On This Life I Swear

Noon held a wonderful sight and a glorious feeling both in my heart and in my lower body. The head that was on my shoulders smiled at the woman smiling at me in turn and the head that was a little lower certainly woke up for himself. I was still inside her and my heart told me to let her know, even though she was likely well aware. I made myself twitch while her walls quivered, a sure sign that she knew a little about muscular manipulation. My efforts elicited a giggle for the trouble, though I wasn’t after a giggle. The kiss we shared marked our first day as a real, true couple rather than as friends who’d kissed and shared secrets. I brushed a lock of hair off of her face and wondered if there had ever been a more perfect moment in the history of Gauner, Gatian or Gage. I knew that it was absolutely unrivaled in the annals of my mind and committed the moment to fleeting memory, engrossed in the comfort I felt, the contentment that washed over me.

We lay in bed for a while, just looking at each other, caressing each other. Nothing needed to be said. There was no point in writing in to work since Beth had probably guessed it and covered for us, so imagine my irritation when a knock sounded at the door and ruined the moment. However,r I took it in stride since I’d had hours to bask in Alana’s presence, but as I moved to pull out of her, she winced and her inner muscles flexed, drawing me back into her. She bit here lip and shook her head, placing a hand on my chest as we rested. I paid the knock no more mind until there was a knock on the door to Alana’s bedroom. Her arms were long enough to grab the covers in time to not have us be exposed and for that I was grateful.

Beth and Rozalin, a gal from the Center, came into Alana’s room without much hesitation. I was on the correct side to lift my head and see them, but Allie had to crane her neck to keep us connected. “Can I help you?” She asked testily, the anger in her voice surprising every one present.

Bethany raised her brows and Rozalin stepped back. “... Just checking up on you, Lana.”

My vaski gave her a look. “You really have to stop walking into my room.”

“It’d be appreciated,” I added, trying to be helpful.

Beth nodded and started backing out. “Just gonna… Y’know…”

“Yeah, let’s…” Roz paused. “Not. Let’s not.”

They left and Alana turned back to face me, giving me a pouty look for the amusement on my face. “What’s so funny, cute-guy?”

“I legitimately never hear you so mad unless someone’s being extremely rude... It was kinda hot.” I meant every word too.

“H-Hot?” She asked, her confidence giving way to her approval-seeking default. “... Is that- Is it good?”

“I wouldn’t say you should be mad all the time, but it’s kind of sexy when you stand your ground. It reminds me that there’s even more to you than I already think there is. Hidden depths in a gem of a woman.”

Her cheeks pinkened and she trailed a finger down my chest, watching its path. “... So c-confidence is sexy…?”

“I guess it is.” I chuckled, making her shiver.

“Ooo~ Ding-dong.”

“Yes it is.”

She giggled, her eyes rolling. “No, silly, ding-dong.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I laughed along with her and she moaned again.

Alana sighed and tried to pout, but couldn’t past her smile. “I’m trying to tell you a joke!”

“What kind of joke starts with ding-dong?”

“A Ding-Dong joke, goobski!” Her laugh was beautiful and put pressure in all the right places.

“A Di- Oh! A Knock-Knock joke!” I kissed her for being cute. “Ding-dong.”

She tried again, but her lips wouldn’t listen to her. “I’m home… Butthead.”

“What!?” I couldn’t help myself and turned my head to laugh in earnest, unable to hold it back because what?

Alana giggled along with me in between, shivering and holding me still with her leg to make me stop my tiny thrusts. “I didn’t even have to tell a joke~”

Calming down, I stroked the ridges along her back and sighed. “You wanted that, didn’t you?”

“It felt pret-ty good.” She teased. “Do you blame me?”

“So what round would we be-”

“Five, if you count my dream.”

“Wanna go for six?” I asked, using the space she’d given me to pull out and thrust back in.

Her eyes fluttered and she bit her lip. “... River People…” I raised a brow and she sighed. “You can be… Addictive, to certain races…”

I thought back to my former buttslut and the sheer, unfiltered disappointment on his face when I told him I was straight. I also recounted months of dumping cum in that man like it was going out of fashion. “... Oh… You’re not telling me that my… seed, is…?”

“More like the tingling sensation.” Alana seemed a little less than concerned about it.

“Ah…”

“... We spend a lot of time touching…”

“... Should I pull out…?”

She gave me a reassuring smile. “It’s not that, I’m just…” She looked down as I felt myself continually twitch, her eyes closing for a second before they fluttered open. “... I’ve been…”

The piece didn’t seem to fit the puzzle. “It’s okay, Alliebar, say what’s on your mind.”

“...I haven’t really stopped…”

“Stopped whaaa- oh.” I couldn’t help but smile. “That’s pretty… That’s pretty great.”

“... I-I… I don’t know if I’m ready for…” Alana looked away, her face, neck and a good portion of her upper chest either red or pinkening.

“Would me pulling out be too much?”

“... I think so.” She whispered.

I kissed her again, starting to free myself from her as gently as I could. In the end, she didn’t let me get all the way out in the first go and I ended up pulling myself out of her during her third orgasm.I would’ve tried harder during the first two, but I didn’t want to hurt her or myself. “Damn, you are… Incredible is a word, but amazing… A little better.”

She panted for breath beside me, shuddering for a few more seconds. “Fuck.”

“I forgot that you knew how to swear.” I said, not too happy about being blue-balled.

Alana sat up and grimaced, her grunt as sexy as one of her moans. “I swear when I need to.” Her legs shook as she got them beneath her, the endeavor ending with her sitting back ,a frustrated look on her face. “Ugh…”

“When your legs don’t work like they used to before~ But I can still sweep you off your feet, so…” I shrugged, sitting up and stretching.

She was propping herself and The Pout was on her face in full force. “That’s not fair!”

“What’s not fair?” I smirked, adding to her reasons to wear The Pout.

“... You can just... move with no problems…” Her bottom lip stuck out just a little further.

