Last Exile LJ community

The Princess and the Mercenary

2008-06-19T06:54:26Z

Title: The Princess and the Mercenary (1/?)
Author: serindrana
Series: Last Exile (AU, though - far more takes place on the land and some of the dynamics have shifted)
Pairing: Alex/Sophia
Rating: PG-13, potentially higher in later chapters
Notes: First, thanks to tree00faery for beta-ing! I probably forgot some of your suggestions, but I did keep them in mind as much as possible.

Second, this is at its base a Beauty and the Beast story, and AU. How much is a bit hard to explain, but Sophia was never aboard the Silvana, Alex has a slightly different function and a rather different 'crew', and Disith isn't across the skies - it's across the mountain range. Other than that, I'll try and explain it over the course of the story.

Please leave feedback! I haven't quite finished the next part, so your suggestions will be taken into account :D

The Princess and the Mercenary

"This is your room. The Master will return presently." The girl's voice was harsh, superior, arrogant, and she looked down her nose at the silent princess before her. Her blonde hair was cropped close, severe, and everything about her was sharp angles and edges. Sophia recoiled from her, mentally, though she stood straight and still, forcing herself not to swallow in apprehension, not to shake nervously. She nodded curtly to her guide, who appeared to be something of a butler.

"Will he return tonight?" she asked, after a moment's hesitation, something in her carefully controlled tone belying her lurking fear.

"Most likely." The respond was dry and cold. "Be prepared in case he sends for you," the blonde added, perhaps with a dangerous smirk touching her pale, thin lips, before she turned on her heel, walked off with a steady tap-tap of her boots.

Sophia watched after her, standing in the doorway of her new room. She was a bit surprised that she hadn't been locked in. Then again, there wasn't much of anywhere to run to; she would end up lost in the winding halls of the fortress-manor or trapped atop the rocky precipice it was situated on. Thinking better of fleeing into the early afternoon cloud-dimmed sun outside, she retreated into the room she had been given. She closed the door behind her, moved slowly to the large bed in the middle of the elegantly decorated room. It seemed so different from the rest of the manor, so much more delicate. She assumed it had been prepared just for her, perhaps to mock her. She was princess turned prisoner, slave, and yet they would taunt her with the trappings of her old life.

She tested the mattress with one hand, then sat down on it carefully. She looked down at her lap, at her smooth hands, and was silent and still for a long moment. Then, in a rustle of fabrics and with a soft cry, she flung herself down on the mattress proper, preferring to bury her face against the downy pillows rather than feel tears start trailing down her cheeks. She'd been sold, traded for a massacre, and her father had been more willing to part with her than any sum of gold Alex Rowe could have demanded. It hurt, stung so sharply and cut so deeply that her whole body felt on fire from a simple wounded heart.

It wasn't so much who she had been sold to, though she dreaded his return and his inevitable summons and what would no doubt follow. It was that she had been sold. Sold like cattle in a market, sold so that her father could order one more northern border city destroyed without the interference of the Arbiters. She was sure the conquering mercenary, the All-Killer, would return this night or the next, drenched in the blood of innocent citizens (and fighters, though he probably saw no difference between the two), eager to come home for his next conquest, his next slaughter of innocence, metaphorical in place of literal.

For all that Marius had told her to be strong, to hold her head high and stay as certain as the bird of prey she was, she felt every bit the little songbird, trapped in talons squeezing ever tighter, about to be torn asunder.

For all the turmoil inside her usually pressure-locked heart, though, Sophia could not stay sobbing and broken for long. Her nature wouldn't allow it, and, in time, she pulled herself up. She tugged off the hat on her head, tossed it aside. The rich jewelry she removed and placed on the dresser. She wouldn't go to him as a sparkling trophy prize, of that she was sure. She would go as she was, perhaps as plain as she could be. Regal robes did not suit her, anyway. She would take advantage of the freedom being out of the palace afforded her. She would stop playing the part of the doll.

After a search of the wardrobe (which, while not well stocked, did at least contain a few modest dresses alongside the opulent ones - why had he spent so much money on her?), she stripped the heavily embroidered fabric of her gown away, loosened her corset a little, and donned a plainer, duller dress. It was still well made, crafted from a tan fabric with darker brown accents, but it was simple, unadorned. It was probably meant to be worn when he was not around, but she preferred it over the other offerings. For all of her lineage and upbringing, Sophia was not a girl of gold and pearls and jewels.

By the time she was done, gone were the dark, silken curls, replaced instead of practical braids wound up into a bun at the back of her head. She'd put on her reading glasses. And she had scrubbed the last traces of paint from her face, looking hard into the mirror until she was sure that every last bit was gone. The only thing that pulled her away from her suddenly far-plainer appearance was a thoughtful tsk-tsking coming from the direction of the door to the hall.

She turned around, startled, leaning back against the vanity. Her observer, a young, pale man with stark-white hair and the uniform of a manservant, was smiling over at her, clearly amused. "Oh, he's not going to like this," he said, voice just a little more feminine than expected. "You really should have kept your pretty clothing on, you know. Better to be safe now and do what you like later than lose that chance for one night of doing what you want."

