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alexsfictionaddiction · 4 years

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12 of the best feel-good books

I think we could all do with a pick-me-up right now. We’ve been in some level of isolation for over a month and we’re perhaps being forced to accept a new normal. However, we’re still seeing frightening and tragic headlines all day every day (ration your news time, if you’re not doing so already), so of course, fear and hopelessness is going to set in. If you’re not used to spending time alone, loneliness is also a huge possibility but we know that books are a great source of solace in times like this.

Maybe you want to do your own research and discover how far into the realms of science-fiction we’ve got. For you, I have compiled a list of the best books that pandemic fiction has to offer but if you’re looking for something more light-hearted, I’ve got the perfect tonic. Whether you need a laugh, to be comforted or to simply remember what life used to be like, here are some books that will help you escape the current face of reality. Above all, remember that it’s perfectly natural for your mental health to be suffering at the moment. Do whatever you can to look after yourself and stay safe.

1. The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary

Remember when you could just move in with a stranger without worrying about keeping two metres apart at all times? Tiffy and Leon share a flat and even a bed but due to entirely opposite work schedules, they manage to not even meet for months after Tiffy moves in, only communicating via texts and notes left on the fridge. But Tiffy’s controlling ex-boyfriend and Leon’s innocent prisoner brother ignite a connection that is fuelled by basic human kindness and a touch of romantic attraction, of course! This quirky rom-com has been a bestseller for over a year now and it’s not hard to see why. It’s a celebration of love, friendship and the unexpected happiness that can come from taking calculated risks. Beth O’Leary’s second novel The Switch has also just been released, so there has never been a better time to read her debut!

2. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

A beautiful story of empathy, kindness and acceptance, Wonder has fast become one of the most popular and widely read contemporary middle-grade novels. Auggie Pullman was born with a facial deformity and he’s attending mainstream school for the first time but of course, kids can be staggeringly cruel to those who are different. Wonder kickstarted a global kindness campaign and spawned a film adaptation, which is one of the best and most faithful I’ve ever seen. It has already given so much to the world and I know you’ll get a lot of joy out of it too.

3. The Long Way To A Small Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

Of course, not all sci-fi is doom and gloom. This is the first instalment in Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series and it’s laugh-out-loud funny. It follows a misfit crew of space travellers and their wonderful smile-inducing relationships. Celebrating the coming together of a variety of races, sexualities and personalities, it features a lot of loveable memorable characters who begin to read like dear loyal friends. If you’re looking for quirky, light-hearted sci-fi in a similar vein to Star Trek and Firefly, you’d be wise to start here.

4. Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Arthur Less is a struggling writer about to turn 50 and the love of his life is engaged to someone else. To say that he’s not feeling too hot right now would be an understatement but he has been invited to a range of literary events around the world, so he does the logical thing and accepts them all. We can’t travel right now but with Arthur, you’ll visit Paris, Berlin, southern India, the Moroccan desert and Japan. You’ll also go on a journey of self-acceptance, learn how to love the life that you have and appreciate the time you have left.

5. Hot Mess by Lucy Vine

It’s rare that a book makes me guffaw out loud in public but Hot Mess did exactly that, when I read it a couple of years ago. Ellie is a single woman who hates her office job and is absolutely nowhere near having her life together. However, she does have some great friends and a lovely relationship with her dad Alan, whose drafts of a romance novel are truly side-splittingly hilarious. We see Ellie through terrible dates, trauma confrontation and a quest for true happiness that is hugely satisfying. It has been described as a modern-day Bridget Jones but I found it much more relatable and actually quite a lot funnier!

6. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

It’s the first in a trilogy of novels that explore the trials and tribulations of finding romance when you’re genetics professor Don Tillman. Don likes facts, logic and reason and he applies all of these things to his latest endeavour, The Wife Project. He knows exactly the kind of woman he wants to marry but then he meets Rosie, who ticks none of his boxes and he’s forced to accept that perhaps true love doesn’t always follow the rules. Don and Rosie’s relationship is such a heartwarming, mutually beneficial one that will make you laugh and leave you with a big bag of warm fuzzy feels.

7. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

There is a huge chance that you will have read The Hobbit but what better time to revisit a funny, charming favourite? Re-embark on the quest to retrieve Smaug’s treasure, take back the Lonely Mountain and make a plethora of fantastic friends along the way. As well as relating to Bilbo’s personal growth throughout the novel, I think the idea of facing epic threat and mortal peril in unknown environments and yet still returning safely home to a quiet comfortable life is the reassurance we need that this too shall pass. Of course, it will also be an intoxicating nostalgia trip, so there’s really no reason to not pick it up again!

8. The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

I read this over the Valentine’s Day period and was so enchanted by it. Gavin is a top baseball player for the Nashville Legends and he has recently discovered that he has never given his wife Thea a genuine orgasm and it’s threatening the relationship. So he does the logical thing and turns to his team mates, who actually double as a secret romance book club. They suggest taking a leaf out of a smutty Regency paperback to save his marriage -what could possibly go wrong? Funny, heart-warming and touching, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a rom-com with a difference.

