#two seconds down my blog and boom a post with raven

[artbyfuji]

im begging you to just unfollow me... cuz idk why you even here when i talk about rosebird and strq literally non-stop

#obsessed with this ask #just hit unfollow???? #like hello? #two seconds down my blog and boom a post with raven

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 141

Last week I posted a day early because vacation was doing vacation things to my sense of time.... This week I forgot to queue the chapter up because Monday was a work holiday, so I forgot today was Tuesday. *insert facepalm here please*

Thanks on this one go largely to @baelpenrose who rightfully pointed out that one part made very little sense to him and therefore was unlikely to make sense to a reader.  The clarification smoothed things out quite a bit, I think.  Just in case, whoever spots the area I’m talking about gets a cookie as soon as travel restrictions lift.

As always, thanks go also to @the-raven-fae, @charlylimph-blog, and @anotherusrname for completing the corners of my support system. And, a super-duper extra-special to @drinksteawithcake! I don’t know if I am allowed to tell everyone why, but you know why you get the extra-special, and I hope you are having fun!

BWAAAAAHP!   BWAAAAAHP!

“Uhhh?” I squinted in complaint as flailing arms clambered over me. One pair snagged me around my waist to drag me from bed before depositing me shakily on my feet. “What are you - ?”

BWAAAAAHP!  BWAAAAAHP!

Any trace of sleep was shoved out of my system, replaced by sizzling alertness when I realized I was hearing ship-wide alarms.  Shoving myself into the first clothing I grabbed, not even bothering with shoes, I was hot on Conor and Maverick’s heels as we raced out of our quarters and into the corridor. We paused only long enough for both men to kiss me and for “I love yous” to be exchanged before they turned and headed toward the areas indicated on their datascreens, while I hauled ass toward the Archives, ducking and twisting to avoid anyone in my path.

“Forty minutes,” Tyche told me crisply as I basically fell through the door, panting. “The Ark could be invaded and the battle over by the time you make it.”

“I ran….huff….the whole….ugh….way….” I managed to gasp out.  Part of me felt like puking, but I was pretty sure the muscles in my abdomen were too busy to figure out the logistics.

Clicking her tongue, she pulled me up from the floor. “Alistair, make a note to suggest to Xio that Sophia’s quarters be relocated once we have a better idea of when we are dropping into real space.”

I nodded numbly. “And probably… amp up… sensors… give… earlier… warning.”

“Nice outfit, by the way,” she laughed quietly as we finally reached the shelter point within the Archives.

Glancing down, I had to suppress a sigh. The first thing I grabbed to dress myself had apparently been a pair of Conor’s boxer shorts and a very filthy t-shirt that I assumed belonged to Maverick, since Conor’s was usually under coveralls. “At least you can’t say I took my time getting dressed.”

Her shaking head was greeted by faces in various states of wakefulness - this had been a drill, and woke nearly the entire Ark during their sleep interval on Delta shift.  But we weren’t out of the woods, yet: the drill didn’t end until all of Xiomara and Evan’s scenarios played out, including the mock combat and various tests of concealment for the other shelters.  As such, Tyche stood guard over the choke-point into this section, while Alistair had stayed behind at the entrance.

Early on, when the drills started, there had been fifty-fifty odds that the mock-invaders would make it this far, but over the past few weeks, that had narrowed to maybe twenty-percent.  It was still too high a chance in my judgement, and Xiomara clearly agreed as she stepped up training schedules and randomized the timing of the drills. 

Taking a swig of water from a stash of bottles, I queued up my datapad and stood next to Tyche, watching the ‘casualties’ from a point where no one could see over my shoulder to avoid panic, which I would have done in a real situation. “They didn’t find mess hall seven this time,” I murmured.

She glanced at my screen. “Acoustics are still too damned high. She must not be simulating for that this go around.”

One of the decoy locations lit up. “Looks like this time it’s heavy on thermal.” The location in question had been equipped with a cooking surface, triggered to activate when the klaxons that had woken me up went off.  Which Xiomara knew, but did not tell the ‘pirates’ for authenticity.

“How did they get past the combatants this time?” She asked, both curious and slightly worried.

Rolling back the sensor data, I watched it carefully. “Looks like these got in during the initial breaches, multiple points. But the line has held since, that’s good.”

Doing another check toward Alistair’s direction, she didn’t seem to see anything concerning. “How many?”

“Four,” I confirmed.  “Sam’s thermal camouflage is working beautifully, though.”  I couldn’t help but grin, and Tyche snorted at the same time. ‘Thermal camouflage’ was a bit of overkill as a name, but it was working well in every round. Potential access points were equipped with fast-acting environmental simulators - originally designed for temporary habitats on inhospitable moons - modified to release atmosphere like a Terran equatorial rainforest within one minute in an enclosed space.  It was a much more simple and elegant solution than any others we had found for giving combatants defending the Ark an advantage - instead of trying to create technology to make them look colder, make the entire area match human heat signatures.  Boom, instantly blinded enemies.

A tense half-hour later, the ‘all clear’ sounded, queueing grumbling from those who had dozed back off as everyone stood to make their ways back to their quarters. I waited with Alistair and Tyche for everyone else to be accounted for on the way out, and the three of us headed back toward our quarters together.  Alistair peeled off first, living closest to the Archives, and no sooner had my sister and I reached my door than the page sounded for the post-drill meeting.  She waved me off as she answered on her databand, and I did the same as I pushed into my quarters and flopped on the couch. “Councillor Sophia Reid, present, audio only,” I answered. “And no jokes, Pranav… I look like I smell awful.”

“Alistair Worthington, present, audio and video. I can confirm that she does, and she does.”

Laughter filled the comms and the rest of the group leaders and Councillors joined the debrief.  Finally, everyone was present and Xiomara called the meeting to order.  First, the leaders of each shelter reported in, as those usually went the fastest. There were a couple malfunctions in the deployment of the shielding to disguise the entrances and hide heat and electrical signatures, but nothing Huynh’s team couldn’t fix.  Tyche and Alistair made the recommendations around earlier detection and the need to move those sheltering in the  Archives closer as we approached time to drop out of relativistic space. 

Once that was out of the way, it was on to the combat and invasion teams. Overall consensus was that Sam’s trick with the portable environments was a rousing success and would be installed at each point determined to be most likely as a breach, with trigger conditions to be determined later. “I hate to say it,” Michael sighed, “but we also need Charly’s team to crank up the scovilles on the arrows and grenades.” His team had played the ‘invaders’ this go around, equipped with sensors and readouts to simulate the effect our defenses would have on the various species who most commonly were found on pirate vessels.  Evan had worked intensely with Pranav and Derek to ensure that the strategies provided by the readouts were modelled after similar strategies based on which ever species each team member was assigned, to ensure we weren’t accidentally drilling against human tactics.

Michael hated it, but he was strict about his team complying nonetheless.

“Seriously?” I squawked, and I wasn’t the only one. “One of those things accidentally went off in my quarters…. Can confirm, they’re pretty potent.”

“They dissipated too fast against my team, and also the contact element left a lot to be desired. Charly, you may want to consider adding a sticking element.”

“Duly noted,” she chimed in with a yawn, her normal pep doused by being woken up and then the drop in adrenaline post-combat.

“What about the sonic weapons?” Xiomara asked, moving the meeting along.

“Still less effective than Nixe is on her own,” a familiar voice I couldn’t put a name to responded with a sheepish tone.  “How hard would it be to train more people to shatter glass with their voice?”

“Incredibly,” Grey stressed. “It takes a very unique combination of training and the right vocal chords.”

“Then we may need to work on adding a projection component.  The sonic devices can match the pitch, but not the actual tone and direction. They’re very effective given time and especially contact, but we need something more immediately disabling.”

Xiomara groaned. “Are we back to Mariah Carey on this one?” Objections exploded until she muted the comms. “It’s that or opera.” Votes started scrolling up the screen, and I could see Xio nod. “Opera it is.  Let’s find a suitable piece and try using more analogue-style speakers.”

“I still say that death metal would work better,” Arthur suggested as soon as the comms were back on.

“Annnnd we already tested it, I will remind you. The volume works, but the pitches aren’t high enough to hit a broad enough population of species sensitive to sound.” After that nearly-obligatory objection, the meeting continued going through reports from each combat team until finally Xiomara announced the end results. “I have to admit, this was one of our best drills yet. Ten percent casualties of the combatants defending the breaches, only two percent among non-combatants, and the invaders were only able to traverse three decks before they were subdued.” She let the cheers go for a couple seconds before getting everyone’s attention again. “Yes, great job on the improvements, but let me remind everyone - those numbers still leave us below threshold for a healthy genetic population. Engineering teams, make the necessary adjustments with whatever resources are necessary. Shelters Three and Seven, you will start training for armed and unarmed combat with Shelter Fourteen and Combat Team Two daily.  Sophia, your team will coordinate schedules. Any questions?”

There were no arguments, not even a groan or mutter as the meeting was dismissed. Before I could even add the new task to my agenda the next day, I received the notification that Alistair had beaten me to the punch.

Glancing at the time, I wanted to hit something.  I had to be back up and at work in four hours, and the realization weighed me down with exhaustion.  The guys had come in and gone to bed while I was in the debrief, and I could already hear synchronized snoring coming from the bedroom.  Rather than risk waking them with my now-frozen feet, I pulled the quilt off the back of my couch and rolled myself into it.  Only minutes later, a heavy weight oozed across my hip and started purring furiously.

“Yeah, buddy. I agree. We need a nap.”

<< Prev  Masterlist  Next >>

#the miys #found family #humans are weird #science fiction #aliens #apocalypse #humans are space orcs #humans are space fae #earth is space australia #post apocalypse #post post apocalypse #original science fiction #original sci fi #original writing

[angrymongol01-archived]

A/N: Am reposting two of my shelved discontinued fem!Hinata fics from my old blog here (for exposure ig? Also I didn't delete them completely there, they're just posted privately lol); for those who've read the original post before and wondering why this blog repost another blog's work, supplies~!! OP here, filling this blog with some Haikyuu content from last October. Enjoy ^^;; ALSO DO NOT SEND HATE ORZ smh

My Masterlist

Prologue | 01 | Omake 01

tho it doesn't looked like an extra chapter at all smh ahaha

Omake 01

wc: 1.9k words

warning: mentions of thigh touching (and probs kidnapping but not implied), a bit of OOC-ness, a few ‘damn’ mentions.

note: indented paragraphs -> flashbacks

*NOTE: since purple/violet is unavailable via PC (using desktop beta lol), I'll use yellow for Ushijima instead.

“…ta…nata…Hinata!”

A female’s voice continued calling her from her deep slumber.

The faint smell of ammonia wafted in the air.

Eyelids slowly opened as she regained consciousness.

“Ah, thank goodness you’re awake now, Hina-chan!”

“Yachi-san?” She groggily glanced at her friend.

“I’ll tell the others she’s awake!” Suddenly, the owner of that voice earlier, Date Tech’s manager, Nametsu Mai, stood up and headed outside the door. Yachi nodded her thanks.

“W-what happened… Where am I? Is this not our—the managers’—room?” she asked.

Hinata started to sit up from where she was laying but wobbled.

Luckily, Yachi and their second-year senpai Kinoshita Hisashi helped her out and gently positioned their fellow member on one corner of the classroom-slash-makeshift sleeping area.

Her senpai sheepishly replied to Hinata, “This is Date Tech’s sleeping quarters. We were having our first practice match of the day, against them, when Sugawara-san called to inform that they’ve found you together with Shiratorizawa, and their captain carried you on—“

The decoy shivered, thinking about the restroom incident hours ago.

“—and fainted on Ushijima’s shoulder. Ma~n, Suga-san’s so furious back then Kageyama had to stop him from killing them.” Kinoshita chuckled.

“Your room’s kinda far away from where they found you, so the managers decided to drop you off here since it’s the nearest one.”

Hinata sweatdropped, a bit embarrassed.

“Ah… thank you, and sorry for whatever inconvenience I have caused earlier…”

Yachi shook her head. “No, no, it’s fine! You’ve done nothing wrong, Hina-chan~,” she grinned at the orange-haired girl.

Smiled back also.

Then she suddenly facepalmed. “I forgot about the practice match! Is it still going yet?”

“It finished an hour ago, we lost—2-1,” a scowling Kageyama answered, trudging towards the three.

“K-k-kageyama…!!!” the female middle blocker blanched with fear, hands gripping the blanket draped on her lap, while the raven-haired setter shot a menacing glare at her, which she averted. “I’m… I’m sorry for—“

“Are you alright?” he quietly asked Hinata, his hand perched on her head.

His deep blue eyes swimming with concern and worry.

She felt a slight flush on her cheeks while meeting his gaze.

“H-hai, I’m fine!” the chibi assured Kageyama. “Nothing to worry about, Bakayama-kun~!”

And she smiled at him.

The boy suddenly became hot and turned to look away from her, hiding his flustered face with the back of his hand.

“H-hinata boke… idiot,” Kageyama stuttered, his heart thumping louder than normal.

Ahh… he sure is whipped for Hinata, that Kageyama boy, Kinoshita thought, shaking his head.