Sophia frowned, subconsciously smoothing down the front of her dress. "What- who are you?" She wanted to ask what he meant, but it would probably be best to know who he was, first. No need to trust something from a lower servant.

"Dio, at your service," he said, with a far too flourishing bow. "And I had just come to tell you that the Master is home. He wants to see you. Though, you really should probably change back into something prettier, you know. He's expecting his princess prize, after all."

"I'm afraid," Sophia replied, slowly, "that I shall have to disappoint. Your master gets a woman who only happens to be a princess, not one whom is defined by it."

"Oh, eloquent. And more than a little over-confident, I think. You're either going to utterly enchant him - and I really hope that you do, honestly - or irritate him. Still, you really should change." He shrugged, waving one hand dismissively. "I mean, you're free to wear what he's given you, but you really don't want to try his patience as soon as he gets home from his work. Go on, change back into your lace and beads. It will serve you better in the long run."

Sophia didn't respond except to walk towards the door, back straight. "If it is best not to try his patience, then I shall have to see him as I am now. It would take too long to change."

Dio quirked a brow, following her. He leaned close, peering into her eyes (she met his searching, curious gaze with a steely one), then took a step back and laughed, clapping. "Oh, this shall be fun! Very well. It's not the place of a servant to order about an honored guest. But don't say that I didn't give you fair warning."

The sitting room was warm, lit more by a large fire against one wall than anything else. The walls were covered in panels of deep, rich wood, and the moldings looked to be made out of brass or dull gold. It was sparsely furnished, though, with only a small table by the fire, a dark upholstered couch, and a large armchair, wing-backed and properly foreboding. But her host wasn't sitting there; rather, he stood, leaning against the mantle piece, turning a compass over and over in his hand.

He was fidgeting.

The realization helped Sophia to relax a little, keep her chin lifted and eyes focused on him as she approached. She and Dio had gotten as far as the edge of the rug by the fire when Dio motioned for her to stop. "The princess, s-"

Sophia hadn't stopped, however, and she instead strode up to within a few feet of him, dropping a simple curtsy. "Your payment would have been a better introduction," she suggested, keeping her eyes on the profile of her captor. He hadn't turned to look at her yet - he was still looking at the compass. The firelight danced on a heavy, furrowed brow and couldn't chase the shadows from his eyes. His lips were set in a firm, disinterested line.

"Bitter?" he asked, still without looking over. He snorted, quietly, closing his eyes and curling his fingers around the instrument in his hand. "I would have accepted anger over bitterness. Or are you too refined for anger?" His voice was deep, somewhat rough, and quiet.

"Not too refined - too subdued. Anger requires acting out. Bitterness requires turning inwards." Sophia ignored how Dio tugged at her sleeve, begging her to withdraw with one wagging finger. Instead, she shooed him away. He shrugged and took a step back.

"A martyr, then, in your sufferings?" the All-Killer asked, finally opening his eyes again and looking towards her. His expression remained dark, but the harsh line of his lips curved downwards as he took in her drab dress. "A martyr who would refuse the comforts offered to her to prove her bitterness?" His words turned harsher than before, and he set the compass down on the mantle, taking a step closer to her.

Sophia held her ground, her own eyes narrowing. "Beaded, heavy gowns are hardly comfortable. I instead chose comfort over gratifying your conquest. I am quite happy the way I'm dressed."

"I told her she should wear something more flattering, sir," Dio was hasty to add, hurrying to his master's side, looking sheepish. "I suggested-"

But the mercenary held up a hand, then waved that hand dismissively. Dio backed away, then turned and left after a pointed glare.

"It would be wise for you to dress more appropriately for my company," her host said, turning once more to her and moving one step closer. He reached out, taking hold of her chin and fixing his eyes on hers. "This dress was meant for when you are not entertaining."

"I hardly think I should have to dress up to entertain you. You traded your services for a girl, not for her dresses."

There may have been a slight upward twitch to one eyebrow, and his frown lightened somewhat. "No, I'm sure you could entertain me without dressing at all," he replied, smirking faintly. "But if you'd prefer to be well-dressed instead..."

Sophia colored, starting and losing her composure for the first time. "... There are more than those choices. But I'd prefer to stay dressed," she said, hurriedly. She would have stepped back, but his grip on her tightened.

"Then you will dress properly tomorrow," he said, firmly. Then he let go of her, drawing back. "And you will refer to me as Master or sir, the same as the rest of this household, unless I say otherwise. If I call, you will come to my side. You will obey." Something sparked in his eyes, dangerously. "I suppose that will be hard for somebody like you."

The princess's eyes narrowed once more, and it was her time to smirk, faintly. "You would be surprised. But think on my father, and then say that again."

A short, barked laugh left him and he turned away, looking into the fire. "I'll allow you to keep that tongue of yours."

"Will that be all, sir?" she asked, voice tinged with sarcasm. She was usually very good at containing it, but she did not fear him as much as she feared her father. It slipped out, and she fought down the embarrassed flush that followed it.

He took a moment to respond, reaching out to take up his compass again. "That depends on if you will change before dinner is served."

"I will not. I am quite comfortable as I am."

He shrugged, shifting his weight to the arm that now leaned against the mantle. "Then you will not eat. Good night. I shall see you tomorrow."