9. My Pear-Shaped Life by Carmel Harrington

If you’ve spent a lot of self-isolation being wholly unproductive and perhaps not looking after yourself too well, you may be feeling that you’re simply not good enough. Especially if your social media is full of happy healthy people doing just about EVERYTHING. Meet Greta, a struggling actress who is used to playing the role of the funny, overweight girl in all areas of her life. That’s ok as long as she laughs with everyone else, right? But things have been pretty rough lately and it’s only when she hits rock bottom that she begins to realise that maybe things need to go a little bit pear-shaped sometimes. With joy and despair in equal measure, this new novel, populated with an array of wonderful characters, will teach you that true happiness comes from simply being you.

10. A Boy Made Of Blocks by Keith Stuart

Eight-year-old Sam is autistic and struggles to make sense of the world. His dad Alex has also lost himself somewhere along the way and needs to change. Minecraft offers a place where father and son can rediscover their bond and put the family back together, block by block. I reviewed this incredibly moving, uplifting story when it was first released a few years ago. It’s actually inspired by Keith Stuart’s real-life experiences, which I think give it an extra dollop of heart-warmth!

11. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

The entire focus of this fantastically written YA novel is on embracing your own personal uniqueness and on not being afraid to let it out. Michael is a mixed-race gay teen who has grappled with his identity for his entire life. On arriving at university, the idea of becoming a drag artist causes everything to begin to slot into place. Told in verse, The Black Flamingo will show you how your boldest brightest colours can shine through the darkest of times. Highlighting the power of words and challenging all forms of homophobia, whether it be external or internal, this is a book that I’m sure will become a staple of LGBT+ literature in years to come. As for now, it will simply inspire you to live your very best life, regardless of who tries to prevent it.

12. Reasons To Be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe

As the title may suggest, there is plenty to smile about in Reasons To Be Cheerful. It’s chiefly a coming-of-age novel about a young woman called Lizzie living in 1970s Leicestershire. She has just got a job as an assistant to a work-shy, racist dentist who is desperate to join the freemasons. Navigating this new position alongside a relationship with her alcoholic writer mother, a boyfriend who doesn’t seem terribly interested in her and a few unlikely friends, Lizzie’s life makes for some pretty amusing anecdotes. Whether it’s the simple retro setting or small cast of eccentric caricatures, there is something quite other-worldly yet familiar about it. There is a lot of detail that is relevant to the period it’s set in, including the blatant social prejudices that were so rife at the time. I am too young to have experienced 1970s Britain but it certainly feels authentic to what I know. I have no doubt that those that were there will get even more enjoyment and nostalgia from Lizzie’s life than I did.

#feel good #books #recommended #recommendations #uplifting

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freezing-kaiju · 7 years

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Survivors of Shards

Chapter 2

This part focuses on @apollowuzhere‘s character Calcite! Written by me, @apollowuzhere, @irazel, and @grilledwatermelon

SWITCH PERSPECTIVE: Calcite

It was foggy. I wasn’t sure if it was the environment or my mind, but it was foggy. I was floating aimlessly, not sure what to do, or who or where I was. It was orange everywhere; it was bright and dark, clear and clouded. I couldn’t make any sense of it. Then there was the one blotch of purple somewhere in the distance. Even though I didn’t know what it was, it was different. And it was growing.

I saw the shape first, tall, with broad shoulders and a pointed chin. But something was wrong. Its eyes...and body...they were shifting. Melting, almost...and tweaked...twitching. But its eyes were sad, filled not only with tears, but fear and pain. A purple flash from the figure’s center blinded me for a moment as I took it all in.

The figure spoke, but I couldn’t make out the words. It whispered and yelled at the same time, its voice shifting and layered over itself. I didn’t understand, but I could feel a strange sensation running down my cheeks as it became foggier once again.

The next sensation was a warm, tingling one...the feeling of reforming. I was blinded by a bright light as I came back to consciousness. My feet hit a soft surface and, looking around, it was nothing but rubble. Metal shards, craters, and……..gem shards. The glittering colors of my dead colleagues were scattered on the ground around me...although two shimmers came from higher up in my peripheral vision. My head raised to come face to face with an indifferent looking peridot from my ship’s crew. I hadn’t spoken to her much, but we had had passing conversations.

“Ah, you’re up. You’re one of the calcites right?” she asked with little interest.

I said nothing, just giving a slight tilt of my head in agreement. She hummed to herself and went back to organizing whole, functioning gems. They had survived.

The other shine came from a brown-gold gem on the arm of a chubby figure, an Amber. There were not many of them left on homeworld, and I had forgotten she had been on the mission. She was curled in on herself, muttering about her uselessness in this horrific situation, and trembling, her small insect-like wings buzzing with anxiety. I slowly approached the spooked gem, feeling a sense of nostalgia as I got closer.

She lifted her head to meet my eyes, and I stopped in my tracks. I remembered her. She was a bee amber I had planted only a little over a century ago. The sweet little gem was in threat of being shattered when first discovered, so I took it upon myself to plant it. Homeworld and I disagreed on what a waste was. They saw the whole race of ambers as worthless, pathetic gems; even the other calcites refused to plant ambers. I saw the waste in not planting the gem. It can’t be said who that amber could be or what they could do, and they couldn’t do any harm by trying. So when the bee amber was taken away to be shattered, I stood in the way. I took full responsibility for her, which was why she had come with us. Now we were in a wreck, and it was my fault she was here.

I had so many questions. How many others had perished? Were there any other calcites still left? Was this peridot the last one? Who were the ones on the table? Where was Beryl?

