin out of Meisui's wounds and dressing them. She had ushered the large woman back onto the kang and got her to sit cross-legged with her back to her so that she didn't have to see any more of Meisui's… immodesty than she had to in the sober light of morning. She ran another cleansing swab over a bite wound on the back of Meisui's shoulder, and inwardly cringed at the memory of having made it.
"Sorry."
Gouwen felt Meisui's back rumble as she replied.
"Hm? For what?"
Gouwen couldn't find it in herself to verbalise the obscene description. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Meisui turn and look over her shoulder.
"I enjoyed myself. Did you have a good time as well?"
Gouwen felt her face flush deeply, and didn't dare look up from where she was now stalling for time as she dabbed at the same spot over and over.
"yes."
"Well, good. I'd be seriously put out if my very excellent skills failed to make an impact. Could you believe the blow to my ego?"
Gouwen dared to glance up. Meisui was grinning from ear to ear, clearly pleased with herself. Gouwen gave her a swat on the shoulder and threw the bloody, toxin-soaked cleansing swab into the little wooden tub and picked a fresh one up in her tongs.
"The patient will be quiet."
"Oooh, are you giving me orders now?"
"Eyes front."
"Yes, Doctor."
Gouwen could still feel that smile's unseen presence, but at least now Meisui couldn't see hers.
Chapter 2: Tea Party
Chapter 3: Monkey See, Monkey Do
Chapter 4: The Slow Blade
Δh Chapter 5: Drop
Gouwen rose with a start onto her hands, like a snake sniffing the air. Her hips were stiff, and for some reason her jaw ached like she had been talking for hours. She felt her hair cascade wildly down her shoulders, free from the usual braid she usually wore when sleeping. What had happened? There was... something important-Recollection slithered in, late and ashamed, bringing with it a parade of memories that delighted and embarrassed in equally intoxicating measure. Gouwen turned her head to the side, absolutely unable to decide how she felt about what she saw beside her.
Zheng Meisui was spread-eagle on the bed, snoring gently, her large frame only halfway on the kang as both legs and one arm trailed out from under the blankets onto the floor. The woman was immense. It was a wonder she fit through doorways. Gouwen reached out, unsure, but recoiled back in suprise when Meisui snorted and rolled over in her sleep, mumbling gently. The motion exposed her back to Gouwen as the sheets finally gave up attempting to preserve her modesty, and-
Gouwen hid her face under the sheets as it burned with shame. She didn't remember being so… overzealous. She should probably go get her medical kit and… offer to help. Or something. There was no way the large woman was going to flush all those toxins on short notice, especially the anticoagulants. She wriggled out of bed, scooting around the slumbering bulk of Meisui, and tiptoed towards her medical supplies in the main room as she fumbled her arms through the sleeves of her bedgown.
A wooden clatter woke Meisui up, and she kept her eyes shut as she tried to figure out what was going on. This wasn't her nest, so she'd crashed at… Ah. Yes. She cracked open one eye, and when a demonic snake failed to jump out and try to tear her apart, she decided it was safe enough.
Meisui rolled over onto her back with difficulty, and held her arm up. Her body was covered in pinprick bite marks, and even now she still had a hand tremor to match. That was Bai venom for you.
She relaxed and cycled her qi to slowly flush the toxins from her body, though the bite marks themselves refused to fade for the moment - some of the poisons were stubbornly clinging on. Meisui wasn't too put out - trophies of an extremely enjoyable night would be great for grossing out court dandies, though she'd have to ask Gouwen first. If she wanted the mess on Meisui's neck covered up, maybe she'd have some big bandages for it.
The sound of clattering and footsteps was coming from the other room - Gouwen, she assumed, who seemed to have gotten up first. Vaguely recalling the way her robe had been shredded open by clawing fingernails, Meisui chose to gather the silk blanket around her shoulders instead and slowly come to her feet. The tiny thing barely came down to her knees (a far cry from the thick fur bedding she was used to), but it was good enough for now as she peered around with curiosity.
Last night Meisui hadn't wanted to look anywhere other than Gouwen, but in the grey early-morning light she could now see a writing desk, a closet, fancy screens, some racks of funny-looking ivory tools (one of them had been knocked over - oops)... It was a far cry from a dark lair of schemes and sadism that most Zheng associated with the Bai. Well... maybe no schemes, at least.
