#this accutally brought a smile to my face for the first time in days

[bumblebear30]

Oops

Rita Calhoun x Casey Novak, Established Calvak

A wee comfort fic for these two as I totally love them.

Warnings: mentions of Casey's office attack, migraine / mild medical concern. Side effects of getting older. No smut but alluded to. Happy ending.

Please let me know if you have any other prompts or requests for these two. Happy to try write more for them.

Oops

"You did it again."

The accusing tone made Casey's head snap up from where she was nestled on the couch. She could feel the light crust of dried drool on her cheek where she'd pretty much passed out into the pillow and rubbed at it with the cuff the sweater she was wearing in the hopes that her always immaculately dressed girlfriend wouldn't notice,

"Did what again?" she finally mumbled in response, a heavy pout in place as she scrunched her eyes against the bright light streaming in the apartment windows.

Rita sighed huffily as she perched on the back of the couch and busied herself with finishing taking off her earrings for the day. From there she finally caught sight of the sleep befuddled Casey - the creases of the pillow evidently pressed into her cheek, hair all mussed and cocooned in softest of old sweaters that Rita owned as the redhead obviously tried to drag her lagging brain through what it was she had done wrong this time.

Her expression immediately switched from frustration to concern as she reached out to card her fingers through Casey's hair, the younger woman automatically leaning into it and shifting closer to where Rita was sat,

"You left files that I shouldn't see on the breakfast bar again. We got a place with room for two separate offices for a reason darling."

Casey winced and opened one eye to finally look up at Rita as she apologised,

"Oops, m'sorry babe, I genuinely didn't mean to. I just needed different light. "

Rita tilted her head and gave a small sympathic noise as Casey burrowed her head against the back of the couch,

"Migraine again sweetheart?" Casey nodded groggily where she lay, loathe to commit to any movements that required further effort. Seeing her so forlorn pulled at Rita's heartstrings and she quickly got up and shed her shoes and jacket onto a nearby chair as she came round to the front of the couch to join Casey, "That's the third bad one this month..."

Hearing the familiar sound of Rita settling next to her Casey shifted to lay her head in her girlfriend's lap, wordlessly requesting for the attorney's always slightly cool hand to run across her forehead and circle at her temple as she'd done before by simply tipping her chin just so.

Of course Rita automatically took up the action, also using her free hand to run her nails in soothing circles across Casey's lower back.

The redhead let herself just bask in the attention and comfort. She'd felt instantly a bit better as soon as the scent of Rita's expensive perfume had reached her - always accompanied by the faint smell of coffee, ink and paper, a lawyerly smell if ever there was such a thing. That and the almost pavlovian way her body responded to Rita's touch, practically commanding her to relax with the lightest of pressures, also helped ease the residual pulsating ache at the front of her brain.

Afterwards she'd been sulky for days, which had drawn further unimpressed looks and rolled eyes from Rita. Eventually she'd pulled her head out of her ass and apologised with a gorgeous bouquet and an evening of pampering - cooking Rita's favourites for dinner, making the effort to use the good china and having candles on the table followed by a super indulgent bubble bath for the brunette (the rose petals may have been overboard but she knew Rita secretly adored them.)

She knew where Rita's comment was leading though. They'd had this argument discussion the last time too and she was not wanting a repeat of that general fiasco and to ultimately wallow in her own grumpiness yet again. It was worse because she knew Rita was right, and was only concerned and fussing simply because she loved her. But she had still been in residual pain and exhaustion from the migraine in question as well as licking her wounds from losing the most recent case to her lover too.

All that had only been a week ago, meaning it was less than fourteen days since she'd last had to abandon her work to lie in a darkened room with a cold compress across her eyes and an ice pack wrapped up at the base of her neck. It wasn't sustainable, and she hated being sick all the more because she knew Rita was always more worried than she let on.

She sighed lightly and wriggled her head back so she was pressed more closely into Rita's ridiculously soft silk blouse. The brunette had lifted her hands away as Casey moved but seeing her settle let them resume the gentle caresses. Noting that Casey hadn't immediately started arguing with her Rita decided to press her case once more,

"I just think given that you have such a bad head injury in your past, " Casey couldn't suppress the fearful shiver that ran down her spine at the memories - and lack of them - of her office attack, "that it would be sensible to get a doctor to run some tests and check what is going on."

