#green energy penny stocks | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

genicsolutions · 2 months

Text

Inventory Management: How to Manage Small Business Inventory

Efficient inventory management stands as a cornerstone for small business success, weaving through the intricate fabric of operations with unparalleled significance. It's the silent conductor orchestrating cost optimization, customer satisfaction, and productivity enhancement. In this dynamic landscape, a well-honed inventory management system not only ensures shelves remain stocked but also drives profitability and sustains growth. As businesses navigate the complexities of the market, the integration of Customer Relationship Management Software emerges as a pivotal strategy, fortifying connections with clientele while streamlining operational efficiency. Let's embark on a journey to unravel the intricacies of inventory management tailored for small businesses, exploring its manifold benefits and practical implementation strategies.

Why Efficient Inventory Management Matters

At the heart of each hit small enterprise lies a nicely prepared inventory management system. Here's why it holds such paramount importance:

Cost Optimization: For small agencies operating on tight budgets, each penny counts. Efficient stock control minimizes extra inventory, reduces storage prices, and prevents the scary deadstock predicament. By preserving the most suitable stock stages, businesses can allocate assets extra efficaciously, making sure that capital is not tied up unnecessarily.

Customer Satisfaction: In a modern fast-paced international, customers do assume not anything brief of seamless studies. Timely order success and correct inventory monitoring are necessary to assembly those expectations. By streamlining stock management methods, agencies can satisfy orders promptly, decrease stockouts, and ensure consistent product availability, thereby fostering long-lasting patron relationships.

Enhanced Productivity: Manual inventory management methods aren't only labor-intensive but also prone to errors. Implementing an inventory management machine automates repetitive responsibilities including stock monitoring, replenishment, and order processing. This automation not only saves time but also allows employees to be aware of extra price-delivered activities, ultimately boosting productivity levels.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: In the virtual age, information is king· An integrated stock management gadget affords real-time insights into stock ranges, sales traits, and customer preferences· By leveraging this fact, small corporations can make informed selections concerning buying, pricing, and advertising strategies, thereby gaining an aggressive part in the marketplace·

Integrating Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software

In addition to optimizing stock management, small businesses can harness the energy of CRM software programs to deepen their patron relationships and pressure boom. Here's how CRM integration enhances stock control:

360-Degree Customer View: CRM software serves as a centralized repository for consumer statistics, along with purchase history, preferences, and communication interactions. By integrating CRM with stock management, businesses benefit get admission to a complete view of customer conduct, allowing personalized marketing efforts and tailor-made product pointers.

Forecasting and Demand Planning: Leveraging historical records and client interactions, the CRM software program presents treasured insights into calls for styles and shopping for cycles. By studying this fact, groups can anticipate destiny calls for developments greater accurately, facilitating proactive inventory planning and replenishment.

Order Management and Fulfillment: Seamlessly integrating CRM and stock management structures permits green order processing and achievement. Businesses can automate order capture, track order repute in real-time, and offer clients well-timed updates, thereby improving transparency and lowering order processing time.

Targeted Marketing Campaigns: By segmenting customers primarily based on demographics, shopping behavior, and choices, CRM software allows groups to execute focused advertising campaigns, promotions, and loyalty programs. This personalized approach no longer best drives repeat purchases but additionally complements usual consumer pleasure and engagement.

Practical Tips for Implementing an Inventory Management System

Now that we have set up the importance of efficient stock management and CRM integration, let's explore a few practical guidelines for implementing a stock control gadget tailored for small companies:

Choose the Right Software: Select a stock control gadget that aligns together with your enterprise wishes, scalability requirements, and financial constraints. Look for person-friendly interfaces, robust features, and integration talents with CRM software programs and other 1/3-party programs.

Invest in Training: Provide complete schooling to employees on the usage of the stock control device efficiently. Ensure they apprehend key functionalities, nice practices, and statistics entry protocols to maximize performance and accuracy.

Regularly Audit Inventory: Conduct periodic audits to reconcile bodily inventory with recorded inventory tiers. Identify discrepancies, address root causes, and implement corrective measures to maintain stock accuracy and integrity.

Utilize Automation: Leverage automation functions inside the stock control system to streamline repetitive tasks, consisting of stock replenishment, order routing, and reporting. Automation reduces manual errors, improves performance, and complements general productivity.

Monitor Performance Metrics: Track key overall performance indicators (KPIs), inclusive of inventory turnover, fill rate, and order accuracy, to evaluate the effectiveness of your stock control device. Use these metrics to pick out regions for development and optimize inventory approaches continuously.

Final Words

An efficient Inventory Management System for Small Business is essential for the fulfillment and sustainability of small agencies. By enforcing a sturdy inventory control machine and integrating CRM software into operations, organizations can streamline approaches, beautify consumer stories, and power growth. Remember to select the proper software, put money into schooling, regularly audit inventory, utilize automation, and monitor overall performance metrics to optimize inventory control practices correctly. With the proper techniques in the vicinity, small groups can conquer stock challenges and role themselves for lengthy-time period success in modern dynamic marketplace panorama.

#Inventory Management System for Small Business #Customer Relationship Management Software #inventory management

0 notes

loocy-lc · 8 months

Text

Discover Top Penny Stocks in the Energy Sector for Immediate Investment Opportunities

For investors looking to venture into the energy sector with a limited budget, penny stocks present an exciting avenue. These low-cost stocks can potentially yield substantial returns and serve as an entry point into the dynamic and evolving energy industry. In this article, we will explore five high-potential penny stocks in the energy sector that are currently generating buzz and could be excellent investment options.

1. Eco-Energy Holdings (EEH)

Eco-Energy Holdings is a standout player in the renewable energy domain, focusing on innovative and sustainable power solutions. The company is committed to developing advanced technologies to harness solar and wind energy efficiently. With an emphasis on reducing the carbon footprint, Eco-Energy Holdings stands to benefit from the growing global shift towards clean energy alternatives. Investing in EEH could position you at the forefront of the green energy revolution.

2. Sunrise Petroleum Inc. (SRP)

Sunrise Petroleum Inc. is gaining traction for its strategic involvement in the oil and gas sector. The company specializes in exploration, drilling, and production activities, capitalizing on the ever-increasing demand for energy resources. With a focused approach and a strong presence in key regions, Sunrise Petroleum Inc. is well-poised for growth in the energy market. Investing in SRP offers an opportunity to be part of a burgeoning industry with substantial growth potential.

3. Nexa Energy Ventures (NEV)

Nexa Energy Ventures is a rising star in the energy sector, with a particular focus on sustainable and renewable energy projects. The company engages in the development of solar and wind energy facilities, aiming to create a greener future. The increasing global emphasis on renewable energy and sustainability positions Nexa Energy Ventures for significant growth. Investing in NEV allows you to align your portfolio with the escalating demand for clean energy solutions.

4. Eco-Tech Fuel Systems Inc. (ETFS)

Eco-Tech Fuel Systems Inc. is gaining attention for its innovative solutions in the fuel technology space. The company specializes in developing technologies to enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. As the world strives to achieve a more sustainable and eco-friendly future, Eco-Tech Fuel Systems Inc. is poised for substantial growth. Investing in ETFS provides an opportunity to support advancements in fuel technology while potentially reaping financial rewards.

5. Hydrogenics Corporation (HYC)

Hydrogenics Corporation is a pioneer in hydrogen technology, focusing on the production and utilization of hydrogen for clean energy applications. With the increasing recognition of hydrogen as a crucial element in the clean energy transition, the prospects for Hydrogenics Corporation are promising. Investing in HYC allows you to be part of the burgeoning hydrogen revolution and potentially benefit from the growing demand for hydrogen-based solutions.

In Conclusion

Penny stocks in the energy sector offer a promising investment landscape, especially for investors with a keen eye for potential high returns. However, it's crucial to conduct thorough research, assess your risk tolerance, and diversify your investments wisely. The energy sector is dynamic and subject to market fluctuations, so prudent decision-making is essential. Consider these five penny stocks in the energy sector as potential additions to your investment portfolio, but always remember to make informed investment choices based on your financial goals and risk tolerance. Happy investing!

0 notes

pecoinvestment · 1 year

Text

Penny stock hit upper circuit for 5th session, company to invest in EV & Green Energy sector

Even in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic, the markets have been relatively resilient and managed to post gains. And while some sectors like Technology and Healthcare have performed especially well, one sector that has made headlines recently is Penny Stocks. A particular penny stock, for instance, has hit upper circuit for the fifth consecutive session. This stock, belonging to a company involved…

View On WordPress

0 notes

astrologyangelmediums · 2 years

Photo

If you picked Pile 1: Green Aventurine Dragonfly - This crystal provides strength, confidence, courage, and happiness, as well as been attributed to bringing luck, prosperity, & good fortune. Dragonflies are a symbol of transformation, spirit guides, + opportunity coming into your life. There will be some new changes beginning, so let this shift. Penny - Bringing more luck & prosperity, as well as an increase in finances and money. Be on the lookout for your abundance! Fehu - The rune of wealth + fulfillment. Being Frey's rune, this brings fertility & wealth. There is enough & you will not run out. Fehu is actually the rune of luck. Circulation of power, wealth, & the mobility of all things is a key aspect to Fehu. It calls for a deep probing of the meaning of profit & gain in your Life. Seven of Coins - Determination, Perseverance, Alignment - You have been working hard & getting things done. The energy of the Seven of Coins has to do with expanding your quality of life, making it a conscious act of creativity, & art. However, right now you may be questioning if your hard work + efforts have been worth the potential returns. You may find that you are reflective, perusing your decisions + actions, wondering if you should have taken a different path. See this card as an affirmation that you've done everything right thus far, despite the fact that you may not feel this way at the moment. Allow the subtle pull of the future to wait a moment as you take stock of where you've come from, what you desire, & where you are going. Your vision is that of long term investment, & now is an opportune time to rest + collect your thoughts & visions, so you can reinvest your energy into taking you into the final stretch of this chapter. King of Diamonds/Fish - Both of these represent finances + abundance, as well as the freedom that flow can allow. In essence, this is about being fluid, & having fluency over what you value, as well as not allowing yourself to be blocked from the flow. Don't stop to consider what is blocking you: instead go around, over, or through it. Take ownership. Continued below. 👇👇👇👇 https://www.instagram.com/p/ClfPcSNjmEa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

0 notes

otcsocialnetwork · 2 years

Text

10/10/22 TRENDS

$MULN Mullen Automotive, Inc $BOMO Bowmo Inc $HPIL HPIL HOLDING $HMBL HUMBL INC $RNVA Rennova Health, Inc $AVCT American Virtual Cloud Technologies $INND INNERSCOPE HEARING TECHNOLOGIES $NSAV NET SAVINGS LINK INC $PHIL PHI GROUP INC $TXTM PROTEXT MOBILITY INC $WDLF SOCIAL LIFE NETWORK INC $DPLS DARKPULSE INC $PEGY Pineapple Energy $TOPS Top Ships $TGGI TRANS GLOBAL GRP IN $KAVL Kaival Brands Innovations Group $APDN Applied DNA Sciences $CANO Cano Health $PBR Petroleo Brasileiro S.A $NVDA NVIDIA Corporation $MMTLP META MATLS INC PFD SER A $GGII GREEN GLOBE INTERNATIONAL INC $SLNG Stabilis Solutions $SPY S&P 500 Index – “Spiders $PYPL Paypal Inc $DKNG DraftKings Inc $VAPR TTCM CHINA INC $GGE Green Giant $FONU FONU2 INC $LCLP LIFE CLIPS INC $CASI CASI Pharmaceuticals, Inc $PGY Pagaya Technologies $XELA Exela Technologies $NLST Netlist $ILUS ILUSTRATO PICTURES $TONR TONNER ONE WORLD HOLDINGS INC $BAOS Baosheng Media Group $LODE Comstock Mining, Inc. $MRNJ METATRON INC $GWAV Greenwave Technology Solutions, Inc $SUNW Sunworks $TSLA Tesla $SGML Sigma Lithium Corporation $HVCW HARRISON, VICKERS $HKD AMTD Digital Inc $AITX Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions $FNMA FANNIE MAE $ARDX ARDELYX, INC $APRN Blue Apron $VPER Viper Networks Inc Check out our Free Penny Stock Screener HERE. http://dlvr.it/SZrhM2

0 notes

tradestockadvisor · 2 years

Text

Get Smart Solutions Via Our Stock

Advisors Want to invest your money? We have a large number of ideas to help you with understanding investing better and make a smart decision on the best way to invest your money. Join Stock Advisor Canada , best stock advisor in Canada | Best dividend paying stocks in canada Best dividend paying stocks in canada.

Renewable energy stocks in canada

#Renewable energy stocks in canada #Green Energy Stocks in Canada

1 note · View note

bestpennystocks · 3 years

Link

As February gets underway, clean energy penny stocks are heavily in focus. While green energy has been a hot topic for several years, the election of Joe Biden has helped give the industry a major push. It may take decades before green energy replaces fossil fuels, but there are plenty of opportunities in the meantime.

Additionally, clean energy penny stocks can operate in several different areas of the renewables industry. This is because there are many types of renewable energy sources. Within this category, there are several different factors to consider.

One of the most important aspects to keep in mind is which area of the clean energy industry you want to focus on. These companies range from the production of components for the energy industry and other things like resource mining, battery production, electric vehicles, and so many more...Continue Reading On PennyStocks.com

#penny stocks #stocks to watch #stocks to buy #energy #energy stocks #green energy #travel stoke #stock market #stonks

2 notes · View notes

ratchedspeach · 3 years

Text

Upward Over the Mountains - Chapter 1 | READ ON AO3

my long promised college Mildolyn au!!! Enjoy!!

September, 1929

Mildred Ratched stroked her thumb absently against the corner of her suitcase. She recited and re-recited the list of its contents in her head.

Underwear: check.

Toothbrush: check.

Socks: check.