“Oh mercy, you’re giving me sugar shock, sweetheart~” I reached out to stroke her cheek.

My vaski let me do it, but she was obviously dealing with a certain level of annoyance. “I just wanted to do something for you…”

I let my hand rest on her shoulder. “I would appreciate it, but even the thought counts for something.”

The Pout lessened. “... Still…” Her eyes flicked downward.

A thought crossed my mind and a plan formed in a split second as I lowered my eyelids, giving her the sauciest look I could without being coated in marinara. “Maybe we could use… the other hole?”

She stopped pouting and started looking really scared. “I-I-I don’t… I think you’re-”

“I’m kidding, but continue the thought,” I said, trying not to let my joviality patronize her.

I almost got whacked for being a smartass, but she started falling before she could hit me. “Okay, this isn’t fair…”

The Pout was back, so I cuddled up close to her, giving her pecks and smooches as I laid her back down. “How about I treat you to some breakfast in bed and-”

“Gatian, I can’t let you do that!” She protested, holding me as I tried to get up. “I-I’m supposed to be doing that for you!”

“... I-” I looked at the dried blood on her thigh, glad there wasn’t a lot of it. “I mean, I didn’t just have something torn inside of me and orgasm multiple times in a row after doing so for most of the night, so…”

She blushed. “That was a little while ago! I-I-”

“It was within the last couple hours, so sit back, relax, and let General Goobski get you some grub, okay?”

Alana shook her head. “No.”

“Then we have to wait until you can walk to eat.”

“... That’s not fair!” She groaned letting go of me and sighing. “Why do you have to be so big!? All Thesuvian women-”

“Wait, how big is the average Thesuvian man?”

“Not half your size! And I stay updated on the census!” The complaining was about to start and it was pretty funny. “Not even Lasponians average that big, and Denosians are bulls on two legs, and you just had to be Denosian! I just had to pick the biggest sausage out of the bunch and now I can’t even-”

I kissed her because the complaining was about to lead into crying if my guess was anything to go by, and I liked to think I knew her well. “Tradition isn’t everything, Allie.”

She still looked like she wanted to cry, as frustrated as she was. “... But… You don’t let me do anything for you, Gatian… You don't let me buy your food when we go on dates or help you with shopping, you don’t let me cook for you and you never let me buy you anything in general… I just…”

“What’s on your heart, Alliebear?” I laid down next to her, rubbing her arm as she suffered in company.

“... I don’t feel like I provide for you and… I made you wait so long for last night too…”

I made sure she was looking at the doubtful, though loving look on my face. “I love you, Alana. Whether you fulfill whatever it is you think I want from you, I get enough. I get what I actually need from you and so much more. I have my own money and-”

“Gatian…” She murmured. “You’re not listening…”

My heart ached at the look on her face. “You feel like less of a woman because I’m so independent.”

“Yes…”

I brushed her cheek with my thumb. “And it makes me feel like less of a man to let someone provide for me, even if it’s from the kindness of their heart… I…” I took a deep breath and sighed. “Alana… I never used to be able to take care of myself and now that I can…”

Her lips finally curved out of their intense frown and formed a line. “Now you feel like you can’t be dependent or else you’re backsliding…”

“... So where do we compromise?”

“... I don’t… I can deal with you paying for either your household things and your part of our dates or your rent.”

I stared at her. “Woman, have you-” I shook my head. “... Vaski, that’s essentially half of my monthly living costs either way.”

“I know…”

“I’d ask how you knew, but I already know you glare at my bills when you think I’m not looking.”

“I want to take care of those too,” she said firmly.

Rolling onto my back, I sighed. “... You know I’d probably make as much as you-”

“You average a hundred and sixty-nine holli a night. Even with your salary for being an instructor, it doesn’t really match up.”

“God-damn.” I sat up and stared at her.

“Wh-What? I-It’s my job to know your finances…”

I didn’t know what to do. “That’s… It’s weird.”

“I-It’s normal here though… Mom could recount every holli dad earned from when they started dating to when they got married…”

“... It might be normal to you, Allie, but that’s technically a felony most of the ways you’d do that on Earth. In America at least.”

She sat up against the headboard and took my hand in hers. “I’m just trying to look out for you since I know you’ll never ask for help…” Her expression and tone told me she was being honest, despite how little I liked the truth. “I just don’t want you to run out of money-”

“But I’m rich…”

“Gatian…”

I inhaled, held it in, and exhaled it along with bits and pieces of my pride. After a couple of minutes in silence, I pinched the bridge of my nose and said, “... Rent would be easier to handle in one go. You’re not paying my bills, Alana.”

“... What about-”

“Yes, dates are yours. No, I’m not letting you pay for the food and my house, and we’ll split the cooking. One night I do it, the other you do.”

She gave me a weary smile. “I’m glad we don’t really argue…”

I shook my head. “We’re both willing to put the effort forward and adapt to each other. It wouldn’t work half as well if we weren’t willing to make sacrifices for each other.”

The look on her face puzzled me, even if it was a touch wry. “You sound like my Mom.”

“Do you want to suck your Mom’s wiener?”

“She-” Alana seemed alarmed. “I don't think she had one… Did she?” She glanced at me.

“What.”

She smiled and stuck her tongue out at me. “Gotcha.”

My eyes widened as she clued me in. “... You’re joking half the time and no one gets it.”

“Well, not quite half, and it’s usually when I’m dealing with our friends and I can make them laugh. We can both be funny!”

“I’m funnier.”

“I’m not going to say that’s wrong, but…” She shrugged and tried to swivel her hips, the motion only making her twitch. “... Crap.”

“Still can’t use your legs?”

“W-Well it was…” She steepled her fingers, balanced as she was against the headboard.

“It was too good, or was it your first time? Wait, I know it was your first time, but was it too good?”

“Both, and I’ve never climaxed so hard.” She groaned. “It was like… Well, it was great, but I could barely move.”

“Are you sure-”

“That’s not an entrance.” My precious vaski shook her head.