While their blonde manager only giggled.

Recovering from his blushing mess a while ago, the raven-haired setter took a deep breath, narrowed his eyes at Hinata and quipped.

“But I guess you do know that we lost in the match earlier because of your carelessness around your surroundings, right, dumbass?”

He smirked.

This pissed the female decoy and threw in some punches at Kageyama, which he constantly dodged. “Shut up, you!! I said I’m sorry, alright?!”

“No, you did not!”

“Yes, I did, Bakayama!”

There goes their ‘lovers’ quarrel’ again… hahaha…

“Hinata!” Sugawara’s sweet voice boomed inside the room as he entered together with their team’s captain Sawamura Daichi. Beside them tagged along Hinata’s friend from Date Tech, fellow middle blocker Aone Takanobu.

“Ah, Sugawara-san!” The first-year idiot duo stopped their bickering when the gray-haired setter all of a sudden hugged her.

Hc’d Suga and Hinata are chummy-chummy but in a mother/daughter sort of way.

He is, after all, Karasuno’s Sugamama.

“Honey, are you alright now? Did those Shiratorizawa bastards hurt you? Don’t lie to me!” She blinked in reply, baffled.

He might cry in an instant now—

“Oi, Suga, calm down,” Daichi said, drawing circles at the fellow third-year’s back to calm him down.

Aone then stepped closer besides Hinata and sat with his legs crossed, his eyes gazing at hers like Kageyama’s.

“Are you okay?” he asked her, his deep voice nearly startled both Hinata, Yachi and Kinoshita.

Date Tech’s one-third of the famous Iron Wall is a man of few words, and his replies were mostly grunts, hand gestures, and nods.

So it’s rare for him to speak, or ask a question, especially to a member of the opposite sex—or, in this case, at Karasuno’s Number 10. At Hinata Shouyou.

She held both hands at Aone’s now flustered cheeks, and grinned.

“I’m okay now, Aone-san! Don’t worry too much~ nn?” She tilted her head while looking at him.

C-cute… she’s cute, No-Eyebrows thought to himself. Even the other boys thought so, too.

Then he nodded.

Hinata patted his shoulders. “Good!”

Ahhh the power of friendship, feat. AoHina—

“Say, Hina-chan,” Yachi looked at the orange-haired girl. “Care to say to us why you fainted on Ushijima-san’s shoulder?”

The chibi stilled herself, cheeks starting to get a bit red. Kageyama noticed it.

“A-a-ano!! H-hinata-chan, it’s o-okay if you d-don’t have to tell us! S-sorry for asking such a foolish q-question—“

“Yachi-san, calm yourself down, too—,” the captain sweatdropped.

Looking at the people around her, Hinata slowly opened her mouth to speak.

“My thighs are kind of ticklish when being touched,” she muttered, face in an embarrassed state.

“Ha?” “Ticklish?”

“He—Ushijima-san touched the back of my thighs, but just to keep myself from falling down his shoulder!” the female middle blocker said aloud, pouting. “That’s why I… f-fainted earlier.”

Her partner remembered the face she made while being carried on Ushijima Wakatoshi’s shoulder.

“USHIJIMA-SA—hyaah! …P-please… stop—“

A vein pop ticked on the raven-haired setter’s face, his jawline twitching slightly.

Kageyama’s fists gripped hard, his face a big scowling mess.

Damn that Ushiwaka guy—

Another dark aura emitted on another corner as vein pops ticked on both Dadchi and Sugamama.

Wearing their scary faces.

Both Hinata, Yachi and Kinoshita panicked, while Aone furrowed his brows.

“Did you bring some shovels, Daichi?”

“They’re inside the bus compartment, Suga.”

“Good. We’re digging some graves for some perverted volleyball dorks to bury down later—wanna help us, Kageyama?”

———

Meanwhile, at Shiratorizawa’s side of the training camp, the members were at the sidelines, taking a break from practice when—

“ACHOO!!!” Tendou sniffled for the nth time already ever since coming back to the gym with Ushijima after the incident with Karasuno’s Number 10. “Uh, yizz…”

“Tendou-san, are you really alright?” their team’s first-year ace-in-the-making Goshiki Tsutomu asked, his face scrunched with worry. “You’re sneezing constantly.”

The redhead shook it off with a wave of his hand in reply, and smiled grimly.

“Yeah, I’m a-OK, thanks for your concern, Tsutomu-kun!”

“Oi, are you sick?” Shiratorizawa’s team mom third-year setter Semi Eita stared at his fellow third-year teammate with disgust. “If you are, please stay away from us! We don’t wanna get infected by your cold… Goshiki, don’t go near him!” “Eh? But, senpai—“

Tendou narrowed his eyes on him. “Semi-Semi, if I do have a cold, I will first go straight at ya and share my germs, duh!”

“DON’T CALL ME BY THAT STUPID NICKNAME, YOU IDIOT!” the team mom seethed, throwing a pack of tissues at the middle blocker in reply, hitting his arm.

A quarrel ensued at Shiratorizawa—

“Okay, guys, that’s enough! Save your bickering later at lunch period,” another third-year, Oohira Reon, chided and managed to stop both Tendou and Semi from tearing off their heads.

While the rest of the team just sighed and/or watched at a distance.

“Ano sa…”

Some of them turned their heads at the semi-deep voice of second-year starting setter Shirabu Kenjiro.

Idk how to describe voice ranges ‘cept high-pitch, deep blah blah sorry—

“Tendou-san, you mentioned earlier that you and Ushijima-san met Karasuno’s Number 10, right?”

“Aye~ we have!” the redhead then nudged Ushijima, who was sitting near him, on the side. “Right, Wakatoshi-kun?”

He nodded. “Un. We met Hinata Shouyou early this morning, outside the gym.”

“EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! You two met that cute sunshine already upon arrival!?!!” Both their libero, Yamagata Hayato, and middle blocker, Kawanishi Taichi, squawked at their captain.

Their faces looked like (‘◉⌓◉’), with Kawanishi gripping the collar of Shirabu’s shirt, shaking wildly.

“T-taichi, stop shaking me, goddammit—!” Whack!

Said second-year middle blocker started to wail in a dramatic way.

“WHYYYYYYYYYYY—!!”

Dunno how to grasp Kawanishi’s personality here tbh so stfu dejk—

“We were about to bring her here back though…” Then Ushijima’s usual stoic face darkened a bit.

“…if only those Karasuno setters didn’t show up.”

“Ah, that Kageyama guy and their vice-captain, isn’t it? Number 2?” Shirabu pointed out. “That guy’s really scary even though he has the face of an angel; their captain also.”

Oohira asked, “Wait… so you two attempted to kidnap the girl?”

“No, no, ‘kidnapping’ will only cause us trouble,” Tendou said, waving his hand in a disapproving way.

“Let’s call it ‘luring her with some sweets then put her inside a potato sack’—“

“ARE YOU A DOWNRIGHT LOLICON!?!!” Semi screamed straight at the Guess Monster’s face, pissed at his earlier statement.

Tendou vs Semi, Round 2–

“I-I heard from Date Tech’s Koganegawa-san that Hinata-chan fainted on you, Ushijima-san,” Goshiki stammered, red tinge on both his cheeks due to embarrassment, maybe? “Is that true?”

Ushiwaka nodded curtly. “Ye—“

“EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! SHE DID WHAAAAAAAAAAT!?!!” Both Yamagata and Kawanishi squawked again, interrupting his response.

Their faces now looked like (● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾, with Kawanishi again gripping the collar of Shirabu’s shirt, shaking wildly.

“KAWANISHIIIIII!” An uppercut.

Chaos ensued inside the Shiratorizawa Academy (High School Division) Men’s Volleyball Club.

Their captain declared to himself, his olive-colored eyes shone with determination:

We will take Hinata Shouyou here, in Shiratorizawa. She should have (come here). Whatever the consequences be.

“WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU SLACKING OFF, YOU NIMRODS!!! GET YOUR ASSES BACK TO PRACTICE!!!!”

“HAI!!!!”

———

How did the supposed-to-be ‘rumor’ begin? It all started when…

“Aaaarrrggghhh!! This is not right, Ryuu!”

“Huh? What d’you mean ‘not right’, Noya?”

“I want to sit next to our cute kouhai Shouyou on the bus earlier, but it’s always that bastard Kageyama who gets to sit beside her!! Hnnnnnngh—!!! He gets to touch Shouyou’s hair whenever she dozes off, or place her head on his shoulder to sleep on! Or-or maybe even take a candid shot of her sleeping cutely—dammit!!! This is frustrating!!!!!”

“Ahhh~ I know how you feel, bro! I, too, want to sit next to our precious Hinata-chan on the bus! B-but… Noya, what about Kiyoko-san?”

“Ryuu bro, our loyalty is always on our beautiful goddess Kiyoko-san—BUT SHE’S DIFFERENT FROM SHOUYOU! Our kouhai is literally the epitome of a living sunshine~! She cures our blues away! Remember that time during our match with Wakunan, when you were kind of down about Daichi-san’s injury then Shouyou suddenly hugged and peppered you with words of encouragement?”

“Oh, yeah! It calmed my senses down… and also! Remember when you came back from your suspension, and me and Hinata noticed bruises—“

idk I really need to refresh my HQ knowledge by rereading the whole manga orz—

“—on your arms? Ma~n, she freaked out and began applying those with some ointment she had in her bag. And you told me later that time Hinata’s hands were very soft even though she spiked and blocked so many balls in her lifetime? Also that expression on your face! So priceless!”

“Ahhhh~ I wanna touch Shouyou’s soft hands again longer! Not just a high five—but holding hands!”

“Me too~ Damn, I wish there’d be some kind of (rotational?) seating arrangement whenever we’re on the bus, traveling to matches and stuff…”

“Ryuu! Noya! Heya!”

“Tora! Our shitty (city) boy from Tokyo—wassup!”

“We can’t wait to play another game against you guys later! ww”

“Same here!”

“Ah, what are you guys talking about?”

“OUR PRECIOUS KOUHAI HINATA/SHOUYOU!!!”

“Eh? Shrimpy-chan? What about her?”

“It’s like this….—“

The two crows and mohawked cat walked their way inside the camp premises, talking.

Unbeknownst to them, two eagles accidentally eavesdropped on the earlier conversation.

DO NOT REPOST/EDIT WITHOUT PERMISSION. PLAGIARISM IS A CRIME, KIDS. LIKES ESPECIALLY REBLOGS ARE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. ALL WORKS © angrymongol01 - 2021.

#hinata shoyo #hinata genderbend #fem!hinata shoyo #female hinata shoyo #haikyuu #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu scenarios #haikyuu crack #haikyuu fluff #ish #? #hinata x all #is that a valid tag? #haikyuu drabbles #addictive sunshine #karasuno #date tech #shiratorizawa #slight #nekoma #*shrugs* #🐱saku.fic #🐱saku.rbs

[carryonmywaywardwriters]

One Day At A Time - Jensen x Reader

A/N: It’s been a while. My days off were spent with writing rather than posting. Now? It’s time to catch up a bit. Have an edited version of a story I’d only just begun getting into before I’d left Tumblr at the beginning of the year. As always, feedback is incredible. And, I hope you all enjoy <3

PSA: I am NOT a minor friendly blog. If you are below 18, please come back when you’re older. I don’t want to lose my blog because you were too eager to grow up. If I discover you, I WILL block. 

Also, this is NOT hate against Danneel. It’s a piece of fiction using real humans as the base. There will be NO negativity against her, the Ackles family, or anything tolerated here.

Upcoming Warnings: Widower!Jensen. Angst. Death. Grieving process. Upcoming smut. Age Gap. And more. Each chapter will be labeled accordingly.

Word Count: Roughly 3,700

“How's he holding up?” Genevieve Padalecki was an actual goddess as she sat across from you in the sunken living room. A loose, white tee paired with ripped jeans while resting on the navy blue couch. Even as drawn and tired as she appeared in that moment, beneath the LeMay hummingbird art, she was incredible. Somehow held mostly together even with the circumstances in front of her. You yearned for that kinda strength.

“He's been trying to smile... Laugh for the kids.” You answered quietly, not wanting to wake the napping children. Or, the resting widower.  As if your voice could carry that far in the massive home. But, it was the first bit of real sleep any of them had gotten since the nightmare had begun. You wouldn't chance it. They needed all the rest that they could muster. “It's falling short...but he's trying.” Your own tired eyes met the red rimmed dark orbs in front of you. “How about you and Jared?” She shook her head, slowly. Her actress's facade crumbling all at once.

“God, I miss her.” The once smooth voice cracked as she fought back the tears. Finally giving into the grief a little. “So...so much...It hasn't even been two weeks, yet, Y/N.” She looked so broken. So defeated. “How am I supposed to survive the rest of my life without my best friend?”

You wanted to give an answer. Wanted to be able to tell her it got better. But, you couldn't. It'd be a lie. Nothing was better in a world without the sunny smile the Mrs. Ackles had bestowed, undoubtedly, every time you turned around.

“I ask myself that question almost every second of everyday.” Jensen's deep voice was ragged as he stood in the hallway. His hair was spiked from the tossing and turning he'd done while he'd tried to escape the reality of his new life. Your heart shattered again at the sight.