Hairbrush: …

Mildred stuttered, thumb stilling against the cool metal of the latch. A hairbrush, how could she have forgotten a hairbrush? Her cheeks warmed. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

She turned her gaze out the window once more, watched the trees roll across mountains and stretch for miles on either side of her. It was enough to swallow her whole. From her vantage on the highway, Mildred wondered if this was what it was like to be sailing; the ocean splayed and smooth below a hull of oak or cedar, the scent of salt and wind. Only here, the air smelled of sweet dirt and rot, and there was no wood beneath her feet: only the faded carpet of her taxi. Still, the trees persisted like the uneven sightline of waves crashing. Only, here, there were shades of pale yellow and vibrant orange and deep clay, not greens and greys as she imagined water might look.

“Should be just off this next exit, Miss.” The cab driver - a gruff looking man with a thick mustache and beat up cap - grunted, and Mildred felt the car veer towards the right.

Mildred squeaked out a meager “thank you”, her voice barely coming as a whisper against the dryness of her throat. She checked her watch; they had been driving for well over two hours now, much to the begrudge of her driver, who had been none-so-pleased picking her up from the GreyHound bus stop. Mildred’s chest tightened when she thought of the way his gnarled features pulled into a frown, how he had muttered as he helped her load the cardboard box which contained the rest of her belongings into the back of his trunk, and rolled her eyes when she asked if she could perhaps keep the items up with her. She rolled her neck. It would be good to get out of the car, she decided.

She was right, of course.

Once stopped, the campus of Bennington College was all greens and yellows and browns. A large brick building stretched beyond a field already bustling with incoming students. A lake nestled between dormitories, and somewhere in the distance, Mildred could see smoke from a chimney. She inhaled the electricity crackling off of those who she would soon call her classmates. She paid the taxi driver, and thanked him. He, in turn, dropped the box with her belongings onto the sidewalk before speeding away.

Now what?

Mildred couldn’t be sure. Signs were planted firmly into the grass around her - some directed towards registration for freshmen, some held the names of dormitories, some merely boasted welcome! In cheery gold letters. Mildred followed the first of them, finding herself in front of a table lined with young women checking names off of lists and pointing in different directions.

After waiting her turn, Mildred found herself greeted by a pink-cheeked girl with curls and spectacles hanging against her nose. She asked for Mildred’s name, which Mildred gave.

“Ratched, Mildred.”

The girl glanced up at her, her pale eyes taking stock of Mildred almost hungrily. Her gaze landed on the cardboard box clutched in Mildred’s arms.

“Oh honey, is that all you’ve brought with you?”

Mildred’s cheeks warmed, and she suddenly wanted very badly to be anywhere but here. Still, she nodded, and asked weakly for her dorm assignment.

“You’ll be in the Barnes Houses. Gosh, you’re lucky! Those are some of the biggest rooms.” The girl gushed, then added after a moment: “not that you’ll need all that space.”

Mildred clung to her box like a life raft. She thanked the girl, and spun on her heels. Somewhere behind her, she heard the girl shout “welcome to Bennington!”, but she didn’t turn to acknowledge it.

Mildred couldn’t believe her eyes when she finally swung the door open to her room. It wasn’t just spacious, it was … god, it was huge; bigger than any space Mildred had ever called her own before. Two beds tucked into opposite corners of the room, each against a window which let in bright Vermont sky. Mildred noted that one of the beds was already half set up - a set of pale blue sheets and pillows strewn across it. Not that Mildred minded; if anything, it took the pressure off her when it came to choosing a bed. She dropped the box onto the spring mattress, the contents jostling ever so slightly at the disruption.

“Oh good, you’re here!” Mildred heard from behind her, whipping around to see a bright, blonde girl with pale blue eyes and thin lips. She was holding a succulent between her slender fingers, and a smile lifted her cheeks. She was distinctly pretty, in a jade green dress and penny loafers. Mildred found herself suddenly embarrassed of her simple skirt and brown cardigan.

“I’m Lenore - Lenore Osgood.” The girl greeted, sticking her hand out for Mildred to shake.

“Mildred Ratched.” She greeted, trying to match the levity of her new roomemate’s smile, but managing no more than a grimace.

Lenore took her hand and shook it jovially, a single finger pressing into the hollow of Mildred’s palm.

“Well, I guess we’re living together, then. I’ve never had a roommate before, being an only child and all. Oh, don’t worry, I’m terribly clean, and I don’t tend to make much noise. Well, I’ve been told that sometimes I talk in my sleep, but you can’t hardly hold that against me, being unconscious and all.” Mildred felt dizzy. Lenore looked past her, brow furrowing the pale skin of her forehead. “Is that all you’ve brought with you?”

Mildred swallowed. Her dark eyes glazed, and she nodded slowly. Lenore simply shrugged.

“Well, I was going to offer to help you unpack, but it doesn’t seem it’ll take you very long. Gosh, you should have seen my parent’s car; we could barely fit me in the back seat. Your parent’s must be awfully proud to have a daughter so sufficient at packing. Are they here?”

Mildred’s stomach twisted, and she exhaled too quickly. “Oh, um, no they … well … they’re just …”

“Gosh, you’re a nervous thing, aren’t you?” Lenore queried a smile.

“I …”

“Relax, Millie - can I call you that? - I’m only teasing you.” Lenore turned and began busying herself with breaking down boxes and putting the finishing touches on her bed. “Well, anyway, my parents went to the cafeteria to try and rustle up something edible. I’ve heard the food here isn’t too bad, although I bet it doesn’t hold a candle to a home cooked meal, don’t you think?”

Mildred swallowed and nodded. Gosh, could she talk. Mildred decided that she liked it - liked her. Lenore wasn’t mean-spirited or jaded, wasn’t timid or prim. Lenore was the opposite of Mildred in so many ways, and it swallowed her whole, made her feel normal. Yes, Mildred thought, they would get along rather nicely.

“Oh gosh, is that the time already?” Lenore pulled her from her thoughts, blue eyes bulging at her watch. She reached for Mildred’s hand: “c’mon, we’ll be late for orientation!”

Mildred followed the blonde in a daze, letting Lenore drag her through the door and down the hall. A crowd had already formed outside of other first years. Beyond them there was a line of women in white sweatshirts with BENINGTON printed across them in red collegiate letters.

“Alright, ladies, settle down!” One of them, a short girl with a northern accent and dark bangs clamored above the crowd. The chatter dissipated, leaving a nervous hum of energy and anticipation in its wake. “My name is Betsy Bucket, and I’m a junior. If I call your name, you’ll be breaking off with me. The rest of you will be split between the lovely women on either side of me.” She gestured swiftly to seven other girls.

Betsy began reading from a list; mispronouncing names with little regard as she went. By the end, she had a crew of about thirty girls, one of which was Lenore. Two more girls read off lists, and Mildred felt her heart plummet a little deeper into her stomach everytime her name was not chosen. And then the fourth girl: strawberry blonde with full cheeks, stalky and glowing against the collegiate background stepped forward. Feeling her tongue too large for her mouth suddenly, Mildred let the muscle dart across her upper lip.

“... Mildred Ratched!”

Mildred’s body lurched forward before her brain could react to what was happening. She found herself in the shadow of the girl, who nodded and smiled at her with deep azure eyes, and continued on with her list. Ten names later, she led them to the shade of a tree away from the crowd, and had them sit in a circle. Mildred found herself sandwiched between a bulky girl with thick glasses and a thicker lisp, and their orientation leader. Once seated, Mildred noticed that she smelled of lavender and oak, and she was the only one amongst them to wear pants. The sleeves of her sweatshirt were bunched, revealing the slender muscle of her forearms. She had strong, distinct hands, and Mildred could sense an heir of cockiness floating off of her. Mildred thought it suited her.

“Alright ladies, welcome.” Her voice was lighter than Mildred had expected - its cadence higher, like wind chimes. “My name is Gwendolyn Briggs. I’m a senior here at Bennington. My favorite color is red, and this summer I hiked the Appalachian Trail.” A murmur went through the circle. Gwendolyn nodded towards Mildred: “alright, now you.”

Mildred’s cheeks flushed. “Oh, um …” she cleared her throat, which was suddenly very dry indeed, “M-my name is Mildred Ratched. I’m .. well … a freshman.” A few snickers. “My favorite color … I’m not sure I have one. Green, maybe? This summer I …” Mildred panicked, her breathing rising into her chest and twisting painfully. Think, Mildred, think! “I um … I worked at an ice cream parlor.”

The crowd mumbled a hello to her, but Mildred could hardly hear it over the roar of blood rushing through her ears. Her dark eyes flicked to Gwendolyn, and she found the girl looking at her as though she could see all the way through to her skeleton. Mildred’s neck burned under her gaze, and she averted her own back to her palms.

The rest of the circle rattled on - about twenty five girls in total listing a myriad of colors and summer activities. Gwendolyn seemed not to notice, for every time Mildred had a chance to glance up at her, she caught icy blue eyes on her flesh, and her stomach reeled all over.

From that first circle, Mildred would fall further and further back into the crowd as Gwendolyn gestured to buildings, explained how cafeteria hours worked, and when the library was open, and when curfew was.

“Alright, that’s all for today. Meet me back at the commons tomorrow at 11 am sharp. Don’t forget my face!” Gwendolyn joked as she dismissed the gaggle of girls. “Mildred, a moment?”

Mildred practically tripped over her own legs in her rush to meet her. She loomed over Mildred in height, and Mildred found herself craning her neck to meet her eyes.

“I was warned about the … circumstances of how you came to Bennington.” Mildred’s breath caught. No, no, no. This was it: the thing she had been dreading. This was the beginning and the end of her social life. It had to be. Mildred’s gaze cast down to her worn shoes, air neither entered nor left her lungs, and her head spun and then -

A gentle hand landed on her shoulder. Mildred flinched, but the hand persisted.

“I just wanted to offer my assistance however I can. I know how hard it can be to feel like an outsider. I’d like to be an ally to you, if you’ll let me.”

Slowly, hesitantly, Mildred’s gaze lifted once more. And Gwendolyn, for her part, smiled; a warm, honest thing. And then Mildred was smiling too.

“Thank you.” She breathed.

Gwen just shrugged: “go on, then. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Mildred turned on autopilot. She could feel the thrum of her pulse where Gwendolyn’s hand once was.

“Oh, and Mildred?” Mildred peeked over her shoulder. “It’s nice to meet you.” Gwendolyn winked.

Mildred’s lips parted slightly. She had half a mind to say something in response, but Gwendolyn was already sauntering off to a group of older girls, and what could she say anyhow? It’s nice to meet you, too? You hardly even know me? No, none of that would do. With her head down, she trudged back to her dorm.

Lenore wasted no time in purging the events of her day: what Betsy studied, the other girls she’d met, what she thought of campus. “It’s wonderful, don’t you think it’s wonderful?” She cheered, flopping onto her back in an exhausted flourish.

Mildred perched on the corner of her still unmade bed. She nodded (not that Lenore could see).

“Yes,” Mildred breathed, “wonderful.”

63 notes · View notes

peppersonironi · 4 years

Text

Batfam Avengers Crossover Chapter Two: Meeting

Chapter Two, folks! Finally some batfam appearances.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Category: Gen

Fandoms: Batman - All Media Types, The Avengers (Marvel) - All Media Types

Relationships: Selina Kyle/Bruce Wayne, Natasha Romanov & Damian Wayne, Clint Barton & Cassandra Cain, Tim Drake & Peter Parker, Peter Parker & Tim Drake & Duke Thomas, Pamela Isley/Harleen Quinzel, Tim Drake/Kon-El | Conner Kent, Dick Grayson/Wally West, Roy Harper/Koriand'r/Jason Todd,

Characters: Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle, Jason Todd, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Barbara Gordon, Justice League (DCU), Alfred Pennyworth, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanov (Marvel), Clint Barton, Thor (Marvel), Bruce Banner, Peter Parker, Alfred the Cat (DCU), Bat-Cow (DCU), Goliath (DCU), Selina Kyle’s Cat Isis, Kate Kane (DCU), Duke Thomas,

Additional Tags: Batbrothers (DCU), Avengers Meet The Batfam, MCU/Batfam crossover, Crossover, no beta we die like robins, rated T for Jason’s language, I bleeped it out though. Just to be safe, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, canon? What’s canon?, Deaf Clint Barton,Deaf Character, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Happy Batfamily (DCU), Birdflash and joyfire are implied/referenced,

Summary: Avengers enter the cave, and meet the batfam!

Notes: In sorry if this chapter is a bit boring, I tried to keep it light. (I know the techie stuff that I glossed over bored even me) But now that I’m done with the first introductory chapters, I can move to some - hopefully - more fun scenarios!

“Woah.” Peter looked around at the giant cavern that the Green Lantern guy had flown them into. His ring had formed some kind of platform to carry them, and Peter was still theorizing how it worked.

They had flown toward the city - named Gotham apparently - following the mysterious “Batman”. Then reached a waterfall, which had a huge mechanical door system that parted the water. They had gone through a long pathway lit up on the edges before emerging in the cave.

It was huge, with multiple platforms built into the rock. Peter first found himself on one that was clearly meant for vehicles, as there were multiple motorcycles parked beside where Batman’s car stopped. There were other levels that held gym equipment, a sparring ring, weapons stations, and some sort of lab. There was weird memorabilia too. Peter spotted a giant penny, dinosaur, and a Joker playing card. A few more levels had cases for suits, not unlike that which Mr. Stark had. Though some of the suits were strange. One was clearly bloody and ripped. One of the most prominent platforms held a huge computer with a dominating black chair.

However, Peter could have sworn it was playing … The Dinosaur Game? That was weird.

Batman got out of his car the way he had before and made his way over toward the Avengers, where they had been set down by Green Lantern. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, a very loud voice called out in the cave, startling everyone except the Batman.

“Bruce! Where the F*** is my AK-47?!”

The Hulk, who had since transformed back into Bruce Banner, frowned in confusion.

No one got the chance to question it, however, because a young man in a skin tight black bodysuit swung from another level, and was now hanging upside down from a support beam near Batman. He had a blue bird on his chest, Peter thought it looked a bit like an eagle. He also had on a black domino mask.