"Very well." As she walked towards the door, where Dio was waiting with a worried look, she wondered how long she could last out against hunger. But when Dio began chattering to her on the walk back to her room, she decided it was pointless. Her host wasn't the type to give in to her games and would most likely let her starve before allowing her to dress as she pleased.

For one night, though, she would keep her integrity.

--

Her first morning in the cliff-top citadel, Dio gave her a tour after breakfast (which was brought to her room). She had taken care to dress in one of the less decorated of the 'entertaining' downs and her hair was once more covered under hat and veil. She peered into each room as Dio pointed them out, looked at the art decorating the walls. He indicated the hall down which Alex Rowe's room (for that was the name of her host, and it sounded familiar but unplaceable) lay and down which she should never walk unless invited. Sophia had no problem with that rule, gladly avoiding it for the rest of the day.

He showed her the walled garden and the library last. The library had a door that led directly into the garden, and Sophia asked to be left there until she was needed. Dio nodded, smiling, and returned back into the house.

At first, Sophia strolled through the garden with her hands clasped before her. But soon, her fingers trailed over the bark of small trees, the smooth surface of leaves. She stroked the petals of exotic flowers, breathed deep the earthy scent of moist soil and fallen leaves. She couldn't help but smile at all the familiar and unfamiliar sensations as she settled beneath the large oak, central to the garden. She nestled down carefully in its roots, one petticoat removed to use as a blanket to sit on.

Back in the palace, she had spent nearly every minute of her free time in the many gardens. There hadn't been much time, though, and with every year, that time dwindled. For all her fear of what awaited her when Alex called for her, she wanted to thank him for giving her the opportunity to just relax where she loved most.

She had nearly fallen asleep by the time footsteps, made louder by the flagstones, made her sit up. She straightened up, turning, expecting to see Dio or the harsh-faced butler - Tatiana, Dio had said. Instead, she was met by Alex's curious expression. He had stopped beside the tree, and was looking down at her, brows lifted in silent question.

Sophia flushed, reaching up to straighten her headdress which had fallen askew. "Apologies," she breathed, hurriedly, reflex taking over. Her sleep-fogged mind reacted as if she weren't allowed to be there, and she began rising hurriedly to her feet.

Alex put a gloved handed on her shoulder, though, pushing her down almost harshly. "Stay," he ordered, voice sounding oddly hoarse. "If I had known you were out here, I would have let you be."

She frowned, following his order and sinking back against the roots. "I shouldn't have fallen asleep," she replied, uncomfortable with the memory of her father shouting at her for shaming herself by doing just that. "I should go."

Alex let go of her, hand then hanging limp at his side, as if he didn't know what to do with it. "... You may have the garden as your own, if you like. Do what you please here. I don't come out here often." He turned as if to leave, but stopped short of actually moving. "I didn't think that you would enjoy something this natural," he confessed, almost too softly to be heard.

"I've always loved gardens," she answered, trailing her fingers over the rough bark of one root. "I didn't get to spend much time in them at the palace. ... Thank you, but I won't bar you from a part of your own home."

"Still, feel free to do as you please here. In this place, there are no rules." His words were still gruff, but he also stayed rooted to where he stood. "You may spend as much time here as you wish, except for when I ask for you."

"Thank you," she repeated, glancing over at him. He seemed tense, very uncomfortable, but more civil than the night before. She wondered if it had to do with her dress - that she'd shown that she will obey.

Alex fixed his gaze on a small window on the second floor, the hand that had held her down still resting limp. "Tell me about the palace. The garden there." It sounded forced, and she realized that perhaps Dio had asked him to be more civil, on her behalf. There was too much of a change for it to be natural over one night, and he didn't sound confident in it.

"It took too much water to maintain," she said, after a long, silent minute. "And my father would only use the purest drinking water, instead of giving it to the people who needed it. He took all of the clean water in the city, leaving only the dirty, foul river for everybody else. But the garden was beautiful for all of it. Too designed and perfect, but beautiful. I always wanted to stay there forever, but if I stayed too long, I was punished for it.

"When I was... maybe ten, the Prime Minister built me a swing in the central garden. It was so freeing, to feel like I was flying, to be up among the branches and leaves. But when my father found out about it, he had it taken down. He forbade Marius from ever doing something like that again. And since then, I haven't been allowed alone into the gardens for more than a brief walk. For anything more, a servant had to accompany me." Sophia shifted, biting her bottom lip in embarrassment from all she'd said.

It was compounded when Alex's response involved a curt nod and then, without a word, a deliberate walk back to the library.

Sophia took lunch in the library. It was a small meal, mostly comprised of miniature sandwiches and a small bowl of soup. It was finished with a mug of steaming coffee, which she stirred only slowly, carefully mixing in cream little by little. She sighed, watching the dark liquid cloud. The last time she had had coffee, she had been sitting across a small table from Captain Vincent Alzey, one of the few military men Marius trusted. They had been introduced with the hope that, perhaps, Vincent would take on a brotherly role. But the older man - probably around her host's age - had taken an interest beyond brotherly, though he remained the perfect gentleman at all times.