Beryl! I rushed over to the peridot and shoved her out of the way, getting a small “hey!” in return. I scanned over the pile of gems: there was a jade, an aventurine, an alabaster, a cuprite, several others, and...there! A beautiful golden gem sparkled in front of me. Yellow Beryl, one of the five who had come on the mission. There had been one beryl for each calcite, and she had been paired with me. She had been one of the only ones I had connected with on the ship. In fact, she had been one of the only ones I had connected with after…….nevermind. I felt the weight of whatever world we were on lift off my shoulders when I held the gem in my hands. Undamaged, not even a hairline fracture.

“Yeah, she’s the only beryl left,” the peridot spoke up, still sounding bitter, probably because I pushed her. “You’re the only calcite too, and I’m the only peridot. Some luck, eh? More than half the crew just...shattered.”

The smile faded from my face, and I growled in frustration. Of course I’d be the only one left, I’d always been the odd one out when it came to my sisters. They never cared about the ones they planted, but I did. They thought I was dangerous, getting so close, and they weren’t afraid of sharing it. They believed I would hurt someone in order to keep my gems safe. They were wrong. The only one I had hurt in getting attached was myself.

But Beryl was here, safe and sound, and that’s what mattered most right now.

A warm feeling soothed the palm of my hand. A growing glow coming from Beryl’s gem tinged my sight yellow, and I set her back on the ground to reform. The gem didn’t stay there long, rising into the air to make room for the growing light. A small body formed from the glow, followed by a short skirt and a long braid. As her whole body began to take form, her feet delicately touched ground, like a ballerina landing in slow motion. She opened her glowing blue orbs to look into mine, her expression one of innocent confusion.

“Where are we? Who are you?” she asked, her voice low and trembling slightly.

“Hey, come on, it’s me, the calcite you were partnered up with, remember?” Beryl tilted her head, but showed a little sign of understanding.

The peridot giggled at the situation. “Hey. Sorry to burst your bubble here, but uh...long story short, we crashed, everybody died, and now we’re screwed.”

Beryl put her hand up to her mouth, wrapping the other one tightly around her torso. “I see,” she said shakily, clearly distressed by the situation. In all honesty, who wouldn’t be? I’m just glad the cuprite survived, we’re going to need it.

A sliding sound, metal on metal, on my left caught my attention. A door had opened and a grey-and-black-striped Jasper walked out, cradling a single gem in her hands. “Hey, ‘dot. I found Bismuth!”

The peridot nodded absentmindedly. “Good, we’re gonna need her. Put her on the pile.”

The Jasper walked over and put the Bismuth on the pile, muttering, “stay safe, buddy.”

The pile of gems was both a sign of hope and a significant source of sadness. There were those who had survived, there they were, but thinking about how many there had been, this was only a fraction of the original crew. We had lost hundreds, and saved few. Even those who were alive were stranded because there was no one to fly the ship, and the ship being utterly destroyed didn’t help much either. The feeling of despair was suffocating once we recognized the gravity of the situation.

The pile of gems shifted suddenly and a single white gem rolled out, glowing harshly. It grew outwards in a mass of spikes before landing on its feet with a dull thud. It was the alabaster, and they seemed just as confused as the rest of us.

“What the hell just happened?” Alabaster asked, looking around, not seeming to recognize most of the gems there.

I was curious to see how the alabaster would take knowing their sapphire had been shattered in the accident. I knew it was dark and I shouldn’t be so unempathetic towards the situation or the poor gem, but my morbid curiosity didn’t deture. Their purpose was specific, I wondered if they would stick to it.

The peridot looked at the Alabaster and instantly straightened up. “Finally! Someone with more authority than me, I swear I was gonna shatter under the pressure. So umm...yeah, nearly everyone is dead. The other Peridots...Supervisors Shadow Agate and Purple Sapphire...there’s only one calcite and one beryl left. Mission’s ruined, communications are shot and you’re the highest ranking gem left alive.”

I felt a little annoyed by the peridot’s speech. I never understood why alabasters were so high ranking since they just protected other gems. Being a calcite was confusing; sometimes we were treated like diamonds, sometimes we were treated like dirt. The alabaster registered the peridot’s words.

“Sapphire’s dead? Shadow Agate too?” Alabaster looked like they already had a headache. “Alright. Peridot, can you access the computer files? Figure out what crashed us?”

“Already did that. The engines didn’t explode, but they were shut off suddenly mid-flight. Not a command from Main Engineering, but that reported that they couldn’t turn the engines back on. The information cuts out in the middle of that.”

“Shut off? Does that mean someone from on the ship did it?” Alabaster asked.

Treachery. I had not considered it an option, but it wouldn’t surprise me. I didn’t know all of the gems aboard that ship and I didn’t need to to know many of them weren’t thrilled about this mission. I wasn’t either, at first, but I grew to accept it. If that was the case, who would do it, and were they even still alive?

“Well...I’m not sure. They didn’t do it via Main Engineering, which would have been obvious...and whoever did it either stole, destroyed, or dumped all the fuel. They could have done it externally or through some hacking measure.”

“I think that hardly matters right now,” I said, finally speaking up. “We have gems still regenerating and others…….the point is we have more important work to do right now than solve some stupid mystery.”