“Hey B!” He said cheerily. “ I should probably warn you that Hood is on a rampage ‘cause he can’t find his gun. And also Robin is threatening everyone as per usual. ” The Dark Knight sighed. “What about Red Robin, Spoiler, and Oracle? ”

The new comer grinned. “Dinosaur Game Championship. Oracle is in the lead.”

There was a sudden shout of disapproval from where the apparent game seemed to be held.

“And Signal?”

“Taking weapons stock while muttering about how insane we all are.” He shook his head. “He seems to forget he’s one of us, and therefore crazy by association.”

The Dark Knight sighed once more, this time with his fingers on the bridge of his nose. “Thank you Nightwing. Would you tell Red Hood that his AK-47 is in the Med Bay where he left it when he was doing his stitches? And tell everyone to meet in the conference room in uniform. Code 27G.”

Nightwings eyes - well, lenses - widened. He glanced at the Avengers. “Huh. Sure can do B.”

He swung up from his perch, flipped onto the platform above him - Peter was pretty impressed at how casually he did so - and ran off, seemingly melting into the shadows.

An awkward silence followed, with the Avengers all huddling protectively together. Peter really wanted to explore - that T-Rex looked awesome - but he saw the worried look on Mr. Stark’s face. This was an unfamiliar situation. They must be cautious.

A moment later Peter had had enough of caution. “Excuse me sir, is that a dinosaur?”

The Dark Knight turned toward Peter and glared. Out of the corner of his eye, Peter saw Mr. Stark tense up. But a split second later the glare softened. “Yes. Animatronic. From one of my early … endeavors.”

Peter grinned under his mask. “Cool!”

Batman lifted his head, and began walking on a path up. “Come, I’ll show you where we can talk.”

*****

They entered a meeting room that was off to the side of the cave. There was already a group present. They were clumped loosely in a corner, boredom and intrigue apparent on their faces. They all stood to attention when Batman walked into the room, all except for Nightwing from earlier. He was currently in a handstand in the center of the conference table, shifting from one hand to the other. He collapsed onto the table at the sight of the arrivals, before quickly jumping to his feet and saluting with an embarrassed grin on his face. Batman rolled his eyes and they all went back to what they were doing, except Nightwing who slumped into a chair.

The group of teeneagers were dressed in more skin-tight suits. Peter was slightly taken aback by how young they were. The smallest seemed to be around ten - perhaps he was this “Robin” mentioned earlier - and the oldest in his early twenties. Most seemed to be about his own age though, in their mid teens. It felt weird to not be the only kid.

The closest was a young man sitting in one of the chairs with his feet on the table. He seemed to be taller than Nightwing, with a broader chest. He wore gray cargo pants, some sort of utility belt, an armored shirt with a red bat on it, a leather jacket, and a red helmet that looked a lot like Tony’s. Peter could already imagine the copyright complaints from their resident billionaire. The man also had gun holsters on each leg, and was stroking a - newly returned - AK-47 in his arms.

The first teenager had black bottoms and red top with a black and gold “X” over his chest, joined by some symbol that looked vaguely like an “R”. He also had a black cape and smooth cowl. He was standing in the corner, leaning against a wall with a tablet and mug of coffee in hand.

A teenage girl stood beside the teen, dressed in a mostly purple with hints-of-black bodysuit and a purple hooded cape. She wore a full black mask over her face, with only white lenses. It was a bit freaky, but she was mostly non-threatening, due to her easygoing posture and laugh, which was directed at the teen with the cowl.

The kid was dressed in black leggings, green boots and gloves, a red and yellow tunic with an “R” on it, black and yellow hooded cape, and green domino mask. Though the strangest thing about him was the huge Katana he was sharpening while sitting at the table. He also had an unimpressed glare on his face. Peter decided that he and Helmet-Guy were the scariest in the room. Aside from Batman.

Another teenaged boy had a tired look on what Peter could see of his face, as he looked slightly disapprovingly at his companions. He stood in more heavily plated bright yellow and black armor with a bat symbol on it. He had a utility belt, and a helmet which looked to be shaped like a bat.

What was with these people and bats?

Peter didn’t get to ask, as at that moment a new person joined the group. Flying down a ramp was a red headed young woman in a wheelchair. She expertly slowed to a stop in front of Batman, who had not yet entered the room. Peter noticed that she had hastily applied a black domino mask, leaving a pair of glasses in her lap, along with a laptop.

“Sorry I’m late B, I forgot where I had put my extra mask. These things keep disappearing!” She said the last part while glaring at the kids.

“It’s fine, Oracle. Now that we’re all here-” He paused, then looked around at the group. “Where’s Black Bat?”

“Handling a Robbery downtown. She’s finishing up. ETA 20 minutes.”

Batman nodded. “Very well, we’ll continue without her, she won’t mind.”

He entered the room, ushering everyone else to do so as well. With a quick glare, all the kids sat down. The Avengers joined them, as there were plenty of seats. The only one who did not sit was Batman.

He spoke once everyone was ready, mainly directing his words to the kids. Peter briefly wondered what it would be like to actually be respected like that, but shook off the thought. Batman quickly and efficiently summarizes the events, including several readings of the energy sources, which only the red and black teen seemed to understand as he nodded along, looking fascinated. Once he was done, Batman turned to the Avengers. “Names. No need to share personal identities if you are uncomfortable. Though since we are from different earths, I doubt it would matter.”

“Everyone already knows our identities on our earth,” Mr. Stark said, receiving several weird looks from the teens. “So it’s not a problem for us.” He removed his face plate. “Tony Stark, I’m Iron man in the suit, which I built myself.” He gestures to Steve Rogers next.

“Captain America, Steve Rogers. Our resident super soldier and senior citizen.” Steve frowned at the last comment.

“Bruce Banner,” Mr. Stark said next, “Alter ego is the Hulk. Anger Issues and Gamma radiation galore.”

Red Robin perked up. “Cool! How did-” He was cut off by a glare from Batman.

“This is Thor Odinson, named… well, Thor. God of lightning, has a hammer. You can call him Sparky Sparky Boom Man.” A pause. “Yeah, maybe just stick with Thor.”

“Clint Barton, codename Hawkeye. Our long distance weapons specialist.” Mr. Stark gestured to Clint’s bow for good measure. The kids giggled and whispered something to each other that sounded like ‘Green Arrow knockoff ’, though Peter didn’t get it.

“Black Widow, Natasha Romanov. Intelligence expert, and ex-assassin.” This got a bunch of whispers from the kids.

Peter was the last to be introduced. He pulled off his mask while Mr. Stark said “The kid’s Peter Parker, our rookie, also known as Siderman ”

“You sure it’s Spiderman,” Helmet-Guy said.

Peter glared. “Yes.”

“Red Hood,” Batman said, frowning. “No antagonizing the interdimensional visitors.”

Red Hood just shrugged and went back to stroking his gun.

The Avengers just sat around awkwardly. The Woman jabbed her elbow into Superman’s ribs, which got him talking.

“Oh… It’s only fair we introduce ourselves, since it isn’t really official earlier.” This time it was Superman who spoke. “I’m Superman, known as Kal-El, a kryptonian. Human name is Clark Kent.”

Huh, he didn’t look like an alien.

“Here we have Wonder Woman, an amazon, demigoddess, and princess. Secret Identity is Diana Prince.” He gestured to the woman, who, despite just being called a princess, looked very threatening indeed.

“Martian Manhunter, a martian known as J’onn J'onzz. Civilian name is John Jones. Yes, quite original.” The Martian nodded in greeting, and Peter was seriously freaking out. A real martian!? Cool!

“Flash, a speedster also known as Barry Allen.” The man pulled back his cowl as Superman spoke.

“S’up?” He asked with a smile.

“And Hal Jordan, one of the Green Lanterns.”

“The best Green Lantern.”

Batman grumbled something that sounded suspiciously like “keep telling yourself that.”

Superman turned to Batman, but before he could, the Dark Knight spoke. “I can do it myself Clark.” He lifted his hand and removed his cowl to reveal a handsome man in his early to mid thirties with black hair and blue eyes. “Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne.”

He turned toward the kids. “These are my kids, as well as partners.”

He started with Nightwing. “Nightwing, aka Richard Grayson. My eldest.” Richard grinned and removed his domino mask. He too had blue eyes.

“Call me Dick,” he said.

“Red Hood, aka Jason Todd, my second eldest.” Jason pressed some button or something on his helmet and took it off to reveal… a domino mask. After a quick glare from Bruce, he sighed and took it off. Revealing black hair and blue eyes.

“Red Robin,” there was a soft ‘yum’ that came from the corner, though Peter couldn’t tell who said it. “Aka Tim Drake.” Tim pulled his cowl back and grinned. He had black hair and blue eyes.

“Over there is Signal, aka Duke Thomas, my ward.” The teen took off his helmet, revealing yet another black-haired kid. Though Duke was clearly african american, and had brown eyes.

“Next is Robin aka Damian Wayne, my youngest.” Damian sneered as if he were above everyone around him.

“Spoiler, aka Stephanie Brown, is a family friend.” Stephanie waved.

“I’m also his ex,” Stephanie said, jutting her thumb at Tim.

Tim groaned. “When will you stop introducing yourself like that?”

“When it stops getting under your skin.”

Tim sank back in his chair and flung an arm over his eyes.

Batman sighed once more. “Oracle, aka Barbara Gordan. Also a family friend, and our tech specialist.” Baraba nodded in recognition. “Now that introductions are out of the way, we must discuss how you got here, and how you’ll get back.”

Everyone nodded and began the discussion. Mr. Stark started off the explanation, going over Anagnorisis, the compound, the gun that they got hit with, and how they ended up in the crater.

The other adults - mainly Batman - popped in, talking about the calculations for such an interdimensional jump. Peter listened intently, as he found it utterly fascinating, but didn’t add anything. Then Tim spoke, listing off a series of numbers and variables, that were received with nods. Peter was a bit jealous that he spoke so easily. So Peter decided to add something later on, a small comment about energy sources. When he did, the conversation stopped. Peter thought he was dead meat for interrupting, but then Bruce - Wayne, not Banner - spoke.

“The kid’s smart.”

Mr. Stark smiled proudly.

A moment later the conversation continued. They went on for almost a half hour, and even Peter was getting a bit bored. He could tell the other kids were too. The girls seemed to have gotten back to their Dinosaur Game championship, and there were small cheers and groans coming from their corner every so often. Jason and Damian had yet to set aside their weapons, though they had begun a small conversation too quiet for Peter to hear. The only people who seemed to be paying attention were Dick and Tim, though Dick clearly didn’t understand half the words that were being tossed around.

The adults seemed to be disinterested as well, namely Barry and Hal, who were in the middle of a thumb war. When they inevitably got too loud, Batman sent a glare their way. The other members of the Justice League seemed to only be listening out of courtesy. As were Thor and Clint. Natasha seemed to be focussed more on the kids. She had a small frown on her face, as if something about them bothered her.

Everyone paid attention when Batman spoke next, however. “It should take at least a week to charge up the energy sources and prepare a device to send you home.”

Peter perked up. “That’s not that long. Have you dealt with interdimensional travel in the past?”

Several of the kids groaned. “Don’t remind me,” Stephanie said.

“Worst twenty-six hours of my life!” Dick agreed.

Then Jason spoke, and Peter was speechless.

“It was almost as bad as that time I died. Now that wasn’t a fun evening.”

“You died?” Natasha said, clearly confused and worried.

“I’m better now,” he said as if referring to a common cold. Jason had a small smirk on his face as he shrugged.

“Back to the discussion at hand,” Batman said, glaring at Jason. “Yes, Peter, we have dealt with the multiverse before. It should be fairly simple to locate your dimension and send you back. The only problem is powering the device. It requires Superman flying out to the sun and placing the energy core inside to fuel it. It needs to remain there for over a week.”

“You can fly to the sun?” Mr. Stark asked. “How do you survive?”

Clark shrugged. “I have impenetrable skin, and a very high melting point.”

No one questioned this, though Peter was quite intrigued.

“Where will they stay?” Dick asked, which caused a sudden silence.

“Does the Watchtower have enough rooms available?” Barry asked.

“What’s the Watchtower?” Peter asked.

“Our space station,” Diana answered, much to Peter’s delight, “and no, we have those visiting Green Lanterns, remember? Hal has been grousing about it all this week.”

“I was not!” Hal said, then sighed. “Okay, maybe I was, but that’s beside the point. What about your farmhouse, Clark?”

Clark shook his head. “Under renovation. Speaking of which I need to head over there after this. Lois will have a cow if I’m late.”

There was silence after that, as everyone was thinking. Then Stephanie got a - slightly evil, Peter thought - smile on her face. “What about the Manor? God knows we have enough space.”

“You don’t even live here!” Tim said.

Bruce glared at Stephanie for a bit then sighed. “The Manor would work. Though why anyone would want to stay with you rabble rousers is beyond my understanding.”

Jason snorted. “Says the guy who adopted us all willingingly.”

Batman grumbled, but was saved from replying as a sudden noise came from the door.

The meeting room had a wide glass window next to the exit - which was open - so Peter had a good view of the sleek black motorcycle that entered the cave, upon which rode a figure dressed all in black. The motorcycle was parked and yet another costumed teen - this time a girl - strolled toward the conference room.

She was dressed in head to toe black, in the form of a skin tight suit. She also had a yellow utility belt, and outline of a bat on her chest. She wore a black cape and cowl which had pointed ears and covered her whole face. There seemed to be some form of stitching across her mouth, which was quite creepy.

She walked forward and entered the room quickly. Bruce smiled upon seeing her.

“Ah, Black Bat. How was the robbery?”

She motioned with her hands in a way that Peter didn’t understand. It seemed vaguely like that sign language which he’d seen Clint use.

Whatever it was, Batman seemed to understand. “Very good. These are our visitors. Code 27G. They’ll be staying at the manor till we can send them back.”

Black Bat reached up and took off her cowl revealing an asian girl around eighteen year old with a black bob. “Good,” she said. “Names?”

“We’re allowing them. Over there we have Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Thor Odinson, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanov, Peter Parker, and Bruce Banner.”

