#marcille

An idea of a post-canon Izutsumi and Marcille (not so) epic long journey in order to find a way to break her curse, if it doesn’t happen in the story.

“You can’t wear boys clothes if your a girl!”

To be honest, I think the intersection of her mixed heritage, being raised among humans, and how the fetishization of elves in some communities combine to give rise to her thoughts on gender expression

Dungeon Meshi

I did this challenge, was so fun

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Marcille from Dungeon Meshi

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Dungeon Meshi - Chapter 84 COVER

I drew Marcille!

Marcille has a hard time sleeping without Farlyn, but its nice to know she’s not alone. 

Read it on ao3

Marcille used to look forward to when “night” would fall in the dungeon and the Thorden party would set up camp. It had meant long hours of sitting next to the fire with Farlyn and laughing about old school stories. Their shoulders would bump together as Marcille watched Farlyn’s hands practically act out whatever she was talking about at the moment. Whatever misgivings were still present about coming to this dungeon, they vanished whenever Marcille was able to spend just a small moment with her oldest friend.

               And now Farlyn was gone.

               With the youngest Thorden’s sudden and violent disappearance from the party came Marcille’s appreciation for the dungeon’s morning. Chatter and noise amongst the remaining party members was easy to fall into and easy to become distracted; and she found herself actually getting involved in Laius and Chilchack’s many arguments.

               “I’m telling you,” Chilchack has snarled during that morning’s trek, “you can’t milk a minotaur.”

               “I think I could.” Laius murmured.

               Before Chilchack could respond, Marcille fit herself in between the two boys and smirked at Laius. “You could but the only minotaurs seen in the dungeon have all been males. You know what you’re doing if you milk a male minotaur?”  

               Chilchack recoiled from her. “Jesus Marcille, leave the dirty jokes to me please.”

               Laius frowned. “I don’t get it.”

               At that point, Senshi piped up. “Minotaurs don’t produce milk but their meat’s good. If we ever find one, I can prepare a nice dinner for you three.”

               Marcille and Chilchack had quickly changed the subject to something non monster related before Laius had a chance to respond. That was how the days progressed: arguments and jokes, monster fights and regretful food choices.

               Forgetting Farlyn.

               Forget forget forget.  

               Then the nights came and Marcille could no longer forget.

               Out of habit she always found herself huddled up near the dying embers of the fire; watching the last flames struggle to stay above the blackened wood as her friends slumbered nearby. When Farlyn had been with them the night’s silence had been soft and comfortable. Now it was oppressive. Cold.

               Marcille hated it.

               She struggled to pinpoint any slight sound in the darkness, anything to concentrate on. Nothing. Complete silence. Not a single-

               Wait. Silence? Farlyn had always been a heavy sleeper and, judging from that time Sureau dropped a full pot of water onto Laius’ head, so was her brother. In fact, both siblings were also avid snorers. They could shake the dead awake with all the noise they made. So why-oh.

               Marcille sat up in her bedroll. She squinted at the dim form of Laius’ sleeping back.

               She squinted harder and grabbed her shoe. Taking aim, she let it fly and watched it bounce off Laius’ shoulder. The defunct soldier shot up in his bedroll.

               He stared at where his friend’s shoe had landed. “Did you…throw your shoe at me?”

               She propped her chin in the palm of her hand and grinned. “I think that’s the fastest I’ve ever seen you get up, Laius.”

               Laius didn’t reply, instead he plucked her thrown shoe back up from the floor and stood. He walked slowly in the dim light as he took care not to knock any of their bags or possessions over. It took Laius a good 30 seconds to make his way from one side of the party’s very small camp to the other side of their party’s very small camp. Marcille gladly took her shoe back and gave her friend a cheeky little smile in return.

               “Chivalrous of you.”

               “And it wasn’t very chivalrous of you to throw it at me.”

               Marcille scoffed and dropped her shoe back to the floor. “I’m a lady, I don’t have to be chivalrous.”

               The corner of Laius’ eyes crinkled as he squinted at her. “That seems a bit twisted.”

               He plopped down next to her with a soft grunt. He glanced around for the stick they had used last night to stoke the flames. When he couldn’t fine it, he reached for Marcille’s staff.

               Marcille snatched it away. “Absolutely not!”

               “It’s too dark in here. I don’t have dark vision like you and Chilchack and-.” Laius’ argument tapered off when Marcille gave him a murderous look. He pulled his hands closer to himself, almost shamefully. “Nevermind.”

               With Marcille’s staff placed further away from Laius’, they fell into a somewhat comfortable silence. It wasn’t quite the same as when Farlyn had stayed up with her, but it was nice having someone nearby; and if Marcille tried hard enough she could pretend Laius was his sister instead. That ended when the knight spoke up again.

               “I thought Senshi said this part of the dungeon was almost entirely secluded. We don’t need someone keeping watch tonight.” The way he broached the subject was almost timid, carefully stepping into a conversation Marcille really did not want to have.

               Especially with Laius.

               Sometimes during the more quiet hours within the party, When Laius was too tired to hide it, Marcille could see the same sadness she felt reflected in his eyes. Farlyn’s departure had left them all reeling; had left them confused and angry and-especially for Marcille and Laius-lost. Senshi was saved from these jagged feelings by the small mercy of meeting them after the fight with the red dragon.