Before I could continue, a soft glow began emitting from within the gem pile. Beryl noticed as well and, being closer than I was, plucked the gem out of the pile so it could reform properly. I saw the hat before I saw the body, and, once formed, it didn’t even touch the ground.

The hematite did a backflip in the air before touching down, laughing hysterically.

“HOO, what a ride!” she exclaimed, not noticing the state of our current situation. “What happened back there? One minute I was showing a couple beryls a trick and the next, POOF!” She laughed again, as if she believed she had said something funny. Her sense of humor eludes me.

Instead of letting the peridot give the same explanation, I took it upon myself.

“We crashed. There’s a lot of dead and we have no way home,” I deadpanned. I was beginning to adjust to our current position, as dire as it may have been.

Her laughing died down and her smile fell slightly. With a snort, she gave a quick, “What?”

I said nothing, only looking her in the eyes and nodding before turning to the alabaster for any instructions they may have.

“Well, the first step is securing the ship so we aren’t such easy targets in an attack. We’re on a hill, so it’s likely everyone on this side of the planet has seen us crash. We need to be ready if they come to investigate,” Alabaster decided. “Beryl, why don’t you take a look around?”

“Yes alright,” Beryl agreed hesitantly, “but do we know for sure they are hostile towards us?” Fear flashed in her eyes.

“We don’t, but this planet is marked as hostile in all of the reports I’ve read. So, we’ll assume everyone is hostile until proven otherwise.”

This didn’t seem to reassure the small golden gem. I put a hand on her shoulder, but she shook it off, assuring me she would be alright. With that, she took to the sky and disappeared in the grey clouds hanging just above our heads.

I worry too much for her, I know that, but it never stopped me. I didn’t know what I would do with myself if she had gotten hurt and I wasn’t there to protect her. Internally I cursed myself for getting so close. Attachment has caused me nothing but grief in these past centuries, so why do it again? She would be fine.

I turned back to the hematite, her smile long gone and her eyes wide. “I know it seems bad,” I began, “but-”

“Seems bad?!” She cut me off, the smile coming back, but it was more chaotic, and her laugh more….disturbing. “A couple gems left behind seems bad. This is….terrifying! What are we supposed to do?!”

A black spike placed itself on the arm of the hematite, and a thin body made itself around to face her. It stared up at her, solid black eyes glimmering.

“There is no point in getting so worked up,” the obsidian said, her monotone voice not faltering in the slightest. “There is nothing we can do to make it so we didn’t crash. We must move forward.”

Hematite sniffled and began giggling to herself. The obsidian looked somewhat confused.

“Sorry, sorry,” Hematite said, “it’s just I’m surprised how well you’re HANDling the situation!” Hematite lost it, laughing so hard she fell to the ground. Obsidian looked down at her spikes and sighed before walking off. The whole interaction was as strange to watch as it probably was to have.

I felt a chubby hand on my shoulder and Amber’s soft, wavering voice asked, “Uh...is...is there anything I can do, eh? I dunno what to do and...I should be helping...instead of just bein’ useless...”

I wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know what to do with myself, let alone what Amber should do. But this was my Amber and I was responsible for her, so I had to come up with something.

“Um, you could…” I searched desperately for a task for her. “You could do a perimeter check. Fly around the hill and see if we have any uninvited guests coming up here.”

Amber smiled and nodded. “Yes! I won't let you down.” She jumped and buzzed off, tiny wings somehow keeping her fat little body aloft, like she didn’t care what was impossible.

I smiled as she left. I knew I had done right with that one.

Beryl touched down next to me and began relaying her observations. Apparently there were three towns nearby. One had two gold sticks and was the closest, another had a few statues, which was farther into the forest of pine trees, and the last had a large water tower and located near the water. Seemed counter intuitive to have a water tower where there’s already so much water, but I don’t know how this planet works.

“What was that town’s name?” the Peridot asked, furiously taking notes.

“The stick one doesn’t have one, but the one in the woods is Gravity Falls...bit of a silly name, and the one by the water is Beach City,” Beryl explained quietly.

The peridot’s mouth dropped open. “Did you...did you say Beach City?”

“As I recall.” Beryl gave a soft smile.

The Peridot threw up her arms in defeat, startling me back a little. “WELL! That’s it then. We’re all dead. We’re good as shattered. Might as well self-destruct the ship if it had enough fuel to do that! Do you know where Beach City is? THAT’S WHERE THE CRYSTAL GEMS LIVE! WE LANDED LESS THAN A MILE FROM THEIR HOME BASE!”

I had heard of the Crystal Gems before, but I never considered them that….evil. They connected with things, like humans, in a way I could relate to. I didn’t say that though. What would they do if they thought I was a rebel? What would Beryl think?

“What’s the big deal?” I asked, a little irritably. “We haven’t done anything to hurt anyone. As far as I know, they only attack if given a reason.”

“WELL THAT’S NOT GONNA STOP ME FROM PANICKING!” she shouted.

“Only attack if given reason? They started a war for this stupid planet. And we’re here to resume plans. We’re exactly the sort of people they attack!” Alabaster said, getting louder with each word. I was pretty sure they were transferring their headache to me. “I’m supposed to protect all of you, but now what? We’re all stuck here with nothing.”

“We have the towns,” Beryl offered.

“Think of this logically,” Obsidian said from her place on top of a rock. I have no idea how she got over there, but I suppose that was her job. “There must be a reason they fought for this planet. We should figure out what it was.”

