#I do enjoy having night owl colonists

[pushing500]

The Cult has spoken!! Vance is coming to Loyalty's Meander. Hooray!

Very nice, very nice. The muttonchops are a strong choice, I like it.

I can never decide if Vasso is aware that he's the world's most unintimidating teeny-tiny cult leader or if he just hasn't registered that he's short because he's used to being around Laursen, who is stupid tall, which makes everybody look short in comparison.

This suits him better, anyway.

Rick's Fiends and The Defilers arrived at the same time as a very unfortunate trade caravan, so the three of them got into a massive fight in one corner of the map far away from our colony. In fact, only poor Cecil the housekeeper cat was injured when he took a stray bullet to the leg.

That brings us to colonist number fourteen, I believe! Wow! Welcome to the colony, Vance. We hope you enjoy your stay.

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Bonus diagram of Gracie's Stupid Brain Function after I'd finished all these drawings and sat back to register what I'd done:

[elen-aranel]

Stars Above the Desert

The Engineer’s Adventures

1-1 • 1-2 • 2 • 3 • 4

For: @autumnleaves1991-blog Writer Wednesday. Thank you so much for these prompts, Autumn, because without them the Engineer wouldn’t exist. Pairing: Captain Christopher Pike x F!Reader (no Y/N) Warnings: fluff WC: 1600 words Tag list: @jusvibbbin A/N: I didn’t think I had inspiration for today’s image and yet...

Alnath III is a desert planet, just on the borderline of Class L and Class M. The briefings you had read did go some way to explaining why the colonists had chosen this planet to settle: some were agriculturalists who wanted to develop drought resistant strains of crops; some were scientists who wanted a world they called ‘pristine’ for some biological experiments to do with the formation of life; and one or two were geologists who thought the planet might have resources they could exploit. Not the most obvious basis for a community but they seemed to be getting along, making it work.

The little town they have built is charming in its way; they have made an effort to make it feel like a home, with a little town square, and adobe-style buildings rather than prefabs. Still, you think, as you lie sweating in the sand under an empty water tank just outside town, powering down your phase compensator, you’d have chosen different a planet to colonise. One where the ground water wasn’t so deep you needed mechanical assistance just to get to it, or so laden with minerals and inorganic compounds that it was poisonous until purified.

At least this time it was Louvier rather than Chris who had ordered you to join the away mission, so Number One couldn’t complain.

“Try it again, Ensign Devrin,” you yell to your Tellarite colleague who is some twenty metres away at the control terminal for the well and purification plant you’re trying to fix.

“Aye, Lieutenant,” he shouts back. Everything is silent for a moment, then you hear the sound of water in the pipes below. But just as you’re about to get your hopes up there is an ugly metal grating sound and everything grinds to a halt.

“Sounds like the gears got stripped as well,” you mutter, entering your findings into a PADD.

You check the time. It’s more than half way through beta shift – 21:00 ship’s time but only 16:00 local time.

“Ensign, you might as well return to the ship. Take this to Louvier – he can add these to the fabrication list, though I’m guessing they won’t be ready until the end of gamma. We can get them installed tomorrow.” You stand and stretch, before handing the PADD to Devrin who has come closer to see what you’re working on.

“Aren’t you coming too?” Devrin looks at you, concern in his expression.

“Nah, there are still some things for me to do before the installation, and I want to check on the solar plant while we’re here – make sure all the batteries are nominal, that kind of thing. We don’t want to get called back next month for something else that’s gone wrong.”

“Well, if you’re sure...”

“I’m sure. Have a good evening, Devrin.” You smile at him as he calls for a beam out. You’ve sent the rest of your engineering team back to the ship because you want them fresh for tomorrow, and the things you have left to do don’t take more than one person.

You finish up installing new software to the water plant to accommodate the new components going in tomorrow, then take a walk over to the solar plant.

You’re glad you checked it – while the hardware is all okay – batteries all full at the end of the day, solar panels operating within tolerance – there’s a slight memory leak in the software. You’ve seen this issue on this type of controller before – it’s the kind of thing where it will be fine for ages then suddenly fail, plunging the colony into the dark and causing a lot of heartache. It’s an easy fix, but you make a note to suggest the colonists recruit an engineer on your report. You will not be volunteering.

It’s around 01:00 ship’s time when you finish everything, but only 20:00 local time. The colony is in the planet’s northern hemisphere, and it’s summer, so the sun is only just going down. Part of you considers returning to the ship, but really you had always planned to stay over. By the time you have some food, get back to your quarters, shower and lie down, it’ll be time to get up again. And much as you wouldn’t want to live here, it is nice to breathe fresh air for a while.