               Marcille both envied and pitied him.

               Now Laius was staring at her and he wasn’t trying to hide the pained expression. “Why are you still awake, Marcille?”

               She stared back. “Same reason as you.”

               Laius turned back to the dying flames with his brow furrowed. He chewed his bottom lip, fingers drumming a nervous rhythm on the stone floor. It was putting Marcille on edge just watching him. But before she could ask him to stop, there was a long suffering sigh coming from the fire’s right side. Chilchack shifted in his bedroll and propped his head up with his arm.

               His lip curled slightly. “You guys are really starting to bum me out.”

               “Oh, you’re awake.” Laius peered at him curiously. “Are you also sad about Farlyn?”

               “No.” Chilchack pushed his thin blanket back. “You two woke me up because of all your prattling.”

               “We were not prattling.” Marcille snapped.

               “Yes you were.”

               “No we were not!” Marcille sniffed and crossed her arms. “We were just having a late night get together and I don’t remember inviting you into the conversation.”

               Chilchack yanked his bag closer and began to rustle through it. “Well I’m up now and I’m involved so there’s not much you can do about that.” He finally tugged out a flask and threw some of the contents onto the fire.

               The fire surged up bright and blinding and Marcille had to cover her eyes. She heard Laius squawk next to her as the sudden light flare. When she dropped her hands again, Chilchack was smirking at them.

               She bristled. “You could’ve warned us.”

               “I could’ve.” He grinned, then handed her the flask. “Drink up, sad sacks.”

               Whatever Chilchack had put in his flask-it did not taste much like alcohol. It tasted horrendous and Marcille gagged.

               “What the hell is this?”  

               Chilchack grinned again. “Ethanol.”

               “You’re kidding me.”

               “Nope.”

               Beside her, Laius took a sip. “Tastes fine to me.”

               Chilchack leaned across Marcille and snatched the flask back. “Of course it does, you huge freak.”

               Laius frowned at him. “Hey, you’re the one who brought it.”

               “Your point being?” Chilchack asked. He took a large swig before scooting closer to his teammates. He gave Marcille’s side a sharp prod. “Scoot over.”

               She swatted his hand away. “Don’t jab me, you ass!”

               He jabbed her again. “Then scoot.”

               Marcille pointed a finger at his face. “How about I jab you in the face you little-“

               “Guys,” Laius interrupted. “Stop fighting. Chilchack, I made some space.”

               Chilchack gave Marcille an insufferable smirk and wiggled into the small gap between them. He handed Laius the flask. “Nice job, you almost made it me-sized.”  

                Laius stared down at the alcohol he was given. “Are you sure this is safe to drink more of?”

               “C’mon big guy,” Chilchack cooed with a small pat to Laius’ arm. “You’ve got a hard life. Stuck in a dungeon, sleeping on the floor, Marcille throwing shoes at you-“
               “Wait a minute.” Marcille tilted her head and peered down at Chilchack. “I thought you said we woke you up, how did you know I threw my shoe at Laius?”

               Chilchack shrugged his shoulders. “I may have been somewhat awake. Nothing to do with why you two are up.”

               Marcille cocked a brow. “Really?”

               “Honest to god truth.” Chilchack crossed his heart and then grabbed the flask back from Laius’ hands.

               When he took another large swig without a seconds thought, Marcille cringed. “That’s disgusting.”

               “God you two are such big babies.” Chilchack huffed and waved the ethanol under her nose. “Just drink it. It won’t kill you.”

               “Yes, actually, it will.”

               “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

               “It is.”

               “To you, maybe.”

               “Guys…” Laius said weakly.

               It was easy to fall back into the light party banter and Marcille felt some of the tension she had been carrying with her lift. She missed Farlyn. Missed her so much it hurt.

               But it was nice knowing she wasn’t alone.

___

               Ten years living in the dungeon gave Senshi a pretty damn good internal clock. The moment the dungeon switched from “night” to “day” and the torches lining the wall flared up-Senshi was already up. He was already going through what ingredients they had in his pack and what kind of breakfast he could whip up for his party. He gave his beard a light tug as he mulled it over. Eggs…did he have eggs…? There was still some vegetables left over from the golem gardens and bread from the orcs. Maybe something quick and easy then. Maybe-

               Oh.

               That was new.

               At the far end of the fire Marcille, Laius, and Chilchack were curled up together; all still deep asleep. Senshi went back to twisting as his beard, now considering if he should try and wake them up yet.

               No. They needed their sleep.

               Senshi had not known Farlyn but from only hearing about her, he knew she was special. When someone like that left your life, they tended to leave deep scars; and he could see those scars present on all three of his friends. He had never met Farlyn but he ached for the way his friends mourned her.

               Untangling his fingers from his beard, Senshi stooped to grab his blanket and carry it over to where Marcille, Laius, and Chilchack slept. With one sharp snap of his wrist, he had the blanket covering them. Then, he turned back to consult his pack; perhaps he would make them a special breakfast today. They certainly needed it.