“I was going to suggest a round two, or rather, we just start a whole new thing, but if you’re not-”

“I wish, but it’s not wise.” Alana sighed. “If I couldn’t even handle you pulling it out, I doubt I could handle the other part…”

I kissed her for fun. “Can I go make breakfast now?”

“... Yes, but next time-”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, you can cook a feast and I’ll peck and nibble at it or something.” I rolled my eyes. “Enjoy the perks of dating a loyal River Man for once, will you?”

“I guess I could.” She pulled a face, her shoulders slumping. “I mean, you have the same reasons as me, so I should be more understanding…”

“I love you and your non-working legs.”

“I love you and your smartarsed remarks.” She huffed.

“Arsed?”

“Thesuvian for ass, and... You do have a nice one.”

“You wanted to say something else.” I teased.

“Yes, but it wasn’t true and it wouldn’t have been fair of me.”

“I repeat; I love you.” Without waiting for a reply, I walked out and got to making breakfast as best I knew how, which was to say that I made eggs the way I liked them, bacon, and biscuits.

I wasn’t expecting to be interrupted but I’d known that it was going to happen from the shuffling steps I heard in the hall. The song I was humming had been aimless, but I turned it to a winding, fanciful tune that I accentuated with a few minor vocal flairs from time to time. When Alana wrapped her arms around my shoulders and sighed I felt like I knew the feeling. I almost forgot to turn the stove off while just holding her arms in place, wading deep in the affection. She remembered for me and commented about it offhand, resulting in biscuits that were a little overdone and bacon that was a bit crispy, but both were still edible and we did eat. With Allie ambulatory, she had another go in the kitchen and made more food since neither of us had anticipated being so hungry, and even then there weren’t any leftovers.

Sunset came and was nearly turning to dusk when there was another knock on Alana’s front door. Grateful that we’d chosen to shower, change, and light some candles, she called them in and let me stay on her lap, continuing to stroke my hair as another one of her odd runners played in the loudbox. In walked Bethany and Aliss followed by Coma, the short one still looking apprehensive.

Beth waved and Alana said, “I’m sorry about earlier, Bethany, but-”

She waved her hands and shook her head. “I get it. Private moment and probably the only one like it. I’m sorry, Alana, I didn’t know.”

Allie curled a lock of my hair, her expression not visible to me. “It’s okay, but just be aware in the future.”

The ginger had the gall to smirk. “So…”

Alana giggled. “Not now, you Sottle!”

I’d never heard the slur before, but Bethany evidently found it amusing. “Whoa, the mouth on you!”

Aliss and Coma seemed confused. “Okay, what?” The taller, paler one asked.

Coma looked at me and I winked at him. “My man, my guy, my brother! Look atcha, straight cheedah!”

Alana looked down at me and I was, in fact, straight cheesin’. “Sup?”

She laughed, not blushing for once in her life. “Oh, just tell them in plain words why don’t you?”

“Alana came three times when I pul-” She clapped a hand over my mouth while Beth and Aliss’ collective jaw-joints started looking awfully vestigial.

‘

Coma scratched his head, looking at me in bro with ‘Seriously?’ on the brain. Alana, on the other hand? “Gatian!” She freed me from her hand, her face florid. “They didn’t need to know that!”

“They’re all gonna know! I’m gonna tell Cacoma and Li and you’re gonna tell all the girls, so why can’t I brag?”

“... That’s a really fair point… But, it’s…”

“Still embarrassing to have me talk about it?”

“Kind of…”

Beth nearly exploded. “You’re just gonna shut him up!? Alana fuckin’ Wolvram, you total tease!”

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Aliss took a step forward heroically, hand upon her breast and all as she wore a brave face. “As your siska-”

“What?” I asked, knowing ‘siska’ was a term for an older sister.

“Cousin,” Alana clarified.

While I was busy being floored Aliss almost got to continue. “As I-”

“First or second?”

Alana raised a brow. “Her father-by-marriage is my uncle and her Great Grandfather is my also mine. The vines are a little complicated near the current fruit.”

“You’re blood related.” I said in simpler terms.

“Effectively first cousins once you figure everything out, yes.”

I didn’t know what life was.

Aliss took my silence as consent to carry on. “Like I was saying, you can’t just not tell us! The guys are gonna talk anyway, so send them to Gatian’s!”

“I kinda wanna hear how girls describe the act,” I said loftily.

Alana giggled. “Well, why don't-”

“Same here, honestly. Gatian and I can say the usual guy stuff first if that’s a fair trade.” Coma offered.

Beth waved a note, plucked from her pocket. “I’m curious what you two are going to say. And yeah, Gatian, this got dropped off for you at the Center. Something about training or… Something.”

“I’ll check it out in a sec.” She handed it off to me. “Y’all gonna grab a seat or stand around?”

“Gatian… I…” Alana said softly. When she knew she had my attention, she said, “Don’t… well, can I say what I would usually say? To the girls?”

“You can’t embarrass me more than I’ve embarrassed myself on Earth.” I knew the others were listening, but I wanted them to know. “My first time was when I got married to my ex wife and I didn’t last past getting it in all the way.” And she broke my nose for not satisfying her. The more I got hit, the sadder I got. Sadder I got the harder I got because jacking it was an escape for when times were tough. I…

I didn’t want them to know that, but it was a part of why I appreciated Alana so much, even if it wasn’t saying a lot. Alana gave me a worried look and let me stroke her cheek even as she said, “... I mean, it’s not like we didn’t… climax together that time, but…”

My face lit up when I realized it. “Aw fuck!”

I got laughed at and laughed at myself in turn, practically losing my shit while all but Alana did too. Coma, my main man, took my side immediately after getting his yuks in. “Aight, I mean that’s rough, but it happens to all of us. I’m guessin’ you ain’t really let Alana get you off previously either, right? And with y’all bein’ together all the time a man ain’t got a chance, you know?”

Alana gasped and I chuckled some more. “Actually, yeah man. I don’t get to take care of myself and I’ve never let Alana go past touching it until last night.”

