#I just lifted a PALLET up off the ground and carried it outside because there’s not a single man in sight!!!

[sassyandclassy94]

My fellow short girls (and guys, Red, if you ever happen to see this)

Remember that height/size is never an indication of strength! I may be just over 5 foot 1 and the shortest girl at work BUT I recently learned (🙄) thatI’m also the strongest🙃

Sometimes what we lack in height, we make up for in strength💪🏻

[hawksugarbaby]

Todoroki x male reader- Caramel and Honey

Fluff + Au where todoroki rebelled and never became a hero 

Todoroki hummed to himself laying out the ingredients in front of him with his mixing bowl in the centre of the counter top, the mix of ingredients in organised lines from first to last except he was missing one ingredient.

It was soon to be your birthday, and todoroki being the gentleman as always was desperate to make you a cake as his local supplier. You deserved it for the kind smile you wore dropping of his orders at the back of the shop and hovering around for a few minutes to talk before disappearing into the wind again driving away in your van with (y/ln) Produce, stamped on the side of the van in big, black cursive.

He took over the shop from his mothers side of the family before she fell ill and had to go to hospital. not wanting anything to do with his disgusting father he chose to stay and manage the store of light pinks and pure whites. He heard your tires pulling up outside on the gravelly path and he opened the door for you to drop off your produce inside on the counters by the door.

"Hey Roki! How's it hanging, making anything special today?" you asked hauling a crate of freshly picked fruit for the season in and dropping it onto the steel top, wiggling under the weight and scooting forward a millimeter. "What do you consider special?" he asked bluntly helping you carry the boxes into the kitchen and put the items in their respective places.

Finally you brought in the cardboard box layered in bubble wrap filled with decorative jars of golden honey pockets of air suspended in the viscous liquid and Todoroki nodded happily in receiving everything he asked for. Sometimes you'd forget the blueberries, or the tea leaves or the bananas grown specially by your quirk. You grabbed a glass of honey flicking the lid open and dipped your finger into the glossy amber tasting it yourself.

"Something special? I would love a rustic honey cake. Just the way mum used to make it with our honey. Not the dumb store bought stuff, the stuff we make ourselves. With the bee's we lovingly care for, for a reason!" you shout but it was muffled by you sucking the honey off of your finger.

Todoroki wiped his chin and cleared his throat "you've got some... there's uh... like a little" you looked up at him and touched your chin the sticky threads of honey clinging to your hand. "Shit" you tutted and wiped it away with the heel of your hand getting that just as sticky as the rest of you. "Well this is embarrassing" you sighed and todoroki exhaled quickly, which was close enough to a laugh to make you smile. "Here" he ran a tea towel under the warm tap and wiped it over your chin and pressed it into your hand for you to clean your hands yourself.

He felt his own face light up red and grabbed a cup of blueberries in preparation for the blueberry muffins he would bake today and you blinked a few time's rebooting your brain after the short interaction making you flustered.

You wiped your hands down and neatly folded the towel over the side of the sink and shook your head clearing the busy, buzzing thoughts from your head and drew your eye's away from him focusing on the calendar hanging next to the wall. Delivery, nothing, delivery, nothing, delivery + (y/n) Birthday. You grinned and pointed to the red circle around the familiar number on the calendar and twisted your neck to watch him stir ingredients together into a pale yellow batter.

"You remember my birthday?" you quizzed and he nodded furiously beating the whisked eggs into the mixture and poured in the cup of indigo berries fresh from the bush. "Hey are you busy right now?" Todoroki asked moving on from the topic of your birthday and lifted his eyes from your strong arms he'd seen carry so many boxes of fruit, to your joy filled (e/c) orbs sparkling happily at the prospect of him. HIM. remembering your birthday.

"I can be not busy?" you raise your palms to the popcorn roof and flick out your phone calling a coworker. "Hey Bro, could you perchance come get the van from the Todoroki Bakery and deliver the rest of the products?" you ask and pushed the phone to your ear with your shoulder and mouthed 'frozen fruit' to todoroki and you quirked an eyebrow. He nodded to the bottom drawer.

"No I dropped a crate on my foot carrying the peaches into the shop and It hurts to walk on it I dunno how driving would go" you chuckle nervously and wink to todoroki who just looked back down at his muffins filling the white, paper cases not quite understanding. "No, I know it's so unlike me! But it's okay, Todoroki said he'd give me a lift home but can you just do the rest of the rounds?"

Your brother agreed and you said your bye's on the phone. "I now have the entire day off" you said proudly and leaned your elbows on the counter admiring todoroki's fluffy hair straying further from the style it was originally in while he pushed the baking tray into the oven. "Wait but I should check your foot if you hurt it" he said crouching down and pressing his cold hands against your ankle making you flinch "no I didn't really hurt my foot I just needed to get out of work" you chuckle.

"Oh okay. Will your dad believe that, aren't you supposed to be the big strong son?" Todoroki craned his neck up to look at you still resting with one knee on the floor and the other pulled up like he was going to propose. You lost yourself in your thoughts again imagining that instead of his hand on your foot he was holding out a small grey box with a gleaming band tucked into the cushion.

"Hey what the fuck is this?" your brother laughed at the scene in the kitchen and you whipped your head up to see him leaning against the door frame uncaringly. "Uhh todoroki was checking if my foot was swollen or anything. No evidence of broken bones yet! So you should just get going with the van here are my keys!!" you said hopping over like a professional actor and shoved the keys into his hand. "Mhm i'm sure that's what it was. OUTSIDE!" he shouted at you pulling you round the corner clipping your arm on the wooden pallets leaning against the wall out back scraping up inside your elbow.

"Hey what the hell, that hurt!" you shouted lightly tapping the bleeding scratched that didn't seem to want to stop bleeding. "Look I know you like that todoroki kid but you can't just skip work to spend the day with him!" your brother turned around and looked at your face, mouth agape and eye's furrowed into annoyance and he shrugged "what i'm just being hon-" "ARE YOU BLIND OR STUPID!?" you shouted back thrusting your profusely bleeding forearm in his face.

"Oh shit what! are you feeling okay?" he panicked suddenly drawing Todoroki's attention and he poked his head out the back door. Being the observant boy he was, his eyes went wide and he jogged over to where you were standing and wiped the blood away with the already honey covered tea towel but the crimson immediately started pouring out again. "He needs an ambulance" the dual haired baker tightly wrapped the tea towel around your arm which was quickly soaked in red.

You moaned in pain and annoyance feeling your head spin. "What could he have cut his arm on?" your brother asked and you held your hand out in front of his face snapping your fingers closed against your thumb shutting him up. "There's a huge fucking rusty nail... on the pallet you dragged me past you dickhead" you huffed. The ground span and swayed around you and the brightness in your vision was turned down so you could barely see the outlines of the boys surrounding you.

And then you were on the floor.

And then you were in the hospital. Staring at the white plaster ceiling at midnight with no one by your side. "Huh" you hummed and checked your phone hissing at the brightness lashing the dark hospital room.

todoroki was in the shop with a bowl and cake pan next to him. The jar of honey you scooped from open and his phone laying open waiting for your answer to his text.

You replied to the questions he asked and Todoroki's phone buzzed on the steel countertop and he perked up immediately reaching for the electronic, slowly running out of battery.

Roki 💖🍰

Hey are you okay?

Fri 12:18

Do you like pistachios?

Oh also raisins, do you like raisins?

Probably not, no one likes raisins

I like raisins...

Anyway. Text me when you see this

Fri 18:35

Roki 💖🍰

I hope you wake up.

I wasn't supposed to get a delivery from you today

But I wish I was cause I like seeing you

You make my heart feel... weird.

Good weird

Sat 8:44

Still don't know if you like raisins and pistachios

Sat 12:27

Roki 💖🍰

It's your birthday tomorrow you know.

Sorry I didn't text yesterday but you were sleeping anyway

How can you catch tetanus so quickly

It's supposed to take 4 days dumbass.

You got it in like 1. You fainted because of the blood btw

Mon 13:21

Please just wake up for your birthday.

I have something special for you

But I need to know if you like pistachios and raisins

Mon 14:56

Roki 💖🍰

Happy Birthday (y/n)

Tue 00:00

You chuckled to yourself at the sweet messages todoroki sent you over the course of the days and glanced at the clock. "I wonder if he's still awake" you croaked and wiped your eyes from sleep then yawned filling your waterline with unnecessary tears.

Bumblebee 🍯

Hey Roki. I'm up

I like/don't like pistachios

And I like/don't like raisins

Sorry for worrying you. Promise I won't get anymore tetanus

I'm going back to sleep

Come visit tomorrow

today*

Sent

Tue 4:13

"You better not be awake dumbass" you mumbled and turned over on your pillow burying your face into the uncomfortable pancake for your head.

Seen

Tue 4:15

The baker smiled and finally started working on his surprise for you chopping his toppings and thinly slicing/ throwing away his toasted pistachios and crunching on a few raisins while working.

At 2pm he walked in and went to visit you with his surprise balancing carefully in your hand. He carefully tiptoed to your bedside and pushed your side slightly. You snorted and rolled over, opening your eye's to an amused todoroki settling himself into the chair next to your bed. "Something smells great" you muttered pushing your face back into the pillow and smiling. "Thank you for visiting" you muffled and todoroki chuckled nodding.

"Happy birthday" he smiled pulling the foil off of the top of your surprise. You peaked your eyes open and sat up smiling brightly. "I didn't know how your mum made it but I made my own recipe" he scratched the back of his head and moved to sit next to you on the mattress. He wrapped his arm around your shoulder and kissed your cheek lightly before you could take off the handheld slice you were slowly lifting to your mouth.

"My heart feels weird around you" he sighed and thumped his forehead against your shoulder and you snickered, taking a soft bite of the sticky, nostalgic cake in your grasp. "I know. Thank you for the little updates by the way, very sweet of you" you emphasised the sweet as a pun on the honey cake but of course, it flew over todoroki's head. "But yeah. Thank you for the cake it's delicious" you complimented and leaned your head on his. "Can I go back to sleep now?" you joked and he smiled and pressed you down by your hard chest and lay on top of you. "Just don't sleep for 4 days again" he mumbled nestling into your t'shirt.

You stared down at the parting in his hair with huge, round eye's and put your hands on his back, grasping them together in a hug-ish type thing. "Okay"

[adenei]

15 and 16 for Romione Angst 😱 Give me angry protective Ron 🙈

Thanks for the prompt, Anon! Here you go:

Do I make myself clear? & Control your anger or you’ll have me to worry about

It was a blustery February day as Hermione made her way through the grounds to Hogsmeade with Ginny, Luna, and head boy, Isaac Carter.

Where is everyone planning to stop first?” Luna asked as she bounced up and down happily along the lane. “It feels wonderful to get outside of the castle and be able to enjoy Hogsmeade again!”

Ginny laughed, “Luna you’ve said that every time we’ve had a Hogsmeade weekend. I was planning to stop by Wheeze’s to see if George is there or if he needed any help today. With Harry off at auror training, I don’t have any plans.”

“Same,” agreed Hermione, thinking about Ron. “I need to stop at Scrivenshaft’s first, and then I can join you. Maybe we can go to the Three Broomsticks later in the afternoon?” Ginny and Luna nodded.

“Mind if I join you?” Isaac asked Hermione. My date fell through, so I was just planning to grab a few things and head back to the castle, but if you think Ginny’s brother might need help, I’d be happy to tag along.” 

“Oh, um, sure, Isaac. I’m sure George would appreciate that.” Ginny eyed Hermione suspiciously. 

Isaac wasn’t as tall as Ron, with light brown hair, and a medium build. Hermione had taken to studying with him in the library a few nights a week, in addition to their Head Girl and Head Boy duties. He was easy to talk to, and Hermione enjoyed his company, since Ginny often had quidditch practice and Luna preferred the Ravenclaw common room more than the library sometimes. 

They walked down the lane and stopped at Scrivenshaft’s. “Hermione, could I speak to you for a mo’?” Ginny asked. Luna kept walking onto her destination.

“Of course. I’ll be right in,” she mentioned to Isaac as he paused to wait. 

“Oh, alright. See you in there,” Isaac turned and entered the store.

“What are you doing?” Ginny hissed at her.

“What do you mean ‘what am I doing?’ We’re just friends!” Hermione said defensively.

“Sure, tell that to him.” Ginny said unbelievably.

“Nothing is going on, I swear. I- I love Ron, you know that.”

“Then why did you just stutter?”

“What? I didn’t-”

“Yes, you did!”

“Because we haven’t really announced it to the world yet! Just to each other..” Hermione hissed back at her. 

“Oh, honestly! You two and your snail’s pace relationship. If you don’t figure out how to pick up the pace, I’m going to light a fire under both of your arses.” Ginny said.

“Yes, because it’s so easy with me being at Hogwarts and him off at auror training. I thought you’d understand!” Hermione huffed.

“I do! Listen, I’m sorry, Hermione. Just, be careful alright. He seems nice enough, but not everyone is like Ron and Harry.”

“I will, I promise. I’ll meet you in Wheeze’s in fifteenish?” Hermione asked.

“See you there!” Ginny said as she took off for the shop.

Hermione hurried into the quill shop and picked out what she needed. Isaac was waiting for her by the door after she checked out. “Ready to head to Wheeze’s?” she asked him.

“Sure thing,” he said.

They walked into a bustling Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, and Hermione caught George’s eye. “Hey, Hermione!” he called. “Ginny’s in the stockroom. She’ll fill you in.” Hermione nodded and made her way to the back of the store, Isaac trailing behind her. 

They met Ginny in the hallway as she was carrying boxes to the front. “What can we do?” Hermione asked her.

“There’s a couple pallets of new items on the floor that need to be unpacked and put on the storage shelves. Start with the stuff that’s scarce. I’ll be in and out, running stuff to the floor to restock there.” Ginny said and kept walking.

“Got it.” Hermione said as they entered the stock room.

They set to work quietly before Isaac said, “So..it’s nice of you to help them out.”

“Well, they’re like family to me, and I didn’t have any other plans.” 

Isaac set his box down on the shelf and turned towards her. “We could always go somewhere and do something..” he said. “You know, try Puddifoot’s or go back to the castle and find an empty classroom to study in?” 

He wasn’t coming onto her physically, but his words were starting to make Hermione uncomfortable. “Oh, um, no thanks. I promised I’d help out here. I do have a boyfriend, you know.” Where was Ginny, anyways? She thought she’d be back by now.

“Oh! No, I didn’t mean that,” Isaac said as he stepped closer to her. 

Hermione was just about to ask him what he did mean, when a familiar voice said, “Get the fuck away from my girlfriend, you wanker.” 

Isaac jumped back and turned to see Ron in the doorway. “What? No, I- we’re just friends. Study partners-”

“I don’t care who the fuck you are. You stay the hell away from my girlfriend, do I make myself clear?” Ron said angrily.

“Uh, yeah, sure, sorry. I’ll just get going. See you later, Hermione.” Isaac all but ran from the stockroom.

“Ron! What was that? What are you doing here?” Hermione was too shocked at his reaction to be surprised that he was there.

“Well, I was here to surprise you for Valentine’s Day, but apparently you made other plans.”

“That is far from the truth and you know it! I know what you’re thinking, and I can handle myself thank you very much. Isaac is just a friend and nothing more. Now, you control your anger or you’ll have me to worry about, do you understand?”

“What? Going to set the canaries on me again for protecting what’s mine?”

“Ronald Weasley, you take that back. You know I would never do that again, and how much I regretted it the first go around. So stop it.”

“I don’t like seeing you with another guy, Hermione.”

“Well, I’m sorry Ron, but seeing as he’s Head Boy, we do need to work together.” She watched him eye her thoughtfully. “Now, are you going to come over here and claim what’s yours or just stand there and stare at me?” She wasn’t going to lie, she liked jealous Ron.

Ron didn’t need to be told twice, as he strode across the room, lifting her up as he took her in his arms and pressed his lips against hers.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she murmured against his lips.

“Missed you too,” he said, trying not to break the snog.

She wasn’t sure how long they’d been snogging when she heard, “Oi! I thought you came to help, not have a go in the breakroom,” George tossed a broken extendable ear towards the back of Ron’s head. “I don’t care if you take off or whatever, but can you at least finish emptying that pallet before you go?” he asked.

They laughed and nodded as George left to go back to the front end. 

“I brought my broom, and Harry’s letting me borrow the cloak. Think we can go back to your room for the afternoon?” Ron asked hopefully.

“I thought you’d never ask. Let’s get this pallet emptied so we can go!” Hermione said eagerly.