Meisui rotated her shoulder with a grunt of pain and bent down to start picking up the fancy little implements onehanded, nudging the wooden stand back up with one foot and trying to figure out what belonged where.
She was about halfway through the rack, trying to figure out which way up an uncomfortably-bulbous looking implement was meant to go, when there was a short squeak from the now-open doorway. Gouwen had come back in carrying a tray of bottles and stuff, and for some reason was embarrassed to see Meisui up and about. Gouwen's gaze flicked down briefly, and her face reddened.
Oh, right. No clothes.
Gouwen found comfort in the banal ritual of washing toxin out of Meisui's wounds and dressing them. She had ushered the large woman back onto the kang and got her to sit cross-legged with her back to her so that she didn't have to see any more of Meisui's… immodesty than she had to in the sober light of morning. She ran another cleansing swab over a bite wound on the back of Meisui's shoulder, and inwardly cringed at the memory of having made it.
"Sorry."
Gouwen felt Meisui's back rumble as she replied.
"Hm? For what?"
Gouwen couldn't find it in herself to verbalise the obscene description. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Meisui turn and look over her shoulder.
"I enjoyed myself. Did you have a good time as well?"
Gouwen felt her face flush deeply, and didn't dare look up from where she was now stalling for time as she dabbed at the same spot over and over.
"yes."
"Well, good. I'd be seriously put out if my very excellent skills failed to make an impact. Could you believe the blow to my ego?"
Gouwen dared to glance up. Meisui was grinning from ear to ear, clearly pleased with herself. Gouwen gave her a swat on the shoulder and threw the bloody, toxin-soaked cleansing swab into the little wooden tub and picked a fresh one up in her tongs.
"The patient will be quiet."
"Oooh, are you giving me orders now?"
"Eyes front."
"Yes, Doctor."
Gouwen could still feel that smile's unseen presence, but at least now Meisui couldn't see hers.
Hope
She did not know exactly when she began to allow herself to feel hope again. Selling the ribbon and the coffer. Trading shining silver for dull and weathered strings of copper coin, one or two at a time. She was careful. As temperate as she could be. First was rice and dried vegetables. Simple cheap food that she could afford. She spent her evenings taking the work in the streets. Hauling trash, cleaning gutters. Every duty she could take.
The only indulgence that she allowed herself was ceasing to seek new customers. She answered the calls of the handful of repeat clients she had cultivated, but no more.
Food, new straw for their bedding. She purchased cloth, and spent some days indoors, painstakingly stitching new clothing for herself and Biyu, warmer clothing that might help with the chill of winter. She spoke privately with her landlord, paying her rent well in advance, with a little extra for discretion. She was awfully busy, shoring up the foundation of their lives. That is why she took so long to reply to the letter. Yes, that was why.
She could almost believe it.
But eventually, she had run out of excuses. She'd bought paper and a tiny inkstone, and made herself think of what to say. Ling Qingge was ashamed to say that she could only fall back on formality, on saying the obvious things one should say, and little more. She did not even dare mention Biyu, knowing that it could only come across as begging for more handouts. Appealing to filial duty to which she had no right.
The response came. It was an awkward thing. Two near strangers corresponding. Her Ling Qi…. Ling Qi was still an unsociable girl. That was what she read in the letter. She spoke of fantastical things, but still seemed so young. Ling Qingge did not know if she was fooling herself.
But Ling Qi's letter came with more silver, though Qingge had barely spent a fraction of what she had been given. The letter did not even mention it. There were no words about gifts, not even an acknowledgement of how much she was giving.
Ling Qingge did not know what to think. She knew Immortals, even low ones were never truly poor in mortal funds. She remembered her He clan. She knew vaguely that spirit stones were what mattered to them, rather than coin. But she knew too how grudgingly those stones were hoarded. Even releasing a single stone to be converted into coins was a matter of much discussion.
So too with the soldiers who had shared her company. They received pay in stones and coin. She had never known one to change one for the other. The Great Sects, the Argent Peak especially, were legendary. Was her daughter so far above those concerns? Did she not understand how distressing it was to see that growing fortune of silver and hide it away?