“Bruce?” She asked with a smirk.

Batman sighed. “Yes.” He turned to the group. “This is my Daughter Cassandra Cain. Alias is Black Bat.”

Everyone muttered small hellos, except Jason who said something with the word “favorite” in it. Cassandra didn’t seem bothered by the lack of enthusiasm. She just smiled and walked over to Damian.

“Seat. Mine.” She spoke simply.

Peter thought the kid would just sneer, but instead he quickly moved over. He could have sworn the kid looked scared. Perhaps the kid was all bark and no bite.

“Well, if that’s all, I really should be going,” Clark Kent said as he rose from the table. “Good luck with staying at the manor. See ya kids.”

“Bye Uncle Supes,” The kids chorused

“I should be going as well,” Barry said. I’m needed at the station.”

Soon the rest of the league left, and the Avengers were left alone with the bats and birds.

113 notes · View notes

basil-writes-legends-of-tomorrow · 3 years

Text

It probably wouldn’t work in canon, but hear me out: magic being a daily part of life in 2044.

[Note: most are from various Tumblr posts ive seen about modern magic and street magic. The ones I thought of will have a (*) at the end]

Plant Mages tending to tiny rooftop gardens and window boxes

Elementary kids learning basic sigils on the playground

Witches taking a while to key into the magic in new cities when they move

Alchemists dealing on the side to support their experiments

Middle schoolers making friendship talisman and amulets for everyone

kids learning charms from each other on the bus, the same way most people learn their first swear words

Worrying your friend is getting into dark magic, but not knowing how to talk to them about it.

Intervention programs for people abusing hexes and runes, because magic has given them control over something for the first time in their lives and are starting to make dangerous choices and to help people who might have just gotten out of a cult or toxic coven that have PTSD or other mental illnesses caused by the situation (*)

Magic graffiti that vanishes when people like cops are around

Murals that if you listen closely can be heard, not seen

Kids hiding out in someone’s backyard or alley and casting minor illusions while they get high

Chalk artists making works so realistic they come to life on the sidewalk.

Punk concerts in empty lots with amped out music and lights, but noise cancelling spells and illusions hiding them in plain sight to anyone around

Necromancers in forensics speaking with the dead to solve homicides and cold cases

sensory objects that can shift into something pocket sized to take wherever it’s needed and can shift into any sensory object to help in specific situations

Hotels/apartments with vending machines stocked with cream/honey/shiny things for Fae (*)

Communities online discussing what find of cryptids live in their areas and which ones are friendly/violent or endangered

Witches/Warlocks/Mages keeping their potions in empty water bottles and Tupperware containers

Witches/Warlocks/Mages who buy little bottles from Michaels so their potion cabinets will look cute

Enchanting babies blankets and soothers to keep bad luck and illness away from them (*)

Gendershifting spells for NB, Genderfluid, Trans, DemiBoy/girl (etc) people. (*)

Glamour spells to hide parts of your body that make you insecure. (*)

easier pregnancy’s that can be sped up if there’s any complication (with a cost), glamours to hide the belly so you can move easier, spells to relive morning sickness. (*)

Enchant a braclet to give the wearer faster reflexes (*)

Charm a headband or hairclip to give you clearer thoughts and to help with mental Disorders (*)

Ear piercings that translate everything around you into your native language

Lip Piercings that do the same, except when you speak you speak the language of whoever you’re speaking to.

A small bird tattoo behind your ear that chirps and whistles to you when your anxious.

A tattoo of your child that ages with them.

A tattoo for those that are hard of hearing or deaf and are unable to read lips at that moment that displays the words being said on their hand.

A nose ring that is charmed that as long as you are wearing it you will never lose your keys.

A flower scene that only bloom at certain times.

Little nocturnal animals tattoos like raccoons that only show up on your skin after dark.

A tattoo of digital numbers on your wrist that tells the time.

Notepad tattoo that takes notes for you as you go about your day it forms bumps on the skin if that person is blind so it can be read in braille.

Name tattoos that when tapped can talk to the person telepathically as long as the other person taps back.

ear piercings that beep softly if a trigger word is said telling you to leave the room.

Bracelet that will tighten around your wrist if you aren’t feeling well telling you to take a nap.

A rose tattoo that’s health changes depending on the state of your current relationship.

A heart tattoo for genderfluid people that changes colour depending on what gender they feel at that moment. Feminine? Pink purplish reds. Masculine? Greens Aquas and blues! Don’t really feel like any gender? Some nice soft grey scales. All and everything? Rainbow. (*)

Flower tattoo that will change depending on where you are based on what season it is and country so if your in Australia their natural flower is the Sturt Desert Pea, if you’re in Japan different cherry blossoms depending on where you are. Water lilies if your near a lake or pond.

bracelets to increase speed/agility.

Charm a middle finger ring with the power to temporarily give bad luck to anyone you flip off.

knot magic in your shoelaces to attract luck and hold in positive energy’s. Also: pennies in your shoe to attract luck.

charm your jackets, sweaters, and flannels with an ‘I’m rubber you’re glue’ effect to deflect negative energy like a bouncy shield.

a luck spell on your shoes to keep you from stepping in gum, dog crap, or anything undesirable. Also, to keep you from tripping and falling.

a charm on your socks and underwear to keep them from riding up or slipping or moving out of place

a spell over your perfumes/cologne/deodorant to make potential lovers more attracted to you because you smell pretty.

enchanting a choker or necklace to help with communication, clear speaking, singing, or to relieve anxiety over public speaking, or to make your voice deeper or higher depending on what you gender is that day.

a spell over your sports jersey or athletic wear to make you preform better in sports, and work harder or burn more calories when working out.

charm glasses and sun glasses with the power to find lost things and ‘see’ the truth to people’s lies.

charm earrings with the ability to hear gossip, secrets, and people talking behind your back, and the power to gain important information.

Queer-themed tarot card decks

Spells to empower queer people (and other oppressed groups) and hex their oppressors

Psychologists that can read emotions and feelings to provide easier diagnosis’s, help communicate better with nonverbal patients, and tell wether somethings wrong if the patient cants talk because their with any abuser (*)

Autistic Warlocks/Mages/Witches incorporating their special interests into their craft (*)

Spells to cope with panic attacks, anxiety attacks, or sensory overloads

Stimming while in trances or complicated rituals (*)

Scholars that run bookshops with books on magic and different magic-orientated illnesses (*)

Fair folk who sell potions at markets

Influencers who market towards Neurodivergent Witches/Warlocks with different stim toys that can calm in case of magic or sensory overloads.

Tutorials on how to take care of Cryptids/Gryphons/Dragons (*)

Tutorials on incantations and rituals to ease chronic pain (*)

Feel free to add if you have anymore ideas

#legendsoftomorrow #legendsoftomorrowheadcanon #lot headcanon #legendsoftomorrowau #lot au #modernmagic #neurodiverentmagic

12 notes · View notes

toysoldiers-rwby · 3 years

Text

[CS] 4. Duty

4. Duty

Cutting Strings

Characters: Penny, Winter, Xanthic Word Count: 8k

If robots are just tools…

Read on Ao3

PREV - NEXT

Primary Function: Protector

Penny learned many things during her few short hours outside her father’s facility. Those with familiar background and status gravitate towards each other. Penny suppose the human variable meant different was of understanding the world. Same behaviors and actions can be used to express different emotions, particularly when people whisper under their breath and avoid looking at others.

Though Penny still had a difficulty figuring out how May and Winter communicated with just looks. Even sign language used an actual method of communication.

So far the Military Event was the best day of her excistance. Her true first day out in the world! She got to learn more about her future teammate and possibly made two new friends, Winter Schnee and May Marigold. But… It was odd, that the best day of her excistense could affect someone that was not present.

Penny was starting to understand how powerful the gaze was.

She sat at the facility’s kitchen table, head casted down and hands intertwined in her lap. She ignored the slamming keys and hard-light screens. Across from her, Ashley Xanthic furiously typed lines of code. The hacker would run simulation after simulation, until the checks ran red and continued working. Bit by bit, she hacked into Atlas’ network, byte by byte Penny Polendina was becoming an official citizen of Atlas.

Ironwood wanted her to supervise the hacker. Something that required closer observation but Penny didn’t want upset Ms. Xanthic anymore. She sighed quietly, squeezing her hands. She wasn’t doing a very good job…

“What’s the point in running the Kingdom if you can’t cut corners?” Xanthic growled to herself. Penny spared a glance up. Her future teammate took a break to sip her coffee but her head just kept tilting back and back before she just groaned into an empty cup.

“It’s to prevent-”

“Abuse of power, total dictator ship,” Xanthic droned. She put her cup down, looking at Penny through the gasps of her hard-light screens. "But here I am, in a secure military facility, hacking into Atlas Security with resources the General provided."

If the public found out General Ironwood manipulated the system, he would be stripped of both his council seats. If the public found out a hacker had done it, the consequences wouldn’t be as dire. Still the General must have other reasons for using her as a scapegoat.

Penny looked at her hands again, “He cannot make such quick changes legally, the process would take too long. Everything has been signed and approved-”

“Of course,” Xanthic snorted. After hours of working, the hacker finally stood up. In a few short strides she was at Penny’s side, boxing her into the chair with slender arms. Penny knew Xanthic wasn’t fit, wasn’t a fighter. Her hands weren’t calloused like Aro’s but steady, soft, and precise. Penny could easily win but somehow she felt small and weak under that white burning glare.

Staring into eyes that were so similiar to her own… but so full of resentment was not pleasent.

"So why would the General," Xanthic hissed the title out like venom, “Need me to skip the queue?”

“And why should we tell a criminal, one caught red handed by General Ironwood himself.”

“Winter!” Penny gasped, hydraulics in her back straightening her posture. The specialist’s voice alone lifted her Aura, but seeing Winter glower back at Xanthic corrected any insecurities the hacker caused. “What are you doing here?”

“I don’t resume my duties till tomorrow,” Winter said, eyes closed and shoulders tensing for a moment. Xanthic sneered. Penny ignored it because Winter refused to acknowledge the hacker. “I did offer you a tour of Atlas Academy.”

“How about you don’t make my job harder?” Xanthic asked throwing up her hands. She walked to the fridge, making sure to brush against Winter so the Specialist was forced to acknowledge her. Xan was shorter, but somehow she seemed to have just as strong of a presense. “Marigold gets a pass but you and Glade are aware of the consequences that comes with fame. You really think people wouldn’t look up the mysterious ginger? She is a ginger right?”

“Penny did not disclose her identity until after we witnesses saw us together,” Winter said with an annoyed sigh.

“Now you know. Yet you still insist on parading her around?” Xanthic reason. She crossed her arms and glared threateningly at one of the best Huntresses in Atlas. Both women were too busy posturing and trying to intimidate each other to see Penny shrink ever so slightly. She quickly straightened out again when Xanthic lost with an infuriating sigh. “Seriously. Please don’t make my job harder than it is.”

“Penny’s cover is already ruined, what else would hinder your task?”

“Research,” Xanthic said opening the fridge. She frowned and gave Penny a disapproving look. “It’s practically empty. Is that why you’re all skin and bones?”

“I’m not skin and bones…” Penny mumbled under her breath. It felt… bittersweet, a small victory in admitting what she is but what was the point if they didn’t understand it? Predictably Xanthic didn’t believe her. The hacker rolled her cybernetic eyes and peeked into the freezer next.

“Neopolitan ice cream. I can forgive the lack of food,” she said with a small smile. Penny added the favorite flavor to Xanthic’s notes. “I can do what Ironwood-”

“General Ironwood.” Winter corrected.

Xanthic continued without any acknowledgement, “Told me to do, get the legal documents into the system or I can do a good job and actually leave some breadcrumbs for people to find.”

“Breadcrumbs?” Penny asked.

“According to Ironwood,” Xanthic started, ignoring the way Winter’s hand twitched in frustration. She looked for cups and spoons. “You’re another SDC orphan.” At that Winter’s composition changed, for a split second she looked guilty. Guilty and sad over a lie. Penny sealed her lips tight and looked down at her hands. She wasn’t lying but her Aura still flared across her system. “I’m editing old security photos and videos too hide a very obscure Penny in it. So it doesn’t look like she just magically appeared out of nowhere.” The hacker finished, looking at Winter. There was a shift between them… Xan’s voice barely audiable to Penny’s sensitive eqiupment, “We don’t want a repeat of last time…”"

The Specialist hummed, eyes glaring in Xanthic’s direction but not really focused on her until whatever thought left Winter’s mind, “Very well. I’ll inform General Ironwood.”

“Unnecessary but it’s your energy to waste,” Xanthic said waving her hand. She sat back down in front of her temporary workstation and went back to writing lines of codes.

“Waste of…” Winter paused, practically growling under her breath. No sound came out but with her facial expression, Penny practically heard it. “And what would be an optimal use of my energy?”

Xanthic pointedly looked at the near empty fridge. Dr. Pietro’s facility was locked down durng P.E.N.N.Y’s finalization process. There was no reason to stock so much food in the recreational kitchen.

“I am not doing your grocery shopping!”

“I’m under house arrest!” Xanthic threw up her arms. Around both wrist was a bracelet with gravity and lighting Dust built in. Once activated it would pin her arms together or send a volt of electricity. Ideally non-lethal. "And I’m gonna be here for at least three days."

“I’m sure the General wouldn’t mind if we accompany you.” Penny said quietly. The two barely stopped from yelling at each other and looked at her. “The Ace-Ops rudely escorted you here from you’re home. I didn’t see any bags either… so…” Luckily Xanthic was dressed for the day… still dressed from the previous day. Under Xanthic’s unblinking cybernetic eyes Penny’s confidence waned.

Winter took a deep breath, a finger on her temple. Penny stared, wishing she would unclenched her jaw instead. “Was it Herriet and Elm? Those two are quick and rash.”

“Herriet and Vine, actually.” Penny said.

“Figures. Vine has always been to the letter,” The Specialist started to walk down into the living room, “I’ll contact General Ironwood and request your cuffs be synced with my Scroll.”