[newstfionline]

Monday, May 3, 2021

Global coronavirus cases are surging, driven by India and South America (NYT) The number of new daily cases has exceeded 800,000 for more than a week. The spike is largely driven by the outbreak in India, which now accounts for more than 40 percent of the world’s new cases. The U.S. plans to halt travel for non-U.S. citizens from India starting Tuesday. Vaccines in India are running short, hospitals are swamped and cremation grounds are burning thousands of bodies every day. Health experts and political analysts say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s overconfidence and domineering leadership style bear a huge share of the responsibility for the crisis. Meanwhile, Indians living abroad are frantically seeking to help sick relatives. Much of South America is also faring poorly. Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru, Argentina and Colombia all rank among the 20 nations with the highest number of Covid deaths per capita.

Elderly statesman? (NYT) Arnold Schwarzenegger left the California governor’s mansion 10 years ago. He is a more popular political figure today than when he was elected. Over the past year, the former Republican governor, now 73, has been in demand, embracing an unlikely role that he describes as “elderly statesman.” He’s made public service announcements on hand washing, raised millions of dollars for protective health gear and is now being sought out for guidance on the Republican-led effort to oust Gov. Gavin Newsom, the same mechanism that led to Schwarzenegger’s election in 2003. “When you leave office, you realize—well, I realized—that I just couldn’t cut it off like that,” he said in a three-hour interview.

Looming showdown as Michigan governor orders Canadian pipeline shut down (Washington Post) For Michigan’s governor, the 645-mile pipeline jeopardizes the Great Lakes. For Canada’s natural resources minister, its continued operation is “nonnegotiable.” The clash over Calgary-based Enbridge’s Line 5, which carries up to 540,000 barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids across Michigan and under the Great Lakes each day, is placing stress on U.S.-Canada ties. In a move applauded by environmentalists and Indigenous groups on both sides of the border, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) in November ordered the firm to shut down the nearly 70-year-old lines by May 12. Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have appealed to their American counterparts, including President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for help. Joe Comartin, Canada’s consul general in Detroit, said a shutdown would have “significant” impacts on both sides of the border. He predicted effects ranging from months-long propane shortages to higher costs for consumers to fuels being carried by rail, truck or boat—methods that he said are less emissions-friendly and more dangerous than a pipeline. One “irritant,” he said, is “the claim from the state that they are doing this to protect the Great Lakes, that they’re more interested in protecting the Great Lakes than we in Canada are. Basically, we reject that completely.”

NYC Eyes Reopening (Bloomberg) New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said yesterday the city would aim to fully reopen July 1, lifting restrictions on restaurants, gyms, and all other businesses. A return to normal would mark a symbolic moment for both New Yorkers and the country—America's most populous city was a global epicenter early in the pandemic, registering an average of 800 deaths per day last April. The city is averaging roughly 1,700 new cases per day, down 70% since January, reporting about 30 deaths per day.

Kissinger warns of ‘colossal’ dangers in US-China tensions (AFP) Acclaimed diplomat Henry Kissinger said Friday that US-China tensions threaten to engulf the entire world and could lead to an Armageddon-like clash between the two military and technology giants. The 97-year-old former US secretary of state, who as an advisor to president Richard Nixon crafted the 1971 unfreezing of relations between Washington and Beijing, said the mix of economic, military and technological strengths of the two superpowers carried more risks than the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Strains with China are “the biggest problem for America, the biggest problem for the world,” Kissinger told the McCain Institute’s Sedona Forum on global issues. “Because if we can’t solve that, then the risk is that all over the world a kind of cold war will develop between China and the United States.” While nuclear weapons were already large enough to damage the entire globe during the Cold War, he said advances in nuclear technology and artificial intelligence—where China and the United States are both leaders—have multiplied the doomsday threat. “For the first time in human history, humanity has the capacity to extinguish itself in a finite period of time,” Kissinger said.

Thousands march in Colombia in fourth day of protests against tax plan (Reuters) Thousands of Colombians took to the streets on Saturday for International Workers’ Day marches and protests against a government tax reform proposal, in a fourth day of demonstrations that have resulted in at least four deaths. Unions and other groups kicked off marches on Wednesday to demand the government of President Ivan Duque withdraw the reform proposal, which originally leveled sales tax on public services and some food. Cali, the country’s third-largest city, has seen the most vociferous marches, some looting and at least three deaths connected to the demonstrations.

Europe’s economy shrinks amid slow vaccine rollouts and lockdowns (Washington Post) With swaths of Europe still under lockdown restrictions and facing a stuttering vaccination rollout, the region’s economy slid into a double-dip recession in the first quarter of the year, in contrast to a rosy outlook in the United States. The European economy shrank by 0.6 percent in the first quarter of the year, according to data released Friday. The U.S. economy grew by 1.6 percent over the same period, amid massive federal stimulus spending and a speedy vaccination rollout. Export-dependent Germany, which had already been heading toward recession before the pandemic as manufacturing dropped off, saw its economy shrink by 1.7 percent, the most in Europe. The economies of Spain, Italy and Portugal also contracted. Much of Europe is battling a third wave of coronavirus infections. Germany has a nighttime curfew in place in 15 of its 16 states, and shopping requires booking appointments and getting a negative test.

Dozens of German police injured in May Day riots (AP) At least 93 police officers were injured and 354 protesters were detained after traditional May Day rallies in Berlin turned violent, Berlin’s top security official said Sunday. More than 20 different rallies took place in the German capital on Saturday and the vast majority of them were peaceful. However, a leftist march of 8,000 people through the city’s Neukoelln and Kreuzberg neighborhood, which has often seen clashes in past decades, turned violent. Protesters threw bottles and rocks at officers, and burned garbage containers and wooden pallets in the streets. There’s a nightly curfew in most parts of Germany currently because of the high number of coronavirus infections. But political protests and religious gatherings are exempt from the curfew.

Big Myanmar protests aim to ‘shake the world’; seven killed (Reuters) Myanmar security forces opened fire on some of the biggest protests against military rule in days, killing at least seven people on Sunday, media reported, three months after a coup plunged the country into crisis. The protests, after a spell of dwindling crowds and what appeared to be more restraint by the security forces, were coordinated with demonstrations in Myanmar communities around the world to mark what organisers called “the global Myanmar spring revolution”. Streams of demonstrators, some led by Buddhist monks, made their way through cities and towns including the commercial hub of Yangon. The protests are only one of the problems the generals have brought on with their Feb. 1 ouster of the elected government. Wars with ethnic minority insurgents in remote frontier regions in the north and east have intensified significantly over the past three months, displacing tens of thousands of civilians, according to U.N. estimates. In some places, civilians with crude weapons have battled security forces while in central areas military and government facilities that have been secure for generations have been hit by rocket attacks and a wave of small, unexplained blasts.

Vaccinated faithful throng Jerusalem church for Holy Fire (AP) Hundreds of Christian worshippers made use of Israel’s easing of coronavirus restrictions Saturday, packing a Jerusalem church revered as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection for an ancient fire ceremony a day before Orthodox Easter. The faithful gathered at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, waiting for clergymen to emerge with the Holy Fire from the Edicule, a chamber built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was buried and rose from the dead after being crucified. As bells rang and the top clerics from different Orthodox denominations appeared, the worshippers scrambled to light their candles and pass the fire on. Within a minute, the imposing walls of the old church glowed.

Israel asks whether autonomy of the ultra-Orthodox contributed to the deadly stampede (Washington Post) Israel’s ultra-Orthodox residents exist in a world within the world, citizens of Israel but pledging their allegiance, attention and obedience instead to their rabbis and God. In isolated enclaves, they are exempt from the military draft, outside the national school system and—in apartments usually without Internet or television—largely oblivious to the surrounding culture. Now, this shocked country is asking whether that self-segregation—and the secular politicians who have enabled it for decades—is responsible for the worst civilian catastrophe in Israel’s history, the trampling death of 45 ultra-Orthodox men and boys at a massively overcrowded religious festival in the early hours of the morning Friday. The ultra-Orthodox, or Haredim as they are known in Israel, follow some of the most conservative tenets in Judaism and have a lifestyle based on the Jewish culture that evolved hundreds of years ago in the communities of Eastern Europe. Since Israel’s founding, state leaders have sought preserve this culture after much of it was devastated during World War II.      When more than 100,000 members of the Haredim convened for a boisterous annual festival at an ancient rabbi’s tomb on Mount Meron, they overflowed a narrow, sloped compound known to both government and religious leaders as a potentially dangerous setting. Sunday, as the final victims were being buried and flags around the country flew at half-mast in a national day of mourning, multiple investigations were getting underway that will target police planning, local regulators, site managers and national ministries with responsibility for oversight. Already, journalists and whistleblowers have unearthed a shocking paper trail of warnings ignored, recommendations overruled and absent supervision. Officials have been called to account for meetings in recent weeks in which specific recommendations from health and safety authorities were overruled at the behest of Haredi groups.

[spoon-writes]

Ends of the Earth | Chapter 1

Fandom: The Mandalorian

Pairing: Mando x OC

Read on FFN or AO3

Summary: When Sinead's husband is ripped from her, she escapes the Hutt Empire and goes on a quest to find him. Since being a runaway slave in the Outer Rim isn't exactly easy, she makes the Mandalorian an offer he can't refuse and soon they travel across the galaxy, looking for her missing husband.

Chapter index

Chapter 1 - The Great Escape

As the starship struggled through the atmosphere, the cargo hold shook like the world was coming apart at the seams. Sinead pressed herself against the wall, which was growing hotter as gravity tried to drag the ship back on the ground. She had squeezed herself between two crates and hidden by the shadows she was impossible to spot from the walkway.

Sound of blood rushing through her ears drowned out her labored breathing and loud bangs from the ship. She pressed a shaking hand to her mouth and tasted blood. Her other hand curled around the handle of the whip, thumb hovering above the button that would power it up, releasing a power she didn't know how to handle. The whip, the one that started it all. It was heavy in her hand. If anyone found her, they'd meet a quick end, if she didn't accidentally dismember herself first.

Eventually, the floor evened out, and Sinead allowed herself to shift, her burning leg muscles crying out in protest. A drop of sweat landed in her eye and she rubbed her forehead. She was drenched in sweat, whether from fear or the hot wall she didn't know.

As the ship got farther and farther away from the cursed planet, the fog of terror started to lift. She was free, or as free as one could be hiding in a cargo hold, stowing away on a starship bound for the unknown; they might as well take her into the heart of Hutt space.

The hiss when the door opened hit Sinead like an icepick at the back of her neck.

Bothans. Two of them made their way down the walkway, growling deep in their throats as they went, their paws almost silent on the metal floor.

Sinead shifted ever so slightly, breath caught in her throat, ready to pounce.

One of the Bothans stopped in front of her hiding place. She saw its long face through cracks between the crates, long canines curling up over its upper lip.

A clawed hand curled around the crate, pulling it back.

Sinead forced her eyes open. Her finger found the button and-

A loud growl and the Bothan let go of the crate and pushed it back in place. Sinead watched with wide eyes as they went further down the walkway and helped the other carry a much larger container out of the room.

The door closed behind them, and Sinead let out a sigh of relief. The cargo hold felt cold suddenly, and empty, the only light came from ancient fixtures in the ceiling that flickered every time the ship shook.

She made it. She was going to make it. Once the ship docked, wherever that would be, she would sneak off and find another, get as far away from the Hutts as possible.

She'd find Kyen.

... ... ... ... ...

Four months later

Gineesh was nestled between two glaciers, growing from the cracks like stubborn weeds too deep-rooted ever to be pulled out completely. If the dormant volcano under the biggest glacier ever woke and flooded the area with molten lava, the city would find a way to break through the volcanic rocks before it even had time to cool off.

Two years ago, a surveyor from the mining guild found spice deep down under the ice and rocks, and what used to be a small port whose only claim to fame was that it was a stop on the way to Mon Calamari, bloomed into an entire mining operation.

Sinead had found a job in the big shipyard carved out of the ice, doing maintenance on the enormous freighters that came every day to pick up spice. Her father had taught her just enough not to get herself killed in an industrial accident, but mostly she fetched tools and ran messages for the more seasoned mechanics.

Working around the big ships made her feel closer to her parents than she had in a long time. They'd owned a freighter, running cargo for whoever wanted to pay for it, and Sinead had grown up among the stars.

She was jostled when she left the shipyard by big burly men coming in for their shift, their clothes covered in crusty oil and mud. The ever-present snow lined the road, turned grey from pollution. The road itself was a mess of dirt and sludge that seeped into her cheap boots as she walked.

A Twi'lek female waited for her just outside the shipyard; Ludah was young and pretty, her blue skin vibrant in the grey surroundings. She smiled when she saw Sinead.

"Jesha! I was about to leave without you."

Sinead shuffled closer to Ludah so they wouldn't be separated in the steady stream of people leaving and coming into to work. The sun was nearly below the horizon, but work never stopped a place like this.

"I had to finish up before I could leave. You know how it is."

Ludah squeezed past an overturned hovercart someone had left in the middle of the road. "I told you, you could work with me at the cantina. You'd get to sling ardees instead of oil for a change."

Sinead huddled further into her cloak. The glaciers sheltered them from the big snowstorms that ravaged Toola, but that didn't mean it wasn't colder than a wampa's balls.

"I've tried the whole server thing, and it turns out I'm no good at it."

"Because helping drunk assholes get even drunker is so hard."

"You're really selling this cantina job, you know that?"

Sinead knew she shouldn't talk to anyone more than necessary. She definitely shouldn't befriend the neighbor for fun walks through the slum, but she did anyway. She was a social creature, and the last months had been hell in more ways than one, although a different form of hell than the one she escaped from.

"Your loss."

Ludah leaned closer to Sinead with a conspiratorial glint in her eyes and said, "Lon stopped by after my shift ended."

Sinead blew out a deep sigh. "You know I don't want to hear about this."

"But he told me he's leaving tomorrow. We're gonna meet later, down by the mine."

"Ludah ..." Sinead said, looking around to see if anyone overheard them.

"I'm serious! I might never get to see him again when he joins the resis-"

Sinead's heart shuttered in her chest. "Shut. Up." Her eyes roved around them, hands balling into fists in her pockets. Everyone looked too preoccupied with themselves to notice them, but it only took one before the Empire descended on the planet like vultures. "Think before you speak, will you?"

"Sorry," Ludah said, not sounding particularly sorry. "I'm just so tired of being stuck on this frozen pile of bantha shit." She looked at the ground like the planet itself could hear her insult. "I'm tired of drunk astash grabbing my lekku and following me home. I don't want to end up like my parents."

"Keep talking like that, and you'll end up in a prison camp, which I guess technically counts as getting off-world," Sinead said.

Ludah sniffed and crossed her arms. "I hate this stupid place." Another nasty look at the ground. "I'm sweating under my lekku and the rest of my body is frozen solid. How does that even happen?"

Sinead let Ludah rant the rest of the way to their lodgings, at least it was better than her talking about the Resistance. News of the Resistance's victories had reached all the way out to the frozen planet, and tension was building in the slums that, if not taken care of, might explode into a revolt.

It wasn't that Sinead didn't understand where Ludah was coming from; she knew all too well the stifling feeling that came from staying in one place too long, kept in place by literal or metaphorical chains. That didn't mean she was going to risk the Empire finding her just because Ludah had cabin fever.

They rounded the last corner and their lodgings were at the end of the road. Ludah's house was larger and sturdier than many of the surrounding shacks. Warm light spilled out from the windows. In contrast, Sinead's one-room hovel looked like it shouldn't even be standing up.

Something made Sinead stop in her tracks; a chill that had nothing to do with the cold went through her body.

"Jesha? Are you all right?" Ludah looked at Sinead with furrowed brows. They stood in the middle of the road. "You look at bit pale."

A shadow moved behind the lone window of the hut, and Sinead took a step back.

"You know, I forgot something at the shipyard. I'll just see you tomorrow, yeah?"

She didn't wait for Ludah to answer but turned around and hurried back the way she came. There were fewer people on the street, the few streetlamps to be found in the slum still in working order was alight, making everyone who passed underneath look sick in the yellow light.

She reminded herself not to run as she hurried back towards the shipyard. Someone walking fast might just be late for work, but someone running would attract too much attention. She looked around as subtly as she could, trying to see whatever it was that gave her that feeling like it was the world's end.

The smell of fire, oil, and metal hung in the air as she entered the shipyard, the sounds of heavy machinery just as loud as when she left, echoing in the big open space. A Wookiee passed her carrying a rotor across his shoulders, almost as tall as he was.

Only one freighter was docked, which meant the shipyard was emptier than usual. Sinead hurried into a dark corner and entered a maze of pallets filled with spare parts for the ships. Stopping in front of the wall, she removed a small panel. The whip was still there, the kyber crystals fused into the metal glinting in the low light.

