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i'm not exactly sure where these things came from, but when they hit i had to write them down. (to be inspired in such a manner is rare for me; on the rare occasions i get an idea, i usually need to give it some time to develop into more than say, one or two lines of concept. :p )
took 20 minutes for the drabble and 45 min. for the not-quite-fic-length fic - which may seem excessively slow for such a small amount of material but considering i take well over an hour to write about 400 words THIS IS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT. XD
Title: Resting Comfortably
Fandom: Soulcalibur
Characters: Raphael, Siegfried (god, i need to write about other characters! XD )
Rating: PG-13 for...unpleasant situations
Words: 200
A/N: Post-SCII: Giving the dead their due.
The man is dead.
Siegfried approaches the body slowly, his steps heavy with guilt. How much time has passed since Soul Edge was first damaged and when he finally threw off its influence, he isn't sure, but in the end it doesn't matter. He had been weak - found wanting - and again someone else had suffered for it.
Siegfried kneels, reaches out with a trembling hand to shut the staring eyes.
He should do - something. The man deserves more than Ostrheinsburg's broken floor as a resting place, more than Siegfried's sin-stained soul as witness.
At the very least, the body deserves peace -
***
Raphael opens his eyes and finds nothing but gritty darkness. He tries to move, but a great weight presses on his limbs, keeps them still at his side.
The darkness becomes suffocating. Raphael tries to breathe, and something thick and damp and cold fills his mouth.
Sudden realization hits him. He screams, but dirt fills his lungs and throat and silences him.
This will kill him, he thinks: but a minute passes, then another, and gradually Raphael understands that somehow, he has escaped death.
For the first time in his life, Raphael begins to panic.
---
Title: Dinner Party
Fandom: Soulcalibur
Characters: Siegfried, Hilde (sort of Siegfried/Hilde)
Rating: PG-13
Words: 970
A/N: Post-SCIV: Siegfried and Hilde share a meal.
"I hope you find the food to be satisfying."
"It is excellent, of course."
"You are not saying so out of a sense of misplaced courtesy, I hope. You've hardly touched your plate..."
Siegfried is quite aware of how much - or more accurately, how little - he's eaten. He has spent the greater part of the last half-hour staring intently at his food.
"If it's not to your liking..." A note of anxiety creeps into Hilde's elegant voice.
"It's fine," Siegfried assures her. "I apologize, I seem to have no appetite this evening."
Hilde falls silent. Siegfried has the distinct feeling she doesn't believe him, but he can't tell for certain. And he finds it difficult to look at her; after all, that might lead to eye contact with...
"I haven't had a dinner like this for ages," Hilde declares suddenly.
"...Oh." Siegfried takes one of the larger forks from the impossibly complex spread of silverware in front of him and stabs viciously at a hunk of beef. Blood gushes out with a satisfying squelch, darkening the plate's pristine surface.
"I did not have much time for personal pleasures," Hilde continues. "Most of my meals I took in the war room, with only my advisors and generals for company, due to - " A pregnant pause. "Due to the recently resolved conflict."
Siegfried continues mauling his beef into a pulp. The recently resolved conflict. Such a careful turn of phrase for so violent a war: he would not have expected such delicacy from a woman who had spoken frankly on the battlefield.
But then, he is learning a great deal of unexpected things about Hilde. And at least Hilde's sidestepping of the obvious - done more for his sake than her own - makes Siegfried feel less guilty about his own avoiding silences.
Silence settles over the dining room like a thick, wet blanket, stifling Hilde's tentative attempts at conversation. The only sound that continues unaffected is the creaking of the dinner table as Siegfried beats his food into submission.
"There's something you're not telling me," Hilde says, expelling a frustrated sigh. "Something has upset you."
How long did it take you to figure that out? The thought crosses his mind with unexpected venom, and Siegfried bites his tongue hard. There is no purpose to such harshness; Hilde is in a difficult position, and she deserves all the kindness he can give her. He puts the bloodied fork aside.