“Oh how kind! Ms. Schnee and her girlfriend taking me out for a walk. May I have a treat Mistress?” The hacker asked, her monotone voice alive with sarcasm. She even struck a pose along with batting long eyelashes. Perhaps it would be more effective if her makeup wasn’t so intimidating.

Winter scowled and the two Atlas elites stared at each other for a minute. The silent challenged ended in a draw, they broth broke eye contact with Winter taking a seat and closing her Scroll. Within a few minutes Xanthic had finished her ice cream and checked the fridge again. With a some excessive force, Xanthic shut the fridge and continued working. Penny watched her hit the backspace more than she should.

“Alright!” Xanthic yelled, ten minutes later. “I’ll play… nicer than usual.”

Winter looked too dignified and controlled to smirk but the air around her was far too smug. Maybe it was the lack of reaction that held superiority? Whatever it was it annoyed Xanthic and puzzled Penny.

The call only took a few minutes. Winter returned to the kitchen and held her Scroll to the gravity cuffs around the hacker’s wrist. It beeped twice, the cuffs flashing green. Outside an unmarked car pulled up. Once Winter opened the door Xanthic’s attitude resurfaced.

“Are you fucking serious?” She asked staring at the front seat. Their transport was being driven by an AK-200. “I’d like to live.”

“I’ll drive if you’ll shut up,” It seemed the Specialist was nearing her limit.

“Again, I’d like to live.”

“They aren’t that bad,” Penny reasoned softly. She physically stepped between them, even if they could clearly see above her head. That chip of insecurity wedged into her a little. Winter’s patient gaze gave her the strength to continue with a straight spin and even voice, “Safe driving is within their capabilities.”

“Hm… fine,” Xanthic huffed crossing her arms. “I suppose three VIPs dying will finally help people realize these things are horrible.” Winter quickly got into the car, hiding her face but the door slammed with enough force to shake their transport. Xanthic sneered, a small victory. It would take more than a simple crash to harm a huntress… but her future teammate was a civilian.

“How terrifying is it to live without a protective Aura?” Penny asked following Xanthic in. This time Xanthic glared at her while Winter sneered. Penny merely tilted her head in confusion, staring at the hacker for an answer.

“You and fucking Glade,” Xanthic muttered. She looked out the window and the car was relatively silent as Penny tried to figure out how she insulted her future teammate.

Their first stop was Xanthic’s house. It was big enough for a family and gated, Penny could see some trees growing in the backyard and a garden being tended too by a robot and two Ace-Op members. Before the gate could close behind them, Xanthic swung the door open and jumped out of the slow moving vehicle. Winter was quickly to follow so Penny felt compelled to do the same, even if her steps weren’t a confident march like Winter.

“Welcome back, Lady Xanthic.” The robot gardener greeted with a bow. “May we prepare a meal for you and your guest?” Xanthic ignored it, pointing a finger at Clover then Marrow. Rude, Penny frowned looking at the robot. It didn’t seem to mind…

“What the fuck are you two doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question,” Clover said. His eyes gently swept to Winter and momentarily lingered on Penny. She ducked her head, eyes on the ground and stepping behind her Specialist. “But knowing Schnee, it’s classified.” He smiled but it wasn’t directed at Winter. Her professional mask didn’t recuperate any friendliness but the lack of a negative response was approval, in a way.

“We’re ensuring you don’t escape a previously hacked into facility, pack your things, and run off,” Marrow answered. By Xanthic’s scowl and huff at a proper answer, the question must have been rhetorical. Penny was realizing most of her questions weren’t actually questions. Marrow plucked an apple from the robot gardener’s basket and took a bite. He hummed at the taste. “Oh and wonderful place! Very hermit and simple.”

“The singular word would be self-sustaining,” Xanthic growled arms crossed. She finally looked at her butler. It was a different model than the one Penny first saw, smooth and curved, the design and cut in the chassis flowing almost gentlly. “Pack all the leftovers and anything you can prepare in 10 minutes. Not staying long.”

“Understood, Lady Xanthic.” The gardenerbot bowed a little, then knelt back down and resume working on the garden. Through the window Penny saw two more robots walk into the kitchen. The robot did use we when addressing Xanthic, the robot’s AI must share a network, a hivemind. One of the butlers was definitely the model Penny saw driving the night they first met. Sharp edges, thick layered metal plates, intimidating faceplate, a bodyguard?

Marrow whistled, “Impressive. For a criminal.”

“Standard. For a genius.” Xanthic scoffed walking to the front door. She pressed her Scroll to the lock and it slide open. When Marrow moved to follow Clover stopped him.

“You heard the bots, we can enter the yard but not the house. Until we have a warrant, they are authorized to open fire under the Home Defense Clause.”

Xanthic chuckled softly, “Good Bobs.”

“Thank you, Lady Xanthic.” Her butler chirped. Penny frowned staring at it before following Winter. The synthetic voice was flat, could almost past as human if Xanthic wanted it too.

“Man… how does manage to show us up on her day off?” Marrow mumbled walking to Clover. “And the girl?”

“Classified,” Winter called over her shoulder. Marrow yelped, a little surprised his loud voice carried that far.

The first thing Penny’s sensors detected was an increase of temperature. Once she entered Xanthic’s home she understood why. Servers and machines lined the walls, countless of physical monitors mounted onto a surface and displaying news channels across the world. Others had lines of code or blueprints, one monitor occasionally flashed red and ‘Simulation Error. Project: BILLY unable to sync’.

Xanthic stared at it but glanced at Winter. The Specialist glanced around the room for any weapon, then trained her eyes on the hacker. Xanthic grumbled, walking into the kitchen and sitting at the table. Like Aro’s home there was small electrical components and tools, but only one.

A broken robot that looked like a ram laid on the table, small enough to fit in a pocket.

Penny sat down and slowly reached for it. “May I?”

“I can’t exactly stop you.” Xanthic barked. Penny flinched and recoiled. Xanthic sighed, “Right, I’m suppose to play nice… Yeah go ahead.” Slowly Penny scooped up the broken bits of metal and wire. Cradling it. “It was meant to be a monitoring bot.”

“You mean spy?”

“I mean as in a kid’s pet. The current cybernetic pets haven’t been changed in half a decade. It’s boring.”

“… But a goat?” Winter asked with a raised brow.

Xan smirked, “Greatest Of All Time.” This time Winter did let out a visible display of distain, along with… some surprise? Penny giggled at the light flush across her face.

She politely decline the food the serverbots offered. Winter accepted a smaller portion while Xanthic scarfed it down. They continued their neutral banter for a few minute, talking about mundane robots walking around Atlas. Penny tried to focus all her processing power into examining the broken robot, but she kept focusing in on Winter’s voice.

They were objects, they were supposed to be weapons. Xanthic scoffed and argued, they were flexible tools, with familial potential. The two agreed that robots were things but not on the functions. Penny’s function was to protect, she was a weapon. She was her father’s daughter, family… Her Aura stirred throughout her systems, sinking and sinking like it was trying to unplug her power unit.

In her palm was a pet… “May I have this?” Penny asked.

Xanthic looked at her through the glass of her cup and finished inhaling her water. “Sure. I doubt I’ll be able to work on any of my personal stuff now.” She held up her wrist, cuffs shining in the sun.

The hacker spent the remainder of the 10 minutes packing some clothes and books. Winter looked through both, packing it even neater than Xanthic originally had it.

The trip for groceries was short and uneventful now that Xanthic was cooperating. Penny almost missed her antagonism. It was entertaining, Penny found herself fiddling with the broken bot, thoughts drifting. The future members of APCX were quiet. Winter had her usual professionalism on but every so often worry would break though when she looked at Penny.

Robots were tools, not meant to function outside their purpose. According to General Ironwood, she was a protector. According to her father-

“I lied.” Xanthic said suddenly. Her volume was neutral but after a car ride with soft music it was an abrupt cut in Penny’s thoughts.

“Surprising.” Winter sneered. It wasn’t as hostile as it was earlier but not as playful as with May or Aro.

“Me and Glade have… history. That was supposed to be a gift.”

“Really?” Penny asked. Winter held her Scroll to the facility’s front door and escorted the two VIP’s back to the recreation quarters. “I checked Aro’s files. There was some inconsistences during her internship with my father.”

“I’ll have to fix that later then.” They were in the same environment nearly five years ago. That was enough confirmation for Penny. She helped Winter put away the food and memorized what they bought. Penny doesn’t eat, Winter isn’t a frequent visitor- though Penny hope that is going to change, so everything is Xanthic’s. She noted a surprising amount of sweets, either mint chocolate or some kind of strawberry flavor. She favored salt and vinegar snacks. The meals her butlerbots packaged was well balanced, most things fresh from her gardens.

Winter synced the hacker’s cuffs back to the recreational area. Penny pulled the remains of the robot from her pocket… and stared at it. If weapon can’t be intimate with people, what does her time at the Military Event classify as?

“Penny?” She heard Winter’s whisper shortly before registering a light pressure on her shoulder. She almost jumped. Her Aura ramped her system, nearly triggering a fight response. With concentration Penny was able to calmly look up at the Specialist. “Are you alright? Did the crowds at the store bother you?”

“No…” It was her and the hacker that troubled Penny. “I’m-” fine. The words stopped in her synthetic vocals. She could feel her Aura swirl in her chest at the lie. “Just thinking. I’m going to gather some tools and materials for this little…”

“Billy. I’ll send you the software after you fix it.” Xanthic said.

Penny quickly excited the room, Winter’s hand just hovering there for a few seconds before Penny turned the corner and lost visual of both of them. Weapons can’t be friends. Penny shrank in, hands squeezing tighter and tighter. She ignored the warnings and only focused on the wires tightening in her chest.

Then the squeezing gave way.

Six days since her last artificial skin tear, rest to zero.

Her room was simple, very similar to the workshop back in Atlas Academy. No bed, only an examination table with mechanical arms for maintenance. The drawers were full of tools, parts, or accessories. Things that was on the workbench for weapons. People did not wear artificial skin. The tear was easy to repair, thin layer of sillicone and wires around her index finger was torn clean off.

A light knock on her door made Penny jump. Xanthic would be stuck in the recreational area, trying to leave would meant a painful shock. Winter… she was Ironwood’s second-in-command, she may have access to most of the facility but-

Another knock.

“Y- Yes?” She called out. To her surprised and relief her father opened the door. “You… knocked?”

“Winter fetched me, told me that you seemed upset,” Dr. Pietro said. His chair slowly walked forward, as if ready to turn on a moment’s notice. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted privacy or not.”

“Ms. Xanthic is restricted to the living quarters of this facility. Winter would be authorized entrance if allowed here,” Penny said. Pricacy was a human concept. She wasn’t… “My privacy is unnecessary.”

“That does’t mean you can’t want it,” Dr. Pietro said gently. He looked at Penny’s hands and took a breath. Concern, worry, love. Emotions meant for people. It was easy to read these emotions from her father, yet somehow tiring.

She was tired of seeing him worry.

“I’m sorry,” Penny mumbled.

“Maybe this entire Vytal Festival is a bad idea…” For once, Dr. Pietro’s voice was stern. It wasn’t hard like how the General’s could get but it was so odd hearing him frustrated.

“No!” Penny yelled. She gasped at her own volume. Dr. Pietro jumped in surprised but he didn’t look mad. In fact he nodded and encouraged Penny to continue. “I want to fight! I want to see Vale.” And after the stories Aro told them during the Military Show, Penny wanted to see Minangire. May told stories about the mountains in Minstral and Winter balked at the heat in Vacuo. She wanted to see the world. Her simulations programs were the most accurate ones developed but nothing compared her own experience.

Her father looked concern again and Penny made a noise. It was a reflex she hadn’t perform before, that hum of frustration May did so much. Her father looked shocked but smiled and laugh.

“I’ve never seen you pout before. My, my, one day and you’ve learn so much already,” He said patting Penny’s hand. “And that’s really the General decision to make. And I doubt he’s changing his mind.”

Penny let him repair the tear in the artificial skin. She made sure to watch, wanting to cherish the moment just as the others cherished their visits to other kingdoms. A moment that was truly hers and not programed into her. A special gel will act as a conduit for the wires and adhesive for the silicone. His hands went to work soothing everything back in place, encouraging the material to bound in a way that wouldn’t leave a mark.

“I will always worry, my dear,” Dr. Pietro said. “I know you are fully capable of taking care of yourself, but it’s just what fathers do.” The word stirred in Penny’s processors, she hoped it would stick. After all, weapons didn’t have fathers.

“Then… what do daughters do?”

Whatever Dr. Pietro had to say wasn’t fully vocalized. Instead the smile dropped for a moment and he sighed. “That depends on the girl,” Dr. Pietro said, “Specialist Schnee chose to leave her family… Family company to protect others.”

“And… Ms. Xanthic?”

Dr. Pietro raised a brow, “I think it’d be best if you asked her yourself.”

Penny flinched at the thought. There was a 2% chance of a pleasant conversation. 95% chance Xanthic would yell at her. Penny left the remaining 3% as open-to-human-nature.

“I… suppose,” She grumbled. There was a 100% chance of avoiding confrontation with Xanthic if she did not ask.

Primary Function: Protector Daughter

#qued #Penny Polendina #fic #cutting strings #pre-fall of beacon #Winter Schnee #Ashley Xanthic #APCX

11 notes · View notes

catalysisrp · 3 years

Text

As mobile tumblr no longer likes to let people click page links ( 😒 ) we've decided to drop today's preview in a post for all our mobile users' viewing pleasures!

PERDITION, NV POPULATION 1,974

Sitting stubbornly in the southern tip of Nevada, Perdition is 111 miles north of Las Vegas in rocky, sparsely habited Lincoln County. It sits in a scorched valley between the South Pahroc Range and the Delamar Range. Big Rock Wilderness stands directly north, across highway 93, so from any point in town you can see the teeth of jagged desert mountain ranges jutting up from the horizon. Its population is a small and ever-shrinking 1,974. Despite the harsh surroundings, a variety of flora and fauna surround the small town, digging out life from the feet of the mountains. Mesquite, creosote, greasewood, yucca, and more than 30 varieties of cacti dot the landscape. Sheep, foxes, coyotes, bats, wild horses, owls, tortoises and reptiles are among the hundreds of species co-existing in the rugged landscape. Check your shoes before heading out the door: three different types of scorpions live in the deserts of Nevada. Emergency rooms are also frequented by those bitten by local snakes: sidewinders, the Great Basin rattler, the western diamondback, and kingsnakes are all venomous and common.

