#depending on how today goes I might post more chapters but we’ll see
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“Hero, what ails you?” - Chapter 1
I wrote this fic after finishing twilight princess over a year ago, since I was full-on captivated by the Hero’s Shade and his whole deal. I’m so attached to the Hero of Time, and that hasn’t changed a bit over the years, and I love making him a dad hehe
Anyways this has been posted on ao3 but due to some recent events I don’t feel like explaining again, I’m crossposting it here. Please enjoy tp Link getting sick and the Hero’s Shade being a Dad while attempting to deny it the entire time <3
First (you’re here) | Chapter Two
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The Hero’s Shade sat and waited patiently in wolf form for his young successor to arrive.
As he waited, a few flakes of shimmering snow wafted past his muzzle and he breathed out with a huff, watching them drift past. The snow wasn’t cold, nor was it really snow, but it was the closest thing the Shade could compare it to.
It was calming to watch, and kept him occupied while he waited.
He’d already initiated contact with the boy. He merely had to wake up and accept, but he seemed to be taking his time today. It had already been several minutes longer then it usually took him to arrive and he was starting to grow concerned.
But a few moments later, the boy appeared on the ground, lying prone as always. It always took him a moment to get accustomed to this realm, which was understandable. This was not a land for living flesh.
The boy took several moments longer then he typically did to stand, but once he did he met his gaze as usual, giving the wolf a determined look.
The Shade nodded then howled, changing seamlessly from a wolf into his more human form.
“We meet again,” he rumbled, not bothering to obscure the fond note he knew was there. The boy gave him a small smile and returned the greeting, though his face wasn’t as eager as it usually was when he arrived here to learn a new skill. The Shade frowned to himself, but perhaps the boy was merely feeling the stress of his journey more harshly now that the castle was blocked off.
“Before I teach you my next hidden skill, prove to me you still recall the technique of the last lesson,” he continued. “Show me the Helm Splitter!”
He drew his sword and allowed the boy to do the same, then advanced on him. The boy watched him carefully, studying his movement, then leveled his shield and thrust it forwards once the Shade was close enough. Then he bent his knees and jumped, trying to land a hit on his head.
Except he fumbled the blade and nearly tripped over his own two feet when he attempted the move.
The Shade stopped, disappointment flowing through him. He was certain the boy had mastered this skill, yet here he was acting as if he hadn’t even learned it in the first place.
“What ails you? Do you require a reminder of the technique?” he asked.
The boy stumbled a bit as he regained his balance, then jerked his head in an apologetic bow. “N-no, I remember how to do it, I apologize. I’ll try again.”
The Shade paused, hearing something in his voice. Was that a faint rasp?
He took a small step forward and studied his protégé’s face. Now that he was closer he wasn’t sure how he’d missed it. The boy was concerningly pale, though his cheeks were bright and rosy compared to the pallor of the rest of his skin. He seemed to be fighting to remain upright if the trembling of his limbs were any indication, and a thin sheen of sweat shone on his face despite the fact they’d barely even begun the session.
He obviously was not in fighting condition.
The boy raised his sword and started for the Shade again, but he held out a gloved hand to stop him.
“Hero... you are not well,” he said in a softer voice then he usually used on him.
The boy blinked a few times then shook his head, gripping his sword more tightly.
“No, I’m f-fine. It’s just a bit of a cold.”
The Shade narrowed his eye. “A “bit of a cold” would not leave you shaking like a newborn foal, young one.”
The hero gritted his teeth and managed to get the shaking in his legs under control. “I said I’m fine. Allow me to show you I’ve mastered the previous skill.”
The Shade sighed. The boy obviously would not be swayed, to his own detriment.
“Very well. Come at me.”
He raised his sword and slowly advanced on the boy again, and Link darted forward, shield raised and sword ready.
The Shade eyed him carefully, even more so than usual, watching how it seemed to take him more effort to raise his shield and the way he moved much more slowly. The boy, seemingly oblivious of his enhanced watchfulness, ran forwards and repeated the action of bashing his shield against the Shade, then tried to leap into the air.
This time instead of jumping up he lurched to the side, clutching his forehead and looking dizzy.
He started to fall over backwards, and would’ve hit the ground if the Shade hadn’t jumped forward and caught him. He lowered him gently to the floor and gave the boy a stern look, and Link seemed to shrink in his hold, eyes downcast.
“How long has your condition been like this?” he questioned, cutting to the chase.
Link didn’t meet his eye. “Only a day or so,” he whispered, rasp more noticeable now.
“Where were you last?”
“Snowpeak... the temperatures there were a lot, but I-I had to keep going... I need to keep going. If Zant isn’t stopped—”
“You are in no condition to do anything at the moment,” Shade said sternly. “If you faced the usurper as you are now, he would kill you without a second thought, no less any other enemies. You need to rest.”
He removed his glove and brushed a ghostly hand over Link’s forehead as he spoke. It was hot, much hotter than it should be, and the boy sneezed as he checked, trembling in his hold.
“Did you wear proper equipment at Snowpeak?” he questioned, already knowing the answer.
Link swallowed. “Spent most of the time as a wolf... b-but I didn’t have any thicker clothes as a human. I just... made d-do.”
The Shade sighed. This irresponsibility was what got people killed.
“It was foolish of you to believe your wolf form would fully protect you,” he said sternly, “but that is water under the bridge. You need to focus now on healing. Not more fighting.”
Link made to speak but broke into a coughing fit instead, great wheezing things that wracked his chest and made him curl in on himself.
The Shade watched him, feeling a thread of worry lace itself through him as he listened to his successor cough. It had been a long time since he himself had a body that could get sick, but he knew a sound like that was not healthy.
His successor was strong, so strong despite everything the goddesses kept throwing at him, and seeing him laid low by something so normally inconsequential as a sickness scared the Shade more then he’d care to admit.
“I’m going to send you out of my realm,” he said, coming to a decision. “This place is likely aggravating your condition.”
Link’s face fell. “But you didn’t teach me—”
“That can wait until you are healed,” he cut off, and Link lowered his head. “I will wait for you. Focus on healing.”
Then he closed his eye and pushed at the edges of his realm, magic lightly fizzing through him. The Shade huffed, and in an instant brought his successor back to the waking world, and in turn, changed back into a golden wolf.
He let the magic wash through him, then opened his eye, looking around for the boy. He spotted him a moment later, a few feet away. Link lay on the ground as usual, but he didn’t stir, not even when the Shade padded over and nuzzled him.
A bolt of fear shot through him. Was removing him from his realm really the correct choice of action? What if he had worsened his condition merely by pulling him between dimensions?
“Hero, wake up,” he said, a thin thread of panic in his voice.
Link finally let out a wheezy cough and blinked his eyes open, looking miserable as he stared at him. The Shade couldn’t help his sigh of relief. He was alright, for now at least.
“You need somewhere safe to rest,” he rumbled. “Where would be suitable?”
Link shivered again, and the Shade cursed the fact that he couldn’t hold him in this form.
“K-Kakariko...” the boy rasped, another painful-sounding cough escaping him. “East... there’s a man there...”
The Shade nodded, taking a steady breath.
He hadn’t planned on helping the boy further then getting him out of his realm, but it seemed he wouldn’t be going anywhere by himself. It looked like he was going to have to get him to Kakariko somehow.
How was he supposed to do that?
A shadow split from his successor’s own, and a small imp creature with fiery orange hair appeared. She didn’t seem to notice him, and opened her mouth to speak to Link, but cut herself off when she saw him lying on the ground.
“Oh you stupid wolf I told you to wait—!” the imp rushed to his side, prodding him with a sharp sort of worry, only pulling back when he gave her a weak smile.
“‘S fine Midna, I’m okay,” he murmured, but contradicted his statement moments later by breaking into another coughing fit.
Midna crossed her arms and poked him again, and the Shade could see the thinly disguised worry on her face. She obviously cared for him despite her demeanor.
“You are not okay, and you weren’t okay yesterday either when you insisted on galavanting off and learning a new skill while you could barely walk!” she yelled, and Link didn’t reply, merely sighing tiredly.
“Sorry...” he croaked, and the anger immediately deflated out of Midna, the imp hovering worriedly by his shoulder.
The Shade decided to intervene then, padding forward and breathing out heavily to make his presence known. Who he knew to be the twilit princess startled and whipped around, staring at him with a wide look in her visible eye.
“Whoa!” she exclaimed, carefully moving herself to stand between him and the boy. Then realization landed on her face. “...oh it’s you. Skeleton-wolf-teacher-guy right?”
The Shade huffed and would have rolled his eyes if he could. “Not exactly, but close enough. The hero is in need of healing.”
Midna snorted, though it was layered with worry. “I hadn’t noticed,” she snipped, placing a hand on Link’s cheek. He leaned into the touch and let out a small sigh, and her frown deepened. “Can you heal him?”
The Shade shook his head. “Healing magic is far out of my ability. And sickness is difficult, much trickier then a physical wound.”
The imp sighed. “Well then thanks for nothing, nice to see you, we really should be going now.”
She raised the cursed shard the Master Sword had purged from his successor, and began to direct the magic towards Link, shadows coalescing around him. But the Shade barked and pushed it back into where it came from, and Midna teetered in the air.
“What’s the big idea?!” she snapped, turning on him. “Link needs to get a move on and here you are stopping me from tele—”
“Do not teleport him,” the Shade interrupted, “or turn him to a beast. Moving him between my realm and this already caused his condition to worsen; I do not believe his body would be able to handle that much while he’s this ill.”
Midna lowered the shard, and real worry cracked through the uncaring face she’d put on.
“Then how will we move him?” she asked, floating around in a pacing motion. “There’s a man in Kakariko who could help him, but I can’t carry him there right now and his stupid horse is all the way across Hyrule, and if teleporting is bad then dragging him around on your back wouldn’t be good for him either, and they won’t let a stalfos wolf guy in anywhere!” she snapped, and the Shade patiently waited for her to finish.
“Calm yourself,” he said, despite probably being more worried then she was. “I have a solution.”
This would take a fair bit of magic, but in order for him to not terrify the locals and for Link to be comfortable, the Shade needed arms, and not skeletal or ghostly ones. It had been a while since he’d done this, as it was difficult to maintain these days, but this was a bit of a special circumstance.
Taking a deep breath, the Shade pulled on his magic, going seamlessly from a wolf to a skeleton. But once he’d finished he kept pushing, forcing his form to change further. Bones were covered by less-ghostly flesh, and he could feel bangs brush over his forehead, the sensation one he’d realized he’d missed. He suddenly felt heavier somehow, despite still being a spirit.
When he opened his eye the twilit princess was staring at him in astonishment, and he gave her a small smirk.
“Do I look alive enough?” he questioned, going to his knees and putting a hand on Link’s forehead. He seemed hotter, and the Shade wasn’t even sure he was awake anymore, though he did make a small noise as his hand landed on his skin.
Midna blinked then nodded, albeit hesitantly.
“You... yeah you do, you look alive. And like... you look like Link,” she said, continuing to stare. “Who are you?”
The Shade gathered his descendant into his arms, ignoring the question for the moment as he stood. Link’s head lolled against his shoulder, and he could hear his breath rasping more thickly in his chest. It sounded even worse then it had before, and an icy hand of fear clutched around his heart.
“Someone who cares for his wellbeing,” he answered simply, and began to walk, keeping a tight grip on his descendant.
Midna snapped out of her reverie and quickly moved in front of him, an arm held out. “You’re going the wrong way, moron.”
The Shade blinked, confused. He’d visited Kakariko many times and thought for sure he knew where to go.
Then again... it had been several hundred years.
“...perhaps you should lead.” he admitted, and Midna sniffed.
“Perhaps I should.”
And they set off without another word.
#legend of zelda#twilight princess#loz tp#hero’s shade#midna#loz midna#link#legend of zelda fanfiction#sickfic#hurt/comfort#writing from the floor#I resisted the urge to edit it since there’s things I’d change now lol#depending on how today goes I might post more chapters but we’ll see#either way they’ll be up real soon
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While I have other things I am pecking away at, too, I thought I would share what I want to get done by the end of the year. Made up this task list this morning and I’m already getting some stuff done! I think putting it down and figuring out what all needs to be done for each thing is helping.
Yes, I have other request fics, but the ones listed (and the trade) are things I’ve already started and would like to see finished before the end of the year. We’ll see but that is the goal.
While I have started putting down bare bones stuff for the Hallmark Fic, other things are taking precedent.
30 Days Of Fizzarozzie Catch-Up Fics - Day 15 is edited and just needs a second look before I can post it. Days 18 and 28 are started, and days 25 and 26 are not.
Hallmark Fic - I have the prompt, the ship(s), and the vague outline for the plot. Needs to be fleshed out/outlined before I say much more.
Holiday Trade Fic - For Sin! Working on it slowly, because I’ve been very slow lately. Gotta get it done by Christmas at least.
Lonely Machines - My biggest priority here is just not dropping it entirely. If I can keep updating it even a little bit here and there before the end of the year, I’ll be happy. It might need to be elongated depending on how the chapter I’m currently working on goes.
Love Is A Bittersweet Ambrosia - This is my current focus because it needs to be completely finished by the end of November. I’m currently stuck in part of chapter three, but I am planning on trying to work through it some today.
Request Fics - One of them is getting pretty close to being done, and the other is looking like it will be a five chapter fic, as of now. We’ll see where it goes as I keep working, as it’s hard to tell.
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My Adoring Fan Chapter 5
Chapter 4
A/N: A bit of a fluffy chapter as the twins make up
As Aurelius entered the kitchen, both Azalea and Mammon turned their heads to him.
“There ya are,” Mammon says as he leans against the island counter. “Only three hours after your Ma called for you, but, hey, at least you came home.”
“You’re not going to yell at me too, are you?” He asks.
“Well, that depends. Do ya know why what ya did was wrong and do ya understand why you’re being punished for it?”
Aurelius nods. “Yes.”
“Then no, there’s nothin’ I need to say that ya probably haven’t heard from your mother already.” The oven dings and Mammon goes to pull the peppers out and places them on a plate for his son. “Here, have somethin’ ta eat before we leave.” Aurelius nods as he grabs a fork and starts eating.
“Leave?” Azalea asks as she looks between them. “Leave where?”
“Home.” The demon says as Azalea looks surprised. “What, you thought we were bluffin’ when we told you two that if you had one more spat like this that we’d be pullin’ one of ya from the house? Your Ma and I can’t keep coming over here every two or three nights to diffuse a situation between the two of ya like this because ya can’t seem ta learn ta get along. An’ since Aurelius started this by going along with Zulima’s hair-brained idea, he has to move back home until we think he’s learned his lesson.”
“So Aurelius gets punished while Zulima gets away scott-free?”
“No, of course not. Solomon was here earlier ta dish out her punishment and Uncle Asmo will be here shortly ta decide how long whatever her punishment was will last and talk with her about why this was wrong in the first place. Their startin’ to get up fed up with her actions too and this is probably your cousin’s last chance ta prove she can shape up before they pull ‘er out of the house too.”
Azalea turns to her brother with an apologetic look.
“I'll let ya have a few minutes ta talk privately and then we’ll be leaving.” The Avatar of Greed steps out since he knows his children won’t honestly speak their minds if someone is listening.
“Listen,” Aurelius says as he leans his head against Azalea’s, the black streaks in their hair pressed together. It’s a thing they’ve done ever since they we little. “I’m really sorry about this. I knew it was wrong and I still did it anyway. Are you still mad at me?”
“A little bit.” The older cambion sighed, “You didn’t send that audio clip to Max, did ya?”
“Yeah, but if it’s any consolation, she didn’t listen to it and deleted it instead. You really should tell her though. I think you’d be really happy. She definitely likes you back.”
“Why did ya do it? I feel so betrayed.”
“I told Mum that I was just bored but really it was because I was getting annoyed with Zulima talking about how much she quote-unquote ships you two and wishes you’d just get together already...”
“I get that. She can be rather persistent.” Azalea sighs. “If that’s the only reason then I guess I really can’t fault ya for it... How long are ya gonna be gone?”
“Until the end of next term. I’m grounded too for taking so long to get back here, so I’m losing my phone and I won’t get to do any photoshoots for the next three months... I’m think of quitting all together when my contract is up actually. The time off will give me a chance to really decide.”
“Majolish is gonna be really mad that they’ve lost their top model,” Azalea laughs softly. “Hey, the reason ya wanna quit is ‘cuz of that letter, right?”
“Yeah, a little bit.” Aurelius hums. “Actually, while I was running from you, I think I met the sender of that letter- well more like I plowed into her as I was running away. She didn’t seem all that crazy and claimed she didn’t know who I was but I don’t know, I got some really weird vibes so I think she was lying.”
“Hey, I just thought of this but doesn’t that girl who hounded you to start a relationship with her reside at the House of Sorrow? Maybe she’s the one who sent that letter so she wouldn’t have any competition for your attention.”
“I didn’t think of that. It would make sense, actually. “Do you think I should write her back and say I know it was her? See if it was really her and give her a chance to come clean?”
“Why don’t ya do it at school? We’re all bound to have classes with her at some point in the day so being able to get her alone and there be no chance for interference sounds like the perfect opportunity. What’s her name? Is she pretty?”
“She introduced herself as Persephone- you know like that greek myth and yeah she is. Funnily enough, she looks a lot like that idol that Henry was crying about earlier. Her hair and eye color are the same shade of grey as that idol’s.”
“That’s really interesting, actually. When I was talking with Henry earlier, I proposed the idea that maybe she was taking a break to enjoy a normal teen life so I wonder if I was right. Maybe this is something you could actually pursue as far as a relationship goes... If she is that idol then she wouldn’t be interested in dating you for our family’s prestige, fame, or money since she has plenty of her own to begin with. I know you’re lonely just like I’m lonely.”
“Well, you’re not wrong,” Aurelius pulled back. “I do want to find a mate eventually, but I also just want to survive RAD first before I start looking. It would be nice to have someone that looks at us in the same way Dad looks at Mum- with nothing but love and adoration but not a lot of demons really like us. They mostly just tolerate our existence.”
“You’ll get that eventually.” Azalea smiled. “I mean I got my person so you should too sooner or later, right?”
“Yeah, we-”
“Aurelius, what’s with this letter you have?” Arella asks as she enters the kitchen. “This really worries me, Sweetheart.”
“I got that today actually and I think I know who sent it, but also I’m starting to suspect she wasn’t actually the one who sent it. I’m going to meet with her at school to clear the air over it.”
“I don’t think that’s a very safe idea, Aurelius. From the verbiage in this letter, she could be stalking you. I know from experience with Dad and Uncle Asmo that people like this will do anything to ensure they're the only ones who have your attention.”
“I promise I’ll be safe, Mum. But I have to find out for sure if it’s her or....” the teen trails off and Arella doesn’t like the sound of that.
“Aurelius, has a classmate been harassing you, Darling?”
“Yeah... I didn’t want to tell you and Dad because I didn’t want to worry you guys... it’s been a thing for a while. You would think after rejecting her for the thousandth time, she would get the hint...”
“What’s been a thing?” Mammon asks as he pops his head in the doorway. “C’mon, Buddy, let’s go home.
“Our son is being harassed by one of his classmates and he didn’t want to tell us for fear of worrying us. Also, he received this rather alarming letter today in the post.”
“What? Lemme see that thing.” He takes the piece of paper in his hands and scans it over, eyebrows raising in alarm. “Aurelius this is not okay. Is this the person whose been botherin’ ya?”
“Maybe...? I can’t really be sure. The implied sender isn’t the person whose been bothering me at school rather a girl that just transferred to RAD but I think it might have been forged by that person so I would avoid the sender at all costs. I want to meet her and confirm whether or not it’s really her.”
“You absolutely will not be doin’ that.”
“Dad I-”
“I said no. Aurelius, ya have no idea how dangerous people like this really are. I’ve had someone like this threaten your mother’s life multiple times back when we had first started officially datin’. Even Uncle Asmo got the same thing when he and Solomon went public with their relationship and other demons found out they had a kid together. I think combined, your uncle and I got close ta a thousand of these types of letters. It got so out of hand that at one point Uncle Lucifer had to step in and deal with it for us. This spells out nothing but trouble for ya and I don’t want ya getting' hurt by some nutcase that has a few bolts loose in the head.”
“Dad, you’re overreact-”
“No, I’m not, you’re not doing this and that’s final. I still have every single one of those letters and I’ll let ya read the worst ones to show ya just how dangerous something like this can get. Believe me when I tell ya this is not something ya want to deal with. And I’m warning you right now. If you get another one of these types of letters, I’m pulling ya out of modeling until you’re at least 1700 years old.”
“But what about my contract? Won’t I get penalized for breaking it?”
“We had a clause put in the fine print that if your father and I felt you were unsafe or were not benefitting from it emotionally or physically for any reason during the term of your contracts, that we had the right to terminate them at any point in time for your safety.” Arella explained.
The teen only sighs. He knows he should listen to his father but there’s something nagging him at the back of his mind. “Alright, I won’t do it.”
“Thank you.” Arella let out a relieved sigh. “We should get going now. It’s late enough as it is and your father and I both have to work in the morning. Give your sister a hug if you wish.”
The twins nodded as they moved to give each other a hug.
“See ya at school, I guess.” Azalea sighed. “Sorry I got ya booted back home.”
“It’s fine. This wouldn’t be happening if I hadn’t started it. Love you.”
“Love you too.” They let each other go and Aurelius headed off with their mother after Azalea gave her a hug goodbye.
“Are ya good ta go back down the stairs in your room without sliding down the railing? Your room is messy and I don’t want ya tripping and hurting yourself over a pile of books. Ask your cousin to help ya clean it tomorrow.”
“I think so. If I need it, I’ll just guilt Zulima inta helping me. She owes me after that trick she organized.”
“Okay,” the demon chuckles as he pulled his daughter into a hug. “I’ll come back ta check on you when I get back from the fourth layer with your brother. Make sure you use that cane, please. It’ll only benefit you, kiddo. I love you.”
She nodded as she let her father go. “Love you too. See ya then...” Azalea watched them go before going to put the plates in the sink and climbing the stairs. She stopped at Max’s doors and knocked, knowing it was about the time she’d be getting ready to bed. When she heard a soft ‘come in’, Azalea pushed opened the door.
“Hey...” She says as she walked in and closed the door. “We should talk...”
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find more on my masterlist
#obey me next gen#obey me!#obey me! shall we date?#obey me swd#obey me fluff#obey me mammon#obey me oc#aurelius#azalea#arella
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fic tag game
aaahhh @vishcount thank you for tagging me!!! These are so fun and I adored reading about your fic journey~! ೖ(⑅σ̑ᴗσ̑)ೖ ❤
OH as a note!! For the ppl I tag at the end I don’t expect you to read all of this bc it’s A Lot!!! but I figured you might want to do this game yourself? haha :)
Name: cross-d-a
shortened version of my first ever username. unfortunately stuck with it now haha but i’m fond of it :p wish it was cuter tho!!
Posting the rest of this under the cut so it doesn’t eat up people’s dashes!!
(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧
Fandoms:
oKAY YIKES there are....honestly too many too name. I’ve got a short and obsessive attention span so it’s either all or nothing with me usually. When I can stay in a fandom for a long period of time it’s a miracle. I’ll name the bigger ones that I’ve all written fic for! Even if I’ve never posted them haha
Right now I’m very firmly into Daomu Biji (dmbj). It feels like it’s both got a crap ton of content and yet barely anything at all haha. Maybe because the English fandom is so small. But at least there are a bunch of dramas and books!!! I really, really, really adore dmbj so much!! And a large part of that is the fandom!!! It's been a really cool and unique experience! Everyone in it is truly so kind and wonderful, and I’ve made some really incredible friends because of it (looking at you vish!! ❤). I’ve got a bunch of wips, but I’ve only posted two fics for dmbj!
Before this I was very into Guardian and mdzs. MDZS was my first foray into cdramas and Guardian’s Zhu Yilong really suckered me into watching more haha I also have fics for both these fandoms!
My very first fandoms were Fullmetal Alchemist, D. Gray-Man and Naruto. My very old ffnet account has fics for these and I’ve got a bunch of newer wips on my tablet. Then Star Trek, Twilight, BBC Merlin, Sherlock, Death Note, Harry Potter, How to Train Your Dragon, Battlestar Galactica, Avatar the Last Airbender and Marvel were a few of my main ones in high school. Plus a bunch of anime (like Fruits Basket! and Kuroshitsuji and Natsume Yuujinchou).
Then college hit and I renewed my childhood love of Tolkien (mainly lotr and the Hobbit), and Star Wars. I also found Teen Wolf! Then after college it was Stranger Things.
I find myself in a cycle of mild fondness and complete obsession with these fandoms haha I go back to Star Wars at least once a year!! Then I’m in the gffa hole for a few months. Marvel also reoccurs, depending on how interested I am in new content! Star Trek I always always always go back to. TOS is my comfort show and it will never fade from my heart ❤
But for now I’m stuck in cdrama hell and I love it
Tropes:
Time travel, found family, whump+hurt/comfort, fairytale-like elements, resurrective immortality (thanks to a “Nine Lives” Hobbit fic), CROSSOVERS
I’m a slut for all these things so they often worm their way into my plots haha
I also just- love weird premises. I think that’s the anime influencing me haha
Fic I spent most time on:
My series he leaves sand and stardust in my wake (main fic is hurricane on the edge of oblivion), I have...spent five years on now. I have done so much research for this fic it’s insane.
The premise is force ghost!Obi-Wan getting shunted back into his tiny 10 year old self. I incorporate a shit ton of legends and I try to stay as canon as possible. I basically want this au to feel like it’s 1000% plausible while still getting all my gay shit. It’s chock full of whump, redemption, found family, minor characters turning into major characters, and I’ve got slavery uprising on the mind, too. It’s just- everything I could ever want to explore in the Star Wars universe basically.