“Oh, Gatian! I would’ve been willing to help!” My precious vaski said regretfully.

“I was too busy loving your presence and cuddles to worry about it,” I answered nonchalantly. “The time was well spent in either case.”

Aliss sighed. “That’s why an independent man is better than a typical one; You all have such a way with words~”

Coma raised a brow at her. “Are you sure I talked my way into your heart instead of stealing it from afar?”

She looked at him adoringly. “... Stars above, love is in the air~”

Beth rolled her eyes, not quite quelling the smile on her face. “So how long did it take for round two?”

“That wasn’t even round one?” I kind of asked.

“You got off, so-”

“No, I mean I didn’t pull out or stop. At all.”

Alana blew out an audible breath. “He really didn’t…”

All three of them looked at me with different emotions that I could discern. Coma read as respect, Aliss read as disbelief, and Beth’s expression was doubtful. “Really?

“Really…” Alana said for me. “I didn’t even finish before he started.”

I lightly whacked her with my hand. “You say that like I could move. You were so tight I thought something was gonna tear.”

“Thought.” Alana said dismissively to herself, but to everyone else she said, “You’re too big for your own good.”

I sat up and put a hand on her shoulder. “Damn, I’m sorr-” The look on her face shut me up. “Oh, right. I thought-”

“Well, there was that and probably a little more, to be honest with you.” My vaski admitted, looking down at me. “It didn’t hurt enough to make me ask you to stop, did it?”

“Yeah, but I don’t like the idea of that happening every time…”

“Ah, it probably won’t in the future,” Aliss explained, uncertainty on her face. “I just don’t think I’ve ever heard that happening with a River Man…”

“He’s got the sausage.” Beth said triumphantly. “The sausage of power!”

The gals laughed at that while Coma and I made eye contact and continued with one of his questions. “So how many times did you get her off?”

Alana squeaked a little and I thought about it. “... You know, it’s kinda hard to count. She tried to hide some of them.”

He gave me a confused look. “What do you mean? It’s not like it was more than three-” Coma’s face feel flat and he looked directly at Alana. “Damn. Dayum.”

“Damn!” Beth shouted.

“Oh dear…” Aliss fanned herself.

“H-He never stopped to let m-m-me fi-finish! A-And h-he…” Allie protested, trailing off as she got knowing looks.

“Just one right after the other?” Beth asked, leaning in.

Aliss bent forward eagerly. “Don't tell me the rounds blended together!”

Alana must have nodded because Coma glared at me and the girls shared an incredulous, knowing look. Coma, on the other hand, flipped me off. “Fuck River Men.”

“I did~” My vaski sang merrily.

Aliss looked at Coma with a certain light in her eyes. “Don't stop next time. Ever.”

“That takes practice and a certain mood-” He tried.

“Can your pride really take that as a Septurn?”

He glared at her. “Stop objectifying me, Aliss.”

She rolled her eyes. “Dick better, Coma.”

He shook his head at her and Alana took his side. “That’s not fair, Lissie. We all know Gatian doesn’t make sense on a good day.”

“Peanut butter rub-a-dub!” I said to prove a point. “On a side note, put her in a Coma coma!”

“See?” Alana said, banking my lob. “He doesn’t even speak Common all the time and he’s a River Man!”

“[It’d probably throw you through a loop if you knew how many languages I can hold a decent conversation in.]” I said in Hebrew, basically talking to myself.

I got stares from everyone, but it was Coma who asked, “Was that Choresh?”

“Oh shit, I forgot Hebrew and Choresh were basically dialects of the same thing. Yeah, I speak an indeterminate amount of Choresh, depending on where exactly I am in the place.”

“Ah, the different dialects, right?”

“Yeah. Some words are identical in some dialects, in one of the northern ones they speak a mix of Hebrew and French that’s harder to follow, but easier to get my point across in.”

“French? Is that another language?”

“Yeah, it’s kinda like Sotash or Flistian.” Bethany smiled at me, then said something I’m not going to translate because it was bastard French at best. “{How much do you understand?}”

I gave her a fucked up look because I’d never heard someone with a slight Minnesotan lilt- Fuck. Well, I know where the Sotans get their names from. Anyway, Minnesotan French was weird. “{... I barely understood any of that to be honest with you.}”

Her smile faded a bit, “{Ah, you speak the fancy stuff.}”

“{I’m not familiar with the French dialects, but I know mine is accented.}”

“It really is, but you get your point across pretty well.”

“Fancy Sotash not your thing?” I asked.

“Not really. I know some, but the sette system back home and all…”: She shrugged it off.

The sette system was basically the caste system turned down to seven or eight, but it still hindered people. “Bullshit and stupid, in my expert onion opinion.”

Beth rolled her eyes and Aliss picked up. “So… I don’t know who to ask, but was it good?”

Alana looked down at me and I looked up her, saying, “I tried…”

Her smile was heartwarming. “You were, and it you were so gentle… That meant the world to me, Gatian.”

“(Oh) fuck you!” Beth and Aliss yelled and groaned in turn.

Aliss spoke first and said, “There is no way you made him wait this long-”

“And he didn’t dick you harder than- than-” Bethany continued, stuttering at the end.

She and Aliss traded a look and the tall one said, “There’s no way he didn’t nail her like a stubborn piece of wood-”

She shut up when Bethany continued with, “So don’t lie about it!”

Right after Aliss huffed, her face flushing. “And don’t try to make up stuff!”

Alana and I looked at each other again, then back at them. My vaski asked, “... What…?”

“The hell, girls…? What were your first times like?” I inquired carefully.

Alana squeezed my arm. “I can’t wait to do it again, even if it hurts like it did…”

Beth looked like she wanted to smack her and Aliss wouldn’t look at either of us. “Okay, so my first time was with a Thesuvian guy, right?” The salty ginger began. “He stuck it in and didn’t stop for a minute and a half. Just rammed it in.”