Sinead didn't give herself time to be relieved. She returned the whip and replaced the panel, making the wall look untouched.

She left the shipyard by a rarely used side entrance and hurried down the street. Another breed of people appeared after the sun went down; beggars and homeless people crowded around burning drums to find whatever warmth they could.

A hovercart filled with miners were going down the street, and as it passed her, she stole down the nearest alley. The darkness swallowed her up.

Filth and frozen mud covered every surface, and Sinead nearly tripped over a garbage can, spilling its greasy content on the ground. Only slivers of light came through the dirty windows turned towards the alley.

A Weequay sat slumped against the wall, and at first glance Sinead though he was dead. As she hurried past, he looked up and his hoarse laughter followed her, echoing through the alley.

If she could find a ship that departed tonight, maybe she could stow away on it, buy herself some more time. Then when the coast was clear, she'd return for the whip and-

Pain exploded across her face as she turned a corner. The world tilted, and she landed on her side, hard, holding her face like it was about to split in two. There was blood in her mouth.

A Trandoshan stood before her, his eyes glowing in the twilight.

"There you are," he said, the words low and rough. "Been looking all over the galaxy for you." While she lay dazed on the ground, he bent down and snatched the blaster hidden behind her cloak. "That thing is much too dangerous for a girl like you."

Sinead forced her hands to stop trembling. Snow and mud had worked its way through the many layers of her clothes. He'd taken her blaster, but she still had a vibroblade tucked into her boot.

"Y-you have the wrong person," she said, edging away from the Trandoshan.

His maw opened in a grin. "I don't think so," he said, bending down and grabbing her by the wrists. "You're exactly the girl I'm looking fo-"

Sinead's foot connected with his stomach, sending him flying back and landing with a crash on top of an abandoned bag which split open and a black, foul-smelling content spilled out on the ground.

Sinead got to her feet and broke into a dead sprint, running blindly down the alley. His undulating hunting call echoed between the narrow walls, and ancient survival instinct kicked in gear, screaming at her to hide in the nearest hole she could find.

But he would find her in the end. That's what Trandoshians do.

The alley opened into the main thoroughfare that cut through the slum like a dirty scar.

Sinead burst into the road like a shot out of a cannon. She screamed at the top of her lungs, the kind of scream that made the silence ring even louder once it ended.

People stopped in their tracks and watched as she made a beeline to a group of Besalisks standing by a grill where three small creatures hung suspended over the flames.

"Help!" Sinead's voice cut through the cold air like a whip. "Help! He's trying to kidnap m-" her legs were yanked out from under her and mouth filled with dirty snow as she landed on the ground for the second time that day.

A crowd formed around her; several blasters pointed directly at the Trandoshan who came skulking through the snow, a grappling line trailing behind him.

"She's a wanted fugitive," he said, snarling as his beady eyes jumped from blaster to blaster. "Sinead Cade-" He held out a small bounty puck where an image of Sinead spun slowly, the blue light making the Trandoshan look pallid and sick- "is wanted for theft and murder.

A murmur went through the crowd and they fell away one after one until people just moved around them like they rocks in a stream.

The Trandoshan bent over her again, catching her wrist in his hand. "If you run again," he said, snarling as he drew in a breath, "I'll fly back to the Hutts with you strapped to the hull of my ship."

He fastened bindings around her wrist, and once he was sure they were secure, dragged her up by the arm. "Walk."

Sinead moved, head bent low in defeat while her eyes swirled around, looking for a way out. She still had the knife tucked away, but she had better make sure it stuck if she tried to use it.

Snow fell as they trudged towards the port located on the edge of Gineesh, covering the ground with fresh powder. Sinead's clothes started to freeze, and she had lost most feeling in her hands and feet. The Trandoshan kept a bruising grip on her upper arm, steering her towards certain death. His claws cut through her clothes like it was tissue paper, and Sinead felt warm blood trickle down her arm.

"If you send me back there," Sinead began, wincing as his grip got even tighter, "I'm as good as dead."

"And why is that my problem?" The Trandoshan yanked her to the side as a hovercart came zipping down the road, nearly hitting them.

"My blood will be on your hands."

The Trandoshan laughed, a raspy sound like scales slithering over stone. "You won't be the first, and you won't be the last."

Sinead swallowed down the growing panic and wet her lips. "I can pay you," she said, her voice lower and smoother than before, "I have something worth more than what they're paying you, I promise."

"Shut up." The Trandoshan pushed her forwards, and she landed on her knees in the snow. "We aren't all stupid enough to piss off both the Hutts and the Empire."

Sinead made a strangled sound as he grabbed her and hauled her to her feet. A weight was sitting on her chest. The Trandoshan dragged her along, her fingers found the knife, and hid it in the palm of her hand.

"You're making a mistake."

"I'll live. Too bad you won't."

A ship rose in front of them, its charred hull and dark windows making it look abandoned. The Trandoshan released her to press a button on his wrist vambrace.

Sinead flicked open the knife and lunged at the Trandoshan, burying the knife in his shoulder until only the hilt was visible.

The Trandoshan screamed, striking her on the side of the head with a fist like a rock covered in sandpaper. She used the momentum to spin around and run. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, and with every labored breath, the cold air felt like knives in her lungs.

A roar echoed between the starships. She was about to chance a look behind when pain exploded in her shoulder and threw her to the ground. A smell of burnt flesh filled the air.

Rough hands grabbed her hair and pulled her head out of the mud. The Trandoshan pressed his disgusting mouth to her ear.

"You really shouldn't have done that."

And everything went black.

... ... ... ... ...

Sinead came to, lying on her back in a small room. The first thing her brain registered was how cold it was. Her clothes were soaked in mud, melted snow, and blood, and the air was cold enough to crystallize in front of her face.

When she opened her eyes, she thought she had gone blind. Eventually, her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Slivers of light made it under the door to the cell. Because it was a cell, that was for certain. She was lying on a small cot, and the only other furniture in the room was a metal bucket pushed into the corner, which Sinead had no intention of touching no matter how long she was stuck in there.

The dull pain emanating from her shoulder turned into a fiery agony when she tried to move. She covered her mouth with a filthy hand to stifle her cry. That only made it worse as her wrists were still bound together and every time she moved her arm, a new stab of pain tore through her shoulder.

She couldn't just stay there. She had to get up, find a way out of this.

Gritting her teeth, Sinead counted to three and hoisted herself into a sitting position, nearly sliding off the cot. Pain exploded behind her eyes. Pitching forward, she emptied her stomach on the floor. When she gingerly pressed a hand to the back of her neck, she discovered that her hair was stiff with blood.

Sinead breathed deeply against the wave of powerlessness that hit her. As long as she didn't panic, she'd find a way out. She had to.

Getting up took more tries than she cared to think about. She stepped around the sick on the floor and examined the door, a thick slab of steel that a thermal detonator wouldn't be able to break through. The rest of the cell was as if poured straight into a mold, there wasn't a crack or gap in the cold wall.

A low, constant hum made it clear that she was on a starship, and it was heading nowhere good. A strangled sob escaped her lips as her fingers dug into her arm. Her body felt light as if it'd been hollowed out while she slept or expelled with the vomit.

She didn't know how long she stood there. The room shuddered as the ship hit the ground. It felt like someone had filled her ears with cotton.

The door hissed open and the Trandoshan appeared, his beady eyes trained on her. There was a dark stain on his shoulder, a bacta patch peeking out under his jacket. Grabbing Sinead's bound wrists, he pulled her towards the door.

An involuntary, guttural scream tore from her mouth and she dug in her heels as he dragged her down a narrow walkway. The ramp was down, sunlight streaming through the opening. As the Trandoshan shoved her through, Sinead closed her eyes against the harsh sun.

The sight that met her when she opened her eyes made her want to close them again: Slezza the Hutt sat fat and glistening in the shade of a canopy held by four slaves; Beside him, Jusgra stood just as pale and insipid as she remembered him. A group of palace guards surrounded them.

On the other side of the landing platform, an army of white shone brightly in the sun. An Imperial officer dressed in grey was waiting in front of a squadron of stormtroopers.

She'd hoped she never had to step foot on Sriluur again. The dry heat assaulted her when she stepped out of the ship, a sweat breaking out under her clothes.

Sinead hissed between her teeth as the Trandoshan grabbed her injured shoulder and dug in his claws, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

Jusgra's long face split into a smug smile. Humans came in all shapes and sizes, but Sinead had never seen anyone as disproportional as him.

"Ah, I see you've finally found your quarry. Took you long enough."

The Trandoshan growled. "Delivered in one piece, just like you said."

Jusgra grabbed Sinead by the chin and lifted her face into the sunlight. "Not without damaging the merchandise, I see."

Sinead's vision flashed and she spat directly into Jusgra's face.

He hit her across the face with enough force to make her legs give out, and she slipped out of the Trandoshan's grip, landing on the dusty ground.

Slezza laughed and said something in Huttese, but Sinead's ears were ringing too loud to hear.

She pushed herself to her feet. There was no way in hell she'd meet her fate lying helpless on the ground.

"If you're all quite done," the officer said, brushing a speck of dust off his grey coat. "I'd like to interrogate the prisoner."

The Trandoshan grabbed Sinead and pulled her close. "Not before I get paid."

Jusgra looked back at Slezza, who nodded his great head, and then Jusgra procured a pouch from a hidden pocket. The credits clinked when the Trandoshan caught it.

"You'll see it's all there," Jusgra said in a bored tone, examining his shirtsleeve.

"I just check if it's all the same to you," the Trandoshan said, turning the pouch upside down and counting the credits that fell in his palm. When he was satisfied, he gave Sinead a hard push towards the others.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

The starship took off, leaving her to die. Eventually.

Sinead breathed heavily through her nose, trying not to scream.

The officer stepped forward, flanked by two Stormtroopers who grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, making her clench her jaw in pain.

Slezza's booming voice rang out with a command.

"I do believe-" Jusgra stepped forward with his own guards behind him- "that seeing as she is property of the great Slezza the Hutt, and he deigned in all his magnificent glory to pay the bounty, she rightly belongs with us."

A change went through the guards and stormtroopers alike, tension boiling just below the surface. The stormtrooper to her right shifted his grip on his blaster rifle.

The officer patted his forehead with a handkerchief, not used to the oppressive heat of Sriluur. "She stole a valuable artifact belonging to the Empire, and I am tasked with getting it back. Since an alternate payment was found, the weapon still belongs to us."

"And we will relay the information on its whereabouts to you as soon as we've extracted it, I guarantee."

"That wasn't part of the deal-"

Slezza let out a gurgling roar, and the officer whirled around to face him. A hush went through the stormtroopers, and there was a low clicking sound of blasters being readied.

If they ended up opening fire on each other, maybe Sinead's death would be worth it.

Jusgra listened to Slezza with a passive face before smiling coldly at the officer. "Slezza the Hutt permits you to extract the information as you see fit, providing that she'll be delivered back alive, as the glorious Slezza wishes to oversee her punishment personally."

The officer gave a curt nod. "I can't see why that will be a problem." He adjusted a button on his coat and looked for the first time directly at Sinead.

"I don't suppose you'll tell us where you hid the weapon and get it all over with?"

"D'emperiolo nok," Sinead spat, looking directly into his runny eyes.

"This one has always been … spirited. More trouble than she's worth, really," Jusgra said.

"Yes, well, the Empire has ways of making people talk," the officer turned toward Slezza and gave a curt bow. "The Empire thanks you for your cooperation and looks forward to a long and profitable partnership."

As the stormtroopers led her away, Sinead looked up at the small building roof connected to the landing platform. There, in the heat haze, a shadow crouched behind a water tank.

Something glinted in the sunlight.

A grenade landed between the Imperial and the Hutt, and all hell broke loose.

Next Chapter ->

[dangerouscommiesubversive]

Kairi & Kei-chan - 25 for the kissing prompt ? Have a nice day ❤️❤️

Ok so 25 is “We need to leave immediately and go somewhere private” Kiss and is one of the ones I added to the original meme because...it just seemed like it needed to be a little hornier, I guess? and I’m glad people are seeing that prompt and appreciating it. You have a nice day too, sweetheart. <3

The nice thing about the Ganglar remnants still hanging around, if there could be said to be anything “nice” about Ganglars, is that none of them have Collection pieces anymore. They can’t suddenly whip out alarming and ridiculous powers that have nothing to do with whatever theme they’ve structured their lives around. So that’s good But, on the other hand, without Dogranio’s attention to compete for they’ve also apparently lost all sense of structure. Previously they’d at least had a common goal--now they’re all out for themselves, and nothing they want makes sense.

Case in point: lately women around the city have been losing designer shoes. Not their purses, not their jewelry, not their money, just their designer shoes. Understandably distressing, but not exactly life-threatening. It could be a ring of very focused thieves. It could be a lone pervert.

Or the GSPO could get a call about a possibly supernatural disturbance in the warehouse district and arrive on scene to Umika’s delighted cry of, “Got your...shoes?”

Sakuya groans. “Of course it was a Ganglar stealing them.”

“I mean, none of us were expecting anything else, right?” Tsukasa rolls her eyes. “Creeps. I almost want to say we should just let the Lupins take it out.”

“Come on, we have to at least put in an appearance.” Keiichiro pulls out his VS Changer. “Let’s go!”

They transform and round the corner. The Ganglar, a gaudy monstrosity covered in what Keiichiro vaguely recognizes as Louis Vuitton logos, is sprawled on its back, struggling to stand and apparently on its way out. Umika is staring at a pile of shoes on the ground, face concealed by her helmet but with a head tilt that says “mystified.” Tooma is attempting to rub at the bridge of his nose through his face plate. Kairi, back unwisely to both the GSPO and the Ganglar, is saying, “We came all this way for ugly shoes?”

“These are really nice shoes, actually--oh, hey, the cops are here.” Umika waves. “Hi, cops!”

“Did you just say, hi, cops?” Tooma shakes his head, and then nods gravely to the GSPO. “Evening.”

Keiichiro nods. Pauses. “I feel like we’ve gotten inappropriately casual about--Kairi!”

Kairi’s turning to say hello, but in Keiichiro’s admittedly-limited peripheral vision he sees the Ganglar struggle to its feet and then fire off some kind of blast that looks like nothing so much as an enormous spectral foot in an expensive shoe. It knocks Kairi back so hard that he falls out of transformation, landing on the warehouse floor in a tumble of red brocade, and that would be bad by itself but then it keeps going and slams into the stack of pallets just behind him. Which, of course, proceeds to fall on Kairi in a crash.

Keiichiro moves without thinking, much faster than he’s normally capable of even transformed. The pallets definitely hurt when they hit his back, but he’s coming into this fresh; he just steels himself and puts up with the weight as he’s noisily buried.

Beneath him, Kairi blinks in the dim, minimal light filtering down through the pallets, and says, sounding dazed, “Heya, Kei-chan. When did you get here?”

“You idiot, why would you ever turn your back on a live Ganglar?”

“I don’t know, I feel like it worked out ok.”

Keiichiro feels his eye twitch and says nothing.

Outside the pile of pallets, he can hear the others fighting, shouting to one another, the whoosh of the thieves’ zip-lines as they swing around, Sakuya cursing as he lines up a shot, the Ganglar roaring incoherently. More thumping and bumping, a close-range boom, and then several triumphant noises and the slap of two people high-fiving--Umika and Tsukasa, it sounds like from the talk.

“I’m gonna have dust in my hair,” Kairi says vaguely. “It’ll take ages to wash out.”

“It’d serve you right, turning your back on an enemy.” Kairi sticks his lower lip out, and Keiichiro scowls inside his helmet. “Don’t pout at me.”

After a moment they hear the scrape of wood on wood and then a clatter, and the weight on Keiichiro’s back lightens. It takes nearly ten minutes for the others to dig them out, and Kairi spends the entire time pouting. It’s maddening. He must know how maddening it is.

“You know I can’t focus when you make that face,” Keiichiro mutters, moments before the last two pallets are lifted off and he can stand up and pull Kairi up with him.

Once everyone’s satisfied that neither Kairi nor Keiichiro is dead, they break off into pairs for a moment. Umika and Sakuya stand to one side, heads together, murmuring, as they bandage a scrape on Umika’s knee. Tooma and Tsukasa start to gather up the bizarre collection of stolen shoes; Keiichiro catches a soft, “Aya wanted to know if you’d like to come over for dinner next week, she’s been practicing some new recipes...”

For his part, Keiichiro de-transforms, squints at Kairi, satisfies himself that the other man’s eyes are focusing and he doesn’t immediately seem concussed, and then backs him up to the nearest wall and says, “Don’t turn your back on live Ganglars, you scared the hell out of me.”