The letters flew, and she began to understand something of what her daughter was involved with. She felt her heart seize as her daughter spoke casually of upsetting a member of the Bai clan. That Bai clan. Even her family, servants of the Liu Viscounts, had heard that name. Their masters knew it, and spoke it in whispers, in the same tone one spoke of the Duchess Cai.
But somewhere, somewhere, she found herself relaxing. She found a new pattern. She did not count the grains of rice at night. She did not fret over the rent of their rooms, and scraping together the copper at month's end.
Even being so temperate, she felt so much lighter. It was as if an immense weight that she had long forgotten she carried, had suddenly disappeared. For the first time, since she had been told that that man and his caravan were gone, she went to sleep with an uncreased brow.
But, it was a mistake to forget her position.
"Two pair of sandals. Child and adult. That'll run thirty five coins," The shoemaker eyes her up and down warily. His grayed mustache twitched. Ling Qingge kept her eyes below his. She was known in the market, what she was, the displeasure that followed those who were too friendly with her. "If you want winter shoes as well, it will be another sixty, and it will be ready in a month. I cannot put you ahead of my other customers. Half of that cost up front."
It was much more than she could have afforded, since leaving the brothel, but working outside so much more, she despaired for not having proper shoes come winter. Ones which would not leak or let in the mud. It was an investment. She would not be able to work near as much if she suffered such again. "Of course, Sir. I understand. That is a generous offer."
It was not. She was being overcharged by a third or so, by her observation of his other customers. However, Ling Qingge did not wish to chance her luck haggling. She withdrew a rawhide cord from a pouch at her waist, clinking with fifty round copper coins.
The shoemaker took it from her, and weighed it, muttering under his breath as he counted in front of her. Ling Qingge kept her eyes down, and did not allow the insult to bother her. It was such a small thing. She wordlessly counted out fifteen more coins to finish the transaction.
"That will do, you may return tomorrow morning for the sandals," the man said, satisfied with her money at least.
She gave a respectful nod and turned, reaching for Biyu's hand… and came up empty. Her head shot up as she turned, gaze darting along the dusty market street. She had only let go for a moment. Where…?
"Mama!"
Her eyes fell on her daughter, and relief washed through her. It only lasted an instant before her eyes fell on the man holding her hand.
He was much taller than her, broad shouldered and muscular despite the protrusion of his belly. His face bristled with whiskers, and his bald head showed several scars. She knew this man, after a fashion. Both as a client, in the past, and…
'Crusher' Chang, a petty kneebreaker, for the mortals who needed such, and the man who had been hired to… observe her, by whatever minion of the Liu was in charge of her situation this year.
"There you go lil one, go back to your mum," the man said in a deceptively jovial tone. He gave Biyu a pat on the back and the little girl ran back to Ling Qingge, all smiles as she collided with her legs. She put an arm around her child instinctively.
"You'd think you'd know that you gotta keep an eye on the little ones, eh?" Chang said conversationally.
Ling Qingge stared at him and did not speak at first. "Thank you, sir. That was kind of you. Biyu, I have told you to stay by my side."
"But Mama, flowers!"
Her eyes tracked to see a flower seller stand across the way. Of course.
"I hate to interrupt, but I have a message too," the big man standing across from her continued. "You wanna walk, so we're not taking up the street?"
She nodded tersely and gathered Biyu up in her arms. The little girl looked up at her face and seemed to detect her unease with the way she quieted down.
They began walking, closer together than was seemly perhaps, but it was not as if she had any reputation to ruin.
"So He Ping, our friend in commerce. He noticed something unfortunate," Chang said amiably.
A cousin once. The one in charge of her situation now. "I see, what is that?"
"See those loans you took, back when the lil one got sick. You've just not been paying them, and the interest has gotten all out of hand."
Ling Qingge's face was stone. Back then she had all but begged on her knees to borrow even a few coins. She'd been refused.
"And he's afraid that we really can't put off paying anymore, eh Ma'am? Sir He's been more than generous," Chang said. "Can't go setting a bad example for the girl now, eh? Who knows what might happen."
Someone had reported her. Was it the landlord, someone in the market? Maybe simply Chang himself observing. She hadn't been careful enough.
It was funny, Chang was among the men who might have sired Biyu, by her reckoning of times. She wondered, even if that was true, and he knew it, would that have changed a thing?