He would kiss her hand whenever they met and would treat her to fine coffee roasts he'd perfected, he would say, just for her. Their meetings went beyond lunch to veiled courting sessions. Marius had warned her not to get involved, but despite her conviction not to fall, she couldn't help but play the game. The last time they'd met, her stomach had twisted into knots and he had been close to kissing her lips when their chaperone came inside.

Vincent had shut down when Marius delivered the news. He had been right beside her when Marius explained her father's promise to the All-Killer, had barely been able to catch her and hold her up when her knees had buckled and her legs had given out beneath her. His gaze had turned distant, so distant, and he could only mumble apologies in place of assurances. She had wanted him to hold her close, tell her he would find a way around her father's decree. But he had remained silent on that front.

It was probably better, Sophia decided, finally sipping at the half-cooled drink. He wouldn't have found a solution, she was sure, and if he had been so willing to try for her, she couldn't have done anything else but fall desperately and painfully in love with him. As it was, Vincent was a regret, a what-might-have-been. When the coffee had been taken away and Sophia had picked up a book written about the distant land across the northern border, he faded from her thoughts, leaving only a lingering sadness behind.

Only when the daylight began to fade did Sophia finally stir from the chair she'd taken up residence in, looking around, surprised at how dark it had grown. Stiffly, she rose from her seat, stretching as she made her way over to a shelf, returning her book. Walking towards the door leading into the hallway, she stopped when she heard hushed voices, giggling, sharp breaths. A quick peek outside of the door revealed Dio, happily engaged in pressing one of the servants up against a wall. The servant - who was decidedly male and had short blonde hair - looked embarrassed and quickly caught sight of Sophia, yelping and pushing Dio away. Dio turned around, looking to see who was there, then smiled broadly and beckoned her over.

Sophia came closer, but stopped short of being right next to the two.

"The Master said to tell you," Dio began, straightening up a little, "that he'll be waiting in the dining room for you. Dinner's about to be served. I would have come right in, if I hadn't caught sight of Lucciola," he added, apologetically, though the gleefully lecherous smile he sent Lucciola's way said otherwise.

"I remember the way, if you'd... prefer I left you two alone," Sophia said, perhaps a little hurriedly, before giving them a strained smile and hurrying off down the hallway. There was no sense in 'trying his patience', after all, as Dio had so succinctly put it the night before. And from the cheerful giggles behind her, her caretaker had few objections to her decision.

She didn't stop hurrying until the doorway to the dining room was in sight. At that point, she slowed down until she was moving at barely more than a stately walk, smoothing out her dress and making sure she was presentable. If they were going to fire back and forth at one another, it would not be over her dress again.

"You certainly took your time," Alex said as she entered. He was leaning back in his chair at the head of the small table, a glass of amber liquid and ice in one hand. He was watching her carefully, predatorily, as she approached and took a seat across from him. "Dio isn't here to chaperone you this time?"

"He's... busy," she settled on, taking her napkin from the table, spreading it out carefully on her lap. "I came as soon as I received the message."

"Perhaps I should send Tatiana next time. She, at least, does things properly." He considered his drink a moment longer, then knocked the rest of it back - more than half the glass. His tone had darkened since that morning in the garden, and Sophia was left with the distinct feeling that trying to be civil had worn out its welcome for the day.

"As you will," Sophia responded, though she guessed a response wasn't necessarily needed. She tried to ignore the burning weight of his gaze on her, instead looking along the walls, taking in the few decorations. Compared to the sitting room and library, the dining room was more stone than wood and carpet, cold and unwelcoming. It was also covered in a fine layer of dust, the corners of the room spotted with cobwebs. But she kept being drawn back to him, with his eyes fixed on her, unmoving.

He didn't shift his gaze until food was brought in nearly a quarter of an hour later. The time had been filled with a heavy, oppressive silence that left Sophia exhausted, and she had to muffle a sigh of relief when he finally looked away and when the quiet was pierced by the sound of footsteps and ceramic on wood and metal on metal. Familiar, rich aromas filled the dank room and she relaxed into her seat, closing her eyes a moment. When the servants left them alone again, she opened her eyes, noting that he hadn't moved. He was looking at her again.

"Are you so pleased with your porcelain doll that you'd forget to eat?" she asked, tone acrid.

Alex smirked, finally shifting, reaching forward to take a portion of roasted meat. "Oddly enough, I can be quite happy in silence and in taking my time."

"Especially when there's a distraction sitting across the table," she replied, also sitting forward to serve herself. "If you just enjoyed silence, you wouldn't need me here."

"That doesn't mean I wouldn't want you here. After all, would I send a piece of art away because I didn't need it?" The barb stung, and she bristled at being compared to a painting or sculpture. She refused to gratify him with visible fidgeting, though, and instead took a bite of her dinner, chewing slowly and deliberately.

"Then I take it you are pleased with your new toy," she said, once she had swallowed. "Though perhaps, I grant you, you were just putting off eating."

Alex shrugged, taking a bite of his own. The way he ate was oddly refined for such a violent, infamous man. He kept his gloves on the whole while, as if distrusting skin on metal. "I suppose I am pleased," he answered. "For the moment, at least."