At still receiving no response from Casey Rita tried to push just that little bit more. She gently ran a finger down the elegant slope of Casey's nose, booping the tip of it which made Casey start and turn onto her back to smile softly up at Rita. Holding her gaze Rita matched her with an indulgent look as she tucked some hair back behind Casey's ear,

"It's just that I'm rather fond of that brain of yours sweetheart, I'd hate to think anything might be wrong." She finished her plea by cupping Casey's chin and running the pad of her thumb over her lips as their positioning meant she couldn't reach to kiss them.

Once again Casey closed her eyes and leaned into the touch,

"And here I thought you were with me for my 'cracking bod', " she grinned as she felt Rita's entire body move as she laughed, "But I know. You're right. As usual." Her admission made Rita smile in victory, Casey's quip pulling another knowing chuckle that rumbled through her,

"Good, I have the number of an excellent neurologist, I'm sure he'll be able to see you by the end of the week."

Casey shot her a look that screamed incredulity,

"He wasn't a client was he? I'm not sure how comfortable I would be with that."

The experienced attorney did laugh at that,

"No, no," she continued to play with Casey's hair, "although he has maybe been an expert witness on several occasions but he's only ever been the utmost professional." she paused for a moment as Casey considered her options. "So what do you say darling, let me call and set up an appointment for you?"

With one last resigned sigh Casey nodded,

"Okay," honestly she was prepared to go through nearly anything if she could stop feeling so accutely crappy whenever these migraines came along, or stop them from happening in the first place.

"But," the smallness of her voice and demeanour, so unlike the usual strong confident persona of the prosecutor, brought out Rita's overprotective side even more, "But what if there is something wrong? Like-"

Deciding to quickly end any spiralling Rita pressed her finger over Casey's lip to hush her,

"Shh, then its better to know and we'll deal with whatever it may be together as best we can."

Suitably mollified, Casey rolled once more so her nose was buried against Rita's stomach, so much so her voice was muffled when she finally spoke,

"I'm sorry, I'm just worried."

"I know darling, but it may just be that you need glasses or something like that now, you know?"

The scandalised and affronted noise that escaped Casey made Rita laugh once again,

"I've always thought you'd look very sexy in glasses you know..."

The low purr of her voice drew an instant reaction from Casey, it always did. Like a siren's call she opened her eyes, feeling better enough to shoot a flirtatious look up at her love as she arched her eyebrow as seductively as she could manage in her prone position,

"Is that so?"

"Hmm hmm," Rita's affirmative humm came as she matched Casey's expression with one of her own, "You could totally pull off the sexy librarian look darling."

"Librarian!?!"

In her offense Casey finally sat up to lightly glare at Rita on a more equal footing. She lightly trailed her hand up Rita's thigh, so overly unsubtle Rita knew she was just winding her up. Still she enjoyed the attention nonetheless. "What if I wanted to go for the sexy lawyer in glasses look? Could I pull that one off too?"

Rita tipped her head to the side as she squinted at Casey, umming and awwing for extra effect,

"I'm sorry love but I think Cabot has got that niche locked down tight."

Casey couldn't help but gasp at the teasing and swat at Rita's thigh in retribution,

"Rude!"

Rita kept cackling with laughter, simply relieved to see Casey's usual firey playfulness was returning,

"Well if you get glasses you can work extra hard to prove me wrong, no?"

With a knowing smile Casey leant forward to press an adoring but chaste kiss to Rita's lips,

"Sounds good to me, thank you for helping me feel better."

Reaching up Rita cupped Casey's chin and drew her face back to her for another kiss. Or two. Maybe three. She just loved how they felt against her own.

"I'm glad I could help. Now do you want to go lock those files away whilst I give the doctor a call? We can then get an order from Chengs if you'd like?"

Casey was already making the effort to stand, holding herself still for several moments to ensure her balance was set after feeling so woozy earlier. Finding herself steady she smiled at Rita once more as she started heading for the kitchen,

"As long as there is lo mein I don't mind!"

A couple of days later Rita answered her ringing cell automatically, not even looking away from her inbox as she barked her usual response,

"Calhoun, who's speaking."

"Hey sweet thing," instantly Rita's entire posture melted, Casey's voice and determination to use ridiculous pet names totally always got her,

"Darling, how'd the appointment go." she'd swung her chair away from the computer screen, her entire focus now on Casey,

"Well you were right."