“We know why they fought for the planet. It’s got resources and they wanted them. Only logical reason to risk fighting the diamonds,” Alabaster said.

“What resources could they possibly use?” I questioned. “If they were going to take over and start their own colony, they would still need resources from homeworld to plant the gems, and they don’t have any calcites with them anyway.”

“How do we know any of that? We thought they had been eradicated until recently. Who knows what sort of gems are with them now?”

“I may not know exactly how many gems are left,” Hematite cut in, “but according to a meeting I was in before I came on this shipwreck was that there were exactly zero calcites on this planet. Well, except you.”

I raised an eyebrow and smiled a little. I felt pretty important being the only calcite here. That feeling didn’t last long, however, because I didn’t even know if I’d end up carrying out what I came here for.

“Then I suppose that this one,” Alabaster nodded toward me, “is currently the most important gem here, in terms of completing the mission.”

“What does that have to do with anything right now?” I asked them. I didn’t get an answer though, as we were all distracted by a noise coming from above our heads.

“GUYS!” Amber’s voice shouted as she buzzed back. “There’s a human driving a vehicle towards us with a fusion and an Amethyst and another peridot in it, and there’s also a Lapis Lazuli flying our way and I think she saw me and there’s also a human riding a really big fluffy pink aminal!”

I hummed in uncertainty and worry. I didn’t know the intentions of these gems, but I couldn’t quite say they were hostile. These had to be the Crystal Gems, there was no other option. I was going to stick by my claims until proven wrong.

I squared my shoulders and turned to Amber. “How long will take for them to arrive at our location?”

“I don’t know. A few minutes?” Amber shrugged. “I want to hug the animal. It looks soft.”

“Yeah. We aren't doing that,” Alabaster said. “Do we have any rooms that we can easily defend?”

“What would we defend?” Obsidian questioned, now right next to Beryl. She jumped when she heard the static voice next to her. “The ship is in ruins.”

“Bismuth’s still poofed and all the robonoids are offline. Can’t find the activation key,” the peridot responded.

“We’d be protecting ourselves. And those who haven't reformed,” Alabaster stated.

“So keep Jasper by the poofed gems and the rest of us will discuss with our guests.” Obsidian smiled, which was more terrifying than anything else I had seen today.

“And if we're all killed? You expect Jasper to protect against them all?” Alabaster asked.

“We won’t be,” I said with more confidence than I felt. I could see a vehicle on the horizon, so there was no point in hiding now. We were going to see this thing through, for better or worse.

“Fine, but if things go south, it's not my fault. Also, someone else should probably do most of the talking.”

The van and the animal came to a halt next to the rock Obsidian had been sitting on, and the people dismounted their respective modes of transportation. The Lapis Lazuli continued to hover in the air, the soft sound of her beating wings the only noise between the two parties. Beryl grabbed onto my wrist, tight, as Hematite rushed towards the group at full speed.

“Hey there! I see you’ve found our little base. You must be quite the mystery hunters! Does the lion talk too?” She cackled at the top of her lungs, but there was no turning back now. She was already on a roll. “Hey Lapis! WATER you doing up there? Come down and join the conversation!”

“Can I smash her?” the Lapis Lazuli called down, to which the taller human responded “Um...no, Lapis.” Come to think of it...they looked like a human, but there was a Rose Quartz on their navel.

“So...” the probably-rose-quartz spoke up. “Welcome to Earth! I’m Stevonnie, we are the Crystal Gems...and uh...we hope you’re not gonna cause any trouble?”

“I don’t see any reason why we would,” Beryl said, not releasing her grip on my wrist. She refused to make eye contact with anyone, and I could tell she was trying not to get too anxious. It would be unfortunate if she poofed in front of everyone right now.

“Umm...” Amber raised her hand and stepped forwards timidly. “Can I...can I pet the big pink thing? It looks soft.”

“Uh, sure.” Stevonnie nodded. “If he lets you.”

Amber hesitantly moved closer and began petting Lion. He bristled, then relaxed.

“Woow...this is soft...”

“Yeah. Don’t reach too deep though, you’ll get lost in there. Literally.”

Amber nodded. “Ok then. Sorry. I’ll go back now...” She buzzed back off to the ship.

Alabaster looked at the others, then, realizing no one was going to talk, stepped forward. “Look, I don’t know why you’ve come here, but maybe all of you should return to… wherever it is you came from. We aren’t looking for a fight, but we don’t want company either.”

The tall fusion stepped forward, her visor flashing in the obscured sunlight, and said in a calm, unemotional voice, “We understand. You are welcome in Beach City so long as you leave the humans be and don’t brandish any weapons unless attacked.”

“That shouldn’t affect our plans or mission at all, so fine. We will agree to your terms,” Alabaster said, standing straighter so they were nearly as tall as the fusion.

The fusion nodded. “Agreed, then. If you need anything, I am Garnet. We’ll go now.”

They piled back into the car, and were soon on their way back. I swore I felt a sigh of relief emit from the group.

“That went well. We’re not dead!” our peridot declared.

“And I suppose that, as long as we follow their rules, we’ll be left alone to figure out our next plan of action,” Alabaster agreed. “But I don’t trust them. Whatever we’re going to do, it’s best we do it soon.”