It’s my first big project. I started doodling and scribbling ideas in the margins of my notebook in my Scottish History class. I adore it so so so much. But, because of my hyperfixation and fleeting intense obsession with things it makes it- really difficult to consistently update. I leave it for months at a time and I am constantly guilt-ridden about it. Because it’s my baby and I have a lot of wonderful readers. I fear I’ll never be able to finish it. Especially since I’ve written so much and I’m still only in the beginning of it. ( ; A ; )
Also, I’ve spent so much time with Xanatos, Feemor and Bruck that they just feel like mine now. I can’t read any fics that involve them, it’s too strange. Which is a damn shame because I love them so much haha OH ALSO!! I think it’s the first really big fic to include those three?? So I’m very proud about that haha (I’ve had so many ppl comment about how they actually Give A Shit about these three and are Invested bc of me haha)
Favorite fic(s) you’ve written:
hurricane on the edge of oblivion (with nowhere to go) (Star Wars)
My long-term passion project. My love-letter to Star Wars, I suppose. Reading it now I feel like a lot of it is clunky or long-winded, but I think it really shows the foundation of my writing today :) Main characters are Obi-Wan, Xanatos Du Crion, Qui-Gon Jinn, Bruck Chun and Feemor. Eventually we’ll get to Maul, Savage, Feral, Shmi Skywalker, (more!) Ahsoka, Anakin and a shit ton of clones ❤
things we hunger for (Guardian)
My Ye Zun self-indulgent fic. It’s a time travel amnesia Weilanzun! Honestly has some of my fav writing I’ve ever done. It’s so soft and really indulges in the hurt/comfort. It gives Ye Zun the friends and family I think he deserves. Also, he gets to grow into a (mostly!) functional person and I adore him.
the beast that slumbers within your soul (mdzs)
Jiang Cheng centric fic!! I feel like all my favourite fics I’ve written are love letters haha. This is one def my love letter to Jiang Cheng. This fic possessed me for two whole days. I wrote 16k in almost one sitting. I went to sleep at 6 in the morning bc I couldn’t stop writing. And when I drifted off I kept thinking of new ideas so I’d whip out my phone and write down lines and notes. I- have never ever ever felt that way about anything. It was- insane. It felt insane. It was so amazing. I’m still riding the memory of that high.
Basically Jiang Cheng actually finds Baoshan Sanren and it turns out she’s a fox demon and Jiang Cheng is descended from wolves. It’s- okay I said the fic above this had my favourite writing?? That was a lie. This has my favourite writing I’ve ever done. It’s unfinished bc I am in dmbj hell but I am still excited about the next chapter which features Wei Wuxian’s pov!!
the whispers of spirits (dmbj)
My current passion project. In a way it kinda feels similar to hurricane? Bc multiple povs, incorporating different aspects of canon (we’ll get there!! I promise!), shit ton of research, etc. etc. I really really really love it for so many reasons. I’m basically taking all the things I was unsatisfied with in Reboot and Sha Hai and running with it. Found family and whump galore! It’s also a love letter to the women of dmbj who really deserve so so so much better.
Honourable mention to:
One Day (you’ll have given more of yourself than is meant to be taken) (Marvel)
This fic also kinda possessed me. I just- couldn’t get rid of the idea of a trans!Thor. And I mean a mtf Thor! It’s just? So many people look at Thor and go “that’s a Real Man.” Full stop. They never think there could be anything more, and it really really really bothered me. So I wrote out my feelings. I’m not trans. I don’t have that experience at all. I’ve had issues and confusion about my gender but nothing like this. I just wanted to do justice to this idea of Thor in my head. And I still feel a bit nervous having posted it. But I've gotten so many comments from people who really connected with what I’ve written? So I’m very very thankful I wrote it and it has a very special place in my heart. It’s a very cathartic fic.
Fic I spent least time on:
Probably we rise (Star Wars) and I think it shows haha. I wrote it in response to Dave Filoni posting a drawing of Ahsoka and Gandalf telling her “People thought I was dead, too, and look how that turned out...” So I incorporated Ahsoka (and Din and Grogu and Ezra!!!) into the ending of Rise of Skywalker, kinda explaining how I think they could all still be alive. :)
Longest fic:
hurricane is my longest fic (159k) but I’m kinda worried whispers will eclipse that.....
Shortest fic:
Of my posted ones it’s The Five Moments it Took Tony and Scott to Admit They Were Best Friends (and the first time they ever did), currently clocks at 1.6k. It’s unfinished tho so maybe that doesn’t count.... otherwise it’s we rise which is completed and 2k.
Most hits/kudos/comments/bookmarks:
hurricane overall has the most of all these. Though I don’t think hits counts as much bc it’s multi-chapter. If you discount multi-chapter stuff, most hits goes to my obikin smutfic Homecoming, bc people are horny af haha
Fic you want to rewrite/expand on:
If I had energy I’d like to rewrite the beginning of hurricane bc it feels so so wordy. I’d want to expand on One Day bc I really would like to write a whole series with trans!Thor. And like- I’d really like the focus to finish any of my WIPs.
Share a bit of a WIP:
I really wanna share my Guardian/dmbj crossover that I started back in August. Bc I adore the idea of wu xie&shen wei&ye zun triplets! Plus time travel!!! I dunno if I’ll ever finish it tho ( ; A ; ) It just feels like a lot to deal with right now.
This scene takes place during the Mountain Awl arc. Guardian crew and desperado fam run across each other at the village! Wu Xie has recently found out that he’s adopted and he’s searching for answers in the area Sanshu originally found amnesiac!toddler!Wu Xie in :) Gonna pull two snippets bc I’m v excited and this might be the only time anyone else sees this fic haha:
“Oh?” Pangzi focuses on Yunlan now, lips twisting. “You think I’ve ‘got the wrong guy,’ huh?” He laughs, but it’s not a nice sound. “That’s rich! Are you that cocky or are you just stupid?”
Bristling, Yunlan drops his hands and scowls. “Excuse me?”
“Sir,” Shen Wei tries. “I think—”
Pangzi’s eyes snap back to Shen Wei, sharp and blazing. “How dare you fucking steal his face!”
What?
Automatically, Zhao Yunlan turns to Shen Wei, but the professor looks just as shell-shocked as Zhao Yunlan feels which- is seriously something. Since everything about Shen Wei is so carefully controlled, kept to the minimum. Except for those delightful little smiles that bloom across his lovely face, or the startled little bursts of laughter that fall from his lips. Or even when anger and frustration spark across his features, cracking his calm veneer open enough that he can see a glimmer of what lies beneath, the fire in those eyes. Zhao Yunlan delights in those moments, makes a game of making Shen Wei’s control slip.
He tells himself it’s nothing more than a game. Nothing more than trying to find out what makes Shen Wei tick.
Zhao Yunlan’s always been very bad at lying to himself. Or very good. Depending on who you’re asking.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Yunlan splutters.
But before anyone can say anything else, a very familiar voice calls:
“Pangzi? What’s wrong?”
Yunlan can feel Shen Wei stiffen, and Yunlan himself is pulled to that voice like a planet in orbit, like the inevitable plummet to the ground.
Another shadow wavers in the doorway before it steps out onto the dirt. Light illuminates shaggy hair, limning it gold, sharply casting everything else in shadow. But as the figure nears, the contrast softens until Yunlan can see the newcomer’s face properly and- and—
“Wu Xie!” Pangzi growls. “We’ve got ourselves an impostor!”
The man wearing Shen Wei’s face steps up to them, brows furrowed and mouth pulled down into a sharp frown. He glances between them, eyes landing on Shen Wei. His scowl deepens. He opens his mouth, but then—
“Wu Xie?” Shen Wei breathes, all trembly and lost and hopeless.
Heart in his throat, Yunlan turns to Shen Wei again. Turns and flinches at that stricken look upon Shen Wei’s pale pinched face.
“A-Xie?” Shen Wei chokes. “Didi?”
and
Pangzi snorts. “Professor?”
“I-it’s true!”
Startled Yunlan swings his attention over to Jiajia who clenches her backpack to her chest, face screwed up in admirable determination. “P-professor Shen took me and Xiao Quan on a field trip to investigate an archeological site around here!”
“Oh?” Wu Xie drawls all slow and amused. “Well, what a coincidence. We’re archeologists, too.”
“With guns?” Yunlan bites out.
Wu Xie raises a brow, grin full of teeth. “Well, you can never be too prepared.”
“Right,” Yunlan drawls right back. “Are you a professor, too, then? You come here with your students?”
Wu Xie outright grins. “You could say that, I suppose.”
Out of the corner of his eye, one of the men rolls his eyes. He’s the one with sharp features, glasses and looped earbuds. Does he think it’s appropriate to listen to music at a time like this? Yunlan admires the man’s gall.
aahhhh vish thanks so much again for tagging me!! This was so fun to relive my fic memories!! I’m gonna tag @alwaysaslutforshakespeare @jockvillagersonly @tehfanglyfish @lichelleme @undyingsunshine @humanlighthouse @thewindsofsong I’m curious about your guys’ writing and fandom journey!! As always, no pressure to actually complete this!! I just thought it was fun ❤
Wow if you read all of this I am very humbled and impressed, thank you!!
╰(*´︶`*)╯♡
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Fight or Flight - Chapter 6: Next
Pairing: Drake Walker x MC (Riley Liu)
Book: The Royal Heir (canon divergent from the end of book 2)
Word Count: ~5500
Rating: PG-13 (rare language)
Summary: Eighteen hours since The Walker Absconding
Author’s Note: Sorry again for the delay on this one! I know PB has basically turned the laws of Cordonia into whatever they need them to be for plot reasons, but that’s not sufficient for me, so I am trying to construct some sort of framework based on what we know from TRM, ROE, and TRR/TRH. We’ll see how it goes...
This series follows the Walkers, their friends, and Cordonia as a whole after they flee the country with their daughter during Barthelemy Beaumont’s attempted coup. To catch up on this series, check out it’s masterlist. (link can be found via my bio - sorry, Tumblr is once again not putting my posts with links in tag searches)
“Riley… Hey, Riley.”
Riley’s eyes fluttered open as she felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Drake whispering her name, tugging her awake. It took her a few seconds to place herself as she glanced around the room. She reached for the nightstand with a fumbling hand before she remembered she didn’t have her glasses. She squinted at Drake. Thankfully, he’d crouched down in front of her, so he was at least in focus, even if the rest of the hotel room was a giant blur.
“Is everything okay?”
Drake nodded, running a hand over his chin. He was already showered, shaved, and dressed in a grey t-shirt and a pair of jeans. “I am going to go to the bakery across the street and see if any of the locals can point me towards a cheap, used car dealership.”
“Okay. I don’t think I’m going to be much help.” She’d always meant to learn Greek since moving to Cordonia, but she’d only ever gotten around to learning a handful of words. After all, official court business was always conducted in English, and most of the citizens of Valtoria were bilingual, so there had never really been a need. Until now apparently. It’s not that no one in Ioannina spoke English, but it wasn’t as common as she was used to. Even last night, she’d been utterly dependent on Drake to discuss what they needed in a hotel room with the man at the front desk.
“Yeah, that’s why I thought you might want to just stay here with Bridget.” At his statement, they both instinctively looked down at their daughter, still sleeping soundly along Riley’s side. Riley knew it wasn’t ideal that they decided to let her sleep in the same bed with them last night, but they didn’t really have any other options when the hotel employee told Drake there were no cribs available. And truth be told, Riley hadn’t wanted to let Bridget leave her side. Things were still too raw, too fresh.
“You don’t want me to come along?”
Drake shook his head slowly as he gently placed a hand on Bridget’s head. “I just figured it might be nice for her to be able to crawl and play and all that. Try and make things a little more normal for her, I guess.”
He did have a point. Normally, Bridget was able to crawl around and explore while they were taking meetings at Valtoria. Even on days where they had to go to the palace, one of them usually stuck with Bridget in her room there while the other handled all the official business. And Bridget was definitely at an age where she wanted to move about her environment. She didn’t like being restrained for too long.
“Okay. So you’re just going to get us a car then?”
He paused for a moment. “I think we need more than a car, Riley. I’m gonna try and find somewhere that sells outdoor supplies and camping gear. Plus a travel crib and a car seat for her. Maybe some toys, too.”
“You think we’re going to have to camp out to stay safe?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “I would rather have a tent and some sleeping bags and not need them than have to panic and hide out with nothing.”
She swallowed roughly before she responded, staring down at their daughter, still passed out and oblivious to everything that had transpired in the past day. “How bad do you think things are going to get for us, Drake?”
He didn’t answer her right away, so after a few seconds she looked up and found him staring at her intently. “I have no idea. This will probably all just be a wild story if Liam keeps his title, but if Barthelemy succeeds… fuck, Riley. Every law enforcement agent in the EU will have the right to arrest us for kidnapping and send us back.”
“This is insanity. She’s our kid. Why would other countries recognize us traveling with her as a kidnapping?”
There was another pause as Drake glanced down, staring at the floor. “Because she’s Cordonia’s kid before she’s our kid. And kidnapping is one of the crimes that doesn’t require criminality verification in the arresting country under a European Arrest Warrant.” She just stared at him, wondering why this was yet another piece of random trivia he knew. As if he could read her thoughts, he glanced up and continued, “I did some research when I couldn’t sleep last night.”
“So another country would really just send us back for taking her out of Cordonia?”
“She’s legally Cordonia’s child.”
Riley sighed, trying to keep tears of frustration from forming. She’d cried enough yesterday, she didn’t need Drake thinking she wasn’t up to this again. But it just was a shitty situation. One they never should have been in at all.
“It’s not right, Drake.”
“No, it’s not. But it’s a little late to change that fact now.”
A wave of guilt washed over Riley as his words hung in the air. She could have put a stop to this bullshit long ago. She should have put a stop to it. And now everything was teetering on the edge of disaster. But she had to get a grip. She was not going to be an emotional mess today. So she took one last deep breath before responding to Drake.
“I think your plan makes sense. Can you stay with her while I get cleaned up before you go?”
Drake frowned just slightly, clearly wondering about the slight redirection of their conversation, but he nodded slowly, scooping up Bridget laying her across his chest as he settled down on top of the covers while Riley dug through the bag of clothing, trying to find something to wear.
As she showered, the lukewarm-at-best water pelting over her hair and skin, she tried to keep her thoughts from spiraling. Things were bad, but they could have been worse. They were together. They were able to withdraw money yesterday, so their accounts weren’t frozen yet. And they had some of their basic needs covered, thanks to Ray.
Ray had bought them several changes of clothing, some basic toiletries, more diapers and formula, and a few days of food before returning to Cordonia. He hadn’t let them pay for any of it, which was far too kind considering they’d lied to him and possibly made him an accessory to kidnapping. But he’d remained helpful and unfazed when they’d confessed that Lythikos was supposed to be their destination, not Greece. And he’d gotten them fairly well set up before he got back in the town car to return to Cordonia, a much appreciated kindness.
She wondered how things had gone when he spoke to Olivia, how pissed off she was about it all. Olivia hadn’t called them since they told her they were committed to staying away from Cordonia, so Riley had no idea how she was handling everything or how the hearing went. Hana had called again last night. She was alone at their home, trying to pack up a few of their personal belongings in hopes of getting them to them at some point if needed. She’d been kind and gentle, asking if there were certain items of clothing or specific toys that should be a priority. Riley didn’t know how Hana intended to get those belongings to them, but it was a sweet gesture. Even though she knew Hana wished they’d stayed in Cordonia, she felt grateful that her friend was trying to help them, even if she disagreed with Riley’s actions.
So there were some silver linings. But overall, things felt overwhelming and out of control. Riley had known somewhere in her mind that things were going to be horrible and stressful and mad difficult when she’d decided to get Bridget out of Cordonia as quickly as possible yesterday. But after a little sleep - admittedly very little given how upset she was about everything - things felt like they could quickly become insurmountable.
But she just couldn’t bring herself to head back for Cordonia. No matter how many worries she had about how the three of them were going to get through things going forward, there was a better chance of them being together through it all outside that country, and she just felt safer, knowing there would at least be more difficulties for Barthelemy and any of his posse to get their hands on her daughter. Nothing about Cordonia was safe. And while she wished she’d been able to recognize that earlier, she couldn’t go back now. Not when it finally felt like her eyes were open.
Stepping out of the shower, she quickly dressed and ran a comb through her hair, brushing her teeth and popping in her contacts before leaving the bathroom. She heard Bridget’s giggles and babbles right away. Turning into the main part of the small hotel room, she saw Drake sitting on the edge of the bed, bouncing Bridget on his knees as he held her in a standing position. She loved being stood upright like that, and it seemed like she’d be pulling up to stand on her own any day now.
When Drake saw Riley, he scooped Bridget into his arms and scooted off the bed. “She only woke up about 10 minutes ago. I can feed her before I head out if you want.”
“No, I’ve got it,” Riley said with a little shake of her head, taking Bridget as she got out a bottle, the formula, and a bottle of water. She was a bit surprised to see Drake digging through the diaper bag, pulling out all the money they’d managed to withdraw from their accounts yesterday. They’d both hemmed and hawed about pulling funds from the accounts tied to Valtoria, but eventually decided on doing it. After all, compared to kidnapping and treason, embezzlement charges were really just a drop in the ocean.
“You’re taking all the cash?”
“We haven’t heard from Olivia or Hana since last evening. Either things are still in progress, or they can’t safely get in touch with us. If it’s the latter, our accounts might be frozen now. I need to be prepared.”
Riley didn’t like the thought of being left without any money, even if she knew Drake was right. It left her feeling vulnerable, or rather even more vulnerable. She couldn’t help it, and a small, shaky little sigh escaped.
Drake pivoted to look at her, his eyes intense. “I’m trusting you not to take off with my kid while I’m gone. It seems like the least you could do is trust me not to take off with the money.”
There was just a hint of bitterness in his voice, but mostly he just sounded tired. Riley knew she was being callous with him. It was just hard to not let all her fears and worries spill over into everything she did and said at this point.
“You’re right; I’m sorry,” she said as she shook up the bottle of formula.
Drake let out a sigh, tucked the money in his wallet, and dropped a kiss on both her and Bridget’s foreheads. “Hopefully, I’ll be back in a few hours. Call if you need me, okay?”
She nodded and gave him a small little smile, but then he was off, hopefully to pull more cash and to get them some transportation. It was just her and Bridget, and even though that was her initial plan yesterday, it felt very lonely at the moment.
“Oh, Peanut. Mama has turned Daddy into a fugitive,” she cooed, giving Bridget the bottle. Figuring she should probably put this time to good use, she grabbed her phone quickly while Bridget actually had a good grasp on the bottle and sat down on the end of the bed, pulling up “How to run from law enforcement” as a search. At this point, they were going to be able to trace their ATM withdrawals anyway. If they somehow got ahold of her digital records from this phone, well, this search wouldn’t tell them anything they didn’t already know. Better to be at least a little prepared when Drake got back and they had to plan their next steps.
After reading for a few minutes, Riley swiped open her contacts list and tapped Drake’s name at the top of her favorites list. He answered almost instantly.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, we’re fine. I just have something else you should buy.”
“What?”
“Burner phones.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was almost like deja vu, sitting in the same seat in the same courtroom as once again everyone rose to their feet except Barthelemy and himself. This time, Liam knew that staying seated would probably not be an option when the justice left the courtroom. He probably should have risen now, to be honest. The no-confidence vote that happened this morning was almost certainly going to stand. But Liam wasn’t ready to look defeated. He would wait until this hearing concluded before deferring and recognizing that anyone else might hold the power of the crown.
The parties present today were almost identical to last night, with the addition of Hakim and Kiara on Barthelemy’s side and Hana on his. Normally, a different High Court justice would have been assigned since High Justice Questa had literally just ruled on an emergency hearing, but given that the same parties were named, she had volunteered to see this through. The usher waited until she sat down before once again announcing that all parties had been sworn in. As soon as he was finished, the justice looked from desk to desk, annoyance clearly written all over her face. It wasn’t surprising, but it didn’t bode well for either legal team.
“Not even 24 hours later, gentlemen? You really are determined to not let me have my weekend, aren’t you?” High Justice Questa said with a sigh and a shake of her head. “Did we manage to actually legally call the Conventus Nobilis today? It looks like it was all in order based on this documentation from both parties,” she said as she flipped through stacks of paper, “a no-confidence vote that passed with a margin of three to two and installed the patriarch of House Beaumont as king-regent, so I’m not sure what your case is, Mr. Rys.”
Liam fought to keep his face steady. He’d been expecting it, mentally preparing for it, but hearing his surname used instead of his title, a surname that he almost never had needed in his life still burned inside him, a deep pain and sense of failure, both on a personal and public level.
“Your Honor, my client is not challenging the loss of his power. He is now acting as a concerned citizen who believes that the transfer of power to the defendant was illegally performed,” Diana stated calmly as she rose and leaned in to the microphone.
“A concerned citizen? Right, I’m sure that’s his only motivation. Regardless, the brief you submitted is compelling. There obviously isn’t a large amount of precedent for me to base my decision on, so I am going to carefully listen to oral arguments to supplement and clarify the briefs both parties submitted. Additionally, depending on the intricacies of how different historical and modern laws intersect with this… unusual combination of circumstances, I may just offer a provisional ruling with a formal hearing scheduled in front of the full High Court as soon as possible if I feel this is too complex and unprecedented to be decided by just myself. Do both parties understand?”
Both Diana and Charles acknowledged her statement, then Diana delved into her arguments.
“Your Honor, if a reigning monarch is removed from the throne, the law clearly states that next in line for the throne should assume a role of king- or queen-regent until a Conclave can be held, at which time the major noble houses will determine the new royal line. Additionally, Cordonian law states that any direct heirs to the throne who have not come of age should have at least two regents recorded in case of their ascension to the throne before they reach adulthood. Given that these two laws are clear, I do not believe that the results of the Conventus Nobilis vote can legally do any more than remove my client from power. The major houses do not have the power to name anyone they’d like as regent.
“Bridget Walker is the clear queen-regent at this point, Your Honor, and the documentation submitted with her anointing named the Duchess and Duke of Valtoria as her regents. Therefore, it is our contention that one of them should serve as regent until a Conclave can legally occur. It seems like the most logical conclusion from the laws on file.”
“The issue, Diana, is that both the Duchess and Duke of Valtoria were named in the no-confidence vote as well. At least, that’s what I assume you are going to tell me, Charles,” High Justice Questa said as she turned slightly in her chair to face the defense desk.
“Indeed, Your Honor. The results of that vote clearly indicate that the majority of the major noble houses fear for our country’s well-being and prosperity if either of the Walkers are allowed to serve this country as regent. My client has graciously offered to step into that role, seeing as the Duchess of Valtoria was sponsored by House Beaumont and is therefore an honorary member.”
“Your issue, Charles, is that your client can’t legally do that,” High Justice Questa added, tilting her head and raising her eyebrows. The fact that she was tearing through Barthelemy’s team’s arguments just as quickly as she had their own was a small reassurance.
“He may have offered his services, but the majority of the noble houses support his regency as well.”
“Yes, but they don’t have that power either. They only get to name a new monarch, acting or otherwise, during a Conclave. And the vote today was not a Conclave, was it Charles?”
“No, Your Honor. A Conclave has to occur at the end of a Social Season.”
“Exactly. The regents for an heir who is too young to rule are decided by the reigning monarch at the time of the heir’s anointment, not by anyone else. In this case, since our new Queen-Regent was not born into the royal bloodline, but established in her position via Royal Decree, it is a noted precedent to allow the child’s parents to have a say in who is named as his or her regents. Why your client has decided he can just sidestep all of that is concerning. He’s claimed the power of the law for himself while being ignorant of our country’s laws at best, or with a willful disregard for them at worst. And quite frankly, the fact that the actual head of House Beaumont, his elder son, voted against him is not exactly a ringing endorsement.”
“Your Honor, someone needs to act as Queen-Regent Bridget’s regent!”
“Indeed, but not your client. The High Court does not recognize Lord Beaumont as acting regent at this time. Now, Diana,” High Justice Questa continued, not missing a beat, “your client was the reigning monarch at the time of Queen-Regent Bridget’s anointing. I see in your briefs that he has offered up two alternative regents for Queen-Regent Bridget - Lady Hana Lee or Lord Maxwell Beaumont.”
This had been part of their strategy, devised wearily sometime after 2 am and numerous cups of coffee. Since it was unlikely that the no-confidence vote was going to go their way, Diana had suggested naming alternate regents for Bridget, ones that would both be more sympathetic to his cause and that would be believable as alternate choices from Drake and Riley. Picking Hana and Maxwell had been the obvious choice.
“Your Honor!” Charles called out upon hearing those names, but he immediately quieted and sat back down when High Justice Questa raised her hand. She nodded at Diana, indicating she should continue in spite of the outburst from the opposing legal team.
“Yes, Your Honor. They are Queen-Regent Bridget’s godparents, indicating that the Duchess and Duke of Valtoria would have approved of either of them for this role, and my client is in total agreement.”
The justice didn’t respond immediately, but started flipping through a briefing, skimming a section when she arrived at the part she clearly wanted to discuss. Liam knew this was going to be their largest issue. They’d attempted to word the briefing carefully, not making it immediately apparent that Drake and Riley hadn’t actually been involved with the decision to name Hana and Maxwell up as alternative regents. But Questa was quick, and she had a great mind for details. The fact that this was the point in the hearing that she was explicitly referencing the text did not bode well for them.
