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rainbowfic2025-04-22 10:43 pm
wallwalker) wrote in rainbowfic2025-04-22 10:43 pm
Fluorite 10, Side B Blackstar 11, Vienna Orange 17 - War and Confidence
Author: Wallwalker
Title: Recruit
Story: All's Fair in War and Confidence
Colors: Fluorite: 10. Guilty/Confessed, Vienna Orange 17. Or maybe this is a test, maybe this is a course correction, Side B Blackstar: 11. When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band → Ziggy Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
Supplies: Resin (Day 2 of 7 Days, 7 Stories forgetyourwordsout.)
Word Count: 2112
Rating: T
Content notes: Violence, death, murder, incarceration, references to sexual assault.
Summary: How Luisa's biggest mistake resulted in her recruitment.
Note: More of the side story relating to minor characters in War and Confidence, which is honestly running away with me.
---
Luisa was sure she’d just killed someone.
The stones were cold at her back, and drafts went through her again and again; she wrapped her arms around herself and tried to stay warm. Even with the cold, this wasn't the worst place she'd ever been imprisoned. It was quiet - she didn't have to cover her ears to get away from the screaming all the time - and they didn't treat her cruelly, the way the guards and the nuns had treated her when she was younger. Maybe they were a little afraid of her, like she'd been of those guards, once. Their voices shook when they put her food and water through the door, even when they tried to sound angry.
She wasn’t worried about them. At least they hadn’t hurt her for no reason. Her only real concern was about Gemma, whether or not she was safe. She hoped that she was, wanted to believe she was. After all, she was quick and smart - smarter than Luisa - and she knew how to get away when she needed to run. Those men had surprised her, that was all.
Were any of those men still alive? Luisa had felt bones crack when she'd struck one of them and saw him drop to the cobbles, completely limp. She'd barely been thinking about what she'd been doing, not when she’d watched them hurt the person she cared about the most in the world. Especially not when she’d realized that her shirt was ripped and she had bruises on her chest, and one of her arms was hanging loosely by her side, and -
She squeezed her eyes shut. The anger helped keep her warm but it made her want to hurt people, and she didn’t like feeling that way. She’d fight, sure - if someone hurt her or someone she cared about, she’d hit back. Gemma hadn’t taught her that, not exactly. But she’d made her feel like she was worth defending.
It would be warmer if she were there. The nights had always been warmer since they’d met. Even if she didn’t have the cot by the fire that her caretakers had always begrudgingly given her, it was nicer to sleep next to someone who cared about her. But Gemma had told her to run, and she’d always trusted Gemma.
She had to be okay. Luisa couldn’t think of a world without her anymore. She might still know she was worth something inside, but it would hurt to know there was no one else to remind her when she forgot sometimes.
Someone screamed from further into the dungeons, and she squeezed herself tighter to ward the anger away. They had to do something soon - try her, or kill her. She couldn't just sit there forever, could she?
She closed her eyes, and tried not to think about what might happen.
---
The sharp squeal of the door’s hinges woke Luisa before she’d realized she’d fallen asleep.
She opened her sleepy eyes and saw one of the guards holding the door, speaking to a shadow behind him. “Be careful,” she heard him mutter. “After what she did to -”
A stern voice interrupted him before he could finish. “We understand. Leave us.”
Luisa blinked and sat up a bit straighter, looking curiously at the two men who were entering. The first man was older - gray hair, wrinkled skin, and pale brown eyes. She couldn't tell how old he was, but probably older than even the oldest caretaker she'd had as a child. He still looked strong, though, and his breastplate was heavier than anything she'd seen a regular guard wear, and shinier too.
Behind him - Luisa looked at him, then closed her eyes and looked again, because she wasn't quite sure that they were working. But they were, and she was looking at the handsomest man she'd ever seen. Luisa had never thought about men being handsome before, even though the people who’d raised her had warned her away from them, and when she and Gemma had first kissed she’d wondered if maybe she just didn’t care for men. But she’d been wrong about things before so maybe she’d been wrong about that too.