“Maybe I wanted to give you a chance to swoop in and save me.” Which is an obnoxious statement, but oddly enough isn’t accompanied by an equally obnoxious smile.

Keiichiro sputters, “Well...well...don’t. Wait, are you actually all right, you’re breathing very heavily, are you hurt,” and runs his hands down Kairi’s arms looking for some suppressed flinch or concealed wound, pats his chest sort of ineffectually, works his fingers into Kairi’s hair in a search for some head injury, and from there kissing him comes naturally.

Kairi...melts. And makes a little sighing noise into his mouth. Which should frankly be illegal. A distant, serious part of Keiichiro’s mind makes a note to cut Sakuya a little slack the next time he catches a glimpse of Umika’s ankles or something mid-fight and starts acting like an idiot, because he can’t imagine trying to focus on police work with all his blood rushing south like this.

The rest of his mind is fully intent on kissing Kairi again, and then from there saying, breathlessly, “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m fine. Definitely fine.” Kairi sounds just as breathless.

“He’ll probably be better if you two get a room,” Tooma says from some vague distance behind them. “None of us want to know any more about your sex life than we already do.”

Sakuya makes a choking noise. Umika lets out a startled giggle. Tsukasa, slightly visible in the corner of Keiichiro’s eye, is covering her face in a clearly desperate attempt not to laugh.

Keiichiro registers approximately ten percent of this over the roaring in his ears. Kairi says, faintly, “If I use my zipline we can be back at your place in five minutes.”

“Please do that,” Tsukasa says through her hands.

Keiichiro hardly needs to be told twice--he’s already heading for the exit, carrying Kairi, who waves over his shoulder and says, cheerfully, “Au revoir.”

[lightshadowverisimilitude]

Untamed Soulmate AU 3/?

Part 2, 1

By Lan Wangji’s count, six additional days passed. He was able to find enough leaves and moss to make a pallet for Wei Wuxian, and water was on hand to be purified, but there was nothing edible in the cave. Even the lizards or snakes that might have been plentiful in a normal cave were absent, likely driven out by the false-Xuanwu. 

It wouldn’t have mattered if he had found an entire field of potatoes in the cave. Wei Wuxian did not wake, and if Lan Wangji left him for more than a handful of minutes, he grew restless and the bond between them went tight. 

For fear of the consequences, Lan Wangji had not investigated the bond any further, and he had not tried to dismantle it. He could admit in the sanctity of his own mind that he did not want to try, though he could not be sure how much of his own mind was secure any longer. In the end, none of it would matter if they weren’t rescued soon, and once they were, he would have to confess his crime to Wei Wuxian, and the fate of the bond would be out of his hands. He may not have intended to create such a bond, but he had done so, and he had done so without Wei Wuxian’s permission. He had not even known that such a link was possible, but that could not excuse him from the consequences of his actions. 

If only Wei Wuxian survived long enough to punish him for it. 

Despite all of Lan Wangji’s best efforts, Wei Wuxian did not wake, and his fever waxed and waned with no regularity. Lan Wangji left his side only long enough to purify water or handle the bare necessities of hygiene, and otherwise remained pressed against Wei Wuxian, pouring as much energy into his failing body as it would take. 

On the evening of the sixth day, he heard the distinctive sound of rocks moving. He tilted his head toward the sound. He had been able to climb the steep slope on the second day with his cord, but he hadn’t been able to shift the rocks at the opening, and suspected they had been sealed from the outside. He had only been able to make the one attempt up the slope, and likely would not have been able to pull Wei Wuxian up even then, even if he had been able to move the rocks.

He took up one of the swords discarded by the Wen disciples and climbed to his feet. His head swam, but he put himself in between Wei Wuxian and whoever was crashing noisily down the slope. After a week, it seemed more likely to him that it was Wen Chao returning to collect their corpses than rescue. 

“Wei Wuxian! Wei Ying!”

The sword dropped out of Lan Wangji’s hand with a great clatter and relief ran rampant through him. “Here,” he tried to call, but it came out barely a whisper, so that Jiang Cheng was still shouting for Wei Wuxian as he came sliding around the corner. 

“Lan Zhan!” he said in wild relief, and then his eyes fell to Wei Wuxian’s still form and a look of such terrified denial crossed his face that Lan Wangji felt it in his chest like a blow. 

“He’s alive,” he gasped out, and promptly fell forward. 

Jiang Cheng dashed in to catch him. “Lan Zhan, sit down. You look like you’ve already died at least once. How are your clothes still white?” he babbled, part complaint, and part breathless relief. “You kept him - you kept him alive. You kept him alive.”

“Of course,” Lan Wangji said, indignant. 

“Jin Zixuan! They’re here!” Jiang Cheng shouted. 

It had been quiet in the cave for so long, quiet and stinking of decaying monster and still air, that the sound of Jiang Cheng’s voice and the fresh air whistling into the cave made him shiver. Jiang Cheng held him distractedly, reaching out to feel at Wei Wuxian’s throat. 

“He’s burning up,” Jiang Cheng said. Worry threaded through his voice.  

“Only sometimes,” Lan Wangji said. He reached out and took Wei Wuxian’s free arm, pressing his thumb into the pulse just to feel the comforting beat. Almost without thought, he pushed energy into the channel to fight off the fever. 

“Are you stupid?” Jiang Cheng shouted, grabbing Lan Wangji’s wrist and shaking him until he let go of Wei Wuxian. “You’re almost dead, don’t give away your energy!” 

Lan Wangji glared at the side of his face and tried to push away from his chest, but Jiang Cheng held him still.

“I don’t think you can complain about being touched in this situation,” Jiang Cheng told him. He took Wei Wuxian’s wrist himself and a purple glow surrounded his fingers. 

Lan Wangji felt the foreign energy and suppressed a surge of skin-crawling discomfort. He had to tell himself that it would not be appropriate to tear Jiang Cheng’s hand away and scold him for the presumption, and he could not even tell him that his energy felt wrong, shocky and sharp. 

Before Lan Wangji could decide what to do, Jin Zixuan walked around the corner with a dozen cultivators in a mix of Jin and Jiang colors. Jin Zixuan looked impassively down at them, the only sign of surprise being a twitch of his eyebrow. Behind him, the lower level disciples gaped. 

“What are you staring for?” Jiang Cheng snapped. His own men rushed forward at once, kneeling around them. 

Dropping Wei Wuxian’s wrist, he tried to pull the sword away from Wei Wuxian’s other hand. As he had done any time Lan Wangji had attempted to pry it away from him, Wei Wuxian clutched it harder. His brows twisted and his breath came in quick, ragged gasps. 

“Stop,” Lan Wangji said. “He won’t let it go.” 

“We should leave this cave before the Wens return,” Jin Zixuan broke in when it looked like Jiang Cheng would argue. “We were certainly seen coming here. Help the Second Young Master Lan. I will carry Wei Wuxian.” 

Without another word, he crouched down at Wei Wuxian’s side and pulled him up by the hand holding the sword. 

Lan Wangji stirred, pushing up from Jiang Cheng’s grip. “I will - ”

“You can barely stand, Lan Zhan,” Jin Zixuan interrupted coldly. He turned to one of his men. “Bring a rope, tie him securely.”

Jiang Cheng stood up, looking as angry by the presumption as Lan Wangji felt, but he didn’t protest. Instead, he grabbed Lan Wangji’s wrist and pulled it over his shoulder. “Do you need to be tied securely, too?” he asked mulishly. 

Lan Wangji glared at him, but Jiang Cheng had too firm of a grip on his waist for him to pull away. They followed Jin Zixuan up the slope. Lan Wangji would not admit out loud that he likely would not have had the strength to pull himself up alone. 

Even fading, the sunlight was dazzling. He winced away from it, eyes closing tightly. He tucked his face against his shoulder, unintentionally curling into Jiang Cheng as they stumbled away from the mouth of the cave to where a large group of horses had been left tied with two guards. The pair came quickly forward to help them. 

Lan Wangji was not fond of horses, but he was not given a choice, and quickly found himself pushed into the saddle with Jiang Cheng behind him. He watched through half-lidded eyes as Wei Wuxian’s limp body was passed up to Jin Zixuan, and then they were galloping as quickly down the path as the horses would go, getting away from the wretched cave and its stinking monster corpse. 

~*~

They stopped only when the sky grew too dark for the horses to travel safely. Lan Wangji slid unsteadily down to the ground and caught himself on Jin Zixuan’s horse. He reached up insistently for Wei Wuxian, who looked even more pale and ill in the moonlight. Jin Zixuan gave him an incredulous look, but he shifted his grip on Wei Wuxian’s shoulders and lowered him down. 

Before Lan Wangji had to take all of Wei Wuxian’s weight, Jiang Cheng was there holding them both up. Lan Wangji could feel the tension in Jiang Cheng’s chest, but neither of them said anything as they carried Wei Wuxian between them to a flat area beneath the trees. 

“What happened, Lan Zhan?” Jiang Cheng asked quietly as they lowered Wei Wuxian to the ground and Lan Wangji dropped roughly beside him. 

Numbly, Lan Wangji gave his report. “Wei Ying killed the monster. He became ill. I cared for him.” This would have to satisfy Jiang Cheng’s curiosity, because Lan Wangji could not have pulled another word out of his chest if he’d tried. 

A disciple brought him a skin of fresh water, and it was all he could do not to rip it out of the man’s hands. The water was cool and sweet and tasted nothing of the stale cave ponds. He had been able to purify the cave water of contamination, gathering it from a smaller pool that was isolated from the pond with the dead monster, but there had been nothing he could do about the abysmal taste. 

Out of habit, he lifted Wei Wuxian’s head into his lap and carefully tipped the water so it dribbled past his parted lips. He was aware of Jiang Cheng watching him. When his hand started to shake, Jiang Cheng gently took the skin from him and took over. He nodded and received Jiang Cheng’s nod in return.

After what seemed like a long time, the same disciple came back with a cup. It was filled with warm, clear broth. It was tempting to gulp it all immediately down, but Lan Wangji forced himself to sip it very slowly. The first taste of it made his stomach cramp and clamor, forcing him to stop for a moment to breathe through his nose. 

Wei Wuxian spit it back up immediately when they attempted to feed some of it to him. Jiang Cheng cursed and pulled him quickly on his side so he didn’t choke.

Shivering, Lan Wangji took his wrist. He felt for the bond between their souls and stroked as though it were the strings of his guqin. Wei Wuxian calmed. 

“Try again,” Lan Wangji said. 

Jiang Cheng looked at him uncertainly, but nodded and rolled Wei Wuxian back into his lap to make another attempt. Keeping a hold on Wei Wuxian’s wrist, Lan Wangji started to hum. His voice was almost too weak for the melody to be audible, but Wei Wuxian relaxed and took the small sips of broth. 

Eventually, Lan Wangji fell asleep, breathing the sweet air with his stomach uncomfortably full, and surrounded by the murmur of voices other than his own. 

~*~

In the morning, Lan Wangji managed another careful cupful of clear broth, and together, he and Jiang Cheng got about half as much into Wei Wuxian. When he would not take any more, Lan Wangji set it aside. He looked down the road in the direction of Cloud Recesses. 

“You’ll come with us to Lotus Pier,” Jiang Cheng said, but his voice rose on the end, making his statement into an uncertain question. 

Lan Wangji looked back down to Wei Wuxian, sleeping peacefully in his lap. He drew his sleeve up to wipe at the corner of Wei Wuxian’s lips, where a pool of broth had caught. When he’d woken at five in the morning, he’d gone to the river to bathe. Jin Zixuan had wordlessly offered him a stack of clean clothing. It was in Jin colors, but he could hardly protest, considering the state of his own. Now, it was a pale golden sleeve dabbing at Wei Wuxian’s even paler lips. 

“No,” he said finally. 

Jiang Cheng started back. “No?” 

“Cloud Recesses has been razed.” 

Jiang Cheng turned his head away. He nodded. “Lan territory has been occupied by the Wens.” 

Lan Wangji’s hands tightened helplessly on Wei Wuxian’s sleeves. “I have responsibilities.” Not least among them, now, being to investigate what he had done to his and Wei Wuxian’s souls, and if it could be undone. 

“I understand,” Jiang Cheng said. “He’ll be safe.”

It was a physical struggle to pull himself away from Wei Wuxian, but he did. He climbed unsteadily to his feet, at once resentful and grateful for the support of Jiang Cheng’s arm as he left Wei Wuxian lying peacefully beside the fire. 

Jin Zixuan approached them with a bag. He held it out wordlessly. Lan Wangji did not need to look inside to know it had basic supplies and his own ill-treated clothing. He offered the Jin heir a bow, and walked beside Jiang Cheng for a short distance. 

“We’ll assemble at Carp Tower,” Jiang Cheng told him. “To face the Wens. Anyone you can bring…” His voice drifted off, and he did not say anyone who is still alive.

Lan Wangji nodded. When he opened his stride to move away from Jiang Cheng’s side, Jiang Cheng stopped in the middle of the road to watch him go. 

It was only another few minutes before Lan Wangji felt the strange pulling of Wei Wuxian’s consciousness leaving his core and sliding back down the bond between them. In another dozen steps, the energy stirred as Wei Wuxian returned to himself. Stopping in the middle of the road, Lan Wangji swayed. He wanted to return. He wanted to see Wei Wuxian’s eyes open and hear his voice again. 

It took a dozen deep breaths before he could get himself to move again, his feet still pointed toward Cloud Recesses.

Next

[allsassnoclass]

You’re right about the kid Dimitri thing it’s a cute element of the movie that adds to their relationship and also dimitris search bc he’s looking for the girl he saved. See I have an attachment to Rasputin&the bat which is half my issue but you’re right about the new guy just. Not being dangerous enough for it to work in the musical. Also pls go off about Newsies I wanna hear about that one

okay this is going under a read more because it inevitably will get very very long.  also spoilers for newsies (1992 movie and musical) below:

first of all a disclaimer: I do like the musical and this isn’t me saying that they didn’t improve anything (Crutchy/Crutchie, actually developing their token female (although I do have thoughts about that as well), what they did with “Once and for All” etc.) but I was a fan of the 1992 movie first so my loyalties lie there.  Also this is all just my opinion

First and foremost: all characters except for Jack, Medda, Crutchie, and Pultizer were done dirty.  The background characters were my favorite part of the movie and the musical really dropped the ball with them, often at the sacrifice of historical accuracy

Mush Meyers, Boots, Kid Blink, Racetrack Higgins, and Spot Conlon were all real people actually involved in the strike (Kid Blink was historically the leader, they created Jack Kelly to have more freedom with characterization), and all of these characters were taken out of the musical or given lesser roles.  They also (along with Crutchy) create the supporting cast (with Jack, Denton, David, and Les being the main cast), which means I was emotionally attached to all of these people and then they were taken away from me :( It’s clear that the people adapting the musical did not think they were important enough to keep consistent, which is just false

In general, because they spend so much time focusing on Jack and Katherine, all of the background newsies are less developed, which means that the Found Family vibes are also slightly less developed (especially when taking away the lodging house/newsies square as a definitive home base and Kloppman as a father/grandfather figure)

seriously I miss Kloppman that dude woke them up every morning, helped them with their spelling, lied to Snyder’s face about Jack’s whereabouts... MVP right there

Racetrack and Spot were done the most dirty (because the others don’t even exist).  Allow me to explain: In the movie and in real life, Racetrack got his name because he sells at Sheepshead Races and bets on the horses there (the betting is more of a reoccurring thing in the movie).  Therefore, in “King of New York,” he is the character to wish for “a permanent spot at Sheepshead Races,” and for absolutely no reason (besides laziness) they have someone else say that in the musical and also cut half his name???  He also is shown to be very good with kids (David telling him to watch Les when he goes after Jack, all of his interactions with Snipeshooter), and there’s an interesting thing to be said about how Wiesel will spot him papers.  All of this is lost simply because they don’t have the stage time for the background newsies

SPOT CONLON! WAS RUINED! perhaps that’s a very strong opinion but they really did him dirty.  In the movie he’s a shrimp with the aura of a mob boss.  he wasn’t buff, and that made him more intimidating because he still somehow was arguably the most powerful newsie! also by cutting out the scene where Jack, David, and Boots go to Brooklyn to see him, we miss seeing him as a true leader and getting an actual introduction to him and how the newsies of different boroughs interact.  I miss his slingshot and his pimp cane.  I miss David calling him the key to the strike.  I miss him showing up earlier than the second act so it actually makes sense for him to be seen as the strike leader that the musical is so desperate to make him (seriously what’s the point of him being in Pulitzer’s office at the end???). also by introducing him later we miss all of the sprace moments :(

I even have some beef with Katherine because, although she’s much more developed as a love interest than Sarah (rip Sarah 1992 maybe if they had actually kept her song Truth About the Moon in there...), I think it was cheap and unnecessary to make her Pulitzer’s daughter, and she doesn’t really have much of a personality outside of Strong Independent Woman who still somehow needs a man in order to get her big break.  She was really written as a Token Female and while I love her and I appreciate that she wants agency and to fight for a cause, Sarah punching a Delancey brother was more feminist.  Also, even David’s role in the story was lessened in order to give room for Katherine’s whole subplot and Dramatic Family Reveal and as an avid Javid shipper that made me sad :(

Now on to more plot-focused concerns!