"Hilde," Siegfried begins, only to find he still can't raise his eyes to meet her own. He breathes in, deep and slow, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat, and finally manages to wrench his gaze from the table and look directly at Hilde, only Hilde. She is the only person in the room, the only one who matters - "I fear my feelings may not be welcome, but I must - "
"RARORARRGGGH!"
Siegfried freezes. Hilde flushes scarlet, and she whips around to face the head of the table, glaring at the gaunt, corpse-like figure seated there. "Father! Must you be so rude? Your behavior is disgraceful for a king!"
The king pays no attention to his daughter's demands, choosing instead to flail against the thick ropes binding him to his seat. He claws at the chair arms, leaving great gouges in the finely carved wood, before sagging abruptly in exhaustion.
Hilde turns back to Siegfried, who sits in stony silence, his eyes fixed on the wall directly in front of him. "I apologize for my father's uncouth outburst. It must be quite trying to deal with."
"It - it is not so difficult," Siegfried says, his words falling as flat as bricks. Two weeks ago - less than two weeks ago - he would have split that man...no, that creature...in half without a second thought.
But two weeks ago, Hilde had seen fit to absolve his unworthy soul; in return, he had sworn fealty to her cause. He would not act against her - not even in a matter such as this.
"Truly?" Hilde's voice is much lighter, much smaller than the voice that had granted Siegfried pardon only days before; she sounds even younger than her eighteen years. "Siegfried, I'm sure you've realized by now, but - there are not many people who know of my father's...condition." Hilde hesitates for a moment, then reaches across the table to grasp Siegfried's hands. "And yet...I knew I could share this with you. That you would understand. But - you will be discreet, won't you?
Siegfried is not sure if Hilde is simply being earnest, or delivering a veiled threat. He tears his gaze from the wall and looks at her intently. Her eyes have the bright, suspicious sheen of tears, but they are too dry for that: madness, he thinks, and a chill runs down his spine.
"I am sure Father's health will improve soon, now that the sword is gone, but until then, I can depend on your silence, yes?" Hilde looks at him with wide, imploring eyes; she grips Siegfried's hands so tightly her nails dig into his palms. With sudden, gut-wrenching clarity, Siegfried realizes he is not addressing the Queen of Wolfkrone, or even Hildegarde von Krone: this is a plea from an eleven-year-old girl who sits at her father's sickbed and continues to hold his hand long after his body has grown cold.
"Of course you can," Siegfried says, squeezing Hilde's hands in sympathy.
Hilde offers him a tremulous smile, shy and slight but lovely all the same, and Siegfried finds himself helplessly returning it. Perhaps this will not be so difficult; if his own bloodstained past can be forgiven, surely the Fates would reward Hilde's brave heart -
The king lets out another ear-splitting shriek.
Siegfried hopes Hilde does not notice the way his hands tremble.
---
these are rather rough (Dinner Party especially) so there may be sudden, drastic style changes. or not, because i am stuck deep in a stylistic rut. :( in any case, i will probably be tinkering with things over the weekend until i am ok with my banal, repetitive phrasing. XD
ETA: editing is done, for the most part. unless i have missed something HUEG, which is quite possible.
took 20 minutes for the drabble and 45 min. for the not-quite-fic-length fic - which may seem excessively slow for such a small amount of material but considering i take well over an hour to write about 400 words THIS IS A MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT. XD
Title: Resting Comfortably
Fandom: Soulcalibur
Characters: Raphael, Siegfried (god, i need to write about other characters! XD )
Rating: PG-13 for...unpleasant situations
Words: 200
A/N: Post-SCII: Giving the dead their due.
The man is dead.
Siegfried approaches the body slowly, his steps heavy with guilt. How much time has passed since Soul Edge was first damaged and when he finally threw off its influence, he isn't sure, but in the end it doesn't matter. He had been weak - found wanting - and again someone else had suffered for it.
Siegfried kneels, reaches out with a trembling hand to shut the staring eyes.
He should do - something. The man deserves more than Ostrheinsburg's broken floor as a resting place, more than Siegfried's sin-stained soul as witness.