No, of course not. That was how men were. "I understand. How much?"
"Well, I'm a simple guy, but sir He says we gotta 'review your assets', figure out a fair plan. Ain't that nice of him? But you know and I know numbers can get squiggly, sofor old times sake, maybe I can put him off a bit, give you time to get things in order."
His hand, rough and calloused, fell on her shoulder. Biyu looked up at her with concern. She stroked her daughter's hair.
"How generous, Sir Chang."
"You always was good at making a man feel high and mighty," Chang chuckled.
She had no doubt every coin would be lost if her home was searched and every one that followed too. Eaten up by 'payments' that would never end.
But what could she do?
The only indulgence that she allowed herself was ceasing to seek new customers. She answered the calls of the handful of repeat clients she had cultivated, but no more.
Food, new straw for their bedding. She purchased cloth, and spent some days indoors, painstakingly stitching new clothing for herself and Biyu, warmer clothing that might help with the chill of winter. She spoke privately with her landlord, paying her rent well in advance, with a little extra for discretion. She was awfully busy, shoring up the foundation of their lives. That is why she took so long to reply to the letter. Yes, that was why.
She could almost believe it.
But eventually, she had run out of excuses. She'd bought paper and a tiny inkstone, and made herself think of what to say. Ling Qingge was ashamed to say that she could only fall back on formality, on saying the obvious things one should say, and little more. She did not even dare mention Biyu, knowing that it could only come across as begging for more handouts. Appealing to filial duty to which she had no right.
The response came. It was an awkward thing. Two near strangers corresponding. Her Ling Qi…. Ling Qi was still an unsociable girl. That was what she read in the letter. She spoke of fantastical things, but still seemed so young. Ling Qingge did not know if she was fooling herself.
But Ling Qi's letter came with more silver, though Qingge had barely spent a fraction of what she had been given. The letter did not even mention it. There were no words about gifts, not even an acknowledgement of how much she was giving.
Ling Qingge did not know what to think. She knew Immortals, even low ones were never truly poor in mortal funds. She remembered her He clan. She knew vaguely that spirit stones were what mattered to them, rather than coin. But she knew too how grudgingly those stones were hoarded. Even releasing a single stone to be converted into coins was a matter of much discussion.
So too with the soldiers who had shared her company. They received pay in stones and coin. She had never known one to change one for the other. The Great Sects, the Argent Peak especially, were legendary. Was her daughter so far above those concerns? Did she not understand how distressing it was to see that growing fortune of silver and hide it away?
The letters flew, and she began to understand something of what her daughter was involved with. She felt her heart seize as her daughter spoke casually of upsetting a member of the Bai clan. That Bai clan. Even her family, servants of the Liu Viscounts, had heard that name. Their masters knew it, and spoke it in whispers, in the same tone one spoke of the Duchess Cai.
But somewhere, somewhere, she found herself relaxing. She found a new pattern. She did not count the grains of rice at night. She did not fret over the rent of their rooms, and scraping together the copper at month's end.
Even being so temperate, she felt so much lighter. It was as if an immense weight that she had long forgotten she carried, had suddenly disappeared. For the first time, since she had been told that that man and his caravan were gone, she went to sleep with an uncreased brow.
But, it was a mistake to forget her position.
"Two pair of sandals. Child and adult. That'll run thirty five coins," The shoemaker eyes her up and down warily. His grayed mustache twitched. Ling Qingge kept her eyes below his. She was known in the market, what she was, the displeasure that followed those who were too friendly with her. "If you want winter shoes as well, it will be another sixty, and it will be ready in a month. I cannot put you ahead of my other customers. Half of that cost up front."
It was much more than she could have afforded, since leaving the brothel, but working outside so much more, she despaired for not having proper shoes come winter. Ones which would not leak or let in the mud. It was an investment. She would not be able to work near as much if she suffered such again. "Of course, Sir. I understand. That is a generous offer."
It was not. She was being overcharged by a third or so, by her observation of his other customers. However, Ling Qingge did not wish to chance her luck haggling. She withdrew a rawhide cord from a pouch at her waist, clinking with fifty round copper coins.