The young man stayed near the door as the old man entered, settling himself to one knee in front of her. He had to be strong, she thought, or else he might never get up again. “Miss,” he said quietly. “Are you well? You have not been mistreated by these guards, I hope.”
She shook her head, too nervous to speak.
“Good.” His voice was rough, the voice of a man who’d lived a difficult life, but also kind. His eyes were much the same, green and sad and caring. "I am Commander Alessandro di Capri, Miss. Will you tell me your name?"
"It's... I'm Luisa," she managed, her voice breaking.
"It's good to meet you, Miss Luisa." The old man smiled at her encouragingly. He looked like when her tutors were trying to help her understand an answer, except that his eyes weren't so impatient. "I am here to talk to you about what happened tonight, in the city."
"I... I know," she said, whispering. She couldn't stop imagining it, those men laughing at someone she loved, saying those horrible things. She couldn't forget how angry it had made her, how she'd charged forward without thinking, punching and kicking at them like they were stray dogs.
How Gemma, at the end of all of it, had leaned against Luisa for a moment to catch her breath, shaking, before whispering that she'd be okay, that she needed Luisa to run.
She should be sorry. Worse than sorry, she thought. But she wasn't, and she didn't think she could be sorry. Even if they hurt her for it. "I don't regret it," Luisa said slowly. "Those men hurt her. And they would’ve done even worse."
"I know," the old man said gently. "The survivors confessed their intentions after we found them. I assure you, they will pay for their crimes."
Luisa nodded. She wanted to believe him. "But I still... killed someone." Her voice caught as she finally realized the enormity of what that meant - someone had been alive that morning, and she'd gotten angry at him and struck him, and now he wasn't anymore. Maybe he'd deserved it, but that didn't make it feel any less overwhelming.
“I’m afraid so,” he said.
She lowered her gaze. Both of them looked so understanding, not angry at all. How could they not be furious with her? “I didn’t want to kill him,” she whispered. “I just wanted him to stop.”
“I know, child,” he said gently, and she could still see him smiling so sadly as he reached for her hand and took it. The chain glove was cold and his fingers were shaking just slightly, but he still held her hand like he cared.
“But I did,” she repeated, still not sure she believed it.
"Aye, and by rights the man's father can order you killed as well. But both he and his sons are known scoundrels, and money cannot make dark deeds vanish; they can only hide them from public sight. When he realized just how many of his family's deeds were in danger of being brought into the light, he agreed to an alternate form of punishment. That is why I am here."
She looked up again. "You're not here to... to kill me too?"
"No," he said. "I'm here to ask you to join me. I'm a soldier, Miss, and I need people like you to fight with me. People who are loyal, and who will do whatever is necessary."
Luisa thought of all the guards she'd seen, the ones who had always somehow managed to look down on her even when she was taller than she was. They had never been kind... but they hadn't worn armor as good as this man's, either. He was... someone more important, she thought. Which made it even stranger that he was being so kind.
"I'll have to kill more people, won't I?" she asked.
"When necessary," he admitted. "But there are more men like the ones who attacked the girl in this nation - no, in this world. There are times when killing can be the only answer."
She closed her eyes. More people falling to the ground, more broken bones. She didn't want to kill anyone else. But she didn't want to let people like that hurt anyone else, either. And she had to admit, she didn't want to die there... and this seemed like the only other choice. The only way she'd ever get out of there, and be able to find Gemma again.
"I... I don't know if I can do it," she admitted. "But I'll try."
"That is all I can ask for now. There will be time for you to learn; Michele will oversee your training with the other members of the squad." He gestured back to the beautiful man who stood by the door. "He has a real talent with training, I find."
The young man smiled and nodded, looking at her for the first time. He was standing tall, his armor spotless and perfect. And there she was, she couldn't help but think, bloody and sitting in the dirt - she could only look him in the eye for a moment before looking away.
The old man stood up - he really was that strong, she couldn't help but think - and offered her a hand, and she hesitated only a moment before taking it. "We'll take you to the base soon, and have you examined for any injures."