“Jens-”

“It's okay,” He was gruff, but not harsh as he cut Genevieve off. Too worn to even begin to try to be angry. His jeans and shirt were wrinkled. Beard untrimmed. Eyes red and glazed with grief. “We're going to be okay. Danneel...she'd want that.” If he said it enough, he might just believe it. “Kids still out?” You could only nod. A lump too large for words to pass rested in your throat.“Good.” His head bobbed with that. As if in a trance. “I'm gonna take a walk...head down to the lake.”

He didn't ask if anyone would watch them. That's what you were there for. His pockets were filled with his beefy hands, and then he was gone as quickly as he'd come.

“I don't know if I can stay here.” You uttered when he was out of hearing range; tossing your hand through your tangled hair. Somehow even more ragged from the brief interaction.

It was all too much. He needed assistance with the twins and J.J. You knew that. But, it was terrifying having to face the grieving process head on. To feel the weight of a love lost residing in the air. Having to stand up to it all while losing your friend in the process. Needing to try and fill the void that was left behind after the accident while holding an entire family together. Anyone would strain under that level of responsibility.

Running would be easier. That was a fact you couldn't seem to escape. It always had been. God knows you'd done it enough in your life. Everything inside of you begged you to take the chance. Flee. And yet...you hadn't quite gathered enough courage to actually try it. Leaving yourself in an odd sort of purgatory.

“He'll understand.” Gen didn't even bother to look back at you. Having latched onto an image of the deceased in the corner. A happy little number showing her and her children.

“Will he?” You didn't believe it. Not even a little. She wasn't there to see the worst of his grief. How alone he was. Your fingers ripped at a hangnail as you pondered over it all.

Jensen had lost his entire future. And with that? He'd lost his focus. The undying optimism he'd once held. His charming dash of humor. Maybe once, he'd have forgiven you walking away. But, not anymore. The kids, his job, and the brewery were overwhelming at the best of times. It was unmanageable even with the help, then. He needed you more than ever.

That's why you'd been hired, initially. To break up the load. Or, so Danneel had claimed. In reality? She'd held everything down just fine with a babysitter on the side. She'd just used it as an excuse to draw you in. Now? It was time to live up to the promise.

You were pulled out of your thoughts with a small sigh, “Even if he doesn't?” Your heart ached at the thought. “You have your own life, Y/N...it's your choice.” Her final words went straight to the point. Injuring you with the bluntness of it. “And if there's anything we learned from all this? Life is too short to fuck around with.”

With that, she took her leave. Needing to find some air. Get back into a head space to handle the other half of the grieving family she was returning to.

You craved the same escape. Instead, the twins appeared. Miniatures of their parents clad in Paw Patrol footie pajamas. Hair mused as they crawled into the comfort you could offer. Solemn, as if their young minds could fully grasp the idea of death. Hours later, JJ walked in the large wooden door. A deep frown etched onto the smooth lines of her face. Her bag dragging the ground as she and Jensen joined. The false cheer emitting from the booming voice only made the tension in the air increase. It was cloaking.

As the night went on, things grew worse. A tight hold on the back of your neck crept forward until your entire skull felt as if it was being crushed. Far from the first time. Zep didn't want the lasagna you'd made. His once ravenous appetite long gone. Justice Jay was trying to step up; telling him how he needed to eat. How her mom would have got him to, and that anyone who couldn't get the boy to wasn't trying hard enough. Arrow sat crying, too distraught to take even a  bite.

Jensen had looked so damn lost while sitting in the tan backed kitchen bar-stool that you'd had no choice but to pull out a whistle. Danneel had used it during a girl scouts meeting months before. And then had brought it back around any time the family got to be too chaotic. Another brilliant idea from the lost soul.

Zep settled for a small, microwavable macaroni and cheese that had been reserved for emergencies. J.J was talked down, gently. Not taking away from her grief; simply bringing her back to a softer place. Arrow was able to eat on your lap; settling into the comfort of a woman's touch gladly. The widower watched in a daze. Being the only one in the room you hadn't needed to fix. Until you noticed that he wasn't eating. Leaving you to discard your plate even longer while you coaxed him into following his kids' lead.

Bed time didn't come nearly fast enough. Dishes with two toddlers flinging soapy water across the designer kitchen. Another night of fighting over homework with Justice. All you wanted to do was crawl into bed and never leave.

With a weary sigh, you left the room Arrow occupied to herself. Moving down the stairs as fast as you could to give yourself some distance. Slamming your hand through your hair all the while. Not sure how much longer you could go on, taking care of everyone. You never had time to process. To breathe. God, how you wanted to breathe again.

Your back pressed against the wall after you hit the main floor. Utter relief filling your veins at the lack of noise. Slouching, you turned to look out at the darkened lake. Hoping the peace of it would trail to you. Only to shoot straight up seconds later as footsteps lumbered down the stairs.

“Thanks,” Jensen appeared, looking worse for the wear. Before you could even think to start, he continued, “Seriously, thanks. I don't...I don't know what I'd do...” His throat worked as emotion threatened to spill over. “I know we're a lot.” That was the understatement of the century.

“Jensen-”

“Don't try n' down play it, Y/N.” He kept going. As if he had no choice. Almost as if he could feel your desperation to run, and was trying to stop it. “We're a wreck, right now. But, you? You make...make it a little less chaotic.” His eyes were watery as he talked. The dam threatening to spill over. Guilt snaked through you at the words. And then he pulled out the last batch of words you wanted to hear. “You're a lot like her. You know that?”

“I don't want to...to take her place,” Your words were garbled as you swallowed the emotion. Terrified that you'd be trapped into the empty space she left behind. Breaking all the while. “I don't...I don't want to just step into the role.” Your own eyes watered as you aired your fears. Gasping for some kind of air. “I don't know how...how to play mom full time. Or step in as the pretend wife of a TV star. I can't even take care of myself. That's why she brought me here.” The emotional fall had been doomed to show up, eventually. You simply hadn't expected it to be so soon. Or so in his face. But, that didn't stop the tirade of emotion leaving your lips. “I want her back, too. I want her to walk...walk back through the door, like every time she's left. To thank me for looking out for you guys... T..tell me how strong I was for holding down the fort... until she got back.”

Because that's the kind of woman she was. She'd loved her family. Her friends. Her careers. And most of all, life. She'd built everyone up. Having her gone had tore them all down.

A tear trailed down your face as you realized Jensen was openly crying. Silent as the water ran down both cheeks. Drop after drop as he fought back a sob. You comprehended then, the enormity of what you'd done.

“Y/N-”

“I'm sorry!” Cutting him off, you tried to find something to say. Anything else. But, words escaped you again. A gasp left your lips when he brought his hands up to your arms, but you didn't have a chance to pull away. He tugged you close. Breaking you further. His arms encompassed you as you both cried deeply. Letting out everything you'd held back since you'd gotten the call about the accident. “I'm...I'm s...so...s...sorry.” You hiccuped into his chest. No longer feeling the need to be strong. His own body shook as he tried to settle back down. “I'm...I'm such a...such a bitch.”

“You're a good friend.” He breathed out in a broken sigh when he could finally gain enough composure to take a step back. But, he didn't break the contact. Needing the sense of closeness as his world spun. “She would have been...she would have proud of you, you know.” You lost it again at that one. Thinking back to the day that had wrecked all of your lives.

Danneel had been going to the brewery. Just as she had everyday. She should have come back. She should have never have been found on the side of the road. A hit and run. The bastard who was guilty had yet to be found.

“I'm sorry,” You pulled away from his grasp completely that time. Wiping at your face clumsily.  Snot plugged up your nose. Your cheeks were stained from the tears. “What I said...I didn't mean it.”

“You did.” Jensen stated easily, falling back onto the closest couch. His head resting in his hands. “That's okay, though.”

“It's not.” Your eyes landed on the image from the wedding that rested on the coffee table as you dropped beside him. It was the closest you two had been in the entire time you'd known each other. Picking it up, you looked closer. Basking in the bit of joy that still resided inside the walls of the home. “She was beautiful.” Your thumb stroked over the image. “And, funny. Smart as a whip.” You'd thought you were all dried out, but another piece of water made its way down your face. “It was hard to not fall in love with the energy she put out there.” Gen had said Danneel had been her best friend. She'd been yours, too. Even though you'd only held her in your life a short time. “She saved me from myself...did you know that?”

“Kinda,” He answered carefully. His own eyes drawn to the ten year old image. “She never gave me the full details.” He leaned in closer, the pad of his finger brushing away the small piece of dust that gathered in the corner. “She just told me that you needed help...and to pretend that she did.”

“That sounds like her,” You whispered, your lips tugging up in a lopsided smile. Thankful to the ghost in the room. “I'd been kicked out of my boyfriend's place. He got bored, or something. I really haven't figured out the 'why' if I'm being honest with myself. Can't even remember why I was with him.” Your hand came back up to wipe against your face as your mind trailed back. You'd lived down the road. Only for a week or two. A perfect stranger. Your bag had hit the grass as she walked by with the twins. A daily stroll turned into more. She'd watched as you stared at the door in disbelief after it slammed shut. “She asked me if I was okay. I lied and said I was...she didn't believe me.”

“She's...She was good at that.” He caught himself trying to keep her in the present. You didn't bring attention to it. Didn't want to hurt him anymore than you already had.

“Dee didn't think twice. Packed me up and took me to a motel. Took my phone number to check in...” If you tried hard enough, you could still remember her holding out her phone. A simple smile on her face as she waited for you to do as told. Knowing you'd cave. You hadn't expected her to really call. Had been oddly relieved when she had. “I had trouble finding work, so she offered a place at the brewery. I didn't know how to take that kind of an offer.”

“Now that you mention it...” His head dropped to the back of the couch as he got more comfortable. Eyes closed as he traveled back in time mentally. “I remember that,” He looked a little lighter as he thought back to his wife. The frustrated call he'd received while on set about the woman who 'needed to come to terms' with Danneel's assistance. “The more you resisted, the more sure she was that she was going to help you out.”

“She used the twins.” Not that you'd complained. They were great. You'd spent hours making faces, drawing pictures, and the works with two of the sweetest children you'd ever met. “She was working on handling the paperwork, and asked me to play with them for a bit. Reeled me in like a fish.”

It had started with one day, with food as your payment. Then, it was for a few hours daily for food and some cash. Next thing you knew, you were in a small guesthouse they'd added to property. It had been the beginning of the best six months of your life. Helping with the kids, the brewery, and animals. You'd gotten a side job, but your notice had gone in as soon as you'd been able to. Jensen had needed all the help he could get with Danneel gone.

“Do you regret it?”

“She gave me a whole new life,” You sighed out, not quite answering the question. Looking at the animated face that rested in the frame. “And instead of being able to hold up? I break in half of a month...” Shame coursed through you.

“To be fair,” His voice was scratchy, “we're all a bit broken right now, Y/N...” No truer words had been spoken.

“What do we do, Jensen?” Your head rested against the back of the couch as he took the frame. Wishing like hell he could travel back to the day encased in ink, you were sure.

“We take it one day at a time,” It's all he knew how to do. Nothing else made sense. It was all too unpredictable. “It's hiatus...We don't have to worry about the show, for a few months. For now?” He tapped the glass, “For now, I'm going to take care of her babies.” The determined, pained note in his voice made your chest ache. “I know that I haven't been helping much-”

“Don't...” Letting him tear himself down wasn't something you could stand. “You're doing better than anyone would dream.” Your hand reached over and squeezed his. Offering a bit of comfort. Not knowing how else to handle it all. “Take care of yourself, too...Eat. Try to sleep. Take your time to clear your head.”

“You could stand to do that, yourself, Y/N...” He swallowed tightly. His own guilt raising its head. He'd been so stuck inside his own mind that he'd missed all the warning signs. How slow you moved. Raw pain lining your features. All of it amplified by how long it had been ignored. “Go... get some sleep. We can start looking for someone else to take over, tomorrow...if that's what you really want.”

With that, he led himself to his room. Leaving you to rest on the couch. Trying to decide if that's what you really needed.

–

“Morning, sleepy,” You whisked the batter. Working to get it as smooth as you could. Zeppelin rubbed his eyes deeply. The green dinosaur pajamas seemed shorter than they'd been the night before. He was growing fast. He'd need more soon. “Blueberries in your pancakes?” A tired nod was your answer as Arrow trailed behind in her favorite Elsa covered nightgown. “Chocolate chips?” Another sleepy, head bob followed. Justice Jay wasn't quite as easy. She was filled with seven year old independence. Ignoring the clothes you'd set out the night before in a way that only a strong headed child could. Instead, donning herself in a purple top with yellow leggings. Her hair, all but the back, brushed neatly. “Strawberries?”

“I can do it,” Her eyes turned up to look into yours. Demanding independence. After all, she was woman of the house, now.

You simply nodded, handing over a bowl of batter and the strawberries she wanted. They were pre-cut. All she had to do is mix the two together. You even let her flip them; feeling more than generous. It was the weekend, after all. And she needed to feel in control of something. Her mood increased slowly, but surely. Maybe I'm onto something...

