#because she's practically the only one we see with some semblance of neat hair

[gierosajie-art]

She's just built different

#genshin impact #fanart #venti #nameless bard #amos #genshin impact gunhildr #genshin impact sir ragnvindr #the art drawer #gierosajie #like Idk the trailer got me thinking #because she's practically the only one we see with some semblance of neat hair

[junicai]

drop offs.

| summary | During filming ‘Highway To Heaven’, there is a small altercation between the heel of Aria’s boot, a loose rock, and the edge of a cliff.

| word count | 3.2k

| warnings | near death experiences (only sort of), swearing

| era | circa. 2019

20. “Put your arm around my - or just fall on me, that works too.”

58. “Don’t tell me to calm down!”

The hot desert air blew roughly against the thin cotton of Aria’s shirt - fluttering the material and tugging it against the single button that was holding the fabric closed. The atmosphere was dry and dusty, hence the steadily growing pile of empty water bottles that was building up in the back seat of one of the staff vans that had driven the members to their filming location in the Mojave Desert.

Fanning herself, Aria knelt down to pull on the zipper of her boot, checking that it was still properly closed. Black heeled boots were, realistically, not the most suitable footwear for traversing the desert terrain, but the extra inches of height put her closer to Taeil in stature so she wasn’t going to complain.

However, the last thing she needed to happen was to stumble over a rock and twist her ankle in the middle of filming.

In an ideal world, she’d have perfect balance, even when teetering around on the four-inch, wide-based heel, (or just be four inches taller naturally), but with the wind as a major factor; Aria was stuck playing a balancing act with her body.

They’d been filming for the best part of the day, having arrived in the early morning to scout out the final locations and prep some of the equipment. The journey up in the van was tedious, and over two hours long, but Aria had made herself comfortable on Donghyuck’s shoulder twenty minutes after leaving their hotel, and promptly crashed out a few minutes after that.

Johnny had been the one to gently shake her shoulder, trying to wake her up without startling her while Donghyuck was attempting - and failing - to wriggle his way out from underneath her without jostling her too much. She’d crawled out of the car with a red mark imprinted on her cheek, that she rubbed at harshly when it was pointed out with a giggle by Jungwoo.

The crew had covered the solo shots first - using the time in between each shot to touch up make-up and hair, or in some of the members’ cases, explore the desert and chase unsuspecting lizards through the undergrowth.

Aria had squeaked when a flash of muddy green had darted past her foot, jumping back an inch and then another foot when a sprinting Taeil brushed past in hot pursuit.

She turned back to look at Taeyong who was watching from afar with a huffy look on his face, throwing up his hands when Taeil finally stopped running and turned around defeated.

“Hyung! It keeps going towards you but you’re not catching it!” The leader complained, walking towards him.

Aria raised her eyebrows in disbelief, moving away from the duo that seemed dead set on bothering the unknown creature to stand beside Mark at the edge of the road. “What exactly are they chasing?”

“Lizards.”

“Lizards?”

He nodded.  

Humming softly, Aria shook her head and knelt down again to tug at the zipper on her boot. After a careful yank, she stood back up, having been satisfied that it was still tightly closed.

“Is that hurting you or something?” Mark questioned, looking over at her.

“Oh no,” Aria waved him off. “I don’t know, I’m just paranoid that it’s going to come undone. Bad feeling about it or whatever.” She shrugged. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“It’s not pinching you or anything? Because I’m pretty sure there’s band-aids in the back, I can grab you one if you need it?” Mark pressed on.

“No I’m alright. If it bothers me later on, I’ll get one myself okay?”

Mark frowned, still not satisfied.

Aria stood up on her tippy-toes to reach around Mark’s neck, swinging her arm around it. “Markie~ I’m okay! See?” She jumped lightly, hopping on one foot and then the other.

Conceding, he smiled at her, poking her stomach. “Race me.”

Aria hardly blinked. “You’re on.”

“I’m coming!” Donghyuck screamed from the other side of the road, pausing momentarily to check that there were no cars coming up on the otherwise deserted road, before crossing and moving to stand in between the other two maknaes. “Ready?”

“Always.”

“On your marks!”

“Get set!”

“Go!”

The trio set off at a run, dust flying up behind their shoes.

At an immediate disadvantage because of her designated footwear, Aria began to slow almost immediately, the other two boys racing ahead. She cupped her mouth in her hands, starting to call out to them to slow down, they were cheating, but was halted by another voice calling for her from across the other side of the road.

The race was halted as Aria was called for her own solo shots. She pouted at the boys, but claimed that because it was interrupted, then there could be no winner called, and they’d have to do it again later on.

Donghyuck and Mark readily agreed, and Aria left towards her specific filming location with a flutter of her fingers towards the pair.

Now, don’t get her wrong. Aria loved filming their music videos. Watching a creative idea and physical representation of their songs come to life firsthand was incredible, and the costuming, the hair design, the make-up, was all mind-blowing to her. Her hair roots were always crying at the end of a promotional period, but she genuinely thinks she’s never looked as good as she did with the soft, bubble-gum pink hair they’d bleached the strands to dye for this promotional set.

The bright lights and the group shots, dancing a new routine together for the first time in a professional setting that wasn’t the practice room - it was exhilarating.

What was not exhilarating, was the occasionally precarious filming locations that the directors decided fit the theme so well that it would be idiotic to pass up on.

That lead to situations like the current: Aria, Jaehyun, Doyoung, Johnny and Taeil all clustered together at the edge of a rather substantial cliff edge, leaning out over the ledge to see the camera that was filming them.

Aria had a firm grip on the back of Johnny’s shirt, trying to find a groove that she could wedge her heel into to prevent herself from falling should the rocks move from underneath her feet.

The ground was dry, and there was little to no purchase offered from the dust that coated the rolling pebbles. Additionally, the lack of grip on the bottom of her black boots wasn’t helpful, and Aria found herself scrabbling for even a semblance of grip.

“Aria!” A voice called out from the bottom of the cliff.

She leaned over to catch the eye of the cameraman. “We can’t see your face, you’re too far back. Can you shuffle forward a bit?”

Teeth pinching her bottom lip, Aria nodded hesitantly, sliding a hand up Jaehyun’s arm in a silent request for help as he was the one sitting closest to the edge of the cliff.

He took her hand in one of his own, the other moving to grab her elbow as she slowly stepped forward and out onto the front area of the protruding cliff. Here, Aria could feel the complete lack of substance beneath her feet, and although she knew it wasn’t true, it felt like the rock she was standing on was paper thin.

Her weight wobbled to-and-fro for a moment, and Jaehyun gripped her arm tightly.

“Careful.” He warned.

Aria let out a shaky exhale, peering down over the cliff edge. “Is this okay?” She called down.

A hum. “Maybe a little bit more? You’re slightly blocking Taeil at the moment. Just be careful, the rocks mightn’t be stable enough out there to support you, so go slowly.”

Aria didn’t think the rocks were stable enough to support her where she was standing currently, let alone another few inches out, but she began to tentatively step out regardless. Her hand clenched around Jaehyun’s.

Slowly, she moved out further, stepping out onto the edge of the cliff with one eye half closed, expecting the ground to shift but feeling nothing. Blinking in surprise, she then felt confident to transfer her entire weight forward, which was a mistake.

A small circular rock shifted beneath her heel, and Aria’s support crumpled out from beneath her.

She let out a shrill shriek, hands grasping at air behind her. She pushed herself against the falling ground, hoping for the cliff edge.

“Shit!” A strong hand tangled in the material of her shirt, pulling her back none-to-gently into a hard back, arms immediately coming to wrap around her waist and hold her there; steady.

Aria’s breath came in hard pants.

She was shaking rapidly, hands quaking as she tucked them underneath her own arms, eyes fixated on the ground where the rocks she had been stood on had crumbled. They had collected in a neat pile at the foot of the cliff - only a three metre or so drop, but substantial enough that one of the larger rocks had split into half, and the other rocks had cracks lining their sides.

God.

That was an awfully long way down.

Is that what she was standing over?

It was like she was removed from the situation. Aria was looking out over the cliff edge - but it wasn’t her viewpoint. Like a film camera, being watched on a small silver screen.

Where was the film crew?

Had they moved the equipment out of the way in the rocks in time?

Was there a camera buried beneath the pile of rocks?

“-ia, Aria- Riri!” A shout in her left ear, pulling her attention away from the swirling thoughts of oh god oh shit oh god oh s-

“Hey.” Jaehyun had spun her in his arms, dragging her eyes away from the cliff edge and catching her face in his hands, making her face him. “Hey. You’re okay. You’re okay, you’re safe. You’re okay.” His voice had a quiver to it, and his hands had yet to release their painfully tight grip on her arms.

She barely even registered it.

Aria’s voice broke out in a whimper, and as her eyes widened to slowly begin filling with tears, Jaehyun pulled her back into his chest, letting his hand come up to rub soothingly along her back. “It’s okay, you’re okay. I’ve got you baby, you’re okay.” He soothed.

Her heart was ricocheting around her chest like a boomerang.

At some point, she had sunk to her knees and Jaehyun had followed her down, having pulled her away from the edge of the cliff immediately. She knelt slightly, before sinking bodily into his arms, and Jaehyun continued to murmur comfort into her ear as she buried her face in the loose material of his white shirt.

Her head pounded like a rushing river, too many thoughts too make a lot of sense of any singular one. Behind her eyes, the image of the rocks kept flashing, the feeling of the ground collapsing from beneath her feet, falling, the wind rushing through her ears, falling, a hand grasping the back of her shirt but the grip slipping through loose fingertips, falling, falling falling.  