WEATHER & CLIMATE SOUTHWESTERN USA

Perdition enjoys highs from 100 degrees in the summer to as low as 50 degrees in the winter. On average, they get 159 days of sunshine year-round. It is a semi-arid climate with very little precipitation.

NEIGHBORHOODS & RESIDENCES

King’s Canyon Estates - Home to the ever-shrinking upper echelon of Perdition, patrolled by a security guard and watched by hawkish blue bloods out of gleaming windows. The lawns are unsettlingly green and the manses are polished and opulent. Rebel Creek - Perdition residents call this run-down, burnt-out neighborhood ‘the wrong side of the creek’. Populated by shotgun houses and a few poorly maintained trailers, Rebel Creek is where the down-and-out lurk. As more of the city falls on hard economic times, more residents find themselves washed up here. It’s not advised to walk through at night. Steptoe Terrace Apartments - Close to downtown, reasonably priced, utilitarian. Nothing fancy, not run down; lived-in. It’s a step up from Rebel Creek, at least. Sunridge Court - Middle class Perdition residents live here in their modest but well-built houses and small but pleasantly tended yards. It’s close to the schools, the small city library, and most of downtown proper. Alta Vista - ATLAS employees have brought an unusual white-collar wealth to Perdition, driving up property values and forcing some people out of their homes altogether. This new development sprung up shortly after the ATLAS compound’s arrival, built on land wrenched from the impoverished hands of ranchers and homeowners on the outskirts of Perdition. Eminent Domain and skyrocketing property taxes have left a small but not insignificant portion of residents relocating to Steptoe and Rebel Creek, unable to afford to rebuild and unwilling to move away from the town their families have called home for so many generations.

PERDITION PROPER & LOCAL BUSINESSES

City Hall - The administration building of local municipal government, like everything in Perdition, has seen better days. Not many folk in town are particulalry pleased with their mayor, but no one ever seems to run against him. Sheriff’s Department & Perdition Jailhouse - Sheriff’s office, a small dispatch office, and a few jail cells for penning any rowdy drunks from the Widowmaker. Red Rock Elementary School - Pre-k - grade 6 Perdition High School - Grades 7 - 12, home of the Fighting Mules! Pike’s Food & Drug - The only grocer & pharmacy in town, owned by the Pike family, six-generation Perdition locals. It’s a snapshot in time, especially the functioning-and-fully-stocked cigarette vending machine and the soda fountain that’s still in service. Golden Oasis Casino - With the promise of a major highway to connect Perdition to the rest of the world, eager investors saw dollar signs and poured piles of money into a brand new casino in 1952. When the highway development fell through and the money dried up, it decayed into what it is today: a place for locals to pull the creaky levers on old penny slots and ignore the indoor smoking ban. Silver Strike Diner - While its silvery accents and vinyl booths are dinged and sunbleached, the food is just as good as when the Silver Strike opened in 1950. Cheap, greasy, open 24/7. The jukebox hasn’t worked since 2002. The Widowmaker - This saloon, built in 1902 and originally named The Silver Dollar Saloon, stands right on the edge of Rebel Creek and decent society. It’s an utter dive: dark, dingy, cheap, and rowdy. Look out for bar fights and pickpockets. Sandman Motel - Its peeling-paint neon sign can be seen from the highway, a symbol of bygone days (and missing the ‘T’ on one side). You have to be pretty desperate to stay here; all-sorts roll in off the highway to rent out these rooms. Last Chance Gas - Local gas station open 24/7 selling cold beer, cigarettes, essentials, and lotto tickets. It’s the ‘last chance for gas’ for the next 100 miles down America’s Loneliest Highway.

OUTER PERDITION & SURROUNDING WILDERNESS

Professor Chromium’s Monster Museum & Creature Feature! - Just off Highway 50! Come, be amazed! Mysterious creatures great and small from the world over; creatures as you’ve never seen! In the time-honored tradition of now-defunct circus freak shows, Professor Chromium’s Monster Museum is a sprawling old warehouse made into a maze of clever taxidermy, creative Frankensteining of stuffed creatures, jars of mysterious claws and limbs. Locals serve as tour guides for tourists and cashiers at the wildly overpriced gift shop stuffed with kitschy souvenirs. Some even say a few of the creatures are genuine horrors, but who would believe them? Perot Mine - There’s a saying around town, and it’s ‘all the money in Perdition comes from Perot’. The mine opened for operation in 1902 when prospectors were hunting for new veins as the mine in Delamar had been providing dwindling returns for a few years before the fire ravaged the town in 1900. William Perot founded the mine and the town of Perdition sprung up nearby. All of high society in Perdition is related to, or married to, a Perot. It employs a huge portion of the Perdition population, but its returns are now dwindling, too. Quarter after quarter, less and less gold and silver ore has been hauled out of Perot. There are whispers of lay-offs on the horizon and even the upper crust of Perdition is starting to get nervous. Perdition Uranium Mine & Mill - from 1951 to 1968, a uranium mining boom swept across America. Spurred by the Atomic Energy Commission and the Cold War, Nevada was a focal point for substantial uranium prospecting and mining. Just outside Perdition, a uranium mine and mill cropped up, employing hundreds of locals and bringing an additional economic boom to the small town in addition to the long-standing gold mine. It was shuttered in 1972, boarded up, and now stands as an ugly relic littered with radioactive warning signs all along the perimeter. Curious teenagers have gone missing inside, and sometimes strange noises can be heard across the flat desert from within its neglected depths. The ATLAS Compound - In 2015, after a flurry of federally funded construction activity behind high chain link fence, a collection of bureaucratic government buildings cropped up like a deposit of hard, shiny minerals along the horizon just outside of town, near the old Perdition Uranium Mine and Milling site. Its perimeter is gated and the gatehouse is always manned by armed guards. This government compound includes a huge lab, offices, and a medical wing. Officially, it is designated as an arm of the Department of the Interior. Delamar - A ghost town dubbed ‘The Widow-maker’ due to deadly dry milling techniques that killed dozens and dozens of the men who worked at the Delamar mine. Established in 1891, the mine operated lucratively until 1900 when nearly the entire city burned to the ground. After a difficult recovery, the mine closed in 1909 and by 1914 the town was abandoned. Nothing but the skeleton of old buildings and lingering ghosts remain in Delamar. Big Rock Wilderness - Fully encompassing the southernmost portion of the South Pahroc Range, this gorgeous national park includes steep and jagged mountains, canyons and an expansive field of large, jumbled boulders loved by rock climbers all over the state. Recreational opportunities include climbing, camping, hiking, horseback riding and hunting.

#catalysisrp #update

1 note · View note

agent-cupcake · 4 years

Text

Beastie and the Bard

Fire Emblem Three Houses - Dimitri x Reader (Chapter 1)

Here it is, folks. Chapter one of my horrifically self indulgent reader insert fic where we can all collectively love Dimitri together. As is only right. Please enjoy.

Prelude in C Major Opus 1, No. 1

Centered in the very heart of Fódlan within the expansive range of the Oghma Mountains, buried deep behind lush forests and the foggy pass of Magdred Way, Garreg Mach Monastery loomed above the world from its sea of clouds, the stately towers and ancient architecture acting as stalwart sentinels for those below.

Upon first glance, you were enchanted. Upon second, enthralled. After that, it was only a matter of trying to distinguish which things you loved the most. Perhaps it was the way the grass that blanketed the area was so green and vivid, flourishing in spite of the passing seasons of cold. Maybe it was the enclosing lines of formidable stone walls your wagon passed on the way up, dotted by towers, topped by parapets, and washed in browns and grays by time’s ever turning hand. Or, possibly, it was what laid behind them that your heart was taken in by. Bustling civilian towns surrounded the monastery, markets and housing districts built on tier-like shelves along the climbing slope in a haphazard sprawl of civilization. Only about half of anything seemed to have been done with any purposeful design, but the people were lively and energetic, their intermingling voices and calls and the chaotic track of daily life creating a lovely sort of song to accompany your nervous anticipation.

A zigzagging road cut through the center of it all, leading up to the main gates of the monastery itself. Beyond that were the spire towers of the monastery, a place so old and established that the buildings seemed to have grown out of the mountain directly.

Garreg Mach Monastery was, simply put, beautiful.

You couldn’t say exactly what you had expected - how could you build up a mental image of a place when it was so different from anything you’d ever known? - but you knew that it surpassed whatever fantasies you might have been able to conjure. A musician’s life was built upon romantic comparison and clever use of words, but there was nothing quite like Garreg Mach that you could think to liken it to. In some ways, it brought to mind the hidden castles pictured in the illustrations of your childhood fairy stories, a place of wonderment seated up in the sky. In another sense, the grand structures invited thoughts of the daunting military fortresses in Rowe territory called Arianrhod, a place of protection and great strength.

Then again, it was unlike any of that. Garreg Mach was a dream come true, a place you’d been longing for since your youth, made even more wondrous because you were not here to simply admire and gawk. Aside from being the central location for Fódlan’s religion, the Church of Seiros, Garreg Mach was an academy specializing in the art of warfare. Perhaps it was odd that a monastery would be the host for a school well known for teaching students in the ways of the physical and logical aspects of battle, but upon seeing the place for yourself you felt no need to question the combination. Like the complementary entwinement of harmony and melody, or the pairing of bread and butter, it was something that made sense.

The market area at the very top of the mountain had a festival-like air to it when you finally arrived. Temporary stalls boasting toys and trinkets were erected alongside weapon racks full of silver and steel, the next tent over featuring mannequins dressed in heavily accessorized and stylized academy uniforms to lure in young students with the shine. Somewhere, something was being roasted, the enticing scent rolling in with the hundreds of other smells filling the square. And beyond all of it was Garreg Mach’s front hall. The wagoneer who had charged you two pennies for a ride to the top of the mountain pulled his small wagon to the side of the entrance gate where horses were hitched and wagons left so as to not further congest the busy market square.

Slinging your lyre case across your back using an invention of your own design with a thick leather strap crossing your chest, you jumped to the ground. Once your feet were planted, you luxuriously stretched your arms above your head, relieved to finally be finished with your travels.

Despite yourself, a shiver slithered down your spine. Although the weather was extremely mild in these parts of Fódlan, especially since it was only barely the new year, the altitude lent an extra bit of cold to the air. You were grateful for the warm blazer of the academy uniform, but perhaps regretting your stylish choice for stockings rather than leggings. Only somewhat. They were awfully cute, after all. A covered yawn invited the chilly late-morning air into your lungs, making you aware that the oxygen was far more thin than you were used to. It was something you had been warned of, but not quite expected.

“Are you ready?” Finnegan, the aged wagoneer, asked as he rounded the wagon, allowing the grooms to deal with his unhitched roan horse.

“Yes, sir,” you replied, smiling brightly and filled with renewed energy that had you bouncing on the balls of your feet with anticipation, and to fight off any clinging touch of that chill. With every movement, the case of your lyre tapped your back, a counterbeat to that of your heart and feet.

Finnegan laughed as he unloaded your trunk from on top of his boxed goods. “You oughta be saving that kind of talk for the knights, I’d say,” he told you in his odd accent, although he wore a friendly smile. At first glance the man had seemed quite gruff and intimidating, what with his sun aged face and wide brimmed hat casting deep shadows over his rugged features, but person’s character was something you felt you had to learn by more than just looking at them. Besides, he was the only one to offer to drive you to the top of the mountain rather than making you walk, which counted for a lot considering how late you already were in arriving to the academy.

“If that was the case I’d have to insist you call me ‘Lady’,” you told Finnegan primly, maintaining a serious look for just a moment before it split into another grin. “But, Master Finnegan, I don’t believe in such things.”

Finnegan laughed again, shaking his head in bewilderment. “If you say so, young miss,” he said.

You crouched to lift your heavy trunk. It was like you filled it with rocks, although you knew it was more accurate to say it was filled with trees, considering how much paper was packed away. One never knew how many books they’d need while training to become a hero.

“Er, would you like some help with that?” Finnegan asked, looking somewhat concerned. “I reckon if you sent for someone they could fetch it for you.”

Despite the weight, you didn’t feel strained as you stood up. Between a year and a half of intensive training and the natural strength lent to you by the Crest imbued in your body, you hardly blinked at the weight. It was rather impressive, really. Just a year ago you probably would have collapsed beneath it.

“It’ll be all right. I got it this far, after all,” you told him playfully. Finnegan still looked doubtful. Worried, maybe? But he didn’t argue, for which you were grateful. Even in this small way, he trusted that you weren’t too weak for the task. It bolstered your confidence. “I suppose this is farewell, then.”

“That it is, young miss.”

“Well, then… Good luck with your trade, Master Finnegan,” you said. Then paused a moment, something occurring to you. Carefully, you balanced your trunk on one knee to free a hand, a most precarious position. It was fine, however, as you only needed to retrieve a handful of small things. Coins. “Here! As a… Tip!” you said, holding the money out over the flat surface of your trunk.

“A tip, young miss? That’s not necessary, it was only a short journey,” Finnegan said, eyeing the coins doubtfully. You realized a second late it was a rather sizable sum to most people, especially for a tip. But even to you, hailing from a rather poor family by the standards of nobility, a pocketful of coin was all but worthless. You offered them up more insistently, afraid your precarious hold on your trunk would fail and unwilling to back down.

“For your smile and good company, then,” you told him. Finally, thankfully, he took the coins. You were happy to see it made him smile. Indeed, his face didn’t look even half as scary when he smiled, even if his teeth were crooked. It gave him character. “Goodbye, Master Finnegan. I’m happy to have met you.”