“Diana, I’m looking at your wording here, where you mention your client’s reasoning for naming those two as possibilities for this role. Neither in your statement just now nor in this document do you ever quote the Walkers to indicate their approval. Is there a reason for this?”
Diana tried to be subtle, but Liam noticed her taking a deep breath before she responded, “Your Honor, we didn’t have a chance to speak to them directly. However, their-”
“I’m going to stop you right there. You didn’t have a chance to talk to them? Really?” Whatever scorn Questa held for Barthelemy, Liam felt it directed his way now, but at least doubled or tripled. She’d seen right through their little bluff.
“Everything has been so rushed, Your Honor,” Diana tried to justify, but Liam knew there was no salvaging this situation at this point.
“It seems like talking to the Duchess and Duke of Valtoria should have been high on your priority list to me. Common sense would indicate that if your argument was that those two individuals, in addition to your client, are responsible for naming a regent, actually getting them to name a regent would be pretty important to your case. So tell me, why haven’t you spoken to them regarding this matter? In fact, why aren’t they here in person? Last night I figured they had already put their daughter to sleep and were reluctant to leave her, but it’s-” she glanced quickly at her watch “-not even 5 pm. This seems like an important hearing for their family.”
“I haven’t been able to get in touch with them, Your Honor.”
High Justice Questa’s shoulders sagged slightly before she asked the question Liam was dreading. “Does your client even know their location at this time?”
Diana leaned over to him and whispered, “How do you want to play this, sir?”
He’d pulled Diana aside last night and informed her that Drake, Riley, and Bridget had likely fled the country, and that he had been choosing to stay ignorant of any information that would confirm that fact. She’d encouraged him to report his suspicions officially right then, insisting that he was her client, not them, but Liam didn’t feel throwing them to the wolves was the correct call. He was frustrated and personally hurt, but he knew there was no malice behind their actions. Besides, it wasn’t likely to improve his situation. So, he’d insisted on sticking to his technical ignorance then, and he had no intention of deviating from that plan now.
“As we discussed, Diana”
With a little nod, she returned to her microphone. “He believes that they headed to Lythikos at the invitation of Duchess Nevrakis for some privacy, but he hasn’t spoken to them since they were on the road.”
Questa’s reaction was immediate, her eyes closing and a hand rubbing roughly over them. She looked completely done with the actions of everyone in the room. Liam honestly couldn’t blame her. He was well aware that from an outside perspective, both he and Barthelemy looked like bumbling fools at the moment. On the other side of the courtroom, Liam noticed significant whispering and chatter. Clearly, Barthelemy’s camp was speculating on what that statement meant.
“Well, you all have decided to make this as messy as possible, haven’t you?” High Justice Questa mused to the room, interrupting all the side conversations. “Alright, this is what we’re going to do. I’m calling a recess until tomorrow at 9 am to allow the prosecution time to produce the Walkers. No statements, no hearsay, no speculation, they will be here in my court. If they are not present, sanctions will be issued, and the standing of their house and titles will be subject to review.
“As for the matter of Queen-Regent Bridget’s regent, that will be decided with or without their input at that time. If they are not produced, Mr. Rys will make the determination on his own. However, I would urge Mr. Rys to reconsider his choices for that role, because based on the reaction to the names you provided from the defense desk, I envision yet another summoning of the Conventus Nobilis if either of them get installed as regent. And if you think I’m impatient now, you do not want to see me if I am forced to preside over another emergency hearing.”
She paused for a moment, giving both desks intense, meaningful stares before continuing to issue her decision.
“Now, as we are currently left with no clear agent to act as monarch, I will defer to several old Cordonian statutes. First, a king or queen who is too young to rule will be overseen by a regent who is the next in line for the throne over the age of majority, unless otherwise specified. Given that the Walkers are not eligible anymore due to the vote of no confidence, we will proceed through succession. Seeing as Mr. Rys is the last in his family line and our new queen-regent obviously has no heirs, based on the foundational statutes, Cordonia would revert to Nevrakis rule. Good news is the head of House Nevrakis is here and now knows she’s Queen-Regent for the next handful of hours. This is a provisional appointment only, as it is customary to allow a few days to establish a regency, and a new regent is set to be named tomorrow, so the powers of the monarch will only be enacted in emergency situations. Is that clear?” she asked, staring past Liam to where Oliva was seated.
“Yes, Your Honor.” Liam heard Olivia say from behind him, loud and clear even without a microphone. Olivia gaining power was an obvious victory today, but only a temporary one. If they attempted to leave her in power, Barthelmey would undoubtedly call for another vote from the Conventus Nobilis.
Upon hearing her response, Questa turned slightly towards the defense desk. Barthelemy was clearly fuming, but she continued speaking before that legal team could get a word out. “And before you get all outraged, Charles, I would encourage you to use this as motivation to urge your client to strongly consider letting the regent presented tomorrow stand instead of challenging yet another leader. Because the longer it takes for these two parties to reach an agreement, the longer she-” High Justice Questa said as she gestured to Olivia “-retains provisional powers of the monarch, something I’m guessing your client does not desire. Is everyone clear of my expectations?”
Murmurs of assent came from both desks, following which Questa gave a curt nod and tapped her gavel, bringing the hearing to a close for the day. Liam rose to watch her leave. He had now officially lost the right to stay seated. Oddly, he felt almost numb about that fact. There were so many other things happening that required his attention.
He was expected to bring Drake and Riley to court tomorrow, and he was fairly certain that would not be a task that was possible for him to complete. This meant he needed to find another possible regent, one that Barthelemy and his allies would not attempt to remove from the throne but who would also be unlikely to bend to Barthelemy’s whims and schemes. Realistically, he needed to figure out Barthelemy’s endgame here. It would help him better plan for his next steps, including a bid to retake the throne at the Conclave, and if he was lucky, in the short term, it might even help him determine someone to suggest as regent who would be willing to show leniency to Drake and Riley. Allow him the chance to convince them to return to Cordonia, although the fact that Bridget was now the queen-regent did complicate matters more.
He saw Barthelemy approaching him, but Diana stopped him. “I’m sorry, but since this hearing is still pending, I’ve advised my client to not speak to you directly at this time.”
He let out a little huff, but went to rejoin his lawyers, allowing Liam to turn to Olivia, Hana, Maxwell, and Bertrand, all huddled in a little cluster behind him.
“How are you, Liam?” Hana asked, patting his shoulder gently with her hand, her eyes full of concern and worry.
“It is all a lot to process at the moment, but today could have gone worse, I suppose,” Liam responded, trying to keep his voice calm. Any emotional response on his part needed to wait until they were someplace private. “I guess we need to find a place to reconvene now that the palace is no longer an option.”
Olivia frowned, “Who says it’s not an option? If I’m the provisional regent, I think we can easily return for tonight.”
“Are the optics of that wise? I wouldn’t want it to look like you were abusing the temporary powers Questa granted you.”
She just shrugged. “I honestly don’t care. They can’t touch me in any way that matters, and it’s not like I’ll be making a bid during the Conclave since I’ll be sponsoring you.”
Her nonchalant statement gave Liam pause. Although the Rys lineage could be traced back for hundreds of years, House Rys wasn’t one of the five major houses and therefore could not put up a candidate. He hoped she was comfortable with that offer and didn’t resent him for taking away her chance to be queen. The tone of her voice was just so matter-of-fact and resigned, and it made Liam wonder. But for now, he needed to focus on the short term, not the long term.
“I suppose it might be nice to clean out my office,” he said, soft enough that he was sure no one but the people right next to him could hear. The last thing he needed was Barthelemy to somehow get his hands on all sorts of official documents and start combing through them.
Olivia gave him a crisp nod of agreement before spinning to face Maxwell and Bertrand. “Alright you two - Ramsford first. Bertrand, repeat after me, ‘Documents detailing my father’s incompetence are more important than heirloom cutlery.’”
“Lady Olivia, I hardly-”
“It’s now ‘Your Regency, Bertrand,” she said, throwing in a little wink and chuckle as Bertrand started to sputter out apologies. “Seriously though. Maxwell, you need to keep him focused. Preventing your father from gaining control of House Beaumont is imperative.
“After you’re done at Ramsford, head to Lythikos. Now, Maxwell, repeat after me. ‘Literally anything I want to touch will probably maim or kill me, so I will touch nothing but my pillow.’ Bertrand, I’m counting on you from stopping him from causing serious bodily harm to himself or others.”
After the brothers expressed their agreement and left the courtroom, Liam noticed Olivia and Hana shooting glances towards each other. There was no one left in the room but Diana and the junior attorney with her today, Nicolas, so whatever they were silently communicating must be something that they wanted to keep from the legal team.
“Diana, Nicolas, we are meeting back at the palace. We can probably use the monarch’s office for tonight. But starting tomorrow, we will likely be relocating-” he glanced at Olivia, who nodded deeply “-to Lythikos. If you two wouldn’t mind heading back to the palace and determining who on the team is still willing to serve as my legal counsel now that I am no longer king, that would be a helpful next step. Say we meet up again in one hour?”
The lawyers agreed to the plan, leaving Liam alone with Olivia and Hana. “Alright, what couldn’t you bring up until they left?”
Hana passed him a sheet of paper. On it were two phone numbers, written in perfect cursive.
“What’s this?”
“Since you no longer are king, we thought maybe you would not want to be left in the dark anymore.”
It only took him a second to realize what Hana was saying and what the phone numbers implied.
“They got burner phones?”
Olivia let out a little sigh. “Yup. And if you want to talk to them, our next step should be getting you one, too.”
Permatag: @walkerswhiskeygirl @riley--walker @bebepac @ravenpuff02 @oofchoices @octobereighth @drakewalker04 @kimmiedoo5 @mfackenthal @thequeenofcronuts
The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir: @ao719 @mskaneko @katedrakeohd @jovialyouthmusic @marshmallowsandfire @axwalker @kingliam2019 @sirbeepsalot @texaskitten30 @princessleac1 @ladyangel70 @dcbbw @yaushie
Drake x MC: @drakeandcamilleofvaltoria @iplaydrake @gibbles82 @drakewalkerisreal @notoriouscs @drakesensworld @drake-colt-lover-99
Fight or Flight: @masterofbluff @burnsoslow @bobasheebaby @shz256 @iaminlovewithtrr
#drake walker#drake x mc#trr fanfic#trh fanfic#trr au#trh au#trr au fanfic#trh au fanfic#king liam#choices fanfiction
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Among Us: CR3WM8TS
Updates Required (part 1)
——————————————
With the ship launched and crew settled, it’s time to get to work. Which, for Bunbun, means updating. How smoothly that goes depends on the crewmates in charge... Bunbun’s hoping she’s in good company.
Featuring appearances by River and Lemon!
Among Us archive/askblog
Fic chapters post
——————————————
Ok so originally I wanted to keep all this together, but decided it’d be better to chop it into pieces. That way I can keep my momentum, keep posting for y’all, and still intro y’all to the crew as things get moving! Hope u guys enjoy!!!
===+===+===
Mission Log 2
Ship Model: SKELD D34-H120
Designation: SUPPLY TRANSPORT, EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF SECTOR G PLANETS
Crewmate Count: 9
Crewmate Colors: DARK GREEN, WHITE, PURPLE, DARK BLUE, YELLOW, RED, LIME, BLACK, PINK
Location: SECTOR E
Ship Status: JUST LAUNCHED
Course: PLANET 326-OCE-894 - SECTOR G
Systems:
Navigation: COURSE INLAID / STABLE
Engines: UPPER - ONLINE, TANK FULL / LOWER - ONLINE, TANK FULL / OUTPUT ALIGNED
Reactor: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
O2: STABLE
Electrical: STABLE
Communications: ONLINE
Shields: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
Weapons: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
Security: CAMERAS ONLINE / ALL FUNCTIONAL
Administration: MAP ONLINE / CONNECTION SECURE / SHIP FILES UP TO DATE / ALL CREW ACCOUNTED FOR
Medbay: EQUIPMENT ONLINE / FUNCTIONAL / CREW FILES UP TO DATE
Supplies: FULL
Storage Chutes: CLEAR
Vents: CLEAR
Notes: crewmate PINK settled quickly. Launch was successful, no issues of note. Supplies loaded, all systems functioning optimally. PINK noted many systems need updated - updates will be performed in transit. All crew accounted for
===+===+===
Mission Log 3
Ship Model: SKELD D34-H120
Designation: SUPPLY TRANSPORT, EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF SECTOR G PLANETS
Crewmate Count: 9
Crewmate Colors: DARK GREEN, WHITE, PURPLE, DARK BLUE, YELLOW, RED, LIME, BLACK, PINK
Location: SECTOR F
Ship Status: IN TRANSIT
Course: PLANET 326-OCE-894 - SECTOR G
Systems:
Navigation: COURSE INLAID / STABLE / UPDATES NEEDED
Engines: UPPER - ONLINE, TANK 0.98 / LOWER - ONLINE, TANK 0.97 / ALIGNMENT UPDATES NEEDED
Reactor: OFFLINE - UPDATES NEEDED / RESERVE POWER FUNCTIONAL
O2: STABLE
Electrical: CALIBRATOR OFFLINE
Communications: ONLINE / UPDATES NEEDED
Shields: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
Weapons: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
Security: CAMERAS OFFLINE - UPDATES NEEDED
Administration: MAP OFFLINE - UPDATES NEEDED / CONNECTION SECURE / SHIP FILES UP TO DATE / ALL CREW ACCOUNTED FOR
Medbay: EQUIPMENT OFFLINE - UPDATES NEEDED / FUNCTIONAL / CREW FILES UP TO DATE
Supplies: FULL
Storage Chutes: CLEAR
Vents: CLEAR
Notes: travel into sector F uneventful. Many systems functioning on reserve power temporarily, as updates are needed. PINK identified systems in need of updates. Updates will be performed today under DARK BLUE supervision. Other crew performing normal activities.
===+===+===
Bunbun stood in the hall next to security, foot tapping nervously. If her hands weren’t clutched tight around her tablet, they’d be caught up in her hair, or fidgeting with her bandanna. It was just a routine ship update. Yes, most of the systems needed it. Yes, she was being supervised by a stranger. But it was nothing she hadn’t done before. She knew the ship layout. So did her new crewmate. It was just… extra precautionary measures.
Nobody quite knew who they were dealing with nowadays.
It didn’t seem like the door to security was about to spring open. It had been closed for all ten minutes she’d stood there. Captain Groud said it was nothing to worry about. Dark blue- or River, as the crew called him- often shut himself into security. At least, he seemed to do it a lot. If the doors are faulty, we’ll know soon enough, Bunbun thought ruefully.
She tapped on her tablet screen, sighing softly at its comforting glow. Her task list was still updating. She watched the number in the upper left tick slowly upward. Yeah. She’d be busy alright. A quick glance at the map confirmed what she already knew- the ship had a standard SKELD layout. A little pink icon stood right outside security. Crew Locator and Tablet Sync are working just fine, she thought. Good. Swiping to the right, the live feed of ship’s systems now lit up her screen. The amount of “OFFLINE” and “UPDATES NEEDED” made her snort.
“HQ really doesn’t take care of their older ships, huh?” she muttered. Scrolling down, her eyes swiftly located the vent status. “CLEAR,” declared the system. “Clear,” Bunbun echoed, sighing. For now, at least, she could quell any suspicions of River.
Speaking of which, the telltale clunk and hiss of an opening door announced his presence. Bunbun straightened up quickly, standing to attention as the door split and slid into the wall. A crewmate in a dark blue suit stood in the doorway. A faded blue security cap was jammed down low over his unkempt ashy blonde hair. His green eyes were ringed with a raccoon’s mask. All in all, he looked like a standard security crewmate. Though his bored look and slouched posture said he might be a little put out by his recent assignment. Bunbun tried for a smile and wave. She opened her mouth to speak, voice a little shaky.
“Um, hi, I’m-”
“Bunbun, right? The new crewmate?” River interjected, a brow raised. “Yeah. Guessed as much. Haven’t had a pink around here for awhile.”
“Er- right,” Bunbun stammered, a little taken aback. Interrupting? And… ‘a pink’? Someone was a little annoyed. “I’m… I’m here for the-”
“Yeah, the updates, I know,” River said bluntly. Bun’s face reddened a bit. Was she overexplaining? Or was he just in a bad mood? She wasn’t quite sure. Yawning, River made a shooing motion. “Let’s get this over with, ok? I’ve got cams to watch, and I can’t do that if they’re all offline.”
“Of-of course, sir. I’ll get on it,” she twittered. She quickly scooted around him, eyes downcast. Talk about a tough crowd, she thought grimly.
She took quick stock of the room as she entered. The monitors on the far wall were all dark. The desk along the back had piles of unorganized papers. Records that needed to go to HQ, she’d guess. The vent lay dusty and undisturbed in the back. With the maintenance panel closed and no other ideas, she wandered over to the flashing bulbs near the monitors. The bulbs were blinking red intermittently. Though, from what she saw, she was surprised anything was happening at all. The lights were indicators on an old, massive computer system, split between two shelves. Bunbun hadn’t seen a system like this since her academy trip to the ship tech museum. She gave a low whistle as she hooked up her tablet. Wait till everyone learns I worked with one of the old old models…
“You really think you can update that thing?” River called from the doorway. He was leaned against it, arms crossed and gaze impatient. “Or anything here, really. This bucket of junk has been outta the loop for years. It’d probably short circuit with new input.”
Bunbun looked back at him a little indignantly. She could understand being irritated with new crew members. It happens. New recruits often get things backwards, or bite off more than she could chew. But she wasn’t new. Her recommendation was high enough to have her bouncing all over. And doubting her skill? The one thing they brought her here for? That was going too far. Standing a little straighter, she held her tablet like a manager with a clipboard.
“Even if things go a little haywire, this ship hasn’t dealt with me yet,” she replied. “I’ll get it running.”
“Is that so?” River snorted.
“I could make ship software run on a half dead toaster.”
“Yeah yeah. I bet you could.”
Bunbun didn’t miss his eye roll. She just shook her head. Fine. If he wanted to be difficult, he could. But she was going to do her job whether River thought it possible or not.
Raising her tablet, she tilted her head at the screen. She’d never been so relieved to keep the same tablet regardless of assignment. Working with a new one after being used to her personal upgrades would be a nightmare. The data whizzed past at an astonishing speed. Her gaze picked out the important stuff. The camera system was still functioning well, it just had a couple minor bugs. That was an easy fix.
First off, the camera movement program had become a little glitchy. Old camera feed confirmed this- the cameras just jerked around sharply instead of sliding smoothly in circles. It only took a moment to find the problem code, pulling and replacing it with a patch she’d worked out years ago. Just for the fun of it, she slid in an extra bit of code. Just to keep the camera movement unexpected. Made the feed edges much harder to track from the outside, even if the cameras weren’t physically going anywhere. After that, she did a little survey of the feed record system. A few more patches here and there, and it was running properly again.
Bunbun smiled to herself as she closed out the security system, booting up the cameras on her way out. The monitors flickered back to life as she unplugged her tablet.
And it had only been eight minutes.
Bunbun looked over at River just in time to see him wiping an impressed look off his face. Her smug smile just earned another eye roll.
“Ok. Maybe you know what you’re doing. But we got a lot more to get to,” he grumbled, “so you better be just as quick.”
“Repair can’t be rushed,” Bunbun pointed out, “but I’ll do what I can.”
“Good.”
With that, River turned on his heel and left. Bunbun had to run to catch up with him. Despite supposedly sitting around in security all day, the guy moved fast. What was he in a hurry for?
“You coming?” he called, standing in the middle of the reactor room.
“Yes- yes, sorry-” she stammered, slowing to a stop in the doorway.
The reactor towered over her in the back of the room. Glowing pulses slid from the main machine to cables inlaid in the floor. The whole place was awe inspiring.
And very scary.
Things could go very wrong very fast if she wasn’t careful.
“Well…?” River prompted, gesturing around him. “You gonna do your thing?”
“Of… of course,” Bun replied, nervously striding over to the control panel. “It’s just been awhile since I’ve worked with the reactor.” That’s usually left to the experts.
“Well, let’s hope you know what you’re doing,” River grumbled.
As he wandered away to lean on the wall, Bunbun nervously eyed the control panel. The startup mechanism was just as she remembered it. An older model, sure, but the light up cube pattern and well worn keypad looked about the same. Glad I’ve got that going for me, she thought ruefully. As for updating the thing, though, she… didn’t have a clue. Looking around for a place to plug in her tablet was unsuccessful. It didn’t look like it had a touch interface either. Not besides the keypad, anyway. She didn’t want to try wrangling code with that. The only other options she had were with the manifolds- not wise, as fiddling with those could cause a meltdown- or with one of the hand scanners. Her memory told her those wouldn’t do. They were for biological input, not technical. Bunbun bit her lip, looking back down at the control panel. What to do, what to do…?
“Ay, what’s the holdup?” River called, making her jump. His shadowed eyes were narrowed, and his arms held tight across his chest. She stammered for a minute as she tried to compose herself.
“I- I’m sorry, I’m, u-um, not used to working with reactor equipment- I- I can’t f-find where to, u-um, plug in my t-tablet-”
“For the love of- ghhhhhhhhhh-” River strode quickly to her side. Gesturing to the control panel, he gave her a withering look. “You got my cams working in two seconds. What’s so hard about this? You just take the tablet, get it hooked up-”
“B-but if I don’t find the r-right place-”
“You try again, and you get to work-”
“B-but the reactor is delicate-”
“So be careful then!”
Bunbun was cowering behind her tablet by now. She didn’t know what to do, River was not helping, and she wished she could just get out of-
“HEY! What’s the big idea?!” A voice shouted from the door.
It made Bunbun jump, and River freeze. She took the opportunity to take a step back and turn towards the doorway. In it stood a crewmate with a bright yellow suit. His short, shocking red hair was rather unkempt, a pair of repairman’s goggles managing to keep the longer locks on top from his hazel eyes. A couple bandages poked out from under his rectangle glasses and stuck to his cheek, and a pair of black hoop earrings hung from his ears. A pale coating of stubble surrounded his downturned mouth, brows furrowed in a very displeased scowl.
Uh oh.
Bunbun went right back to cowering behind her tablet as the man strode over. One angry crewmate was enough to deal with, but two? No thank you. Fortunately, he walked right past her to stand toe-to-toe with River. Jabbing a finger into his chest, the newcomer spoke again.
“What EXACTLY do you think you’re doing, wandering in and putting bad vibes in MY reactor room?!” he growled. River took a step back, looking quite put out.
“Geez- dude, calm down, I’m just watching the new crewmate,” River grumbled, hands up. “I wasn’t even gonna be in here long. What’s the problem?”
“You, obviously,” the newcomer huffed, “you should know better than to rush the artists. Speaking of which-” Turning to Bunbun, a soft grin replaced his broody scowl. “Hello there, stardust! Glad to have you aboard! What’s your name?” he bubbled, holding out a hand. Bunbun blinked in surprise. Artists? This guy was… certainly interesting. But it was a good kind of interesting. The kind she knew pretty well. She let her shoulders relax just a bit. Taking his hand, she gave it a gentle shake.
“Hello,” she said softly, “I’m, um, Bunbun…”
“Bunbun! That’s a fine n’ dandy name. I like it!” he grinned. “I’m Lemon, in case orientation memories are hazy. Glad to finally be workin with ya!”
“Y-you too,” she smiled shakily. A glance at River said he was subdued for now. Summoning her courage, Bunbun turned her attention back to Lemon. Time to see if the interests really matched. “Um, so, I take it you’re the reactor caretaker?”
“Thaaaat’s me!” Lemon drawled chipperly. “Well, me and my son, but you’ll meet him later.” He waved a hand as if brushing the thought away. “But that’s- eheh- for later. I take it you need somethin’ from me?” Bunbun nodded shyly.
“I’ve got a couple updates for the reactor,” she explained, “nothing drastic, don’t worry- just to keep it running up to HQ standards.”
“Understandable,” Lemon nodded. “And uh- lemme guess-” he gestured to the control panel- “you can’t find the interaction interface?” Bunbun nodded again, relieved she didn’t have to explain.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you…?”
“Of course, Miss Bun! Don’t you worry your fluffy lil head!” Lemon hummed. Gently nudging her to the side, he stood before the control panel. Bunbun watched in silence as he tapped out a complex code with surprising speed. With a beep and a click, the panel slid to the side, revealing…
“Hey! That’s the update interface!” Bunbun beamed.
“Correct! ‘S a lil hidden here, but it’s all for safety’s sake,” Lemon explained. He took a step back, waving her towards it. “Reactor’s all yours. Just treat my baby like you treat your tablet, m’kay?”
“Makes sense. And of course! I’ll have her running smoothly in just a few,” Bunbun smiled knowingly. Seems her intuition had been right. She settled in front of the control panel happily.
Within a handful of minutes, the updates were once again finished. She stepped back to let Lemon close up the reactor, thanking him silently with her eyes. From his tiny nod and gentle glance, he’d caught onto her gratitude.
“You done in there?” River huffed from the doorway. Bunbun’s shoulders slumped a bit. She’d nearly forgotten he was there.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t get your leg stuck in a wormhole,” Lemon shot back. Giving Bun a pat on the shoulder, he led her over to River. “You two should head to upper engine next. My son was headed up there to do some alignments, last I heard.”
“Ok! Thanks, Lemon,” Bunbun said shyly. He held up his hand- er- fist, smiling at her. It took her a moment to realize what he wanted. With a soft ‘oh!’ she bumped her fist against his. He laughed again, giving her a pat on the back.
“Of course, Bun!” he beamed. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
“Let’s get going,” River grumbled, turning back to the hall.
As Bunbun trailed after him, she could hear Lemon’s call of “don’t be a stranger!”