The pair stayed like that for a while - how long, Aria really wasn’t sure, she was more focused on trying to get herself to stop shaking like a caffeine addict going through withdrawals.

The rocks beneath her knees bit into the skin, but she welcomed the grounding feeling - a small bite of pain nipping through the overwhelming rush of emotions threatening to overtake her and swallow her whole.

Slowly though, her breath came back in measured breaths, calming from the harsh panting that was previously pulling at her lungs.

Taking stock of where she was, Aria began to register the other bodies around her. In the time it had taken for her to re-gather herself, Doyoung had settled behind her, hands hovering like he was afraid to startle her with a touch. Taeil was nowhere to be found, but upon a questioning look from Aria, Doyoung was quick to explain in a soft voice that he had followed Johnny down to get the back of the van set up for her - pulling out an ice-pack from the trailer and gathering the blankets from the other vans.

That had Aria moving to push herself to her feet, shaking her head. “No, no, I’m okay. We still have the group shots to film, I can do it. It’s fine.” She argued weakly.

Jaehyun pulled her back down into her lap with a firm grip. “No, it’s not fine. If it were fine, then you wouldn’t still be shaking like a goddamn leaf.”

Aria consciously clenched her muscles to stop the tremors running through her arms like shockwaves. “M’not.”

Doyoung sighed, raising a hand to run it over Aria’s mildly disheveled hair. It would have to be restyled later on, but the windswept look was something that they were aiming for, so he didn’t think it was too bad, all things considered.

“Baby, it’s okay to be scared after that. No one’s expecting you to do anything more today.”

“But it’s fine-”

“You could have died, Akari!” Jaehyun was shaking as well, something that Aria had just noticed. He dropped his head to rest on her shoulder. “You could have gotten seriously hurt. So please. Just, sit down in the van right now, okay?”

“Jae, calm down.”

“Don’t tell me to calm down, hyung!”

Aria took in a stuttered breath. “B-but I’m ok-ay-” Her voice cracked slightly, tremors returning full-force.

The two boys returned their focus to the girl in between them, exchanging a meaningful glance that meant nothing to Aria. Doyoung wrapped his arms around her as well, and soon she was caught in a hug between them, finally letting the tears pool up in her eyes.

“I-I’m o-kay,” She stuttered out, fists gripping someone’s shirt - she didn’t care too much who it was at the time.

“Yeah,” Doyoung pressed a kiss to the top of her head, tightening his arms briefly. “You’re okay, baby, you’re okay.”

It wasn’t until sometime after, once Aria had managed to pull back the tears and had calmed the shaking to some degree, that Jaehyun gave her a soft prompt to stand up. Her legs were like a newborn foal beneath her, knees shifting and she leant out to grip at Doyoung’s arm again as he moved away.

“Here, here.” Jaehyun pulled her towards him. “Put your arm around my - or just fall on me. That works too.” His concerned tone was undercut by a ribbon of teasing, although it did little to mask how reluctant he was to let go of the young girl, even for a moment.

“Shush.” Aria straightened up herself from where she had face planted into his chest again, her knees having betrayed her to gravity, but this time made no complaint when Jaehyun’s arm retook its spot around her waist.

Together, with the aid of Doyoung, Aria made her way down the dusty cliffside, moving over to the van with an open door, and some of the members waiting around it anxiously.

Yuta was the first to break away from the group, making his way over to hoist Aria into his arms - paying no mind to her stuttered exclaim of hey! His arms slipped beneath her knees, and he lifted her gently, taking the weight off of Jaehyun’s staggering frame.

Upon reaching the van, it was like telepathy. Yuta turned to let Jaehyun take the weight of Aria from his arms - he already knew that the younger boy was shook up, and wouldn’t be comfortable unless he was physically touching Aria in some shape or form for the next few hours - while Taeyong was patting Mark on the back and alerting him to Aria’s arrival.

Jaehyun slid in first, before Aria was placed gently onto the blankets, Mark piling in behind her and proceeding to wrap her in another hug. This time though, it wasn’t her that was shaking, and she could feel the soft quiver of Mark’s hands as they pulled loosely at the bottom of her shirt.

Together, the two boys replicated the hug that Jaehyun and Doyoung had wrapped her in a few minutes ago.

“M’okay.” She whispered.

“You almost weren’t.” Came his huffed response.

“But I am.”

Mark gave no reply.

“God-” Jaehyun choked out a laugh, running a hand though his hair. “Never - and I mean never - do that again.”

She looked down. “Sorry.”

“For what?” Mark’s head had snapped up from where he had buried it in her shoulder. “For causing a cliff-collapse? Because I’m pretty sure there’s someone who needs to apologize for that and it’s not you its the director.”

Aria winced. She had watched through the sliver of the car door that was still open as Taeyong had cast a cold look over to Yuta and Johnny, the three men exchanging a nod before moving away from the vehicle and over to where the staff were finishing up with Donghyuck’s solo shots. The second youngest member had been a few minutes walk away when it had all happened, so he hadn’t been privy to the theatrics of it all; something that Aria was ultimately grateful for.

She wasn’t sure if she’d have been able to breath ever again if Donghyuck had been one of the men wrapped around her right then.

Either way, the three men had made their way out of view of the car, and Aria didn’t envy anyone who was on the other end of their glares. Taeyong had looked pissed, and honestly Aria was growing too tired to care.

After the shaking had died down, it was like her muscles had atrophied in under a minute, and suddenly she was left weakened and with the want to curl up in a ball to sleep.

It seemed, however, that Jaehyun had already prepared for this, and was moving Mark and himself around to allow Aria to curl up comfortably in the back of the van - her head in his lap and her feet in Mark’s.

“M’sorry.” She whispered again, just about to fall off into sleep.

“You’re okay, baby. It’s not your fault. We’re all just happy you’re okay.” Jaehyun murmured, petting her hair lightly.

“Thank you,” Aria turned her head to breath the words into Jaehyun’s stomach, hand coming to squeeze his arm. “Thank you for catching me.” Her voice broke slightly.

“I’m not about to let you down on my watch. And that includes falling to a potential death.” The weak attempt at a joke brought a watery laugh from Aria’s lips nonetheless.

“Can I say I saw the highway to heaven now?”

A soft chuckle, and another pet through her hair. “Sure, baby.”

With Jaehyun’s hand running soothing circuits through her hair, and Mark having worked off her boots - tutting lightly at the red marks that they had left - Aria drifted.

head full of cliff edges and falling.

#*aria.writings #nct 24th member #nct #nct 127 #nct imagines #nct additional member #nct extra member #kpop addition #kpop additions #kpop!oc #kpop #nct female member #nct female member au #nct female oc #nct scenarios #nct reactions #nct dream #wayv #superm #nct addition #nct additions #this is a test i wanna see if this one will get supressed #tumblr literally bite me

[thebiasrekkers]

Doberman, PT 2 || KWS

Plot: Revenge is always sweet.

Rating: R 18+ // NSFW

Genre: modern day // mafia!au

Pairing: Kim Wonsik x Female OC (Kokia)

Warnings: Strong language, sex, violence, death

Links: FAQ || VIXX Masterlist || Admin L’s AO3 || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,564

AN: For Admin E! I wrote this a while back and now that we have a space for VIXX, I figured I would go ahead and post it! PART 1

© thebiasrekkers (Admin L). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

He reported back that she was dead. 

The boss smiled at his results and laughed, relief overflowing his features. The Hunter didn’t like the news but his neutral face betrayed nothing as he stood there and watched the man laugh like he had just conquered something. The history between the Wolf and the Boss had been spread all through the gang for years now. Even the newest person knew about them. So when it came about that she had betrayed him, they all knew that they couldn’t go against the Head. His anger was overflowing to the point that he was wrecking anyone that dared to approach him.

He had taken up so much of her so when she retaliated, Ravi had to marvel how hurt the Boss seemed. He saw that it was all chalked up to reputation and ego, bruised heavily by her. Personally, he saw it coming but he didn’t step in because she was the only one keeping the whole operation afloat. So when she was betrayed, he just sat back and watched. 

Honestly, he should have helped her then but she had done such a good job of shaking things up herself. And he knew that the proud Wolf didn’t want any help. 

So when she had the hit put out on her, Ravi nearly didn’t take it. Deep down, he didn’t want to harm her when it was completely justified but orders were orders. He took the time off to track her down, every little thing that he sniffed out like the Doberman he was. He was the Hunter, the dog of the Boss that always fixed things. He wasn’t going to give up until he had cornered her, which he did. 

Ravi had finally found her. Her wonderful dark skin, eyes narrowed as they honed in on him. She had sized him up and it sent a thrill through him that he never would have admitted to anyone but her. They threw themselves at each other and after several rounds, he had destroyed her. Over and over again, he topped her and fought with the Wolf until they were both spent. Their talents both at an even playing field until an opportunity had presented itself.

Now, he was paying for that choice. Ravi’s face fought to keep neutral as his Boss gloated over the loss. The loyal dog was now disgusted with himself as another, more compliant woman danced her way over to him. It was as if she had never existed and that made him want to bare his teeth even more. Loyalty was everything to him and to see it disregarded like that--he wanted to kill them both. The Doberman was no longer loyal to its master. The hand that fed him had disturbed him for the last time. 

But he had hoped that he could make things right, for the first fucking time.

He finally tore his eyes away from the sickening couple when the phone buzzed. Ravi stood stock still in his corner as he watched the Boss smash the button out of aggravation. 