You call the bridge to let them know you’re staying. You’re not going to be the only one planetside overnight; almost the entire exobiology department beamed down, wanting to make the most of the Enterprise’s stay – it’s a change for them from endlessly cataloguing species on new planets and they don’t want to pass it up. The Ensigns at least are having a sleepover at one of the scientists’ houses, but you would rather not hear any more about drought resistant triticale variants. You had brought a sleeping bag, your own water and some protein bars.

You walk through the square, nodding to the couple of colonists who are about, and stop a bit away from the edge of town. You find a large flat rock to sit on, and eat a couple of protein bars as you watch the sun set peacefully below the horizon.

You drink some water, then set up your sleeping bag, hoping to get some rest. You’re usually okay at sleeping in uncomfortable places, but it’s cold. You force yourself to shut your eyes, and you keep your breathing slow and steady even as you shiver slightly. You go to pull your sleeping bag around you tighter, but as you do you feel a gentle weight settle over you. You frown and open your eyes.

“Chris?” You lean up on your elbows. “What are you doing here? You should be asleep.” You soften your chiding tone with a smile as he sits beside you, pulling the blanket he settled over you over himself as well.

“And miss the chance to spend time in the desert?” He presses a kiss to your temple and you move to sit up, leaning against him. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to beam down, and when I heard you were staying over I thought I’d come check on you. I thought you might be cold.”

“For somewhere that’s been so hot during the day the temperature sure does drop at night,” you say, enjoying the warmth of his body against yours. You unzip your sleeping bag to make it into a blanket for both of you. Chris helps, and with the two of you together with the sleeping bag and blanket over you, you feel yourself warming quickly. “But even so, it’s nice to have solid ground beneath me, and—not be running away from anything.” You look up at him sidelong.

He huffs a laugh. “Yeah, that’s a good feeling,” he says, slipping his arm around your shoulders. “Is this your first time in a desert at night?”

“First time in a desert at all. Well,” you pause to consider. “Technically second time, because we had a family holiday to Monument Valley when I was eighteen months old. I don’t remember it though.”

“You never visited when you were at the academy?” You hear the surprise in his voice.

“No – my survival training was in the Alps, and then the Amazon. And my friends and I would take a shuttle to Mars or New Berlin when we had time off.” You look around at the dunes, stretching into the distance to mountains on the horizon, then back to him. “How does this compare to the desert where you grew up?”

“Less alive,” he answers instantly. “There were lots of plants growing – grasses, mesquite. I miss the smell. And animals, too – I found a burrowing owl nest as a kid, once. And there were sheep, tortoises, jackrabbits...” his eyes go a little faraway as he remembers. “But there are some similarities.”

He tips you both back, gently, pulling the covers over you. You’re looking at him, so you don’t understand what he’s doing at first, but you follow his gaze upwards, and gasp.

Above you is the Milky Way, almost like a sparkling splash of paint across the sky. You have never seen so many stars; the constellations are unfamiliar but you almost feel like you’re looking down on them. Like you could reach out and touch a star. “I can’t believe the colours,” you say, as you try to take it all in.

He squeezes you a little and you rest your head against his shoulder, still looking up. “This is why I joined up, really. I would sneak out at night and lie there, looking at the stars. It took Admiral Marcus to help me see that command track was the right path, but...” he lapses into silence for a while.

“There’s something magical about seeing them like this, isn’t there? Even though we get to call space home.” You feel him nod, and you can’t resist anymore.

You turn, reaching out, touching his jaw and tilting his face toward you. You kiss him, gently at first, but he turns, pulling you flush against him as he nips at your lower lip. You open your mouth into the kiss and press your body against him, and for long moments it’s just the two of you and the stars wheeling overhead.

There will be plenty of time for you to worry about getting the well fixed, for him to worry about everything that goes into running a starship...

But for a short while you can let everything go.

[mzyrimworld]

Duster Part 7 - Quadrum 6

Last quadrum was fairly harsh for our colonists with three more deaths happening on one expedition! Will they get a break this quadrum, or will the difficulties continue? Let’s find out...

Vas and Priscilla return safely from the trade mission - together with a hen they bought from the other group! Fortunately it was fairly cheap, because I don’t reckon with how long such a small and defenseless animal would survive on that planet - won’t take a very large animal to get hungry before the hen’s gone for good.

It was hot enough in Spring and will only get hotter now in Summer, so Dead’s been working on cowboy hats to replace people’s tuques and keep them cool. Surprisingly, given that Dead isn’t that good at crafting, she’s managed to create a legendary hat! Hopefully this won’t lead to a wave of raiders desperate for a decent hat...

I’m not particularly surprised that Priscilla was the one to quickly snap the hat up; I think her idol past has given her higher expectations than most. At least she has the skills to defend it well.

Just as well they started on the cooler clothes early, it was already 34 degrees at 10pm, and now it’s going to get even hotter! I don’t think any of our colonists are especially vulnerable, but it makes us wonder whether any of their animals might get overwhelmed at severe temperatures as well...