At the very least, the body deserves peace -
Raphael opens his eyes and finds nothing but gritty darkness. He tries to move, but a great weight presses on his limbs, keeps them still at his side.
The darkness becomes suffocating. Raphael tries to breathe, and something thick and damp and cold fills his mouth.
Sudden realization hits him. He screams, but dirt fills his lungs and throat and silences him.
This will kill him, he thinks: but a minute passes, then another, and gradually Raphael understands that somehow, he has escaped death.
For the first time in his life, Raphael begins to panic.
---
Title: Dinner Party
Fandom: Soulcalibur
Characters: Siegfried, Hilde (sort of Siegfried/Hilde)
Rating: PG-13
Words: 970
A/N: Post-SCIV: Siegfried and Hilde share a meal.
"I hope you find the food to be satisfying."
"It is excellent, of course."
"You are not saying so out of a sense of misplaced courtesy, I hope. You've hardly touched your plate..."
Siegfried is quite aware of how much - or more accurately, how little - he's eaten. He has spent the greater part of the last half-hour staring intently at his food.
"If it's not to your liking..." A note of anxiety creeps into Hilde's elegant voice.
"It's fine," Siegfried assures her. "I apologize, I seem to have no appetite this evening."
Hilde falls silent. Siegfried has the distinct feeling she doesn't believe him, but he can't tell for certain. And he finds it difficult to look at her; after all, that might lead to eye contact with...
"I haven't had a dinner like this for ages," Hilde declares suddenly.
"...Oh." Siegfried takes one of the larger forks from the impossibly complex spread of silverware in front of him and stabs viciously at a hunk of beef. Blood gushes out with a satisfying squelch, darkening the plate's pristine surface.
"I did not have much time for personal pleasures," Hilde continues. "Most of my meals I took in the war room, with only my advisors and generals for company, due to - " A pregnant pause. "Due to the recently resolved conflict."
Siegfried continues mauling his beef into a pulp. The recently resolved conflict. Such a careful turn of phrase for so violent a war: he would not have expected such delicacy from a woman who had spoken frankly on the battlefield.
But then, he is learning a great deal of unexpected things about Hilde. And at least Hilde's sidestepping of the obvious - done more for his sake than her own - makes Siegfried feel less guilty about his own avoiding silences.
Silence settles over the dining room like a thick, wet blanket, stifling Hilde's tentative attempts at conversation. The only sound that continues unaffected is the creaking of the dinner table as Siegfried beats his food into submission.
"There's something you're not telling me," Hilde says, expelling a frustrated sigh. "Something has upset you."
How long did it take you to figure that out? The thought crosses his mind with unexpected venom, and Siegfried bites his tongue hard. There is no purpose to such harshness; Hilde is in a difficult position, and she deserves all the kindness he can give her. He puts the bloodied fork aside.
"Hilde," Siegfried begins, only to find he still can't raise his eyes to meet her own. He breathes in, deep and slow, trying to calm his rapid heartbeat, and finally manages to wrench his gaze from the table and look directly at Hilde, only Hilde. She is the only person in the room, the only one who matters - "I fear my feelings may not be welcome, but I must - "
"RARORARRGGGH!"
Siegfried freezes. Hilde flushes scarlet, and she whips around to face the head of the table, glaring at the gaunt, corpse-like figure seated there. "Father! Must you be so rude? Your behavior is disgraceful for a king!"
The king pays no attention to his daughter's demands, choosing instead to flail against the thick ropes binding him to his seat. He claws at the chair arms, leaving great gouges in the finely carved wood, before sagging abruptly in exhaustion.
Hilde turns back to Siegfried, who sits in stony silence, his eyes fixed on the wall directly in front of him. "I apologize for my father's uncouth outburst. It must be quite trying to deal with."
"It - it is not so difficult," Siegfried says, his words falling as flat as bricks. Two weeks ago - less than two weeks ago - he would have split that man...no, that creature...in half without a second thought.
But two weeks ago, Hilde had seen fit to absolve his unworthy soul; in return, he had sworn fealty to her cause. He would not act against her - not even in a matter such as this.