"I usually am, remind me what I was right about this time?"

"Scans and everything came back clear but I've got glasses to wear now... " Casey paused long enough for Rita to both sigh in relief and laugh,

"Oh is that all?"

"Well, he advised I change to a different type fo light bulb where possible, and definitely to wear glasses when looking at screens as they'll filter that blue light thing? But that and some proper rest and it should all help."

"That's great news sweetheart, I'm so relieved." Truly Rita felt like a knot she hadn't known was there had been released in her chest,

"Yeah, so in the spirit of medical necessity, I think we should schedule a trip up to the house in the Hampton's." Sometimes Casey still would catch herself after saying such a thing. A house in the Hampton's. Their house in the Hamptons. Quite ridiculous.

Rita chuckled but instantly swept round to open their shared calendar to look for potential timings,

"An excellent idea darling, I could even ask Danielle to get the boat ready for us? I know you love to play at being Captain."

"Please, you just want to lounge about in your bikini in front of me don't you."

"Well with your new glasses we'll have to test how much better you can see me. I do love putting on a show for you."

The flirtation made Casey gulp, images of Rita enjoying herself nearly overwhelming her,

"You always do have the best ideas, I propose we do lots of testing."

"For medical necessity?" Rita's smirk was clear even though Casey couldn't see her face,

"Exactly, you always know how to take the best care of me baby..."

#Fanfic #My writing #Rita Calhoun #Casey Novak #Rita Calhoun X Casey Novak #Calvak

[arctares]

Ma-Ti'La-"What can I say about my world.It was beautiful...the grass was lush,the waters were blue and there were even trees that went above the clouds.It was a magical place." Kihyla looks at Ma-Ti'La and sees the sadness hidden within her face. Ma-Ti'La-"This world....this Tamriel is nothing like my home although there are some beautiful spots here and there.Oh don't get me wrong my world wasn't perfect.It has it's own share of wars just like here." Kihyla-"Do you have a family there?" Ma-Ti'La-"Yeah,yeah I do.Many brothers and sisters...it's a big family" Kihyla-"How did you learn to fight like that?" Ma-Tu'La-"As I said we had our wars so mostly every species had some form of training.My siblings used weapons but me....I couldn't get the hang of them so I practiced with my hands.It still wasn't good enough so I started weighing myself down with rocks.Eventually I became faster and stronger.I do have my limits though." Kihyla smiled and grabbed Ma-Ti'La's breast. Kihyla-"Here's one of them." Ma-Ti'La blushed and pulled away from her. Ma-Ti'La-"PLEASE DON'T!!! Why must you always do things like that?" Kihyla-"Ti'La...why are you so shy?" Ma'Ti-La-"......why are you calling me Ti'La?" Kihyla-"Hey I asked you first." Ma'Ti-La-"I was caught in a snare when I was little and the neighboring badgers thought it was funny to....take...my clothes and leave me there.My family went out searching for me for two days and in that time the badgers brought their friends to watch and make fun of me." Kihyla-"Assholes..." Ma-Ti'La-"Now why are you calling me that?" Kihyla-"It's your name...just shorter." Ma-Ti'La-"Shorter?" She looked confused so Kihyla took the opportunity to sneak in a kiss. Ma-Ti'La-"NO!YOU KISSED ME!" Kihyla-"Your lips are ACCUTALLY sweet and besides what's the big deal it's not like it was your first kiss right." Kihyla could see her breathing deeply. Kihyla-"Wait...don't tell me it was your first kiss." Ma-Ti'La's eyes became empty. Kihyla-"Ti'La?" Ma-Ti'La got up from the table they were sitting at and walked over to Kihyla. Kihyla-"I'm sorry about the kiss,I didn't know." Ma-Ti'La pushed Kihyla off her chair onto her back pinning her arms down with her legs and lifting her butt up.Kihyla saw all the built up sexual tension she was holding in. Kihyla-"Ti'La!" There was no response. Ma-Ti'La pulled off Kihyla's pants and underwear. Kihyla-"Wait Ti'La!!!" Ma-Ti'La spread Kihyla's legs with one arm and used her free hand to spread her pussy.After that she immediately stuck her tongue inside licking and thrusting. Kihyla squirmed in pleasure. Kihyla-"We should at least go below deck or a passing ship might see us." Ma-Ti'La looked at her then took two fingers and slid them slowly into her butt. Kihyla-"M-My ass....why?" Ma-Ti'La rigorously played with it. Ma-Ti'La-"This is what you want isn't it.You want me to make you submit.I can see it within your eyes and I can hear how you breathe deeply, the way your heart beats....you have feelings for me." Kihyla-"What's gotten into you?" Ma-Ti'La picked up Kihyla taking her into the captain's quarters and threw her on the bed.She then took her clothes off and joined Kihyla. Ma-Ti'La-"Show me how much you want me." Kihyla wasted no time having sex with her darker side.Five hours passed while their ship sat anchored at sea as they lay in bed. Ma-Ti'La snaps back to her old self and looks down to see Kihyla resting on her naked body.