The heat wave passed surprisingly quickly and without incident, but it did result in the only wild animals around being boomalope, and one of them has decided that it’s had just too much!

It didn’t take much for Zeiph (as the nearest person) to take it down, but it got closer than ideal before it exploded on death, setting fire to a number of important things, including Zeiph and Jethro! Fortunately it’s raining, but burns aren’t pleasant...!

Jethro ran around (as well as he can on three legs) to put himself out and isn’t too badly off for burns, heading for Henry to be able to patch him up again.

Zeiph took more burns - probably not helped by the fact that he’s wearing wooden armour! It looks like he may be considering crafting steel armour next time, if only to be less flammable.

A few peaceful days pass, but now it’s all the local rats’ turns to go for the colonists! I should certainly hope they can handle those...

The only one injured is Lion (who was absorbed in farming), for the very first time since joining! But, so long as those wounds get treated, she shouldn’t get infected and should recover fine.

Its last baby is still in its juvenile stage, but the first female alpaca is pregnant once again, swelling the number of pack animals some more. I wonder if alpacas and muffaloes can have multiple births?

Speaking of pack animals, the colonists have decided that they don’t have enough and aren’t getting them fast enough, so are taming some more muffalo. From what I gather, they are hoping to move bases as Winter rolls around again, but want to make sure they can carry as much as possible given how much they’ve accumulated and built here.

The quadrum’s not far from done, and with how quiet it’s been Lion decides it’s party time! Truth be told, it didn’t seem to last long, or possibly everybody was just busy because we barely noticed to get footage. There’s just not enough social drama with these colonists for some reason!

And we have a new nineth colonist as Lucya convinces Priscilla’s old prison guard to join the colony. Lorenzo Morales doesn’t have a lot of useful skills, but another medic never hurts, and he must be one of the best socialisers since Vladimir died. Can’t blame him for getting depressed on this planet, so long as he can put it aside when he needs to survive...

Frankly I am surprised it has taken this long for another person to call the colony for help! This woman sounds potentially useful, but she speaks of two turrets and a mortar. I suspect the last turret losses may be too fresh in the colonists’ minds to take that chance again so soon...

Art in this situation may seem frivolous, but the colonists had stacks of jade lying around, and spare hands going idle in this peaceful time, so Priscilla’s made a start on prettying the place up. I expect I can guess who’s going to be given this piece of art for their bedroom...

And that was literally the end of the quadrum! What a strangely peaceful time after the Spring they just had! So we thought we’d re-examine our colonists with a bit more depth this time...

So, Henry first: she’s had two birthdays since coming to the planet, so must be a Septober or Decembary baby. Since the beginning of this challenge, her shooting and melee have each increased by 2 levels (probably hunting and defending with a pila), her animals increased from 8 to 9, her medical’s increased from 8 to 11, and her intellectual from 4 to 7. She also went from 0 plant skill to 2, probably back when the colony was desperate to grow food.

Here we see her relationships and personality. For all that she won the election, she’s not exactly popular or that fond of anyone else. Naturally, given her misandrist ways, she likes all the women more than any of the men, and I recall that she wasn’t exactly torn up about Beryl or Vladimir dying either. Just as well she has poor Jethro or her anxiety would probably get an awful lot worse without better friends...

Zeiph’s skills have improved a lot, probably thanks to being one of the only ones awake to do things at night. His shooting has gone from 1 to 7 (probably mostly thanks to hunting), his construction from 7 to 14, his mining from 3 to 4, his cooking from 2 to 8, his planting from 0 to 1, and his crafting from 8 to 11. With how much he enjoys so many important skills, he’s kind of a backbone to the colony, for the night at least. He’s also only aged by one year, so must be a Aprimay or Jugust baby.

Poor Zeiph apparently doesn’t really have anybody who likes him, though he likes the starting few. After all this time he’s not really even that positive about his family, wherever they are now. Honestly, I had hoped that he and other night owl Lucya might develop more of a friendship, but no. He’s also actually marginally more interested in other men than women - we wonder if that was a factor in leaving his family and coming out to this challenge... Who knows?

After seeing her fellow starting colonists, Dead’s development is somewhat disappointing. Her melee’s increased from 4 to 5, her planting from 3 to 7 (she was the only one they had for a while), her crafting from 4 to 6, her medical from 0 to 1, and her social from 2 to 4. Nowadays I don’t believe she’s the best at any one skill, so she’s something of a jack of all trades.

Again, she’s only aged one year, so she must be a Aprimay/Jugust baby.

On the other hand, though, she is the only one of the first colonists to have a genuinely really good friend, in Lion. Almost nobody dislikes her. Perhaps she should have thrown her hat into the mayoral ring...