"And I suppose," she continued carefully, sipping at the water that had been provided for her, "that I should strive to keep it that way?"

"It would be to your advantage, yes." Alex shrugged. "Though if your appearance begins to displease me, I doubt there is much you could do to stop it. If I tire of you..."

Sophia straightened somewhat, taking a deep, steadying breath before answering. "Is that a threat?"

"An observation. A man can always tire of looking at something beautiful, if it wears out its welcome." He paused in pouring more alcohol out of the decanter beside him, looking over at her. "Surely you've tired of pretty dresses and tapestries before?"

The princess set down her knife and fork carefully, then rose to her feet, expression barely civil. "I have. But to compare a work of art with a dynamic living being-"

"Is to put you in your place," he said, gruffly, looking up at her. "Sit back down and eat."

She shook her head, eyes narrowing, civility beginning to fall away. "A work of art does not need to eat, sir."

"Very well," he replied, shrugging and turning his attention back to his food, which he picked at with his fork. "Then stand there as a statue. It's your choice, whether you are a dynamic work of art or not - I will regard you much the same way. The only difference is that I don't need to clothe and feed a statue. If you feel the need to prove a point that doesn't, in the end, matter, strip down and starve. I won't complain." Sophia didn't move save for shaking in restrained anger, hands clenched before her in a semblance of propriety. When no sound came from her - not an apology, a protest, or the sound of rustling fabric - Alex looked up expectantly. "Well? Do I have to help you undress, your highness?" He began to rise from his seat.

Sophia held her tongue fast, sure that he would stop short of actually touching her. But as he approached closer and closer still, she shook from more than anger. He stopped only a few inches from her, and when she didn't respond to the questioningly raised brow, he reached out and stiffly grabbed her by the waist, tugging her closer. She let out a little cry of surprise, falling against him. When his fingers began finding the hooks and fastenings along her spine, she fought him, pushing at his chest, crying out.

"Stop! For heaven's sake, stop!" Her voice grew shriller with each word and she finally managed to thrust him away. She stepped backwards, away from him, clutching the top of her dress to her as she moved. He'd only managed to loosen a few of the top fastenings, but her dress hung loosely about her shoulders. "Don't you ever touch me-"

"I have every right to do whatever I want to do with you. And if you don't stop acting like a spoiled child, you will be treated as one. Are you done being difficult?" Dark anger smoldered behind his eyes and the leather of his gloves creaked as his hands curled into fists at his sides.

She shook her head, still backing towards the doorway. "I am not a spoiled child. I am making a point. If you want to see your precious piece of art, find out where she's been placed within your walls." And with that, she turned and left, dignified walk turning into a hurried step turning into a mad dash for her room.

The Sky Tides - A multifandom RPG

2008-05-22T04:26:28Z

It's an age of piracy like you've never seen it before.

On the floating continent of Reial, tensions run high as two opposing countries stand on the verge of war. To the west, there's Vohemar, a land that supports so few laws that it's made a nation of cutthroats and scoundrels. To the east, there's Ivona, a refined country that remains a leader in production and technology, yet the corruption here reaches deeper than most can imagine. Some choose not to pick a side at all, and either help or hinder either side depending on their whims.

Choose a ship, declare your loyalty, and fight alongside your crew to make your dreams a reality.

theskytides: A multifandom AU game focused around airships, with a steampunk setting. Completely remade from its previous version. Apply now and join us for the game's start on June 4th!

Game Information

GETTING STARTED
Rules ¤ Taken/Wanted ¤ Reservations ¤ Application

FACTIONS & SHIPS
Faction Information ¤ Ship Crew List

INFORMATION
FAQ ¤ Geography ¤ Glossary

CONTACT
Friends Add ¤ Pimping Code ¤ Hiatus/Mod Contact Post

Greetings

2008-03-25T01:26:00Z

Hey everyone! I've been a Last Exile fan for several years now and just recently watched it for the fourth time. It gets better each time I watch it, mostly because I understand a lot I didn't at first because I'm dumb. :D
Anyway here goes:

Favorite Character: Mullin! I love watching his journey over the whole series. Plus he's just great. :)
Least Favorite Character: Delphine *cancerous rays of hate directed at her body* Sorry to all you D-fans :)
Favorite Song: Cloud Age Symphony, but the Silvana theme often makes me cry for some reason.
Favorite Ship or Location: Urbanus :D Go Vince!
Favorite Voice Actor: Crispin Freeman (Alex)
Least Favorite Voice Actor: Alvus (errrrgh shoot me now!!)
Subs or Dubs?: I haven't managed to watch it in Japanese yet. Yes, I fail. But the dubs aren't painful to my ears, which is more than i can say for many dubbed animes.
Other Comments/Favorite Aspects: I LOOOVE the music....it usually makes me cry. Other favorite characters are Dio, Alex, and Vincent
Other Favorite Anime/Mangas: Animes: Bleach and Fullmetal Alchemist (really not an anime fan) Mangas: Tsubasa, Bleach, Death Note, Fruits Basket, Fullmetal Alchemist

Five Things Alvis Saw But Never Understood - PG

2008-03-01T20:33:14Z

Title: Five Things Alvis Saw But Never Understood
Pairing(s): Tatiana/Alister, Alex/Sophia, Dio/Luciola, Mullin/Dunya, Claus/Lavie
Rating: PG
Summary: Alvis Hamilton discovers that there are some questions that forever go unasked.
Notes: Cross-posted in 5drabbles (the prompts are from there as well) and various other places. Unbeta-ed, but that's alright. :) These are all drabbles, by the way. All feedback will be *greatly* appreciated! ^^

Al was in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was not meant to hear it.