The! Betrayal! Scene! The movie betrayal scene! So much better! Allow me to explain!

First of all, Jack just waltzing into Pulitzer’s office and getting captured? boring. cheap.  Snyder and the police infiltrating the rally so we get to see Every Single Newsie try so desperately to keep Jack safe and yet he (and all the named newsies) still get captured? Heartbreaking! Engaging! Shows plainly the bond of the newsies!

(also allowed us to have the “on the grounds of Brooklyn, your honor” line at the trial)

The one-on-one confrontation between Jack and Pulitzer is much more engaging and more of a game of wits in my opinion.  You don’t feel like Jack is the underdog and won’t win until Pulitzer directly threatens David, whereas having all of Pulitzer’s friends there in the musical means Jack is automatically going to lose and you don’t even get a chance to cheer for him

The Alley Scene!!!!

Then the actual betrayal scene, with Jack fully dressed like a scab.  every single newsie feeling personally hurt and calling out to Jack, spot having to be forcibly pulled back by multiple people, and then David gets the chance to speak and nearly starts a fist fight when he was the one who always said they couldn’t beat up the scabs… “I ain’t got nobody tucking me in at night, like you.  It’s just me, and I gotta look out for myself” “you had the newsies!”

I quote that scene so much y’all

I miss Jack meeting David’s whole family.  It really shows what Jack himself is missing and longing for, it more blatantly shows David’s Jewishness, and makes Jack finding a family with David and the newsies that much sweeter at the end.  I also liked how a nuclear family was something no movie newsies had (less historically accurate, I know) because I think that bonded them together more, because they genuinely only had each other in the movie (can you tell that found family is extremely important to me)

Jack’s background story.  him lying about his name and then it all getting revealed at the trial was a very spicy moment, and I think it shows just how much he relied on Santa Fe as an escape for him.  He’s created an entire other life in his imagination for himself, going so far as to change his name and fantasize about having a family, and I think that that makes his decision to stay in New York and accept both his reality and the newsies as his family sweeter

also in the musical it’s implied that Jack stole food and clothing for the kids in the refuge, and that’s how he got himself arrested the first time.  I almost like it better if he was stealing for himself at first, because I like having a protagonist who doesn’t need to always be completely altruistic like he was starving and he stole some food and I think that’s justified, so I don’t like how they felt the need to turn him into some sort of saint who was stealing for someone else (that’s a really nitpicky thing but!)

The absolutely bonkers commitment to nicknames in the movie was very spicy.  I think Jake (and Jack, who was lying, and David and Les, who started as outsiders) was the only one with a name and he was even a very deep background newsie.  Wasn’t historically accurate but it sure created a lot of possibilities about the power of names that could be exploited in fanfiction

And now some nitpicky things about elements of a musical that bothered me:

they took away the upper harmonies in carrying the banner???? why would you do that you have Broadway singers and you take away the upper harmony???

switching Jack’s line of “I want space not just air” to “I need space and fresh air” idk I think the first one more fully portrays how trapped he feels in New York and in his situation also it’s more poetic

I’ve already talked about Race’s line in King of New York :)

how all of the newsies are supposed to be kids but instead were played by adults... I know this was because of child labor laws but that’s why newsies is going to be best done as a high school musical (or a combined middle school/high school like my school was... Mr. Holsen when you retire put in a good word for me so I can take over).  if you don’t have at least 3 newsies who are small and young enough to be lifted onto another newsie’s shoulders then you’re doing it wrong

this is very much a personal preference but I really liked how the color pallet in the movie was a lot of browns and earth tones.  with the musical doing a lot of steel and blues it definitely feels like the progression into the mechanical age but it also feels colder and more rigid and I liked the warmth of the movie.

In a similar vein that is also a very personal preference, I liked how the singing and dancing was a bit rougher around the edges in the movie.  I’m a dancer so Of Course I love the Broadway choreo but it feels too polished sometimes.  these are young scrappy kids and they’re dancing like professionals who went to julliard (which like. some of them probably did). the scruffiness of the movie makes it feel more down to earth and swallowable for me

Jack’s cowboy hat :( Jack’s costume in general :( his nickname is cowboy and they took away his cowboy hat and red bandana :(

This is obnoxiously long but I just. y’all I have so many feelings about newsies and everyone always talks about the musical when they’re really two different stories and I just want to talk about the movie so thank you for indulging me

[velvetinewitch]

fluffcember: sunrise, ellalion

@cheesecake-angel​, here’s your ellalion fluff! i loved writing them, thank you for forcing me to. also thanks to @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword,  @raiswanson, and @siarven for hosting fluffcember!!  find a list of characters to send a ship (platonic/romantic) in for fluffcember here!

Ella wakes her early that morning, or late that night. She shakes Ara's shoulders until the writer shifts, her dream-state fleeing her. She mutters groggily under her breath, her eyes flickering half-open to the pale blue hues of their room. 

"I wanna show you something," Ella whispers, strands of hair spilling into Ara's space, voice soft as to not disturb the silence of the atmosphere. "You're going to have to close your eyes, just not yet." 

Ara searches blearily for the blaring red alarm clock and scowls at the low numbers. She curses Ella, but the girl just lets out a breathy chuckle. She reaches for Ara's hand, tugging her from the sheets despite her complaints. 

"Do I have to get dressed?" Ara asks. She puts her palm to her mouth to muffle the yawn.

Ella examines her outfit, the fluffy, leopard-print pajama pants and the warm Christmas shirt (despite it being July). Despite the heat of the night, Ara bundles up to keep from freezing. Ella, who had fallen asleep against their fridge, had always found it ironic. Her magic was fire, but it did nothing to keep Ara warm. "You're fine," she decides. Her brow wrinkles. "Did you really sleep in your shoes?"

Ara stifles a giggle at her distaste and lets her lead her out of their dorm. The lights in the hallways are dim, glowing just enough for them to see the floor and walls. Ella speedruns down the stairs, her feet loud and heavy on the carpet. Ara lags behind, slow with a resting terror that her tired mind will abandon her body and let her trip. Before they step outside, Ella reaches for Ara's hand, lifting it to cover her eyes. Ara laughs at the action, but holds her fingers there, squashed against her nose, no rays seeping in through the cracks. Ella takes her other hand and uses it to guide her, pulling her forward through the doors and into the outside world. It isn't freezing, or even chilly, just a soothing gesture of the summer temperature. The dew on the grass soaks into her shoes and the bottoms of the pajamas as they walk. When Ara whines to Ella, Ella offers to carry her. It's almost tempting, if not for the last time they'd attempted that. They mutually agree that Ella, while she may be a junior Olympic athlete, doesn't need to practice any weightlifting. For their safety.

The path Ella leads Ara down is familiar, even without her vision. The small breach in the magical Boundary sits beside a large Willow tree that had grown into the carved out mountainside. Among the roots, a hole breaks through, steep and dirty. Ella helps Ara down it, their feet sliding a little as they break out of the campus territory. Generations of students before them have dug through the mountain, casting spells to hold the ground in place, setting infinitely burning candles in coves along the walls. Now, a semblance of the brightness break through Ara's skin, brilliant red. The echo of their footsteps bounces along the walls.

As they walk, they talk. It isn't a small, thinly knit conversation of formalities. They'd agreed, when their friendship first began, that conversations like those would be worthless to them. Instead, Ara asks what her childhood home looked like- tall columns, white pristine walls, rugs made of silks beneath Ella's bare feet while her butler chased her. Ella listens to Ara reminisce of the stories her mother would tell her before bed, poetry and fairy tales about love of all kind. Even their kind of love, something strong, not quite romantic, but nothing like a simple friendship. Ella grins when Ara says this, threatens a kiss. Ara threatens a punch, but it's playful, and the laugh she earns is something that calms her.

Their destination is only just beyond the exit of the tunnel. Ara can't see it, but she can feel the dirt path beneath the soles of her feet, and the green trees are imprinted in her memory. The music of the wind plays in their leaves.

"Did you know the band kids enchanted the trees?" Ella asks.

"Really?"

"Rain told me,” Ella continues, sounding proud of herself for her insider knowledge. “If you listen hard enough, you can hear whatever song makes you happiest."

Ara strains her ears to hear it, and laughs when the sound of her mother's favorite radio song reaches her. Her smile must be telling because Ella squeezes her hand. The music is slowly joined by the hum of running water, and Ara knows they've reached the end of their journey. Ella pulls her forward towards the oasis, the spot in the center of the dense wood, where a stream leaking off the main waterfall travels to the edge of a higher set of cliffs and falls, forming their small shoal at its base. Sometimes, during the school year, kids will sneak down here at night, using their magic to change the landscapes. Once, Asrian stole the stars in the night sky and tucked them under its surface, the water rippling with opal constellations. Pallet and Kaden had tie-dyed it with their own magic once, transforming it into a sea of color. Sometimes, the hydrologic sciences kids visit, putting on a show with their ability to manipulate its shape. No student of Nyxivis has lived until they’ve experienced a floating ecosystem of glass.

Ella tugs her to the left, where Ara knows the ground curls inwards, a small indent behind the springs, where the water is a bit like a curtain. Magic, as always, prevents the water from splaying on you, and the sound of the water isn’t loud enough to be overpowering. Best of all, the view is gorgeous. Through that clear curtain is the serene water like a giant puddle, and past that is the cliff, and past that, the valley, a city of lights stretching before them. But Ara's eyes are still closed, her hand shielding her from that beauty, even as they duck into the cove and find a seat facing the distance.

"It'll be a few minutes," Ella says. She scooches closer to Ara, drawn to the warmth and the pressure of their touch. Ara waits impatiently for the time to come, cracking sarcastic jokes that make Ella reply just as dryly. Then, finally, Ella nudges her waist with her elbow, and gives Ara the okay.

It's the sunrise that meets her eyes when she pulls her hand away and blinks off the darkness. The suns beams, as it ascends, scatter in the falling water like prisms of fire. On the surface of the puddle below them dance the rays, flames of daybreak against the cooling pond. Ara feels her breath catch, her mind whirring to narrate the scene before her. “You could propose to me right here, and I’d say yes,” she says finally.

“Good,” Ella says, rummaging through her pocket. Ara startles, but Ella pulls out the ring without a box at all, holding it out to her casually. The cherry golden color glints in the light. “It’s a… non-romantic engagement ring. In a ‘no homo’ fashion.”

Ara laughs as she takes it, and if she’s crying, no one could blame her. “Fuck you, Ella,” she says with a sniffle. “I didn’t get you a ring.”

“I’m not sure that’s how this works, babe,” Ella grins, leaning into her further, playfully pushing her to the side with her shoulder. “Actually, I’m not really sure about this at all, it’s not exactly traditional.” Ara pushes back stronger, and it becomes a war, until they’re giggling and shoving and Ara tackles Ella into a wrestling match. With a shriek and a splash, they pull themselves through the curtain and into the shoal, letting that golden fire bathe them as they fight under the sunrise.

(saying this again lol) find a list of characters to send a ship (platonic/romantic) in for fluffcember here!

[xoxocarlgrimesxoxo]

Martyr

summary: From Carl’s girlfriend’s point of view, they spend his last day together while she is experiencing flashbacks. (flashbacks are in italics)

word count: 3669

warnings: language, sexual themes, and major character death

AN: This is my first time writing anything about Carl. Let me know if you guys want a part two. Special thanks to @beautiful-writings for editing this for me!

I wake up to the sun shining through the curtains. I let out a muffled groan, and I reach with my left arm in search of a certain blue-eyed boy. Instead my fingertips graze only over cool blankets.  

 I sit up, and the first thing I notice is the clothes dispersed across the floor, clearly signaling what Carl and I were up to last night. 

 "Carl?“ I say into the empty room, my voice slightly groggy.

 Carl appears in the door way of the bathroom, and the holster strapped around his thigh catches my attention.

 "Baby, why are you awake?” he asks, then saunters over to the pallet on the floor where I’m sitting.

 He hasn’t put his bandage back on, which makes me smile softly at the ground. After dating for roughly two years, and being friends for a bit longer, we are both usually extremely comfortable around each. After Carl got shot, it took me so long to break down his walls, and for him to let me in again.

“Carl! Please let me in, I just want to be there for you and help you.”

 My body is leaning up against Carl’s bedroom door, my ear pressed against the white wood- ever since he got shot he’s been pushing me away. 

 I close my eye and begin to picture the day Carl and I first met. We were on the highway outside of Atlanta. I was with my older sisters, Amy and Andrea. The three of us met an older man named Dale, Carl, and his mom. They were with a man named Shane, Carol and her family, and a few other people. We all started a group just outside the city, and Carl and I have been attached at the hip ever since. 

 We became best friends fairly quick, and we told each other everything, and pretended that everything was going to be okay because we had each other to fall back on. I was there when he had to put down his mother, and I have dealt with every hardship he has faced, but nothing compares to this. 

 I knock on the door lightly again, “Carl, honey, please let me in!” The words started to feel rehearsed, I just hope he will reach out to me soon.

 Carl and I started dating right after prison went down, but we both had feelings for each other since when we relocated at the farm. We were just too young to really do anything about it. We dated in secret for a period of time, in fear that Rick and the group wouldn’t approve of us and possibly separate us-but we could not have been more wrong. When we finally told everyone, they told Carl and I that they had been waiting on us to get together, and some of them actually made bets on the issue.

 I turn around and see Rick and Michonne standing a few feet away with sympathy in their eyes. Carl only lets Michonne and Denise, Alexandria’s doctor, see his eye. Carl barely talks to me anymore, let alone see him with no bandage.

 I put my palms up against his door, “Carl please. I don’t care what you look like. I fell in love with how strong you are, your heroism, your bravery, your pure heart. I fell in love with the way you want to help people, and the way you care for this group and your baby sister. I feel in love with your voice, the way you carry yourself, and how you take care of me.” I paused, closing my eyes for a moment, pulling myself together, before continuing. “You losing your eye changes none of that, and it will never change how much I love you. So please let me in, let me be there for you. I can’t imagine how hard this is. Please…Carl.”

 I hear shuffling on the other end, a sprinkle of hope showering me when the door slowly creaks open. Carl gently pulls me into his room and closes the door behind us. 

 He sits down on his blue, plush comforter, and begins to hesitantly remove the white bandage from his head-slowly, as if he were swaddling a newborn. His knee is bouncing up and down out of nervousness.

 “You’re going to think I’m disgusting,” he whispers. 

 “Carl, I could never think that about you. I promise." 

 Once it’s fully off, he looks down letting the fringe of hair fall over his wounded eye. I walk over and crawl into his lap, lifting his chin up using two fingers. I softly brush his hair out of the way. Carl’s lovely blue eye wells up with tears, and his lip is wobbling. I lean in and kiss right next to his wound, the corner of his mouth, then full on the lips. 

 We pull away and he lays his head on my shoulder, "I love you so much Carl. You are still the most handsome man I have ever glanced upon. And honestly you look badass now and it’s extremely sexy.”

 “Really?" 

 "Hell yes. Please kiss me again. I’ve missed you so much,” he obliges and lays me down on his mattress before attacking me with kisses.

 I frown remembering how long it took before he let me see him without his bandage. Now, after many months of learning to live with it, Carl rarely sleeps with a bandage on anymore. 

 "Where are you going?“ He knows I hate it when he attempts to go over the walls before I can wake up. 

 "I have something I need to take care of.” I raise my eyebrow at his vagueness. Carl and I are always open with one another, so anytime he’s even slightly enigmatic, it catches me off guard. 

 He wraps his arms around me and rests his chin on top of my head, “I need to help that man my dad and I ran into a few weeks ago. I know he’s not part of the Saviors, so I need to help him. It’s the right thing to do, I have to." 

 "That’s why I love you.” He pecks my lips then descends back into the bathroom. 

 I begrudgingly get out of our warm blankets and stretch out my stiff muscles. I trudge into the bathroom to brush my teeth and watch as Carl is putting on his bandage. 

 I wrap my arms around his waist from behind, “Please be careful, Carl.” He turns around and gives me a gentle kiss, lingering for several seconds.

 "I always am. I love you babe.“

 "I love you too. See you soon.” Carl pecks my cheek, then grabs his beloved hat, and is out the door.