And here we have the daytime backbone of the colony, Lion. Since she first appeared on a raid just a week into the challenge, she’s only aged by a year so she’s another Aprimay/Jugust baby. Her construction has increased from 4 to 12, her cooking from 7 to 8, her plants from 5 to 9, and her medical from 5 to 6. Thank heavens she didn’t get killed in that raid, or a lot less would have gotten built...

Most people like Lion, even though it’s usually not particularly mutual. Her personality helps her out, being very compassionate, generous and thoughtful. She appears to be single as well, I should pay more attention to if people are flirting with her.

Vas has been with the colony two and a half quadrums now, but has had his birthday at some point since mid-Winter. He’s built some skills too: construction from 11 to 13, mining from 5 to 6, animals from 1 to 4, crafting from 3 to 4, and research also from 3 to 4. It’s easier to build select skills when there are several things you absolutely will not do... He’ll just have to hope never to be stuck alone, or all he’ll be eating is raw meat.

Vas hasn’t built much of a relationship with anyone yet, but then he has spent a lot of time stuck alone with his ex-girlfriend, so perhaps that’s not surprising.

Lucya joined on 9th of Aprimay, nearly a year ago now, and she’s gained a few skills. Construction from 4 to 8, cooking from 2 to 6, plants from 7 to 9, and social from 6 to 7. The colonists have so much food now that it’s easy to take it for granted, but that planting skill will probably come in very handy as they move on, construction too.

Lucya likes Lion a lot, but isn’t doing well in being liked in return by anybody. She seems to be relieved not to have to deal with Vladimir anymore at least. A lot of her personality isn’t overly surprising for her religious upbringing and person that she is: pure, naive, judgmental... Maybe that’s putting the others off? Though we have seen them praying in their rooms at times too...

Sky joined the colony on the first of Spring this year and has already had a birthday, so must be a Septober/Decembary baby. Most of his skills haven’t changed at all, except from plants, that has doubled from 4 to 8.

We think it must be difficult joining a colony after being their prisoner. Sky still hates nearly everyone who was part of the colony while he was prisoner, except for the charming Dead. Lion was obviously in this situation once though and she’s doing better, so hopefully he’ll get past it?

Priscilla joined on the 10th of Spring (Septober), so she’s been with the colony a little over a quadrum, but has spent a fair amount of that travelling around, so it’s understandable that the only skill gain she’s made is plants from 2 to 4.

Something strange though - her age used to just show 49, but now it shows 49 (50) - she must have lost a few months somewhere and have a late Septober or Decembary birthday...

So far Priscilla is rather unimpressed with everyone, but at least she doesn’t dislike Vas despite their history.

Lorenzo has been with the colony less than 3 days, so understandably his skills are the same - but he has had a birthday! A late Septober birthday, apparently! Perhaps he wanted to get out of a prison in time for his birthday...

Just like Sky, it seems Morales still resents the other colonists for holding him in prison and currently pretty much hates them all. Hopefully that will change, because it doesn’t seem good for morale!

Anyway, Final Stats:

Henry: No change

Jethro: Got a bit singed, but recovered

Zeiph: Got a bit singed, but recovered

Dead: Creator of ~the legendary cowboy hat~

Lion: Got a bit bitten, but recovered

Ibex ram: No change

Lucya: No change

Vas: No change

Sky: No change

Priscilla: No change

Morales: Recruited

Animals: +1 muffalo, alpaca is pregnant again

Colony: Gained one colonist and one animal.

[benbarnesescape]

Seditious

Warnings: 18+

A/N: For the record, this is the History Channels historical fiction version of Sam Adams. Because Sam Adams was nowhere near Ben Barnes portrayal (failed father of two anyone?) but I think the History Channel did a decent job of capturing how the American Revolution was birthed. So just enjoy this smutty request with historical holes and if you’re a history snob just read it for the fiction of smut per the requester.

Also, because ppl back then were ignorant af, I tried to find a way to incorporate anybody’s ethnic background to be the reader so this doesn’t just appeal to one population of people. Because anyone should have the opportunity to make love to Ben as fine as Samuel.

Special Tag: @drinix - hope this is everything you were looking for! Thanks for being so patient 

He was late. You sat patiently at the edge of the river, the rich smell of water intermingling with the early spring buds as you sifted through the fine pages of the book you were reading, adding annotations to the small margins.

You hated when he was late. It meant less time that the two of you had together, having to speed up up your time before slipping back into your home without your chamber maid or mother ever knowing the difference.

It’s the sound of his whistle that alerts you to him. Its low but crisp as it intertwines with the early spring chirping of young birds and the babbling river your near. You don’t turn to pay him any attention. He would enjoy that way too much. Instead, you finish dribbling your notes as your brain sifts through last night’s conversation, trying to remember important details from the men’s low voices drifting from your father's study. Ignoring the sound of soft grass and gravel nearing you until it comes to an abrupt stop.

“You’re late.” Your accent cuts through the silence and you know he’s smiling as he pushes a spring bouquet in front of you.