Last Exile Disc 5 Screencaps

2008-02-25T02:28:27Z

Hello All:

I'm new to the community and a Last Exile Junkie. I recently picked up the 7 disc art cover boxed set at my local FYE for only $45. I was psyched!

Anyway, I was just screencapping disc 5 to use as a screensaver on my computer and figured I would upload the caps for the community.

Here's the link to the photobucket album with the screencaps. Please do not hotlink, but help yourself to the caps! I'll keep the folder open for as long as I can (until the bandwidth runs out).

Enjoy!

Looking for a beta!

2008-02-24T19:49:12Z

Or two. :3 I'm getting close to finishing the first chapter of my Alex/Sophia AU fic. It's sort of based off of Beauty and the Beast and is quite fun, I think!

So I'd like to get an LE fan or two to proofread it once I'm done. Your job would just be to read it over, give feedback, and if you'd like, suggest edits. :3

It's not smutty, nor particularly romantic in this section.

overthesky @ 2008-02-09T20:05:00

2008-02-10T04:06:41Z

Hi guys. I'm selling all of my Last Exile books on eBay. This includes every Spheres book and the official show guide thingie. Everything is in Japanese.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300197740177
The books are not in collectable condition so here's a chance for someone who perhaps otherwise can't afford the books to get their hands on them :D
Many details are in the auction itself. Feel free to ask questions if you're wondering about something which wasn't covered there.

Please note I will not ship the books outside of the United States because they weigh a lot.

overthesky @ 2008-01-27T15:27:00

2008-01-27T20:36:31Z

Hi! Just some Last Exile fanart for Alex Row.

Click me!

Lineart by Dorian-D.

Any comments are appreciated!

overthesky @ 2008-01-09T10:43:00

2008-01-09T15:54:45Z

So I finished watching Last Exile. Of course I've watched it beginning to end many times before, but it always seems new to me every year that I watch it. (Mostly because I forget what happens!) Anyway, spoilers if you haven't reached the end yet.

Every time I watch it though, it never fails. I totally burn out on the last episode. Dio, who is my favorite character, dies* almost immediately into the episode. And while I'm saddened about Alex dying and Claus and Lavi finding their dad's vanships... I just can't bring myself to care that much.

What impact did Dio's death really have on the story? Once he dies, he's never brought up again except for that little "ascending!" scene. What impact did Dio himself have on the story? He shows that not all guilders are bad, sure.. and he shows how removed he is from the reality of the ground-dwellers. But other than that, what was his point? Claus and Alvis made a big deal about being his friend, but in the end they didn't come through for him. And they didn't even seem to care all that much that he died. At the time they were occupied with other things, but couldn't they have had a memorial for Dio at the end or something?

I don't know, it's always bugged me that he died and no one even cared. And that's why I can't enjoy the ending very much.

*Yeah, I know about that thing in the DVD that implies Dio isn't dead. But that isn't really canon, is it? It's just art. If you watched Last Exile on TV, for instance, you never would have seen that art and you would have no reason to believe that Dio lived.

RP Booty Call!

2008-01-05T04:25:23Z

I'm not sure how many people I'll flush out of the woodworks with this, but I'll give it a go! It worked pretty well in the Phoenix Wright fandom I'm in (though another person did this, not me), so~

Anybody up for Last Exile-based RP?

I prefer to play Sophia, but I can probably handle pretty much anybody. If you're up for romance (or smut XD), preferred pairings are Alex/Sophia and Vincent/Sophia, but ask and I might say yes!. Pre-series, during, or post, doesn't matter. Hell, even Alternate Universe RPs are cool! I mean, wouldn't you want to see the characters at college or something? Maybe fighting demons ala Buffy the Vampire Slayer?

I can do non-romance, of course (though I do loves me some drama, and some smut). I don't really like group RPs, but I'll give stuff a shot~

Hopefully, even if you're not interested in RPing with me, you'll find somebody else in the comments who you are!

So, if you're at all interested in LE RP, whether it be with me or with whoever, leave a comment!

(If you want to contact me - ElegantExecution on AIM, any other messengers just ask)

overthesky @ 2008-01-01T11:15:00

2008-01-01T16:20:43Z

I just watched Castling Lucciola last night and I noticed something that confused me. It had never registered before last night.

Why did the two guild servants (one who asked "Where did you take Dio?" and the other asked "will you fight Cicada?") arm Lucciola? They handed him that bladed staff. And it's not like he tried to hide what he was going to do, he answered that he would fight Cicada if he turned against Dio.

Maybe it's just me, but I would think that Delphine would order her servants to try and capture Lucciola. The ones that were guarding Delphine attacked him and he defeated them all, so why didn't those two attack or at least not give him a weapon?