“Smells good,” Jensen's lips smacked as he walked into the room, as you served up the first round of food.

His casual clothes were less wrinkled than the day before. He seemed more alert. Less like a bottle waiting to explode. The crying, despite how much everyone hated it, was good at clearing some of the pain. At least, enough to make everyone semi-functional.

“Good,” You gestured as you poured a bit of batter from each bowl onto the griddle. “Eat.”

“What about you?” His brows snapped together.

Gone was the mess he'd witnessed the night before. Mostly. The bags still rested beneath your eyes- something he hadn't noticed until tears had caught on them. However, he couldn't help but to zero in on every detail.

“I'll eat in a minute. I'm almost done.” The spatula waved his way. Killing any hope of him taking over. “Now, you eat.”

“Yes, ma'am,” He grumbled, sitting down with his children. Muttering about you being a bully to earn little giggles.

Slowly their personalities began emerging for what felt like the first time in forever. Zep was making zooming noises as he splashed his plane shaped- or as close to it as you could replicate- pancake into his syrup. Arrow was humming to herself, kicking her feet. Spreading more than enough butter across her crown shaped breaded breakfast- princesses were her current favorite thing. Dark hair bouncing on her head as she moved. Little J. Bird was telling her daddy about the animals they'd seen on their school outing the day before. And Jensen? He was enthralled. Giving her every bit of the attention she needed.

Your lips tugged up as you pictured Danneel watching over her family in the back. Her little content smile resting on her face as she looked at all of those she loved. She'd be leaning against the counter, ankles crossed with a headband holding back the hair that escaped her bun. Happy as a lark.

With a deep breath, you walked over to the table with the second plate to ensure that everyone got their helpings. When Jensen's eyes met yours again, he mouthed 'thank you'. You sent back a 'you're welcome' quietly before turning back to Zeppelin as he let out a mini roar, seeking the attention on him. In that moment, you understood. You weren't going anywhere...

Part Two

@winchester-ofthe-lord​

Dean/Jensen: @akshi8278​

Forever: @dean-winchesters-bacon​​ @supernaturalginger​​ @lilulo-12​ @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce​

#supernatural #SPN #supernatural fanfiction #spn fanfiction #Supernatural angst #spn angst #jensen #jensen ackles #jensen fanfiction #jensen ackles fanfiction #jensen ackles x reader #jensen x reader #jensen ackles x y/n #jensen ackles x you #jensen x y/n #jensen x you

[bunnies-n-bowties]

I wasn’t going to post this originally (because it’s drawn on my phone and it’s bad), but I’m going to anyway because I’m back in school and I don’t know when I’ll get to do another drawing. (Also it’s old, so I’m sorry.) 

Context to this drawing  AND THE ORIGINAL PLOT TO MY DIRECTOR D ASK BLOG BELOW (Warning, it’s long and boring.): 

Hello, and welcome to my long and boring context dbfvjdbjfv.

So in my Director D ask blog (which is on hiatus and I don’t know when I’ll get to it), there was a plot that I had in mind for it, but it never occurred either because I wasn’t motivated, or things got to complex. So I want to explain the overall plot to what would have happened just to give some context. Before I do that however I want to talk a bit about the characters involved and what state they are currently in to explain their behaviors or actions in the plot. 

Director “David” Dangerous:

Current State: As you all know, he has been rehired as, well, Director in HQ. Muddy decided that would be best because he ran it really well, and she wasn’t prepared for the job herself. She also wanted to give him a second chance. Because of this opportunity, he as gained a redemption arc and did his best to prove that he is a better person. (Which is he is, yay.) 

Backstory: Director has been an agent since he was a teen, and was eventually promoted to Director of HQ. (He had actual hair during this time.) During his training, he made a friend named Rose, who eventually became his girlfriend. However, when he was promoted, he became very valuable to other agencies (bad ones), and one day (to make this short), he went on a mission with Rose and other agents, and...Rose didn’t make it. She, in heroism, jumped in front of Director before he could get shot by one of the criminals. This was really devastating to Director because this was his first love interest, and he blames himself for her death. Throughout the years after, his hair slowly fell out, and he became the Director we first meet. (Not current.) Which explains why he avoids getting attached to people or even show any affection. Yes, he is single. 

Dr. “Harvey” Hare:

Yeah um...he’s still part of this story because he was apart of it originally, but he doesn’t really play a big part anymore. I don’t have an exact redemption arc for him, but he’s good now and is trying to blend in with society (which is hard when you were a villain before and you are literally a rabbit hybrid). He’s living a normal life. Currently, he is single, because he was dating Mordred, but they broke up. (Don’t worry! They both agreed it was for the best and are friends now.) Harvey is now trying his best to support Mordred during his affections toward Director and helps him upgrade his robotic half when he needs them. I am not sure if he will eventually have someone, but if he does he will probably end up with Raven. (Don’t @ me, I kinda like that ship.) 

Backstory:

You guys know this one! X3

and Finally...The one you guys have been waiting for for...(Bored yet?)

Binary “Mordred” Bard:

Current State: Bard is...oof. He doesn’t exactly have a redemption arc because he’s doesn’t care, at all. He’s...neutral. He’s not planning any bad schemes, that for sure, but he’s really rude and HATES affection. He’s also living a normal life, and mostly sleeps during the day if he doesn’t have any plans. (Which of course, most of the time, he doesn’t. He learned from Merlin.) During the night, however, he continues his study of the stars and keeps a journal of his findings, which actually brings him joy. (Which is why he does it when no one is looking.) Surprisingly, because the whole reason he’s a grumpy person and hates interaction is because of all the time he spent in space, but he doesn’t blame the stars for that. They were his only company, after all. After the break up with Dr. Hare, his grumpiness got worse, and even before this he was in rivalry with Director (who at the time had feelings for Dr. Hare as well). They broke up because Bard starting to develop feelings for someone else, and Dr. Hare thought it would be best because he didn’t want to be part of this rivalry anymore. (He didn’t want either of them hurt, in other words.) Who’s that new person?....Wow! How did you guess it? It’s Raven- no it’s Director. He has feelings for Director now. He developed feelings for THE ONE PERSON that did not show any affection toward him...ironic. Boom, want to get to him? Hate him back. (Joking please don’t.) However, he pushes these feelings down and continues on with his life. (More grumpiness, woo!)

Backstory:

You guys also know this one. owo 

Now, onto the plot of my blog. (I can’t believe you are still reading this. I am so sorry.)

So basically as some of you might have seen, (or not because I deleted the posts dnjfkvndkjf), Director got overworked and took the week off. He looked horrible.

He was going to be taken care of by his butler James (who’s actually younger than him). But, during this time, Bard decided that enough was enough, and he wanted to tell Director the truth and get it over with. However, when he got to HQ, Muddy told him Director was sick and left. He left, but to Director mansion. He used the excuse to help Director feel better during the week. (Such as feeding him, and give him medicine.)

On the final day, he was going to tell him how he felt. Now here is where we get a bit complicated. 

Director’s Answer:

The big reveal! As some of you might have hoped for... there are two endings. I’ll go over the good ending first because it’s short and sweet.

Good ending: 

Director says yes, decides to give Mordred an actual redemption arc, and he eventually becomes a better person. After a couple of years, they get married and live under Director’s mansion. Happily ever after. (I can’t wait to draw wedding drawings eventually!) 

Bad ending:

This explains the picture above. This ending ends up with Director saying he’s not ready for a relationship, and that he still has mixed feelings toward Bard. Bard is okay at first, (”I’m fine, I’m fine it’s cool.”) but because of all that compression of his feelings toward Director, Director’s answer triggers a virus Mordred develops because of said compression...and he loses his sanity. He’s become obsessed, but not by choice. He kidnaps Director, Muddy (by herself or by the help of other agents who would have helped via questions on my blog)  save him, and fight Modred. Eventually, they are (Director with the help of Dr. Hare) are able to reboot him back to normal after the fight, and he returns to a miserable life. The end. :3

“But Jay, which ending was going to be the actual ending to their story arc?”

...

You know, I wish I could answer that. I am writing out their story because come on, this was not going to be drawn out. I know myself, and that was not going to happen, I am so sorry. XD I apologize you had to read all that just for a *shrug* I don’t know. You can decide what happens to them. If you made it this far, thank you for dealing with my dumb plot and writing. Please ask me questions about the story!! I would love to answer them I am sure I left some points out that might not make any sense. (Or make me choose an ending! XD I don’t know.) But yeah.

That’s their fate, and the context of this drawing. 

#binary bard #director d #poptropica #bad ending #my art #fanart #bunnies 'n' bowties #phone art #wow that took me forever to type out #please ask me questions if you have any!! #but yes #this is what was going to happen to them #i didn't even bring muddy into this because she has a whole story of her own #omg #ndjfnvdkjnfdkj #corrupt!mordred is what i will tag this if i draw him again #corrupt!mordred

[artificialqueens]

blouses (pt 1) (rajila) - evan

“I said I was a blouse, bitch, a blouse. A blouse is a feminine top. It’s silky, it’s smooth, it’s got a really beautiful blushy color to it, but it fucks you the hell—it’s a blouse, you know what I mean? It’s a blouse!” (x)

“And Manila, we’re both… I think she’s a blouse too. She might be an off-the-shoulder blouse.” (x)

In which two tops don’t make a bottom. Raja and Manila non-au smut. 5.2k words. Part one of two, with eventual Ravjila ;)

Find me on my blog or ao3, both @formercongressman! I’d love to hear your feedback. xoxo evan

An accidental kiss backstage. That was how this whole fiasco started.

They were performing back-to-back at a club in San Francisco. Raja had just finished her last number, giving one last twirl in the long luscious dress she had made before blowing a kiss to the audience and ducking behind the curtain. She quickly found Manila in the darkness.

“You were absolutely amazing,” Manila told her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. However, Raja turned unexpectedly, and their lips met. Manila opened her eyes, doubly surprised as she felt Raja’s mouth soften against hers in an honest-to-god kiss. Something, and she wasn’t quite sure what, clicked in her gut. Oh.

“Next up, everybody give it up for miss Manila Luzon!”

They broke apart as Manila heard the host read her name. Her music started playing and she felt like she couldn’t quite catch her breath. Raja smiled at her, almost as if nothing had happened. “Well? Get out there!” she laughed, pushing Manila towards the stage.

She walked out, put on a brilliant smile, but inside her head was racing. She started lip syncing, mostly running on autopilot. What was that? She tried to push past it, but the memory of Raja’s lips warm and willing against her own still lingered. Part of her wanted to walk back off stage, back Raja into an unlit corner and lick her way into that mouth, wrap her fingers tightly in that long hair, and—

Her mind suddenly caught up with her body and she realized her mouth wasn’t moving. She was at the top of the second verse of the song, but couldn’t for the life of her remember the words. God damn it. She faked it as best she could as she tried to listen to the track over the booming bass and the shouting from the audience. She quickly hopped back on the words once they came to her, but she knew people had noticed. There would be a video online tomorrow. She threw a smile back on her face, but she knew it didn’t reach her eyes.

The song ended and she waved at the audience before quickly ducking off stage. Raja had disappeared and her skin was crawling, though she wasn’t sure if that was from the post-performance rush, the embarrassment of fucking up the words, or from being just a little turned on. Embarrassment. Frustration. She told herself to focus on that as she marched back towards the dressing rooms, intent on giving Raja a piece of her mind.

Their shared dressing room was less of a room and more of a converted supply closet where someone had set up a card table and a full length mirror as overflow space from the regular dressing room. Manila walked in to find Raja leaning over the mirror, long hair pushed to one side as she removed her 301s.

“You were great out there,” Raja said, her eyes flashing briefly to Manila in the mirror, though she remained focused on her lash.

“You think? Did you see the part where I completely blanked on the words?” Manila shut the door and crossed her arms.

“Yes I did.”

“And you thought that was great?”

Raja smiled. “I thought it was cute.”

Manila sighed and settled into a folding chair, not flattered. “I looked unprepared. You picked a really weird time to try to tank my career, bitch.”

Raja turned around and raised an eyebrow, her small smile still hinting at the corner of her mouth. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You kissed me out of nowhere!”

“I’m pretty sure you kissed me.”

“I wasn’t trying to.”

“Was it really that bad? That it threw off your whole performance?” Raja turned back to the mirror to wipe away some makeup.

Manila was silent, looking down and picking off her nails. She knew Raja was joking, but she couldn’t tell why something still felt off. She could sense the ghost of the kiss on her lips again, and a kind of sudden and all-consuming enchantment that tugged at her insides, that she had never felt for Raja before. They had kissed once at a show right after season 3, a drunk and sloppy moment she now struggled to dig up fully from her memory. That had been what, more than five years ago? They had never been more than friends after that, though Manila found Raja to be one of the most talented, brilliant, and beautiful friends she had ever made.

Of course, Manila knew Raja was attractive. Sutan was attractive. That was just a rudimentary, essential fact of science and art. But mixing business and pleasure in this case just felt off the table. After knowing her for so long, Manila thought she was maybe immune to whatever psychosexual witchcraft Raja did every time she performed.

Well, maybe not.