“Boss, there’s someone to see you.”

“The fuck? I don’t have anyone here so tell them to get lost or die.”

His boss jerked his head after hanging up on the poor man and he walked over to the door. Ravi waited by the door to see who it was but instead, he heard a couple of gunshots. The sound alarmed the Boss as he stood up, the woman almost falling to the floor. He couldn’t help but grin as he opened the door, letting whomever in. His Wolf waltzed through, a gun in her hand and sporting the most beautiful dress he’d ever seen on her body. 

The color would have put the royal family to shame with how brilliant the purple was on her body. The dark color of her skin accentuated the color and hugged every part of her body that he lavished not too long ago. That night when he had finally cornered her and absolutely fucked her until they had both finally given up on energy. He could feel the heat on the back of his neck as he thought back to her naked body beneath him and the absolute horror of his boss when he realized who he let in.

That was a rush for him just as much as her walking in with that sinful dress. The man sputtered, skin splotchy with red as he tried to form angry words towards the both of them. The door clicked shut with a quiet sound, his hand gently closing the door after the entrance of his Wolf. After locking it, Ravi walked over to the desk and grabbed one of the cigars that the man had been smoking on. Clipping off the end near the neat gold end, he stuck the thing in his mouth and pulled out some long stick matches to light the thing with. Ravi then sat down on the desk, his dark eyes watching her walk up to him. 

“Kokia! He told me you were dead!” 

A smile broke out on her face slowly and growing to the point where her canines were showing. The smoke from the cigar wafted up as he took an inhale, eyes still trained on his former boss. Kokia reached him and pressed her body against his, lifting her hand up to take the cigar from his lips. Her other hand caressed his chest, reaching in to feel the warm skin that was underneath his black silk shirt. Her fingers played with the area where his tattoos were as they ghosted over the taut muscles. Goosebumps peppered his skin where she had been touching it but he knew that if he took his eyes off the disgusting man--then he would try something. 

“Oh, Wonsik…. You told him I was dead? Well, that’s not far off.” She put the cigar in her own mouth, dark red lipstick staining the end of the cigar like a promise. “Well, I am dead. Dead to you.”

Kokia let the smoke ease out of her mouth like tendrils and he never wanted to fuck her more than in that moment. He even had the mind of letting the pig watch as he took the beautiful woman, showing him how it was actually done. He stood up and wrapped an arm around her waist, roughly pulling her to his pelvis to show off how turned on he was at the moment. Her eyes got wide before understanding what he meant, a smirk of his own growing on his own face. 

“Leave before you die.” Kokia spat at the woman, who gathered her things and practically ran out of the door. Ravi reluctantly left the warm spot to lock the door again, making sure that they wouldn’t be disturbed. He heard two quick gunshots and the man yelling in pain. Turning around, he saw that Kokia had shot him in the knees--the man spilling out onto the floor from it. 

“You won’t survive after this! I’ll make sure of it!” Ravi crossed the space in what seemed like seconds to grab the man by the collar and throw him into a chair. He took his own tie and the other’s to secure him to that chair, not that he could walk very far regardless. “And you! If I die, the whole gang will come after you!”

“Shut the fuck up. I don’t work for you anymore and I’ll kill everyone else who decides that Kokia isn’t fit for your job.”

She sat there, perched on her new desk and watched him work as she smoked. He pulled at the man’s hair, yanking his head back as his legs bled before making him look directly at her. She stood up and stalked over, gun in hand before kneeling before the former boss. One hand slid up his thigh before grabbing the man by the balls. 

“This is what I think of your gang.” She put the gun directly on his crotch, moved her hand and shot. He howled in pain, trying to squirm away from her affections. “I’ll make this place my bitch and do it better than you. Oh wait… This isn’t news.”

She laughed as she stood up but the moment she did, Ravi pinned her body to his. He was unchained, unbound and willing to lay at her feet. Grinding himself on her, he bent down to whisper in her ear--a naughty thought that had been running rampant in his mind since she entered. 

“Let’s give him one last show, love.” Nipping at her earlobe, Ravi trailed kissed over her jaw and onto her neck. He sucked on that sweet spot there until there was a visible discoloration from where he left his lips. Her body responded to his as she pulled at him with the same ferocity that he came at her with. But the pout on her face is what stopped him, for the moment. 

“He doesn’t deserve to see my body any longer.”

Ravi immediately took the gun and cigar from her hands before popping the smoking thing in his mouth then popping a bullet into the man’s forehead. He then turned to her, placing his forehead on hers as he blew some of the smoke out downward like a dragon. She grabbed his face and threw the cigar away, hitting the corner before devouring his lips. Ravi growled in response as a hand dived into her front, grabbing one of her tits and massaging it in his large hand. The other hand hiked up her dress, exposing her long legs. She then removed his hand and jumped up into his arms as she attacked his mouth again. 

He held her up easily as he walked to the chair that was previously occupied by the dead man. Kokia, once Ravi had sat down in said chair, looped her legs through the arm rests to get a better position on top of his lap. He watched as she untied the back of her dress, letting her top half fall free of the constricting fabric. Her perky tits bounced only for him and he reached up to give them the attention that they deserve when she smacked his wandering hands away. Her mouth trailed down his neck to the exposed skin, unbuttoning several parts of the shirt. 

“No. You’re gonna sit here and take it.”

He nearly groaned at the sound of her husky voice, completely submissive for her in that moment. Ravi knew that she needed to get that out of her system, needed to have some semblance of control back so she could move on. And if she used him in the process? So be it and he would die a happy man. 

She made quick work of getting his belt off the black slacks he had on, wiggling around to expose what was underneath. A moan slipped out, the friction only making him harder but he obediently kept his hands to the side as she worked. The dress she had on was making it a bit hard to do what she wanted so he actually reached up and ripped the dress, allowing her more freedom to grind against his crotch. Kokia grabbed his face, anger in her eyes but he didn’t waver on that subject. 

“I’ll buy you a better dress but for now, please fuck me.” He almost whimpered to her. Her eyes softened at his low words and took him in her hands, stroking him almost agonizingly slow. Ravi knew that she was going to have her revenge for tearing the dress and he accepted it. He just craved the way she felt, the way that she pressed her body against his. The way that his own body carnally wanted her, in every way that he could think of. He would have been harder even faster had the windows actually had people looking, showing them what all she was doing to a killer like him. 

His beautiful killer.

Once she was satisfied with touching him, Kokia lifted herself up just enough to slide his member in all the way. She took him in slowly, every inch had him panting and eager for more. He tried to lift up his own hips but as powerful as they were, Kokia slammed her own hips down and ground him deeper than before. He gave out a cry, a soft keening sound as he threw his head back. He didn’t see the grin on her face before she did it again, working him up and down. Holding onto his shoulders, she bounced on him--the slickness making sounds in the now quiet room. Aside from their heavy breathing, nothing else could be heard since Kokia went on her rampage earlier. Everyone that would have had a problem with them, were now dead and he was so fucking close to losing his mind as she kept the brutal pace going. 

He couldn’t take it anymore, the proud and deadly killer started to beg. His deep voice took on a whine as he chanted for her to keep going. Harder, faster--Ravi moaned loudly as she moved, arms twitching with the determination of keeping them to the sides. He allowed her to bruise him, to touch him and to drive him so close to the edge that it nearly broke him. She brought him so close, then took it away to watch the absolute dejection on his face. Her skin had taken on a light sheen from the effort of chasing that high with him, one that he would gladly indulge in again if she wanted to . 

Finally, with a quick adjustment, he snapped and his arms wrapped themselves around her. He wanted that fucking friction, pounding up with his hips. He wouldn’t take that moment from her but he would help her along the way. Her own cries of pleasure mixed with his breathy moans as the chair kept bumping into the desk with each movement. Ravi finally grasped her hips and pulled them down so hard as he came up--he saw stars. The final movement had her grasping all around him, clinging to the hardness that was currently inside of her. It was over quickly for Kokia but Ravi had other plans. 

He kept rolling his hips, using her overstimulated clit as a buffer for his own chase. Even having his thumb join in to keep her pleasure going. He was so close to finishing inside of her that every little touch she provided was making his brain foggy. A kiss there, a nip and suck there. This time, it approached them both with a vengeance as it washed over them--his hips stuttering from the effort. 

They clung to each other, both gasping for breath to regulate themselves. Her head landed on his, gently knocking them together. Ravi chuckled, peppering her face with small and sweet kisses. 

“Are you ok, love?” He asked her, eyes shining only for her. She nodded, not wanting to say another word about it. He knew that she was hurting from what happened and needed a release but never saying anything to her unless she spoke first. He let her do things at her own pace and only stepped in when needed. He was her Guardian Devil and a dog he would be...

...For her. 

#kwordsmiths #smutcentralnet #btspocnet #kwritersworldnet #ksmutclub #vixx #kim wonshik #thebiasrekkers presents #vixx ravi #mafia!au #Admin L

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Forty-Eight: Dancing ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina, NaruSaku ] [ Verse: Healing Waters and Scorching Flames ] [ AO3 Link ]

Up until meeting the Avatar, the only dancing Hinata had ever done was the occasional traditional routine in the Southern Water Tribe’s various festivals. Of course, as she got older and the raids left them listless, such celebrations were cut short until they were nonexistent. And her time traveling with their ragtag group, attempting to save the world from the encroaching Fire Nation, left little time for play. Children though they were, the burden upon their shoulders had to take precedent. All too quickly, the lot of them were forced to grow up.

Which was...easier for some than for others.