"I'm not hurt," she said quickly.
"I am sure you are fine - but we must be sure," he said with a small smile. "Hopefully another of our recruits will be there as well - it would be good for you to meet the other members all at once."
The three of them were not disturbed as they let the holding area; a few of the guards looked her way and then quickly away, looking nervous, but she wasn't sure which of them they were afraid of.
---
The base was smaller and more unassuming than she'd expected for such a distinguished man, a building outside of the city. Luisa had never been so far out of the city proper before. Her feet were hurting, and the rain had started falling again, soaking her clothes. But she was sure that those guards would've gladly killed her, so she didn't mind the cold or her aching feet. It meant she was still alive. Things could get better while while she was alive.
She walked into the base, then stopped short, staring at the table in front of them... at the two people in front of her. One of them, a hairy man holding a tankard, gave her a nod, and she nodded back, but her eyes were on the other person sitting at the table.
"Luisa!" Gemma said, her brown eyes widening.
"Gemma?" she said, standing up straighter now. "You're okay!"
Gemma beamed back at her. The bruise around her eye was dark and angry and one of her arms was held in a sling close to her chest, but her smile was bright and happy enough to make Luisa forget all of that. "I told you I'd be fine," she said, but her voice was not nearly so bold as it had been before.
"I know." Luisa smiled too. "I knew you would be."
The man behind them cleared his throat. "You did well to find our second recruit, Matteo," he said.
The drinking man saluted, not saying anything, maybe because he was in the middle of a drink.
"How?" Luisa said, turning around, looking between them all.
"There'll be time to explain," the commander answered, "but suffice it to say we've been keeping an eye on you two for some time."
Luisa wanted to ask why anyone would be keeping an eye on her, but then Gemma walked back to her and rested her head against her shoulder, and all Luisa could do was put one hand on her back and smile. Things were going to get better, she thought. They really were.
Title: Recruit
Story: All's Fair in War and Confidence
Colors: Fluorite: 10. Guilty/Confessed, Vienna Orange 17. Or maybe this is a test, maybe this is a course correction, Side B Blackstar: 11. When the kids had killed the man I had to break up the band → Ziggy Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
Supplies: Resin (Day 2 of 7 Days, 7 Stories for
getyourwordsout.)Word Count: 2112
Rating: T
Content notes: Violence, death, murder, incarceration, references to sexual assault.
Summary: How Luisa's biggest mistake resulted in her recruitment.
Note: More of the side story relating to minor characters in War and Confidence, which is honestly running away with me.
---
Luisa was sure she’d just killed someone.
The stones were cold at her back, and drafts went through her again and again; she wrapped her arms around herself and tried to stay warm. Even with the cold, this wasn't the worst place she'd ever been imprisoned. It was quiet - she didn't have to cover her ears to get away from the screaming all the time - and they didn't treat her cruelly, the way the guards and the nuns had treated her when she was younger. Maybe they were a little afraid of her, like she'd been of those guards, once. Their voices shook when they put her food and water through the door, even when they tried to sound angry.
She wasn’t worried about them. At least they hadn’t hurt her for no reason. Her only real concern was about Gemma, whether or not she was safe. She hoped that she was, wanted to believe she was. After all, she was quick and smart - smarter than Luisa - and she knew how to get away when she needed to run. Those men had surprised her, that was all.
Were any of those men still alive? Luisa had felt bones crack when she'd struck one of them and saw him drop to the cobbles, completely limp. She'd barely been thinking about what she'd been doing, not when she’d watched them hurt the person she cared about the most in the world. Especially not when she’d realized that her shirt was ripped and she had bruises on her chest, and one of her arms was hanging loosely by her side, and -
She squeezed her eyes shut. The anger helped keep her warm but it made her want to hurt people, and she didn’t like feeling that way. She’d fight, sure - if someone hurt her or someone she cared about, she’d hit back. Gemma hadn’t taught her that, not exactly. But she’d made her feel like she was worth defending.