 While Carl is out, I spend my time with Judith, playing with her toys in the living room. When the front door, suddenly, swings open, I know it’s Carl because Michonne just left an hour ago. 

 "Hey, how are my two girls?“ I turn around and feel a bottomless pit in my stomach, I know something isn’t right. 

 I stand up and walk over to him, "Carl what’s wrong?”

 "Nothing. I’m fine, really. Let me go get cleaned up then we can talk.“ He kisses my forehead and heads for the stairs. I watch him trudge up the stairs, but his words didn’t take the undeniable uneasy feeling in my stomach. 

 I go ahead and get Carl a glass of water and a granola bar and set it on the table for when he comes back downstairs. Minutes later, I hear his footsteps on the creaky, wooden stairs, and the nervous feeling comes back, only stronger.

 "Where’s Michonne?” He walks over and sits down across from me at the dining room table that’s practically carved with memories. 

 I have never felt so uncomfortable in my life. I would rather Rick have ‘the talk’ with Carl and I again then have to sit through a dinner with Negan. 

 Carl decided to sneak out and go have a little chat with Negan all the way at the Sanctuary. It obviously didn’t end well as Negan is sitting across the table, I just wanted the bastard to get out of our damn house. Seeing that monster holding Judy made me want to scream. 

 “So you and the big-balled little serial killer are dating huh?" His despicable voice makes me want to vomit, but I attempt to keep cool.

 "Yes." 

 "Oh damn! I remember you! When I almost had Rick, the prick cut your little boy toy’s arm off, you were blubbering like damn baby!” He lets out a gut-wrenching chuckle. When Negan comes, Carl always tries to make sure he doesn’t see me. 

 “Y/N, sweetheart, be honest with me, what do you think about Carl’s radass, badass missing eye?” Carl looks down at his plate, trying to avoid eye contact.

 Negan made Carl take off his bandage, I notice his insecurity across the table. The air in the dining room seems to be getting thicker, and Olivia stopped feeding Judith and is looking at me. 

 “I uh, I thi-think it makes him sexier. After he lost his eye, other senses got a little str-stronger and better.” I cannot believe I just said that. I have never been relatively good under pressure and I totally panicked. I would rather say “Your son fucks better now” to Rick’s face then say what I just did to that man. 

 “Are you telling me, that you and Carl get it on? And that-”

 “Well I-”

 “Do not interrupt me, little missy!” His voice makes me flinch, and I watch as he licks his lips. “As I was saying, you’re saying that Carl shows you a better time since he lost his eye? Damn that shit is hil-ar-ious! I was wrong, Carl! I guess it is a hit with the ladies!”

 I could cry right now out of terror, anger, and shame. Carl is smirking at me from across the table and I know that look, almost too well. Negan is laughing at our sex life, and Carl is horny while an actual serial killer is in our home casually eating spaghetti with us. 

 “So, is Carl that good in the sack? Carl is one lucky man. You are a hot piece of ass. But because you are so young, and I respect your boyfriend, I won’t ask you to be one of my wives. Is she any good Carl?" 

 "Shut the hell up!” Carl demands, shooting up and leaning over slightly to look Negan in the face.

 “Relax Carl! I’m just busting your balls! Remember what I taught you? Well what can I say, Y/N? You’ve got a real badass boyfriend.” 

I pick up the note that Michonne left and hand it to Carl. They’ve always had a special bond that everyone dreams of. I watch as he reads over it, and looks, sad?

 "Do you have anything to do today?“ He asks. 

 "I promised I would do inventory for the pantry, which will only take an hour or so. But other than that, I’m free." 

 "Perfect. I just want to spend the entire day with you." 

 "That sounds great, Carl. We haven’t gotten to do that in a while."  He reaches over and lays his hand on mine.

 "Did you find who you were looking for out there?” I ask.

 "Yeah, he seems like a good guy. He’s uh- um,“ Carl says hesitantly. My eyebrows scrunch in confusion. 

 "I brought him back and he’s in the sewers!” He blurts out, I watch the relief dispense from his crystal eye.

 "Did you ask him the questions and stuff? And why the sewers? Why couldn’t you just bring him into the house?“ 

 "Of course, I asked him the questions. I thought people might be mad that I brought someone back with me. I don’t know." He shakes his head, looking more so towards the ground.

 "Well you’re in charge while your dad is gone, so it’s ultimately up to you. But maybe it’s a good idea to keep him down there until your dad gets back.”

 "I’m going down there to make him comfortable. Will you come meet him?“ He asks. 

 "Of course, babe.” I maneauver my hand to lace my fingers with his. He gives me a small grin and lifts the back of my hand to his soft lips, giving it a sweet kiss. 

 Carl and I decided that he would get the man set up, then come get me so I can meet him. He brought him extra clothes, a cot, and some food and water. I made sure the coast was clear while Carl snuck down there. 

 I continue to wait, impatiently on the couch when Carl comes back in I immediately rise to my feet, “Are you ready?” I nod, and we head outside. 

 The man stands up when he sees Carl and appear in the sewers. 

 He shakes my hand, “Hi, you must be Y/N. My name is Siddiq. Carl told me about you." 

 "It’s nice to meet you.” I glance at Carl and he puts his hand on the small of my back. I’ve always been awkward when meeting new people.

 Ron leads Carl and I upstairs, so we can meet the other kids that live in Alexandria. I’m nervous, and I can tell that Carl is too. 

 “So how old are you guys?” Ron asks. I look at Carl and he gives me the same look back. 

 “We-we’re not sure,” I answer. 

 “Oh,” Ron responds awkwardly. We reach a door and Ron opens it for us. 

 “Guys this is Y/N and Carl. That’s Enid and Mikey,” he says, pointing to each person individually.

 “Hi,” Enid says not even glancing in our direction.

 “Hey guys,” the other kid, Mikey responds. 

 “Enid’s from outside the walls like you,” Ron says. 

 “Is this yours?” Carl pulls the comic book we read together last night. 

 “That’s Enid’s,” she jerks it out of his hand, “sorry, we didn’t know you guys were getting that house. So, do you want to play video games? Or Mikey’s dad has a pool table, but he’s kind of strict about it.”

 “It’s okay he’s a work.”

 I begin to feel very overwhelmed. I guess I’m not sure how to act around kids my age. I’ve had Carl with me all this time, but that’s different. I can feel bile rising in my throat, and I try to push it down.

 “Pull it together,” Enid says nonchalantly. 

 “Sorry guys, we can come on a little strong. We can just hangout if you want. You don’t even have to talk. It took Enid three weeks to even say anything,” Ron says. 

 Carl wraps his arm around my shoulders and starts rubbing my arm,“ Let’s play some video games.”

 "You and Carl make a lovely couple. Carl is a good kid. He saved me, but he didn’t have to.“ 

 "I know,” I giggle. Carl pecks my cheek. 

 "I brought something else,“ Carl pulls out a Big Cat from his pocket. My eyes light up at the sight of the perfectly wrapped bar. We all sit down and share it. 

 I wipe the chocolate off the corner of Carl’s mouth, and then kiss him in the same spot.

 "I have to go help out. I’ll see you soon.”

 I huff as I throw open the door to our house. I was sitting and counting the cans of beans when another fell off the self, broke open, and splattered all over me. I trudge upstairs in look for a change of clothes. 

 I open the door that has the colorful sign Carl and I decorated that says ‘Carl and Y/N’s room. Please knock.’ We made that after an extremely embarrassing incident.

 Carl pulls me into his lap as we kiss. He pulls my shirt over my head and begins to kiss down my neck. He lips cease when the door flies open. 

 Rick stands in our doorway looking like a deer in headlights. 

 “Shit I’ll come back later. Um, be careful and uh, lock the door." 

 When I open the door, Carl is sitting in the corner of the room.

 "Hey what happened?” He asks. I grab a clean pair of jeans and one of Carl’s flannels. 

 "Beans splattered on me,“ I sigh. I change quickly because I want to get this job over with, so I can spend the day with Carl. 

 "I’m sorry, babe. But, you look cute in my clothes.” His eyes rake over my body. 

 “I swear, you’re a klepto!” Everyone turns and looks at Carl and I was we walk downstairs. 

 “Hey! I’m not a klepto! I just like to wear your clothes! They’re comfy and smell like you!” I yell back. 

 “Fine. I’ll let you wear it since you look cute.“ 

 "You two are something else,” Rick chuckles.

 Carl and I proceed to spend the entire day together. While we played with Judith outside, Carl came up with an idea. 

 He comes out of the garage with a can of blue paint. He decided that Judith, him, and I should mark our hand prints on the porch. 

 Carl and I do ours, then help Judy with hers.

 “These are so damn cute,“ Carl chuckles into my ear.

 Carl gets up and retrieves a polariod camera that was in the garage, the same one we misplaced a little while ago. He encourages Judith and I to take pictures with him.

 The picture develops, and I attempt to shield Carl’s eyes from it. 

 "Let me see it Y/N!” He begs. 

 "No, I look awful,“ I argue. 

 He rips it out of my hand, "Impossible. I love this picture, and you look beautiful as always.” Carl takes a few more, frames one, and puts the others in his pocket.

 The three of us end up sitting on the rocking chair on the porch, and Carl rocks it back and forth using his feet. The motion slowly lulls Judith and I both to sleep. 

 I am awoken to a banging noise on the gates, and Negan’s voice is amplified throughout Alexandria. 

 Everyone starts scrambling around quickly. Carl devises a plan, and we start loading supplies into a van. Carl divides up the smoke bombs and tells us what to do. 

 "…I’ll be staying here to distract them. Then you all circle back after you lure them out there.“ 

 "Carl, please no. I need you with me,” I plead. 

 “I’ll be just fine. Go with Daryl. I love you so much. Never forget that,“ he kisses me on the lips, then grabs my face and takes in my features. 

 "You’re so smart, and beautiful, and strong,” his eyes start glazing over with tears, “I love you so much, be strong for me, beautiful. I love you so so much.” He wraps his arms around my waist and slips something into my back pocket. 

 "Hold on to those pictures for me, I don’t want to lose them. You mean the world to me Y/N, goodbye love.“ The way Carl is talking is starting to make me paranoid. 

 "I’ll see you soon,” I whisper and give him one last hug. He gives me a pained smile and nods, running his fingers through my ponytail. I glance at Carl one last time before getting into the truck with Daryl. 

 "Take care of her for me, Daryl,“ Carl says. Daryl nods and starts driving away, and just like that, Carl is out of sight. 

 We get back to Alexandria and watch as its being blown to pieces. The Saviors are destroying our houses, we watch as they’re engulfed in flames. But all I can think about is finding Carl. We start running, trying not to get caught by the Saviors, and I see Carl’s hat pop out of the opening of the sewers. 

 We all get down there safely, and as soon as my feet hit the ground, I wrap my arms around my boyfriend. 

 "Are you okay?” He asks. 

 I sit alone under a tree. Amy just died, and I guess everyone is worried about Andrea, because no one has payed any attention to me. I don’t know how to describe what I feel right now. 

 “Can I sit by you?“ Carl asks. I nod, trying to wipe the tears from my eyes so he wouldn’t notice. Instead of sitting by me, Carl just wraps his arms around me.

 ”Yeah I’m fine. You aren’t. What’s wrong?“ He’s very pale, sweaty, and has darker circles under his eye than he had the last time I saw him. I put my hand up to his forehead to feel for a fever, and his skin is blazing. 

 "Nothing Y/N, all the smoke and fire just got to me.” He gives me a forced smile. 

 Everyone gets settled so we can wait, and Carl and I pick a spot next to Siddiq. Carl ends up with his head on my shoulder, and I massage his scalp gently. I begin to develop a worrisome feeling, maybe he has the flue or a virus. Siddiq looks over at us with a sad look, which sparks confusion in me. 

 Carl sits up when Rick and Michonne walk over to us. They both look equally worried as I am when they see the sate Carl is in. I shift to sit on my knees and face Carl, so I can see him better. 

 "I went back and got him. That’s when it happened,” Carl says. I tilt my head in confusion. 

 "What happened Carl?” My voice starts getting shaky when everything starts to make sense. “Carl?” I say. He looks over it me with tears in his eyes. 

 He lifts his shirt enough to reveal a bandage sitting on his lower stomach. My breathing starts to quicken noticeably and my hands start to shake. 

 He slowly removes the bandage to reveal bloody teeth marks etched in his porcelain skin. 

[senor-plume]

Shovel (A Short Story)

  He called his wife on the phone. There was nothing else to do.  He had masturbated two times already that day. Not a thing on the television and besides it was raining out. Nothing inside, nothing outside.   She picked up and said hello. The second he heard her voice he regretted calling. He could have gone out and stood naked in the freezing rain. He could have swallowed a fist full of sleeping pills and unplugged the phone. He could have tried to get it up one more time and go for three strikes on hid belly. But he didn't. He called his wife and now it was too late to turn back. "How are you doing Marie?" A loud and long sigh came from the other end. He heard her suck in her breath and he braced himself. "Well, you know the guy downstairs is supposed to shovel the walkway. The motherfucker pays less rent than I do because he's supposed to help around this shithole apartment. I got home from work to find that not only was the sidewalk not done but the son of a bitch never got around to the driveway. I had to park on the street with all the other assholes who live on this godforsaken road. So I went to his apartment to find out why nothing had been done. You know me, Vince, you don't want to piss me off! So I go and bang on his damn door. Blam blam blam blam! His wife answers stinking of booze. That lady is fucked up. Do you remember the time she came up to my place when you were over fixing the sink? She started screaming at me to keep the banging down and I was like "listen lady, my fucking husband is over here fixing my sink and if you don't like the fucking sounds you can kiss my big fat clogged up sink of an ass!" Holy shit that was a riot! Anyway, she opens the door and I ask her why her fucking husband has not shoveled the sidewalk and all. I mean he had 24 hours to get the damned job done. Of course, I didn't say that! I just said: "hey, is Frank around? He was supposed to shovel and all." And then, you know what she said to me? You are not going to believe this. She said that Frank cut his fingers while slicing a fucking ham and got 66 stitches on his left hand! I almost shit myself! So, of course, I asked her how he was doing. Just to be human, you know? She said he was in the tub relaxing with a drink. And you know what this means? Don't you? This means that no one is going to shovel the fucking snow! I'm going to be parking on that street for weeks! Jesus Christ. Why me? Of all the places I could be living, I live in this stink-hole place with a sloppy meat cutter as the handyman idiot." "Why don't you call the landlord and let him know the walkway is not being cleared. I'm sure he would want to know."

"What do you think I am? An idiot or something! I called him. Of course, I called him. Jesus! I called him the second I got my boots off. He said that as long as Frank is laid up..that's what he said! Laid up! What a moron! As long as Frank is laid up that maybe I could shovel for a while. He said he would knock off 30 bucks from the rent. The fucking gall of that fat bastard! Who the fuck does he think I am? Some lesbian butch? I told him to cram it. I said he could stick that rickety old shovel up his over used asshole. That's what I said Vince. So help me, that's what I said. He couldn't believe it! He went silent. Then I said, "No way, Jose" and slammed the phone down. I nearly busted the fucking thing! Haha! So, hell, I don't know what to do. Hey, hold on for a sec."

He heard her put the phone down on the table. He knew that table well. He bought it about 5 summers ago at the local Kmart. He carried the damned thing stuck in some cheap box up two flights of stairs in a horrible heat. Dragged it into the kitchen and put it together by himself. Alone. A very big accomplishment for a man who needs instructions for a hammer. This was supposed to be a surprise for Marie. She had been bitching about the old table ever since she had moved in. She came home that night. Put her keys on the table and without even looking at Vince who was sitting in one of the chairs said: "Jesus, Vincent, where the hell did you dig this nightmare up? Kmart?"

But still, to this day the table sat there. In his old apartment. A testament to his failures. He lit a cigarette and as he placed the match in the tray he heard her cough into his ear. Then curse and then, much to his dismay began to speak again.

"My God. I finally got out of my dress. I don't know why the hell I still, wear this ugly old thing you got me. I do know this though, I have to shave my legs. They are getting mighty hairy. Hey, you still like my legs, Vince? You used to go on and on about how much you adored my legs. Back in the early days. Before it all went to shit. Ain't that right Vince? So, you still like them? Do you think about them when you try to fall asleep on that bed of yours? Do you?" "Yeah, I guess I do. I don't know. Sometimes, I guess." "You guess? You guess? What kind of answer is that? Jesus, Vince. You are and always will be a real twit. You know that don't you?"

"Yeah, twit with a capital T."