[shriekingshxck]

Not a lady

Jily for “Are you drunk?” 

requested by @padfoot-barks and anonymous

Pairing: James/Lily

Word count: 1886

Warnings: Mild sexual content, alcohol consumption

It’s almost three in the morning when James finds himself being rudely awoken by something heavy falling on his feet. That something is moving. Fumbling for his wand and his glasses, he starts preparing a reprimanding speech for whoever it is. Sirius, most likely.

When he’s located his wand and gotten his glasses on, he mumbles a drowsy, “Lumos,” and his wand lights up. He props himself up on his elbows and blinks a couple of times to get used to the light, then diverts his eyes down to the foot end of the bed, and almost gives a shout of surprise. 

It’s not Sirius who’s lying there. Not unless Sirius has dyed his hair red and grown tits in the four hours that have passed since James last saw him, that is.

For once, James finds himself speechless in Lily’s presence. She’s lying across his feet, her legs dangling off the edge of the bed, and though her eyes are closed, she doesn’t appear to be asleep. He gapes at her, feeling nothing short of dumbfounded, for a good twenty seconds before he relocates his ability to speak.

“Not that I’m not thrilled to finally have you in my bed,” he starts as he hoists himself up in a proper sitting-position, “but why, exactly, are you in my bed?”

She rolls her head to the side, her eyes meeting his. Even in the dim light, they’re bright and full of life. And somewhat unfocused. “Didn’t wanna stick around in my own dorm,” she says. “Dorcas had... company. They were being noisy.”

James frowns at the barely-there slurr in her voice, then he grins. “Lily Evans, are you drunk?”

She grins back. “I might be. A little. Marlene had some Firewhiskey left from our get-together this summer, so we drank it.”

“Getting drunk in the second week of school,” James says, still grinning. “My, my, how far the honour of the Head Girl has fallen.”

“Says the Head Boy who, last time I checked, snuck off to Hogsmeade to get Firewhiskey on the first day of school.”

James snorts and gives her hip a light nudge with his foot. “It was Remus’ idea.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s right, go blame poor Remus.”

“I- oh, you lot are so gullible, thinking he’s the innocent one out of the four of us. Don’t let the knitted jumpers and puppy eyes fool you, love; he’s a bloody menace. Evil to the core, that one.”

“Yeah?” She sits up, a little unsteady and scoots further up on the bed to sit next to him, face turned towards him. “That’s hot. Maybe he’s the one I should shag, eh?”

James narrows his eyes. “You wouldn’t. Please say you wouldn’t.”

She smiles, an uncharacteristically coy upwards tilt of her lips. “No, suppose I wouldn’t. I don’t think he would either, though, even if I tried to get him to.”

James knows she’s right. Remus would never shag Lily, and neither would Sirius, nor Peter. They all know James might actually throw himself off the Astronomy Tower from pure disappointment if they did. James is a delightfully dramatic soul.

“How come you came here?” he asks. “Don’t tell me there’s nowhere else in the entire school you couldn’t have gone.”

It’s hard to tell given the poor lighting, but James thinks he spots a faint blush on Lily’s cheeks. She shrugs. “Wanted to see you, I guess. Haven’t really talked to you much since school started back up again unless you count our talks about Head Boy and Girl duties.”

“I thought those talks were romantic. I even got to touch you when McGonagall made us shake hands. That was pretty hot. I swear I could feel your lady-parts go-”

“Okay, I’m leaving.”

James smiles toothily. “You came up here at three o’clock at night and stumbled into my bed, at your own free will I might add. You wanted to be here, you’re not gonna leave just because I made a comment.”