“I think it’s the opposite, actually.” She stood up and walked towards the mirror, mustering the extra courage she needed to speak. The kiss, small as it was, kept playing in her mind over and over, and all she could think about was more.

Raja froze before slowly wiping away the last bit of eyeshadow on her face. She turned around, propping herself against the card table, her face worryingly blank. “What do you mean?” she asked.

What was Manila supposed to say? ‘I’m not sure why but I really want to fuck you’ seemed a bit heavy handed, so instead she listened to the whirring energy rolling around in her chest. It pushed her towards Raja as she cupped her jaw and pulled her back into a kiss.

Manila immediately felt Raja smile against her mouth. This coy bitch, Manila thought to herself. As oblivious as Raja might act, she knew exactly what was going on.

Raja kissed her back with the kind of certainty that made Manila wonder if maybe this had been part of her plan all along. She felt Raja’s hands grip tightly on her waist and pull her closer. It was then she realized that they were both in varyingly deconstructed stages of half-drag, but that wasn’t her primary concern at the moment. Raja’s tongue crept into her mouth, predictably confident yet surprisingly sweet as she ran her thumb along Manila’s jaw.

The thing that hit Manila hardest, though, was that even though she and Raja had never been this intimate before, it didn’t feel like kissing a stranger. Of course Raja’s tongue was precise and insistent, of course her touch was like water, of course she seemed to be drawing Manila into her with some kind of magic. That was just… Raja.

Raja’s hand was on her thigh, and she didn’t realize it was slowly creeping further up until her fingers hooked under the edge of Manila’s short dress.

“I need to…” Manila pulled back, now painfully aware of her tuck and her pads and her smearing makeup. What was a tactful way to say that she wanted to touch every inch of Raja’s skin but not in this broom closet? “I need to wash this off of my face.”

There was a pause. Raja stood and righted herself, twisting her disheveled hair back into place. Manila could hear her catching her breath. After a moment reassessing where they were, Raja finally spoke. “My hotel isn’t far from here. Couple of blocks, we could walk. If you wanted to shower.”

Raja’s eyes said so much more and Manila felt weak. She felt hungry. The distance between them now was acutely unbearable. Raja was wearing a long, sheer cape, and Manila caught herself thinking about crawling inside it with her.

“Yeah?” she asked instead, noting her own ragged breath. “Just to shower?”

“If that’s all you want.”

Manila stepped towards her, slowly tracing a single finger from Raja’s cheek down her neck, over her collarbone, and across her chest. The air was thick with so much unsaid and the heat radiating off of Raja’s skin.  

“That’s not all I want.”

Raja smiled broadly, confidence brimming at the edges of her eyes. “I know. Let’s go.”

–

There was no such thing as a casual walk to a hotel to fuck your friend. Sutan knew this from experience. No matter who it was, he could always feel the anticipation that would hang tangibly in the air between them. He loved that tension, though, that almost-but-not-quite, and he let it carry him down the street to the hotel.

He wasn’t quite sure what had come over Karl, but he liked it. Maybe a lot. That first kiss tonight had been nothing more than a peck, but he was amazed by how little it had taken to send Karl into this state. If he had known that earlier, he would have “accidentally” kissed him long ago. There had never been that mutual alignment of desire with him like there had been with Raven or Detox or Morgan, so he figured that Karl wasn’t into him like that. But he had thought about it, wanted it, even. And now Karl was dripping with chaotic energy and Sutan was always, always willing to fall into bed with a friend.

Sutan worried briefly when Karl tensed as Sutan draped a protective arm around his shoulder as they got to the hotel, wondering if perhaps he was second guessing himself. However, his fears dissolved as soon as the elevator doors shut and Karl pressed him into a corner and kissed him again, mouth hot and assertive, as the floor numbers climbed. He felt for a moment that this might be a dream, and leaned into it, kissing him back.

As soon as the elevator slowed to a halt on his floor and they pulled apart, Sutan felt a smile creeping across his face. He covered it but failed to suppress his laughter.

“What?” Karl asked, cracking a smile of his own.

I just can’t believe this is finally happening.

“Nothing. It’s this one.” Sutan pointed across the hall and swiped them in with the hotel keycard.

He had barely had time to toss his luggage into the room before the gig, and it was the first time he was getting a good look at the room. It was standard but roomy, with a substantial bed and, he realized as he flicked the lights on, a beautiful view of the alley.

“Do you mind if I just…” Karl motioned towards the bathroom.

“Go ahead,” Sutan said. He relaxed into the bed and listened to the water come on.

For a moment he thought about joining Karl in the shower, as both a chance to freshen up himself and maybe eat Karl’s ass, but shower sex was always better in theory than in practice. Instead he grabbed a robe out of the closet, stripped off his post show garb, and slipped into it. Intrigue. Mystique. Comfort.

“I forgot to grab clothes, can I borrow some of yours?” Karl called from the bathroom. He poked his head out of the door in a cloud of steam, all of Manila washed off his face and his black hair wet and hanging over his eyes. “Oh my god, of course you travel with a robe.”

“It’s the hotel’s. There’s another one. Want it?” Sutan got up, wrestled the other robe from its hanger, and thrust it towards the bathroom door. Karl had narrowed it to just a sliver open, but Sutan could see a long line of his skin, stretching from his ass to his collarbone.

Of course he had seen Karl naked before, but only to then throw on pads and tights. He had never seen his body and wanted it like this, though, and he felt a tightness stir below his stomach. He would be putting on a hotel robe just to take it off, and certainly it would just be more efficient to push right into the bathroom and take him right there—

“Thank you,” Karl said as he took the robe, his small smile just briefly visible through the crack in the door before he pulled it shut again.

Sutan laid back on the bed, trying to keep his mind from running away from him. Easier said than done. He thought about that sliver of skin and how much skin surrounded it, and all the places his mouth could go.

When Karl walked out of the bathroom, he perched on the end of the bed, still too far for Sutan to touch. Though it had been for just a moment, Sutan caught a quick glimpse of the outline of Karl’s erection, which the robe was doing no favors to hide.

“What are you thinking about?” Karl asked.

“You, mostly.” Sutan propped himself up on his elbows.

Karl turned and climbed on the bed. “What about me?” He threw a leg over Sutan’s knees, effectively straddling him, and settling into his lap. Sutan was very aware of his own erection now, and he wondered if Karl was too.

“Just this.” Sutan eased up and brought his hands softly to Karl’s back, reveling for a moment in how well they seemed to fit, and then ever so slowly guiding him down to his lips.

This kiss was tentative, soft, and wholly overwhelming. It was nothing like the rushed, quasi-frantic kisses that had led to this point. They kissed like they had time. The newness, the freshness, the incredulity of it all coagulated in his chest, thickening with every slip of Karl’s tongue against his.

Karl smelled like lemon verbena hotel shampoo and, well, Karl. Something familiar.

They broke as tenuously as they had come together. Their mouths hovered a centimeter apart, and Sutan breathed in that air thick with need and willingness and tension, a voice calling out for more, a thin sheet of ice ready to crack

“You don’t have to be gentle,” Sutan whispered, and in that moment the earth could have split in two below them and he wouldn’t have noticed. Karl pushed him firmly back into the pillows and he was falling, falling, falling.

Karl kissed him with a kind of voracity he hadn’t thought to expect. He bit Sutan’s lower lip, then his jaw and down to his neck, definitely strong enough to leave marks. Sutan surged up to match him. It felt like trying to steer a tornado, but he knew he could do that and more. He fixed a strong hand on the back of Karl’s neck, holding him in place and dragging his tongue against the back of Karl’s teeth. He felt Karl’s back arch as he tried and failed to suppress a moan. Exactly.

Karl worked open Sutan’s robe, tracing hands over his body, and Sutan shuddered at how good it felt to be touched by him like this, to have Karl’s hands in places he had never felt them before. He pulled off Karl’s robe as well, breaking away momentarily to marvel at his skin, the places where it creased, and suddenly Sutan couldn’t be touching enough of him at once.

He pulled Karl’s body tightly against his, feeling him hot and firm and right there. Sutan rolled his hips up and they both let out a breathy oh at the feeling of skin against skin, and Sutan nearly pitched forward at the much-needed contact against his cock.

Sutan seized control of the moment, flipping them so that he was pinning Karl down, pressing his wrists into the mattress.

“Please, I need to touch you,” Karl practically whined, straining against Sutan’s grip.

“I want to look at you. Don’t move.”

Karl sighed but stayed put. Sutan drew his fingers down Karl’s body, softly tracing the lines he had seen glimpses of earlier. He was so compact, yet lithe, and he savored the way Karl seemed to lean his body into Sutan’s touch. His hands settled on Karl’s ass, and he could only think about how hard he had tried not to fantasize about doing exactly this for so long. Even better, Karl’s whole body jerked when Sutan finally wrapped a hand around his cock, stroking him slowly, in time with Karl’s little breathy sounds.

“Please, Sutan, you look so beautiful and it’s actual torture not to let me touch you.”

“You’re lucky that flattery works on me,” Sutan smiled as he relented, softening back down onto Karl’s body, meeting his mouth again. He felt Karl’s hands on his back, nails surprisingly sharp as his fingers dug into Sutan’s skin. He hoped that left a mark as well. He picked up the pace, pumping Karl faster. He bit Sutan’s lip so hard when he circled his thumb to gather the wetness forming on the head of his cock that Sutan almost cried out himself.

“Let me try something,” Karl managed, and surprised Sutan when he pushed his hand out of the way. Karl repositioned himself so that their cocks were side by side, and encircled them both with his hand.

Sutan was immediately hit with a rush of the newness of Karl’s grip. He had been so focused on Karl that he had almost forgotten about himself. Karl rolled his hips as he stroked them both, and that was the sensation he had been craving.

Sutan buried his head in Karl’s shoulder, now unable to hold back noises he knew were obscene. The drag of their cocks together was unbelievable, the pace of Karl’s hand was only quickening.

“So beautiful,” Karl whispered in his ear.

He felt a tension welling in his hips, threatening to release, and he knew he needed to be deep inside Karl now.

“I’m – fuck – I’m not gonna last much longer if you keep this up,” Sutan managed to choke out.

Karl pulled back with a smile, obviously proud of himself. He pulled back his hand, leaving Sutan on the edge. “Do you have condoms? Lube?”

Sutan tried to catch his breath and pointed across the room. “That suitcase, outer pocket.”

As Karl went to retrieve them, Sutan lay back and caught his breath, letting the electricity he felt dazzling on his skin settle in. This is what it felt like, planets coming into alignment at just the right time, possibility and promise opening up.

He thought about Karl rolling the condom onto him with his mouth, of getting to work him open slowly, Karl lowering himself onto Sutan’s cock and riding him while Sutan rolled his hips slowly, too slowly, before flipping him over and fucking him into the mattress. He got so swept away in this, in fact, that he didn’t realize until Karl was hovering over him again that Karl was rolling the condom onto himself.

“Woah, wait, hold up.” Sutan sat up, forming an uncomfortable gulf of space between their bodies. “Karl, are you trying to fuck me?”

Karl’s jaw dropped as he looked between them. “Bitch, what did you think was going on here?”

“I mean, obviously we’re having sex but… I don’t bottom.” Surely he and Karl had talked about this at some point, right? Sutan had been saying he was a blouse, a feminine top, for a while now; in fact he said it often because he thought it was clever as hell.

“I thought you did sometimes.”

“No. I mean, it’s been…” Sutan didn’t want to say more than a decade out loud. “I haven’t since before Drag Race.”

“Oh. Well.” Karl looked uncomfortable, and he pulled the half-applied condom off self-consciously.

Sutan tried to look at him hopefully, though it felt like something was slipping away. “But I’d still really like to—"

“I don’t bottom either.” Karl cut him off abruptly. “I know I might not seem like it right now, because… well, god, Sutan, you make me nervous and when you touch me I feel like I’m going to explode and I just want to make you feel good, but… I don’t know if I can do that.”

“Do you want to stop?” The pit had dropped out of his stomach and he scrambled to find what had gone wrong. He had been too coy. He had led him in to thinking this would go differently. Fuck. “Or do you want to try it?”

“Well, I mean…” Karl hesitated, clearly conflicted. “Yeah, I mean, I guess, sure. You can fuck me.” Karl forced a smile but there was none of the same light in his eyes.

“No, no. If it makes you uncomfortable, no.” Normally, Sutan would have tried a bit harder to encourage someone to try something different, to make someone want it, like he had that first time with David. But this was Karl, and Karl was different. “Come up here.”

He felt Karl relax as he settled in next to him, tucking his head against Sutan’s shoulder. He slipped his arm around his friend’s waist.

“I’m sorry,” Karl whispered. “Was this a bad idea?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” Sutan was being honest.

“If I made exceptions, I would make one for you.” Karl’s voice was soft. “For what it’s worth.”

“Same here.”

They lingered in the silence for a moment, Karl tracing absent patterns on to Sutan’s chest.

“I still want you,” Karl said finally.

Sutan kissed him in response, slow and solemn. That electricity on his skin still tingled. He wanted Karl too, badly, any way he could have him.

