Favourite Scenes

[clairavance]

Because my quotes sometimes go over into entire scenes...which defeats the topic.

Here we go!

“Maybe if you stopped acting like an idiot, people will stop judging you.” Yuki said, breath slowing as he stepped away to survey his brother warily.
“Maybe if you quit your haughty little attitude I won’t hurt you.” Kenji replied evenly, dusting grime from their tousle off his sleeves.
Yuki pursed his lips hard and frowned deeply. “Let’s go home. It’s starting to pour down buckets.”
“What home?” Kenji asked stiffly. “Didn’t you hear them? They want me gone.”
“Kenji...”
“/You/ go home to your happy life. I’m getting the hell out of here.”
“You’re running away?” Yuki asked, startled.
“Well,” Kenji flashed an unnerving, cold smirk at him. “I could stay, but that would mean certain death.”
“Kenji, come on,” Yuki faltered in frustration. “Nobody is going to hurt you, you imbecile. Father would never allow it, and neither would I.”
“You?” Kenji repeated.
“They touch you, they touch me. It’s that simple.”
Kenji hesitated, looked away, and stated in a flat voice, “I didn’t mean certain death for me, Yuki.”
Yuki gave him a long assessing look. “If that’s how you really feel.”
They stood like that - feet apart, both silently seething, rigid in stance. Yuki didn’t budge when Kenji finally moved and brushed past him, but his shoulders slumped in quiet defeat and his breath exhaled his loss.
Kenji waited to hear a call behind him to stop him. Yuki was good that way - always trying to bind their family together, always trying to make things right. There was no cry of protest from his brother this time, however. Kenji felt something twist inside of him.
Yuki was righteous, like their father. To bring about change calls for some level of sacrifice - King Galen’s favourite quote. Yuki had chosen the harder route, to do what is best for the greater good - and the greater good required elimination of any menace.
/Spineless traitor/, Kenji threw the thought at his brother, and blocked his mind off to any excuses that might be hurled back at him. Kenji channeled his bitter fury into every step - every step that took him further away from this hellhole, every step that lengthened the bridge between him and his twin. Betraying his own blood...to satisfy an old timer… and a flock… of idiots…
Kenji couldn’t accept it, didn’t want to understand it. If his own brother would choose against him…
Damn them all to hell.
- Kingdom Demon, Chronicles of Derenvere

[clairavance]

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry.” Faye gasped between sobs. “It’s just...where I’m from, things are done a little different.”
“That’s to be expected. Does it really upset you so much?”
“My mom is not going to like this,” Faye hiccupped, and suddenly sobered down. “Oh, she’s not going to like it at all.”
“Madam Willows knows our ways. She’ll understand. There is no reason for her to oppose the idea...unless it’s because you’re not comfortable with it.” Galen said carefully.
“Well...she thinks we’re a little young for stuff like this.”
“No. We’re at the prime age, actually.” Galen stated bluntly.
“But...“Faye trailed off at his expression, and cast a troubled scowl at her feet. “It’s a really big thing, having a baby. What if I’m not cut out to be a good mom?”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” Galen asked, stumped. “When there are so many other things to consider, that’s what you’re afraid of?”
“It can’t be that hard to find a girl that can… you know. Bear the next heir. I think they’re exaggerating.” Faye muttered.
“No, they’re not. It took Oba Krowan years to find the right partner. He only got crowned king when he was the age my father is now.” Galen frowned at her. “And my father courted many women before he found my mother. It is natural selection. Only the best suffice.”
“Oh.” Faye said faintly.
“We will be fine, Faye. You will be a wonderful mother. It’s instinct, you’ll see. That is, if you were to agree to it.”
“Not everyone has maternal instincts.” Faye said and shrugged at his look. “My mother abandoned me and left me for dead when I was less than a week old, Galen. What if it’s a genetic thing? What if I run away, too?”
“You won’t, because I will be right here with you, Faye.”
Faye grimaced. “Do you think I’ll get away with it if I blamed it on your parents? You know, accuse them of influencing us with all this baby stuff?”
“Ah, you lost me. You’re not planning on running out on me, are you?”
“No, I mean the pregnancy. We can say it’s their fault. Can’t we?” Faye said and gave a somewhat hysterical laugh. “Mom is going to kill me.”
“Madam Willows will understand, Faye. If it will make you feel less threatened by her, then yes you can blame it on my parents. Does that mean you’ll consider it, then?” Galen asked uncertainly.
“We don’t really have a choice.” Faye snorted.
“Yes, we do.”
“No, Galen, we don’t.” Faye gave a shaky, nervous giggle.
“Are you implying that you’re pregnant?”
“You mean, right now? This very moment? Yes. A little.” Faye said with a chuckle.
“Hmpf.” Galen gave her a withering glance. “Very funny.”
“Galen, I’m pregnant.”
“Wait. What?” Galen yanked Faye to a halt almost roughly. “Are you playing with me?”
“No. I’m serious.” Faye said indignantly, shaking him off irately.
“Well, it’s hard to tell, what with all the laughing,” Galen said defiantly.

- from Kingdom Demon, again.