She raises her eyebrows and leans in closer to him. “It was a rude comment, though. Not something one should say to a lady.”

“You’re not a lady, you’re Lily. There’s nothing prim and proper about you, so I can’t call you a lady. Besides, you’re in my bed, I think I’m allowed to make some rude comments.”

Her eyes crinkle up when she smiles, wide and happy. “I’d rather be Lily than a lady,” she says.

It’s impossible not to smile back, James thinks. He wonders how anyone could not smile back at Lily when she gives them that sort of look. A little hesitant, he lifts his hand and touches his hand to her cheek. She doesn’t flinch back like she did the last time he tried to touch her face, a few days before the end of last term. James doesn’t know whether to thank the alcohol for the development, or if there’s something else going on. He prays (and sorta thinks) it’s the latter.

Lily’s smile has faded by the time she speaks again. “Hey, James?”

Letting his hand fall to the mattress again, James blinks. “Hm?”

“How come you haven’t asked me out yet this term?”

Of all the things Lily could have asked, that was not on the list of things that James might have expected. He opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it again. “What, do you miss rejecting me?” he asks, half-joking.

“Yes, actually.”

James’ heart may or may not drop an inch or two in his chest, but he smiles nonetheless. “Sorry, I’ll ask you out at breakfast tomorrow and you can reject me really loudly for the whole Great Hall to hear, yeah?”

“Deal.” She tilts her head to the side, eyes James pensively for a moment or two, and the next thing James knows is that he’s got an eyeful of red hair and Lily’s soft, warm lips kissing him like her life’s depending on it.

James can’t even think, his brain’s turned to hot, heavy goo, so when every instinct in his body is telling him to kiss her back, that’s what he does. His lips part with ease for his tongue to meet hers, and he lets his hands drop to her waist and clutches onto her, fingers digging into the soft skin underneath her thin jumper.

Lily makes a sound in her throat and without breaking the kiss, she scoots up in his lap, her thighs bracketing his hips, and wraps her arms around his neck. Their lips are getting more frantic, more sloppy, and they’re half-panting into each other’s mouths. James’ hands are getting sweaty and he can feel Lily’s body radiating heat. 

He’s also accutely aware of Lily’s tits being pressed against his chest, and there’s a part of him that wonders how she would react if he slipped his hands inside her shirt.

Lily keeps rocking her hips, colliding with James’ lower stomach, and... well, despite James’ limited knowledge about the inner workings of the female body, he thinks when a person’s rocking their hips, that means the same no matter what gender said person is. And the moment that thought hits him, a wave of arousal all but knocks him unconscious and he groans loudly and pulls Lily closer by her thighs.

"You can touch me,” Lily pants. “I’d actually prefer if you did.”

And just like that, James’ brain is brought back to life, goo-free. Closing his eyes, he leans back against the headboard of his bed and draws a deep breath. “Can’t,” he says hoarsely.

“What?” James opens his eyes and finds Lily staring at him. “Why not? You’ve spent the last two and a half years running after me, and when I want you back, you’re suddenly not interested anymore? I swear to Merlin, Potter, you’re such a-”

“It’s not that I don’t want to!” James cuts her off loudly. “I want to, alright? I really want to, you have no idea.”

She grimaces. “Then what?”

He grimaces right back. “I can’t, because you’re drunk. ‘S not right.”

“What? Are you for real?” She eyes him expectantly, as if she’s waiting for him to burst out in laughter and claim that of course he’s not for real. When that doesn’t happen, she leans back a little and her expression turns... soft. “James Potter has morals,” she says. “Who’d have thought?”

“I hate my morals,” James grunts as he adjusts himself in his pyjama trousers.

“I like them,” Lily says. “Makes you more likeable.”

James blinks. “Yeah? Does that mean if I ask you out during breakfast tomorrow, you won’t reject me?”

“Who knows? It’s fun to reject you.”

“You’re a sadist. You can’t possibly dislike me that much, otherwise you wouldn’t have come here. Or kissed me. Or tried to rub one out on me. Or-”

“Oh, shove it, James,” she barks, her cheeks flushing bright pink again.

“Ey, I didn’t say I minded,” James says, smiling brilliantly. “’Twas brilliant. I wouldn’t say no to a repeat.”