“Well...we got nothing to do till Bismuth wakes up...” Peridot shrugged. “And Cuprite...we’re gonna need her...I think everyone here but Jasper needs a therapist. Speaking of, where are the Rubies?”

#survivors of shards #su #steven universe #my fics #apollowuzhere #irazel #grilledwatermelon #my ocs #my friends' ocs #d&d #sos part 1 & 2

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omegasquire · 7 years

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Rose Gold: Ch 9

Cloud walked with Zack down a relatively empty street. Though the civilians were starting to come back, most of them were probably still in hiding. Seeing them and the state of the harbor made him feel guilty even though this wasn’t his fault.

It was.

He spotted a few men on the lower tier hauling some of the dead monsters into the back of a truck, likely to be disposed of in a discrete area. The slices that dismembered the monsters were clean, as if someone had taken a ruler and drawn along its edge. Cloud had a feeling he knew whose work this was: Sephiroth. Who else could be so precise?

He glanced at Zack who was also watching the workers. Zack was also clean in his attacks, though Cloud couldn’t remember if they were on par with Sephiroth’s. The Buster Sword was completely different from something as slender and refined as the Masamune.

“That’s gotta be Sephiroth’s work.” Zack looked at him. “I bet you can tell, too, huh?”

Cloud looked at the crew again. “Yeah. He has a certain method of fighting.”

He’d learned to anticipate each strike, familiar with the advantages and disadvantages of Sephiroth’s sword. But anticipation didn’t equate matching speed or skill. He remembered how he had pushed himself to keep up with Sephiroth’s speed. The chase in the ruins of old Midgar had his heart racing like mad, his eyes always searching for Sephiroth.

Always, his eyes were searching for Sephiroth.

“Yeah, he does.” Zack chuckled and looked at him. “Do you use all six swords in a fight?”

“Not unless I have to.” Sephiroth was the only one who made him use all swords at once. Cloud generally got by with just one sword, maybe two if he needed to. “First Tsurugi’s basic form is enough.”

“First Tsurugi, huh?” Zack’s tone was thoughtful. “You’ll let me take it apart, right?”

It wasn’t something he thought about on a conscious level, but First Tsurugi had only ever touched his hands. Having someone else handle his sword was like touching a part of who he was.

Zack would be able to look into the core of who he was, a skeletal frame with nothing special within, made whole only when all his jagged pieces were pressed together. Cloud was a bit apprehensive about being laid bare before someone else, even if it was just his sword. Zack was the one who asked, though, and he had a hard time saying no to Zack.

Cloud nodded.

Reeve followed the small dot as it weaved its way along a stenciled map of the harbor. He had sent Cait Sith after Zack and Strife to monitor them while the rest of the team remained on the premises. It looked like the pair were making their way back, though Zack was taking the scenic route.

Sephiroth remained in the room with him, head bowed over a screen of his own. They were feeding the information they had gathered to Midgar. While Sephiroth was contacting the others of AVALANCHE, Reeve was delivering his information to Shinra.

Much of Shinra Company was under heavy reformation, but those left were playing a careful game of restoring the balance. Many had their doubts about the company, but there were few other sources that could support such a large task. If Shinra Company had any hope of surviving, it had to adapt.

Now, more than ever, they needed their cooperation. With Strife -- Cloud -- in their midst, everyone had to be on the same page. That included letting Rufus and the Turks know what was going on.

Reeve hoped they could work together in this. Rufus had a stubborn streak and cold grip on what he perceived was his, but under the right motivation, he was a strong ally. He was a man who hated showing weakness, much like certain key members of AVALANCHE’s ragtag group.

It was still clear in his memory when Rufus had turned up alive after the assault on Shinra Building. They made it in time to save Rufus’ life, but not without some casualty. One of Rufus’ legs received enough damage he had to use a cane when he walked.

Rufus, proud as he was, pretended it wasn’t a burden but an accessory to his image. How he managed to pull it off Reeve didn’t know, but he could respect the younger man for that.

Now they just had to find a means of working with Rufus on getting to the bottom of this madness. While damaged, much of Shinra Building was left intact. Parts of Midgar couldn’t say the same, but at least the casualties weren’t as severe as they could’ve been if they hadn’t acted as swiftly as they had. It was a constant race against time back then. Their lives were on a short countdown, faced with a threat they weren't certain they could defeat.

This situation felt just the same. Cloud was supposedly going to fight with them, but it wasn’t clear if that was beneficial or a hinderance. He was obviously fighting a battle they had no control over, and if this was a battle of endurance and will, it was uncertain if he would win.

Reeve was alarmed when Sephiroth suddenly grabbed Cloud. He hadn’t expected Cloud’s eyes to turn green, and the sight of them was unnerving. The image likened to Strife’s eyes, how they had the same green tint and narrow pupils. In that instant, Reeve saw their enemy, and it was hard to shake the image off despite Cloud’s eyes changing back to blue.

This was a war they would be facing on two fronts: whatever Jenova attacked them with directly, and Cloud. Cloud might be innocent of Strife’s crimes, but it was already made clear Jenova was inside him, and if Jenova managed to win over Cloud, then they would be facing yet another apocalyptic event.

Reeve dreaded the possibility.

They couldn’t do anything about Jenova’s external approach right now, but they did have Cloud with them. At least they could work to solve the issue there. Sephiroth played a vital role in keeping Cloud in check.

Zack, too.