The shoemaker took it from her, and weighed it, muttering under his breath as he counted in front of her. Ling Qingge kept her eyes down, and did not allow the insult to bother her. It was such a small thing. She wordlessly counted out fifteen more coins to finish the transaction.
"That will do, you may return tomorrow morning for the sandals," the man said, satisfied with her money at least.
She gave a respectful nod and turned, reaching for Biyu's hand… and came up empty. Her head shot up as she turned, gaze darting along the dusty market street. She had only let go for a moment. Where…?
"Mama!"
Her eyes fell on her daughter, and relief washed through her. It only lasted an instant before her eyes fell on the man holding her hand.
He was much taller than her, broad shouldered and muscular despite the protrusion of his belly. His face bristled with whiskers, and his bald head showed several scars. She knew this man, after a fashion. Both as a client, in the past, and…
'Crusher' Chang, a petty kneebreaker, for the mortals who needed such, and the man who had been hired to… observe her, by whatever minion of the Liu was in charge of her situation this year.
"There you go lil one, go back to your mum," the man said in a deceptively jovial tone. He gave Biyu a pat on the back and the little girl ran back to Ling Qingge, all smiles as she collided with her legs. She put an arm around her child instinctively.
"You'd think you'd know that you gotta keep an eye on the little ones, eh?" Chang said conversationally.
Ling Qingge stared at him and did not speak at first. "Thank you, sir. That was kind of you. Biyu, I have told you to stay by my side."
"But Mama, flowers!"
Her eyes tracked to see a flower seller stand across the way. Of course.
"I hate to interrupt, but I have a message too," the big man standing across from her continued. "You wanna walk, so we're not taking up the street?"
She nodded tersely and gathered Biyu up in her arms. The little girl looked up at her face and seemed to detect her unease with the way she quieted down.
They began walking, closer together than was seemly perhaps, but it was not as if she had any reputation to ruin.
"So He Ping, our friend in commerce. He noticed something unfortunate," Chang said amiably.
A cousin once. The one in charge of her situation now. "I see, what is that?"
"See those loans you took, back when the lil one got sick. You've just not been paying them, and the interest has gotten all out of hand."
Ling Qingge's face was stone. Back then she had all but begged on her knees to borrow even a few coins. She'd been refused.
"And he's afraid that we really can't put off paying anymore, eh Ma'am? Sir He's been more than generous," Chang said. "Can't go setting a bad example for the girl now, eh? Who knows what might happen."
Someone had reported her. Was it the landlord, someone in the market? Maybe simply Chang himself observing. She hadn't been careful enough.
It was funny, Chang was among the men who might have sired Biyu, by her reckoning of times. She wondered, even if that was true, and he knew it, would that have changed a thing?
No, of course not. That was how men were. "I understand. How much?"
"Well, I'm a simple guy, but sir He says we gotta 'review your assets', figure out a fair plan. Ain't that nice of him? But you know and I know numbers can get squiggly, sofor old times sake, maybe I can put him off a bit, give you time to get things in order."
His hand, rough and calloused, fell on her shoulder. Biyu looked up at her with concern. She stroked her daughter's hair.
"How generous, Sir Chang."
"You always was good at making a man feel high and mighty," Chang chuckled.
She had no doubt every coin would be lost if her home was searched and every one that followed too. Eaten up by 'payments' that would never end.
But what could she do?
- Location
- Earth
Last edited:
EternalObserver
eYe Gaze baCk
- Location
- The Void
Welp, guess we can look forward to when that Minister of Law guy comes to Qingge's doorstep in the next Qingge side story.
These are commissions people paid for. They are 100% canon since they are written by yrs though.
ElizatronicWarfa
Himejoshi Supreme
- Pronouns
- She/They
Are non-Yrs sidestories not considered canon too?
- Location
- Spain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I seem to remember that there is an interlude or sidestory about Ling Qi's reunion with her mother from Qingge's perspective... but I can't find it, can someone please help me?
Ling Qingge Interlude - Forge of Destiny
“Alright, I think that was everything. Right, Mother?” said the little god with eyes like ice. Her casual manner as she dusted her hands off was at odds (...)
www.royalroad.com
- Location
- Spain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Infinite thanks @Elsecaller!!
- Location
- Staring into the void
Non yrs sidestories are semi cannon.