Naruto, what with his element of air, was simply playful by nature. Even early on in their journey he insisted on taking time out of their way to pull pranks or visit places that had little to nothing to do with mastering the four elements. As exasperating as the rest of them found it at times...it was, admittedly, a silently welcome respite.

But the more time went on, and the shorter they learned their window grew, the less Naruto allowed himself to become distracted. No more side trips. No more breaks.

And then, with one final battle...it was over. Suddenly they weren’t just beacons of hope - they were true-to-life heroes. They - even if most of the credit was Naruto’s - had brought a war a century in the making to an end. The Fire Nation was defeated, the Fire Lord bested. Peace, at last, could resume.

But it wasn’t easy.

All of them had work to do. Lands living so long until the grip of the firebenders were suddenly free, and not all of them with stable means to regain their independence. That’s where Naruto and his role of Avatar came in, alongside his young but seasoned friends. While Sasuke’s inclusion had left some sticking up their noses, his experience was - admittedly - invaluable.

He’d been raised a prince, after all: embroiled in politics from a young age. Misguided, sure - brainwashed, most certainly. But that didn’t mean he didn’t learn, even with the bias that came with it.

So, it was mostly them as a pair that negotiated and led. Hinata’s main concern had been the freeing of imprisoned waterbenders, and their reintroduction to society and fresh air. The old woman that had shown her bloodbending had been warning enough: she had to be careful with those who had spent anywhere from months to years to lifetimes under firebender thumbs for the crime of being a waterbender.

But once things began to settle - once some semblance of normalcy returned - celebrations began to take place.

Everyone everywhere had something to sing and dance about. Even the Fire Nation - battered and wounded in pride as it was - needed to embrace change, and peace. Festivals of every banner began cropping up like flowers from beneath the ashes of a wildfire. And given their importance, the group was invited to as many as they could physically attend, if not more so!

Naruto reveled in them. At last he could let loose as his element was wont, and of course he never minded people praising him. Sakura had to keep an eye on him and bring him down whenever he floated a bit too high in any sense, but even her stubbornness was lessened in the wakes of the celebrations. All of them were hard pressed not to find relief in the gatherings.

Of course, Hinata had never been fond of crowds. Her village had been small, and her nature reserved. But one could still find her lingering around the edges, watching with happy, if not tired, eyes.

Another face she often found lurking was Sasuke’s. It was no secret his guilt at his actions - as well as treatment still received for it by some - made him...wary of such goings-on. He had no intention of his presence ruining the atmosphere and people’s fun. But there was still a longing on his face Hinata couldn’t help but feel sympathy for.

But it’s been years since then. Now the group of them are grown, with even more responsibility than they had before. Hinata is the upcoming matriarch of the Southern Tribe. Naruto still travels and attends to his duties, all while working on plans for a unified city in the heart of the nations. Kiba tends to the navy, Sakura helping train upcoming metalbenders. And Sasuke serves as right hand for his elder brother, the Fire Lord.

None have much time to spare. But with the tenth anniversary of their victory and peace upon them, there’s no excuse to miss it.

It’s held in Ba Sing Se, as best to meet in the middle of the lands. And all of their old troupe is in attendance. Greetings are had, comparisons of work loads made: all the expected banter of friends who’ve gone too long without seeing one another.

Hinata greets them all cordially, giving warm smiles and warmer hugs. Then there’s the obligatory banquet, including a heartfelt (and rather unscripted) speech by their Avatar. And it’s only once they’ve all had their fill that the main event begins.

Dancing.

It includes displays of regional dances: all brought together to celebrate the diversity of the lands, but also the balance and unity between them. Unlike as a child, Hinata isn’t part of the spectacle. Instead, she watches proudly as waterbenders of all ages go through long-standing, traditional movements: part dance, part bending.

All four lands have their routines, and then a final unified performance that gets wild applause from all in attendance. It’s then the floor is opened, and anyone is allowed to take part.

Watching, as always, Hinata is content in it for a time before spotting Naruto and Sasuke a short distance away. They seem to argue quietly before the blond gives up, abandoning his friend to instead have a dance with Sakura.

Observing the exchange and then glancing between the parted pair, Hinata finds the Fire Nation prince looking much as he used to: hanging around the edges and watching almost painfully.

...so she decides to intervene.

“Beautiful night, isn’t it?”

He jumps a bit, clearly not expecting - or noticing - her. “...it is.”

“Any inclination to join the fray?”

“...not really. I’d only be in the way.”

“Oh, I doubt that - surely you, as a prince, were taught to dance?”

That earns a glance. She takes his silence as a yes.

“Well, would you care to show me how? I bet it’s quite different than what I was taught.”

“I…” There’s a hesitation. “...I don’t want to interrupt.”

“Sasuke.” Hinata gives him a look. “You aren’t the corrupted prince anymore -” his flinch is ignored “- and you aren’t about to bring the party to a grinding halt just by dancing. I can see you want to - just go have a little fun!”

For a moment, it doesn’t look like he believes her - his gaze moves back out over the party.

“...just give it a try. If it goes poorly, we’ll stop. If not...we can keep going.” Her head tilts, trying to catch his eye. “...please?”

A soft sigh heaves through his nose. “...all right.” To her surprise, he offers a hand, which she takes, and leads her out into the throngs.

No one stops. No one stares. They’re all too busy with their own dancing. Sasuke seems to see as much, eyes flickering around before moving back to Hinata. “...why don’t we just start with the basics?”

“Sure.” She lets him guide her hands into position, unable to help a small smile at his flush as he takes her waist.

“Then, we just…” There’s a step, letting her mirror it before taking another. Eventually, they make a small loop of movement much like many others are doing. It’s nothing flashy like she’d expect from a nation of fire, but...it’s nice enough.

“How long has it been since you’ve done this…?”

He heaves a small sigh. “...a few years. Itachi’s held some gatherings in the capital, and...I was encouraged to attend. I didn’t feel so -” Realizing what he’s admitting, Sasuke quickly clams up.

“...I don’t blame you for fearing their reactions,” Hinata offers softly, still following his lead. “But things have changed. Especially you. You shouldn’t let that fear deprive you. Look at all you faced: a few glares and muttered curses surely can’t be any worse, can they…?”

“...you’d be surprised.”

It’s her turn to sigh. “...well, pay them no mind. We know who you really are, and all the good you’ve done. Yes, you still made mistakes,” she goes on, cutting off his predicted retort. “But those are behind you now. And from that day forward, we should all be looking forward. No more back. It’s like...dancing.” There’s a smile at his frown. “Even if you had a few stumbles...look at you now. And you can’t just stop dancing because you make mistakes. The only way to get better...is to keep practicing.”

He doesn’t reply, instead looking quietly thoughtful. Hinata doesn’t interrupt - instead, she leans a cheek against his chest...which immediately makes him stiffen as the gap between them shrinks to nothing.

“H...Hinata…”

“Hm?”

“...nevermind.”

Her lips lift just a hair, eyes closed.

She’s going to have to take time to dance more often.

     Late OTL      Some more AtLA crossovers - been a while since I've had a chance to use this verse. It's one of my favorites to do, in all honesty. It's just such a neat parallel to a lot of things in Naruto canon, but with enough different to keep it interesting!      Anyway, that's all I've got tonight. Though, just a heads up: things irl are very...unsteady lately, and may start shifting soon. And there MIGHT be a chance of my ability to post being interrupted. While it's not a for sure thing yet, just thought I'd warn you all now. Really hoping it doesn't come to that, but...well, life's been kinda hard in my household lately. I don't want to get too personal, but as it might affect my work here, thought it best to just be upfront. We'll see how things go. But until I can't anymore, I'll keep on posting!      Thanks so much for reading!

#uchiha sasuke #hyūga hinata #sasuhina #narusaku #healing waters and scorching flames [ au ] #365daysofsasuhina

[emalynde]

Dwin’orrel & the Dinner Date 13

((See the prior entry for any necessary context)).  Thalandril notices the slight smirk toying at the lips of the redheaded priestess.  He was not aware that he had been the target of a spell, but would probably not take well to that fact.  Emalynde had attempted to sway him so previously, and the response had been one of displeasure, to say the least  As his dining companion moves to smooth her gown into place, the blonde mimics the gesture, making sure everything lined up nice and proper.  Golden orbs glance upwards, catching the rolling of her eyes. "Do not be so upset that I do not give up as would an individual of a… lesser station."

The agent allowed a slight laugh at the comment regarding his handsome face, and the general populace’s inability to place it.  As Thalandril was about to reply, he stopped; pausing, he realized that the word 'love' had quite a bit more inflection in it, taking notice of the ever-so-brief slip.  Interesting.  Thalandril knew that it was normal for the courtesan to use pet names in such a manner, however, usually they were just that, and this seemed different somehow.  "There are still those who know me, and for them, I must keep up the reputation of a master of will!  Not easily swayed by the swaying of hips."  He allowed her fingers to brush his jawline, smirking in acceptance of her compliment.

A shocked expression flits across Thalandril’s face at the mere mention of an entire exhibition dedicated to such debauchery.  As confident as the rogue was, he was still at his core an introverted person--and the idea of being watched by paying customers did not appeal to him whatsoever.  Not unironically, he did indeed enjoy privacy more than the average elf.  The look was gone a moment later as the intelligence operative composed himself for a reply to the obviously teasing comment.  "I will keep that in mind when the end of the year budget rolls around; however, that sounds like a steep price for observation.  Our poor waiter might be unable to attend, and I couldn't have that," Thalandril teased back.  The blonde knew she would win this contest of pushing boundaries.  This was her job and what she did.  He was not the exhibitionist type, however, he did enjoy as much more than the stiff humans or the backwards dwarves even.