Reeve slid his finger across the screen and switched windows. He saw through Cait Sith’s eyes Zack and Cloud were talking. With the audio muted, Reeve could only watch the display of emotions and gestures made between them. Whatever they were talking about drew out a small, hesitant, but definite smile from Cloud.

Reeve had to smile a little himself. Zack had that charm to him that drew others in. It was hard to get mad at him -- or stay mad at him even when it finally happened. From the looks of things, Zack was sure to twist their unexpected guest around his finger.

Feeling eyes on him, Reeve glanced up and saw Sephiroth looking in his direction. It wasn’t exactly him the man was focusing on, but the screen before him. That unreadable expression was ever present on his face, making Reeve wonder just how hard it was for Sephiroth stomach this. No doubt the old General would rather kill Cloud than tolerate his presence.

Reeve switched to the report he was dictating. It would go straight to Tseng, who would pass it on to Rufus. Tseng was another unfortunate casualty in the attack on Shinra Building. He suffered scars on his face -- a feature that reminded Reeve of the previous leader of the Turks -- and damage to the right side of his body when he protected Rufus. The man had been incarcerated for months, but once he was on his feet, he, like Rufus, didn’t let his handicap stop him from carrying out his duties.

Really, the Turks were something else.

“They’ll want to meet him, but taking him to Midgar will bring monsters to the city...”

“It’s better than staying here. We didn’t expect there to be an invasion on the harbor, and Junon isn’t properly equipped to guarantee the people will remain safe if it happens again.”

Reeve tapped the screen to send off his report. “At least it was better than the Highwind; you have no means of defense there. It’s fortunate the attack had been on a small scale. Do you think this is Jenova testing us?”

He lifted his head. Sephiroth’s gaze was on the windows, a slight frown evident between his brows.

Reeve frowned as well. He didn’t want to think of it this way, but if this was just a tease, then what was the real assault going to be like? What did Jenova have waiting for them? For Cloud?

“If Cloud...” Reeve broke off and thought better of continuing his current train of thought. “Zack and Cloud are on their way back. If Zack doesn’t take any detours, they should be back in a few minutes.”

“Good. We’ll leave when everyone’s gathered.”

“Of course.”

Tseng stood a polite distance behind the President, retaining a centered stance that belied his injury as he waited for the other man to respond. He’d just received Reeve’s report and handed it to Rufus. He was patient as Rufus digested the information, using that time to do the same.

The mountains had hidden the beacon of light that heralded Strife’s arrival yesterday. To hear that the son of the Calamity was walking the planet’s surface was staggering news. Not only that, Reeve attested Strife was innocent of the massacres. He’d sent with the report a video recording of Strife’s talk with Red and Cait Sith, as well as what they had learned of him during the conversation in Reeve’s office, as evidence of the differing personas. Tseng didn’t know what to make of it, but he had his skepticisms.

“This is interesting.”

Tseng pulled himself out of his thoughts at Rufus’ musing. “Sir?”

“Cloud Strife among the living, and not only that, he’s foreign to this world. Don’t you think that’s interesting?”

“I find it concerning. Even if Strife is a stranger, we should be cautious of this turn of events. An attack on Junon happened because of him.”

“It’s inevitable. Whether he’s Jenova's offspring or not doesn’t matter. If their theory holds, Jenova will come. She wouldn’t snub a chance like this.”

“Shouldn’t we eliminate him? Regardless Aerith’s testament, he’s going to cause destruction.”

Rufus looked at him over his shoulder, lips turned into a smile. Genial as it appeared, Tseng knew the cunning in its shadow. “This is an opportunity for us to see the evolution of the planet. I admit our actions aided in its deterioration, but with Strife’s advent, it could turn around. The world will commit to a new course. We should help it along.”

Tseng knew it wasn’t solely for the planet’s sake the President would offer his assistance. Rufus always had layers to his plans, and while Tseng didn’t know all of them, he could take a fair guess and surmise the young man found this situation entertaining. Rufus would doubtlessly play his part as benefactor, but for his own personal reasons.

That slyness made Rufus a unique and dangerous employer, certainly a far cry from his father. The former President was very bullheaded, more keen on plowing his way through obstacles and flashing money where need be. Rufus found crafty ways around the obstacles and when he couldn’t obtain what he wanted on his own, he utilized his pawns to their utmost.

“Yes, sir.”

Rufus turned back around, facing the windows. Tseng took his leave and headed back to the Turks’ headquarters, sliding his keycard to pass through one of the various security mechanisms that assured no unwanted company could gain access to Shinra Company’s secrets. There waited a few of his faithful subordinates, their attention turning from the main monitors to him as he entered.

“Boss?”

Tseng glanced at the monitors and saw the feed from Reeve’s report looping. He faced the other Turks: Reno, Rude, Elena, Shotgun, and Cissnei. The others had been spread out to other parts of the world, leaving them six at Midgar and its surrounding territory to keep everything secure. They had lost a great deal of their team over the years, some even falling victim to the chaos of Strife and Meteor. It had hurt them greatly to know a few of their members had been corrupted by Jenova, and the civil unrest put a strain on everyone.

Tseng controlled what he could, and constantly suffered from the guilt of being unable to save everyone on his team. He knew the others didn’t fault him for what happened, but as their leader, it was still his responsibility to assure they made it out okay.