“I might have a compromise. For right now. If it’s okay.” Sutan kissed his way down Karl’s body, reveling in the drag of his lips against Karl’s skin, biting lightly on his hipbones before turning to his still half-hard cock. Karl moaned as Sutan ghosted his mouth over Karl’s length, his tongue just barely grazing it experimentally.

“Yes, please,” Karl breathed, his hips fighting against the tight grip of Sutan’s hands. “I want that, I need that.”

He took Karl fully in his mouth, smiling around him as Karl gasped and pushed further into his mouth. He sucked slowly, working his hand and mouth together, finding so much pleasure in the way Karl jerked and shuddered beneath him. And god, it felt right to have Karl squirming underneath him, but he was taking things a different direction. Sutan pulled back from Karl, leaving him frustrated and needy.

“I want you to fuck my face.” The corner of Sutan’s mouth crept up in a smile as Karl’s hips cut forward at his words alone.

Karl looked stunned but delighted, more than ready to run with it. “You’re sure?”

Sutan guided Karl’s hand to his hair, lacing Karl’s fingers in a tight fist. He nodded yes, his mouth full of Karl’s once-again hard cock.

Karl experimentally pushed on Sutan’s head, bobbing him up and down. He wrapped his hand tighter in Sutan’s hair, and Sutan hummed appreciatively. Karl pulled him in deeper, and then deeper still. It was a beautiful day to not have much of a gag reflex, Sutan thought, as he felt Karl’s cock graze the back of his throat.

Karl began moving his hips and Sutan relaxed his throat, letting the quickening rhythm of Karl’s thrusts grow. He looked up at Karl and god his face was so expressive but he had never seen it contorted in pleasure like this before. Sutan could almost read his mind, or thought he could. He moaned through the times he couldn’t quite breathe, which only pushed Karl on further.

Normally Sutan didn’t get off on the whole dynamic of being used. But that was not quite what this felt like. It was the thought of telling Karl what to do, guiding his hand to his hair, showing him just how hard to pull… that was control in its own right. That thought lodged in his chest and throbbed with every movement of Karl’s hips.

Karl pulled back briefly and Sutan was able to pull in a full breath. “Sutan, I think I’m gonna—"

“Cum down my throat,” Sutan commanded, noting that his own voice had gotten raspy.

“You’re serious?” Karl’s eyes already blown wide only got wider.

Sutan just smiled as he took Karl back into his mouth, sinking as far down as he could. Karl nearly growled as he started thrusting almost frantically, and Sutan let himself be pulled along at Karl’s will.

“Fuck, fuck,” Karl keened and then he was coming, slamming hard into Sutan’s mouth once more, pulling painfully hard on his hair. He felt Karl spill inside of him, his cum seeping down his throat and spreading white hot through his whole body. Sutan could have sworn the lights flickered in the room as a rush enveloped him.

“Oh my god,” Karl breathed, releasing Sutan as he collapsed onto the bed, chest heaving. “That was…. Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Sutan took a much-needed deep breath. He wiped a spot of cum off the corner of his mouth with his thumb and licked it clean, savoring the salty and heavy and uniquely Karl taste on his tongue. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. Probably.”

Sutan chuckled, proud of how absolutely wrecked he had left Karl.

“Do you… want the same thing?” Karl asked after a few more heavy breaths.

“Maybe, but I kind of like watching you do all the work.”

Karl rolled his eyes, smiling.

“What? I like it! You’re an enthusiastic lover.”

“Lover.” Karl shook his head as he repeated Sutan’s words. A breathless shudder crawled up his chest. “You’re doing something to me,” Karl whispered. He leaned over Sutan and kissed him gently, graciously, and then fiercely.

When Karl pulled Sutan’s cock into his mouth, Sutan felt the whole room slip away. There was nothing more than their bodies sliding together, the tight, wet heat of Karl’s mouth, his nails clawing just above Sutan’s ass. The surge of pleasure almost forced his eyes shut, but he struggled to keep them open, to keep them locked on Karl.

“God, you look so good like this,” Sutan growled, tracing his hand over Karl’s hollowed cheeks. His eyes were bright, and Sutan wondered if Karl was getting off on this the same way he had when he was in Karl’s position.  

He rolled his hips, pushing deeper into Karl’s mouth, feeling his throat tighten around him.

“You’re being so good for me, babe, so good,” he murmured encouragingly,

“I’m gonna—oh—” Sutan barely managed to get the words out. Karl pulled him out of his mouth and worked him at a blistering pace, exactly what Sutan needed. The world behind Sutan’s eyes flashed deep red, black and white, and silvery lavender as his orgasm hit him hard. He watched as Karl guided his cock so the cum splashed across Karl’s face, dripping into his slightly parted lips and pooling on his chest.

Sutan ran his palm flat over Karl’s chest, smearing the cum across his chest in a long, sheer arc.

“You’re disgusting,” Karl teased.

Sutan smiled as the room started to come back to him. The bed, the walls, his best friend. “Let me clean you off,” he offered, trying to stand on shaky legs.

Karl made a small disapproving noise, grabbing Sutan’s wrist. “I’m taking another shower and you’re coming with me.” He smiled and Sutan let himself be led to the bathroom, still partially on a different, post-orgasm plane.

Sutan had cum on a lot of faces in his life. Many of those faces weren’t necessarily attached to names, and many of them walked out of his hotel room door after wiping themselves off on a pillowcase. He couldn’t remember a single time when it had resulted in him rubbing slow, soapy circles across another man’s chest, both of them laughing at the wonderful absurdity of their situation. Karl’s kisses on the back of his shoulder mixed with the warm drizzle of the shower and Sutan was so swept away in serenity that for a brief flash of time he couldn’t imagine things any other way.

Sutan crawled back into the bed, wet hair wrapped in a towel, burying himself in the comfort of the many pillows.

“It’s three in the morning,” Karl remarked as he looked at his phone.

“Mmm, bedtime,” Sutan murmured.

Karl shifted uncomfortably in the corner of Sutan’s vision. “Um, can I borrow some real clothes this time? To walk to my hotel?”

Sutan sat up, suddenly alert. “You’re leaving?”

Karl didn’t meet his eyes. “I mean, I figured you’d want—"

“Come here.” Sutan reached out towards Karl, willing him to come to bed. Karl crawled in next to him with a small smirk, and they were skin-to-skin again.

Karl nuzzled in under Sutan’s arm and Sutan pulled him closer, and he was hit with a sudden wash of familiarity. They had laid together like this many times before, sometimes in the back of an Uber when the sun was coming up after a night out, or when they were stoned on Sutan’s couch as they dreamed up new costume ideas. The gentle kiss that Karl now pressed to his throat didn’t feel so uncharacteristic.

“I’m sorry I tried to put my dick in you.” Karl’s sleepy voice was soft in his ear.

“I’m sorry I thought you were a bottom,” Sutan chuckled. He thought of Karl’s frantic energy, his tight grip on his hair, his confident hand around both of their cocks. “I get it now.”

A million more thoughts ran through Sutan’s mind. What could he say to show him that he wanted more without sounding like he was assuming there would be a next time? He really wanted a next time. He hadn’t had enough, and wasn’t quite sure what would be enough, but he wanted to chase after that concept if Karl would let him.  

“I’m trying to think,” Karl started, “of a way that it would be possible for both of us to, like… Well, for both of us to top at the same time. Is that mathematically possible?”

Sutan tried to think, coming up mostly blank. Maybe they could try sixty-nining, see if they could get each other off at the same time. That had been fun with David, but he loved watching Karl’s face so much and there had to be some other way.

And just like that it came to him. Of course. It was a devious idea, definitely on the outskirts of the conceivable, but their whole situation was just outlandish enough to require an equally outlandish solution.

“Okay. I have an idea and it’s crazy.”

“Oh yeah?”

Sutan paused, turning over in his mind the best way to go about this. “What are your thoughts on threeways?”

“Generally positive?”

“Well, imagine…” Sutan himself tried not to imagine too vividly, “Imagine somebody in between us. Somebody for both of us.” He couldn’t help but shudder at the thought of feeling Karl fuck somebody else and tried to suppress it.

A smile crept up into Karl’s eyes. “That’s brilliant. Yes, oh my god, I want that.” He kissed Sutan’s temple and nuzzled closer. “Honestly, I thought you would say something crazier.“

“That’s not everything.”

“Oh?”

“Because there’s a question of who, right? Whatever’s going on here is already weird enough, and if this is going to happen we have to be careful.”

“We could hold auditions,” Karl suggested.

Sutan partially hoped Karl would just guess so he wouldn’t have to say it. “There’s somebody who I am also… engaged with… who owes me a favor.”

Karl hesitated. “Who?”

Sutan bit his lip and went for it.

“How do you feel about Raven?”

#raja gemini #manila luzon #rajila #smut #evan #rpdr fanfiction #blouses #canon compliant

[someinvisible-string]

Magnificent and Furious Ch. 10

Summary: After many years, rumors swirl that the Evil Queen is back and filled with more vengeance than ever. But instead of setting her sights on Snow White she goes for the thing  Snow loves most, her beloved daughter Emma. For her own safety, Emma is to be transported to safety on an unassuming merchant ship, where she meets two indentured servants hoping for a way to find their freedom

A/N: I am so so SO sorry about the late chapter update, I'm going on my 6th day in a row of opening at my job and I've been exhausted and I totally forgot to post yesterday. But I hope this extra long and action-packed chapter makes up for it! Huge props to @justanotherwannabeclassic for betaing this chapter and helping me make it as good as it can be! Also as always be sure to go to my blog and check out the chapter header @princesse-swan made!

CW: battle, but not like game of thrones level violence, more like The 100 or The Hunger Games level of violence

last chapter/ AO3

picset

Emma woke the next morning to Killian pressing soft kisses to her shoulders and collarbone, she giggled when he brushed over where her neck met her shoulder.

“Someone’s awake,” he smiled. She rolled over nestling her head on his shoulder, fingers absentmindedly trailing over his chest. The day’s plans started to sink into her. “Hey,” Killian said tapping her on the shoulder. “You’re going to be great today.”

She nodded, letting out a long breath. “Well, I guess we should get up then.”

“Hold on there,” he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, leaning into her ear and whispering. “Last night was…”

“Incredible,” she smiled.

“Aye, that it was. But I just need to know, why last night?” Emma could see his unasked question in his eyes. Did she want to make love to him because it was going to be her one and possibly only chance to?

“Because, it all clicked for me,” she ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re really in this for the long haul, and it’s a longer haul than we both expected. And I know that you’re to be with me through it all.” She took a deep breath, “And I know that I love you and that when this is over whether that be 3 months, 3 years, or 3 decades from now I will still want you by my side for whatever adventure awaits us.”

Killian’s soft smile grew larger, “I love you too and I vow that I’ll be right here with you no matter what.” He tilted her head up, his kiss was tender and soft. Emma let that kiss fortify and strengthen her for the day ahead.

“Let’s do this,” she whispered as they broke apart. He chuckled and rolled over, fetching his clothes from where they were scattered across the tent, throwing hers in her direction.

The air was still cool and the grass still dotted with dew as Emma and Killian trudged across the camp in search of breakfast. A few people from each faction had come together and restarted last night’s fire, the scent of ham smoking slowly making its way throughout the camp.

“Good morning,” Elsa smiled at them as they approached. She was perched on a log, daintily eating some fresh berries. Merida sat beside her digging into her plate of ham with gusto.  

“Morning,” Emma smiled stretched tight over her mouth. She noticed her friends’ eyes flicking over to Killian. She could practically see them putting two and two together and when Elsa and Merida looked at her with wide eyes she couldn’t help the blush rising on her cheeks. She and Killian sat down next to them, plates of food balanced on their laps as they tried to make small talk. As the sun rose more and more people gathered around them, nervous energy soon filling the camp. No one wanted to sit still, the blacksmiths worked on sharpening razor-sharp weapons, archers tested their bows and examined their arrows with frantic attention, Emma sat her knee jiggling up and down.

A loud caw broke through the hustle and bustle of the camp; Emma looked up, her raven from last night fluttered down to her, a scroll tied to his leg.

“Well, what does it say?” Merida asked as Emma unfurled the scroll.

“She’s agreed to the parlay,” Emma said, her voice shaking. This was it, it was now or never. “I’m to meet with her at the prearranged spot by midday.”

“Emma!” Roland said running up to the campfire, flanked by Robin and a few merrymen and Merida’s archers. “I have some pretty important news, we all snuck down to Regina’s castle and-”

“I didn't tell you to do that!” Emma bristled. “What if you were seen? What if Regina hurt any of you?”

“She didn’t and you said you needed us for reconnaissance so we went out and you really need to hear this. Regina has men, loads of them. Way more than she could get if she was just ripping out their hearts and controlling them.”

“She has allies? But how? Who in their right mind would ally themselves with her?” Merida asked.

“They were separated into factions,” Robin described. “One seemed to be made up of these big burly blokes with furs. Their flags had some purple and green and the soldiers seemed to be led by 13 generals.”

“The Southern Isles,” Elsa whispered. “They must have heard that Arendelle was joining you Emma and joined Regina. They have been trying to overthrow my kingdom ever since I took the throne.”