Aliss glared at her. “You said there was foreplay. I doubt Gatian just ‘wham-bam-nice-clam’ and stuck it in!”

Beth winced. “Ooo, dry slipper?”

“What slipped?” She spat bitterly.

Coma winced. “Ow.” He got glared at for even commenting on it. “Hey, I’ve never taken a firstblood and I never planned on it. I just know it’s supposed to be wet before you go in.”

“You don’t know how to treat a virgin?” I asked, surprised.

Coma and Beth got it, but Aliss took a sec. “Oh, maiden. No, there aren’t exactly classes for men to take on the subject here in Thesuvia, and women don’t usually talk like this in front of guys. You and Coma are boskis and you made a stellar point when you said everyone in our circle was going to know at some level.”

Coma shrugged. “My Dad told me to start slow and be sure to find the inner node, but…”

“My man, we can talk any time. America’s pretty open about the finer details and if no one wants to get into the nitty gritty; We have books on it and the whole damn internet,” I offered.

“You just gonna do me like that?” He spread his hands

“My bad, homes, but there’s a lot of stuff I don’t use, Co-Man. Not everything works for everyone.”

Aliss scoffed. “It’s not that-”

“Uh, honey?” Bethany deadpanned, raising a hand. “I think I’d know best of all of us and it can be dumb trying to get a Sotan off, period. Ponies and Thesuvians too, but Sotans-”

Aliss shivered. “And the propesity for the other place-”

Beth lit up bright red. “Th-That’s just a tradition! No one does that-”

“Right.” Alana coughed.

“Liar.” I coughed.

“Booty.” Coma blurted unceremoniously.

Beth shook a finger at him. “It’s not something all of us do! We’re not Chorets!”

“That’s racist.” Aliss inspected her nails.

Beth stumbled on her words and stammered while everyone gave her similarly disappointed looks. “Th- I- Tha- Er- I… Fuck all of you. Honestly.”

Aliss smirked at her. “Racist.”

“Diancie.”

“I’m not that tall!”

“You don’t even have to jump to touch the ceiling anywhere you go.”

“Don't be jealous, half-pint.” I scoffed. “Just because you need a step-stool to make poo doesn’t mean you’re cuter than anyone.”

Beth gave me a weird look. “What…? I don’t need a step-stool to shit, River Boy.”

“How else do you get up to the toilet, shorty?”

Aliss chuckled along with Alana, but Beth just looked confused. “Gatian, what are you talking about? I just sit down-”

“After you climb up, right?” Alana asked.

“Do you need a reacher to get your potty-paper, little girl?” Aliss teased mercilessly.

Beth finally got it. “You’re making fun of me… For being short?”

“How did it take you that long to get it?” I asked.

She didn’t blush or anything. In fact, Beth barely reacted. “I don’t understand. What’s bad about being short?”

“There’s a song specifically about everything wrong with being short, but it also says you have no reason to live and that’s both inaccurate and mean.”

“Yeah, kinda harsh, dude.” She furrowed her brow.

I shrugged. “I never said I liked the song, I just said it existed. And short people have a lot more handicaps than tall people anyway. It’s better to be tall.”

Beth rubbed her neck. “... I guess it is.”

Coma looked between me and Beth. “... Yo, Beth… Are you not making Dianite jokes anymore or…?”

“... They don’t really make sense. I mean…” She seemed to be having trouble. “It… It makes more sense to make fun of short people…”

“That doesn’t mean we’re going to, sweetie,” Alana said comfortingly.

“Right? I mean, other than Diancie and Dianite, you don’t really say anything to us.” Aliss added her thoughts on the matter.

Beth shook her head, still looking bewildered. “I know, but... It just makes less sense the more I think about it… Why would being able to see more from a higher view be bad?”

“Uh…” Alana looked down at me.

“And the moral that the precious young fools learned was that making fun of someone for their physical features was stupid, childish, and demeaning. The end.” I clapped.

“It kind of is, but…” Aliss rubbed her cheek.

“That’s ninety-percent of what everyone around here says to each other.” Coma chuckled. “I guess you’re the nicest out of all of us besides Alana, man.”

“I try.”

Aliss and Beth just sighed while Coma shrugged. Alana picked up the dead air with, “So what brings you all over?”

Beth grinned at the change in topic. “Well, I was coming to see if you were still mad and Aliss wanted to come along. Coma’s stuck to her, so…”

Aliss scoffed. “Yeah, right. Coma does his own thing most of the time.”

He grabbed her hand. “It just makes me appreciate my time with you more, Lissie.”

“Goobski.”

“Nuttah.” He chuckled in turn.

“Hmm? What’s that mean?”

“It’s basically Goobski in Lasponsese. It translates to ‘adorable fool’.”

“Oh, thanks.” She huffed mockingly. “I guess I can’t really say anything, though.”

“You really can’t.” Alana tittered. “Nuttah.”

“Goobaba,” Aliss rolled her eyes, smiling.

“Translation for the foreigners?” I asked.

“It means something like…” Alana tapped her chin. “Silly idiot woman, I’d say.”

Aliss huffed. “More like ‘lovable bitch’, but yeah.”

“I was using the nice interpretation.”

“And I was using the right one.”

They started speaking Thesuvian to each other and I was completely lost. It was a gutteral mix of Welsh and maybe Swedish? I couldn’t tell, but I did know that they laughed as often as they pointed at each other and no one else knew what they were saying either. “Anyone else feel excluded?”

“You two wanna go to the spa and do some watching?” Beth asked.

Coma shrugged. “I’m in.”

“I’d rather wait for the second go with Alana. Sorry.”

Alana squeezed my arm. “What makes you think it’s happening any time soon?”

“Eh, time spent with you is time well spent.”

“Awww…” She let her fingers drift over my cheek. “You’re too good to me, Gatian.”

Coma scoffed. “You say that, but you’re not on the receiving end of a relationship with a Thesuvian woman. Y’all crazy generous and it’s just not necessary.”

Aliss pinched him and he slapped her hand as she said, “Don't say that like you don't enjoy the benefits.”