Selling doujinshi!

2007-12-29T15:07:49Z

Hello. =) I'm having a massive doujinshi sale (around 90 books, mostly yaoi/shounen ai).
Among them, there are FIVE Last Exile doujinshi.

Sample pics:

All cover pics, details and info this way! (scroll down a bit)

Thanks for looking!

Fanfic (Dio-centric, too!)

2007-12-26T17:51:49Z

TITLE: Kiss My Eyes and Lay Me To Sleep
RATING: PG
CHAPTERS/ONE SHOT: One-Shot
GENRE: Angst
PAIRING/S: Dio/Luciola
SUMMARY: Many people have lost their lives to enter the Grand Stream. No one bothered telling them the winds can drive a man mad - even if he's already crazy.
SPOILERS: For the end of the series.
NOTES: My first Last Exile fic. Includes character death and angst. Title inspired by AFI's "Prelude 12/21". Beta'd by darklove_zorg. Also, merry past x-mas! :3

fake cut to my journal

First Post

2007-12-23T14:25:01Z

Hi i'm new here, I just managed to get hold of Geneons out of print Range Murata thinpack boxed set, something i've been wanting for 2 or three years now (although by the looks of it i should have waited and bought the deluxe edition O__O) and it's re-invigorated my love for this series even if i think Alex is a steampunk Captain Harlock XD

Here my first info:

favorite character Alex Row, Dunya Sheer
least favorite character None really
favorite song cloud age symphony
favorite ship or location Claus and Lavi's vanship or The Urbanus for all those dials in the control room XD
favorite voice actor not sure
least favorite voice actor i don't think i have one.
subs or dubs? I generally watch the dub first; but that doesn't mean it more or less than the sub
other comments/favorite aspects probably the best steampunk show i've ever seen; i love steampunk
favorite pairing/slash ?
other favorite anime/mangas anime: Kino's Journey, Mushishi, Captain Harlock, Hellsing OVA, Genshiken, Seirei no Moribito, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei, Baccano!, Moyashimon, Requiem from the Darkness, Ruruouni Kenshin, Lain, Black Lagoon, Lupin III. Manga: Blade of the Immortal, Vagabond, Battle Angel Alita, Berserk, Genshiken, Yotsubato!, Storm Riders, Hellsing

On a side note i was thinking of doing an Alex cosplay at some point i was wondering if anyone had some high res scans of his belt buckle/shield broach? I do have some scans (mainly from Spheres and Aerial Log) do i can't make out the details very well :(

overthesky @ 2007-12-20T00:03:00

2007-12-20T05:07:38Z

Sorry, but I have to rant about something! (Spoilers)

Every year I watch Last Exile in December. I love the series and it's become sort of a tradition for me. But every year, I dread getting to episode 13: Isolated Pawn.

I vividly remember the first time I watched that episode way back in 03. The episode was so boring, and it seemed to go on forever! It didn't seem like a half hour, it seemed like two hours. Today was the day that I got to that episode and it still feels a lot longer than it usually is. I know I probably shouldn't watch it because I dislike it so much, but every year I forget if something actually important happens in that episode, so I force myself to watch it. x_x

What's with the style of the episode? It's so different than the rest of the series, and not in a good way. Plus it's repetitive: Tatiana keeps repeating the letter to her parents over and over.

Sorry if you like the episode, it's just that it's been bugging me for a while, so I had to get it off my chest.

overthesky @ 2007-12-11T21:39:00

2007-12-12T05:39:07Z

So a day late and a dollar short (and don't even get me STARTED on that), but I now have pics! I apologize for the blurriness, my hands are not steady at the best of times.

LAST EXILE DVD-BOX Deluxe Edition

First-press poster
Full set contents

The closed box (Covered in metal foil, not shiny paper. The obi is plastic.)
The open box
The outside of the digipak: 1 2 3
Inside of digipak
LAST EXILE Chronicle & the mini-novel
Chronicle inside: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Tatiana's Vanship: Box 1 2 3
w/ the GSC Claus & Lavie Vanship: 1 2

Range Murata Illustration cards (the backs contained b&w sketches but I was too lazy to take more pics):
1
2
3
4
5

Teaser pic

2007-12-08T16:44:59Z

I recieved the uber deluxe version of the new Japanese Last Exile box set yesterday. Pics will be forthcoming, but here's a small teaser in the form of a photo of the first press bonus poster (pic yanked off Y!J):

Random Alvis and Euris questions

2007-11-13T04:40:08Z

Was wondering... if Alvis a Guilder? I gather that she is the descendant of a Guild noble house, but was she born/raised within the Guild? I would think not since it was vaguely implied that her grandfather fled the Guild and Alvis doesn't seem familiar with the people of the Guild... But she was confused by Lavie's toy cow, which leads me to think that Alvis was not exposed to the material culture of the land dwellers either... So, does her past get mentioned anywhere?

And to switch topics: Is Euris the daughter of the Prime Minister?

Selling some Spheres artbooks and other items.