“Likewise. Good luck to you, young miss,” Finnegan said, tipping his wide brimmed hat.

And that was that. Perhaps there were more words you wanted to say, but you knew it was only prolonging the inevitability of having to venture into the crowd all by yourself. Finnegan himself was little more than a stranger, but he was relatively more familiar than what was to come. From here on out, it was only you and the world. Or, you and the academy. There had never been a time in your childhood that you had thought you’d be in a position of such grand freedom, or that such a thing would feel so precariously tilted, like you were balancing on the edge of a ledge and ready to fall any moment.

But you’d already come this far, and anxiety wasn’t the only thing making you jittery.

Weaving among the market square with your trunk making each step just a tad more cumbersome, you made your way towards the sweeping monument that was Garreg Mach’s entrance hall. There were as many people as there were on the spare occasion you went out into the streets of Fhirdiad, but these people were far different from those crowds. Energetic. Enthusiastic. Clean. There was no anger in the shoulders that bumped yours, and nobody cursed at you if you accidentally stumbled into them. It was what you’d always hoped the world would be, in a way.

Careful with the steps considering you couldn’t see them over your trunk, you finally got to the large doors. They were open, revealing a grand entrance hall swarming with even more people and activity and noise. Not even bothering with a steadying breath, you entered the fray with awe-filled eyes and parted lips, amazement filling you at the magnitude of it all. Just as you had thought while approaching, Garreg Mach was amazing. Fulfilling and surpassing any dream you could have ever had, more wonderful than any place you’d ever been. Truly without a parallel, Garreg Mach was -

Too busy gawking at your surroundings, you almost ran right into somebody.

“Watch where you’re going, girl!” the person snapped. You nearly fell in your skidding steps backwards, but managed to keep your balance after a bit of stumbling. Heart racing from the near catastrophe, you peered over your trunk to see who you had almost knocked over. A woman. She was dressed in the robes of the Church of Seiros with her graying hair in a rigid knot atop her head. Her bespectacled gaze was piercing, and you were certain her thin face had more wrinkles than skin.

“I’m so sorry!” you exclaimed, shrinking beneath the weight of her glare, so similar to the intimidating look given to you by many of the tutors you’d had growing up. The woman neither accepted or rejected the apology, but you were certain that her lips tightened in disapproval, encouraging more words to tumble from your mouth apologetically. “I couldn’t see you over my trunk, and I was just a bit distracted because I only just arrived and it’s all so grand! But I really am sorry, I hope I didn’t hurt you or anything, I-”

“Name?” she interrupted brusquely, using a snappish tone of someone who was utterly certain of her command over your obedience. She was right. You gave your name to her quickly, without hesitation. From behind those narrow spectacles, she scanned the pages in the leather bound logbook she held.

“From Fhirdiad… Of low, noble birth… Oh, Imperial mother?” she muttered as she made a note with a charcoal pencil on the page, seemingly speaking to herself. You weren’t sure if you were meant to respond, but she saved you by raising her arm into the air, withered skin and church robe flapping with the movement. At her cue, a young man cut through the surrounding crowd and jogged up to the two of you. She didn’t even look up at his approach.

“Another student?” he asked, dark eyes flicking from her to you.

“She is,” the woman flipped to a different page in her book. “Bottom story room. It seems that there’s several available on the far end.” She made a mark on the page.

“Got it,” the young man said. “I can take that.” He motioned to take your trunk, which you’d nearly forgotten you were carrying while speaking. Just a year ago, your arms probably would have been trembling and weak by now. “You want me to take that, too?” he asked, pointing to the lyre case on your back. Your hand rose to touch the smooth shell of the case instinctively, protectively.

“No, thank you.”

He didn’t argue, nodding before sauntered off with your trunk, the retreating image of his back eaten by the crowd of students.

“Do you understand the Officer’s Academy system of organizing their students?” the woman asked.

“Yes, there are three houses,” you replied, repeating information you had rehearsed many times. “Since I come from Faerghus, I’ll be in the Blue Lions house.” Your sword instructor had graduated from the Blue Lions as well, a source of great pride for him. The severe woman nodded.

“Yes. Your house leader this year is Prince Dimitri, the heir to the Kingdom’s crown.”

Your stomach tightened, but you nodded. It was surreal to hear it said aloud, but expected. Even you, far removed from local gossip and noble politics, had heard that Prince Dimitri would be attending the Officer’s Academy. Although you’d often thought of him as being years your senior, his idol status elevating him to something far grander than your own limited existence, he was the same age as you.

“You’ll be expected to complete registration before class begins the day after tomorrow, although I recommend making time for it today so you may receive your official room assignment and key,” the woman continued. “Any further questions can be answered to your house leader or professor.”

“Understood,” you agreed automatically, a response instilled in you through the brute force of too many frightening authority figures.

“That’s everything, then,” she said, snapping her book closed. “If you continue ahead you will find the common rooms where I’m sure you will be able to locate your house leader for further questions. It is, of course, expected that you will behave in a fashion suited to a student at the Officer’s Academy at all times.” The pointed glare made you shy away, but you nodded. She gave a single, curt bob of her head in acknowledgement. “Now, please excuse me, there are other students who require my attention.” She did not wait for you to respond, leaving you standing alone without even a goodbye or good luck. Using your excellent judgement of character, you decided you didn’t like that woman very much.

But, being alone gave you a moment to pause and catch your breath, studying the crowd of students around you. They were nearly as interesting as Garreg Mach itself. They were wildly varied in terms of appearance and disposition, hailing from all parts of Fodlan, but they all wore uniforms just like yours. They’d come to Garreg Mach for the same reason as you, to learn the art of fighting and battle. Most of them would be noble, or at least extremely wealthy. Both, sometimes. Not that it mattered. Your dream had nothing to do with nobility or wealth, or even to do with other people. That didn’t mean you couldn’t make friends, though. You’d never had a friend from the Empire or Alliance. Well, really you hadn’t ever had a friend at all. The idea that you would was frightening, but exciting.

Even more frightening, yet exciting, was the fact that you were about to meet someone you had spent most of your life idolizing. Oddly, the idea invited far more nerves than anything else. Prince Dimitri was no longer your idol, and he hadn’t been since you crested the cusp of childhood, but he was still royalty. The genesis of your dreams of knighthood and heroism.

After a bit of uncertain mental back and forth, you decided to gather the guts to ask someone where you might find your house leader, realizing how easily you could get lost when you made it past the great entrance hall and into the expansive space beyond.

Blue cape, the first student said. Blond hair. Likely hanging around the common rooms. Or the dormitory, another chimed in. Wait, hadn’t you heard that the house leaders were leaving today? He was already gone. Oh no, claimed another student, they hadn’t left yet. Yes, he could have sworn he just saw the Blue Lions professor hurrying past. His face oddly pale, too. A bit weird, don’t you think?.

So began your first journey around the huge and confusing labyrinth of Garreg Mach. Not only did you know next to nothing about the layout, but you weren’t even entirely certain if the one you were looking for was still here. According to some sources he and the other house leaders were already gone. After a certain point, you were ready to admit defeat and settle for locating the rest of your class, until you saw the back of a head with cropped golden blond hair. Beneath it waved a cape so blue it seemed to make every other color less intense.

Anticipation spiked in your heart. Nerves. Fear. Excitement. It had to be him. Somehow, you were certain of that.

On feet sore from the strain of breaking in your new school shoes, you hurried towards the figure. “Excuse me!” you called, drawing the gazes of the other students in the main hall. Right back where you’d begun, actually. You’d made so many circles around the monastery grounds you probably should have felt dizzy.

Luckily, the man in blue paused, turning his head back towards you curiously.

It was strange. As was only natural considering how long it had been, the prince looked completely different, yet you felt an instant pang of recognition. It was really true. It was him. You came to a stop a few feet away, breathing heavily from a combination of all the running and thinner air and uncomfortably aware that there was a sheen of sweat on your brow. Not exactly the best impression, but you managed a nervous smile regardless.

“You’re the house leader? For the Blue Lions?” you asked, a hand on your cheek in a vain attempt to cool it. You should have used his name, but somehow you felt too embarrassed to say it out loud.

“I am,” Dimitri responded slowly, curiously.

“You’re awfully difficult to find, you know,” you said with a breathless little laugh, trying to play off your nerves. Realizing immediately after that it sounded an awful lot like you were criticizing him, you quickly added, “But I’m not upset! It’s just that grounds are so big and I kept getting lost and I was told to talk to you before anything else and… Oh!” You stopped rambling and took a deep breath. It was easy to convince yourself that the only reason why your head was spinning was the altitude. You introduced yourself with a bow that was only slightly awkward due to the weight of the lyre case on your back. Ladies curtseyed, but your new position dictated that a bow was more appropriate. Recognition filled Dimitri’s eyes at some point during your drawn out introduction, curiosity being replaced by understanding.

“So you’re the late arrival. My apologies for not being there to greet you. Please allow me to welcome to the Officer’s Academy. I am Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, crown prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus” he said, bowing neatly, the movement carefully controlled with perfectly stiff posture and grace. “Although, while we’re here, I’m simply a fellow student. Please feel free to address me informally. It’s an honor to have you in our class.”

“The honor is all mine,” you replied, only mostly flustered by his elaborate introduction, but smiling at his welcome all the same.

“Do you have any questions about life here at Garreg Mach, or your role as a student?” Dimitri asked, his voice polite and earnest, eyes the same startling shade of powder blue as you remembered. It was a color you spent much of your youth attempting to put to song, but seeing it again, you realized you’d never gotten it quite right. “I haven’t much time, but I would be happy to answer them.”

You didn’t even know if you had questions or not, you couldn’t remember what you had been thinking before finding him other than frustration at being lost and anticipation at seeing him again.

“You’re going somewhere?” you asked instead.

“The leader’s for each of the three houses are going on an expedition together so we may become more familiar before classes start,” Dimitri explained. “My most sincere apologies for such a short greeting, but I imagine we’ll be back tomorrow. If you have questions in the meantime, I don’t doubt that the other Blue Lions students will be of great help in answering them. I believe you can find them in the common room.”

“Oh… All right! Thank you, Your Highness,” you said, bubbly despite the nerves. Or perhaps because of them. You couldn’t help but note that your voice was just a touch too high to be considered normal. “And, um.. Good luck!”

Dimitri surveyed your enthusiastic smile before giving you one his own, an expression that didn’t reach his famously blue eyes. Not that it looked false, really. It was a smile that made you aware of one of the largest differences between your first meeting and this one. All those years ago, you had both had your fathers at your side.

Men who were now dead.

“Thank you. I will endeavor to do my best.” Dimitri bowed again. Then, with a vaguely militaristic step, he turned and left through the large doors. They allowed afternoon sun into the grand entrance hall, warm and golden, slanting slightly into your eyes.

After a beat of standing there uncertainly, you turned on your heel to leave. Your thoughts lingered on the meeting. Seeing as you had only met Dimitri the once, it came as no great shock that he wouldn’t remember you. A starry eyed girl would always recall her meeting with a prince, while you were just one of the hundreds to him. Mostly, it was just surreal. For years after that meeting, Prince Dimitri had something akin to a storybook character come to life. An object of your childhood fantasy, not a person. Meeting again, you were made aware that he was just a man. An orphan with weary eyes.

Shaking your head, you tried to cast out the prince from your mind altogether. Dimitri was far and away from being the reason you had worked your heart out to come to the Officer’s Academy, even if once upon a time he had been the inspiration. You were now a woman, free of such childish idealism. Adult idealism was much different.

For one, these ideals were going to be realized, of that you were most truly and absolutely certain.

Prelude in C Major Opus 1, No. 2

Garreg Mach was a mystery. You realized that pretty soon after getting lost for the third time. The old stone walls and large buildings were filled with a thousand little details and secrets just waiting to be discovered. It reminded you of the months directly following your move to your father’s estate when you were younger, before you knew everything it had to offer. It was a mystery that you wouldn’t be able to solve so quickly, but by that night, you at least knew the cast.

You first met Annette, the incredibly friendly and clumsy sorceress. Despite her tiny frame, she toppled you right onto the ground with her in her mad dash attempt to pull you to meet her best friend Mercedes. Mercedes, Annette’s best friend and white magic sorceress, greeted you with a smile so warm you felt it in your heart. She bandaged Annette’s scraped knee with a patience that led you to believe she’d done it many times before while they told you about the School of Sorcery in Fhirdiad, a place you’d heard of but never seen.

Then there was Ashe, the adopted son of Lord Lanato of the Gaspard Territory you had traveled through on your way to the monastery. His easy smile and soft green eyes invited an instant sense of trust, and it seemed that the both of you had similar goals and dreams. He was infectiously enthusiastic about the both of you trying your very best.

Ingrid was chivalrous and proud. You only properly met her when another member of the class named Sylvain approached you with flirtatious intent, only to be promptly scolded by the virtuous blonde. Old friends, she explained while Sylvain rubbed the back of his head where she’d smacked him, along with His Highness and Felix. Felix had a hard stare and intimidating aura, but he did smile while teasing Ingrid about her excitement over the food at Garreg Mach, so you doubted that he could be that bad.

Dedue you wound up meeting by accident, as he hadn’t been in the commons room. Actually, you met him in the greenhouse. The giant of a man had been tending to the flowers within. You only recognized him based on description, although it would have been impossible to mistake him. Prince Dimitri’s vassal and a man of Duscur. He didn’t say much to your introduction, and his gaze was intimidating and impossible for you to read.

Duscur was the country razed to the ground after taking the blame for the King’s assassination some years back. You didn’t know a lot about the tragedy that had taken place, or any of the events leading up to it, aside from that it had resulted in Dimitri’s father’s death, as well as the death of many others. There were many people who whispered about how bizarre and inappropriate it was for Dimitri to have chosen a man of Duscur as his vassal, although you found it hard to believe that Dimitri would trust someone of rotten character. Besides, you’d never seen such large hands be so tender with something as delicate as flowers.

By the next morning, you had a basic knowledge of Garreg Mach’s layout. Basically. At the very least, you got from your room to the mess hall and then to the baths without much trouble.