He gave her a look. “I appreciate them, they just aren’t necessary.”

“I know the feeling, man. Alana couldn’t even walk and she tried to stop me fr-” She clapped another hand over my mouth.

“Gatian, That’s- That’s not something they need to know...” She said softly.

I removed her hand. “Point being you don’t let me do stuff to show that I appreciate you right back.”

“It’s just not Thesuvian…”

“Gatian, Alana still made breakfast, right?” Aliss asked casually, raising a brow and looking generally sure of herself. “It’s not like she just-” She glanced at my vaski and quit smirking. “Oh… Oh Allie…”

“I-I-”

“Do you think you could walk after I tore your lady-bits and made you lose feeling in your legs?”

Aliss grimaced. “Well-”

“Seriously, you Thesuvians get so hung up on some of your traditions.” Beth scolded. “So what if Alana didn’t make food? I never cook for anyone. Period. I don’t even technically cook for myself.”

“You’re a-” Coma started.

“I know, but not all of us actually like baking, you know?” She grumbled. “We’re forced to learn no matter what.”

Coma shrugged like he usually did. “Lasponian men cook for their women after the first joining. Granted, I bit the bullet, but if Alana couldn’t even walk, then why would Gatian make her? I know, especially with how traditional your families are,” He pointed at Alana and Aliss, “that Alana didn’t just up and say ‘Fuck it, not happening.’, right?”

“Damn straight, man. She tried multiple times and I eventually laid her ass down. She still managed to talk me into letting her pay my fuckin’ rent.”

Coma’s face fell and Aliss raised her chin at him. “So Gatian sees reason!”

My homie hung his head. “Fine, but I pay for everything else. I’m not arguing about this again, Alissora.”

“Alissora?” I asked incredulously.

She raised a brow. “Yeah? What of it?”

I sat up and looked at Alana. “Allie, what’s your full name?”

“Alana Wolvram…?”

I whipped around to face Aliss. “How did I not know your real name?”

“It’s not my real name. It’s my Adult Title, it’s just stupid.”

I looked back at Alana and she said, “Alyana. Allie was a really good nickname.”

“Damn. I guess I should tell you that my birth name is Gage.”

“What the fuck?” Coma spurted, pressing his thumb against his lips..

“That’s great!” Aliss roared.

Beth covered her face. “Stars above…”

My face heated up and Alana wouldn’t meet my eye. “... Alana…”

“I-I’m s-s-s-sorr-rr-hee-hee!” She said, holding back her laughter.

I decided to face the laughter head on. “What’s it mean?”

“Dick!” Aliss guffawed. “Your name is Elder Common for fat dick!”

“I’m about to be one if you don’t shut the hell your mouth.” I grumbled.

“So what is Gatian? Your Adult Title?” Beth asked, shaking her head.

“Yeah, in Hebrew it means ‘Watchman’. Ironically enough, Gage is Hebrew too and it means ‘valued one’.”

“I’ll say.” Alana muttered.

“Oh, shush.” There wasn’t too much I could think of that would be more embarrassing than being literally named ‘dick’.

“The thing is that it’s hilarious. No offense, man.” Coma tried to wipe the smile off of his face, but it was stuck.

We talked a little more about Alana’s first time and it was a nicer conversation than it had been, but she was mostly just glad that I wasn’t surprised by her being a maiden. Aliss and Beth had known, but Coma wasn’t sure and just had speculation. However, he did mention that Aliss didn’t let him lay on her lap lie I was with Alana so she blushed and told him that it wasn’t really something she’d ever done before. She wanted him to sit in her lap, but Coma wasn’t fond of the idea and said he got more from it than she ever would, giving me a nod for turning him on to the love of lapdances. Beth told me that I was weird, Alana agreed, Coma flipped me off and told me to stop raising the bar, and Aliss shook her head, telling him that he was better than any she’d had before. With egos boosted and the mood right, I continued letting Alana play with my hair until someone asked why my hair was Choret silver at the tips. I explained it in a few seconds, saying that the somnerre and ambient Terru of somewhere I hadn’t wanted to be just stuck into my bones.

I rolled my eyes when Alana said that I was due for some reading and opened the note Beth had passed me when she’d come in. the amused smirk I wore melted the more I read. My friends and vaski continued on while my world started to fall apart beneath me, the reality of life hitting me harder and harder with each word read. My brow broke into a cold sweat and I closed my eyes, barely hearing the peaceful, friendly chatter beneath the waves of turmoil rolling over me. News from the front lines had slowed over time and I’d thought we were winning the war with the Char Army. It couldn’t have been a more baseless assumption. Gerritt had fallen days ago and the front was now in the mountains of Flistis. There was a muster going around for all Masters of all kinds. I’d known that my station was dangerous and could’ve resulted in me being put in another unfortunate position, but…

I’d barely recovered from dealing with Paulo. The slaughter in the nameless captured town. There was a lot I still had to deal with and little enough time for me to come to terms with the events, but at least… At least I got to be with Alana. The news shook my world beneath me, then it was Alana who was shaking me. “-atian? Gatian, are you okay?”

I bit my lip, unable to lie to her. “No. No, I’m not.”

“What’s up, brove?”

Aliss looked at him. “Hey, it’s probably-”

“The note’s about the war…”

“... Shit.” Coma grunted.

“Oh no…”

Beth took a deep breath. “I hoped not, but… What’s it say?”

“They’re gathering every Master except the Fullmaster and Truemasters. Gerritt has fallen. Flistis is the new front.” I answered. There was no easier way to break the news without sugarcoating the encroaching peril.

Alana placed a hand on my arm. “Y-You’re… You’re being drafted...”

The tears in my eyes refused to fall in front of her. “Yeah.”

All she could do to stop herself from breaking down was reach for me, so I held her and tried to allay her fear. “Alana… As long as I take an instrument, there isn’t-”

“Gatain, don’t… Don’t lie to me…” She murmured.