“Flowers aren’t going to pardon your tardiness.”

You look up at him as he smiles back down at you. His handsome, rugged face beams as his eyes twinkle in amusement and you ignore the way it makes your heart speed up.

“They may not pardon me but perhaps they can at least grant milady a smile. You spend far too much hiding it from the world.”

You roll your eyes despite the edges of your mouth quirking up and you close the book, handing it to him.

“How about something far more valuable. Your bouquet for my book of Chaucer.”

“I also have my smile so fair trade.” He grins, grabbing the book as you take the flowers. He sits beside you, flipping through the pages slowly as he takes in your notes. You inhale the flowers, taking in the poignant scent as you watch his dark hair brush in front of his eyes unnoticed as his eyes roam the margins carefully. Though it’s early in the season, he’s managed to select early blooms for your pleasure. A small gesture he has done four times since Joseph Warren had introduced you weeks earlier. You were a new colonist, your father a wealthy businessman that had been moved to colonies in the late winter. Joseph Warren had been one of the few people you connected with and it was only days later that you learned of his friend Samuel and what he was trying to achieve for the fellow citizens here.

As an immigrant of England you understood the power of freedom. And you didn’t understand why people were being denied it.

So you helped. When the General was shipped in, he immediately collaborated with your father, an old war buddy and trusted colleague. Though your father had married your mother, a heathen in the British crown eyes, he was also a decorated soldier and so the impasse was waved off. Having half of his blood meant you had half of his respect and though the General sometimes looked at you in disgust, you also knew he was drawn to your beauty and intellect.

He disgusted you.

“They want to raise taxes on the colonist?” he asks you, snapping you from your thoughts and you nod, focusing your attention on him again.

“You’ve given England quite a shake Samuel.  He wants to re-establish order to the colony so he can go back to his comfortable in England.” You roll your eyes and Sam smirks,

“You know, my friends call me Sam.”

You laugh, standing up and brushing your skirt off grass and leaves.

“I’m not your friend Samuel. I’m just someone who’s tired of watching colonies get bullied by the bloody English crown.”

Sam watches you carefully as you make your way to your horse, easily settling into the stirrups as you throw your other leg across the horse. When you neared town you’d switch your position to that of a lady but until then you wanted to ride freely and comfortably.

“Aren’t you English? And riding that horse the wrong way for a lady?”

You laugh as you trot up to him, shaking your head.

“Joseph warned me you speak out of tongue far too often. He’s right it is amusing,” You gallop slowly past him, bending over enough for him to catch, “And you’re wrong to think any of those statements are true.”

Then you kick the side of your horse, riding off. Leaving Samuel with a book and his fanciful ideas of you.

You meet him like that for months. Few moments in which you are able to share more information of what is occurring politically in the colony. Few moments in which he shares a little more about himself. You learn that he’s a lawyer and that he has a brother who is also a respected one. You learn he loves his sister but fears she’s following a similar path of his brother in cowardice. That though the townspeople consider him a drunkard, he always finds a way to help those in need. That he lost his wife and that is why he spends his nights submerged in rum, trying to forget her ghost.

You learn that when the light catches his dark eyes, they looks more amber than chestnut. When he smiles it’s always one full of teeth, his eyes crinkled. That though he is a lawyer, his hands are rough when they brush against yours, like he’s been working like many field hands. That he sees past your beauty and focuses on your intellect and strategy, taking into consideration tactics that you consider.

Now he was in bootlegging. When Joseph had told you weeks before, explaining that he would be taking his place for any updates because Samuel had to be a part of ensuring shipments were transported safely, you had been worried. Bootlegging was highly illegal and with Samuel’s debt paired with his known history of rebellion, you wouldn’t be surprised if they caught him and punished him with death.

You didn’t let this known to Joseph, who had come over that evening to eat dinner this evening. It had been the fourth time in weeks and your mother and father were getting hopeful for a possible union. Joseph was respected in the community and intelligent and winning over your heart would be a strong union.

Neither could suspect that you were smuggling information to the rebels right under their noses under the farce. 

“Sam wants to see you.” Joseph whispers low, moving a bishop to your pawn. You had both settled into a game of chess in the living room, sitting comfortably in front of the fireplace as you both pondered your moves.

You take your time before you move a knight to take over his bishop before answering back,

“Is he ok?”

Joseph waits a beat, looking at you deliberately as your chambermaid passes before saying,

“He’s fine. The business is doing well,” he moves a pawn before settling back in his chair.

“He says simply that he misses your conversations and would like your perspective on something.”

You try to ignore the smile that is creeping onto your face and nods,

“Well that’s inconvenient. I won’t be able to leave the house this evening.” You move a bishop and Joseph shakes his head.

“You are treading a dangerous path Y/N. You are a respected woman in the community and under the eyes of the British crown.”