“And yet you pulled back,” she mutters, her eyes glued to his left shoulder.

“Morals.” He puts his hands back on her waist, and strokes back and forth with his thumbs for a few moments. “Get back to me if you still want this when you’re sober, yeah?”

“Of course I’ll still want it,” she says, irritated. “I’ve wanted it for over half a year. Doubt that’s gonna change now.”

James opts not to show his surprise over the fact that she’s wanted him for over half a year. “Because you’ve gotten a taste of me and decided that I’m an excellent kisser?”

She doesn’t answer that, just sticks her tongue out. James resists the urge to catch it with his lips.

“I mean it, though,” James says. “Just... come talk to me or something tomorrow. Or whenever. Preferably soon, because I’d really like to finish what we started here sooner rather than later.”

Lily laughs. “Yeah, alright. Can I sleep here tonight, though?”

James raises his eyebrows. “If you promise not to go full Lily on me tomorrow morning.”

“Go full Lily on you?”

“Yeah, you know, start yelling and accusing me of things and all that.”

“I’ve only ever done that when you deserved it, you git.”

James wishes he could argue, but he kinda can’t. “Fair enough.”

Lily smirks. “Alright, get your hands off me, then,” she says. James does as he’s told and watches, hypnotized, as Lily gets up on her feet, a little unsteady, and starts stripping out of her clothes. When she crawls back into bed, everything but her underwear lying in a heap on the floor, James considers the possibility of conjuring a pair of handcuffs to help him keep his hands to himself all night.

“I hope you know that you’re killing me,” he says as she gets settled on her side, facing him.

“Oh, I know. Could have kept my jumper on, but what’d be the fun in that, eh?”

James can’t help but think to himself that Lily Evans will, in one way or another, be the the death of him.

#leah writes #jily #jily fic #jily drabble #camillesfam #mischiefnet #harrypotternetwork #padfoot-barks

[calamity-writes]

An AU-dition

A Modern Au.

Millie is back from Orlais where she had bit parts on their equivalent of broadway, but returns 'home' to the university town of Skyhold after she has a baby where she works at Fi's coffee shop/bar.

Blame @shyquisitor

"Thank you again for helping me out with the shift change," Milliara said, hurrying through the door of The Grind. "I'll make up for it this weekend I promise." She shrugged off her leather jacket and scarf, flashing a quick smile at her cousin who stood behind the counter.

The morning crowd was always so different than the evening shift Milliara was used to. Some faces were familiar, just hungover from last night, others were new. Milliara ducked into the back, hanging her coat up and pulling on her apron. She tossed a nod to the quiet cook who grunted back. Sten wasn't much for talking but he always made sure that Nils got extra cookies whenever she brought him in.

From the front, she heard the clatter of cups and orders being made and she hurried out, pulling her hair into a bun on the top of her head. She froze in the doorway, eyes widening as she spotted the man at the counter. Tall and dressed in a blazer and scarf, he was tapping at his phone as he spoke to Fi.

Millie's ears drooped, flushing hot as she watched him flick a smile at her cousin then walk over towards the drinks counter. She watched him for a long moment before realising that she was supposed to make him his drink. Shaking her self mentally, she set about making the decaf london fog, sneaking glances at him over her shoulder. He had freckles and a cleft chin and there was something about the way he looked so thoughtful and...

"One decaf london fog," she said cheerily, setting the the travel mug down on the counter.

"Thank you," he said, glancing at the mug and not up at her. She watched him walk out, and glanced at Fi.

"Who was *that*?" Milliara asked her cousin.

"That? That was Bubbles," Fiowyn said, taking the next order. "One Medium house roast."

Millie nodded, grabbing a paper cup and pouring out the delicious smelling brew.

"Okay but who's 'Bubbles'? Is he a regular?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder. "What's he do?"

Fiowyn looked back at her, lifting her eyebrows. "Bubbles? he's a professor at the University. Why are you asking?" She narrowed her eyes. "Why, are you interested in him?" She asked a slow smile spreading on her face.

"I liked his voice," Milliara said, defensively slipping a scowl onto her face. "And I was looking into classes for this term that wouldn't conflict with my schedule here."

Fi made a dubious 'mhmm' sound, but at least the lunch rush was coming in, and the long line of customers keep the redhead from asking too many questions. And, of course, keep Millie from thinking too much about the man's voice, or the way he'd looked so pensive.