2007-10-14T23:37:39Z

I'm selling some of the 'Spheres' doujinshi by Range Murata, along with 2 wallscrolls and the Last Exile OSTs 1 and 2. I'm selling these artbooks for way less than I paid for them; if you are a big fan please have a look. :)

Click here for pictures. Scroll past the Death Note items.

overthesky @ 2007-07-04T16:08:00

2007-07-04T16:14:50Z

I'm new to this community so I thought I would write somethings really quick about myself:

Favorite Character[s]: Dio, Luciola, and Vincent
Least Favorite Character: I love them all!
Favorite Song: Cloud Age Symphony
Favorite Ship[s] or Location[s]: Silvana and all of the Guild ships
Subs or Dubs: I prefer Dubs as long as they are good

overthesky @ 2007-06-09T13:37:00

2007-06-09T17:52:25Z

Watched the series from end to end, then had to watch it all again :-) Newbie I may be, but thanks to a b/f who knows good anime I got the treat of seeing one of the best ever done. It rings especially true when one's father is a pilot. Aircraft of all kinds were such a part of my childhood that I couldn't help but get giddy during the flight sequences and dogfights.

That aside, I also write slash on the side, and I couldn't let go of notions surrounding Dio/Claus until I vented them with a fic. It is adult-rated, so be warned in advance, but if that kind of thing doesn't offend you, by all means take a peek and leave a review if you can :-)

http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=15247

Favorite male character : I'm a fighter pilot's kid, it has to be Claus

Favorite female character : Tatiana...so much hidden depth.

Favorite anime/mangas : Cowboy Bebop, Blood Plus, Yami No Matsuei, Gravitation

Peace to all, Samayel

Ultimate Anime Showdown

2007-06-04T03:36:23Z

Come cast your vote at anime_showdown.
With a new battle every week, the carnage is just piling up.

just keep on flying

2007-05-27T04:40:30Z

hey folks! newbie here. yes, i'm sadly late to the last exile fandom. i watched gankutsuou last year and loved it, and when i discovered that last exile was by the same studio, i decided i had to give it a try... and i'm way glad i did! i actually found the murata range complete set edition (yes, the one with all the BEAUTIFUL artwork on the covers... i've been trying to find scans of all the covers online, but i can only find the first and last ones... if i can't find them, maybe i'll scan them myself eventually) at FYE for only $50, so i've been watching it (with my whole family, actually) over the past few weeks and falling even more in love every step of the way. it's truly an amazing series, and i wish i had known about it during the height of the fandom.

at least i still have this little fandom indulgence. :)
although i'm terrible at picking favourites...

favorite character i'm gonna go with mullin shetland. everytime he came onscreen i inevitably smiled.
least favorite character delphine, hands down. the woman creeps me out!
favorite song cloud age symphony, naturally. i wish shuntaro okino had a full album i could get my hands on... because i really love him.
favorite ship or location the silvana. that's where all the good stuff happens!
favorite voice actor shinichirô miki. i'm a hardcore urahara fan... plus, he just makes mullin so dern lovable!
least favorite voice actor i don't think i have one. it was hard for me to get used to hearing mayumi asano as claus, because i had just finished rewatching wolf's rain before i watched last exile and i was so used to hearing her as blue. but after a while i came to love her as claus as well. just goes to show how talented (and versatile) she is!
subs or dubs? sub, definitely. we tried watching the dub (mainly because i was having trouble with claus's girl-ish voice), but we couldn't sit through it without laughing... i may rewatch the show with the dub sometime, though.
other comments/favorite aspects everything about it was just beautiful. it was confusing, at times, but that just made me more interested... and when i finally figured things out it was all the more rewarding. the animation is gorgeous, the characters are to die for... truly a masterpiece. also, this anime was able to bring my family together; i have some siblings who are typically lukewarm toward anime, but i was actually able to get them to watch this one!
favorite pairing/slash i found mullin/dunya quite adorable, and i also like claus/lavie, not necessarily romantically (though that would be adorable too) but just their history and camaraderie. i also almost cried during the dio/luciola flashback episode...
on a related note, my younger sister decided she wanted to rename this anime "everybody loves claus." i'd say that's a rather fitting title...
other favorite anime/mangas anime: samurai champloo, ouran high school host club, bleach, cowboy bebop, wolf's rain, honey and clover, gankutsuou. manga: the wallflower, ouran.

also (as if i haven't babbled enough) i have a spoilery question:

when my family and i finished the series, after our initial joy at discovering that mullin was alive, we remembered how depressing dio's death was and proceeded to fall into a funk. then we started looking at the dvd covers and my sister's boyfriend realized that, on the cover of the last dvd, there is a guild-costumed figure approaching the gang and probably causing their excited/surprised expressions:

could it possibly be... DIO?

i am telling myself that it is.

ok, i'm done now.

Exile fluff.

2007-04-13T06:58:59Z

Omg I forgot about this.......XD anyways fanfiction.net is being a bitch atm so i can't upload my new ficcy x.x so I'mma post it here for now.

Restless

Fandom: Last Exile
Pairing Tatiana/Alistia
Rating: PG

http://chobo-chan.livejournal.com/4269.html

overthesky @ 2007-04-04T19:05:00

2007-04-04T23:14:21Z

Some icons!

Xenosaga (68)
Last Exile (18)
Gundam SEED (80)

Click click.