You grab your tea, taking a sip waiting for his move. Your mother walks by, smiling as she watches you both and you roll your eyes as Joseph makes another move. Leaving him open for the win, obviously distracted with the new suspension that’s been quietly answered.

“Aren’t you sleeping with the General’s wife? I’m not the only one who needs to be careful. Besides,” you move your queen, placing it strategically in front of the king. “Samuel and I are just friends. Checkmate.”

He shakes his head, grabbing his cup of tea and taking a sip.

“Perhaps. But life isn’t just a game of chess Y/N. The consequences can be drastic if you aren’t too careful.”

You nod, sitting up and extending your hand.

“I know the consequences of actions. Tell that to my father that was killed by the hands of my step-father. Tell that to my people who are now prisoners under the British crown. Tell that to my mother who was forced to choose marriage or death, knowing that if she choose the latter out of principal her 2 month old daughter would also be slaughtered. I know of consequences Joseph and I’m not afraid to tread that path. I know how to take care of myself. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must ready for bed.”

He takes your hand, kissing it lightly and nods.

“I care for you and Samuel both.”

“And I you.”

He watches you for a beat as your father walks in, and you pull your hand from him as he booms,

“Leaving so soon Joseph? Thought we could hear a song played by my lovely daughter. And then to the Generals to join him and his wife for a nightcap.”

“Afraid I have a headache. Going to bed early,” you walk toward him, kissing him on his cheek as you whisper. “Good night. I will see you all in the morning.”

You move down the hallway to your room, pardoning your chambermaid as she helps you undress in your sleeping gown. Trying to ignore the warning of Joseph Warren, knowing a change was coming and unsure where you wanted to land in that war.

It’s the light rap against your window that draws you out of sleep. You sit up, blinking and trying to adjust your eyes as you hear it again and groan, hoping it’s not an owl that’s nestled himself on your window perch. But then the tap is more deliberate, and you turn to the window to find Samuel standing on your small balcony, looking behind him and you throw your covers off of you.

Of course he would come to you.

You walk over to your patio doors, unlatching the lock to let him in and he smiles as he moves past you.

“Thanks - its bloody freezing out there and your friend the General has increased the guard watch.” He’s rubbing his hands together and blowing on them and you can’t help but give a small laugh as you walk toward him.

“You are a funny man to clamber on roofs to see me Sam. Now come to the fireplace to warm up so I can hear your unfortified plans of bootlegging.”

He’s off guard for a second before he follows you to the fireplace, taking a seat beside you on the floor as you throw a duvet over him.

“You don’t smell of rum and beer like I have suspected you would after weeks of transporting the bitter liquids.” You joke as cover your arms across your chest, the cold from the doors being temporally opened catching up to you.

“I’m not drunk all the time!” he admonishes a bit too loud and you cover his mouth quickly, shaking your head and turning toward the door.

You’re both met with silence, the only sounds of the hallway clock ticking and you pull away from him and say,

“Mother and father went to the Generals for a late drink or something silly like that but my chambermaid, Mary, has the ears of a fox. Unless she’s sleeping which I suspect then she’s useless.”

He chuckles, returning his eyes to the fire and shaking his head,

“Young Mary threw a cup of ale in my face three days back,” you looked at him shocked and he laughs, “She fancied a crush on me I but told her my heart belonged to someone else and drunkenly she didn’t like the response.”

You laughed, crossing your legs and nodding.

“Sounds like Mary. She is pleasant when she’s not fearing the consequences of my mother. And according to her, you are a heartbreaker.”

You give him a slight nudge before rubbing your arms and he turns to you, taking in your thin clothes before saying,

“Perhaps, before when my wife died. Now I have my eyes only on one.” You watch him deliberately as he opens his arms.

“You’re going to catch a cold. Here, share the blanket with me and I will update you on my tales of bootlegging.”

You’re hesitant, looking from his arms to him before you slip into the nook easily. He wraps his arms around you, drawing you closer as he begins to retell the events of the past couple of weeks. Joseph was correct in that though soldiers were suspect of his new daytime adventures, they couldn’t catch him on anything. He was too deliberate and tactful for them to act on nothing.

You only catch half of his story though. You’re too focused on the way he feels against your body, the way he smells of faint soap and fire and you noticed that he’s brushed his hair back, trimmed at his beard.

“You’re different.” You cut him off and he stops speaking, looking down at you as you reach out to touch his face. Your hands rub against his scruffy neck and he closes his eyes, leaning into your touch.

“Didn’t think you’d notice.” He finally murmurs and you smile, your hand tracing along his mouth.

“I notice a lot about you Sam.”

“Thought we weren’t friends. Now you’re okay with calling me Sam?” he smiles back at you and laugh nervously, ignoring the way his hand feels pressed against your waist.

“Guess you’ve proved me wrong.” You whisper as he leans down, watching you carefully.