Thalandril bit hook, line, and sinker into her jibe, even knowing full well what she was attempting.  He couldn't let her out maneuver him like this.  "Pish posh, I am not too tired.  I was simply thinking of your health.  If you must know, my place is currently undergoing redecoration, and it is simply unfit for company" ((34 deceit))  The agent would attempt to move this rendezvous back to her place, knowing that he could indeed go for a good time this evening.  Regardless, he was not going to give in this easily.  Let their games begin. ***

Emalynde laughs appreciatively at the apt reference to her wiles.  "It only depends on whose hips, my dear."  She holds his gaze knowingly--if the rogue would allow--obviously indicating that her hips were those that he could make an exception for.  Not only because he might be in love with her, but that her reputation was also in play here.  If the intelligence operative was to yield to anyone's appeal--it would be most honorable to succumb to the redhead's.  She was, in fact, exceptional in her talents.  At the blonde's smirking acceptance of her compliment, a more genuine curl of her lips manifests--its edges laced with endearment and the slight semblance of adoration.

The freckled elf giggles bemusedly at the look of shock that crosses her lover's face.  She well knew Thalandril was not one for exhibitionism and her offer of group entertainment had been more to call him out on that notion than anything.  But his momentary discomfort tickled her so.  She grins fondly as the agent attempts to play off his reaction by mentioning the young waiter's inability to attend such an event.  Her affections stirred more than she would have liked at the display, having to resist the urge to rise from her seat and kiss the operative affectionately.  Or otherwise display her fondness for him.  What was wrong with her.  This whole Chelyse business couldn't have suddenly caused such endearment.  But she was familiar with the feeling, although trepidatious of its presence.    

"Then I have no need for your key, then," she immediately retorts, believing Thalandril, but putting him back on his heels.  A coy smirk hovers against the fiery-tressed elf's lips, ever-pleased with their games.  He wanted her to work for this, and yet HE was the one who wished for her to frequent his residence.  "Especially if I am the sort of company you cannot invite over without your home being in perfect repair."  Now that was a much lower blow, one aimed at the depth of their relationship.  The freckled elf positively simpers, continuing to work slowly at the meal placed before her.

*** A shower of mist beset the table, gentle as ever, as the rogue agent held Emalynde's golden gaze.  This was her specialty, making others feel this way.  Yet, he knew this to be different.  He knew that these feelings had been present, albeit dormant, and he was just unaware that he could allow them.  It was pleasant to be able to play their game back and forth, enjoying each other’s company.  This is all he had wanted.  Thalandril replies with a smirk and a gentle laugh, the sound filled with amusement and enjoyment.

"No need?  Well then, you forfeit the game already?"  Thalandril gave her a knowing look, hoping to goad her into continuing.  He moved his hands through his hair, pulling it back into a bun on the back of his head to get it out of his eyes, fingers moving deft and quick, as practiced a thousand times.  "We must wait for it to be in perfect repair.  That way you get the full enjoyment out of tweaking every little thing as you go through."  He jested, knowing she loved to toy with his neat-compelled nature, always moving things just slightly to get just a hint of irritation out of him.

*** The redhead's gaze narrows in reply to Thalandril's mention of forfeiture, her body language relaying that she took issue with surrendering so easily.  A huff solidifies that sentiment, the freckled elf acquiescing to the bait dangled before her.  Emalynde watches her companion tie back his hair absent-mindedly, not worrying with the fact that she was staring.  It was not as if she was ashamed in any way, nor was the rogue immune to such proclivities himself; the fiery-tressed elf had caught him observing her rather intently on more than one occasions.  It always gave the courtesan a sense of power and pride, that someone as lofty as Thalandril would be enamored with her--who she truly was.  Not the show she put on for others.  The thought softens her smirk, reaching out a hand to touch the operative in some manner--his hand, if it was on the table, or simply indicating that she wished to hold his own by extending hers.

A light laugh parts her lips as the blonde spoke of her penchant for little, rebellious acts against his OCD tendencies.  "Then I shall respectfully await your permission as to when company is permissible."  They finished their respective meals in relative silence, simply enjoying the other's presence.  It was comfortable and warm, the atmosphere between them, as if they did not need words to fill that space.  Eventually, the young man appears once more, peeking  'round the corner so as to ascertain if he needed to conduct himself inconspicuously.  Finding the pair perfectly normal, he straightens, slightly embarrassed that he had scouted the scene before approaching.  The courtier smiles beatifically nonetheless, thanking the youth for the removal of their mostly-finished plates.  Turning to appraise Thalandril, Emalynde arches a single brow inquisitively, "Do you wish for something sweet?"

*** He gives the fiery-tressed elf an acknowledging glance followed by a wink, letting her know that he had heard her--and that there was still more to this than he was letting on.  She still had to find his home; having a key was only useful should she ascertain the location of the lock.  However, the more Thalandril thought about the two of them, the more the entire night--and set of feelings associated--made sense to his calculating mind.  Emalynde was the girl, now woman, that he had frequented the company of for decades and never realized just how intrinsically normal she made him feel.  Even though he had complete control over her well being, occupation, and social life, she still enjoyed his company for who he was.  It wasn't a political game to her.  It was simply enjoyment, and he could tell.  As the agent thinks through these things, a casual chuckle comes forth.  "I do think I wish something sweet."  He directed at the courtesan an openly desirous look, smirking somewhat deviously.  "However, I think I would like it to-go." *** As Thalandril gives the redhead a visible once over--in front of the serving boy no less--Emalynde laughs, amused at how brashly her companion was behaving.  On cue, the poor waiter took on a reddish hue to his cheeks, mumbling presumably about the bill before making as polite a break for it as was manageable--as if he thought the intelligence agent might take his dessert right then and there.  The freckled elf ‘tsks’ in reprimand, unable to keep the bemused grin from her lips while she shakes her head, crimson curls dancing with the movement.  Reaching into the clasp carried discretely with her at all times, the fiery-tressed elf procures the appropriate amount of payment, leaving the youth a sizable tip for the trouble.  Emalynde stands in a fluid motion, reaching down once upright to pluck the champagne glass from atop the table, downing the remainder of her third glass.  She smacks her lips in playful satisfaction as the emptied container is replaced, extending a hand to Thalandril once he's similarly situated.   "Now, about that favor..." the smirk that spanned her mouth was the embodiment of mischief, clearly intending to make good use of whatever inn had been previously mentioned by the operative.  Emalynde enjoyed her dalliances with the blonde; he was handsome, fit, and was not inconsiderate of her pleasures.  He had been her partner of choice for a century.  Typically, lust governed their joinings, and at times volatilely so.  The courtesan presumed this evening as just one of those occasions, choosing the inn rather than her own home so if Thalandril broke anything, it was not of her possession.

#Dwin'orrel and the Dinner Date #Ema writes stuff #d&d #d&d 5e #d&d shenanigans #dungeonsanddragons #dungeons and dragons #dungeons and dating #elf #elves #Emalynde Ilayne Inara #Thalandril Van'drys #because I really only write about elves #rp #short story #story #fanfiction #fanfic

[bluebookbadger-blog]

The Price of a Life - Chapter 2

Title: The Price of a Life Fandom (s): Fullmetal Alchemist/Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Summary: I always thought waking up in another world would be a lot more…interesting. At least slightly exciting and terrifying, but it really wasn’t. It was more of a sudden and underwhelming event, that landed me in the company of fiction and its ignorance to modern physics. I thought it was a dream. Boy was I wrong. Characters: SI/OC, Maes Hughes, Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, etc. Rating: PG-13

By the time we had all gotten into the car, and Armstrong gave Lucha back to me, it was almost dark out again. I was so freaking tired, I practically hadn't slept for two days. I had fallen asleep during the car ride, eventually ignoring the Elrics' questions about Liore's miracles until they got the memo that I wasn't in the mood for any more interrogations. Hughes woke me up when we arrived at his apartment building.

Lucha was sleeping around my neck, and not wanting to wake him, I put him into the bin of my things. I seriously just wanted a soft surface to fall asleep on; carpets, rugs, a sheet, anything would suffice as a bed at that moment. My neck and head were more achy than they had been before my power nap, and my ankle was starting to swell.

As for the light problem, it was considerably easier to see now that night had fallen, but the street lamps and lights from homes still made looking at where I was headed difficult. Thankfully, Al's armor was really loud and easy to follow.

At the door to the building, we met Gracia and Elicia, who had apparently just gotten home from the store. Elicia was so cute. I'm not normally a kid person, like, I'd rather sit through 50 Shades of Gray with my parents than watch a Barney marathon with my little sister for three days straight, but her attitude was absolutely contagious. She may have gotten her sandy hair and green eyes from her mom, but her personality was all Maes. The child looked at the Elrics, and I felt a sleep smile tug at my lips at the next words.

"Big brother," She said, pointing at Al, "Little brother," pointing at Ed. This threw him into a tizzy, angrily pointing out that he was the older of the two, prompting Elicia to respond that older meant bigger. Hughes introduced me to Gracia, who was practically my Aunt Megan of this world. She was reserved but kind, asking me some trivial questions about myself as we headed up the stairs to the Hughes' apartment.

The inside was really neat and tidy, kind of like an apartment you'd see in a magazine. Gracia headed to the kitchen to make dinner, a quiche if I remembered correctly, and Hughes led the Elrics and I to our bedrooms. Well, the only spare bedroom. With two beds.