I most certainly won’t, she thought happily.
#cr3wm8ts#au:c#among us oc#bunbun among us#river among us#lemon among us#among us#yea ok its like. 11:30pm as i post this slkjdfs#many thoughts head full but too tired to actually say them *dabs*#pls enjoy#i care them all#except river he sucks#arty writes
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Silver Service
The Court visits the Cormery Isles without Lady Olivia. Lucretia makes plans and Anton makes an unpleasant discovery.
Word Count 2964
A/N Apologies for the delay in posting. the chapter is short, but a lot happens. Warning - harm to a major character.
19 We move closer...
‘Excuse me your Grace’ James knocked on the door of Liam’s bedroom, where he was packing for the trip to Cormery.
‘What is it, James?’ He asked, and he entered, standing by the door in the stoic posture of the King’s Guard.
‘I thought you’d like to know Lady Olivia is returning from her meeting with Lucretia, Sir.’
‘Already? I thought she’d be longer. Do we know what entrance she’ll be using? I’d like to meet her straight away’ James pressed a finger to his earpiece, listening intently
‘Follow me sir’ he replied ‘I’ll take you there, her route is being monitored’
Liam was just in time to greet Olivia as she swept in the staff entrance at speed, but she wouldn’t stop. He ran to keep up with her as she made her way to her suite. She refused to speak until she got there, when she seized the nearest object – a heavy vase full of flowers. She picked it up and held it up to hurl it down on the ground, but Liam stopped her, catching hold of her hands and helping her to put it down safely. She pulled away from him abruptly
‘That old bitch’ she stormed ‘She knows’ She went to the desk and swept the papers off the desk. Liam followed her and caught at her wrists before she did any more damage.
‘Knows what, Livvy?’ he asked urgently ‘What does Lucretia know?’ Olivia’s eyes were full of fire and she glared at him for a moment before letting her arms go limp and dropping her head.
‘She knows I’m pregnant’ she said quietly ‘She worked it out, the witch’
‘Calm down Livvy. We can handle this’ Liam said soothingly ‘Take a deep breath’
‘How are we going to keep this quiet?’ She said ‘It’s too soon’
‘It’s okay, she’s under house arrest’ Liam reminded her ‘She has no means of contacting anyone outside the house, it will be fine’ He let her go, and she went over to lean on the desk.
‘We have to up our profile’ she said ‘I hate the idea of going to Cormery, but perhaps I should be seen with you’
‘I think we’re doing alright’ said Liam ‘I’ll make sure you’re mentioned in the press releases. I’ll get Sophia to work on a positive spin on your absence. You need to go home to recharge your batteries. If all goes well, we’ll have found a way to neutralise Anton’s claims, and then we can announce our intentions.’
‘And if he succeeds?’ Olivia said shortly
‘Then we go into exile. I’ll stay with you Livvy, whatever happens’
------
‘This has to be the dullest leg of the tour so far’ murmured Sophia to Riley ‘Standing around watching nobles hit a ball around a golf course isn’t my idea of fun’
‘Quiet please’ came the request from the referee. Yet another ball was hit, sailing off down the green, and the hushed crowd made appreciative noises. There was a low murmur as everyone moved off to the next vantage point, and the three of them trailed at the back of the crowd.
‘Tell me about it’ said Riley ‘Let’s go back to the clubhouse’ Drake snorted in reply ‘What?’ she said ‘At least they have a bar there’
‘You really think they’ll let riff raff like us in? he laughed drily ‘Dream on’ Riley sighed
‘Surely they’ll let us in, we’re official guests’
‘You can try’ grunted Drake ‘Even if they do, the prices are sky high’
‘In any case I think I’d rather drink from a hip flask in Bas’s SUV than traipse round after these blowhards’ she replied.
‘We can’t just cut out’ Sophia pointed out ‘If the press sees us…’
‘Excuse me, we’re not exactly newsworthy guests, all the attention is on the players, and the outfits all the noble ladies are wearing’ Drake pointed out.
‘I’ll ask Bas’ Sophia offered ‘He’ll have some sort of get out’ She tapped away on her phone.
This is dull as ditchwater. How can we bail out?
We?
Me, Riley, Drake
Grin and bear it
Will bribery work?
Don’t distract me
I’ll wear stockings for a week
Wicked woman
You love it
Leave it with me
‘What does Bas say?’ Riley hissed as they reached the hole
‘He’ll bail us out somehow’ At that moment, one of the guards tapped Sophia on the shoulder
‘Miss Turner, there’s an urgent message for you, come with me. You might want some company, I think it’s bad news’
‘Oh’ Sophia said, hand flying to her mouth ‘Riley had better come then’ She turned to Riley and grabbed at her hand. Drake looked alarmed
‘I’d better go with you’ he said ‘For support’ The three of them hurried away, a few of the audience casting a gaze over them as they went. Once they were out of sight of the crowd, the guard spoke.
‘Just for the record, Captain Lykel has asked me to escort you to the staff bar and has requested that you stay there until he contacts you at the end of the tournament. On no account are you to leave except for – and I quote – a life threatening emergency’
‘Anyone would think we were with Maxwell’ muttered Drake.
‘There’s a limited tab for you at the bar, and a buffet’ the guard told Sophia as they approached the clubhouse. ‘Two drinks each, and after that you pay for them yourself. Please be moderate with your quota’ He pressed his earpiece and nodded ‘The Captain says no expensive single malts or bottles of champagne. By the glass only’
Sophia crooked an eyebrow and glanced at Drake. He made a sour face as they reached the building, and the guard lead them to the unimposing bar reserved for staff at the club. A couple of chauffeurs and other aides sat at the tables set out, so Sophia chose somewhere to sit while Drake went to order. He had a whisky, and Sophia and Riley ordered white wine. The barman indicated a buffet table at the side of the room, and as soon as Drake had taken the drinks to the girls he took a plate and started to heap it up.
‘Steady on Drake, leave some for the Guard’ Riley scolded
‘Come on, this is proper food’ Drake complained ‘not the fiddly crab bruschetta and fishy crackers the nobles get’
‘Well I’m not really hungry’ Sophia declared ‘Knock yourself out’
‘Don’t worry Sir, we’ve actually got plenty to go round’ the barman assured him ‘We know the nobles just pick at the food, and the club manager usually adjusts the budget so that most of the allowance is for staff – there’s far more of them than there are nobles anyway. Just go easy on the sauce – a lot of staff don’t drink on duty, so that budget’s limited’ Drake nodded in appreciation
‘Thanks man’ He grinned, and reached into his back pocket, producing a hip flask ‘I always carry this on stuffy noble occasions anyway’
‘So what are your quarters like?’ Sophia asked. She and Bastien had been allocated the best of the staff quarters, and that wasn’t saying much. Lord Delacouer obviously thought luxuries like en suite facilities wasted on mere lackeys, and they had to share a bathroom with Lewis. Altogether, going to the Cormery Isles was like taking a step back a few decades in time. Riley made a face that told Sophia all she needed to know.
‘I think we picked the short straw’ she said ‘We asked for a double room and we got one – or rather, two beds pushed together and just enough room to walk round them. From what Drake tells me, our host doesn’t think much of commoners, so he really scraped the bottom of the barrel for us.’
‘I’m looking forward to moving on to Lythikos’ Sophia said ‘Of course I’ve been there before, but I think Olivia will be more accommodating than our last visit’
‘I’ll believe it when I see it’ said Drake darkly.
‘I’m just glad we won’t be seeing Lucretia’ Riley said with a shudder, obviously remembering the time Anton had kidnapped them and taken them to Lucretia’s stronghold.
‘I wonder what the old bitch is doing now’ Drake said ‘At least she’s somewhere she can’t do any harm’
-------
‘Good afternoon, your Grace’ Lucretia’s lawyer greeted the old woman as she entered her study. The Duchess sat at her desk, writing. She spoke without looking up.
‘I have some information that concerns both claimants to the crown, and I need your advice, Miss Bouvoir’ she said.
‘I’ll do what I can, your Grace’ the younger woman said smoothly, sitting even though she hadn’t been invited to. Lucretia looked up at last, her piercing gaze making her shift uncomfortably.
‘It have a strong conviction that my niece is pregnant’ she said ‘and as she has refused to meet her betrothed, I can only presume that the father of the child is none other than King Liam’
‘That’s an extremely controversial claim, your Grace’ the young lawyer said in shock. Lucretia sniffed.
‘It certainly is, and I’d like you to look into the implications should it be found to be true’
‘It depends whose claim is found to be true of course. If Anton’s claim is proved, Lady Olivia would be guilty of adultery and possible treason.’
‘Surely adultery is not relevant in today’s society’
‘Not where it involves a Royal heir, your Grace. If King Liam’s case is proved, it is possible that Lady Olivia’s child might be taken into Royal custody as heir to the Crown, but as she is a Nevrakis and has a claim to the throne should either Anton or Liam be incapacitated, it makes the whole matter even more complicated. The legalities of all three cases could be argued for years’
‘What would happen to the child if the King were to legitimately marry another woman, who would presumably be crowned Queen, and have another child?’
‘Again your Grace, the matter would be complicated, and more time would be spent arguing which child was the legitimate heir, but a child with both Nevrakis and Rys blood would have a very strong claim.’
‘Humour me please, Miss Bouvior. What if the child were found to be Lord Severus’s?’
‘I – still can’t say for certain. It would have to be decided in a court of Law’ Lucretia rolled her eyes upward and sighed heavily. She folded the paper she had been writing on and placed it in an envelope, writing a name on it with a flourish.
‘Thankyou Miss Bouvoir. I’d be obliged if you would hand this to my housekeeper in person’
‘You know I have to show any communications to the Guard to be vetted, your Grace.’
‘Of course, they’ll only find instructions on how she should continue to run my estate. I still have property that needs to be managed. It’s not sealed’
‘Very well your Grace, I’ll hand it over as soon as possible’
‘You may be gone a day or so to deliver it. I’d like you to return to me with her inevitable reply. Again, I’m sure the Guard will find nothing of concern. You may go’ Miss Bouvoir rose, reached over the desk to take the letter, and left the room to go and report to the guard at the door of the cottage.
------
‘So Lady Olivia declined the invitation to my event’ Neville Delacoeur sniffed haughtily ‘I’ve a mind to decline her invitation to Lythikos’ The golfing event over, all the guests milled around in the clubhouse lounge, picking at the lavish buffet and sipping champagne. He stood looking out over the greens, and Madeleine stood next to him.
‘I wouldn’t do that’ she said drily ‘I need all the help I can get exposing her as the King’s mistress’ Neville scowled
‘I presume if you expose her, you get closer to being Queen yourself’
‘And I’d be able to reward those who aid me’ she smiled
‘Lord Delacouer’ Madeleine turned smoothly at the King’s voice ‘Lady Madeleine’ he gave them both a little bow. Neville almost bent himself double with his own return bow, but Madeleine barely bobbed. ‘The greens are impressive, Neville – I hope you’ve managed to raise an acceptable amount for the Library in the capital’ The young Duke almost fell over himself bowing again to hear the King using his first name.
‘My secretary is calculating the figures right now, Your Majesty’
‘Please Neville, call me Liam. I well recall attending birthday parties in the Isles when we were younger, and I recollect that you visited the Palace on a few such occasions too. We’ve known each other a long time’
‘Indeed your – Liam’ he said obsequiously ‘I’m honoured that you remember’
‘I hope Lady Olivia is managing with the arrangements for the events in her home Duchy’ Madeleine cut in.
‘Yes, such a pity she couldn’t come’ Neville added ‘I had the suite next to yours prepared, just as you asked.’
‘Olivia likes things done properly’ Liam replied ‘I’m sure her staff are more than capable of taking care of things very well, but she feels personally responsible for everyone’s enjoyment of her events’
‘Admirable’ Madeleine said ‘As am I. It distressed me deeply that she demanded to move rooms at Karlingford’
‘I’m afraid that was rather my fault’ Liam replied ‘Something came up and I needed to be able to call on her at a moment’s notice. Her original suite was at the other end of the property’
‘Olivia’s a strong healthy woman’ Madeleine remarked ‘Surely she could have walked…’
‘Your Majesty!’ Neville’s father greeted Liam, leaning heavily on his cane. He was rarely seen at court and travelled even less frequently, relying on his son to take his place at official meetings. ‘I hope you enjoyed the greens. How unfortunate that Landon beat you by a whisker’ Liam turned to the older man.
‘Superb greens your grace’ he smiled ‘and the better man won – my golf skills were rather rusty’
‘You should come more often my boy, get some practice in. It’s a pleasure and an honour to have you here’
‘I fear matters of State may take up a lot more of my time now, your grace, but I’ll bear it in mind.’ He looked across the room ‘if you’ll excuse me, I must go and talk to Landon, eat a little humble pie’ He bowed to the group and turned away.
-------
Anton blinked himself awake in the enormous four poster bed. He had had strange dreams, one of which involved Olivia coming to visit him in the night, sitting on the edge of his bed. She refused to speak to him, and when he went to touch her, she melted away. He had been keeping up to date with the Charity tour, and knew that the Court had left Cormery and was making its way over the next day or so to Lythikos.
There was an envelope on the dressing table. It had not been there when he went to bed. He got out of bed, pulling on his dressing gown and going across to pick it up. The envelope was blank. He opened it, not noticing a faint cloud of dust that flew up into the air from the piece of paper inside. He opened it out, and discovered a single sentence written on the sheet.
Your wife is pregnant with the King’s child. Your attempt at the throne is futile.
His face changed as rage gripped him, but then he realised that his throat felt odd. It started as a tickle, and turned to a burning sensation. He looked at the piece of paper, only now noticing a slight line of white dust in the crease. He dropped it immediately and jumped away, screaming as an acrid smell drifted up to his nostrils. He ran to the door and wrenched it open, shouting out down the hall.
‘Help me – help! Poison! I’m being poisoned’ He clutched at his throat at the burning increased, and before the guard on duty could reach him, he had fallen to the floor, gasping for air.
------
‘How the hell did this happen?’ Bastien stormed. The King and the King’s Guard had returned to the Palace, now declared safe, and was stopping off in order to pack for Lythikos. Parker was accounting for the disaster at the safe house where Anton had been kept.
‘I don’t know, Sir’ Parker said, rigid with shame and dismay ‘We had the manor locked down tight. Everyone was vetted and observed.’
‘Let’s go over the facts again’ Bastien leaned back in his seat, steepling his fingers together. Lewis sat beside him, bleary from being roused from his sleep after a night shift.
‘Very well, Sir. At eight thirty today, Anton came out of his room in some distress shouting out that he’d been poisoned. He collapsed with severe swelling to his throat, and lost consciousness due to his airway being compromised. It was around five minutes before he received medical attention from one of our first aiders, who managed to establish an airway of sorts. The emergency services were called and they sent a helicopter within half an hour. He was airlifted to the hospital in the capital and remains on ventilation and is unconscious.’ He took a breath as Bastien looked at him intently
‘Go on, Parker’
‘On examining the room, a blank envelope was discovered on the floor along with a single sheet of paper. There was evidence of some powder inside which has been sent to our labs for examination.’ He paused ‘There’s something else, Sir’
‘Spit it out, man’
‘The paper had the crest of House Nevrakis printed at the top’
#silver service#sophia x bastien#drake x riley#liam x olivia#protect and serve#anton severus#lucretia nevrakis
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Man, I Feel Like A
A Linked Universe fic
[chapter 1]
Chapter 2: A Sticky Situation [posted on ao3 here]
At what point is it considered appropriate to tell your travelling companions you’re actually a man, and at what point are you supposed to take the secret to your grave? Wild has no idea and it’s driving him mad with anxiety. He’s kinda waffling towards keeping it a secret forever at this point.
It’s not like he’s a man all the time. He was genuinely just having a lot of girl days at first and so forgot about the problem, and he didn’t bother to correct anyone on a boy day when they happened. But now it’s been a few months, he’s been a boy consistently for at least a week now, and if anyone calls him “she” one more time he thinks he might solve his problem purely through violence and yelling.
This is such a weird problem. He’s used to the opposite in his Hyrule, where he’d be having girl days and be constantly called “young man” or whatever.
The funniest part? He wasn’t even a girl when he first met them. He came straight out of Gerudo Town after talking with Riju on a boy day and didn’t think to correct them, and now look. It’s been months.
Gender is an awful curse sent down by Hylia Herself for using Her name in vain too often, and now Wild has to reap the consequences. What a vindictive goddess. He endeavors to use it all the more wastefully whenever he has this thought.
Usually it’s not much of an issue. He calls his ever shifting moods “girl days,” “boy days,” “goron days” for the times he feels more neither than anything. Almost always, he feels like… half a gender at most. Like he took a bite out of an apple and found that enough.
On girl days she fixes in an earring Issha recommended and calls it a day. She hardly ever bothers correcting people, like how the Gorons won’t mind if you call one sister instead of brother. On boy days, he puts in a different kind and knows it’s enough. Even if the Gerudo call him Little Hylian Vai (as they’ve taken to nicknaming him), he feels about the same as he always does. Goron days are the easiest, where they forgo the earrings entirely. There’s the little thrill when someone gets it right, but it’s not a big deal. Link is Link, after all. At his core, no matter if he’s called Wild or Link or Champion, no matter if he’s called a boy or a girl or, once, a hellion menace to society, he’s always solely himself. Gender feels more like an accessory than it does part of his identity.
Except it’s been months, and Wild is going insane. He didn’t realize how much he depended on the occasional slivers of—validation? insightfulness? understanding?—having someone call him correctly. His friends back home knew, at least in few in almost every major settlement, and they always referred to him correctly after checking his ears.
At the risk of being redundant: Wild has gone months without that. In one go, he solved the problem of being referred to almost solely as a man and ended up with the problem of being referred to solely as a woman.
And now the second problem: how in the name of Hylia (blessed goddess who is the source of all his troubles) is he supposed to tell the others?
Hey, I know you’ve been under the impression I’m a woman this whole time, but surprise, I’m actually a man! Except it’s not all the time, but today I am and have been for the past week.
Could you do me a favor and call me he until I tell you to stop, and to keep doing that if I ever ask again?
You know when that man in the town two portals back said to grow some balls and take up his gambling challenge? Might’ve found a solution to that.
“What’re you muttering to yourself?” Twilight asks, and Wild nearly drops his armful of mushrooms back to the ground with a squeak. He turns with wide eyes to see the rancher raise an eyebrow at him.
“Nothing!”
He gets a disbelieving sigh at that, but he’ll take it. Better Twilight believe he’s planning to dump Goron spice into someone’s bowl than hear what he’s saying before he’s found the words.
Wild stands up from his crouch, disappearing his haul into the slate. “Did you get the herbs I asked for?” At Twilight’s affirmative, they start heading back to the camp in companionable quiet. They hadn’t wandered too far off, but it’s still a walk back.
It’s Twilight who breaks the silence first. “Say, Wild…” He stops, both verbally and motion-wise, forcing Wild to stop as well. Wild looks up at the man’s face. There’s hesitance writ in the uptick of his mouth, and his gaze is unreadable. “You’re a good kid, you know that?”
“Huh? What brought this on?”
“Ah, it’s been a few months since you’ve joined our group, hasn’t it? Got thinking, ‘s all. You’ve got a good heart, so don’t hesitate to let us know if anything’s bothering you.” He reaches out and ruffles Wild’s hair, smile widening into something genuine when Wild protests and pulls back. “You’ve been looking a bit down.”
He… hadn’t realized his mood has been that obvious. Wild looks down and kicks the dirt under his feet, hoping his ears aren’t as red as they feel. A sincere, well-intentioned talk about his feelings? Horrible. Worst experience of his life. “I’ll—” His voice catches. “I’ll be fine, Twi.”
He doesn’t need to look up to know Twilight is giving him that look, the one Wind calls the Big Brother Face. “If you say so. Just know we’ll be willing to listen and support you,” he says, gentle as if Wild is one of his goats.
Wild runs his tongue over his teeth, feeling warmth and dread in equal amounts prick at him. “Of course.”
And he’s not lying. They’re all kind people at heart. No one will care. You don’t know that for sure, a little nagging voice says. You lied to them for months, another hisses. Should’ve spoken up earlier. He can imagine the twinge of hurt in Hyrule’s face, the particular furrow in Legend’s forehead, the way Wind’s smile will drop a little if he tells them he’s been lying for so long and, worse, that they might’ve been hurting him, unintentional though it may be. They’re too kind, is the problem.
It would’ve been one thing if he’d told them earlier. Easier to laugh off, to brush aside as something that hadn’t crossed his mind until just then. Like it wasn’t an intentional farce—it wasn’t! Wild isn’t different at all, not where it matters. Clothing doesn’t factor into it, because he’d wear whatever regardless of gender. Neither does the way he acts, because a sashay is fun to pull off at any time, and as a girl Link has no problem swimming shirtless. He’s just been going with the flow.
It feels like a farce though. He never lied, not really, but he didn’t fix any of their assumptions, didn’t say anything, for months. It’s a lie of omission that sits sour on the back of his tongue.
Twilight clicks his tongue, waiting until Wild looks back up at him to speak. “Is it dangerous? Whatever’s bothering you.” He doesn’t seem stern or any more solemn than earlier, just an open, neutral expression on his face.
Uncomfortable, yes. Dangerous? No, not unless they run into a monster that feeds off conflicted guilt and pent up frustration. Wild shakes his head.
“Then I’m not gonna pry. I’ll keep Time from trying to dad you too, if you want.”
Unbidden, a giggle slips out of Wild. “‘Dad’ me?”
“You didn’t think I’m the only one who’s noticed you’ve been down, did you? I just got first dibs.”
Wild lets himself laugh fully at that, ignoring the stone in his stomach.
-
Warriors flicks his gaze to the campfire, where a still-smiling Wild sits in front of a cooking pot. She and Twilight had returned a while ago, snickering like mischievous children while sneaking looks to Time. Old Man’s probably going to get some nasty purple chu jelly in his dinner tonight, he’s assuming. A bit of a surprise she’s got Twilight in on it, though.
It’s good to see that Wild’s in a better mood than before. She’s been… not sullen, but a tension none of them can ease has been sitting on her shoulders for a few weeks now. There’s nothing obvious that brought it on, but it’s heavy enough that even Legend will have worry flashing across his face whenever Wild pulls away from their group with no indication as to why.
“She’ll say something when she’s ready to,” he hears Twilight murmur to Time. They’ve got some mentor/mentee plan going on to get Wild out of her mood. Successful, he supposes; she’s been dropping off into frowns whenever left alone in her thoughts for too long, but right now she’s almost definitely brightened up enough to pull a prank.
Still, he can’t help but scoot over to insert himself into the conversation. “It’s not anything dangerous, right?” He trusts that she would tell them if it were; Wild is the least team friendly player in their group, but she’s got enough sense in her to know what’s necessary.
Twilight shakes his head. “Confirmed it wasn’t.” Here he hesitates, and his words come out slow, deliberate. “I’m not sure if it’s… one of her memories? I don’t remember there being one before she started acting weird, but it might’ve come as a dream.”
Warriors purses his lips, thinking. It could be. He’s certainly entertained the thought before. Wild doesn’t fall into a memory too often, but they’re hard to hide, so everyone became aware of her amnesia and subsequent flashbacks sooner than later. Almost always she’ll draw into herself a bit, hidden away in a large cloak until the world stopped being too loud and bright for her, and even then Wild would still be withdrawn until something coaxed her out of her shell.
It doesn’t feel like it, though.
He takes another look at Twilight’s face. It says it all. “You don’t think that’s it.”
The rancher really is a farm boy through and through, honest as the day is long. “I overheard her talking to herself earlier, but I’m not sure what I heard and it’s not my place to say anyway.”
A sigh, and Time hauls himself up to his feet. “Then we wait,” he says decisively. They watch him amble over and strike a conversation with Four about the forest they’ve landed in. Twilight goes back to sharpening his sword.
Warriors’s mind is still stuck on Wild, though, and he’d bet a bag of rupees so is Twilight’s.
He prides himself on being a good commander. Quick to judge a situation and quick to notice if anything is wrong, able to lead squadrons of forces with only minutes to prepare. Often, his command was too numerous for him to know everyone, but he did his best to be there for anyone who needed it. Perhaps it’s foolish of him—too many faces, half-familiar from life, unmistakable in death haunt him to this day—but he refuses to give up caring. It hurts, but to hurt is to be alive, and he carries his ghosts with him even as he locks eyes with a new trainee.
Here, their motley group is a lot smaller than the armies he used to command. He’s never been an older brother before, but he finds himself falling into it naturally. It’s easy to tug on the back of Hyrule’s tunic to keep him from wandering off, normal to nudge Four and encourage him to keep talking about smithing, effortless to pull Wind into a friendly scuffle. With Wild, he finds himself looking after her like it’s instinct.
Maybe it’s because she’s still young at heart. The scars riddling her face and body age her up years, but there’s something heartwrenchingly childlike about the way she’ll wander off from the group to catch a bug or pick a plant, not understanding why they’ll scold her to stick with them. She’ll often show her finds off, grinning like there aren’t a million twigs in her hair and mud on her face.
It’s painful to see someone like that pull away without any indication as to why.
He sighs, leaning back on his palms to look at the evening sky. The brightest stars are beginning to shine, flickering around the rising moon. The smell of sweetly roasted vegetables wash over him. Quick headcount: Sky and Wind sparring; Twilight sitting nearby; Legend checking their perimeter, Hyrule with him; Four and Time talking about where to go; Wild at the campfire, standing up and stretching.
“Dinner’s ready!” she announces, loud enough that Legend and Hyrule should hear. Without waiting, she begins pulling out plates from her slate and spooning out portions. Warriors watches her closely enough that he sees the glob of something purple being hidden under some greens.