[clairavance]

(And my FAVORITE bit… M-rated stuff, graphic stuff, so don't read unless you're mature enough to handle it...welcome the boys )

“What’s that for?” Faye asked, warily watching Demitrius mix glowing liquids together.
“A magic formula...upon birth it is consumed by the infant...” Demitrius said distractedly, and glanced at her. “It immunises against wicked powers. Prevents the blood from going bad. It’s a compulsory procedure for all Gemini newborns.”
“Okay,” Faye whispered, and looked to Galen for reassurance.
“When you feel able, we will consult the magic forces of Derenvere on a fit title for the child.”
“We already have a name picked out,” Faye said, her voice sharp.
“You do?” Demitrius turned to Galen, puzzled.
“We’re calling the baby Yuki.” Faye said.
“What in Wosret’s name is that?” Demitrius blinked, dumbfounded.
“Shut up! It’s a nice name. We both like it. And it’s not a single gender name, so if it’s a girl, we can still call her Yuki.” Faye snapped.
“A girl? Blasphemy!” Demitrius exclaimed.
“It’s definitely a boy,” Galen said gently.
“How could you know for sure? I mean, what happens if it is a girl, then what?” Faye demanded, turning tired eyes on him. “She’s still the heir, right?”
“It’s a boy, Faye,” Galen insisted softly. “It is not in the royal Gemini genes to produce females. It’s never happened before, and it never will.”
“Well, girl or boy, it doesn’t matter to me,” Faye sighed wearily. “I just want to hold my Yuki in my arms.”
.....some graphic stuff I’ll leave out…
They wrapped it in golden fleece and Demitrius handed the bundle to Galen. Galen cradled the infant to him. Eyes of midnight blue squinted back up at him between swollen rolls of pink flesh. There was a scowl across the tiny forehead, and the small, beautiful, perfectly sculpted lips were pulled down at the corners. The birth had gone better than anyone predicted. Everything was as it should be.
“Is it a boy?” Faye asked breathlessly.
Galen nodded, and held the infant to her. “See for yourself.”
“No.” Faye shook her head vigorously. Galen stared at her, bewildered, and held the baby closer to his chest.
“Faye...”
“I’m not finished.” Faye sobbed, and bore down hard.
Chaos erupted. Demitrius sent for Madam Willows to be summoned, and another messenger to call an immediate council meeting.Servants scurried around in confusion.
“What is it? What’s going on?” Galen demanded.
“I’m not certain, ati Galen,” Demitrius said, his demeanour unsettled.
Galen felt a great rush of relief when Madam Willows and Isabelle arrived, ushered into the room. Isabelle remained silent and stoic beside Galen while Madam Willows and Demitrius spoke in quiet, rushed tones.
“Can I hold Yuki?” Isabelle asked when Faye dropped back against the pillows.
“Whatever, I’m a bit busy right now.” Faye choked out.
“Do you have a name for the second one?” Isabelle asked, taking the baby from Galen’s arms, and looked at him expectantly.
“Second one?” Galen repeated blankly, casting another worried look at Faye.
“I told her she should… I told you to tell them, Faye,” Isabelle chided, shocked. Faye responded with a tired, pained groan and a solemn ‘shut up’.
“They’re twins, Galen.” Isabelle gave a long-suffering sigh.
“Twins?”
“Two babies.” Isabelle explained briefly just as a new, louder cry rocked through the room.
No one budged an inch. All eyes were on Faye, and the slimy little being she was trying to pick up in her arms. Madam Willows stepped forward, but Demitrius stopped her.
“What witchery is this?” he roared.
“Now, you wait one moment...” Madam Willows started.
Demitrius was already strolling across the room, a shadow veiling his face.
“No...“Faye protested feebly.
Galen scooped the screaming little mass of arms and legs into the crook of his arm, and faced Demitrius squarely with a cool, assessing gaze.
“Baruti...”
“Ati, you know the risk. It is ill fate that there be more than one heir. We should have considered the option with your wife being human...”
“Demitrius...”
”...but it must be destroyed. There is no brew prepared to protect it from darkness. It’s blood is turning bad even as we speak, and even if I did make the elixir it would be far too late to save it.”
“What’s he talking about?” Faye cried.
“I will take the child, raise it on earth, it never has to know of Derenvere...” Madam Willows pleaded.
“If we do not act now, this child will be the downfall of our kingdom.” Demitrius was right in front of Galen now. “It will bring destruction and a fate far worse than extinction to our people.”
“Don’t you dare, old man!” Faye sobbed hysterically.
“If we do not end it tonight, it will unleash a great evil that will be impossible to stop.”
Two pairs of blazing, icy blue eyes locked for a drawn out moment of complete silence. Galen’s arm tightened around the baby protectively.
“This is my son.” Galen’s voice was quiet, but his words were magnified in the silence. He didn’t need to say more. Everything was summed up in those four words. Demitrius clearly wanted to contest, but even he had the wisdom not to tamper with Galen at that moment.
“Leave us. All of you.” Galen ordered, sending a brief glance at the servants in the room before meeting Demitrius’s icy gaze once more. “I will join you in the council chambers shortly.”
As they filed out of the room, Galen looked down at the baby in his arms. Big dark eyes looked back up at him, blinking at the flickering light. In comparison to his brother, who was still niggling loudly in Isabelle’s hold, he was quiet. Content.
“We’ll call you Kenji,” Galen said, and smiled.