It would be warmer if she were there. The nights had always been warmer since they’d met. Even if she didn’t have the cot by the fire that her caretakers had always begrudgingly given her, it was nicer to sleep next to someone who cared about her. But Gemma had told her to run, and she’d always trusted Gemma.
She had to be okay. Luisa couldn’t think of a world without her anymore. She might still know she was worth something inside, but it would hurt to know there was no one else to remind her when she forgot sometimes.
Someone screamed from further into the dungeons, and she squeezed herself tighter to ward the anger away. They had to do something soon - try her, or kill her. She couldn't just sit there forever, could she?
She closed her eyes, and tried not to think about what might happen.
---
The sharp squeal of the door’s hinges woke Luisa before she’d realized she’d fallen asleep.
She opened her sleepy eyes and saw one of the guards holding the door, speaking to a shadow behind him. “Be careful,” she heard him mutter. “After what she did to -”
A stern voice interrupted him before he could finish. “We understand. Leave us.”
Luisa blinked and sat up a bit straighter, looking curiously at the two men who were entering. The first man was older - gray hair, wrinkled skin, and pale brown eyes. She couldn't tell how old he was, but probably older than even the oldest caretaker she'd had as a child. He still looked strong, though, and his breastplate was heavier than anything she'd seen a regular guard wear, and shinier too.
Behind him - Luisa looked at him, then closed her eyes and looked again, because she wasn't quite sure that they were working. But they were, and she was looking at the handsomest man she'd ever seen. Luisa had never thought about men being handsome before, even though the people who’d raised her had warned her away from them, and when she and Gemma had first kissed she’d wondered if maybe she just didn’t care for men. But she’d been wrong about things before so maybe she’d been wrong about that too.
The young man stayed near the door as the old man entered, settling himself to one knee in front of her. He had to be strong, she thought, or else he might never get up again. “Miss,” he said quietly. “Are you well? You have not been mistreated by these guards, I hope.”
She shook her head, too nervous to speak.
“Good.” His voice was rough, the voice of a man who’d lived a difficult life, but also kind. His eyes were much the same, green and sad and caring. "I am Commander Alessandro di Capri, Miss. Will you tell me your name?"
"It's... I'm Luisa," she managed, her voice breaking.
"It's good to meet you, Miss Luisa." The old man smiled at her encouragingly. He looked like when her tutors were trying to help her understand an answer, except that his eyes weren't so impatient. "I am here to talk to you about what happened tonight, in the city."
"I... I know," she said, whispering. She couldn't stop imagining it, those men laughing at someone she loved, saying those horrible things. She couldn't forget how angry it had made her, how she'd charged forward without thinking, punching and kicking at them like they were stray dogs.
How Gemma, at the end of all of it, had leaned against Luisa for a moment to catch her breath, shaking, before whispering that she'd be okay, that she needed Luisa to run.
She should be sorry. Worse than sorry, she thought. But she wasn't, and she didn't think she could be sorry. Even if they hurt her for it. "I don't regret it," Luisa said slowly. "Those men hurt her. And they would’ve done even worse."
"I know," the old man said gently. "The survivors confessed their intentions after we found them. I assure you, they will pay for their crimes."
Luisa nodded. She wanted to believe him. "But I still... killed someone." Her voice caught as she finally realized the enormity of what that meant - someone had been alive that morning, and she'd gotten angry at him and struck him, and now he wasn't anymore. Maybe he'd deserved it, but that didn't make it feel any less overwhelming.
“I’m afraid so,” he said.
She lowered her gaze. Both of them looked so understanding, not angry at all. How could they not be furious with her? “I didn’t want to kill him,” she whispered. “I just wanted him to stop.”
“I know, child,” he said gently, and she could still see him smiling so sadly as he reached for her hand and took it. The chain glove was cold and his fingers were shaking just slightly, but he still held her hand like he cared.
“But I did,” she repeated, still not sure she believed it.