Definitely purple chu jelly from Twilight.
It travels down the line, Warriors hesitating before handing it off to Time, who’s last. It’s all in good fun though, and Wild’s figured out (after much trial-and-error) how to make sure the jelly doesn’t kill anyone, so he keeps quiet, only checking his own plate to make sure he’s not going to be a victim as well. Wild catches his eye and winks. Twilight, across the campfire, has a little feral edge to his grin.
Warriors watches with bated breath as Time takes a scoop of his food. It’s riveting, seeing his expression go from pleased and content to I-will-kill-whoever-did-this. Reminds him of the little pissed off kid he knew before meeting him again as an adult.
Time raises his head to glare balefully at Wild. “Why did you do this.” It falls flat of being a question.
“Do what?” Wild asks back, eyes wide and confused. “I thought you liked carrots?”
Wind giggles into his own meal, shoveling another bite into his mouth when that earns him an unamused look. “I didn’ do nothin’!” he protests before Time even starts saying the accusation. “Yer face wa’ funny.”
“Don’t talk while chewing,” Sky reminds him. “Time, what’s wrong with it? Mine tastes fine?”
Without speaking, Time takes another scoop and presents the purple chuchu glob. The camp falls into hysterics, speaking all at once.
“Some weird seasoning you’ve got there, Old Man.”
“Are you going to need a potion?”
“Where did someone even get their hands on that?”
Warriors sits back, letting the rambunctious laughter and chatter surround him. Wind denies it some more, pointing to Hyrule, who was apparently looking at Time’s dinner too intently. Hyrule denies it right back, pushing the blame to someone else too. There’s shouts of protest as accusations go flying. He tunes it out, just smiling to himself. A small prank, but a big reception. It’s nice to see spirits so high, especially Wild’s.
He’s too busy feeling reassured at Wild’s bright, impish grin that he nearly misses the accusation thrown at him.
“—paused before giving it to Time, too.” Legend says this nonchalantly, but one’d have to be blind to miss the smirk he shoots Warriors as he says it. “Seems suspicious to me.”
Twilight makes a faux thoughtful noise, failing to hide his laughter as Warriors whips his head around to stare in betrayal. “He was rummaging through our bags earlier, could’ve taken it from mine or Wild’s packs then.”
Warriors splutters, “I was taking inventory! You know, the thing I do every other night?”
There’s a little gasp from Four, too theatrical to be natural. “He was staring at Time when we started eating too…”
Betrayal! Ganged up on by the miserable lot he dared call his brothers!
Clearly they’ve figured out it wasn’t him. Wild’s just about collapsed with laughter at the sight of his panicked face, but it’s obvious no one wants to spoil her fun. Time gives him the sternest, most I-am-your-father-listen-to-me face he can muster and says, “What do you have to say for yourself, Warriors? Why would you put purple chu jelly in this delightful meal Wild worked hard on?”
Warriors is speechless. Wild titters, looks up to see Time raising an eyebrow at Warriors, and breaks back out into gleeful wheezing. Wind and Legend don’t seem to be far off, delighted at his misfortune.
Golden goddesses, the things he does for family. “You’ve done it,” he says, strangled, “you’ve caught me in my dastardly tricks. Oh woe is me, what punishment will I be given?” Sky is the next to break, hiding his laughter behind a hand.
Time, the little snot, looks at him with thin, disappointed lips and mirth dancing in his eyes. “This,” he intones gravely. The purple chu jelly jumps from his spoon and smacks into Warriors’s face.
Even Twilight is losing it now.
“ARGH!” he squawks, not expecting Time to actually go through with it. It’s to the others’ cackling that he slumps to the ground, groaning at the sticky feeling on his cheek. He can deal with a little grossness (no matter what Legend says), but it’s not a nice feeling when he could be clean and not sticky.
Someone hands him a clean cloth. Hyrule, bless his heart. It’s one of Twilight’s cloths, so he feels no guilt in scrubbing off the jelly and throwing it at the traitor himself. Twilight takes the assault with a grin, the infectious mood lingering even as the laughter calms down.
“Here.” A scarred hand dips into view, and Wild refills Warriors’s bowl with some fried greens fresh from the pot. Steam rises up lazily. She smiles at him through it, cheerful and alive like she hasn’t been for the past week, and he instantly forgives her for pulling him into her prank.
He takes a bite and sighs. Fresh, still sweet yet crispy from quickly frying it. “Delicious as ever,” he compliments, trying to force some grudge into his tone. Wild sees right through him and beams wider. “Oh, shove off.” He wipes a hand, still a little sticky with goo, across her nose, grinning himself when she shrieks a little in delight.
“Be careful, mister, or else the goo’s going in your meal next!” she teases before scampering off to her own meal.
It’s sometime after dinner that Time approaches him. “Thank you for playing along.”
Across the clearing, Wild’s wide grin has dropped to a faint upturn of her lips. She’s scuffling with Wind and the large wolf that follows their group every now and then, trying to claim a sleeping spot. She’s happy, and after the past week of halfhearted interaction, it feels like everything.
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
-
The sun’s rays are beginning to skim past the treetops when Wild wakes up. Legend notices immediately; there isn’t anything hostile in the area, so he’s been sitting closer to camp for the past hour now. He doesn’t say anything when she sneaks out—at least, not at first. When she doesn’t return after 10 minutes, 20, he shakes Twilight awake to keep watch before following.
She hasn’t gone far, just within hearing range if someone shouts. Legend stands at the treeline, watching her pull and put back different earrings from that slate of hers. Studs, hoops, drops, different fashions he can’t name, all reflective of masterful craftsmanship. They gleam in the early morning light as she holds each pair up for examination.
“You can choose today’s accessories from the camp, you know,” he calls out. Wild, to her credit, doesn’t react other than her shoulders raising a few centimeters. “Pretty sure Wind won’t try stealing them.”
That earns a short laugh. “He wouldn’t dare unless he wants his breakfast burned. Besides, I’m just… trying to decide how I feel today. Hard to do that around that noisy lot.”
Legend stops in his tracks. Normally he’d like to tease, but there’s something brittle about her voice. “Want me to leave then?” he offers. He may be a prick, but he’s not about to inflict his presence on someone who needs some time alone.
Finally, Wild turns to look at him. “No, stay,” she says, and even she looks surprised at how firmly she says it. She pats the stone next to her. “C’mon, sit with me for a while.”
It’s nice and quiet in the spot Wild’s chosen. He sits with his back to her, not wanting to crowd. Faintly, the tittering of birds sweeten the air, and if he closes his eyes and focuses he can smell the rich petrichor lingering from yesterday’s early evening rain. Wild goes back to picking out earrings, the faint chime of her slate’s magic rhythmic in its repetition.
It’s like this often, Legend finds. They’re both pretty silent people on their own, and perhaps not as close as they are with some of the others. Sure, they jibe and bicker, but to avoid too much tension they end up not seeking each other out. Legend isn’t even sure if he wants to be close to Wild anyway; she’s almost guaranteed to die violently young and violently so, given her track record of scars and reckless combat techniques.
Still, his treacherous heart cares, and he heaves a sigh as he thinks of her recent melancholy. A conversation wouldn’t hurt, right?
“You’ve been wearing a lot of stud earrings lately,” he says. He doesn’t turn to look, but the chiming stops. “Maybe one of those dangling ones? The amber gems give a nice glow to you.”
Quietly, so faint he almost misses it, Wild replies back, “...Maybe.” He risks a glance to guess her expression; she’s staring distantly at her hands, eyes locked on a struggle Legend can’t see. “Change things up a little, right?”
He raises an eyebrow, though she doesn’t see it. “You don’t have to go with my suggestion,” he points out. “If you want to wear studs, wear studs. They get tangled up less in the twigs and branches you insist on jumping headfirst into, at any rate.”
“And if I don’t want to wear any at all?”
What an odd question. Legend fully turns around to squint at her. “Then don’t? What, am I missing some watchmen that will arrest you if you don’t put some metal in your ears?”
Wild huffs a laugh at that, but it’s half hearted. “No, I don’t think so. Don’t mind me, I’m just overthinking things.”
“Overthinking… types of earrings?” He doesn’t mean to sound so doubtful, but Wild is both a ridiculous fashionista and someone who could not care less for her appearance. She’s got a multitude of outfits, sure, but she’s never exactly cared if they matched or how she looked as a result (leading to a very distressing time where she sprinted through Twilight’s Castletown wearing her Barbarian shorts, clunky torso armor that glowed, and an odd mask that looked like a fish was eating her head. He’s pretty sure they’re banned from the inn for life).
She shakes her head. “No, forget it, it’s… related, but it’s not—” This time, her head shake is harsher, more aggressive. “It’s got some meaning for me,” she reveals reluctantly under Legend’s interrogating stare. “What type of earrings I wear, I mean.”
He considers this, lining it up with the past week. He almost wants to ask “why would you ever wear earrings that make you feel horrible?”, but obviously that isn’t an option. Choosing wearing a specific type probably isn’t an option she has, either. Something dictates the type she wears regardless of how she feels, but how could a type of earrings make one feel bad…?
Hylia, this is giving Legend a headache.
“Are the earrings hurting you?” he settles on asking. There’s no way he’s getting the full story out of her anytime soon, but the important answers need to be established first.
“Wh—? No, they’re fine.”
“Do they upset you? Is that why you’ve been weird this past week?”
“... it’s not the earrings, not really. Kind of? It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it, then.”
He gets a jab to the side for that. “I don’t know how to,” she admits, bitterness sharpening her tongue. “I’m working on it, okay? I’m… I’ll be fine, just give me some time to figure it out.”
Legend jabs her right back, tickling her sides for good measure and ignoring her squeak. “Well, figure it out faster,” he says drolly. “Whatever it is you’ve got going in your head can’t be that bad, considering it’s mostly empty in the first place.”
Now that earns him a tackle right off the rock, and they tussle around like children for a few minutes before wordlessly agreeing to stop, flopping onto the grass to stare at the brightening sky. Neither of them are breathing very hard, but Legend thinks he can hear Wild’s become lighter, less burdened. He bites his tongue to focus his thoughts.
“Just wear whatever you feel like wearing, you menace. If it’s not the earrings making you feel bad, then deal with whatever is making you act like a kicked puppy.” He kicks out blindly and catches her ankle. “If it’s one of us, or something we’re doing, or, I don’t know, maybe you’re just allergic to the grass here, tell us. If it’s something from your past, then however you deal with it is up to you, but between the nine of us we’ve got all sorts of trauma covered, it’ll be easy to commiserate with someone.”
He rolls over to speak and finds her already looking at him. “Uncomplicate it. Whatever it is, either you’ll get past this or you won’t, but things will only get worse if you let it stagnate.”
Wild breaks eye contact first, sitting up but gaze fixed low. At this angle, he can’t see her face. “Get it over with, basically. I guess that’s good advice.”
The sky looks bright enough that the others are probably awake by now. “Of course it is,” he says. She’s not going to take it, at least not right now, he can tell. “Decide on the earrings yet?”
Clacks of fingernail against glass. The now-familiar chime of the Sheikah slate. “Studs again today.”
“Amber?”
“Amber, yeah. You made a good point.”
“I always make good points.”
A snort, and they fall back into silence. It feels like a moment in eternity before Wild speaks up again. “We should make it back to camp.” She sounds almost regretful, and Legend feels it too. The area is warm and peaceful, and it feels like a crime to have to spend the entire day trekking their way through an adventure no one signed up for.
Neither of them move. He closes his eyes, feeling the morning sun warm his skin.
“Legend?”
It takes a moment to respond, the siren call of sleep beginning to pull at his senses. “Hm?”
“Thank you.”
He hums, not resisting the lull of the little bubble they’re in. “No problem.”
#linkeduniverse#botw#fic#lu wild#lu warriors#lu legend#lu twilight#theyre all there but im pretty sure those're the big ones#man i feel like a (fic)#did i forget to post this on tumblr! maybe. who knows. haha...ha........#yeah i forgot#cw misgendering#i dont think i should uhhh @ the prompt tumblr so i guess. uh. hope theyll just find this on their own#i Will edit ch1 to include the link to this tho#<:3c enjoy!!!! hopefully
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His Name Was Isaac - Ch. 4
Fanfic summary: During a mission to avenge his mother’s death, Isaac hunts down the men responsible for her murder and kills them off one-by-one, only to discover that his last target is taking refuge among the Van der Linde gang. In an attempt to kill them, Isaac attacks the gang and unknowingly becomes enemies with his own father, who is in the process of fighting his own battle for redemption.
Point of view: third-person
Author’s note: Thank you guys for all the support you’ve given so far! The messages and comments I’ve received have all been so kind and caring. It really means the world to me. Hope you enjoy this part :)
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This story is also on AO3
LATER THAT DAY
AURORA BASIN
“You ever wonder about eternity?” Mrs. Downes’ voice echoed in Arthur’s head, ringing like a distant bell.
“...You should.”
These days, it felt like that was all he could think about. With Hosea dead, Marston gone, and Dutch’s life hanging by a thread, Arthur often found himself pondering what awaited them in the near-future.
Their gang was pretty much done, despite how much Dutch tried to deny it. He may have acted as if they were still in their prime and running around like in the good ol’ days, but with both the Pinkertons and Skinner Brothers crying out for blood on the horizon, Arthur didn’t see much of a future for them at all. If anything, the only thing he saw coming for the Van der Lindes... was an end.
They were already living on borrowed time as it was. Their gang had experienced so many close calls and damned so many lives, that Arthur figured they were due to pay for their crimes sooner or later.
He had lived long enough to see that there was no such thing as getting away with a sin, and considering how things had been going for them lately, he assumed that their time would run out before they even realized it.
Civilization was the new foundation for America... and without anywhere else to run to anymore, Arthur only hoped he’d be able to wake Dutch up before it was too late.
Otherwise... he didn’t know what they would do.
Scribbling down a few more lines into his journal, Arthur threw together a simple portrait of Dutch as he quietly relaxed by the campfire, allowing his mind to drift away with the soft crackling that emitted from the flames.
He had just finished his heated conversation with the old man and left him to rest in the cabin, but even after calming him down, Arthur couldn’t deny that he was still on edge.
The way he acted back there... it was nothing like the Dutch he knew. In Arthur’s head, he still pictured the outlaw as a paternal figure. He saw Dutch as someone who cared for others and dared to question what everyone else accepted as their perpetual reality.
He was a guardian. A father. A dreamer. A lost soul trying to find his way back home.
But the man in the cabin? ...He was nothing but a stranger to Arthur. His mind and mannerisms both remained a mystery, and the added layer of insanity on top of all that did nothing except further his paranoia.
His life revolved solely around greed and pride these days, and if Arthur didn’t know any better, he would’ve said that Dutch himself didn’t even care anymore.
They both knew their life as outlaws was done for. That much was obvious. But the difference was -- only one of them was willing to accept it.
“Spoke with Dutch about the robbery today,” Arthur wrote next to his drawing. “...It didn’t go so well. His illness keeps getting worse, and his mind ain’t doing much better neither. He’s deranged. Lost. Nothing but a memory of his true self.”
“It just makes me wonder how life is gonna be after he passes. I didn’t say it to Dutch’s face back at the cabin... but one of my biggest fears in life is the idea of being left alone. Family’s pretty much the only thing I live for nowadays, and without anyone else to stand by my side, part of me wonders if the world is just gonna stop turning when Dutch dies.”
“I don’t even know if I’ll want to stay with the gang at that point. I suppose I could try to make contact with John and the others once again. Try to live a normal life. But knowing Abigail, she’d probably want nothing to do with me. They have Jack to take care of, after all, and it’s no secret that Abigail despises anything to do with criminals. Not that I blame her.”
“I guess I’ll just have to wait and see where this goes. I ain’t got that many options left in life, that’s true. But that don’t mean I’m not gonna try to do the right thing. We was born to be outlaws. And it’s clear to me now that that’s how we’ll die too. But I may as well try to make amends while I still have the opportunity.”
“It’s the only thing I can do at this point.”
Setting his pencil down with a conflicted sigh, Arthur stuck it in between the pages and shut his journal closed, shoving the thing back into his satchel. He figured he had wasted enough time skulking around in his head for one day, and decided it would be best if he just focused on preparing for the bank robbery ahead.
There were weapons to load, guns to clean, plans to lay out... and judging by how Dutch was doing just a few minutes ago, Arthur assumed most of the work would fall on him and Micah. That was usually how things went.
Before he could return to the task at hand however, a pair of men approached him.
“Morgan!” Shay called out as Bill Williamson walked alongside him.
Arthur mentally groaned to himself, admittedly not in the mood for socializing. “Shay. Bill.”
Mackintosh had a seat at the campfire, making himself comfortable on a crate. “Heard you had a talk with Dutch. How’d it go?”
Arthur took his hat off, combing a tired hand through his hair. “About as well as you’d expect.”
Bill joined in. “So, we’re robbin’ the bank then?”
He put his hat back on. “Yep. Looks like it.”
Shay was obviously disappointed by the news and shook his head in disapproval, glancing at the cabin. “...He’s gonna get everyone killed, Arthur.”
Arthur sighed in a defeated tone. “Look, I tried to get through to him, but his mind’s been set. It’s clear that he ain’t leavin’ Blackwater anytime soon, and if we try to push any harder, I’m worried he’ll kill someone. Dutch already pulled a gun on me when I talked to him. We’ll just have to do our best during this robbery.”
Shay stared at Arthur for a moment, evidently not reassured.
“...We have seven people, Arthur. Seven. And two are staying behind to guard the camp. That’s four outlaws and a dying man against what, a dozen lawmen? Pinkertons, too? This robbery is gonna be a suicide mission.”
Arthur rested a hand on his knee. “Well, we don’t have a choice. Alright? I don’t like it either, but no matter how unstable he might be, Dutch is still the boss. If he says we’re gonna rob the bank, then...” his eyes fell to the ground, “...that’s what we’ll do. You don’t wanna do it, you can always sit it out.”
“No, I’ll come.” Shay confirmed. “But you can’t deny that this is a stupid idea. We should be movin’ away from the Pinkertons. Not straight towards them. That was kinda the whole reason we even bothered travelin’ this far west.”
Mackintosh let out a breath and backed down for a moment, dragging a hand down his face. “Ah... I’m sorry, Arthur. I dunno why I’m puttin’ all this on you. I know it ain’t your fault. You tried your best to talk to Dutch, so, really... I should be thanking you. I just wish he would’ve listened.”
Arthur nodded in agreement, standing up from the campfire. “...Yeah. Me too. Sadly, my words seem to always fall on deaf ears these days. Feels like no one’s listenin’ to us. Not even ourselves.”
Strolling away from the fire, Arthur suddenly stopped in his tracks when he noticed that someone was missing from the vicinity. He assumed that everyone was at camp and getting ready for their upcoming job in the next few days, but upon further observation, the gang appeared to be one man short.
Arthur turned back to Shay and Bill, quirking a brow at them.
“Hey, have either of you boys seen Micah?”
~~~~~~~~~~
MEANWHILE
BLACKWATER SALOON
Laying the weathered piece of paper down on the desk, Micah presented his roughly-drawn map of Aurora Basin to Isaac as the young man relaxed in a wooden chair, studying the map with one hand and holding onto his rifle with the other. He and Micah may have been partners for the time being, but that didn’t mean he trusted the outlaw for one second.
“...Aurora Basin.” Isaac read aloud, his eyes skimming over the text. “So this is your camp?”
Micah nodded, crossing his arms. “Sure is, cowpoke. You ever heard of it?”
The young man shook his head. “No.”
“Good. Then that means I chose a good spot. Or not, depending on how you approach it.”
Isaac pulled his chair closer, taking a better look at the map. “Well, what’s the best way in? Is it well-defended?”
Micah rested a hand on the desk. “Overall, I’d say yes. There ain’t nothin’ but mountains on the west side of the camp, and the region of Tall Trees completely envelopes the other. If you wanna attack the gang, you’re gonna have to get real close. Unfortunately for you though, there’s only one way in.”
“I thought so. Is it this path here?” He pointed to the road on the eastern side of the map.
“Yep. That’s where we post our guards. We’ve always got two men standing there just in case anyone... unfriendly shows up.”
Isaac leaned back, contemplating his next move. “So... there’s no way in from the east or the west. What about the north and south? Is it possible I could sneak in from there?”
Micah rejected the idea. “Surrounded by mountains too, I’m afraid.”
The young man furrowed his brow. “Well, shit. Looks like this is gonna more difficult than I thought. What about the guards who are posted at the entrance? When do they switch out? That might be the only opening I can seize.”
“Every couple hours or so. But they don’t switch at the same time, so there’s always gonna be at least one person there who can see you.”
The outlaw offered an alternative. “Though... it might interest you to know that the gang’s headed out for a robbery in two days.”
Isaac perked his head up. “It is? Where?”
Micah chuckled. “That information’s irrelevant to you. The part you should care about is the fact that everyone’ll be gone for a while. The only people who’ll be left are the two guards at the entrance. But I’m sure a tough boy such as yourself can handle them just fine. Can’t you?”
Isaac rubbed his chin in thought. “I should be able to sneak in, but I need to know more about the camp itself first. Where do you keep your supplies?”
Micah pointed to a group of wagons stationed near the hitching posts. “Here. That’s where we store most of our food, weapons, medicine, ammo... you name it.”
The young man diverted his gaze to another location. “And what about this cabin here?”
The outlaw followed his line of sight. “Oh, that? That’s where our leader lives.”
“You mean Dutch van der Linde?” Isaac clarified. “I’ve heard he’s quite the unpredictable man.”
Micah sighed. “Unpredictable, paranoid, and dying. The deadliest combination. I’d suggest leavin’ him alone for now.”
“...I’ll keep that in mind. But tell me more about this robbery. When are you boys setting out? How long d’you reckon you’ll be gone?”
The outlaw took a moment to think. “Oh, I dunno... about an hour, I’d guess? Not a lotta time for you to find the camp and do what you need to do, but it’s the only chance you’ll get. As for when we’re leaving, we usually start robberies early in the morning. We don’t wanna give the law a chance to wake up properly before the chaos ensues.”
Isaac stood up from the desk. “That works for me.”
Micah eyed the young man with a cautionary glare. “...Just remember who helped you get this done, princess. You may be payin’ me, but I still got guns of my own. I won’t hesitate to use ‘em if you leave me no other choice. Understand?”
Isaac took the map and folded it in his hand, casually assuring the outlaw. “Of course, Micah. I won’t forget.”
“Good. Then I think I’ve given you your eighteen dollars’ worth of information. You wanna know more, you’ll have to pay more. For now, though...” Micah made his way to the exit, resting a hand on the doorknob, “...all I can say is good luck.”
“Wait.” Isaac said, stopping the other man before he could leave.
Micah lazily glanced over his shoulder, clearly eager to get out of here. “What is it?”
Isaac took a seat on the edge of the bed, placing his rifle on his lap. He seemed a little too calm for Micah’s liking, and the next words that came out of his mouth did nothing to ease the man.
“...Don’t eat the food after you return from the robbery.” He warned plainly, obviously thinking of something.
“Otherwise, it won’t be pretty.”
#red dead redemption#red dead redemption 2#rdr2#arthur morgan#isaac morgan#dutch van der linde#Micah Bell#Bill Williamson#rdr2 fanfic#rdr2 oc
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Plan(ed) to Have Something Ready, By The Ball Drop &/or Tomorrow!!! If Everything Works out...
Hey Everyone,
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!!!
Wow, this is the second message without any art added or anything... LOL... Seems odd really to do this without having something up by now... By the way, yes the current avatar pic is related to the comic as you’ll come see soon. It’s and early sketch so some kinks aren’t worked out in the current image. But it was the one I was ready to have when I made this blog so there was at least something...
So as you probably can see by this title, I do plan on having something posted... I just don’t know to what extent. Due to some family drama, and continually piling on work I wasn’t able to get my Christmas Pic out to you guys, which was just a static scene with a few of the characters to get us started here. But... well family got in the way, continually decorating till Christmas day... a lot of things going on, bickering (though we all love each other) it’s just... you know life. I fully expected this as well, which is why I promised something before New Years, but didn’t specify as to what.
I postponed that idea to be released today or tomorrow, after seeing how I was completely unable to get to the work by Christmas Eve. But, by the looks of the progress I made on it and my families continually need of me till we get some things done in this house (that always has something to be done in it... LOL, at least things are coming fairly together).
So lets just say, I may not have anything out by tomorrow. But with hopes I want to have something out. So We’ll see. I could release early the character sketches. But I want to keep this blog clean as possible, so I feel releasing the character profiles, cards and blogs together prior to the Prologue, would fit better and keep this page having a cleaner look to it at the start.
Maybe even by midnight tomorrow PST I could have something... But that again depends. I need to clean stuff for the internet/cable guy and I’m seriously allergic to dust... So the next few days I may be in an almost sickly comatose state regardless of the precautions I take. If dust gets kicked into the air at all and isn’t properly vacuumed up, than I’m often sick for days... I feel like all I’ve been doing the whole month is cleaning or working story wise on this comic... Mostly cleaning if you ask me, but at least after Saturday things should be more relaxed and I can have a better work schedule planned out. So yeah, that’s my life...
But DIDNT’ WAN TO LEAVE YOU HANGING with this Negative Nancy Talk ;D ;P ;D lol....
I want to tell you what I have so far:
I have the Christmas Image at least with the basic building blocks to complete it. Like I’ve drawn where I want things, but not detailed anything... So that’s why it may be a day or so... Technically its a Happy Holidays and New Years piece, but with the Christmas Tree in it I have the habit of calling it such...