“Who’s in the other faction?” Killian asked.

“They had flags with dragons on them, a big sword down the middle with 2 on either side. But that’s all I could really get from them, I’m sorry,” Roland explained.

“That has to be Camelot,” Emma said stunned. Camelot while never a strong ally, was also never hostile with Misthaven. “Why would Arthur join Regina?”

“Perhaps they have some sort of agreement between them?” Killian offered. “He helps her here, she helps later down the line.”

“Regina doesn’t exactly work like that,” Emma bit down on her thumbnail nervously. “Something isn’t right about this but there’s not much we can do right now to figure it out. Regina agreed to the parlay but I’m not going to be so naive as to think she won’t go in without backup. I say we move out, get into the formations I went over last night.”

“Agreed your highness, all right, men!” General Abarca boomed out. Emma tried to hide her surprise at his approval. “Get ready to move out.” All around them, King Thomas’s men scurried about, some wolfing down food, others running back to their tents to get their armor on.

“Emma, I have something for you,” Elsa said taking her hand. She could feel her friend’s hand shaking, Emma squeezed her hand tight hoping to comfort her slightly. “Follow me, it’s back at my tent, Killian can come too,” she smiled knowingly. The four of them walked quickly to Elsa’s tent, Elsa still holding on to Emma’s hand tightly, Emma couldn’t tell if it was she or Elsa who was shaking.

“What is it?” Emma asked.

“You’ll see,” she said quickening her pace to put some distance between them and Killian and Merida. “Now tell me about your friend Killian.”

The question felt so out of place for what they were all planning on doing later that day that Emma couldn’t help but laugh. “Sorry I just wasn’t expecting that,” she giggled and held her friend’s hand tighter. “He’s… well, I don’t quite know what to describe him as. He’s smart and kind, and he’s stuck by me throughout this whole adventure.”

“And?” Elsa said, her excitement palpable.

“And I love him,” Emma turned her head to look back at Killian who was being interrogated by Merida. He nervously scratched behind his ear but caught her looking at him and smiled softly at her.

“I’m really happy for you, Emma,” Elsa said, squeezing her hand and pushing her way through the flap of her tent. Inside was spacious, just enough room for the four of them and a blacksmith who was polishing some armor. The breastplate shone brightly, the plates extending up to cover the collar and shoulders. Matching gauntlets shone on a nearby table with a new shield polished bright enough that Emma could see her reflection in it.

“Oh, Elsa, this is beautiful,” Emma said in wonder, holding up the gauntlets for a closer look.

“You like it?”

“Of course, this work is exquisite,” Emma responded, looking down at the shield. “But these flowers, those aren’t your insignia?”

“No, they’re yours,” Elsa smiled. “It’s yours.”

“Elsa I can’t,” Emma stuttered.

“I’m not letting my best friend walking into a parlay with the queen without something to protect herself,” Elsa said firmly.

“You’d have to be daft to go in there with nothing but that vest on,” Merida piped up.

“And I can’t say I disagree with them,” Killian said.

“Killian, I didn’t know you were coming, so I don’t have anything that will be as fitted as this is,” Elsa gestured to Emma’s armor. “But I’m sure we have some pieces that’ll fit you well to give you some protection too.”

“You’re giving me armor?” he asked, stunned that someone would even feel bad for offering second-hand armor when he had nothing.

“Of course, I doubt Emma wants you down there with no protection,” Elsa shrugged.

“Can’t say I disagree,” Emma smirked.

Midday came, Emma waited in the pre-agreed spot, her eyes trained on the horizon. From atop her new steed, a bay colored mare the Merida’s camp had brought, she could see for miles. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, her nerves on edge, her mare pawing at the ground clearly feeling her rider’s tension. Emma tried not to have her new armor clink and clash against her shield and sword, it had been so long since she’d wielded a sword and shield while wearing armor that it took some getting used to. She had decided against the leg gauntlets, instead choosing to wear thick leather breeches so she’d be more mobile if she needed to make a quick dash up the mountain. She glanced over her shoulder, she knew Merida and the other Merrymen were hidden just out of sight and even further back Killian waited with General Abarca. She wished she could just look at him, she knew all her doubts and uncertainties would melt away if only she could look into his ocean blue eyes.

Up on the hill she finally saw movement, Regina also mounted on a black steed clad in decorative chainmail. She was flanked by two guards, one on each side. Emma’s heart sank, everything inside her screamed that this parlay was going to end in battle. She held her head high, shoulders back, she was prepared. She knew Regina might do something like this, Roland’s news had basically guaranteed it,  her eyes scanned the mountain further behind Regina and sure enough, Black Knights and soldiers were picking their way through the trees and brush trying to remain unseen. If Emma could see them, no doubt Merida or Robin or even Roland could see them and hopefully send word to her foot soldiers. Slowly, painstakingly, Regina made her way to the clearing.

“Well well, the Savior in the flesh,” the queen smiled. Emma shivered, her parents had been right. There was something off with her, very off.

“Regina,” Emma said, easing her steed forward. “I believe we had the matter of my parents to discuss.”

“Yes and here’s the discussion,” the queen cleared her throat. “I will keep them alive but only just, they will suffer like I did for years but only after I tear your still beating heart out of your chest.”

“Regina you don’t have to do this,” Emma said, hoping to reason with her. “Let go of your revenge, you have the power to end a cycle of violence and abuse that started with Cora and continued with the Dark One. You can end this.”

“Don’t you dare mention my mother,” Regina bristled, bringing her hand up. A ball of fire formed and before she could even think Emma’s steed reared in fear and turned and ran towards the forest. Emma could feel the heat of the fireball before she could see it, thinking quickly she rolled sideways off her saddle and landed on her feet. She watched her horse disappear into the woods as her reinforcements began pouring in on all sides. Arrows whistled over her head from high above, several grunts told her they found their targets. Quickly unsheathing her sword Emma turned, Regina’s Black Knights running quickly towards her. She took a deep breath and raised her sword, a quiet calm falling over her as she ran out to meet them. Her sword clanged loudly against the first knight’s, he was tall and broad but relied too heavily on brute strength. Emma kept low, using her shield to obscure his vision and dancing out of his reach. The thundering of footsteps and war cries filled the air as King Thomas’s men poured in from all sides. Emma found an opening in the knight’s chainmail where his leg was exposed, she ran her sword through, trying to ignore his howl of pain. He fell to his knees, Emma ran on trying to close the space between her and Regina’s castle as quickly as possible.

“Emma!” Killian’s voice was high and panicked, Emma looked around frantically searching for him. She spotted him, dueling two knights at once, his sword a mere flash of steel as he wielded it back and forth. She sprinted over to him, terrified that she wouldn’t make it in time, that he’d take a wrong step, when an arrow spliced through the air striking one of the knights in the neck. She saw Roland drop down from above them, already pulling another arrow from his quiver.

“Thank you,” she said as she ran up to him.

“Don’t thank me quite yet,” he said, letting loose another arrow and hitting a knight on horseback. His horse whinnied as it’s rider fell, lifeless from his back, galloping on through the battle.

Killian wheeled around, heaving his sword into his opponent’s side and slashing upward. He turned and ran towards Emma and Roland, blood shining on his armor. “We need to get you to the castle,” he yelled over the din of battle.

“What about Merida and Elsa?” Emma asked she wasn’t about to ditch her friends here.

“They have to be around here somewhere, but Emma we have to make some moves if we’re going to get up to the castle,” Roland said already leading the way through the mass of fighting. As quickly as he was firing arrows he was picking them up or pulling them out of the fallen around them, Emma and Killian followed quickly behind him, cutting down any black knights that tried to get through. Emma tried to keep her eyes peeled for Merida’s mass of red curls or Elsa’s light blue armor.

A sudden coldness fell over them, Emma knew that Elsa must be close. Sure enough, Elsa was there, wielding her magic unlike Emma had ever seen before. Elsa stood with her arms outstretched, ice and snow flowing from her fingertips freezing soldiers in their tracks and shattering their steel.

Roland, Emma, and Killian called out to her, Elsa turned and nodded to them. “Hold on!” she called as she twirled her hands through the air, ice and snow swirling higher and higher until a great roar echoed across the field. Soldiers and knights turned to see a giant ice monster roaring and swiping men across the ground with a flick of its enormous wrist.

“Marshmallow, cover us,” Elsa called as she sprinted towards Emma and the boys.

“What on earth is that?” Killian said, holding his sword at the ready while Roland readied an arrow.

“Oh, he won’t hurt us-” Elsa assured them, almost drowned out by Marshmallow’s bellowing. A thick fog burst from his mouth, surrounding them with slight cover. “But he will cover for us, now let’s go!” Elsa urged. The others didn’t need telling twice, with Marshmallow in tow the men parted giving them a clear path up the mountain. Emma was getting worried, she still hadn’t seen Merida anywhere since the start of the battle.

“You fools, don’t let her get away,” Regina screamed as she spotted Emma. A flash of red was the only warning Emma had before another fireball was shot at them.

“Get down!” she grabbed Killian and Elsa and tried to reach Roland as they fell to the ground. Emma could feel her hair ripple as the fireball passed over her. Marshmallow was hit directly; with a mighty scream he bust into pieces, large pieces of ice fell all around him as he crumpled to the floor,

“Ahhhh!” Roland screamed, Emma looked up to see that his sleeve had caught fire. He quickly rolled around to get the flames out, but Emma could tell his skin was badly burned. “Go!” he yelled as they went to help him.

“No we’re not leaving you here,” Killian said, fiercely.

“Just go, you’re wasting time!” Roland’s eyes were full of fear and pain as he tried to get up. His clothes had fused to his skin, if he wasn’t trampled to death then an infection was going to do him in for sure. Marian’s sweet face swam before Emma’s vision.

“No, I’m not leaving you here, Killian help him up,” she commanded. Roland screamed as Killian hoisted him up. Emma ducked under and supported his other side, Elsa fought off any approaching guards with her magic as Emma and Killian dragged Roland off into the woods. “Lay him here,” Emma said, pointing to a boulder covered in soft looking moss. Roland was grinding his teeth together, trying not to scream as Emma bent close and inspected his burn. It was as bad as Emma expected, his skin red and raw. Flesh was burned away and what remained was now fused to his clothes.

“Please just leave me,” Roland begged, tears starting to form in his eyes.

“Not a chance,” Emma said, placing her hand on his shoulder.

“Emma,” Killian said, his voice thick and raw. “Look.” Emma looked down, her hand was glowing, a golden light coming off of it in waves. She held both her hands up to her face, both glowed, a slight warmth spread from her fingertips all the way to her chest. Instinctively Emma held her hands over Roland’s skin before their eyes the skin healed. Blisters faded and skin repaired itself. Emma withdrew her hands and Roland held up his arm to his face, blinking in disbelief.

“You have magic?” Roland looked up at her in awe.

“Yes,” Emma panted, her energy drained. She looked up to see Elsa and Killian staring at her.

“I never knew you could do that,” Elsa said, looking down at her own hands.

“Is this part of-” Killian began to ask, his voice low, raspy, and awestruck.

“I think so,” Emma nodded. The four of them stood in silence as the battle raged just beyond the trees. Emma breathed in, trying to ignore the scent of blood and burning wood that perfumed the air. “We need to get back out there, Roland are you sure you want to come with us?”

Roland took one last look at his newly healed arm before nodding, “I’m sure. Let’s go.” He got to his feet, slinging his quiver over his shoulder and white knuckling his bow, his brown eyes hardened as he faced the field. The other three followed behind him as he marched out of the woods.

“Emma,” Killian whispered as he fell into step with her. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she huffed, holding her sword higher. There was no time to discuss her magic, they needed to get up that mountain, she quickened her pace to catch up to Roland and Elsa.

The sound of battle had been muted in the forest, but as they set foot back on the field the din of battle rang in their ears. Men screamed, horses whinnied and bellowed, their hooves pounding the earth, swords and shields clashed together ringing their ears. The flames from Regina’s fireballs had spread, the smoke thick and black and stung everyone’s eyes and throats.

One voice rang out over all the rest, Merida riding on her warhorse Angus firing arrows and bellowing at the other riders following her.

“Merida!” Emma yelled, pointing at her friend so that the others would follow her. She ran through the crowd, pushing and shoving people out of her way.

“Come on lassie, jump on,” Merida shouted when she saw Emma running towards her, she looked over to her other riders. “Give them your horses, make me proud!” Her men instantly demounted their horses, allowing Elsa, Roland, and Killian to quickly mount them. Emma hoisted herself onto Angus, gripping tight to Merida’s waste.

“To the castle!” she dug her heels into Angus, spurring the horse faster. The horses moved so fast it felt as if they were flying through the battle, it was all Emma could do to hold on let alone fend off any Black Knights who tried to unseat her or Merida. One growled at her as he tried to grab her by the leg, Emma kicked him and heard the satisfying sound of crunching bone as his nose broke. She looked over her shoulder and saw Elsa casting her ice magic, freezing Regina’s men in place.

“Once we reach the trees it’ll be harder for them to follow us,” Emma screamed in Merida’s ear.