“The President wants us to help the General and his guest when they arrive.”

Reno straightened up. “Whoa, whoa, we’re talking about Strife here.”

“I know, but that’s what he wants. We’re to support Sephiroth and the others as they fight the threat on the planet.”

“You mean Strife.” Shotgun’s brows rose, her hand on her hip.

Tseng shook his head. “No. Jenova. The attack on Junon will likely recur here. We don’t know on what scale, so we are to secure the city. This is to remain as contained as possible. No infantrymen or SOLDIERs. The less the people know, the better.”

“It would cause widespread panic if they figured out Strife was alive, same or not,” Cissnei murmured.

“Yes. We’ll need to stay alert until we learn more. Spread out and keep your eyes open for any threat. Radio in if anything happens. I’ll be with the President when they arrive.”

There was a chorus of affirmatives, the team leaving to split up and cover as much ground as they could of what remained of the broken metropolis. Rude was the last to go, stopping next to Tseng. When Tseng looked at him, Rude nodded at the screen.

“The others of their team. Tifa Lockhart and Barret Wallace. Do they know?”

“Most likely, but that isn’t our concern.” Tseng studied the other man. He knew the question before it was asked. Rude had a bad habit of being interested in the wrong women; he had taken a liking to Tifa. “...I understand, but what happens between them is their affair. Keep your emotions under control.”

Rude nodded and left. Tseng waited for the doors to close and the locks to tumble into place before looking at the monitors one more time. He still recalled those days when their only concerns were rebels and a petty war. The escalation toward global disaster threw everyone off kilter. He didn’t think anyone had regained that balance yet.

Would Strife’s return help or hinder that process?

Cloud sat with Zack at the benches, the interconnected blades of his sword scattered around them. Upon returning to the Highwind, Zack took him aside so they could look at First Tsurugi. It was a little nerve-racking, but he let Zack take it apart.

Zack had done so with care, laying out the different swords after studying them. The knot in Cloud’s stomach slowly unraveled as he watched. Zack didn’t make too many comments on them, just quietly admired each piece before setting it aside.

There were times when he saw intrigue light up Zack’s eyes and he would take an extra minute to marvel at the sword. He reminded Cloud of when he’d first crossed upon First Tsurugi. He had marveled at it, too.

When he’d finally retired the Buster Sword and turned it into a monument, Cloud felt naked without a weapon. He felt himself stripped bare, left with just the core of himself. He had laid to rest Zack’s overlapping personality along with his sword, so it was time to find him. Find something that was solely his, that spoke of who he was, and made him whole.

That was First Tsurugi. His sword.

Cloud’s eyes traced the deadly curve of the blade in Zack’s lap. They were like secrets only he knew and understood, visible only when he was made to show them. He remembered the fight with Sephiroth when all six blades had separated. They’d unfurled like a flower, each sharp petal like a part of who he was. All the insecurities, the doubts, the imperfections -- they came together as one when at last he’d brought down the final strike. Then, just as they’d fitted into a single piece, they separated, piercing the roof around him.

In retrospect, he supposed that was who he was. A man whose life had fallen apart over years of turmoil, and came together when he'd finally found peace with himself and his shortcomings.

Was this the part where he fell apart again? In this foreign land?

Reaching out, Cloud lightly slid his fingers along the handle of one of the blades. He still didn’t know what metals his sword was made from, but they had incredible durability, perfect balance, and just enough weight to settle comfortably in his hands.

“Where did you learn to use large swords? Me?”

Cloud pulled his hand back. “No, you never taught me any sword fighting, but for a while you had a lot of influence on my technique. As I traveled, I developed my own style.”

Zack turned the sword over in his hand, pointing the tip up toward the ceiling. “I never thought of dual wielding before.” He grinned. “Show me sometime.”

Cloud looked at the main blade of his sword. “Sephiroth wouldn’t like that.”

Zack grimaced and lowered the sword to rest across his lap. “Well...”

“Can we expect you to fight against Jenova?”

Cloud whipped around at Sephiroth voice. The room was without doors, offering no signal to warn someone was coming. He straightened his spine, conscious of the difference in positions as he remained seated while Sephiroth towered over him.

“Yes.”

He held Sephiroth’s gaze. He would fight to his dying breath against Jenova. He’d done it before, he would do it again. The same went for Sephiroth.

“You can have your sword if you help us, but if you betray us, I will cut you down.”

Cloud’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t.”

They locked stares, a silent challenge and promise passing between them. Cloud knew Sephiroth would hold true to his words, just as Cloud would hold to his. Though it discomforted him to fight alongside Sephiroth, he would bend for the sake of Gaia. He couldn’t hope to get anywhere if he didn’t reach common ground with the man.

“Zack.”

“Yeah?”

“Undo the spell and give him his sword. We’ll be landing in Midgar shortly. If Jenova is after you, then we’ll be facing more monsters.” Sephiroth’s expression matched Cloud’s. “Don’t make me regret it.”

Cloud didn’t respond.

A sudden slap on his shoulder jarred him; he looked at Zack in surprise. The man was grinning at him. “This is great! I can’t wait for you to fight with us, Cloud. This is how it’s supposed to be. All of us together. You two on the same side.”

Doubt ran through Cloud, but he didn’t argue. Zack was happy. He’d make an effort for him as well and tread this dangerous path with Sephiroth.

#{ rose gold }

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