**

The sun had set by the time Millie arrived at the theatre on campus. Nils had forgotten his favourite blanket at home so she'd had to run back and get it for him or he'd have been a handful for Fi, and now she was rushing to make sure she didn't miss the auditions. After changing around her whole schedule today, it would be for nothing if she got there too late.

It was a small production, just on campus and with local talent, but it had been years since she'd been on stage. Three, to be exact. No one wanted to book a pregnant actor for their show back in Orlais, and after Nils had been born, she'd moved back to Skyhold.

Pausing at the door, Milliara took a deep breath and forced her shoulders to relax. Going inside, she looked around for a sign pointing to the auditions waiting area. A tabloid sized piece of white paper with block letters written in red sharpie. Not too late, she realised, checking her phone. But she'd still be at the tail end of the open auditions. Which, well, there wasn't much to be done about it.

She ran a hand through her hair, ruffling it to give the mohawk some pouf after it'd been pulled up all day. Unfortunately she hadn't had time to do anything with it, and the makeup was going to have to be rushed while she was in the waiting area. Hurrying in, she checked in with the overly-cheery man with a clipboard who pointed her towards the half-empty room full of chairs.

"Oh," said a familiar voice. Milliara's head snapped to face the woman who'd spoken. It'd been years, but the woman looked the same, just a little more world-weary, a little less starry eyed. Well, shit. "I hadn't expected to see you...here," Leliana said, and motioned to the empty chair next to her.

"How've you been?" Milliara asked cautiously, taking a seat next to the redhead. When was the last time they'd seen each other? Leliana had been... oh right. She'd gone off her meds and, things hadn't ended well.

"Better," Leliana said with a small smile. "let me fix your hair, you can hardly go on stage like that."

**

"Milliara Lavellan?"

Last in the waiting area, Millie had been fiddling with her phone and warming up her voice a little as she waited to be called. Now that she was, she swallowed hard and stood, nodding at the perky man.

"And you've practiced the song?" he asked, opening the door for her. "We've had a few auditions that, er, haven't."

Millie nodded, slipping through the door, setting her phone and purse down in the wings as she stepped out onto the stage and froze. The tall man from earlieri that day was sitting in a chair on stage left, one leg crossed over the other, ankle to knee. He looked bored, glancing up only briefly to see who was the last lamb to slaughter. The corner of an eyebrow tugged up at the sight of her mohawk, though it was in a much better state than it had been when she'd arrived. She owed Leliana a few free coffees for the help.

"So, Millie, right?" a gravelly voice said from the audience. "Solas here'll be reading opposite you, that's not going to be a problem is it? Our normal reader had to leave, family emergency."

"No," Milliara said, shaking her head. "not a problem." So his name was Solas. She just had to shake off the awkward feeling of being a school girl and- wait. No. Don't shake it off, use it. She would be playing a high school girl, young and idealistic and dumb. Use that feeling.

"Cue music," the gravelly voice said, and Millie rolled her shoulders, clearing her throat one last time before she waited for her cue.

She'd only found out about the auditions late, and she hadn't had time to rehearse as much as she'd like, and it wasn't like she could sing this in front of Nils but... but the thrill of being on stage was filling her once more.

"The Demon Queen of High School has decreed it," she sang, shoving her hands into the pockets of her leather jacket, walking along to centre stage. "She says Monday, 8 AM, I will be deleted."

She looked up at the darkness beyond the stage, and imagined the seats full. Friends watching, strangers watching her sing for the first time. As the song changed tempo, she tore her jacket off and tossed it aside.

"I need it hard, I'm a dead girl walkin'!" she said, pointing at Solas and crooking her finger at him and winking. That's right, seduce the stranger who had caught her eye earlier. "I'm in your yard, I'm a dead girl walkin'."

She sauntered over his way, hips swinging before she stood in front of him, knocking his leg off where it rested on his knee, and leaned over pressing a finger to his chest.

"Shh, sorry but I really had to wake you," she said, catching his chin with her finger and tilting it up to look at her, his nose near hers. To his credit 'Bubbles' was a damn good singer, and his voice had just cracked. Had that been on purpose? "See, I decided I must ride you till I break you," she sang, grabbing a handful of his shirt and pulled him up to stand, chest pressed to hers.