"Um, I guess I forgot that this room only had two beds..." I shrugged at his words, and started walking back down the hallway. "Hey, Mac-"

"They're only staying the night, and I could sleep on a mat of nails right now, so it's really fine that they have the beds tonight." I said with a yawn, calmly trudging back to the den we had passed by earlier and flopping down on the cushioned seat. Of course, this was a bad idea as it a) made my foot hurt ten times worse and b) woke up Lucha, who made the most horrific sound a ferret would make. Elicia came running, and Hughes wasn't too far behind. I hissed in pain but the soft couch was worth it.

"You don't have to sleep out here! The Elrics-"

"Like I said, are only staying the night. Besides...I just need…. a few minutes…." I mumbled, burying my face into the pillow as the Elrics showed up. The 0.2 seconds of sleep I got were enough to allow me to bolt up and go running when Gracia called everyone for dinner.

Their table was large enough to fit eight people, making it easier to find a seat than it was at my own table back at home with my six siblings. The first few minutes of the meal were kind of awkward, I instinctively going to say grace and stopping myself when I noticed Ed watching. I ended up just being quiet for a minute instead of saying anything aloud. Besides, it'd be weird since I knew Truth was out there somewhere.

On another note, the quiche smelled great, and that was saying something since I was pretty picky about what I ate. If the Hughes' weren't being so kind I probably wouldn't eat the quiche and just eat some raw cheese or something from their fridge. (Did they even have fridges here?) It was really good too, and I was not just saying that because I was basically starving and this was the only real food I had since I arrived in Amestris. They had milk too! I had chugged at least three glasses, which provoked Alphonse to tease Ed, who defended his hatred of milk.

"Come on Al, eat up. Take off that armor and relax." The line of dialogue caught my attention, making me look up from my fourth glass of liquid heaven. For a split second I could almost feel the brief, tense glance Ed shared with his younger brother.

"Oh, I already ate!" Al said with a nervous giggle, Ed continuing with the usual spiel of how the armor was part of his alchemy training. Seriously, how did people not figure Al was just a suit of armor earlier? The rest of the meal was enjoyed with minimum conversation. Elicia was very talkative afterwards when Hughes officially introduced me to her.

"Sweetie this is Mac, she's going to be staying with us for a while!" He squealed, hugging the pig tailed girl tight. She looked up at me with bright green eyes. I glared at him briefly. I guessed the nickname was a little better than my real name.

"Yay! She's going to play with me right? Mac's my new big sister, right?" Elicia asked her dad excitedly. I had a little sister at home about her age. They'd get along so well, being the apple of their father's eye.

"Anything for my little princess!" I smiled as he fawned over her for a few seconds before she asked him,

"Why is she staying with us?" Hughes laughed, leaning back on the couch. It wasn't the one I had claimed, which was now manned by Captain Lucha who hoarded anything shiny he found in the house under the pillows.

"She doesn't have anywhere to stay sweetie." Hughes was calming down a little. If that was at all possible when he was with his darling girl. Elicia seemed to accept that and jumped off the couch to run up to me.

"Can you play with me?" I nodded and let her lead me to her room. It was mostly pink, with toys everywhere (if this was kind of 1900s-ish, did I have to worry about lead poisoning?). We played tea party, or at least I think. It was part pouring tea for her stuffed toys and part fighting a dragon with me as her knight. As much as I missed being allowed to pretend to be fighting the forces of evil with my own little sister, I had better thing to do. Like return Mrs. Hughes' ring before Lucha swallowed it.

It was another hour of tea party until Gracia came in to put Elicia to sleep. I was kind of relieved, it was a lot of work to keep a kid like her entertained. It seemed that the Elrics had gone to sleep already, or at least Ed had. I was so tired I almost didn't notice Hughes sitting on the couch as I sat down next to him. I picked up my bin of things, hoping to change back into my nightgown to feel some semblance of normalcy in my nightly routine. I just needed to find a bathroom.

"Uh, Hughes." He looked up at me, his hazel-green eyes serious and tinged with concern before returning to their normal, smiling selves. "Where's the bathroom?"

"This way," He beckoned, leading me down the hallway to the first door on my left. It was right next to Elicia's bedroom, and across from the Elric's, so I probably wouldn't get lost finding it in the middle of the night.

Thanking him I set my bin down and looked in the mirror. It was a lot cleaner than the prison mirrors, not covered with grime or any other unidentified substance. I hated the way I looked. My eyes looked as if they were bleeding, a combination of lacking pigment and bloodshot exhaustion. My hair, though still really thick and curly, looked like someone had bleached it to look like calcium powder. My skin looked like Truth's almost, only differing in the small imperfections and dark bags under my eyes.

Taking off my turtleneck sweater, I also noted the bruise's new rainbow of colors; greens, browns, violets, and blues had added to the mix, contrasting starkly with my now paper white skin. I felt so ugly. Shaking the self depreciating thoughts from my head, I put my nightgown on, really wishing I had a change of underclothes but was too tired to ask to borrow some of Gracia's (not to mention her bras probably wouldn't fit me…). My foot was looking slightly better, the swelling had gone down now that I was wearing my orthotics, though a few hours of elevating it would do it even more good.

I took two of the three necklaces I always wore out of the bin, leaving the more fragile third inside. Both were religious, so I guess it would make sense to fit the whole 'Don't use my name because my faith is very restrictive' facade. One was a simple brown scapular, the other a choker Celtic cross. The cross would be visible most of the time due to its tendency to get over the collar of my shirt and stay there, but it was fancy enough to be ignored as a cultural medallion of sorts. The third necklace I didn't want to wear to bed out of fear that I would break it (again). It was made from my great grandmother's rosary, my grandmother's earring, and my mother's necklace she had worn to her wedding. All very important to me, and also very delicate.

Leaving the bathroom, I was greeted with darkness. A welcome abyss compared to the bright lights everywhere else. A light came from beneath another doorway down the hall, presumably Mr. and Mrs. Hughes' bedroom. I found the couch with an extra blanket, courtesy of my hosts, and a towel laid out on the ground, which I discovered Lucha had made his own bed after stepping on the poor ferret. I laid down on the couch, comfortably falling asleep for what felt like hours.

I woke up only half an hour later, feeling restless. I just couldn't stay asleep. There was really no reason to stay asleep I presumed, since I clearly felt rested after only half an hour (maybe an hour, the analog clock was hard to read in the dark). Lucha was still asleep, surprisingly, so I took extra care not to step on him (again).

The house was quiet, the people breathing in the apartment, and the movements of those elsewhere in the complex barely audible. It kind of freaked me out to be honest. I wasn't afraid of the dark, I was almost old enough to graduate high school! But...I did't like being alone in the dark.

I guess I wasn't really alone, Al was awake right? But, I wasn't exactly the type to rush in and 'wake' a guy up just because I was bored. Well, not exactly bored. Something was nagging at the back of my mind but I couldn't quite figure out what it was, but whatever it was, it was going to drive me insane. Needing something else to focus on, I determined that I needed a plan to be the Mary-Sue this world didn't need and that the fans didn't want but needed to save the most lives possible.

In the kitchen I could only find cloth napkins, which was kind of annoying since I didn't want to leave evidence of my knowledge lying around where Hughes would find an interesting timeline describing his death. Frustrated but undeterred, I managed to find a pen in one of the drawers. It seemed ancient compared to modern ballpoint pens. It was a fountain pen, a very pretty one, with a metal tip. There seemed to be lots of pens in the drawer, so one missing wouldn't hurt.

Rummaging through more cabinets and drawers as quietly as I could, I couldn't find any paper. Then I had the brilliant idea to write on myself. My skin was paper colored, and no one else would be able to read it if I wrote it on my leg or somewhere like that, but it would wash off when I showered. Truth new I needed one.

Unable to stay focused, I decided to take a shower at...1:00 a.m. the clock read. It wasn't that hard to navigate in the dark, but finding the black clothes I was lent by the prison was a challenge. They were folded up on top of my necklace in my bin, where I had apparently put them.

I took the bin and the fountain pen to the hallway, taking the first door on my left, hesitating a moment to listen for Alphonse in the other room. I didn't want him to barge in when I was showering, even if he was a suit of armor it'd be super embarrassing. Now that I think about it, he had no reason to barge in, but I was being the weird one by showering at dead man's hour.

I undressed, discovering not a shower behind the curtain but a small bathtub. Better than nothing I guessed. Knowing that the hot water supply was probably limited (and used to bathing restrictions from living with 8 other people my whole life) I filled the tub with the hottest water possible. I liked scalding hot baths, though I would have preferred a shower. I slowly got into the tub, bringing the curtain around halfway so I could see the door but still be mostly hidden from view. It was so relaxing.

I slipped under the water for a second, the tops of my knees forced out of the water so I could lay down. I opened my eyes for a split second, not fond of being blind to the world. Everything I saw was red. I was bathing in blood, the water was thick and crimson.

I sat up, gasping for air and restraining a scream. The water wasn't red, there was no blood, I was fine. I got out of the now cold water, drying myself off with the floor towel in my haste to get out of the bathroom. Putting my underclothes back on, I sat for a few minutes on the bathroom floor. The tears had stopped, but my breathing was still hitched and my heart rapid.

I was so scared. I was digging my nails into my palms until they started to bleed, my own blood triggering the memory of the blood that was on my hands a night prior. I had helped kill someone. I was responsible for a human being's death, someone died because of me. I heard my deep, labored breathing, but didn't feel the usual squeeze of an asthma attack, just deep, empty breaths echoing softly on the tile floor and white walls. White walls and white floors, just like the blood splattered walls and floors of the prison. Soaked in the blood of someone I helped kill, someone I made bleed.