  An hour later they hung up, or actually, she hung up on him. Pissed off about something or other. He stripped out of his sweat soaked shirt and decided to have a beer or two. Topless at the kitchen table, Vince sat with the bottle of Miller and stared out the window. The rain had turned to a very light snow. The street lights were just coming on and soon he would have to get ready for work.

  What the fuck happened to me Vince thought. How the hell did I become a third shift jackoff with an insane soon to be ex-wife and a car in danger of being taken away by the bank? It was too much for him apparently as he stood up and with the bottle in his hand, went to the bedroom where he fingered through a stack of books on the floor. In fact, the room was surrounded by books. Like ropes in a boxing ring. All four walls tattooed three feet high with books of every color and size. In no particular order, one could see. He grabbed Albert Camus's 'The Stranger' and flipped through the pages. He put it down and turned around. He put the bottle on the nightstand and walked over to the corner by the window. He kneeled down and searched. After a while, he picked the book he wanted. Terry Anderson's memoir 'Den Of Lions'. He opened the book and found the bent corner and read:

"Prayers in the night hurled fiercely at an absent God; plea's, promises, bargains offered, but no answers."

He picked up a shirt laying on the bed and put it on.

  Eating a bologna sandwich alone at work, Vince sat reading the paper. More bad news. Unemployment up. Riots in Germany. Bombs in the Mideast. The president is still a moron and worst of all the paper yanked Doonesbury from the funny pages after a controversial strip. Garfield is not funny, it's downright depressing he thought to himself. What is this world coming to? He gathered up his empty paper plate and coffee mug. Walked over to the garbage can and threw them in. Shit was rumbling. His stomach felt ill, so he headed off towards the men's room.

On his way, he ran into Marcella. She just lifted herself up from the water fountain and spotted him charging down the hall like a moose. "Vince! Hey hey, you, Moose? How are you?" He slowed down. Stopped actually and greeted her in return. "Marcella. Fine. I am fine. Did you hear about Doonesbury? The paper axed it, man." "I know. I read about it this afternoon when I woke up. It's an outrage! It was always the first thing I'd read when I got the dumb old paper. Hey, you in a hurry? Got time to grab a smoke outside? I'm dying for a cigarette."

His bowels churned. Bologna and depression do not mix. His belly was bursting, screaming for relief. And yet, he said: "For you, my friend, of course. I could use a dose of Turkish gold myself. I just ate."

Marcella smiled and pulled at his arm. "Ok then, Mr. Moose, let's go smoke."

 Outside they stood on the truck delivery station. Pallets laid around them in the snow among the discarded cigarette butts. Just a sliver of moon hiding behind the clouds made it a dark evening. Or morning.  It was around 3 AM and it had stopped snowing. They stood there silently smoking. Vince looked up at the sky. He wanted to see stars but it was impossible. It was too cloudy. "I wish we could see the stars but it's too cloudy." Marcella exhaled a puff of smoke and laughed "What is it with you and the stars? Every time we come out here you always talk about the stars. Just why is that Vinnie?"

Vince flicked his camel into the air. It landed with a suicide grace. He watched it as it slowly went out in the snow. "I don't know. I think I just like things that are far away."

"Interesting Mr. Mooseman. What about me? I'm right next to you. I bet you don't like me, eh?" She smiled and poked her elbow into his side. She laughed. "Well, out with the answer Moosey!"

He stood there silent. He reached into his pocket for another smoke. Lunch break was almost over but there was time for at least one more. He would have to wait two more hours before he could use the bathroom though.

"Marcella, may I ask you a question?" "Sure...why not! It's Friday and I'm in a good mood! But you're not ducking my question are you?" "I'm glad you're in a good mood, Marcella."

He lit the cigarette and put away his lighter. His fingers were getting cold and he wished he had brought his gloves from the car. His head tilted up as his lips opened. "Marcella, do you shovel your own driveway?" She laughed. "No, no. My son does. He's good at it too. Every time it snows, he's on the job! What a silly question, Mr. Moose. Why do you ask?"

He took a drag from his smoke and flicked the half done thing onto the ground. He turned away and began walking back to the building. No reason, he said. Just simply curious.

He opened the door and felt the heat hit him hard. He had a minute left to punch back in. He walked quickly to the time clock. There really was no time to do anything else. --------------------------------

[snakeybaek]

Unicorn

 Yixing X You 

click here for Unicorn(First Sight)

(not sure where the picture comes from...I just found it on Google)

You woke up with the sound of the birds. The sun had gently cast it’s warm glow into your room. Fresh bread and fish soup could be smelt. The smell made your stomach growl with hunger. You quickly made your way to the washroom to get cleaned up so you could beat your brothers to the food because they’d probably eat it all.

You rush down the stairs and feel someone grab you from behind.

“Where do you you’re going sis?”

You let out a low growl and elbow him in the stomach. He groans out in pain. As you reach the bottom you can hear him yelling something about telling mother and being so unladylike of you that you won’t find a husband. In all honesty you don’t care. You’d rather be dead than marry a man from your village.

You mother is busy putting away some of the washed dishes. Her head shoots up as soon as she hears you enter.

“Good morning dear.”

“Morning mother.”

She smiles at you fondly and hands you a bowel of soup and some bread.

“When you are done I need you fetch me some medicine from the doctor for your dad.”

You looked at your mum shocked. She usually never sent you alone into the village town square. 

“Will any of my brothers be joining me?”

“No dear. They have been requested to go on some hunting trip in the woods today.”

You began to feel nervous as this would be your first trip alone but you were also excited. You finished up eating and went upstairs to change your clothes. You swapped your plain brown dress for a light purple one covered in lace and decorated with little pearls on the neckline. You smiled at your appearance. You heard your mother call out for you.

“You need to go now because the doctor will be closing up at 11. Also, I need you to pick up the groceries on my list.”

You grab everything you need and head out the door. The rays of the sun on your skin gives you a warm feeling but deep down inside you feel like something is going to happen, and you don't know if it is going to be good or bad.

The town is not as busy as it usually is. You find it odd but brush it off with the excuse that it is early. You first make your way to the doctor. You can feel the eyes of the women in town on you. Some of them even stopping in mid conversation when you walk by. A few even give you looks of pity because they have heard of your fathers condition.

Once you stepped into the doctor’s office you were greeted by the receptionist who also happens to be a close family friend.

“Hello dear. How’s your dad doing?”

“His condition is none for the better. I think he just needs more time to rest.”

“I’m sure he does. I hope you didn’t come alone because there has been some strange happenings around town.”

“what sort of strange happenings?”

“Well, apparently last week young girls have been spotting a strange creature in the woods. They say that it looks like a white horse with a horn sticking out of it’s head. It’s probably the reason for the hunting trip today.”

“I know the name of the creature described. When i traveled with my father to see my great aunt in a mountain side village they had told us stories of these creatures. They called them unicorns.Apparently they have magical powers and are attracted to...”

You stop talking as you catch site of the most beautifully yet handsome man you have ever seen walking out of the doctor’s office. He catches your eyes and gives you a shy smile exposing his dimple. You instantly feel drawn to him. You snapped out of staring at the young man when you heard the doctor say your name.

“Here is everything that your father needs and I wrote down some instructions. You should hurry on home because I heard some men were drunk and causing some trouble.”

“Thank you. I will head home as soon as I pick up some of the things on mother’s list.”

You wonder out into the market area picking out what your mother needs. It takes longer than expected because most of the stalls had elderly ladies who would ask about your family and then try to essentially sell their grandson’s to you as possible future husbands. You always listen politely and entertain them and their little requests. By the time you are done it is already a few hours past lunch time. You make your way back home carrying a few bags passing a few of the pubs. You ignored the catcalls of a group of drunk men outside. Suddenly you felt yourself being dragged into an alleyway and held against someone who smelt of strong alcohol. Two other men followed. You tried to break free but he was much stronger. the other men just laughed.

“Looks like we hit the jackpot boys. I’m sure that this little darlin’ will not disappoint.”

You began to cry as his hands roamed around your body and ripping you dress in the process. You tried to scream for help but realised that no one would hear you due to the loud music and most people are probably at home now. His hand slides up the inner thigh of your leg. You get a jolt of energy and elbow him in the stomach which causes his grip to loosen. You use that moment to break free. You dodge the other two men trying to catch you and run for the nearest pathway out of the town square.

You can hear the men running after you. You run unknowingly deeper into the forest, into an area that the locals call cursed and never dare to venture into. You stop running when it occurs to you that the two men stopped chasing you. You look around and realise that you are in an unexplored area of the forest and that you are possibly lost. You can sense the eerie feel of this part of the forest but it does not scare you that much. To you it feels somewhat comforting.

The sky grows darker as you find yourself more lost. Eventually you hear the sound of running water and realise that if you follow the river you can find your way back into the village. You find the river and walk alongside it. The water seems to be rushing much stronger here than what you have seen closer to the village. A group of deer come up to you and walk around you like they were your own personal bodyguards. You were astonished to see such behavior coming from these shy animals. You were too busy in your own thoughts about the deer to notice that another kind of creature has joined you.

You stop abruptly when a doe begins to make noise at you. You are really confused and then notice that it seems to be looking at you and then at a space behind you. You turn around and was mesmerized by what stood behind you. You couldn’t believe your eyes because a unicorn was standing just mere inches away from you. It looked at you with curiosity in it’s familiar eyes. You felt drawn to it. You were a bit taken a back when it came closer to you and nuzzled its head on your shoulder. You lifted your hand and began to pet it’s head.

“You are an odd creature. So tell me are you a girl or a boy? You are so pretty so I think that you must be a girl.”

The unicorn pulled away. It let out a puff of air and looked like it was dissatisfied with your assumption. You let out a little giggle.

“You’re a boy?”

The unicorn stomps the ground in approval and looks more happy now. You walk a little further occasionally petting the unicorn. A noise behind you makes stop and the deer seem to scatter away in fear. You can her low growling. Three wolves emerge and they seem to have sighted you as their next meal. You shake in fear. The unicorn steps in front of you clearly trying to keep you away from the wolves. One of them lunges forward but the unicorn manages to impale it with it’s horn. Unfortunately for you, you get pushed closer to the edge of the river bank and lose your balance.

You swim up from under the icy cold water. Your body begins to feel tired due to fighting against the strong current. You are a bit hopeful decide to try to scream for help. The water pulls you under. Your lungs burn at first when you breath in the water but thereafter it just feels numb and heavy. You get pulled under a blanket of darkness knowing that this is where you will die.

A warm felling spreads over your body. You wake up and look around. you seem to be in some cave covered by a fur pallet with a fire burning not to far away. You wonder who could have undressed you and left you here in this state. You hear something that sounds distinctly like hooves hitting the ground.

The unicorn enters the cave carrying a basket in it’s mouth. It approaches you and drops the basket next to you. You look into the basket and see fruits along with a canister which you hope is water. The unicorn lies down and places it’s head on your lap as you begin to eat some of the fruits. You could see the unicorn’s ears perk up as you began to speak.

“You do know that people will probably come looking for me and if they find you in the process,well, let’s just say that would be horrific because I think they are trying to hunt you down anyways.”

As you pet the unicorn you begin to feel relaxed and fall asleep forgetting about all your worries. You awake to a very human sounding snore in the cave. When you quickly look to where the unicorn had rested it’s head on you but now in place of the unicorn is man, a very naked and seemingly beautiful man. You let out a screech and push the man off you. He wakes up with an adorable confused look on his face. You quickly recognise the man as the one that you had seen at the doctor’s place.  The confused look on his face soon turns to a look of shock. He quickly grabs pants from a corner of the cave and puts them on.

“Please don’t be afraid of me. I promise I won’t hurt you. My name is Yixing.”

You looked at his eyes. Funny how his eyes seem to be the perfect match for the unicorns. You didn’t exactly feel afraid of this man. You actually found him extremely cute and could tell that he had a good personality.

“I’m not afraid of you. I know I can trust you. By any chance did you see a unicorn?”

“I need you to believe me.”

You wondered why Yixing would need you to believe him but you just gave him a little nod. You felt heat rise to your your cheeks as he took off his pants. Every bit of him was absolutely beautiful. A warm glow began to emit from his body.

“I’m the unicorn.”

In a span of a minute you watched Yixing turn into the unicorn that had saved you. He approached you and began to nuzzle your neck. You let out soft giggles as he let out a heavy breath causing your hair to tickle your face. His head shot up and you could see his worried look. Yixing turned into a man once more.

“We need to go back to the village soon. I can sense people getting closer here. It’s either they are looking for you or for the unicorn.”

Yixing quickly got dressed in his clothes and he gave you yours to change into. You were a bit flustered to have his stare on you while you were putting your dress on but you didn't mind because his look was one that showed pure adoration. Yixing held your hand and intertwined his fingers with yours which caused a great warm fluttering in your heart. Along the way he informed you of the story you should tell to the villagers and you happily agree. You know that you would do just about anything to protect Yixing.

[spootiliousrps]

Fox Hybrid

You're now chatting with a random stranger. Say hi!

You both like mystrade.

Stranger: [Hybrid AU - Hybrids are either all animal or all human] Gregory Lestrade had to deal with being tossed around hybrid shops, pet stores, and black markets. The original people to take him did not think of how big he would actually be and now was in a cage too small for himself. Just because he was a fox hybrid did not mean he was going to be small. Greg had not been released from the cage in weeks, barely had eater, was not washed now having matted fur, and had many open infected wounds from the metal cage he sat in. If only his parents had remembered to get his papers, the hybrid would've never been in this mess. Yet here he was in God knows where waiting for someone to take pity on the rare silver fox. It was his only chance, escaping wasn't an option because of the electric fences he went through when he first arrived here.

You: "Really, Sherlock, must I be involved in your-" Mycroft began as he strolled down the path after his brother. "My what?" Sherlock snapped in his usual sour demeanor. "My games? My foolery?" He demanded, not even bothering to look at the man as he continued his brisk search for some form of cat being sold in this black market. It was a horrid place really, filthy and inhumane. "Quite." Mycroft grumbled. "Then be somewhere else, you got me in, now your business is done here." Sherlock dismissed. "Don't you have a dinner to be at or something?" "You mean the birthday dinner you seemed to have forgotten?" He countered making the dark haired man pause and finally look at him. Mycroft could see the realization in his gaze before it snapped back to the guarded coolness that was so usual now days. "Right." He stated before grabbing the nearest cage, crowded with a large white fox and shoving it at him. "Happy Birthday, Dear Brother." He huffed tossing some bills onto the table before waving Mycroft away. "Off you go now." Mycroft, however, didn't budge, just stood there, cage in his arms as the man hurried off. He glanced down at the beautiful beast and offered a small sad smile. "Well then, it looks like it's just the two of us." He greeted. "Shall we?"

You: (sorry got a bit carried away)

Stranger: (Holy crap. Good job.)

You: ((um... thank you?))

Stranger: (You're welcome. I'm impressed.)

You: ((Well, now you've got me blushing))

You: ((I was a bit worried my mystrade is a bit rusty))

Stranger: (Nah its good.)

Stranger: (Mine is too.)

Stranger: Greg whimpered when the cage was ripped up into the air and clumps of hair tumbled onto the ground from the harsh cold metal. An outside black market for hybrids. Who ever thought of that was an idiot. The hybrid struggled against him for a few moments then conceded to have his paws hang out of the cage. He was dirty, tired, hungry, and done with these people. The owner of Greg leaned back in his chair and smirked, "Well hello. Are you going to buy this mutt?" The man poked an open wound and Greg whimpered tiredly. His coat of salt and pepper fur destroyed in favor of storing more hybrids. The fox was not a pet for people to look in on. He is a human too. Despite all the harsh words people called his kindl

You: Mycroft pulled the fox away from the man as he prodded him. "Savage." He grumbled under his breath before pushing the bills Sherlock had lain down, towards the man and adding a few of his own. He didn't speak to the man, just paid him and turned away, lifting the cage to examine Greg carefully. "Poor thing." He cooed softly. "Don't worry as soon as my dear brother is through with his foolishness I'm going to have this place swarmed and that cretin will be the first one behind bars." He continued offered a few fingers between the bars for pets if the fox so chose... or bites... though he hoped not. "Now, lets get you seen to."

Stranger: The fox nearly cried at the thought of being tended to. Greg allowed himself to rest on the cage floor until they got into Sherlock

Stranger: (I'm not done.)

You: (no worries)

Stranger: Mycroft's car with Sherlock alongside with a dog instead. Immediately he scratched against his cage to be let out. His body was aching horribly. Just the possibility of stretching out was wonderful.

Stranger: (Dammit.)

You: (lol you're fine dear)

Stranger: Greg remembered his family seeing the two sitting side by side quietly. His family was a bit louder and a bit more rough, but it was perfect just the same. "Mycroft. Are you going to shut him up by letting him out, or let him sulk in there longer?"