I may have plans to detail it a bit more then I plan on having the comic, but that also depends on things. I may just leave it in the same style and not fully decked out to make it easier to finish...
~Several Characters for the beginning have their final forms created. These are major characters that will be scene in the prologue. I’m just having to figure out out little things with background characters in some instances.
~The prologue is almost completely written out. I had a change of heart a week ago on some things and had to change it around, which is why the written format for the prologue isn’t complete as it initially was. I just felt some things didn’t fit, so I added and took away some things so it flows better and also works both fanfiction wise for the story, but easily mixes for the Ask AU... I also have at least the beginning portion of the Intro script written, the parts unaffected by the changes. However, parts of the intro will be written out, depending on the questions you ask the characters in this prologue so these portions I’m leaving open on purpose. It’s the plot driven portions I’m mentioning that I’ve changed slightly. ;) I have fun plans for the prologue. Remember this story has a clear direction I’m taking it with plot. But the Ask portion will be a part of it, I have such a fun way of Ask’s being tied into the plot driven story, and it will change depending on the context, person and setting which makes this really fun to plan out.
-With that said, here’s an early heads up, that for Ask Questions, I will allow any sort of asks, but if it has potential to spoil a part of the story, then I won’t answer it. Alongside this, I’ll allow Anon magic to a small degree. I won’t include Asks that like spoil something for a character, or tell the character where someone is, give away what someone else is doing to another character, etc... Unless it may fit the context, but generally I won’t use these types of asks. I will allow Anons to appear occasionally rather then just be unseen voices, as I have fun ways of incorporating Anons into the story that also works with different points in the plot. I will accept things like... say a dog or cat to appear for ex. amount of asks. I already know who they’ll be and have been planning out their designs, but I may draw the line at other animals (e.g. horses, fish, racoons, squirrels, lizards, etc.) Although, I do really love rabbits, I chose to make it concise to just two animals that if asked could appear. It’s not because I can’t draw them but I don’t want things getting out of hand. Types of anon magic I’m not going to use if put in the Ask portion, are things like giving people certain powers or items that may completely effect the tone or plot of the story, accept maybe if I did a non-canon AU to this au for fun one day. I will go more in depth in the general rules later. In no way is this to discourage anyone from asking such things. I may set reminders at times if I get to much of something. But, in general I’ll do what I can to make this a fun Ask blog all the same.
~The Larger Summary, I promised like a trailer would be in the comic form I have rendered the Script for, and have two slides so far drawn out, just not completed. (for the time I didn’t have around the Holidays compared to normally I actually surprised myself with this)
~The story itself is really coming together, I already have a starting and stopping point (which I had prior to this blog) as it will have several Acts and Arcs, some which have greatly changed and take on new depth since the point I started this blog. The themes and story in general are drawn out pretty well. I don’t have all the chapters I’d want fully written. As I have my plan, but I also want to get the prologue in first, just to see if there’s anything I should change with my concept. It’s just a precaution, something I’ve learned well when taking on something new. So I don’t have things that are written in stone and hard to change if the form I’m hoping to take doesn’t work out and needs to be retooled or something. But these are minor and shouldn’t change the overall scope and plot I’m taking this story on either.
~I’ve created several of the character bios, many in fact are already written in true Henry Stickmin fashion. But as I took inspiration to make this into a AU as well, I will possibly make both the bio cards and show a static shot of the characters alongside it or something... It’s an idea, but I want this to also be the easier comic. But, considering that I’ll always have a static shot I use as reference for any character I make, this is what makes this more realistic to occur as well.
~I’ve nearly drawn out all the characters for the intro portion. And already know how I’ll handle Anon’s in the story. In the Prologue itself, I’ll actually have you Anon’s being referenced as audience members in a conference of sorts. Think of it like those conferences when a new Apple or Microsoft product is first advertised as something new to the news conference, those big rotunda’s where someone's being interviewed and presenting the hot new item. Think of the opening to the prologue being something like this scenario. So the questions directed at the character in there, who... *cough* I will introduce later after I fully render both their character profile and have their character bio(s) fully done. Which considering how fun and easy it’s been to do this so far shouldn’t be to long now... Although to keep from getting questions to soon on them, I may hold off on posting the Characters and Bio’s till I have that Intro/Trailer completed... I’m still considering which to do first actually. But top on my list out of all of these is having my cover art for the top completed. That’s something I admit though I have the layout I have hardly started on and should focus on first.
~I’m also taking close looks at how to properly make the rules for this group. When I posts either the Character Bios, Holiday Pic, OR the Trailer Comic... Maye even just the cover art... Then I will try to have out an official Rules list. The one I have on the group posts is just general stuff... But I’m reconsidering some rules I already wrote... Basically keep things family friendly, be kind an courteous, nothing vulgar or disturbing.
I may change this from a PG-13 comic to maybe PG-15. I’ve realized recently, there are some points that some characters do swear... sometimes more then once. I’m not someone who talks with vulgarity myself, but I sure can write characters with it.... Let’s just say I’m going to see if in those scenes I might just bleep out words and see if the dialogue still comes through. But, I dunno... LUCKILY, we don’t have to worry about many of those scenes till way further into this comic. So lucky for either of us, this isn’t a major concern at the moment. And on the plus side it’s not the crudest words I could have chosen so... it may still work as a PG-13 work... I’ll make this decision soon as possible.
Another reason for the sudden change, came as I realized as the story goes, and even in early chapters there will be scenes where blood is shown and physical mortal danger and peril is experienced by the characters. I do have heavy theming sometimes, later on it may seem constantly about. As this story is heavily Drama/Mystery and some suspense based. As the story progresses it will become less Drama/Mystery and more based around the drama/suspense itself. This will obviously be some more intense scenes that showing less blood would allow me to make PG-13, however I also don’t want to undercut the certain tones using representations of a mortal wound would bring. I also want to look at things like these future scenes realistically. Which is why I’m mostly considering changing this story to a PG-15 or at least more certain I am. I just don’t want people shocked that I’m doing this. I don’t feel this story will be R, there was a time where I heavily considered it. But for once I decided no, I didn’t want that. I just didn’t want to open the door for scenes I didn’t intend to have in this story. There will be heavy themes that my have TW for some people. But I didn’t want some TW’s that having a R rated story could potentially have. I mean certain themes people are free to write fanfictions for, and depending on the content can make art for. But again this will be family friendly group...
As You can see I’m considering more then a little here when it comes to the official rules. These details will be followed up on the official rules post.
~~~~~~
Now I apologize for the length.
The structure of this and the previous Authors Notes will probably fall under their own category for length. I’ll work to make sure posts in the future won’t be so long and hard to read. It is early morning for me when I woke to write this, and I found once much of the day passed that I still wanted to include the stuff I did into this update.
I have more to tell you, but I think this post has spurned the energy in me out. Anything that I missed in this post, I’ll try to remember to update in the next post (hopefully after I get some art on here).
What I can���t do at the moment is promise dates right now till I’m more certain of schedule to work on this or can promise that my general allergies won’t cause me to delay this at all. But I can confirm that I should have several things coming out this next month, including the comic Prologue I hope. Depending on the traction the comic and fanfic gets, I may try to work on it quickly, or take my time with it. I may do a mix of both as my perfectionist self won’t let me just shoot something out without giving it my all first. I’m shushing that side slightly so this comic will be easier on me then the more detailed one I have planned. All the same, I’m planning to work on this one more at the moment till I can get an idea of my work flow. Sometimes the easiest route of work is better for planning, rather then diving head first into the deep end right away. You don’t learn to swim by jumping head first into the ocean. Piece of advice that it took years for me to learn myself ;).
Anyways, I figured since I did promise something hopefully by today or tomorrow, I’d give you a formal update... Also... Well I can’t promise that updates won’t be like this in the future. I’ll try to keep them concise. But as people who know me, well have learned when it comes to personally talking I tend to write or talk out epistle. So... When I give updates, I may have lengthy ones... I’ll try my best to keep this side of me out of updates, if I can help it.
Anyways Happy New Years Everyone!!! I hope everyone's Christmas and Holidays were extra special, despite the state of the world!!!
HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE AND DAY!!!
Sincerely,
<3
(Mod)
Sweet Heart Blaze
#Lenna Peppermint S[REDACTED]#Agent Lenna#henry stickmin charles#Henry Stickmin#henry stickmin au#henry stickmin ask blog#Henry Stickmin Ask Comic#ellie rose#charles calvin#ccc#gov't#the wall#toppat#toppats#reginald copperbottom#rhm#right hand man#general hubert galeforce#dave panpa#rupert price#konrad bukowski#calvin bukowski#sven svensson#burt curtis#Sarge#Beanie#Flapjacks
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two sides of reality: two
A/N: I have been overwhelmed with the response you have all given me for not only this story, but my other stories as well. I just want to thank you all for just taking time out of your day to read my stories. I love seeing the likes and comments you guys have been living me. Thank you so much! I hope you all enjoy this latest chapter.
The next prompt should be posted in two days. Snapshots update will be posted by the end of the week and another one-shot I have planned will be posted at the end of the weekend. I might post snapshot first, really depends where my muse will be this next few days since I have finals. But I will post for sure!
For anyone else having finals this week, good luck!
Thank you all again! <3
Masterlist
tagged list: @justahopelessssromantic ; @iambabyharry ; @thegirlwhowritesfics ; @carlaangel86
Angel parked his bike beside Coco, Gilly parking beside him. EZ opted out, reasoning that he had some reading to do. Angel didn’t answer. Between himself and EZ, Rhian was a sore subject. EZ blamed him, always did when it came to Rhian, which he understood. It was his foolishness that broke their friendship, a ten year friendship down the drain. But EZ could have fought for her, the problem was, Emily became his main priority, Rhian truly just became a memory to EZ. At least from Angel’s understanding, that’s what happened.
Daniel had heard the motorcycles and prayed his tio didn’t decide to make a surprised appearance, but to his relief, it was Coco and Gilly, who regularly watched when Rhian was there. But what surprised him was Angel’s appearance.
“The fuck is he doing here?” He heard the disdain in Sergio’s voice.
The bad blood between Sergio and Angel occurred due to various reasons. But the most prominent, at least from what Daniel believed, was that Angel took Sergio’s opportunity with Erica and they never recovered from that. They were never friends, but they were at least cordial till that whole debacle.
Rhian walked over to Daniel and Sergio, waving hello to the Mayans members.
“Tio Taza is going a little overboard with the protection tonight,” Rhian stood beside Sergio, his arm wrapping around her shoulder.
“Angel never goes, why is he here? Is the club being threatened?” Sergio looked at Daniel.
He shrugged. “I don’t keep tabs on them, did you want me to start doing that too besides the numerous things you have me doing?”
“Don’t be such a wise ass.” Sergio rolled his eyes. “This isn’t your scene,” it was the first thing Sergio said, but he didn’t direct it towards Gilly and Coco, who he got along with. It was towards Angel.
“Why, you insecure I’m gonna steal your thunder?” Angel smugly retorted.
“Okay, okay, let’s not play who has the bigger dick,” Rhian rolled her eyes. “I’m dipping right after my race.”
“You’re the only race, drifting makes too much noise.” Daniel looked at the time, ten minutes till start. “Are you leaving for Seattle after your exam tomorrow?”
“Yes, well depending when this old man gets up,” she playfully smacked Sergio’s stomach.
“You’re such a brat,” Sergio shook his head.
“Seattle?” Coco questioned.
“Sergio goes with you?” Daniel never knew this fact. He always thought that Rhian went alone. At times Sergio was gone the same time as Rhian, but he always thought Sergio was in LA since his daughter was over there.
“Not all the time,” Rhian and Sergio shared a look. This didn't go unnoticed by Angel who was surprised by this. Did the two have something going on under Daniel’s nose? There was no fucking way. “He just joins me to make sure I don’t die.”
Daniel frowned. At times, he was intimidated by the relationship Sergio and Rhian shared. Sergio just seemed to be the better older brother to her and it didn’t sit well with Daniel every now and then, especially now.
“Don’t do that, it’s nothing big. He has a girl he sleeps with in Seattle.” That was a lie, but it wasn’t far fetched. Sergio was a good looking guy, he’s had his fair share of women.
“Oh, Daniella?”
Daniel fell for it and Sergio couldn’t believe just how well Rhian could lie at times.
“Yes, psycho,” Rhian agreed. “See you boys later.”
Rhian passed by Angel, smiling at him as she did. She wasn’t sure why Angel was here today, but she hoped this wouldn’t be a normal occurrence. She didn’t have a problem with Angel, whatever happened in high school, stayed there. Him and his brother were the ones who avoided her or acted awkward towards her. But she didn’t mind. The Reyes men were trouble and she rather steer clear from that.
“So, abandoned parking lot, I’m guessing she’s drifting?” Coco looked around and he knew that the only reason that the cops weren’t swarming the parking lot was due to their connections. The cops didn’t bat their eyes on street races in an abandoned parking lot, it was much more controlled than a drag race in the streets.
Drifting refers to a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while maintaining vehicle control and a high exit speed.
It was another form of racing. Not quite like the straight shot races where you had four cars battling it out on the streets of California. Drifting was slightly different.
For example, the usual drifting races only had two cars racing at a time and the usual venue for this type of race was a parking structure. The objective of drifting was to be the first one to get to the top of the parking structure. In every floor of the parking structure there were cars waiting for the racers to come up, recording the race on their phones, cameras, or GoPro’s. While the competitors make their way up the structure, the people from the first floor usually make their way up to see who wins. Some stay downstairs to prepare for the next race.
Basically, the objective of the race was to be the first car to reach the top floor. But the difference with other races was that one had to do it in style. Glide at every corner, with full control of your car, flawless being the key cause if you weren’t your car would end up totaled or worse, someone could die.
“Didn’t think this type of scene was still thriving, Fast and the Furious ain’t doing it for you two?” Gilly loved pulling Sergio and Daniel’s leg. They took this seriously, but he knew that the reason they were so invested since it brought in business for them.
“Everyone wants to emulate,” Sergio smirked.
“Can’t believe you let your sister put her life on the line like this,” Angel commented, causing both Daniel and Sergio to narrow their eyes at him.
“That’s rich, coming from the asshole who broke her fucking heart.” Sergio spat out with venom.
Daniel watched Sergio walk away and make his way over to the other members of their team, Knockout. “Listen Reyes, no one invited you to come and if you actually think I can tell my sister what to do, it just shows how much you don’t know Rhian.” He followed after Sergio.
“You just had to open your fucking mouth,” Coco shook his head, taking out a cigarette. “I told you, it was a bad idea for you to come here.”
“Why did you come? You never cared about Rhian before.” Gilly added.
“How the fuck would you know that I don’t care about her?” Angel countered.
“No need to get hostile hermano, I’m just pointing out that you and baby brother avoid Rhian like the fucking plague.” Much like Coco, Gilly knew of what occurred years ago between Rhian, Angel and EZ. The three never talked about it and for him, EZ and Angel was ashamed and for Rhian, well, it was years ago. She had other things to worry about that things that occurred in high school.
“See, told you I wasn’t the only one who noticed.” Coco scoffed.
Angel chose to remain quiet. He didn’t need to tell them his reasons. Him and Rhian had enough time to avoid one another, maybe it was time for him to grow a pair and make it up to her like he always wanted to do so.
Rhian inspected her car, making sure everything was in order.
“Rhi, I made some modifications in your car, should be able to drift much smoother than last time,” Aaron informed her, his handy tablet on hand. “We changed the shifter and it should be able to tell you when is the best time to shift.” It’s not that she needed a computer telling her to do so, but Aaron liked putting in the latest technology in Rhian’s car.
“You spoil me.”
“Someone has to.”
“Rhian, always a sight to see,” her opponent, Joey greeted her.
“Joey, still running the harem,” she nodded her head over towards the four women wearing white shirts behind his car. “How do you keep up?”
“You can join and find out.” He winked at her.
“Watch it mother fucker!” Sergio called out, hearing his comment.
“Tell your dog to heel, it was a joke.” Joey held his hands up.
Rhian laughed. “I don’t know, maybe it’s about time you get your ass beat by someone.”
“Why not put your money where that pretty mouth is and let’s add a stipulation.”
“And what is that?”
“I win, you go on a date with me, if I lose, I’ll double the amount.”
She enjoyed egotistical bastards like Joey who thought with their dick. This wasn’t the first time a stipulation such as this was added. Men were such simple creatures, especially men like Joey. To get their dick wet, they were willing to double an hefty amount of money just to appease their own ego.
Rhian thrived on that.
“So you’re gonna put in ten grand for a date that isn’t even guaranteed?”
“Oh, it is baby, your cute little mouth is going to be wrapped around my cock by the end of the night.” Joey looked over at the Knockout members, who were now joined by the Mayans. His brows furrowed, swallowing hard, knowing he may have stepped the line, but he was already in there.
“Guess we’ll have to see,” Rhian gave him a tight smile, looking back at her brother who did not look happy with Joey’s comment.
Rhian slipped inside her car, nodding her head towards the host. She turned her car on, taking a deep breath. Another race, another thousands of dollars in her savings. Once she was done with the cartel debt, which was in two months, then she could go wherever she wanted. It was insane how she was surrounded by so many people, yet, she felt alone. Everyone has their own interest and after being screwed over multiple times, she learned to take care of number one, herself.
The host stood in front of the two cars. The two women on the edge of the start line, dresses leave little to the imagination.
He pointed to the woman to his right. “Ready?” She said.
He pointed to the woman to his left. “Ready?”
“Go!” The host extended his hand to the front, signaling the drivers to be on their way.
As soon as they heard the host say the two letter word, Rhian and Joey immediately accelerated, Joey claiming first place immediately. He shifted gears perfectly, his smirk growing as he did. There was no one better than him in drifting, in every county in California, he has beaten everyone who had to be beat. Beating Daniel’s precious baby sister would be just icing on top of his already well layered cake. Daniel beat him years ago and he could never get the best of him. But he would now, even if it was over his sister. It was basically the same thing, except he would get a date after as well.
The first turn was coming. Joey looked over to his side view mirror and Rhian was closely behind him. Before colliding with the wall, Joey swiftly turned his steering wheel, perfectly drifting on his first corner, accelerating once more to the next corner. A few cars were on the side, cameras out awaiting on them.
Rhian, who was caught off guard by Joey’s speed, almost collided with the wall, but she recovered quickly enough to swiftly drift around the corner, accelerating faster to meet up with Joey. She knew she had to shift perfectly or Joey would win. There was no way she was going to lose to this prick.
Joey looked at his rear view mirror and found Rhian right behind him. He turned once more, nearly missing a spectator that was a little too close to the track line. Joey slightly swerved, but he recovered quickly, accelerating once more.
Rhian turned right after Joey, finally being placed right beside him since the parking lot grew wider. She knew that she had one more floor to go before reaching the top.
She couldn’t break concentration now.
She had to beat Joey.
The turn was coming up, Rhian was slightly in front of Joey now. Their cars were still neck to neck, but Rhian was winning. They turned at the same time, their bumpers were so closed to the wall, you would have thought that they scratched it. Rhian almost hit a car as she turned, but thankfully her car wasn’t that wide to hit it. She accelerated, leaving Joey behind. The road to the top was narrow and it was like a slide that you had to climb up with your car. If she got their first, she would surely win against Joey.
Joey couldn’t believe what he was seeing, Rhian was an amazing drifter, just like her brother. It’s not like he expected her to suck, but he didn’t expect her to be good. They never spoke about Rhian in their world. It was always about Daniel and Sergio, how their team was amazing, but nothing compared to them. He watched as Rhian reached the slide first, professionally turning her car in a sideways position, her side of the car facing the road to the top, as it went up the slide. Joey did the same, following right after her car, but she won.
She reached the top first, meeting a crowd of people not at all surprised to see her car to be the one to make it to the top. She stopped right in front of her team, who was cheering for her. Sergio opened the door and grabbed Rhian, dragging her out of her car. He hugged her as the rest of the members congratulated her. Coco, Gilly and Angel joined in, clapping for her, but their eyes were trained on Joey. They heard the disrespectful words he had said to Rhian, they couldn’t let that slide.
Joey’s car made it to the top and parked right beside hers. The crowd was now cheering for Rhian. Joey opened his car door, dismayed by his loss. But he recognized that he lost, he wasn’t an idiot to try and fight his lost, especially with the way the Mayan members were glaring at him.
“A win is a win, I can respect that,” Joey took out the envelope that held the money Rhian won, handing it over. “You’re almost as good as your brother.”
Before Rhian could reply, Coco and Gilly stepped in front of her with Angel in front of them.
“That’s cute, but do you think we can forget how you disrespected her before your race?” Angel gave him a sinister smile.
Joey backed up, holding his hands up. “Listen man, it was just my competitive nature.”
“Competitive nature? So you tell all of your opponents that when you win, they’re gonna suck your dick?”
“Look man, I don’t want any trouble.”
“Angel, it’s okay,” Rhian touched his arm, causing Angel to turn to her. “He’s harmless.”
He sighed and turned to Joey. “You lucky she’s merciful cause I would have had you eating through a fucking tube. Now beat it,” Angel dismissed him.
Joey immediately left.
Angel turned to speak to Rhian, but by the time he did, she was back in her car, going down the way she came up.
“Where’s your sister going?” Angel questioned.
Daniel shrugged. “I don’t know, she got a text message and got back in her car.”
“Do you even care where she’s fucking going?” Angel didn’t understand why Daniel just seemed so nonchalant when it came to Rhian, did he even care about his sister?
“Watch it Ignacio, you don’t know shit about my sister, what she does and where she goes is none of your concern.” Daniel was tired of Angel’s comments towards them. He cared about his sister, but he trusted Rhian. She was never a troublemaker, kept to herself, and that hasn’t changed. “You haven’t been part of her life since high school, why come back now?”
“Yeah, and who’s fault was that?” Angel glanced at Sergio.
“You’re insinuating that I had something to do with this?” Sergio scoffed. “Don’t give me all the credit when this is all on you. Rhian is her own person. Maybe if you weren’t so full of yourself, you would actually have a relationship with Rhian, Ezekiel would as well.” He brushed past Angel, making his way down the stairs where his vehicle was.
Coco just shook his head. “I told you, bad fucking idea.”
“Shut up.”
=================
Rhian parked outside of the dress factory that Galindo owned. She saw motorcycles and just cussed under her breath. Recognizing the bikes, it looked like one of them was Bishop’s. The others, she couldn’t really tell. She’s been doing this for four years and her uncle has never found out, now, the motorcycles that were parked outside made her nervous. They were supposed to be in Mexico or some shit, nowhere near the fucking dress factory. Taking a deep breath, she let it out, making her way into the factory. Once inside, she greeted Galindo’s men, people that she had grown to at least be civil with. She wasn’t an idiot, she knew what they did for a living. One of his men led her to the room where she usually collected the products she moved for the cartel. She thanked the man who led her inside, screaming in her head as her eyes landed on Coco, Angel, Bishop and Gilly, whose eyes widened seeing her.
“Fuck,” she cussed under her breath, moving further in.
“Rhian,” Miguel fondly greeted her. He gave her a hug, leading her further in.
Miguel was a nice man, but Rhian knew it was due to her taking on her ex-boyfriend’s debt. He was nice since he was being paid back. The world wasn’t rainbow and sunshine, she knew of his dark side and quite frankly, all she wanted to do was move on. He was always kind to her and he approached her like a businessman.
His offer was simple.
Take on his debt, or pay for the consequences.
He believed that if he threatened Rhian’s life, her ex-boyfriend, Bryan, would come out of hiding and save her. Well, jokes on him, Bryan was a coward and wouldn’t come out for her.
So she took his debt, but it was more for his family’s safety than his. After he left her at Bakersfield, Bryan could literally fuck himself for all she cared. Miguel somehow found her admirable for taking on his debt even though he did twist her arm to take it.
But she figured it was high honors to gain the respect of a drug lord.
“What are you doing here Rhi?” Coco questioned, not liking this situation whatsoever.
“Rhian has not informed you? She works for me.” Miguel informed them.
“What?” The four Mayans said in unison.
Rhian felt her world becoming smaller and she definitely wished she wasn’t where she currently was.
“What do you mean she works for you?” Bishop asked the question, knowing it was not advisable to seem that you weren’t on Miguel’s side.
“She moves my products up north.” Miguel shrugged, as if it was nothing unheard of and it wasn’t, except no one in the MC knew about this.
Bishop was seething. He saw a Rhian as a part of his family and this was a big secret to withhold from them. He could tell Rhian was uncomfortable with the way she had her hands intertwined in front of her, looking anywhere but him. Suddenly, he was thankful Taza wasn’t here since he would lose his shit.
“Since when?” Angel spoke up this time, his brows furrowing at their current predicament. Rhian was always secretive, which was within her own rights however, this was something she should have kept to himself.
“She’s been doing this for four years, but if she wishes to do so, I do not mind if she continues to work for me. The type of loyalty that she exhibits is what I want for anyone who works under me to possess.” Miguel explained. “I know your paths have never crossed however, due to the recent incidents during the Vegas run, I want someone to come with for her runs.”
Rhian screamed internally, but she figured she had two more months and that was it. The only thing that was going to be painful was her favorite tio finding out. She wanted to tell him, but the last thing she wanted to do was bringing him in all this mess.
It was her choice to take on this debt, she wasn’t going to bring anyone else in this mess.
“Miguel, you know Sergio goes with me.”
It all clicked for Coco, Angel and Gilly then. Daniel’s innocent baby sister was not so innocent after all. And from what they gathered no one knew about her job with the cartel. It didn't make sense for them as to why she would even be a part of the cartel.
“Yes, but Sergio can’t always protect you. I have to be sensible about this. You can have Sergio and a Mayan with you, it would ease my nerves.” Miguel reasoned.