“Come on Angus, just a bit further,” Merida urged her horse on and up the steep terrain. Higher and higher they climbed, the sound of war sounding more and more distant. The late afternoon sun hung low and bright in the sky, the smoke rising turning it red.

Before Emma could even properly formulate anything resembling a plan, she could see the gates of Regina’s castle. Merida pulled on the reigns, slowing Angus to a walk then stopping just out of sight of the castle.

“So what’s the plan?” Roland asked, sliding off his horse. “I counted around 20 guards still guarding the castle.”

“We’re going to need some kind of diversion,” Emma said. “Lead all or most of them to one spot while we sneak in somewhere else. Elsa, think Marshmallow is up for it?”

“It’ll be his pleasure,” she smirked, she inhaled deeply and threw her arms in front of her, ice and snow swirling higher and higher as Marshmallow formed. He roared and stomped off towards the castle, smashing trees and throwing boulders towards the left side of the castle. Emma peaked between the trees, Black Knights were running full speed towards the giant snowman leaving their posts unattended. She spotted a balcony leading to a glass door, the wall outside of it easily climbable. She pointed it out to the others.

“Let’s go,” Emma darted out, running quickly towards the wall. Roland and Merida both fired arrows connected to ropes into the wall, both getting caught in between the grout of the wall. Emma tested the ropes and finding that they would hold her weight began to climb up the wall.

Up the wall, over the low balcony wall and through the glass doors, Emma and her friends made it into the castle with ease. Emma crossed the room and opened the door out on to a deserted hallway. She looked around, her sword held ready for an attack but none came.

“So which way love?” Killian asked. Emma froze; she didn’t know. She had been so focused on getting into the castle, she’d barely spent a thought about what she would do or where she would even begin to look for her parents.

“Um,” Emma bit her lip, turning and looking in all directions. “They’re probably down in the dungeons.” She started towards her right, figuring at some point they’d find a staircase that would take them down below the castle. She silently prayed the dungeons were somewhere downstairs as she raced down the hallway.

“Slow down!” Roland panted as he jogged to keep up with her. “If we make too much noise, the guards will find us.”

Emma whirled around and faced him, “I’m this close to saving my parents, I’m not slowing down until I get them the hell out of here.”

Roland looked down at his feet, hushed into silence as Emma started down the hallway once again, she opened a door she found at the end of the hallway and to her relief, she found a stairway. She hurtled herself down it, hoping that at the bottom would be the dungeons. Around and around they went, everyone silent and looking nervously over their shoulders or squinting into the darkness ahead of them.

Finally, she reached the last floor, Emma didn’t wait for the others to catch up to her; she opened the door and walked into the large entrance hall of Regina’s castle, filled with Southern Isle soldiers who all turned as she burst in.

“It’s her!” one shouted and the guards began to move towards her. Emma’s friends stood behind her, each pulling out their weapons to defend themselves. Elsa froze the floor in front of them, several guards slipped and fell but more moved around the ice and were still coming. Merida and Roland fired some arrows into the wave of knights but were only able to strike down a few of the many. Emma swung her sword as soon as one came close enough and got lost in the chaos.

“Keep her alive, the Queen needs her for later,” another guard shouted at the one fighting Emma. She took advantage of her knight’s temporary distracting, slicing him across the shoulder. No sooner had he slumped out of her way then another grabbed her from behind, Emma struggled against his grip trying to stamp on his feet.

“Emma!” Killian shouted, running towards them, his sword held high as he ran towards them. The knight held Emma close, using her as a human shield, knowing that Killian wouldn’t do anything that would hurt her. She saw Elsa discreetly froze his foot to the ground, Killian quickly maneuvered around him, ramming the pommel of his sword into the knight’s helmet. He groaned and let go of Emma as he fell to the floor, his helmet ringing with the force of Killian’s blow. He took her by the hand and began to run across the room, ducking and dodging around knights, not even sure where they were going.

“Hey princess!” a knight yelled, his voice full of self-satisfaction, Emma recognized him as Hans, the youngest of the Southern Isle princes. She whirled around and saw Merida, and Roland all behind held by several guards each. Elsa appeared to be unconscious, her guard roughly holding her head up by her hair. Emma stopped dead in her tracks, rounding on them with her sword raised. “Ah ah ah,” Hans held his hands up. “Wouldn’t want to do something that’ll get your friends hurt would you?”

“Let them go,” Emma lowered her sword but kept on her toes.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” he shrugged sarcastically. “You see the Queen is very interested in these friends of yours. She needs you and at least one of your friends here alive. So I’ll offer you a deal, you come quietly with us and all your friends live or you try to fight us and we let you pick with one lives while we kill the rest, sound good to you?”

Emma hesitated for a moment, her eyes glancing at Elsa’s limp form, “All right.” Her sword clattered to the floor as she raised her hands over her head.

“Your friend too,” Hans pointed to Killian.

“Emma-” he started.

“It’s okay, it’ll all be okay,” Emma wasn’t sure if she was telling Killian that or herself. Killian dropped his sword and raised his hands over his head, mirroring Emma. Several guards ran over to them, they roughly shoved Emma’s hands behind her back and bound them with rope. “What did you do to my friend?” Emma asked, her eyes still on Elsa.

“You’ll soon find out,” a knight roughly said, as he hit her over the head. Emma felt pain bloom in the back of her head as stars danced before her eyes before it all turned to black.

#csbb #captain swan #csff #cs au #cs fic #get comfy because this is a longer chapter #but I still hope yall like it! #my fic #m + f fic

[canyouhearthelight]

The Miys, Ch. 132

Yes, I know... it’s late again :(

I realized at about 1030a this morning, when I was 30 miles and a minimum of 7 hours from my computer. The guilt was real.

Also, I recently upgraded computers, so I apologize for any editing errors.  Honestly, I don’t have my preferred word processing program on here to check and make sure all my flavor editing is done correctly, so I’m probably going to come back and re-do it when that’s available.  However, I PRIDE myself on the fact that I may post a few hours late, but never the next day! (even though my deadline is technically Tues or Thurs each week?. I dunno)

Quick kudos to @baelpenrose, @the-raven-fae, @anotherusrname, and @charlylimph-blog for being my writing team!

The next morning, I staggered into work very much regretting the onions that I dared to put on the table the night before - I had only gotten a few hours sleep the night before thanks to two rather tall men who shared a tendency to snore like congested warthogs. Fortunately, Vati and Hannah were off today, so I didn’t have to hide the gargantuan yawns every few minutes.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t spared from the sarcastic wit of my assistant, who breezed in the door and simply arched an eyebrow at me. “Hmm, having a coffee day, I see.”

“I can’t look that tired,” I grumbled, shoving my hair out of my face and sulking into my cup - which unfortunately did contain coffee, as predicted.

“You do smell that tired, I am afraid.  And by you, I mean the deplorable muck you are drinking.”

Alistair wasn’t a fan of coffee, obviously, but I was admittedly drinking a really strong cup of it. “The guys had a terrifying amount of onions with dinner last night,” I confessed.

To my satisfaction, he wrinkled his nose. “Delightful.” He also despised onions, more so than he did coffee. “Fortunately, you have quite a sparse schedule this morning.”

Shaking my head, I broke the news to him. “Change of plans. Xio got the list of shelter locations back to me and Tyche yesterday, ironically after we had been complaining about not having them. Pretty sure she was listening in.”

The eyebrow arched again. “Another ‘sensor test’, I assume?”

“Don’t know, don’t care,” I shrugged. “We wanted the list, we got the list. And an ersatz apology in the form of which area can hold how many people, which makes our end much easier.  Bump it up against a map of who is closest to which location, and half our work is done.”

I flicked the list to the emitter on the conference table, and got started. Since Parvati and Hannah were up to their eyeballs in their plotting for the Food Festival, and our job had been significantly lightened in regards to deciding shelter locations, I made the executive decision to take the lead on this project and pull in Tyche for assistance if Alistair and I needed it.  Maybe Arthur if I got desperate for extra help, but working with him and Alistair at the same time was chancy at best - they spent so much time snarking at each other, it could be harder to get work done than if I did it alone sometimes.

Soon, Alistair and I had a map of the Ark, with all shelter locations highlighted and the data from Xiomara’s report overlaid. I had my head down, programming the shelter locations to change color when the capacity limits Xiomara provided were reached, when Alistair noticed something. “Why, pray tell, are the Archives on this map?”

I didn’t even look up. “Probably because it’s the furthest location on the ship from the real-space engines, so it’s the safest place if someone tries to blow those.”

“You are mistaken.” He tapped on the table to get my attention. “The Archives are right on top of the engines, which is why it was available for use: when it was empty, the room was so noisy it was difficult to be in there for more than a handful of minutes.”

Shaking my head, I tapped the ‘front’ of the ship to highlight it. “These are the real-space engines, apparently. When we drop out of relativistic space, these will fire to start slowing us down as we approach Von. These,” I tapped the ‘back’ of the ship, “Are the relativistic engines, which we are using now, which is why that room was so loud when you found it.  According to Noah, for safety purposes, they are housed at opposite ends of the ship.  Also, pretty sure no one is going to try to blow the relativistic engines.  Something quantum physics related that made sense but I would probably explain it wrong.  Big boom, big shrink, no survivors is the gist.”

The disgusted look he gave my explanation was glorious. “So people will be in the Archives, no doubt touching things.”

“They’re books, Alistair. They are meant to be touched and read.” Glancing at the map, I was actually impressed - I never realized how large the Archives were.  They made up nearly an entire deck, albeit the second-smallest on the Ark. “Hang on, someone is already assigned there? Did you do that?”

He scoffed. “I certainly did not, I assumed you had.”

“Nope.  Must have been Xiomara,” I trailed off before tapping the icon indicating an assignment to see who it was.

I started to smile, only to be scared out of my mind by Alistair suddenly shouting. “NO! Absolutely not, I will go tell Councillor Kalloe myself. I - I shall duel her if need be! I refuse to allow this to occur.”

“Alistair, if you duel Xiomara, you’ll probably wind up dead. You know that right?”

“It is only over my dead body that you will be sheltering the Archives. Absolutely not.”

“I’m not going to hurt your precious books, you know that. If anything, I’ll be able to make sure no one else does, either.”

“Not going to hurt the books!?” he nearly shrieked.  I was starting to worry about how hysterical he was getting before he pinched his nose and took a few breaths to calm down. “Madam Reid, I am aware that you will not, through deliberate action or mischance, directly harm a single item in that Archive. I am equally aware that there are certain things that you are distressingly oblivious to, one of which being your own poor luck, if events that take place after being rescued from a global infrastructure collapse can count as poor luck. I shall endeavor to clarify to you why I am so concerned with this.”

Uh oh. He was being very formal.  This was never a good thing.

Before I could object, however, he forged on. “This entire planning exercise is aimed at what, precisely?”

“Designating shelters for non-combatants,” I answered slowly, confused.

“Shelters in the event of what?”

“If we are forcefully boarded in the month after we drop out of relativistic space?”

“Correct.  Which is clearly a bad thing, true?”

“True…”

“And what, remind me, do you have a tendency to do when bad things happen?”

“Plow into the middle of them, which is probably why Xiomara wants me as far from potential combat as possible, so I can’t - “

“Dying, Madam Reid. You have a tendency of dying.”

“Almost dying,” I corrected meekly.  I could unfortunately see where this was going.

“Whenever bad things happen on the Ark, the bad things find you,” he almost hissed. “And I would rather that they not find you in the middle of the only books - potentially the only artifacts, period - that we have from Earth.”

“It may distract them from killing me?” I pointed out.

The glare he gave me rivalled Tyche at her worst.  I probably would have been flattened, had I not built up immunity to far more vicious gazes. “No, this won’t do at all. I must speak to Councillor Kalloe immediately.  And quite likely to Farro.  Let me update the less-endangered Reid that she shall need to arrive early to assist you…”

Any attempt I made to try to dissuade him from the abrupt shortening of his lifespan was ultimately ignored.  As he tried to breeze past my sister, I resorted to grabbing his sleeve and physically stopping him. “Alistair!  You cannot go fight Xiomara to make her put me somewhere else! It’s not worth it!”

He stopped in his tracks, confusion flooding his face. “Somewhere else?  Madam Reid - please unhand me, thank you - whatever gave you that impression?”

“You - the books - dying… I’m so confused. What are you going to fight Xio about, then?”

“I cannot argue the logic of keeping you as far from the engines as possible, nor the logic of placing you as close to something that would deter any invading parties from making rash or reckless decisions.  It is likely quite safer for the ship, in all honesty.”

“Then…?”

He sighed and shook his head. “I am going to speak to Xiomara about removing myself from the non-combatant list and instead being one of the persons assigned to the Archives to defend it from any hostile parties,” he admitted.  “Farro will need to help me brush up on defensive techniques, but I am certain it will be easier to keep the Archives from disaster if I protect it myself.”

“Hey!” Tyche objected. “I’m already assigned to the Archives! She’ll be safe!”

Turning on a heel, he waved a hand over his shoulder dismissively. “You protect your sister from invaders. I shall protect the Archives from her.”

As the door closed behind him, she gave me a baffled look. “Long story,” I sighed. “I’ll explain while we start allocating people.”

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