"Truly?" Hilde's voice is much lighter, much smaller than the voice that had granted Siegfried pardon only days before; she sounds even younger than her eighteen years. "Siegfried, I'm sure you've realized by now, but - there are not many people who know of my father's...condition." Hilde hesitates for a moment, then reaches across the table to grasp Siegfried's hands. "And yet...I knew I could share this with you. That you would understand. But - you will be discreet, won't you?
Siegfried is not sure if Hilde is simply being earnest, or delivering a veiled threat. He tears his gaze from the wall and looks at her intently. Her eyes have the bright, suspicious sheen of tears, but they are too dry for that: madness, he thinks, and a chill runs down his spine.
"I am sure Father's health will improve soon, now that the sword is gone, but until then, I can depend on your silence, yes?" Hilde looks at him with wide, imploring eyes; she grips Siegfried's hands so tightly her nails dig into his palms. With sudden, gut-wrenching clarity, Siegfried realizes he is not addressing the Queen of Wolfkrone, or even Hildegarde von Krone: this is a plea from an eleven-year-old girl who sits at her father's sickbed and continues to hold his hand long after his body has grown cold.
"Of course you can," Siegfried says, squeezing Hilde's hands in sympathy.
Hilde offers him a tremulous smile, shy and slight but lovely all the same, and Siegfried finds himself helplessly returning it. Perhaps this will not be so difficult; if his own bloodstained past can be forgiven, surely the Fates would reward Hilde's brave heart -
The king lets out another ear-splitting shriek.
Siegfried hopes Hilde does not notice the way his hands tremble.
---
ETA: editing is done, for the most part. unless i have missed something HUEG, which is quite possible.
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Ola!
Date: 2009-08-09 07:57 pm (UTC)From:Can I just say how much I fangirl you? Your writing is as elegant and wonderful as always and the idea of Hilde eating dinner with her father tied into his chair as if it's perfectly normal is just...gah! Oh Siegfried, what is it with you and crazy women? Such is the love! XD
I'm actually growing quite fond of Hilde, though I'm quite useless at playing her, and I've seen few fics that address the elephant in the room as you have here. I'd be interested to see further your take on the aftermath of her Story ending and how both she and Siegfried would evolve together. What will she do with him? I imagine the truth of who he really is will be kept as much a secret as her father is, but there is always the possibility someone is going to guess and then what?
I look forward to reading more from you!=)
Re: Ola!
Date: 2009-08-10 05:21 am (UTC)From:ff.net was acting oddly all weekend. i couldn't sign in until sunday night...in any case, thanks so much for taking the time to review here! i really appreciate it.
you know, i don't think it's mentioned in Hilde's in-game, chain-of-souls profile, but on the JP website and the official guidebook, there's this little scene where Hilde goes to the tower where her father's being held, and she carries on a 'normal' conversation while he slavers for her blood or something. it's such a unexpectedly creepy window into Hilde's life and i wish more people dealt with it. (and well, Hilde in general i guess.)
i waffle when it comes to how many people know about Siegfried/Nightmare. sometimes i think everyone knows, but because he has Hilde's favor they keep quiet about it, and sometimes i think it is a secret between the two of them.
in my in-head, made up canon i usually don't see Siegfried staying in Wolfkrone - even with Hilde's pardon i'm not sure he'd get over his guilt enough to hold the prestigious position he'd have there.
i guess i will just have to write more and figure it out :p
Re: Ola!
Date: 2009-08-10 07:22 pm (UTC)From:I've already sort of written an 'after' fic to address this - I think it may end up being AU to the current one unless I find a way to adjust it to that particular canon. As much as I loved that Hilde pardoned him I really can't imagine he took it too well given the scope of his guilt and self-loathing - in my in-head canon he only ends up going with her because she qualifies her pardon by telling him to earn it, then. So Hilde takes him home, makes him a vassal and sends him off to help to rebuild the kingdom... The Hilde I have in my head is slightly scary, rather than creepy. =p I'll make myself get onto finishing it once I've got his little hiatus with Ivy completed. =)