By the afternoon, you learned that the house leaders were back in the monastery.

A half hour later, you were told that there had been bandit attack that had nearly killed all three lords. To much fanfare and relief, they were accompanied back to the monastery by the mercenaries who saved them, a man named Jeralt who used to be a Knight of Serios and his son.

Jeralt’s son introduced himself as Byleth. You’d heard whispers among the students that called him the Ashen Demon, a moniker he’d picked up while doing mercenary work. To you, he didn’t look very demonic. His expression was perfectly serene, uncaring. Lacking emotion entirely, it almost seemed. But he was attractive, what with those dark blue eyes and messy hair, and very polite and softspoken. And he’d saved Dimitri. Besides, everyone was talking of how skilled he was in battle.

You liked him. How could you not?

An hour and a half after meeting the man, the Blue Lions were all gathered together and informed that Byleth was to be your new professor. Apparently, the other one had ran away in fear when the bandit attack happened, which had become a mere footnote in the excitement of Professor Byleth’s arrival and sudden hire as a teacher. A cowardly man you’d never meet, it seemed. Not that it mattered much. Who better to teach you to be a heroic knight than someone with actual combat experience? Your newly minted Professor Byleth didn’t seem to be too concerned one way or another about the entire affair, his dark eyes measuring each one of his new students in turn before wishing you all a good night.

The next day, classes began. And such was the start of your education at Garreg Mach Officer’s Academy.

#dimitri alexandre blaiddyd #dedue molinaro #felix hugo fraldarius #sylvain jose gautier #ashe ubert #annette fantine dominic #mercedes von martritz #ingrid brandl galatea #dimitri #dimitri x reader #my writing #fire emblem three houses #FE3H #dimitri alexandre blaiddyd x reader #beastie and the bard

142 notes · View notes

seasonofthegeek · 4 years

Text

Sacrifice of Three, Part 1

The lovely @miraculouspaon requested another part of this drabble through ko-fi and I decided to use that story as inspiration for the expanded universe because I feel like it would be such a fun AU to play in with more detail. So this is taking it to the beginning of the story and working to the part in the drabble and beyond. :D

___

“I don’t understand why I continue to receive these meeting invitations. I’m not part of a Fae court; there’s no reason for me to attend a Winter Solstice conference of the supernatural community.” Gabriel dropped the leaflet of cardstock into his assistant’s desk in tray. “Please confirm my absence. Perhaps one of these days those ancient monsters will stop bothering me.”

Nathalie slid the invitation out of her tray with a curt nod. “Very well, sir. I will have to ask that I be excused for the event though. I was chosen as the representative for my pack.”

“You don’t even get along with your pack.”

She shrugged. “I suppose I could fight another member to pass on the invitation but I’d rather not.”

“It’s barbaric.”

“There are only two werewolf packs in the city and the one I chose is the less aggressive of the two. It’s better than the alternative.”

“If you say so.”

“Not all of us can pretend to be human all the time,” she replied, tone even. She ignored the glare cast in her direction as she began to work on his invitation decline. “If I hadn’t sought out one of the packs after I turned, they would’ve come after me eventually. Better to have a choice.”

“Better to be left alone entirely.”

“If that’s an option, which it wasn’t.”

Gabriel clenched his jaw until it made a tight ticking sound. “Fine. I’ll accept the invitation.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Perhaps if I attend, they will stop harassing me.” He turned away from her desk to return to his.

“I wouldn’t call sending an invitation to events a few times a year harassment, but we all have our burdens to bear,” Nathalie replied dryly. “Why the change of heart?”

He stiffened. “If we’re there together, perhaps we won’t lose an entire week of work.”

“Ah, yes. I was hoping I wouldn’t be allowed a vacation.” Nathalie kept her face blank, fighting against the smile she could feel tugging at her lips. “They’ll ask what court you’re representing upon accepting.”

Gabriel sighed and looked back at the large painting of his deceased wife. The portrait had been done in shades of green and gold and had managed to catch a fraction of the beauty of the sun nymph who’d shined down on him for a short time. “The Summer Court, I suppose, though I never really felt right there.”

“It’s possible you’ll be asked about Adrien,” she warned him, pausing in her work.

He turned away from the portrait. “And I’ll tell them he died with his mother.”

“You think it’s wise to lie? Anyone could come here and find him.”

“Then I’ll have to make sure to seem as human and uninteresting as possible, won’t I?” He gave her a wry smile. “Changelings barely register on the supernatural scale. I’m sure my continued requests for attendance are about my son and what he can do for the courts, but I have no intentions of allowing him into that life. Perhaps they’ll be led to believe he takes after me.”

“Anyone who saw him would know that isn’t true.”

“Mmm, well, there’s a reason he stays here most of the time.”

Nathalie shook her head, unsure if Gabriel actually believed his son stayed put in their large home or if he was simply in denial of Adrien’s frequents nighttime walkabouts. “Of course, sir.”

___

Jagged leaned back with a content sigh and licked his blood-stained lips. “Penny, love, you’re as exquisite as ever.”

“And you’re as greedy as ever.” She stood and went to the vanity, shuffling through the mess on the counter to find a clean bandage. “I’m going to have to take a nap at some point to get some energy back.”

“I’ll keep you company, pet. I’d love to have someone pretty and warm like you in my bed.”

Penny laughed as she smoothed the bandage over the wound in her neck. “I’m sure you would, but I’ve got other things to do today.”

He stuck out his bottom lip in a pout. “But I’ll be lonely.”

“Somehow I think you’ll survive. Have you decided about the meeting yet?”

“Didn’t wanna go the first time you asked and haven’t changed my mind.” He let his arm fall languidly off the couch and felt rough scales under his palm. “There’s my good boy. Who’s my favorite dragon?”

“He’s not a dragon.”

“Don’t listen to Penny, mate. She’s all cranky due to blood loss,” Jagged soothed, scratching along the crocodile’s back.

“If you say no to this meeting, you’ll have to go to the next one. Winter Solstice doesn’t sound too bad anyway. And the cabin looks nice.”

“Ah, a cabin. A house made entirely of wood. Exactly the kind of place a vampire wants to find himself in when a bunch of other supes are hanging out and plotting.”

“Stop being a baby.” Penny turned to face him, leaning against the counter. “Are you going or not? You know Arkana will give you hell if she has to go this time too. It will be her third one in a row.”

“Why do they keep requesting us anyway? Our nest isn’t even that big. Why not the uppity vampires near the center of the city?”

“They might be there too. You’re hardly a good representation of the species.”

“I think you used to be nicer,” Jagged pouted. “I should’ve left you as a naive human out in the world.”

“I’m still a human out in the world,” she winked. “Just not nearly as naive. So is that a yes?”

He groaned and Fang made a chuffing sound by his side. “Fine, yes.”

___

“Oi, you lot notice we’re still the only ones here?” Jagged leaned in the doorway of the study and crossed his arms. “This shindig was supposed to start over an hour ago. Where’s everyone else?”

Nathalie looked up from her laptop and blinked. “No one else has arrived?”

“Nah. I’ve been roaming around this place like I’m haunting it and there’s not hide nor hair of anyone. Something doesn’t smell right.” He watched the werewolf sniff gingerly at the air and couldn’t help the wide smile that crossed his face. “Didn’t mean literally, pet.”

She glared at him. “Don’t call me that.”

Gabriel set his own laptop on the coffee table and went to the window. “There is quite a bit of snow. Perhaps it’s slowing the others down.”

“All of them? Seems a little ‘spicious, don’tcha think?”

“Is it getting heavier?” Nathalie joined them by the window and hugged herself. “I believe that’s sleet. I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere ourselves for a while.”

“This day and age and not a phone number or email to be found between us to reach anyone, is there? You ever wonder why the powers that be insist on keeping things so old school?”

“It wouldn’t help even if we had contacts. There’s no service up here. Gabriel and I have been working on a portable backup drive we brought ourselves.”

“Aren’t you two just the ambitious little duo?”

Gabriel ignored the other man’s remark as he stared out the window. “Well, this is certain to cause us trouble. Jagged, I think it would be best if you retreat to one of the guest rooms. I can lock you in for your own safety.”

The vampire visibly bristled as he leaned against the wall. “I’m not an animal, mate. Believe it or not, I can survive being snowed in with you two without ripping your throats out.” He flashed a wide smile that showcased two delicate fangs. “Might be fun though. Besides, if you’re going to lock me up, you should lock up your sweet lil pup too.”

Nathalie scowled at him. “It’s not even close to the full moon. I’m in no danger of transforming here.”

“Wonder if there’s an old tale about this somewhere. A vampire, a werewolf, and a changeling snowed in late at night in the middle of nowhere…” Jagged chuckled to himself. “Who will survive, who will thrive, who will take an eternal dive….”

Gabriel turned away from the window and pinched the bridge of his nose, pushing his glasses up in agitation. “Please don’t call me that.”

“S’whatcha are, Gabe. Wee little Fae babe who was left to be raised by humans ‘cause he couldn’t cut it in the courts. Nothing to be ashamed of. You got that pretty bride of yours due to your heritage and all. Worked out, didn’t it?”

“Don’t speak of things you don’t understand,” Gabriel warned with a growl.

“Oh, I understand,” Jagged replied with an easy grin. “I met her before you, ya know. Wouldn’t have worked out what with her being one with the sun but she was pretty enough for it to be tempting--”

Nathalie stepped between the men with a put upon sigh. “Since we don’t know how long we’re going to be here, perhaps it would be wise to take stock of our supplies instead of being immature brats. Jagged, did you bring any bagged blood with you?”

“Don’t drink the stuff, pet. I like my blood alive. Besides, usually they have willing donors at these things. Vamps aren’t the only ones who like blood and this was supposed to be a big meeting of the supernatural minds for the Winter Solstice and all that.”

“In other words, you’re unprepared.” She turned to Gabriel. “Do you think we can expect any of the others to make it here before things get too bad?”

“I think they’ve already gone bad unfortunately. I don’t believe anyone could make it in a storm like this. We should’ve left earlier before we got stuck here ourselves.”

Jagged pushed away from the wall. “Well, as much fun as it would be to watch you two moan and groan about our predicament the rest of the night, the cold doesn’t much bother me so I think I’ll be off.”

Nathalie snorted. “You can’t be serious.”

“Course I am. Not all warm blooded like you lot. I can walk right out of here.”

“You’d freeze,” she replied incredulously. “You wouldn’t make it to the nearest town before you froze in place and then the sun would catch you when it finally rose again. Even you have limitations.”

“Let him go. It’d make the stay much more pleasant,” Gabriel remarked. “Would you like to go see what the food situation is like? It’d be best to settle that early.”

“That sounds reasonable,” she agreed, following him towards the kitchen.

“I mean it. I’m leaving,” Jagged called after them. “Not waiting around.” He growled under his breath when he received no reply. He could leave. He could walk right out the door, but Nathalie was probably right. He didn’t have a clue where he was going and if the ground was frozen over, he’d have a hard time burying himself deep enough to keep safe from the rising sun.

He grumbled to himself and dropped down on one of the couches. Flames licked the bricks of the fireplace and he watched them until he fell into a peaceful trance, letting his body shut down little by little to conserve energy. While it was fun to tease Gabriel and Nathalie, the worry that they might be there longer than anticipate nagged at the back of his mind. Better not to waste any energy he could hold onto for the time being.

___

“The bread’s gone stale.” Nathalie stared at her sandwich before taking another bite.

“There isn’t much more to put on it anyway. This was probably the last day we could do sandwiches.” Gabriel bit into his reluctantly and chewed as he reached for a book on the coffee table. “We can probably use the last pieces with some of the soup.”

“Cold soup and stale bread; I feel spoiled.”

“Things must be bad if you’re talking like that.”

“Losing the electricity’s made me cranky,” Nathalie said in way of apology. “I know we’re all making sacrifices.”

“At least you two get to eat,” Jagged whined, draping himself across the couch. “I’m starving. I’ve got bags under my eyes and my skin’s looking all waxy. I hate when my skin looks waxy. Haven’t looked this rough in decades.”

“Perhaps you should’ve left when you threatened to.” Gabriel didn’t look up from his book. “You know where the door is.”

“I can’t go out in this state. I wouldn’t make it to the end of the driveway. This storm’s unnatural. There’s a warlock or something behind it, mark my words.”

“I’ve been wondering about that actually.” Nathalie set her plate down and went to the wall of bookshelves, looking over the titles. “It might not be an accident we’re the only ones stuck here.”

Gabriel closed his book and looked to her across the room. “You really believe someone targeted the three of us?”

“I don’t know why they would. We’re only representatives, not even important members of our groups, but it’s just a feeling.”

“Why’d you have to go and bring that up?” Jagged groaned. “You’ve gone and made me think and now my head hurts.” He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. “See what you can find in those books about the Sacrifice of Three for the Solstice. I can’t believe I’m even considering that being a possibility. And keep it down; I need a nap.”

“Wait, what do you mean the Sacrifice of Three?”

The vampire didn’t reply as his body fell into a chilling stillness.

“He’s been doing that a lot the past day or so,” Nathalie remarked, keeping her voice low. She turned away from the sight and went back to the books. “It can’t be good.”

“He’s trying to conserve his energy, but I agree. We need to keep an eye on him. I don’t think it’d be wise for either of us to be alone with him at any time.” Gabriel set his own plate down and joined her by the bookshelves. “I’ll help you look while there’s still daylight.”

She cast another wary glance at the still vampire. “What if he loses control?”

Gabriel clenched his jaw. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”

“Not if?”

He didn’t respond, instead pulling a book of the shelf to thumb through it.

“What if we’re still here when the full moon hits?” she asked, voice quieter.

“We’ll deal with that as well.”

“I’d kill you both. I can’t control it.”

“Then we better look for a way to get out of here, hmm?” He met her eyes and they shared a look of understanding before she nodded and they continued their search.

Buy me a cherry coke?

#agrestonath #gabriel agreste #nathalie sancoeur #jagged stone #miraculous ladybug

53 notes · View notes