Rhian didn’t want to argue. If this was what he wanted, that would be fine. She would just request for Coco or Gilly to go with her, hell anyone but Taza.
“That’s fine, shouldn’t be a problem.”
Miguel liked Rhian’s low maintenance. She did whatever she had to do, no questions asked, which was the reason he wanted for her to come and become a permanent member of the cartel. He’s sure he could find ways of utilizing her talents. He did his research, he didn’t let anyone come in contact with his cartel without being thoroughly investigated. From what he saw, Rhian’s education was placed on the back burner due to the debt she was currently paying off. Rhian dated Bryan, the man who owed him a large sum of money, ran away instead of facing his consequences, for three years. It shocked him how she agreed to take on his debt, but he admired her loyalty, not to Bryan, to his family.
As she had told him, “innocent people shouldn’t suffer due to his addiction.”
“I will let you all decide which one of you will go with Rhian, please keep her safe.” Miguel said his goodbyes, leaving Rhian to deal with this difficult predicament. It’s not like Miguel knew that Taza didn’t know. She wasn’t even sure if he knew she was related to Taza.
Once they were alone, Bishop spoke up.
“You have some explaining to do.”
#angelreyes#angel reyes fanfiction#angel reyes fic#mayans mc fanfic#mayans mc fic#angel reyes fanfic#tsor#angel reyes
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Love Is Blind: Chapter Four
Leandra and Melissa sat at the cafe table with Robyn and she told them about her conversation with Chris.
“So he’s got you thinking exactly what we’ve been telling you all these years,” Melissa mused.
“No, he just has me questioning if there was something in my marriage that I missed,” Robyn replied.
“I think you should meet him, Robs,” Leandra interjected, “you two seem to have a really good understanding.”
“No, we have a good thing going. I don’t want to ruin that.”
“I don’t think you want to be happy.”
“I do want to be happy but on my own terms. And I’m not ready. Talking to him made me think about my ex and just reminded me that I really still love him. And I don’t want to. I swear I don’t want to but something has this hold on me and-”
“We get it. Y’all were together for a long time.”
“It’s not just that. It’s- you ever meet someone and you just know that they’re it? Well he was it for me.”
“So what do you call this thing with Christian?”
“A friendship. I have no interest in making it more than that.”
“You ever been to therapy?”
“I tried it for a few weeks but I didn’t get anywhere.”
“Maybe you should try it again.”
“I don’t know.”
“Robyn, do you like being miserable or something? Is that the only thing still connecting you to Chris? Because if not, I don’t understand your apprehension to getting better.”
“I want to get better, I’m just scared of what that means.”
“Well Sis, you’ll never find out until you try.”
Robyn sat back in her office after returning from lunch with Leandra and Melissa. She didn’t have any appointments until 3 unless any emergencies came in so she had time to just think. She grabbed her phone and went to her dating app
A: Are you available to talk?
A few minutes went by before she got an answer
C: Sure, I just finished my last class. What’s up?
A: My friends think I should go to therapy
C: Ok. What do you think?
A: I’m not ready.
C: Why do you think that?
A: I don’t want to spill my guts to a stranger. Not when there’s someone who deserves it more
C: Deserves what? Your anger or your feelings?
A: My anger
C: So tell that person
A: I don't know where he is
C: So find him. I doubt your ex-husband was like some CIA type
A: Lol, no but I don’t think I’m ready to talk to him either
C: Do you ever think you’ll be ready?
A: I’m not sure
C: I think you’re thinking about it too much. Honestly, therapy should be for you and no one else. If you aren’t ready you won’t do anything but waste your money because you’ll fight everything at every turn. Nothing penetrates if you aren’t ready to hear it. And even if the therapist does happen to get through to you, it will not give you the closure that you’re seeking. The questions you want answers to, only your ex-husband can answer
A: I hate that you’re right.
C: Lol, there’s a lot of trauma that influences this rightness
A: Unfortunately. How are you? Was rude of me not to ask that first
C: You had something important to say, no worries. I’m fine. I was talking to my daughter and she wants a puppy
A: What kind?
C: Not sure yet. We’re gonna do some research before we make a decision
A: That’s good. I’ve had a lot of puppies be sent to my shelter because people didn’t pick the right dog for their lifestyle
C: That must suck. Do you have any pets?
A: No, I’m not home enough
C: Ah, understandable
A: would the puppy be your first pet?
C: No, I had a dog when I was a child but in my old profession, me and my ex were never home enough, it was always something with either my job or hers
A: That’s understandable.
C: You ready for your gala?
A: Physically? Yes. Emotionally? No. I’m working on convincing myself not to cancel
C: Is it really that hard?
A: Yes but I made a promise to my employees and stuff so I really do want to honor that
C: Do you need another incentive?
A: Depends on what you’re suggesting
C: How about a gift? Just for your effort of going to this event
A: And how am I supposed to get said gift?
C: I can mail it. Do you have a secure mailing address you would like me to send it to?
Robyn thought about her random PO Box that she uses when she doesn’t want to give out her work or home address.
A: PO Box 124, New York, NY 10003. Do I get to know what the gift is beforehand?
C: Nope. I’ll send it and make sure it arrives the morning of your gala. Think that’ll work?
A: I guess but I’m nervous about what it could be
C: You’ll see
A: And do you have a secure mailing address?
C: PO Box 762, Middletown, NY 10940
A: Upstate. Do you travel to the city every day or?
C: No, I have a condo near Columbia. I stay during the week then go home on the weekends.
A: How many hours of a drive?
C: Actually like 2 hours. It gives me some peace from the loud city life and gives my daughter some balance.
A: What’s it like up there?
C: Very spacious. I live in a somewhat rural part of Middletown. I have a couple acres of land surrounding my house.
A: I can’t even imagine what that would look like. Even when I lived in California, I was in the busiest part.
C: I think I appreciate it because I’m older now. I definitely enjoyed living in the city when I was in Cali
A: It holds a beautiful sense of excitement
C: Do you live near your business or far away?
A: I have an apartment nearby but I might start looking for a house soon. Maybe renovate a brownstone
C: That’s always a good deal. Would you rent out?
A: Nah. I don’t have the energy to keep up with being a landlord. It’s a job within itself
C: Very true.
A: I’m guessing you should be going, is your daughter school age?
C: She goes to a headstart program at a private school since she’s only 3 but they keep her until around 5 in aftercare. I usually have a late class today but I canceled it
A: Oh. Is something wrong?
C: No, I’d just rather not be out and about this evening.
A: Ah. Well thanks for talking with me. I got an appointment coming in soon
C: Anything major?
A: Nope. Just a check up
C: Well if you have time, I’d love to talk to you again
A: Talk or chat?
C: Talk
A: My clinic closes at 7 so I should be home by 8
C; And dinner?
A: I’ll probably grab something on the way home
C: So how about a dinner date then? We’ll eat and keep each other company
A: I’d like that
C: Great. See you at 8
A: See you at 8
Robyn closed her app then rested her head on her desk. She was drained.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So what color is her dress? Jessica asked as she and Chris stood in the florist shop.
“It’s navy blue.”
“I think this corsage would be perfect. It’s simple, elegant and can be pinned to the dress instead of being situated on her wrist.”
Chris walked over the piece his sister was referring to. It contained a navy blue rose, a white rose and some baby breaths, “I like that one.”
“Do they deliver to PO Boxes?”
“Yea, that’s why I picked this shop and it’s fairly close to the Post Office where her PO Box is.”
“Why didn’t you just get her work address?”
“The whole point is to be strangers. Giving me her work address would defeat that purpose. She’s an established vet, I could probably look up her work address and find her, which, again, defeats the point.”
“Do you know what she looks like?”
“Not really. Her photo was a full body shot so the closer you zoom in the blurrier it gets. Same as mine.”
“And that doesn’t worry you? What if she’s ugly?”
Chris laughed, “what does that matter? We don’t ever plan on meeting each other.
Besides I’m not allowed to be nice to a possibly physically unattractive woman?
“You know that’s not what I’m saying. It’s just- I don’t understand this whole online dating thing”
“There’s nothing to understand because we’re not dating.”
“Yea. Right.”
“We are both in rebuilding stages of our lives and we like talking to each other. That’s all. If I was interested in more, I’d definitely would’ve insisted on meeting her or just moved on by now.”
“You told her about your nervous breakdown and suicide attempt. You haven’t even told your ex-wife that and you want me to believe you’re not dating.”
“Yes because we aren’t.”
“You’re buying her gifts?”
“I buy my friends gifts all the time.”
“You told her about Anesa.”
“And?”
“You talk almost everyday.”
“I’m not seeing your point.”
“My point is you’re dating this woman.”
“Jessica, big sister, I am not dating anyone. I like her, yes but that’s as far as it goes. I need a friend and she’s one for me. That’s it. That’s all.”
“You are so in denial, Chris.”
“I’ve accepted my situation, you’re the one with the conspiracy theories.”
“I’m just saying, I don’t want an ugly sister in law especially not after my last one. She was gorgeous and the point is to upgrade not backslide.”
“You get on my nerves, Jess.”
Jessica laughed, “is this all you’re getting for your friend?”
“Just because you said it like that, I am returning you home and finishing this adventure by myself.”
“Come on, don’t be like that Little Brother.”
“Then stop making this a bigger deal than what it is.”
This was definitely a big deal. Robyn stared at the box of things Chris had delivered to her PO Box and her heart melted a bit. The flower corsage with navy and white roses was beautiful. She loved the card that came attached but what shook her was the books he had gifted. One night they had stayed up talking about literature and she mentioned that she loved poetry but never had the time to really build up a collection. Wrapped with a red bow were two compilations of black poets. The note under the bow stated, “I’d like to contribute the first books to your poetry collection. It’s always good to start with the essentials (smile).”
Robyn grabbed one of the books and sat down in a chair just as Leandra walked in with her hairstylist beside her.
“What’s all this?” Leandra asked.
“My friend sent me a gift.”
“Your online friend?”
“Yes.”
“Wow, he must really like you.”
“I like him too.”
“Did you send something back?”
“I just got this, this morning so I’m still thinking.”
“How’d he get your address?”
“He doesn't have it. I gave him my PO Box.”
“Oh your stalker box.”
“Don’t start, Lele.”
“So how you feel?”
“I’m ok. I still don’t wanna go.”
“Girl, I ain’t talking about this stupid ass gala. How do you feel about Chris?”
“What am I supposed to feel? I really love the gifts but that’s it”
“I’m looking at your face and it’s more than that.”
“He got me poetry books.”
“What? You found someone to indulge your weird ass literature taste.”
“Look, just because you only like sex books doesn’t make my taste weird. I am cultured.”
“I have a master’s degree too so save it. How’d he know to get that?”
“We had a conversation about books and I told him I always wanted to start a collection of poetry but never had the time nor knew where to start and I guess he remembered.”
“What made him send you a gift?”
“It was a little joke about how he could get me to not back out of the gala. I honestly wasn’t expecting him to go through with it but he did.”
“A man who keeps his word. He really likes you.”
“I know.”
“So...still never gonna meet him in person?”
“That was never part of the deal.”
Leandra groaned as she flopped down on the couch, “are you at least gonna get some from somebody at this gala?”
“Ewww….no. I’m staying at most an hour then coming back home.”
“Have you talked to Chris?”
“Not today.”
“Do you only chat on the app?”
“Yea.”
“Oh.”
“Why?”
“I thought you would’ve gotten his phone number by now.”
“Nah, that’s too personal. I wouldn’t give my number to someone I haven’t met yet.”
“So meet him.”
“No.”
“Ugh….you get on my nerves, Robyn.”
Robyn laughed, “what’s your plans for tonight?”
“Getting the baby from his father and going home.”
“How is my nephew?”
“He’s good.”
“And his father?”
“Still alive, unfortunately.”
“Don’t do Max like that.”
“He gets on my nerves.”
“How?”
“He keeps asking me if we’re getting back together.”
“Aww...Lele, he still loves you.”
“That’s not my problem.”
“And you still love him too. You always playing hard to get.”
“Ch….I am hard to get. Thank you very much.”
“Is that why y’all keep going on vacations together?”
“If a man wants to take me to Puerto Rico or Costa Rica free of charge, who am I to say no?”
Robyn laughed, “Lord, what are we gonna do with you?”
“Love me, duh.”
Leandra stayed until Robyn was ready to leave for the gala. As she climbed into the back of car, she grabbed her phone
A: Hey stranger
A few minutes passed before she received an answer.
C: Hey. How are you?
A: I’m great. On my way to the gala
C: Still decided against an escort?
A: Yea. Besides, I don’t plan on staying there long.
C: Ah ok
A: So….thank you for the gifts. The corsage is perfect for my dress
C: You’re very welcome. My sister helped me pick that out.
A: Tell her I said thank you
C: I will
A: So what are you up to?
C; Laundry and grading work
A: What’s the task this week?
C: Students had to craft an original piece of music modeled after a piece they enjoy so I’ve been listening to music tracks all day
A: How’s it sounding?
C: I’ve gotten a few good ones but what passes for music and what these students are modeling their pieces after is awful.
A: That bad?
C: Some of these songs just can’t find a key and then when I listen to their reference tracks, I understand why. Music production has gotten so lazy over the years
A: You think so?
C: I’m gonna send you the best one I’ve heard and the worst one and tell me what you think
A: I’m getting homework now too, Professor
C: Lol. I just want you to hear what I’m dealing with
A: Send it. I’ll get back to you when I can
C: No rush. I’ll be home all weekend with this.
A: Cool. How’s the puppy search going?’
C: Good. We’ve narrowed it down to three puppies. I told her she has one week to pick one and then we’ll find a place to buy it.
A: As a shelter owner, please try and get a shelter dog. So many of them are good dogs that were in bad situations.
C: I will keep that in mind.
A: That’s all I ask
C: So what’s your plans after the gala?
A: Home.
C: Up for a video chat?’
A: Absolutely. I kinda miss your automated voice
C: Lol Same here
A: Anything else going on
C: Nope. I live a rather simple life.
A: Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
C: To be honest, I’m not quite sure
A: Something giving you doubts
C: My daughter told me she feels sad for me
A: Aww...why?
C: Because I’m alone. It’s kinda hard to explain to a three year old the difference between alone and lonely
A: Lol true but then don’t explain with words, show her with actions. She probably thinks you don’t have a life and for children, they haven’t commanded the power and beauty of peace and stillness. They still have so much they haven’t explored
C: You have a point
A: Honestly, if you find things to do when she’s not around, she’ll probably feel a bit better about you
C: I’ll have to find me a new hobby then
A: What’s your current hobby?
C: I don’t really have one to be honest. My job involves music now so it’s not really a hobby anymore
A: It could be, it’s not like you make music for your class, do you?
C: Not recently
A; Do you sing, play instruments? What?
C: I have a decent voice but I play the piano, the guitar, and can do alright by the saxophone
A: What type of music do you prefer to play?
C: Nothing like an old school soul song. I love playing Sade records on the sax
A: I might have to compel you to play for me one day
C: I would offer to play tonight but my instruments are in storage
A: No rush. It’s just a thought
C: I’d love to play for you though
A: You making me feel inadequate
C: In what way?
A: The gifts. The music offers. Doesn’t feel like we’re on even footing
C: Well only you know what you have to offer. Find what works. I’m always open for gifts or moments
A: I’m gonna have to think of something. Thank you for the poetry books by the way. It’s a good start of a collection
C: The classics are always your best bet
A: I’m a little surprised you remembered
C: Why?
A: It was such an odd conversation and it was late when we had it, surely you wouldn’t have remembered it
C: That’s a weird assumption. If there is one thing I’ve learned from being married, it’s learning to listen just as much as you like to talk. Reciprocity is the key.
A: Very true.
C: Are you at the gala yet?
A: Just pulled up
C: Well I hope you have a good night for however long you are there
A: I hope they do the award ceremony first so I can get my award and leave
C: If I gotta try and find a life, you need to live yours. You never know you may enjoy the time
A: We’ll see. Talk to you later
C: Later
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SUGAR HIGH, chapter vii. (w. JJK)
You're not entirely sure when it happened, though you'd come to terms with it. You'd counted the days, waiting for the inevitable. You'd truly thought you'd be okay, but by the broken, half-beating thing in your chest - you knew you'd never really been prepared.
alt summary. You thought you’d known real love and maybe you had - it just wasn’t with who you thought.
pairing. jeon jungkook. mentions/involvement of ot7.
tags. angst, break up, post-break up, comfort, OT7, slow burn, friendship, moving on, hurt/comfort, emotional hurt/comfort, emotional baggage, fluff, canon compliant, jeon jungkook is bad at feelings, jeon jungkook is a good friend, jeon jungkook is a sweetheart.
rating. general (for now?)
word count. ~2000
chapter 7. Heal By Myself
He could give you a solid answer for almost any question you asked him. If he didn't know, he'd figure it out. You, on the other hand, struggle with indecision like it makes up 50% of you. (It would be more, but you're indecisive like that.)
You practically float through the next few days, wrapped up in the afterglow of spending time with some of the most energetic people you've ever met in your life. It's as if you've borrowed some of that endless exuberance, letting it sink deep into the rivers of your veins and fill the spaces of your broken little heart.
It's nice to forget - if only for a little while.
When you were alone, you tended to be largely introspective, keeping to yourself despite the capacity for love your carried.
Sure, you'd have girl's night. You'd dance around Yejin's kitchen counter, laughter bubbling forth like an overflowing fountain. It didn't matter if you were trying out a new recipe - which, nine times out of ten went wonderfully as long as neither girl touched it - or if you were sprawled across the floor, a tangle of limbs upon haphazard cushions.
You'd even go out for drinks after work, knocking back shot after shot of Soju like your body depended on it. You'd keep up with the best of them - the men from the other floors cheering as you'd demand another round. You'd giggle with the girls, trading secrets like they were currency and fawning over anyone who walked through the door. What a gorgeous girl! Look at the legs on that guy!
You were never truly unhappy. You'd learnt to occupy yourself when the familiar heaviness settled in, weighing your bones down like lead.
But this was different. This was a welcome effect of the Bangtan Boys.
Not to say their friendship didn't come with hardships.
As much as they lifted you up, they kept you grounded, forcing you through the motions of sharing. They coaxed you out of your shell, even when you wanted nothing more than to pretend everything was okay. You appreciated that about them, too.
"It's nice to see you." Yoongi's warmth is there, gentle against your side. He's propped elbows, eyes staring straight ahead beneath a sweeping fringe, as if he's speaking to no one in particular - but you know he's addressing you. After all, you were the only other person outside.
You suppress a small smile, studying the rapper from your periphery. "Even though you got woken up?"
A snicker fills the air and his gummy smile appears, brilliant as ever. Still facing the expansive sky before you and the rolling hills beneath your feet, you can imagine more than see the roll of his eyes.
"Even then."
The admission makes your heart soar, like a bird released into the mosaic of sunshine above you. You might have been overly sentimental about a lot of things but Yoongi's friendship wasn't one of them. To be part of his little gang, his chosen family - it was a blessing you'd never take for granted.
He was like the brother you'd never known, the guiding light in the darkest of nights.
"But really." There's a pause. "Soo-ah, I know you're not fine."
You want to lie, rebuff the statement with a snort or a toss of your head. It's impossible, though. He can read you like an open book, flipping through your pages without an ounce of resistance. He doesn't press, though, letting the silence engulf you.
You'll speak when you've found your words and how to say them without ripping the wound open again.
"Have you ever been in love?"
The answering grunt is what you'd expect. As forthcoming as you both might be, there are certain things that don't see the light of day. They're the half-formed wishes and broken promises that you want to forget. They claw at your insides or crack your bones and you have to remind yourself that it isn't always sweetly whispered nothings and electricity that restarts your heart; sometimes, it's poorly sewn-up silhouettes where they used to be and tears that leave you drowning.
"Sure. Maybe." You're surprised by his response. You think by taking his hand, extended over the railing alongside yours, it might sooth whatever spectres you've raised. He squeezes your fingers in response, a silent 'thank you'.
"Did you think it was going to be how it was?" There's longing in your voice, strung tight like a noose. "Because I thought I loved him. No, I did love him. But it wasn't like anything I thought it would be. We never spoke. We never laughed. It was like I meant nothing to him - and maybe I didn't. I don't know. I thought he'd choose me. That's what they say, right? You have to choose to be with the person you love, day after day. Love doesn't just happen otherwise."
It happens before you expect it to, seeking purchase in your airways and making your head swim. You can hardly breathe around the misery.
And then you're crying so suddenly that you register the choking sound before coming to the realization it's you. Once you do, y ou're gasping around stuttered apologies, trying to calm the sudden tsunami that threatens to drag you under.
It's Yoongi's arms that hold you above water, rocking you back and forth. "It's okay. We choose you. We'll always choose you."
"You look like a goldfish."
The off-hand comment tears you from where you've been twisting your bracelet round and round your wrist. "Excuse me?"
Jungkook flops onto the couch beside you, long limbs edging into your personal space like they belong there. "You've been crying. Your eyes are all fish-like," he quips. "It's funny." But you know there's concern there, hiding just behind the wall of teasing. You feel it when he pulls your disregarded bucket hat over your ears, tugging edges low over your temples.
You want to thank him but you're worried you'll start crying again.
Instead, you pull at the sleeve of his sweater - another oversized monstrosity that smells so good - and melt against his side. Your hat shields his vision, hiding you from his probing gaze, but he doesn't mind. He likes the way you relax against him, shoulder fitting into the space of his arm like he was made for you.
"Yoongi-oppa gave me a talking to," you relent, embarrassed. You shouldn't be.
"Hyung's smart. You should listen to him."
He's probably right and that's probably why you feel lighter. It's the first time you've let yourself talk about this to someone - really talk about it - and while it'd felt terrible when you'd extracted yourself from Yoongi's arms, patting in apology at the damp cotton of his shirt, you'd also felt relief.
"He told me that no matter who comes and goes, I'll always have you."
By the way Jungkook squeezes you, engulfs you in that familiar feeling of home, you know it's true.
"How's work today?"
There's static clinging to his words, filling your ear as you flick through racks of clothing. It's unfortunate today's location was situated in a basement. It just meant the signal was godawful, his voice breaking every five seconds.
Still, it's nice to hear from him, even if you can't really hear him.
"I didn't bring a coat and it's too cold on set. I've accidentally knocked over three props already." You don't mind, not really. You liked working - it gave you something to think about other than the emptiness of your apartment and the echo in your chest. "There are some really nice pieces, though. There's this sweater I think you'd like. I can see if they'll let me take it home."
You can imagine Taehyung in the lush camel-coloured crewneck. He'd let the sleeves hang over his fingers and tuck the diagonal hem into the front of his pants. It'd stand in nice contrast to those wide-legged trousers he was so keen on.
"Sure. Dress me up like a doll." Your long-distance companion muses around a yawn.
There's rustling in the background and the sound of voices muffled behind a wall. He must be getting ready for an appearance by the relative silence. It would never be that quiet in the car or at the apartment. He's probably early, too, as always, and being on the phone with you kills time. You're happy to keep him occupied. Your models weren't slated to show up for another fifteen minutes, anyways.
When you hear the bang of a door and a chorus of ''Taehyungie~' in the background, though, you know it's time to go. The familiar dulcet tones of each member are already drifting through the airwaves. Seokjin is complaining about something and Hoseok is guffawing.
"Tell everyone I say hi!" You sing into the receiver before you're gone.
Just as instructed, Taehyung regales the others with your greeting. "Soomi says hello."
"What! Why didn't you let us say hi!" Jimin, of course, indignant and adorable as always. He's settling into his chair, head cocked to the side in curiosity before it's being gently chided back into place by the hands of his makeup artist. "What was she doing?"
"Working. She hung up before I could give you the phone." A sardonic smile shared as concealer presses into the hollows around his eyes, over the slope of his nose. "She said she didn't want everyone to break her eardrums with your yelling." It's not the truth, and yet it could be. As much as you loved those boys, sometimes you felt like you had tinnitus after a conversation with them.
The dancer looks like he might pout but says nothing.
Instead, the conversation steers towards their plans for the day, where they have to be and by what time. It ebbs and flows between each member, lead by Namjoon as he flicks through his phone. Eventually, the questions subside and each member is carefully turning their cheeks this way and that, allowing for better coverage of powder and shadow.
Across the room, seated by the wall farthest from the door, Jungkook blinks away ash that spills over his lids. A quick swipe here, a ghost of silken bristles there. He thinks about messaging you and asking if you've eaten. You had a habit of forgetting to eat when you were busy, or stressed, or upset.
He'll do that once his face is done.
You beat him to it, though, your name flashing across his screen the moment a stain is being pressed to his lips. He almost grins, ruining the painstaking blending, but catches himself before it's too late. "Thank you," he mumbles, chagrined but preoccupied.
When he unlocks his phone, there's a photo of you beside... a stuffed animal? It's a bunny rabbit with long legs and soft, heather grey fur. The ears are floppy but thin, curving over the toy's face. Its got big beaded eyes and a little button nose. It's cute, if not a little squished due to the fact it's pressed against your cheek.
The caption makes him snort. Your competition, Jungkookie!
If only that were the case, he thinks.
Instead, he's got living, breathing people vying for your attention. Sure, not right now, in this instant, but he knows they're there. He's seen it firsthand when you've stepped out of the sanctuary of your homes together, keen on adventure.
Even with a face mask pulled across your mouth, you garner attention. Maybe it's the clothes you wear - the transparent silk blouse under the tiered patterned dress with the stacked Comme des Garçons sneakers - or the way your eyes twinkle when you're happy, whether it's because you've spotted a cat in a window or you're taking your first sip of coffee.