I took a deep breath, looking around the room. Pity and remorse coated every expression. “... Nothing that is said after this point is talked about between anyone other than us. Got it? Not even the rest of us. Just. Us. Everyone I trust the most is in the damn room, and if I think you told someone, I’ll wipe a month of fuckin’ memories.”

“Brove, that’s fucked.”

“I’ve been betrayed already. I don’t make the same mistake twice.”

Beth, Aliss, and Coma all looked tense, but Alana wore her confusion readily. “What...?”

I scanned the room one more time. Beth nodded. “It doesn’t leave this conversation.”

Aliss nodded as well. “Between us and no one else.”

Coma shrugged “Homies don’t bleed secrets. It stays here.”

I took a deep breath and figured out what I wanted to say. “There… There aren’t many ways for me to show you what I mean, but… I need you to understand that Arca and runes aren’t the only way to cast or otherwise use Terru.” I was met with blank looks. “Okay, do none of you know anything about Terru?”

“It’s not commonly taught, no.” Alana confessed. “Most Thesuvians either practice for life or never bother to learn at all.”

“Lasponian’s don’t deal with Terru except for ceremonies. Magically binding oaths and rituals. Stuff like that.” Coma explained. “I use some Artificery, but it’s not something I do even monthly.”

Beth spread her hands. “Sotans enchant, but we don’t cast Arca, and you have to go to Unitution to learn how to enchant anyway. I have a few enchants that I can use, but they’re household type things.”

I sighed. “Okay, so the only two ways that most of you Septurns know to use Terru in the first place is either with Arca or enchanting. There’s a third way, it’s dangerous, kind of unpredictable, and easily the most convenient way for me to cast Arcana without using a wand.”

Coma scoffed. “You sure?”

“Dude, I can’t show you because I can’t fully control what one of my songs does.”

“... You lost me, man.”

“Same here.” Aliss and Beth echoed.

“... If I’m not careful, some of the songs I play could…” I pursed my lips and look down. “They might level the town possibly?”

“What!?” It made rounds through almost every voice other than mine.

“Yeah… My music is Terruc. Well, a lot of it…”

Alana gaped at me. “Does that mean-”

I waved my hands. “I can’t really control when a song does something or what it does unless I’m pissed or in danger! If I’m just playing a guitar, n-nothing happens! I really have to try to-”

Alana looked a little unsure, but there was still acceptance in her eyes. “Gatian… Could you…”

Aliss apparently knew where the question was going. “... Could you brainwash someone?”

“I…” I balled my hands up and took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m a Silvertongue, but-”

“Hey, fuckface!” Beth barked, making me wince. “You take shit from everyone in the group. You’re as nice as Alana. Just looking at your face makes my heart hurt, Gatian. I believe you, but I don’t believe you would ever use the Devil’s Tongue to hurt someone.”

“I-” I thought about it. “Okay, there was one time, but she broke two of my fingers before I made her punch herself!”

Coma chuckled at that, seeming to ease up with Bethany’s outburst. “You made someone hit themselves? Who was it?”

I glanced at my vaski. “Uh…”

She looked at me, horrified. “You what!?”

“Not you! Your Grandma- Er, I mean your Great Grandma…”

“Brove.” Coma bit his knuckle, trying not to laugh.

“... My Great Grandma-”

“She uses Song Terru too! I know she went missing a long time ago, but she lives on this island on some lake in Avalesce where they train Minstrels and… Well, they also kill Minstrels on the other side of the island where they train warriors…” Bad times resurfaced in my mind as my eyes widened and I pursed my lips. “Shit, Lahgo was… Lahgo is…” I shivered.

“... Seriously?” She asked, looking unconvinced.

“Your Great Grandma’s name was Rozana and she was taller than you by about six inches. She… She actually looked a lot like you now that I think about it.” I rubbed my left index and middle fingers. “I think she had… No, I know she had blue-green eyes, her skin was a little less fair than yours, and her accent was a little more… Archaic.” I furrowed my brow, focusing on her. “She… Rozana…”

“Gatian, were… Were you in love with my Great Grandma?” Aliss asked uncomfortably.

“Oh, hell no.” I waved it aside. “I owe Rozana a lot, but I still don’t like that woman. She broke two of my fingers over bullshit.”

“Holy shit!” Aliss gasped.

Alana held up a hand. “Wait, did she just break them or did she just do something strange?”

“She laid my hand flat and broke them with her thumb.”

“Oh…” Alana slumped. “... Are you… Are you sure she looks like me?”

“A handful of years older, but yeah.”

“Oh…”

“You’re a hundred times cuter and a lot less bone-breaky, so I’d say you’re about a thousand to a hundred-thousand times better.” I consoled her sincerely.

Alana gave me a worried smile as Beth asked, “So… Did you fuck her?”

“... She broke. My fingers.”

“That was in Avalesce, right?”

“Yeah. So?”

“... Did you annoy her before she did it and flirt after-”

Alana was already looking at me when I cut Beth off. “Shut the fuck up. Why would a River Person know Avalesch flirting?

“Fair point. So what does your Song Terru do?”

“Well, the only time I ever used it to attack someone…” I thought back to Chorell. “... It was when I found my Partner after she abandoned me the first time. I used the song to defeat someone to earn her freedom from both prison and my service.”

“And she… She’s not with you right now?” Coma asked.

Allie seemed pretty concerned about it too, but I just said, “Stellara… Stellara is her own person, guys. No one here should harbor any animosity toward someone seeking their best life, and I’ll defend that until I die. Even if you think Stellara owed me something…” I shook my head and spoke softly, though I didn’t mean to. “I loved Stella and I let her go. She never came back to me; I found her and she stayed for a second time. She never really loved me like I loved her. It’s for the best that I have someone who doesn’t have to deal with me… Who doesn’t feel obligated to love me.” I turned to Alana and smiled at her. “Stella was pleasant, but she was trained to be. Everything she did for me was because she had to, not because she wanted to.”