"Let's go, you know the drill, I'm hot and pissed and on the pill," she said, kicking her leg out and wrapping it around his hip. "Bow down to the will of a dead girl walkin'." No, his ears were definitely tinged pink now, and this close she could see that look in his eye. She had him on her hook, she just... needed to reel him in. For, the, uh. Part. Clearly.

Her face softed, and her leg slipped down as the music softened. Reaching up she brushed her fingers over his face, looking at him through her eyelashes. "You know, you know, you know," she sang. "It's cause you're beautiful."

She was sure that he was blushing now, just along his ears. He wasn't the only one, but she had the rest of the song to get through. As they reached the intrumental section, she let him go, and looked over at the gravelly-voiced shadow in the audience. Would he cut the music? She didn't get a chance to wait and see as a hand grabbed hers and pulled her into a tight dance embrace. Solas twisted, lowering her into a dip, and Milliara tipped her head back with a grin.

"Yeah! Full steam ahead," she sang, arching back as he pulled her back up. "Love this dead girl walkin!"

Somehow she made it through the rest of the song and grinned at him as the music stopped. She let go of his arms awkardly, and tucked her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. She looked out at the shadowy guy (she was sure now that voice belonged to the dwarf that hung out with Garry), Varrian?

"So," the dwarf said, and she could see him get up and walk over to the edge of the stage. "Where the HELL are you from and why are you on some podunk stage instead of out in Kirkwall or Orlais making the big bucks?" Yeah, V...something. Varric.

"Oh, uh," Milliara said, turning pink. She was accutely aware of the warmth of Solas by her shoulder. Like he was radiating heat, and she was struggling to not turn over to face him and melt into it. Professionalism and shit. "I used to understudy in Val Royaux..."

She shrugged and bobbed slightly, glancing up at Solas then back at the dwarf.

"No shit," Varric said, and laughed. "Well, if you want it, the part of Veronica's yours. I don't know what it is about Skyhold that's brought us two Val Royaux vets, but hell, I'll take it."

"That would explain how you knew the song so well," Solas said, and Milliara felt a small shiver down her back at his voice so close to her ear. "You were very... commanding on the stage."

"Well, you know me, commanding's kind of my thing," Millie said with a shrug and then frowned. "Wait, you don't know me, that's- that's not a good saying-"

"Well I'm curious to see what would be needed to take control over such a presence," Solas murmured. Milliara's eyes widened, and she cleared her throat. Had she heard that right? Maker's tits, how was she supposed to respond to that? Unfortunately reflex kicked in before she could process a response.

"Guess you'll just have spend more time around me to find out." Oh Gods. Had she just said that? She needed to get out of here before she said anything that would cost her the role.

"Hah," Varric said. "Chuckles here is the music specialist. He insisted on reading opposite the auditions so he could get a feel for what he'd be working with." Was she imagining things or had he stressed 'get a feel' a little bit too much?

"Well, that's great, when will rehearsals start?" Milliara asked. "The sooner I know the sooner I can arrange it with work."

"We'll send you all that later," Varric said. "You gave Seamus your contact information, right?"

Millie nodded. "If that's all, I should get going," she said, stepping back from Solas and the heat he was radiating. Also, Fi had Nils and he'd been a bit of a terrible-three-year-old that day. First daycare then babysitting, she was in for quite the night once she got home.

"Well-" Solas started to say. Millie lifted a hand in a wave.

"Great," Millie said, "I look forward to it!" SHe had to get out of there before she dissolved into a mess. The nerves always hit the hardest after, and normally she wasn't stuck standing next to a handsome elven man talking about her past. She needed to get home and grab a drink.

Snatching up her phone and purse, she hurried out the doors, slowing down only as she reached the chilly fall night air. Taking a deep breath, she hurried to her car, climbing inside and turning it on and cranking the heat in hope that it'd warm up the car before she got all the way back to the house she shared with Fi.

SHe was halfway home when she realised she'd forgotten her jacket on the stage.

"Gods damnit," she said, hitting the wheel with the heel of her hand. It was too late to turn around now, she'd have to hope that Varric or Solas would drop it off next time they went by The Grind. Still, she *liked* that jacket. It was one of the few things that kept her from feeling like she was only a Mother, not a person.

#modern AU #coffeeshop au #Heathers #Dead girl walkin' #Milliara #Fiowyn #solas #varric #this musical is amazing #seriously