“Surprised you’re admitting to that. If I can recall, you’re never wrong.” He’s kidding as he faces gets closer and your breath grows shallow as you lick your lips.

“Only this once.” You whisper as his lips press against yours. You’ve only been kissed by one man before. He had been your late husband and had died before you had left for England in a war that hadn’t mattered. No one knew that you were a young widow because your family worked to ensure they wouldn’t.

The way Sam was kissing you now was different. His chapped lips pressed against yours with intention and he was gentle as his hands tightened around your waist. His tongue brushed over your lips, compelling them open and you obliged, wrapping your arms around his neck as he kissed you deeply. Your mouths molded together, tongues clashing as he kissed you skilled and deliberately. His hands roaming your body as your hands got lost in his hair, pulling him closer to you.

You needed him. All the tension from the previous months building up as he hurried your kisses and you gasped when his hands brushed over your taut nipple, causing him to jostle from his movements as he pulled back, panting as he looked at you.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have….”

“Don’t apologize.” You cut him off and he smiles, pressing his forehead against yours.

“You don’t kiss like a lady who’s inexperienced.” It’s not an accusation but a curious statement and you sigh as you hold his face in your hands.

“Sam, you never asked if I was ever married.”

He watches you, those chocolate eyes watching you in curiosity before he mumbles, “Are you?”

“I was. Once. Before we came here. He died in war and my family thought it best if we relocated. Started anew.”

“You’re a widow also? I thought you were younger…”

“I married at 18. Not by choice.” You answer and he nods, before he places a kiss on your lips. Its sweet as his mouth moves across your face, placing soft kisses on your skin and you close your eyes, taking him in.

“You’re such a mysterious enigma. I’m enraptured by you. You’re chained in a world where you should be free,” he whispers against your skin and you moan as your rake your hands in his hair, “let me set you free.” His mouth is moving lowering, his tongue tracing circles around your nipple and you arch into him.

He smiles as he lifts you from the ground, holding you bridal style as he walks you to your bed. His gentle as he lays you down, shrugging off his jacket and bending down to take off his boots. He never stops watching you as your eyes follow his movements, and when he stands again his hand is softly circling your ankle.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” his eyes furrow together. “I can’t be like my brother or father. I can’t promise you a nice home and I won’t bring you any social ranking. But I promise you I could love you right. That I will care and tend for you the way you deserve if you will have him.”

You sit up in bed before you whisper,

“I know the man that you are Sam. And it's the kind of man that I could love.”

He smiles, his hands pulling at the hem of your long nightgown before slowly pulling up, his mouth following as it places small kisses behind the soft materials trail. You fall back in bed, your eyes closed as it relishes in the feeling of his hands over your body and you gasp loudly when his tongue licks up the fold of your opening, looking up at him as he watches you with a devilish grin.

“You might try to act like a lady,” he laps at your wet opening again and you moan biting your lip as heat enters your face. It's the bold way he watches you respond as he enters two fingers that has you flushed and turned on at the same time. Perhaps there was a reason most ladies didn’t enjoy having sex. No one touched them the way he was right now. “But I know there’s a dirty little scoundrel in you just waiting to get pulled out.”

He kisses your center and you gasp before he’s pulling his fingers out of you, returning his trail up your body as he kisses your navel and you whine, needy and shamelessly.

“I suppose, I won’t show you today.”

Your patient as he takes his time with you, humming contently as his mouth brushes against your soft breast, taking the fatty flesh in his mouth and sucking on it shamefully. His hands are back to exploring the rest of you and you relish in the way he’s touching you, your hands in his thick hair before he returns on his quest, moving closer to your face.

“My darling Y/N,” he whispers as he finally makes his way to your neck, kissing the sensitive flesh gently as his other hand moves to his pants. “How I’ve longed to touch you the way I am now. To feel you,” you feel something hard against your legs and groan, knowing his erection is pushing against you. “To love you,” he kisses your mouth now, slow and tender and you pull him closer as you spread your legs wider. Needing him desperately.

“You make me feel whole again.” he whispers against your lips before he’s pushing inside you and throw your head back, sighing out his name as he slowly fills you until he tops out. He takes a minute to let you adjust to him before he moves his hips and you hold his face, looking up at him as he slams against you again, his name a reverent song on your lips.

“I love you so much Y/N” he whispers as you shimmy your hips with his and he moans, falling in the crevice of your neck as you move against him skillfully, pushing his shirt down his body to feel him closer to you. You both move methodically, clawing at each other as your bodies move faster and Sam moves back, grabbing your right leg as he pulls it higher, filling you even deeper and you bite your lip to contain your scream. His hand moves down to your clit, playing with the sensitive nub as he drives into you faster and he whispers,

“Be free Y/N.”