She let me have her hand and looked at me with resignation in her eyes. “You still have feelings for her, don’t you?”

I chuckled. “The love I had for Stella… Loving you is different. It’s a lot more…. I… It feels like I’m…” I laughed the next time, looking at the ceiling. “God, I can say what I felt with Stella, but all I can say with you is that… I don’t deserve a second of what you give me…” I looked back to her, smiling ruefully. “I know that I love you and I’m not afraid of what you’ll say to it. I’m not afraid of you lying to me or that you’re depending on me for your overall happiness… If we split, you can find someone else. You don’t have to be around me if you don’t really want to be, and... “ I shrugged, making a face. “You’re completely independent. You’re your own person with your own goals and your own opinions and values that I can’t always change. I like you because you act like… I… I don’t know how to put it into words, but I love you because that alone doesn’t compare to the full quiet-riot that is Alyana Alana Wolvram. My Allie-vaski. There isn’t a soul alive with the same kind of love and compassion in your heart, and you’re… My nickname might be Gat-Cat, but you’re the true Gatski in my eyes.”

“... I love that you’re always honest with me, even if you’d rather avoid me than lie.” Allie stroked my cheek.

“I love that you’re patient and understanding, but I also love that you put up with my baggage.”

She furrowed her brow for a moment. “Oh, your lug-abouts. I understand, and you know I’ll always be there to pick you up when you’re down… Except…”

“Yeah…”

“But if it gets hairy, you still have your songs, right?” Coma asked.

I nodded. “I still have my Arcana too… I guess I can craft a few more now…”

“Like that... Rim-breaka one?” He asked carefully.

“... Yeah, and you can’t accidentally cast it without the tares, Coma. War is war, and the Char deserve no honor.” I shook my head. “... I’d rather this all be over, but if I gotta head to the lines…” Tungsten entered my resolve and rang true. “... If I have to face the Char again… This time I’m… I’m not afraid. This time…” I could only see one face at the moment, hear one voice. “I have to kill them all.”

Bethany was the only one who didn’t nod along. “And what would that mean for Gatian? Because I know you, Gatian. This isn’t for you.”

I knew my eyes were hard and I already felt the determination settling in like never before. “This is for Luce. And Gloss. This is for the Guild and Hooversdum. For Tidrel and Rusval. It’s for me being forced into the Rhubarb Ranch and escaping the skin of my teeth. It’s for me watching people I knew torn apart on the streets of a place I called home. It’s for the peace that was promised to me and a countless amount of other people who died looking for theirs. It’s to save the peace I have now, to save the place I call home... The place I call home, Bethany.” We saw each other and I knew. “It’s for more than revenge or glory. If I can walk away from this as just another soldier coming home from a victory… Then that’s what I’ll do. If I can walk away from the war as a nobody who fought the hardest and killed the most, then that’s what I want.”

“... What are the Char, Gatian?” She asked softly.

“People burned to death by the Scorch.”

“... Do you not consider them people?”

“I consider them targets.”

“Were they not once people?”

“Were they not more recently cannibals? Would they still live their lives knowing what they did? Would they just rebuild, forgive, and forget?”

Beth looked at me, sadness in her eyes. “... You’re already resolved to doing it.”

“... I just needed a reason. I’m being called. I have my reason. They showed me and mine no mercy. I’ll extend the same courtesy to them with a clear conscience.”

Alana put her hand on my shoulder. “The Char have killed and they’ll kill again, Gatian. When you take care of them once and for all, know that your work will be done. I’ll even try to help you retire early if you want.”

“You just don't-”

“Killing many enemies in war is legendarily lucrative. I wouldn’t quit my job, but it would be a little more than unreasonable for me to ask you to let me provide for you then. I wouldn’t have a point and you would be extra rich for slaying our enemies. You could even sell your memories of the fight and make money from runners.” Alana tilted her head at me. “... If you’re as capable of killing those despicable creatures as you are playing music, then… Would you even…”

“I’d buy the country and make you my Queen,” I jibed.

“Silly, but a nice thought.”

Aliss sighed and looked at Coma, but he shook his head. “I’m not a real fighter. Killing people isn’t my thing.”

“I hope not, but still. I don’t want your pride to make you do anything reckless in the future, alright?”

“No worries from me.”

Aliss gave her attention to me. “And Gatian… Come back home safe, okay?”

I smirked at her. “I can’t promise I’ll be okay, but I’ll come home in one piece.”

Bethany shook her head. “Now is when I say my sappy line, but I don’t really do that. Don’t get butt-sexed to death, Gat-Cat.”

“Wasn’t in the plan, but you never know.” I shrugged, giving Alana a kiss on the cheek. “Allie’s little pee-wee is so cute!”

“I knew it!” Bethany jumped up from the couch.

Aliss shrugged. “We loved you before and we’ll-”

“I have never had a thing like that on my body in my entire life.” Alana deadpanned, pulling my head to her chest with my arm. It took me a moment to realize I was in a headlock.

The noogie started, so I tickled her in turn. We continued screwing with each other and eventually started talking to our friends again, but they were happy to leave us with our time together, precious as it was. I was supposed to head south next week on the first day of the weekend and I needed to start getting my affairs in order. Alana offered to help take care of my house and Felix which reminded me that I needed to go see him to feed him. Probably. There was plenty of fruit for him to eat out and about in the kitchen anyway. I was glad for the time I’d gotten to spend in peace, and for what it’s worth there aren’t many ways I would’ve rather spent my time.

I went back to my house to start crafting useful Arca and Somnerre (Which I should’ve been capitalizing this whole time) in my down time, setting up my house after I started running out of ideas and came into my first case of real Writer’s Block. What I really needed was taken care of and my ability to come up with songs based on the situation rarely failed me, but I worried long and I worried hard, much of my time spent thinking about my reasons to fight. My reasons to come back home. It was a lot to take in, but I really, truly had something and someone to see tomorrow. I guess you could say that I found more than I could have ever asked for...

Being able to say that feels good. I have something to live for...