It took a me a moment to realize someone was softly knocking on the door. I did my best to collect myself, my eyes puffy and my face red as I picked up my things, threw on my clothes, and turning off the gas lamp, peeked out the door. It was Elicia, thankfully, half asleep and holding a blanket.

"I have to go potty…" She said, yawning and rubbing her eyes as I got out of her way. I didn't even care if I was being rude or weird anymore - I just needed to get away from there. Still having a small panic attack, but able to breath normally again, I laid back down on the couch, pulling the blanket over my head. I waited for sleep, and none came. I heard Elicia leave the bathroom and go back to her bedroom.

What felt like days later, sunlight began to leak through the window shades in the kitchen, and I heard movement in the Elric's room. Hughes was the first up, I could hear him cracking his back and neck as he shuffled to the kitchen. He could use a chiropractor from the sound of it…

The smell of coffee soon wafted through the apartment, alerting me that I should try to look presentable. I still had the fountain pen in my bin of now dirty pajamas, and I needed a notebook or something like Al's 'list of stuff to eat notebook' and Ed's 'philosopher's stone research' one.

When I came into the kitchen, Hughes was having coffee and reading a newspaper. Literally thought he was my Uncle Matt for a second there, except the mountain climbing gear was missing. I slumped into the seat next to him to read over his shoulder. He didn't seem to mind, or at least he didn't notice.

There was a small article mentioning a certain Yoki who was convicted of stealing government funds, another that announced the upcoming State Alchemist Examination with the upcoming Assessment mentioned on a smaller note. I did see a quick flash of a wanted serial killer with a cross-shaped scar on his face as Hughes turned the page, but wasn't able to read any farther into the article as he seemed to finally notice me sitting there.

"Oh, sorry Mac, haven't finished my coffee yet. You want some?" Somehow, I felt that he was implying that I needed it from his slightly worried expression. I probably still looked like Death incarnate, maybe worse from the crying episode earlier. I shook my head at his question anyways.

"Nah, I'm good." I got a glass from one of the cabinets (I knew my way around the whole den and kitchen after my midnight expedition) and filled it with water from the tap. It tasted weird, as everything here was old and weird, but it was better than coffee. I was not a coffee person, or a tea person for that matter.

"Sleep well?" He asked, flipping a page of the newspaper. I halfheartedly glared up up at him as I laid my head on the table. Did I really look that bad?

"Nope." I sighed, examining the table cloth. It was pretty, and rather clean considering Elicia's table manners. And it was red. Scrunching my face up I turned to look at Hughes again. "Can I ask you something?" He looked up, folding the paper shut slowly as he nodded. I looked away from him, examining the gold embroidery on the edge of the table cloth. "How do you live with-"

"Holy crap we're going to be late!" Edward yelled, rushing out the front door. His hair, from what I could tell, was messily braided, and the boy only had his automail arm in jacket sleeve.

"Thanks for everything Mr. Hughes!" Alphonse noted, keeping Ed from tripping over Lucha.

"Oh, and tell Gracia that quiche was amazing!" With a few more blurted goodbyes and thank yous, the Elrics unceremoniously exited the apartment by slamming the door shut behind them. I snorted in amusement, putting my head back on the table. Who would have of thought those two would be late for anything?

"You were saying?" Maes inquired, tapping my shoulder. Sitting up, I looked back at him, no longer in the mood to discuss how he coped with what he did in Ishval. Thankfully, before I could get a word out, Elicia's sleepy giggle caught both of our attentions.

"Daddy! Are you staying home today?" She asked with a yawn, Gracia slowly emerging from the hallway behind the little girl. Hughes laughed, his serious demeanor disappearing faster than snow in July at the sight of Elicia's bed head and sleepy smile.

"Sorry sweetie! Daddy has to go to work, but I'll try to get home early okay my darling angel?" Elicia giggled as her dad scooped her up and hugged her close. I needed to figure out what the hell I was going to do to keep the story the same, but save unnecessarily lost lives.

There wasn't much I could do for the people in Liore, the little civil war down there was going to happen whether people fought over Cornello or not, and it was kind of a key to keeping Ed and Al on their little quest that would bring them right back to Central. After "The City of Heresy" episode it would go to...something anguish? I may have a pretty good eidetic memory, but I needed triggers for this stuff to be clear, I couldn't just pull a list of character deaths from my pocket you know. I would need something to write on and set up a timeline so I could plot out my next move.

Breakfast was really nice, by which of course I mean eating something that was not cereal after 4:30 a.m. (a rare occasion in my house back in the waking world). Hughes left in the middle of it, late for a meeting or something to that effect. I had almost forgotten that McDougal used alkahestry, not alchemy, and that Hughes would report this to Mustang. Oops.

Still, this was probably only episode two right? So, basically Ed and Al sitting on a train and backstory time, which meant I had few obligations and concerns for the next day or two. However, on his way out the door after bidding his wife and daughter goodbye, Maes gave me a stern look.

"You do need to try and find some work, I marked off some jobs I thought you'd like in the paper." He said, mock saluting me. "Good luck, Mac!" I scowled but picked up the newspaper. It was from the day before I guessed, since Gracia brought a new paper in soon after Hughes left.

Elicia was excitedly eating her scrambled eggs, talking to Mrs. Hughes with her mouth full and being chided for it. They were such a wonderful family, I really had to find a way to repay them (and not just by hopefully saving Maes' life).

I finally found the classifieds, seeing the jobs Hughes thought I'd be interested in circled with black ink. Work wanted at a local bakery? No. I was an awful cook. I guess I could make, I don't know, pepernoot cookies but even those weren't that great compared to my cousin Rose's baking. She could really bake well. Another job was looking for help managing a little grocery store here on Main street. It was close enough to walk to, so I guessed that would be my destination for the day.

The other jobs Maes picked out were mostly odd jobs; fixing roofs, making deliveries, stuff I couldn't really do with my skill set or resources. There was one farm hand opportunity, but it was on the outskirts of the city, and I didn't want to trouble the Hughes with anything else. My talents as a backyard chicken mother, wasted in a 1910s alternative universe of Germany. At least the grocery job seemed to pay in czens, not eggs or corn (though I would work for food, who on earth wouldn't?).

It was about 9:00 in the morning when I finally left. Gracia and her daughter were going to the park, then stopping by the grocery store to walk me home if I wanted them to. They were so sweet, how was there nothing wrong with a family as perfect as this? Oh yeah, the dad is shot dead by some guy disguised as the wife. Wonderful.

Gracia had let me borrow one of her purses, one big enough to fit the fancy dancy Certificate in, and to fit a small towel and Lucha in. He was sleeping more than usual, which was next to impossible since he already slept all the time when he wasn't hungry. Weird ferret. Cute, but weird. I hoped he wasn't sick.

People kept staring at me on the way there, making me highly self conscious. Some part of me was screaming at them that I wasn't a murderer, another part was making my face turn a red to match my new eyes, while a third was looking for the sign that read "Main Street Grocery".

I kept bumping into people, the sun blinding me every time it reflected off a window or occasional passing car. It seems like it'd be cool to one day wake up and be albino or even leucistic, but it really wasn't. Especially in the whole normal treatment department. And seeing department. And basically almost every aspect of yourself.

When I finally did see the sign, I briefly checked to make sure it matched the address in the ad before ducking inside. It was a quiet little place, very homey and local. There was a bunch of fresh fruits and vegetables on some benches outside, and inside there were various boxed and canned foods. There was a small fridge of sorts in the far right corner, only containing some juices and milk, as well as being right by a whole stand of wine and other alcoholic beverages. At the front desk there was a young guy, not my type, but handsome and sort of sexy. When I asked about the open position he looked a little startled.

"I'm sorry, did you read the fine print?" He asked, his deep voice nervous. I was so confused by this. Taking out the newspaper ad I had clipped out, I showed it to him.

"What fine print?" He ran a hand through his blonde locks anxiously. "Can I speak to your manager, please?" The guy - his name tag read Albert - nodded and went to a back room. There weren't many people at the store, but an old lady was waiting for her money to be taken. I was no expert in czens, but it couldn't be much harder than working in retail, right?

The woman had thick glasses, so she probably wouldn't notice that I wasn't an employee. Standing behind the counter, which had a convenient list of prices, pretty similar to the one I had used during my time at farmer's markets. Those things were so much fun to work at, except for the days when it was really windy. Those tents could kill someone if they went airborne.

She was buying nine apples, a jug of milk, and a loaf of fresh bread. It smelled so good, like, 'grandpa just pulled it out of the oven' good. Each item's individual price was marked down in neat handwriting. It was strange not weighing the apples, but they were marked down for 3 cenz per apple and 6 cenz for every three. I didn't know what the dollar equivalent of that would be, but it seemed pretty reasonable. I rung up the cost of her items and counted out the money. It was pretty similar to most money, though, I did have to sheepishly ask her if one of the coins was worth 10 or 5 cenz. The back room's door opened just as I bid the woman goodbye.

"What do you think you're doing?" A woman's voice asked. I was surprised that she was shorter than me, but the lady was still terrifying. Her dark hair was tied back in a bun, and her blue eyes seethed with irritation. "Albert says you're here to apply? Are you not literate?" I was so confused. What fine print? Why was everyone so huffy about me trying to apply for a job?