You come undone as you see white, pawing at his back and his hips move erratically before their slamming against yours before he fills you, moaning out your name as he falls on top of you. You draw him close to you, kissing his forehead as he regains his breath before he pulls away, smiling up at you.

“You were right. You aren’t a lady.”

You gasp as you playfully smack him and he chuckles kissing your chest. He’s silent as he whispers,

“I don’t know what these next few months will bring. But I know that whatever it is, I want you in my life,” he lifts his head from your chest as he looks at you. “I’m yours. From now until the end.”  

You smile down at him, lacing your hand in his.

“I’m yours too, Samuel Adams. Until the end.”

[mzyrimworld]

Duster Part 2 - Quadrum 1

Last time we introduced you to the three new colonists (56 year old Beatriz Henry with her pet husky Jethro, 56 year old Francois ‘Zeiph’ Schmitt, and 40 year old Elisabeth Dead), their landing site on the planet Duster, and their neighbouring ‘factions’.

Let’s see what their first quadrum has in store for them...

They start on the 2nd day of Septober, the beginning of Spring for their landing location.

They start by scouting out a location close to a lot of fertile soil in which to grow their innumerable seeds, and begin to gather what supplies they have together, and establish a roof to protect them. As mentioned last time, Zeiph is a night owl, and immediately takes a nap in the open field while the women get to work.

Dead, being the most melee-interested of the three, picks up all the available armour and a knife, while Henry and Zeiph got the guns.

Midnight, the beginning of 5th Septober - it took the best part of three days, but the colonists eventually finished the walls of their building. It was delayed by using mostly stone bricks rather than wood, but it’s sensible in case of fire.

They also received their first visitor - the woman doesn’t have much of use, but they bought some food in case. None of the colonists are much good with plants, so it’s good to have some back-up food in case they lose crops.

7th Septober - the day of their first harvest. Dead is the only colonist with any skill with plants, but it seems that even she is losing a lot of potential food in the harvesting. They’ve also begun to grow some cotton for clothes and furniture - their location is going to get uncomfortably warm in summer.

They’re also very slowly putting in a floor of their building - it seems there’s too much for three people to do, especially when Henry does not have many practical skills. She appears to be researching pemmican, a tribal way of preserving food, to help retain what food they have until they can establish an electronic food preservation system.

They have been lucky so far; the only troublesome event so far has been a mad squirrel, which attacked a visitor and was promptly killed by them without any of the colonists even seeing it.

We spoke too soon! Our first raider appears to challenge the colonists!

Bearing in mind, of course, that this tribal women has no clothes or armour and is equipped with just a primitive club. Still, anything can go wrong out here on the Rim...!

Henry remains at distance, protected against a wall, while Dead goes in to fight hand-to-hand...

The two ladies make short work of the raider (it seems their only injury was a bruise to Lion’s left hand), and Zeiph quickly sets up a nearby ruin to hold their prisoner in.

I should point out that (as far as we are aware) none of these colonists have ever killed anybody, so perhaps that explains their determination to rescue their attacker from certain death from her wounds. She does also look quite promising, if they could persuade her to join them...

Saving somebody on this planet seems easier said than done - one of her many knife wounds has become infected! Fortunately for her, the colonists brought a fair amount of decent medicine, that should easily see off the infection. Hopefully she will be grateful...

This woman seems almost determined not to survive! Hopefully she will not get infected again!

Once the prisoner collapsed of blood loss once again, the colonists were kind enough to give her one of the newly-built bedrooms to be a larger (and less blood-covered) cell. One wonders whether the woman’s desperation may have reached a soft-spot in Henry’s heart. Zeiph just seems to be happy not to have to talk to her and keep building.

12th Septober: a cougar has attempted to kill and eat Jethro! All three colonists were quick off the mark to defend him, and Dead finished it off - all the more meat for them to eat.

Jethro survives, narrowly. Most of the wounds are treatable, but his tail is gone entirely. It must be sad to no longer be able to see your dog wag its tail, but Henry seems relieved enough that her anxiety dog is still with her for the journey.

All of that to deal with, and then Henry is attacked by a mad hare. Her bite wound isn’t too bad, but she was forced to pistol-whip the rabbit to death. One wonders if she was ever forced to do anything similar during her years as a vet, or if she now feels guilt for ‘animal cruelty’ that she despises...

15th Septober: Just as the seasons change, this unremarkable ibex ram has decided to join the colony. I can’t say that I know much use for those, but perhaps those large horns will help to protect the colonists one day. Or if it will wind up on their dinner plates!

And so the Spring quadrum has ended. Let’s see where we are:

Henry: still treating her anxiety, but managing alright.

Jethro: missing his tail and recovering from the cougar attack.

Zeiph: enjoying his nights alone building up the base.

Dead: learning to be a warden, trying to convince the prisoner to join them (to no avail as yet).

The colony: gained a prisoner and an ibex ram.