"Aye, and by rights the man's father can order you killed as well. But both he and his sons are known scoundrels, and money cannot make dark deeds vanish; they can only hide them from public sight. When he realized just how many of his family's deeds were in danger of being brought into the light, he agreed to an alternate form of punishment. That is why I am here."
She looked up again. "You're not here to... to kill me too?"
"No," he said. "I'm here to ask you to join me. I'm a soldier, Miss, and I need people like you to fight with me. People who are loyal, and who will do whatever is necessary."
Luisa thought of all the guards she'd seen, the ones who had always somehow managed to look down on her even when she was taller than she was. They had never been kind... but they hadn't worn armor as good as this man's, either. He was... someone more important, she thought. Which made it even stranger that he was being so kind.
"I'll have to kill more people, won't I?" she asked.
"When necessary," he admitted. "But there are more men like the ones who attacked the girl in this nation - no, in this world. There are times when killing can be the only answer."
She closed her eyes. More people falling to the ground, more broken bones. She didn't want to kill anyone else. But she didn't want to let people like that hurt anyone else, either. And she had to admit, she didn't want to die there... and this seemed like the only other choice. The only way she'd ever get out of there, and be able to find Gemma again.
"I... I don't know if I can do it," she admitted. "But I'll try."
"That is all I can ask for now. There will be time for you to learn; Michele will oversee your training with the other members of the squad." He gestured back to the beautiful man who stood by the door. "He has a real talent with training, I find."
The young man smiled and nodded, looking at her for the first time. He was standing tall, his armor spotless and perfect. And there she was, she couldn't help but think, bloody and sitting in the dirt - she could only look him in the eye for a moment before looking away.
The old man stood up - he really was that strong, she couldn't help but think - and offered her a hand, and she hesitated only a moment before taking it. "We'll take you to the base soon, and have you examined for any injures."
"I'm not hurt," she said quickly.
"I am sure you are fine - but we must be sure," he said with a small smile. "Hopefully another of our recruits will be there as well - it would be good for you to meet the other members all at once."
The three of them were not disturbed as they let the holding area; a few of the guards looked her way and then quickly away, looking nervous, but she wasn't sure which of them they were afraid of.
---
The base was smaller and more unassuming than she'd expected for such a distinguished man, a building outside of the city. Luisa had never been so far out of the city proper before. Her feet were hurting, and the rain had started falling again, soaking her clothes. But she was sure that those guards would've gladly killed her, so she didn't mind the cold or her aching feet. It meant she was still alive. Things could get better while while she was alive.
She walked into the base, then stopped short, staring at the table in front of them... at the two people in front of her. One of them, a hairy man holding a tankard, gave her a nod, and she nodded back, but her eyes were on the other person sitting at the table.
"Luisa!" Gemma said, her brown eyes widening.
"Gemma?" she said, standing up straighter now. "You're okay!"
Gemma beamed back at her. The bruise around her eye was dark and angry and one of her arms was held in a sling close to her chest, but her smile was bright and happy enough to make Luisa forget all of that. "I told you I'd be fine," she said, but her voice was not nearly so bold as it had been before.
"I know." Luisa smiled too. "I knew you would be."
The man behind them cleared his throat. "You did well to find our second recruit, Matteo," he said.
The drinking man saluted, not saying anything, maybe because he was in the middle of a drink.
"How?" Luisa said, turning around, looking between them all.
"There'll be time to explain," the commander answered, "but suffice it to say we've been keeping an eye on you two for some time."
Luisa wanted to ask why anyone would be keeping an eye on her, but then Gemma walked back to her and rested her head against her shoulder, and all Luisa could do was put one hand on her back and smile. Things were going to get better, she thought. They really were.
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I don't expect a banner or anything else for it because it was a special color that was made by a user so long ago, and I'm fairly sure the user is no longer active. But I am proud of myself for finishing it.
Although I'm tempted to make a case that this means Side B: Blackstar should be a permanent color here because it got the most play, as the post said...no subject
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Hey, I remember the other piece you posted about these characters a while back, it's nice to see this other little piece of the story from Luisa's perspective.
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