"I am entirely literate ma'am, in multiple languages" I said, though I doubt I'd find anyone speaking the FMA equivalent of German, Irish Gaelic, or Latin. Well, maybe not Latin. A 12 year old in a Catholic school can only parrot so many Gregorian chants. With a nod, I quickly moving to the other side of the counter. Damn, she was scary. Everyone in this world was either scary or really sweet, there was no in between.

"Then you should be aware that the ad does say, 'Ishvalans Need Not Apply'." Great, and here I thought we were over treating the minorities and the Irish like shit. I restrained a glare, looking at me feet.

"I am Drachman, not Ishvalan, ma'am." Geez, I mean, the hair and eyes were kind of similar but I looked like Snow White Extreme incarnate. Was it common for Ishvalans to have pale skin suddenly? Had I already screwed something up?

"Oh? Then get out. Immigrants aren't welcome in my store."

"But-"

"Out!" Okay, I get it, there's a bias, no need to be rude about it. I guess I forgot this was set in the early 1900s. In my world that meant segregation, discrimination, and jazz. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like I'd be enjoying any Louie Armstrong or Jelly Roll Morton here. Wait...Louie Armstrong...I wondered if the Major could play a trumpet...

I stood outside the store for a while, envying Albert - it seemed as if he had been just hired that morning instead of me. I should have headed out when the Elrics left. The store manager - a Miss. Reich from what I overheard - was about to usher me down the street with a broom so I headed off. It was best I explored my new surroundings.

Lucha woke up around this time, poking his pink nose out of the satchel to surprise any passing kids. I really wished I had a hat or something, since the starring returned in full force with the early afternoon lunch break setting in. I needed somewhere to occupy my time with. Gracia and Elicia weren't planning on visiting the grocery shop until the evening - I guess they really thought I'd get the job.

Why would Hughes send me somewhere that wasn't accepting immigrant workers? It hit me that I wasn't just an immigrant (or rather, not an immigrant really at all). I was an Honorary Citizen, and whatever that was, Hughes probably thought it'd help me get hired, or maybe he was hoping I'd have to live with him and be Elicia's big sister forever, but I was hoping he wasn't that mean. I basically sprinted back to the shop, which I discovered was a mistake when my ankle rolled and I knocked down a few people on the sidewalk.

"Sorry, sorry…" I murmured as I tried to reorient myself. The light of the sun was really bright now, making everything look like a fiery kaleidoscope. A hand gently tugged at my own and helped me to my feet. "I'm sorry." I said again, knowing full well that I apologized too much. Once my eyes adjusted and Lucha had settled in his nest of fabric, I realized it was Albert who had helped me up.

"What're you doing back here?" He asked, his blue eyes nervously darting to the shop window where he could see Miss. Reich helping a customer at the register while he swept. I rubbed my arm. I had hit the ground hard, but escaped with only a scrape. Lucha seemed fine, peering at Albert for a second before snorting and going back to his nap. He must have been homesick, the ferret never slept this much. I felt around in my bag for a moment before my hand touched the paper.

"I need to talk with Miss. Reich again," As tempting as it was to call her something derogatory to let out my frustration, I needed to get on good terms with her. I wasn't taking a job that was halfway across the city, not even if Hughes lent me his car. I didn't even think it was his, the military probably gave it to him for work related purposes.

I finally convinced Albert to let me talk to Miss. Stick-up-her-but and I showed her the Certificate. She seemed pretty impressed, though still a bit reluctant to let me work for her. It took some sweet talking on my part (she was almost as hard to persuade as a stubborn show heifer) but she eventually conceded to a contract. It seemed I'd still be a little curbed by the whole anti-immigrant policy, but I did have myself a job working in the backroom.

They had a bunch of filing cabinets, as well as extra stock. I was informed by Miss. Reich herself of my duties, which involved coming by at dawn to stock the store with the delivery of fresh eggs and milk, as well as to organize the chronological payment records. It wasn't that much compared to my summer job at the farmer's markets, except I wouldn't have to deal with cranky hippies screaming at me for $5 for every basket of blueberries (if they had such a problem with it they should have picked their own). Still, it'd be work.

Dark was falling when Gracia and Elicia finally swung by, picking up a gallon of whole milk and some apples for a pie that Mrs. Hughes planned on making in a few days. Albert was adorable in his anxiety when Gracia asked if a white haired girl had applied for a job here recently. Miss. Reich had to clear up the misunderstanding that I was, in fact, a girl to Albert as I listen to their conversation as I organized some heads of old cauliflower.

"No, she wrote it on the contract and it was on her Certificate of Honorary Citizenship-"

"He's an Honorary Citizen? So that's why you gave him the job-"

"No, Al, she is a girl. I'm sure of it. Ask her yourself." They rounded a corner that was slightly overflowing with green beans. They'd last a few days, granted I fixed the ventilation problem back here, I was burning up it was so hot. It wasn't summer here was it? It was too cold the other night….

"You need something ma'am?" I asked, though it was pretty easy to hear Elicia through the thin walls.

"You're family is here, I think." Miss. Reich said, leaving an awkward gap of silence between Albert and I. "Anything you want to say to Irish, Albert?" I shrugged and avoided eye contact as the poor guy awkwardly struggled to ask me something.

"Yes, I am a girl." I noted his sudden crestfallen attitude as he walked me back to the front and took my apron. Truth, that was depressing. Damn this overwhelming cultural shock. Gracia smiled when I emerged from the back room, Elicia charging me and clinging to my legs.

"Yay! Big sister's here! Can she play with me later mommy? Can she?" The pig tailed girl was just like my little sister back at home. Such a manipulative sweetheart that could murder someone and be ready for ballet by dinner.

"Sure, just - hey, be careful!" I chided as she nearly knocked me over the fruit stand by the front desk. Gosh little kids were so careless sometimes. "Oh, Miss. Reich!" I called as Elicia was all but dragging me after her mother. "Thank you for the job, I'll repay you someday!" I had no clue how I was going to do that, maybe help with saving most of Amestris from the Promised Day? Probably not, considering I could barely get a job and was practically blinded by light. So this was how vampires felt…

The walk to the apartment was quiet, Gracia asking me to retell how I managed to get a job at the store. Apparently Miss. Reich was notorious for keeping immigrants out of her shop, so hiring me was quite a strange occurrence for Gracia to hear. All my life I'd felt that the stories of close knit communities was all a hoax, and now I was seeing my host talking about some random shop owner as if they were the best of friends.

I was never going to get used to this 1900s life, not without a proper shower. This was so weird. Lucha reminded me he was getting hungry by climbing up my sweater to scratch at the neck. It hurt more than it tickled, the bruised skin still sore. I put him back into the bag and held it closed as us three marched up the stairs to get to the apartment.

Inside, I helped Gracia with some bags she had picked up at some other stores. They were full of clothes. Why did people have to be really nice? I didn't know how to respond to kindness that well, or new clothes. I didn't think I had ever worn anything besides handmedowns. The nightgown I had was my Aunt Mimi's, and the slippers were from my older sister. Elicia seemed contented with playing in her room while Mrs. Hughes and I sorted my situation in the spare room.

We moved the extra bed to the corner of the room, creating a lot of floor space. The hardwood floor was a little dusty, but I wasn't complaining. There was a dresser along the wall of room, which we filled with the new clothes. They were kind of old fashioned, but they were pretty. There were a few dresses that we hung up in the closet by the other bed, but most of the clothes were sweaters, button downs, slacks, and a few skirts that also joined the Gown Battalion of the closet.

"Thank you so much for buying me the clothes, I'll pay you back-"

"What is it with you and having to pay people back? I wanted to buy you those clothes, not to mention Elicia will grow into them. Eventually." Mrs. Gracia said as we changed the sheets on the bed - my bed. I really needed to stay focused, I only had a day or two until the Elrics came back and then I had to figure out what the heck I was going to do about the Nina Alexander chimera problem.

"Mrs. Hughes-" She ruffled my hair gently. Goodness this woman was so likable, I hated having my hair messed with but when she did it I was completely fine with it.

"Call me Gracia." I shrugged, puffing up the pillow one more time. It wasn't the same as Timait, but it would do. Yes, I named my pillow Timait; after developing such a special bond with the very thing that you have dreamed upon for years, a name is in order. Okay that was a lie, but I was really missing my pillow back at home.

"Gracia, do you have a notebook or something I could use? I don't mean to impose any more than I already have, I just-" Opening a small cabinet under the sink, she pulled out a small, leather bound book. How in Amestris had I not found it during my rummaging earlier?

"I'm sure you have your reasons, besides, tax season is always a pain. Will this do?" She asked, handing the empty tome to me. It was almost exactly like the ones the Elrics carried around, except more flexible with a strong but with a malleable spine. Perfect for writing down my plans of world destruction or maybe a copy of the Twilight series.

"Thank you so much!" I said as I rushed back to the spare room - my room. Elicia however, caught me as I almost escape to its sanctuary.

"Mac! Can you please play with me now?" How could I say no to that face?

"No." I said, suddenly irritable. When she made the saddest, most heartbreaking puppy dog face, I rethought my decision. "I'm sorry, just a minute." Putting the empty book on my bed and checking on Lucha's sleeping form for any signs of impending death, I went back to Elicia's room.

Okay, so maybe this wasn't the most exciting action packed day of my time here, but I was making progress to building relationships, making contacts, and organizing information that would be pertinent to my near future. All I had to do was play Princess for another hour or two until Maes came home.

Masterlist

#fullmetal alchemist #fullmetal alchemsit brotherhood #si/oc #fanfic #fanfiction #writing #the price of a life #the price of a life - chapter 2 #bbb writes #bbb #bluebookbadger