All he knows is god, how he wishes that suffed rabbit was his only competition.
( 11.23am ) jeon jungkook: he's got nothing on me!
( 11.23am ) jeon jungkook: watch it punk
He imagines you're laughing by the way the chat bubble pops up and disappears a few times. You were terrible at multitasking.
( 11.25am ) paksom: i'm not a punk! you've hurt my feelings
( 11.25am ) paksom: mr. tokki is definitely my new best friend
( 11.26am ) paksom: rip
The perfect sticker is being sought out when your last message comes through, disrupting his search.
It's a joke, obviously, but he can't help the way it makes him feel.
( 11.29am ) paksom: g2g! borahae ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
notes. inspiration for this chapter came from colde's "WA-R-R" which you should definitely also listen to.
i'm at a bit of a crossroads in terms of how i want this to go. if anyone has any suggestions, throw them at me. i'm begging you. i love fluff but angst. ANGST!
also, italics indicate a flashback/the scene not being present, if that wasn't clear.
#bts fluff#bts#bts fanfic#bts fic#jeon jungkook#jungkook#jungkook fanfic#jungkook fic#jungkook fluff#jungkook x you#jungkook x reader#jungkook x oc#work.zip#bestfriends.zip#sugarhigh.doc#jungkook.doc
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Weird question - do you have any Crystal/Gigi fic recs?
Hello there, dear
That’s not a weird question at all, although there might be people who’d answer it better. But I’ll do my best, just for you.
My first idea would be to stalk @chachkisalpaca, who fell head over heels for them and I’d say Crystal and Gigi (GoodeMethyd, anyone?) are her it-ship at the moment, so she’s written A BUNCH - her collection of prompts and drabbles will be a gold mine for sure. I believe most of them are lesbian AUs, although I’ve read one that wasn’t and it was even canon-compliant. There is a one story in the making and even I haven’t seen it yet, but it sounds absoluetly amazing. As for stories that are already out, there you go:
In My Head (We Belong), multi-chap, lesbian AU, waitress AU
A delightful Spring story about our favourite characters sharing exactly 0,8 of a brain cell between all of them. Over the course of seven chapters, you’ll experience a lot of useless crushes and mutual pining, learning how to get rid of the “mis-” part of miscommunication, a few hook ups, the most adorable love confession, true friendship, and, probably, more than a few dishes being shattered.
The Beauty and The Kickboxer and also baby, let’s keep it a secret set in the same universe, in which Crystal is a kickboxer and Gigi is an ice-skater
For being both relatively short, they are very meaningful, highlighting problems that queer women encounter in professional sport, that aren’t talked about nearly as much and nearly as widely as they should be.
Blow a Kiss, Fire a Gun multi-chap, lesbian AU, mafia AU, written in collaboration with @leljaaa
It’s a mafia slash hitwomen AU. If that’s your climate, that’s all you need to know. If it isn’t, let me explain further.
Nicky is a future head of a French mafia. Gigi is a head of a Swedish mafia. Crystal is Nicky’s partner in crime and Gigi’s wanna-be partner. Jan is a hairdresser, and if you’ve heard that you can get fake documents in her basement, it depends on who sent you. Jaida is a police officer and Jan’s wife-to-be. I know. She doesn’t. Jackie is a police officer too, and she’s kind of falling for that misterious French seductress she’s recently met. Yeah, she doesn’t know either.
Spirit one shot by @opalescent-cheetah
Now, this might be a bit of stretch, but then again, it isn’t. Remember Crystal’s Devil wears Prada look? Opal does too. Now, imagine it isn’t a costume.
There is an abandoned werehouse, and it’s rumoured to be haunted, you know, like abandoned buildings sometimes are. Gigi is just a girl, standing in front of her “friends”, asking for them to remove the quotation marks. Crystal is sort of a devil and even more sort of cursed. Alternatively, Gigi she gets locked in an abandoned werehouse because of a stupid dare, and soon discovers that the rumours aren’t just rumours, but the Spirit that’s famously haunting the building is actually… pretty friendly?
Crystal Isn’t Counting a mini multi-chap by @a-tresia
Nicky and Crystal own a café. Gigi orders the same thing for the 37th time, but Crystal wouldn’t know it’s the 37th time. She isn’t counting, yeah? Why would she be? Because this cute customer makes her want to know her name and maybe also the way her eyes spark when she smiles? Because she would prefer not to hand her her order, but hold her hand? Listen, even if she would, she can’t stress it enough how bad it’s none of your business, okay?
leather and lace (and the taste of oxidation) a PLEASE MAKE IT A MULTI-CHAP, I’M BEGGING by @blackhaus
Listen, I don’t really know what this one is about, but I’m so freaking hooked and I need to know. But basically Gigi and Crystal are agents. Or assasins. Are they enemies? Are they friends? Are they lovers? Do they want to be friends and/or lovers, but have to be enemies? I don’t know. But shit goes down and I’m here for it. While looking for the author’s sideblog (thank you, Lily), I noticed there’s going to be a second part posted today on AQ and HOLY HECK CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW EXCITED I AM? Oh, and Gigi killed a man, I think it might be important.
For more one-shots go to @goodemethyd They have four or five little fics posted, and all of them are so cute, so adorable, so sweet (I know I’m not saying anything new, but I’m making a point here), written in such a nice, fresh way. I’ve reread them anytime they appeared on my feed, they’re so pleasant. Fantastic.
Now, the most important thing - there is more. I’m dumb - I have the memory or a goldfish - and chronically run thin on time, because life gets lifey, and in my case lifey means hectic. My heart cries for every GoodeMethyd fic there is that I have missed and continute to miss. But we have a crazy amount of incredibly talented authors in this fandom, so feel free to browse both @artificialqueens and Crystal/Gigi tag on AO3 to your delight. I may update this ask. I may not, but I’ll try. We’ll see. Today I’ve started a GoodeMethyd fic myself, but don’t really get your hopes up with me, I hate to disappoint.
Oh, and everything in bold is linked, so you can just click on it and it should take you places. I might have messed it up, I hope I haven’t, but I don’t know how to technology
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04/27/2021 DAb Transcript
Judges 7:1-8:17, Luke 23:13-43, Psalms 97:1-98:9, Proverbs 14:7-8
Today is the 27th day of April welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I'm Brian it is great to be here with you today a little later than usual. Now for…most everybody's probably not going to notice that this is a little bit late but those of you in the UK for sure will and those of you early risers on the East Coast will. We’re in the 4 o'clock hour this morning and we've been up all night. We’re late a little bit because…well…China went into labor and she's been in labor all the way around the clock and she has successfully delivered a baby girl that is pretty much as all newborns are, perfect. And once we knew for sure she was in labor and was going to give birth at some point in the night then we’ve been waiting to make this announcement. So, China has had her baby daughter, our granddaughter. I don't know the weight yet or the length yet. She was born at 4:14 this morning. And we’re gonna have this news out within the hour, the hour of her birth. So, we’ve been…we’ve been keeping vigil. Jill has been with China the whole way here as has Ben of course. And they have decided to name this little girl Reagan Brave Brown and she is a brave little daughter of the king. She's our little Reagan the Brave and everybody is safe and sound and exhausted and a full of adrenaline and I haven’t even had a cup of coffee yet. I think there’s water boiling in the background here. Just trying to be able to make this announcement. So, I'm sure before the days out we’ll have pictures posted and the details given. But there’s a new daily audio baby and her name is Reagan and she's eating and she’s sleeping, and we haven't even…she hasn’t even been weighed yet, but we didn’t want to wait a whole day to tell everybody. So, this is the good news. All is well, the baby has been born, everyone is safe. And, so, let's…let's now do what we have come here to do and read the Scriptures. And today we read in honor of Reagan the Brave who was born April 27, 2021. Okay. So, yesterday we were introduced to a man named Gideon in the Old Testament in the book of Judges. Gideon becomes one of the judges of Israel and we will continue with his story today. We’re reading from the Good News Translation this week. Judges 7:1 through 8:17.
Commentary:
Okay. So, today in the book of Judges the…the battle for which Gideon was called that was waged today. Although Gideon for his part, he had an army of 32,000 people but ended up confronting the enemy with only 300 people as God whittled down the army so that basically so that Gideon's early on question could be answered. Gideon early on in this story was asking the angel of the Lord, “where is this mighty God that did things that we've heard of from our ancestors, the great things of old?” God was inviting Gideon into one of those stories. And, so, a 300-person army confronted essentially three different armies who had banded together to raid and pillage and destroy. And it's interesting to see Gideon's confidence grow. At first, he’s like, “where is the God that did great things”, right? And then it…it went to, “Oh, the God who did great things is right here in front of me and I have borne witness to this. Am I gonna die?” It went from that to, “if you are truly calling me will you just give me confidence through this sign with dew? Can there be dew on this cloth, but not on the ground?” And then he did it the next day. “Can there be due on the ground but not on this cloth?” After that we don't really see Gideon confused anymore about who he’s following so when this 32,000-person army gets whittled down to 300 Gideon remains confident in the Lord. And let's be honest, 32,000 people, that’s a lot of people. If you’re going confront another army that's a lot of people depending on how many people they've got. But if they have an army that’s like covering the ground like locusts and their camels are as many as the sands on the seashore, that's all a lot of people. So, 300 looks more like a suicide mission than a confrontation with an enemy army. But the Lord had come before them and actually did what He said He was going to do, and the Israelites were set free. We’re not done with Gideon's story. There’s actually a dark chapter in the story to come before us, but it gives us a real sense of the times, times of the judges. So, the tribes of Israel have settled. This is a tribal time. They are tribes of Israel. And as we began the book of Judges, we were told that everyone was doing what they…whatever they thought was right in their own eyes. And we’ll get some glimpses of the different things that that can look like as we continue the journey through the book of Judges.
In the book of Luke today for the third time this year we have encountered the story of Jesus death. This, His trial and execution. And today we read of His crucifixion and that He hung there in agony and…and took more and more verbal abuse, even as He was dying. And in the face of that He displayed forgiveness, which…which really is the centerpiece isn’t it, that God would forgive us and welcome us into his family. And I know, we…we…we celebrated Easter just a few weeks ago. So, this is reasonably fresh in our mind. And we might even think, “yeh. We just made a big to do of that just a couple weeks ago when we were moving through holy week and celebrating Easter. There's just never a wrong time to meditate upon this though, to consider what kind of love we’re talking about because that's the kind of love that can change the world, that's the kind of love that conquers all according to the Scriptures. So, it's important that we give some time today to just meditate upon the sacrifice of Jesus. We will…well…I mean we…we’ve read through that story, that part of the story three times now - Matthew Mark and Luke - and these are the synoptic Gospels. We only have one gospel left after this, the gospel of John. We will only encounter this story one more time during this year. And, so, it's always important to just slow things down and become very grateful for what we have because we have been rescued.
Prayer:
Jesus is impossible to use words whether there roughly hewn or whether there just beautifully ornate words. There are no words that actually can add up to the description of what You've done for us. And, so, it would be maybe easier for us to just stay here in silence just in attitude that is grateful from the bottom of our hearts. And we plan to do today, just spend some time thinking this through and being in a space of gratitude and silence before You, thanking You, thanking You, knowing that our words fall short. And, so, we stand before You silent, not because we can’t find words to say but because this is the most honest thing we can do, present ourselves before You without a bunch of explanation. We are here and we are here because You saved us, and we are grateful, and we are expressing that. And, so, come Holy Spirit into this we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it’s the website, its where you find out what's going on around here.
What’s going on around here right now is Reagan's birth and we will work to get pictures, all…all of that. We’re like really delirious, kind of right now we’re really focused on what we’re doing and one foot in front of the other. That's kinda how it gets when there's a severe lack of sleep going on but we’ll definitely…we’ll deftly get the word out on social media as soon as…as soon as China says we can. And we’ve had a running…how long…how long will this baby be, what will this baby's birthday be, what will the baby weigh…in our family for a long time…so we don't even know who’s going to win that one. We’ll post that stuff too as soon as we…as soon as we know. But we couldn’t wait any longer, wanted to get the news out and literally you’re hearing this within the hour of her birth. So, thank you for your prayers over everything that goes into bringing a new baby into the world over this little family, over her mommy and her healing, over this little girl who has had to trust and be thrust into a whole new existence that she’s never known before. And she's been experiencing it for less than an hour, so she's safe with her mommy and she knows that, and she knows the voice of her father. And this is a good place to start. So, thank you for your prayers.
That's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hi this is Jackie from Oregon I called to pray for Honeybee from Louisiana who's had twenty eye surgeries. I feel in my spirit the need to pray for you. Just talking on this podcast, I know God has a way of healing. I know it's come to a place where that's your only option and I really pray very hard for you in the name of Jesus that this eye be completely healed and restored. I know Jesus can do it. I know it's up to him. And I pray for that to happen. Thank you.
Hey, this call is for honeybee from Louisiana. Your call played today Thursday April 22nd and right away you caught my attention honeybee because my name is Melissa and that means honeybee. And, so, I have another friend who is also named Melissa and we call each other honeybee. So, right away you had my attention. But just listening to your request for your eyes for your site for the multiple surgeries you've endured and just the difficult spot you're at, I just want you to know that I…I’m praying for you now and I will continue to pray for you as the Holy Spirit brings you to my mind. And I'm just praying for God to do a miracle. I just kept thinking of the story of Jesus healing the blind men, how He just did it in different ways. You know, all the stories of the blind men healed in the Bible, they’re done differently. And He heals differently but He does heal. He's got the power to do that. And while you're waiting for that healing, I'm just praying for the peace of the Holy Spirit to surround you and encourage you. Be encouraged and blessed my sister, my fellow honeybee.
Hello Daily Audio Bible family this is Tony the truck driver. I haven't called in in probably two or three years, but I still listen every day and support in partnership with the DAB. And today I just called with a heavy heart. One of my fellow truck drivers at my job was tragically killed today. Just pumping fuel in his truck, a guy came and just shot him for no reason and then took his own life. His name was Raymond Ramirez. He’s from Allentown PA. He leaves behind a wife and three young children. So, I’ve just been in prayer for him and his family…for his family all day. Everybody at the job has a heavy heart. So, I’m just asking you family to pray for his family. Just pray for the peace that Christ can give him…give his family Lord and that they would…He would just be with him, be with their family in this time, that they would have the peace that surpasses all understanding our Lord and saver can give. Thank you, family. Love you. Still listening. I'm definitely gonna try to call more often. Blind Tony I heard you one day still talk…shouting out me and my son AJ. He's doing great. He's actually gonna be 20 in a week or so. So, thank you for all you guys prayers. I'll be talking to you. God bless.
Hi, Olivia this is Dawn Rising in Michigan. I'm so glad you're in our community now and I just wanted to pray for you in your situation. I know it can be very confusing when you love somebody. You wanted to hear from people. So, I took that as an open invitation to give my opinion. I too was in an unequally yoked relationship for three years and I loved the person, but God gave me the foresight to be able to think of ahead of my current situation and how I wanted to raise my children and it didn't match up with the person that I was with. So, you know, if you want to look forward into your life and see how your life goals and how God's will for you could be obtained with the current person. So, just take a look at that and if, you know, and look into his heart and if there's room for change, but don't yoke yourself to somebody, you know, that will not want to change because it will be forever an uphill battle. And, you know, it'll be like the idols in…with the Canaanites. You'll be tempted to sway his way unfortunately. So, anyway, praying for you my friend and it's…it's not easy and I…I don't envy your situation because I've been in it. Anyway, we love you. We’ll pray for you.
Hi guys my name is Kimmy I'm calling in because Olivia from New Mexico, I'm sorry if I did not pronounce that right, your ask for prayer really, really spoke to me as my best friend of two…just broke up with her boyfriend of two years because they were unequally yoked. And, so, your stories were similar, and I just wanted to encourage you to continue to pursue the Lord and just pray, be in constant prayer to know what to do. But I wanted to encourage you with the words that my best friend had spoken to me was that she broke up with her boyfriend not out of a lack of love for him but out of a greater love for the Lord. And, so, whatever the will of the Lord is, I think being open and willing to hear it and to obey it is really important and I'll be praying for you no matter what the Lord…no matter what you decide to do. But I wanted to read to you Philippians 3 versus 7 through 11 which says, “but whatever gain I had I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as lost because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and may share His sufferings becoming like Him __ that by any means possible I may obtain the resurrection from the dead. I hope this has been an encouragement. And yeah, just keep pursuing the Lord. Be in constant prayer to know what to do because He's right there with you and He holds your heart in His hands and I’m praying for you.
Hi, I'm Ethan from Indiana and I just wanted to say thank you guys for doing this. And it really helps me because I can listen to the Bible while I'm in the shower or something like that and I can listen to the word of God. Thank you for everything. And I just pray that you guys are…have a blessed life and I pray that you guys have great days while you guys are in...
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Series Review Pt. 1/3
So, this isn’t even a YouTube video where you have the advantage of hearing a voice over a recording with snappy editing to lighten the mood or convey feeling; but believe me that there was a lot of earnest sincerity put into the review this time around.
But before I put the rest of it under the cut, there are some corrections/clarifications I want to put down about my last review that I believe we're significant shortcomings on my part.
My first, and probably most MAJOR goof was my choice of words in trying to describe the scene with Hawks and Twice at the end of 263 - “ he clearly hasn’t killed Twice yet, and we don’t know why, but if he has to he’s prepared to do so without hesitation or remorse.”
BIG OOF. I hadn’t even been looking much at others’ opinions and the common-enough impression that Hawks doesn’t care about Twice at all/is incapable of empathy/ONLY concerned with his mission from the Commission. When I looked back at my own review, though I didn’t have any indication anyone believed I was one of those people (“without remorse” being the problematic phrase in question), I could easily see how others could get the impression and decided to wait until the next review to do a better job instead of just saying I would. My views on that particular scene will be clear later on, but at least that’s out of the way in case that was keeping people from reading this in the first place.
Second, I failed to arrange my observation points in a more ideal order. If anything, the fact that we were seeing that last page from Twice’s perspective should have been the first point. This mistake made it sound like a neutral assessment of the situation instead of an observation through the context of Jin's feelings. This ended up confusing even myself, as someone who usually writes these reviews solo, into forgetting to factor in that Twice's perspective may be warping the perception of Hawks guarding him into one of intent to kill while forgetting that the Hero Code forbids killing others unless it's truly a necessary last resort. For some reason, Sad Man's Parade and Twice's two-double limit also slipped my mind which brings me to the last point.
Third, I rushed things. When I rush, I make mistakes, sometimes pretty sloppy ones. It has been a ROUGH couple of weeks to be a Hawks or villain stan, even more so if you’re both, so for some reason I felt like I needed to get my thoughts out there quickly. I don’t have any kind of real incentive to do so other than a faster response - I don’t make any money off this, don’t have any relevance algorithm to feed as if I was on YouTube or Twitter, and I’m not the only half-decently known blog to hold these opinions so I don’t know what I was thinking. That’s my problem, but that doesn’t mean I have to make it anyone else’s.
For complete transparency, I’ve been reading and re-reading through the entire series canon again, starting with Hawks’ manga debut, and reviewing the entire series’ events and in-universe history, and have been taking literal whole pages of notes and drafts since Thursday the 12th. I’m glad I did because it brought to mind things that often get left out of pockets of fandom discussion who hyper-focus on their circles of interest while forgetting that each individual section is meant to work with the whole.
That’s what we’ll be working with today, and additional thanks goes to @baezetsu and @dorito9708 for volunteering as proofreaders and editors to make this more focused and concise. If you’re interested please keep reading. A fair warning, this is what we in the professional field call a “long-ass post, no seriously guys grab a drink and a snack we’re gonna be here a while.” It's actually so long I have to split it up into parts because Tumblr Mobile is stupid and doesn't like making the "read more" function available to the mobile version.
So here we go, people, let’s try this again one last time…
Where we’re at in Chapter 264 (or at least, you know, ignoring literally everyone in the series that isn’t these two) is Twice and Hawks’ confrontation in the study room; but let’s put a pin in that for now and come back.
The biggest piece of information to keep in mind is that even though both these characters are currently front-and-center and have major plot and symbolic value in the series, they are still not the main characters. Their conflict is also not the central conflict. Let’s zoom out to the big picture and see what happens when we put everything together at the end.
The whole inciting incident of the series is when humanity began to display superhuman abilities in a few random individuals. These abilities are neither inherently good or bad - they are constantly intended as neutral with the potential being dependent on the user. Eventually these abilities began to be collectively termed as “quirks” - literally just a single facet of each person’s unique identity. From a social commentary standpoint, quirks have been used as a narrative stand-in for the unique situational circumstances or combinations of circumstances individuals may find themselves with that are either mostly or completely outside of their control like aptitude, physical ability, race/appearance, mental state, and inherited societal station. While more of these examples have been explicitly stated and inserted into the story later on, quirks still serve as the main catalyst and lens by which these topics are discussed.
Because of the initially new and unfamiliar nature of these abilities, people who possessed them faced descrimination and persecution despite having no say in whether or not they had them; and some who did possess these abilities began abusing their power. Taking advantage of this, a man calling himself One-for-All took unwanted quirks from people and redistributed them claiming to want to help others and bring about peace but merely wished to amass power and a following for his own gain. Morally upright individuals eventually rose to the occasion and placed themselves between innocent bystanders and evildoers, earning no official reward or compensation for their work, though eventually they became so effective that they became recognized and endorsed if they went through proper governmental training and channels. These endorsed specialty crime fighters came to be dubbed “heroes.”
All-For-One had risen to prominence by this point and his loyal following actively supported him in his now blatant criminal empire despite the morally reprehensible actions he committed which incessantly terrorized innocent bystanders - earning him the title Symbol of Evil or Symbol of Fear. Eventually a hero named All Might rose up to specifically deal with All-For-One’s reign of terror, having worked his way up from obscurity taking down criminals and saving civilians in unprecedented numbers, determined to create a world where everyone could feel safe in the face of danger. Though only succeeding in beating AFO into hiding All Might ushered in a new era of safety and prosperity earning him the title Symbol of Peace.
Therein lies the central message - “It’s not the situation you’re given that determines your worth or potential but what you choose to do with it” - and the main conflict is - “I want to use what I’ve been given for my own benefit" vs "I want to use what I’ve been given for others.” Deku and Shiguraki are merely the next generation iteration of this conflict distilled down to their simplest essence. Deku's desire is to save anyone who needs help the moment he realizes they need it. Shiguraki wants to remove people's sense of security regardless of their character or situation.
This conflict is initially framed as simple - a clear black and white/good and bad dynamic that’s easy to see from a distance; but as characters and groups developed over time it’s become more and more difficult to tell the two sides apart. It was not a coincidence that immediately after introducing the clear-as-day bad guys to the series we were presented with the idea that who we perceived to be “good guys” could be bad people doing good things or that people could do good things for the wrong reasons when we were presented with the personal conflicts that Bakugo, Shinsou, and Todoroki all faced at the Sports Festival that were either their internal struggles with the way the were perceived by others or were their personal struggles with the way they perceived themselves. Immediately after that, we were introduced to Stain's criticism of modern heroes and shown who would come to be the core members of the League of Villains.
At the current events in the series we’ve waded through so many shades of grey we’re expected to determine who’s a “hero” and “villain” not by what they say but what they do, how they do it, and why they do it. The individual members of the League of Villains touch on various ways a person might be driven to a life dedicated either to the pursuit of personal satisfaction with no concern to others or to the active pursuit of destroying others, and generally the villains are some of the most morally gray characters we have in the series, though not all of them - the two most notable morally gray “good guys” are Hawks and Endeavor.
There’s one last thing to note about how the series chooses to distinguish morally gray characters as “good” and “bad,” and that ultimately boils down to the choices they make with the hand they are dealt - that being to help or to harm others. This is not quite the same thing as a “hero” and a “villian” (I know, as if it wasn’t confusing enough), but the series has now gone to great lengths to make a clear distinction between the ideals of heroism and the institution of heroism.
Looking at the difference in institutions and ideals as the series presents them we get a better picture of the actual core issues the series seeks to address. The institution of heroism is a utilitarian approach to maintaining a sense of order and safety, and it does so by incentivising people to resolve as many public altercations as possible in exchange for wealth and fame. Criminals are those who break the law regardless of the motivation for the crime or its degree of impact. The institution does not take into account factors that may drive someone to commit a crime nor is it concerned with the core motivations of those enforcing the sense of order.
On the opposite hand, the ideal of heroism offers no reward, no recognition, may require some amount of suffering on the part of the hero, and never guarantees that the victim in question will be saved. Conversely, villainy/evil is any action taken for one's own gain with zero regard to the impact on others and/or is any action committed with malicious intent. These definitions are about moral obligation and human to human connection.
While having a strong correlation (helping others because it's right usually helps the majority in the long run, and doing harm is often ultimately bad for the majority) these two schools of thought are able to function independently of each other. In other words, a criminal can be a good person fallen on hard times (like stealing food to feed their family, but only as much as they need from someone who won’t notice it missing) while a “professional hero” can be an evil person doing good things for the wrong reasons (like obsessing over gaining wealth and popularity with no mind to collateral damage they may cause). Most characters are categorized and even described in-universe as morally aligning with the institution they associate with; but several have been explicitly noted as exceptions to the rule such as Gentle Criminal and La Brava, Endeavor, and Twice.
Are we properly confused yet? Great, because there’s one more layer to consider! What do we make of someone who is trying to do a good thing (like saving as many people as possible from a known threat) but to do so has to make a choice that might leave a few people in the fire? Which outcome do we use to decide if this is a good person or a bad one? Do we judge based on intent or on the outcome?
Now we zoom back in to Hawks and Twice, but we’ll pick that up in Part Two.
Part Three
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