You: Mycroft offered a soft touch against the creature's fur before Sherlock spoke and he gave a scoff. "He's filthy and needs medical attention. I will not have him ruining the leather seats." He grumbled. "It's bad enough you're allowing that beast in here. I'll have to spray for fleas." He huffed, as they pulled from the curb.

Stranger: "They have a human side." Sherlock snapped and lifted up the dog carefully, stepping out and going to 221. Greg still struggled in the cage and cried out to Mycroft. Not at all like his family. Far more.... Pompous. He at least would be out soon, though he preferred now to later. The fox scratched at the cage more and jiggled it around in hopes that it would annoy the man long enough for him to release Greg.

You: Mycroft glanced after Sherlock with a roll of his eyes. His brother always had a flare for the dramatic but he never pinned the man as an animal lover. "Human side... So... metaphoric." He grumbled setting the cage down where his brother had been seated. "Michael, take me home." He instructed before focusing on the fox. He made a few shushing sounds, trying to soothe the creature. "I promise I'll let you out just as soon as I know you won't hurt yourself, beautiful." He whispered, trying to calm him. "Poor thing... How long have you been locked in the contraption?" ((I can continue if you'd like. I was just going to fast forward to when they arrived at the estate but wanted to give you the option to react or whatever))

Stranger: (Thats good.)

Stranger: Greg shuddered against him and pushed against the cage for any comfort from Mycroft. His body hurt. The hybrid was tired, exhausted. Thankfully the driver was quick and pulled to a stop in from of Mycroft's house in fifteen minutes. "Sir. We're here. I shall send for a veterinarian and the proper food for a fox. Shall I call Anthea for help?" Dimitri asked curtly nodding to the man and his new resident.

You: "That won't be necessary, you know how she hates animals." He replied, sliding out. He held Greg close to his chest as he entered the large and empty estate. He headed for the bathroom on the first floor before setting the cage down. He didn't open it quite yet, disappearing for a moment before reappearing with an arm full of mixmatched blanked and setting them on the cold floor. He closed the door behind him before moving the cage atop the blanket and unlocking it cautiously. "Please don't hurt yourself, sweetheart. Just take it nice and slow." He cooed softly.

Stranger: The first thing Greg did was slowly stumble out into Mycroft's arms. Exactly how long had he been in that cage? He whined slightly and the muscles burning and realized just how badly he needed a hot bath. A bath sounded like the Queen of England dubbing him a knight or making the slavery of hybrids illegal at the moment. The fox looked up with grateful eyes, but a pained body as he rested on Mycroft's legs for support.

You: Mycroft's soft smile turned into a pained frowned as his heart sank at the sight of such a gorgeous creature so wounded. "You poor thing." He sighed for what seemed like the millionth time. "Let's get you cleaned up a bit, surely a bath can't hurt you too badly. The vet would clean you regardless, yes?" He asked, lifting him carefully and setting him on the soft blankets as he moved to turn on the water to fill the tub.

Stranger: While he waited Greg laid down and slept. However, as soon as he was lifted he was awake and groaned at the feeling of a warm clean bath. All the dirt and sadly, urine, would finally be cleared off. When he saw soap the fox nearly cried. A clean body! Cleanliness was the best!

You: Mycroft tensed as the fox cried out, worried he may have hurt him and began to coo softly once more, mumbling reassurance as he went. Anthea would probably kill him if she found out he was kneeling on the bathroom floor, coat tossed onto the counted and sleeves rolled up as he bathed a fox. The dry cleaners would probably complain but, well... it wasn't as if he couldn't afford it. He massaged the soap in gently, making sure to get as much of the grime from the fox's fur as possible and even cleaned it's wounds with the utmost care, though half way through he had to drain the water before refilling the tub.

Stranger: The feeling of hands massaging his body was heaven. This man, was heaven. Perfect. Wonderful. He had lost more hair than he thought, but it turned out that he had less wounds. Just bruises and a couple of splotches that hurt to be touched. When dried it was another feeling of adoration. His muscles were weak, but not nearly as sore. Slowly but surely he would be himself again.

You: Mycroft used two of the large cotton towels to make sure Greg was properly dried before wrapping him up and glancing at the pile of blankets in the corner. He paused before giving a sigh and lifting the fox once more. "Well, it's like you're a new man, isn't it my dear?" He teased with another teasingly soft smile. "A right gentleman. A pallet on the floor is not suitable for a gentleman." He teased. "You can take the spare room.... for now." He acknowledged before caring him into the adjacent room and setting him gently down onto the large duvet that covered the King sized pillow top, towel and all. He paused once more, this time to check his phone as it chimed, notifying him of the vet's arrival.

Stranger: Greg yipped in return and rested on the fluffy bed happily falling asleep with dreams of his family. The vet stood at the door with everything in his to go bag. "Mr. Holmes, what is so important that you must call me at this hour? You do not even own a hybrid nor a pet."

You: "I /did not/ own one." He corrected before motioning for the vet to come in. He led the man into the spare room. "I highly doubt that is is a hybrid, I would have seen the signs." He commented proudly.

Stranger: The vet laughed and brought his bag over, "Well hate to pop your bubble, but he is a hybrid. Just hasn't shifted in a long while. Eight years I'd say. You can always tell by the spine." He pulled out some basic shots and looked to Mycroft, "Hold him still for a few moments. I need to update shots. The papers that you received says his shots were updated four years ago. He will need quite a lot, but I'll give the rest when he heals a little more."

You: "Nonsense." Mycroft scoffed moving to pick the creature up and pet him gently as he held him in place. "Hybrids are too rare now days." He grumbled... then again, he never did look at the papers, just handed them off to Michael... which might have been why he called a specialist. Still... it was a bit hard to believe.

Stranger: "Well both the signs and the papers says hybrids." He assured gently pushing in the needle until it's all gone. "Two more." The fox struggled when the syringe was pushed in and whined from the slight pain. "Oh now now. Calm it down then."

You: He shot the vet a small glare. "Must you be so rough." He grumbled, before focusing on the fox and once more beginning to coo lightly. "It's alright, my dear." He purred. "These will help you heal... Gentlemen do not whine, do we now?"

Stranger: Greg glared at him and nipped lightly at him then rested down on Mycroft's legs. The vet rolled his eyes and pulled out the second, "Ready for the second? After this you'll have one more, then I'll clean those wounds."

You: "That's it dear." Mycroft assured, scratching gently behind his ear. "Just hurry it up, will you. "He ordered flatly.

Stranger: "I can't miss or the medication will injure him." He snapped back and pushed in the second, then the third. "There all done. Now a few wounds to be cleaned up and then I'm back home with my family."

You: "Yes, I'm sure they're greatly concerned with your absence." He mumbled sarcastically. "Just be gentle."

Stranger: "As gentle as possible." He assured and pulled out a cotton swab, then dipped it in disinfectant. "His hair will grow up just easily."

You: Mycroft nodded. "Well, I think he's ravishing patches and all. What do you think, darling?" He asked, still scratching softly.

Stranger: Greg just hummed and leaned into Mycroft's hand closing his eyes. His body felt like bliss. Clean, patched up, and being scratched behind the ears! Score!

You: Mycroft let the man work, studying Greg as he did so before dismissing the vet when he expressed the completion of the treatment. He remained there for a moment before giving a small sigh. "Hybrid or not, I suppose I am responsible for you regardless, and we will simply have to make do." He nodded before shifting and setting him down once more. "Get some sleep, my dear." He hummed, looking a bit tired himself.

Stranger: Greg looked up to Mycroft when he left and yipped at him. Wasn't he coming to sleep? Packs were his thing. The burrow was tight and sleeping onto top of each other/near each other, it was wonderful.

You: Mycroft glanced back and offered a soft smile. "Good night, my dear." He added, closing the door behind him before heading upstairs to his room to change and get ready for bed.

You: ((Quick question because I'm curious. Is English your first language?))

Stranger: (ASL is my first, but I've struggled with writing.)

You: ((Well, you're doing wonderfully my love! The only reason I asked was a few minor thing I've noticed that most english-second speakers do. It's kinda hard to explain. I'm actually an English major. I did my a paper on the subject.... and now I'm rambling I'm sorry. Continue. I'm loving this btw :3 You're amazing))

Stranger: (I can't hear my words very well, so formulating sentences with it and the and at. All those fillers are not there and suddenly I need to use them. What have I missed?)

You: ((That's actually the only thing I've noticed, just small words like it the and at. I'd have to reread it all to point them out though, they're so subtle. I didn't mean to offend if I have. I just find it fascinating. The written word is so amazing how three people can write the same sentence and yet it still be completely unique to each of them.))

Stranger: Greg watched Mycroft leave and sighed. Why must they never recognize his needs? There was about an hour before Greg attempted to get out, leaping and hitting the door handle in hopes to open the door and find Mycroft.

Stranger: (Huh. I never realized. My father is a bit of a Brit too, so I have a weird mix. Hard of hearing + British father + Two languages = A struggling child)

You: With a curved handle, opening the door was quite an easy feet, though the trip to Mycroft's room would be a bit more difficult considering the countless stairs Greg would have to climb in his wounded state. Though, he tended to leave his door cracked to allow a small breeze into the room.

You: ((Lol sounds, difficult. If it helps at all I'm a Texan raised in Louisiana and living in Georgia so... my accent is apparently so thick almost no one understands me anyways... but I get asked to say y'all and oil and pie repeatedly for hours at a time... it's no where near the same but still amusing.))

Stranger: (Mainiac living in the south. I can feel. I've been asked to say a lot. Not always because of an accent.)

Stranger: Greg managed the stairs in thirty minutes. He pushed in through the door and gently walked over to the bed where Mycroft was and yipped up at him firmly. You don't just leave a hybrid alone, not to mention he was starving!

Stranger: (brb)

You: Mycroft had been sitting in the bed, working quietly when Greg pushed his way into the room. He glanced up and gave a small chuckle at the sight of the fox trotting up to the bed. He studied him for a moment before giving in. "Come on then." He nodded, towards the empty side of his bed. He had sent for food for the creature but it hadn't come in yet. "Hungry?" He asked collecting a plate from the bed side table and setting it on the bed. He had made him a sandwich but had only taken a few bites before digging into his work, but he now offered it out to the fox.

You: ((Maniac? Lol, why?))

You: ((Take your time))

Stranger: (Mainiac is a term for someone from Maine.)

You: (lol ah! okay! That makes more sense)

You: (Wow, thats a bit of change)

Stranger: Greg sniffed at it and pulled back in disgust. That was for his human body! He needed meat. The fox flopped onto Mycroft's side and sighed through his nose. Instead of fighting for food he just relaxed and yawned against the man's body.

You: Mycroft gave another huff of amusement. "Well, if you didn't like tuna on rye you could have simply said as much." He teased lightly. "I'm afraid I have nothing else until your supplies arrive in the morning." He commented, hands moving back to the computer in his lap as the fox curled up against him.

Stranger: The fox gently pushed under his hands and moved on top of the computer to distract him from his work. Those hands were amazing.

You: "Uh." Mycroft laughed. "I'm trying to work, my dear." He scoffed but moved to scratch his ear once more which the other continued to type away.

You: ((Happy New Year btw Its midnight here))

Stranger: He glared at the other hand but resided in Mycroft's touch, even with only one hand.

Stranger: (I've got to go. Email?)

Stranger: (Oh hey it is.)

You: Mycroft paid no mind, too distracted by his work, though the affection continued without pause. ((Absolutely. ))

Stranger: (I'll email you the log and my reply then.)

Stranger has disconnected.

[claraxbarton]

Chosen

It wasn't quite a sacrifice, wasn't even really an offering.

It was... a trade.

A bargain between the guild and the all powerful war mage who kept the port city of Mercansia safe from pirates and invading lords.

The mage could, and frequently did, take what he wanted. WHO he wanted.

But, there were some needs that had to be anticipated, some needs that the guild met out of necessity, rather than the whim of the mage.

Mercansia was far to the north, so far north that the court rarely sent emissaries or progressed through. So far north that Lord Khushrenada could and did rule with the full authority of a man who knew his liege would never bother to inspect the lands he had been charged with protecting.

So far north that most of the wealthy merchants and minor gentry spent their winters in the south, or sent their children off to be educated and married to southerners as soon as they could walk.

Mercansia was a harsh land, harsh weather, harsh laws, harsh bargains.

The guild was small, the arch mage old, nearly spellbind and dry, and the small contingent of masters who lived in the guild hall were no better.

None of these guild mages had fought in epic battles, had saved king and queen and kingdom, had, likely, ever even seen the southern sea.

Whatever apprentice or journeyman showed an inking of talent, of power at all, usually bargained their way into the retinue of a visiting lord or merchant and fled Mercansia and the crumbling guild hall and nearly empty library.

No mage worth his salt- and Mercansia, at the very least, knew well the value of salt- would stay in such a barren land.

Coaxing magic from the frozen earth was as impossible as coaxing a virgin outside for a midnight fuck in winter.

It was a favorite curse of the master mages, an excuse for why their craft was nearly dead, the reason why their workings flickered like embers on their last breath.

It was why the war mage was able to take what he wanted.

Why the BARGAIN existed in the first place.

Mercansia needed him, and the war mage...

NEED wasn't the right word. Wanted. He WANTED his due.

Any mage worth his salt fled Mercansia. Not just to learn and thrive and FIND magic, but because any mage worth their salt was given to the war mage.

Apprentices as young as six- still listing through their first workings- were handed over if they showed even the hint of ability to do more than standard wards or cantrips.

It was rare, though, that any apprentice or journeyman had enough power to interest the war mage.

It had been fifteen years since he had last taken someone, a witch of fierce anger who had been able to melt the show with merely a glance.

And in fifteen years, no one had heard of her or from her or seen her again.

She, like all of the rest, had vanished.

He eats them- drinks their blood-steals their CORE. The rumors in the guild hall were wild, twisted by centuries of fear.

No one knew why the war mage took, and no one knew what he did with his... offering.

But every year the harbor ice crumbled and allowed in spring trading and every year the late fall winds prevented raiders from reaching Mercansia and no plague had ever ravaged their lands, no armies had ever scaled the eastern pass.

So what the war mage wanted, he got.

Until now.

Until Trowa Barton , the sneering son of Mercansia's richest merchant, turned twenty-five and underwent the ceremony that would welcome him into the guild as a journeyman.

Until he stepped into the firey blue ring of magic that seemed to drain the life from the arch mage, until Trowa Barton bent the flame around his fingers and the winds called out his name.

Everyone knew, in that moment, that the arch mage would want him. The arch mage would KNOW. Would feel the stirring of power.

And the whispered winds would carry the name to the coastal fortress where the arch mage resided.

Trowa, the winds would whisper, take him. He is yours.

Except.

Except that very night, drunk with power and his own self-importance and too many glasses of hard cider, Trowa Barton had decided to bury his fear of the next day- his terror at the unknown life, or death, that he arch mage would offer when he came to fetch the new journeyman.

And he had chosen the wrong ground to dig in.

Nanashi, the gardener's apprentice, the boy who never spoke, who never met the eyes of the mages who ordered him about and whose scarred hands and face made him both abhorrent and fascinating.

Trowa had attempted to woo the boy, had sent him gifts purchased with his family's coin and flicked illusions of clouds and spring breezes at him.

Nanashi had remained immune, uninterested, untouchable.

And Trowa... Trowa had discovered his strength in the ring of Fire and was now doomed to a fate literally unimaginable.

Nanashi remained unmoved, remained silent and unyielding when Trowa reached for him, when Trowa sobbed out the misery of his fate. Nanashi shoved away his groping his hands, scowled at his desperate pleas for solace. When Trowa threatened, when he crowded the slight boy against his pallet and jerked at his worn clothing, Nanashi's face went still and dead.

Fear, desperation- RAGE welled up inside Trowa and poured out, flames licking his skin and illuminating the scars on Nanashi's face, usually so well hidden by the fall of his hair.

And Nanashi- he stared at the fire dancing over Trowa and he refused to be impressed, refused to be intimidated.

He reached out, flicked one long, scarred finger against Trowa's palm, as if he were lightning a match, and Trowa was consumed.

The arch mage and his favorite apprentice, a beautiful boy who could manage no more than a flicker of growth magic before collapsing, found Trowa as they wandered the empty guild halls hours later.

The war mage was already in the guild hall, the wind whispered name of Trowa Barton flowing from his cruel lips and his gloved hands impatiently curling in a summoning spell that failed.

The war mage crackled with fury, his moon-gold hair lifting and twirling about him in his rage, and the arch mage could only stutter, could only see the immenent disaster of the war mage abandoning Mercansia to the forces of man, nature and magic and-

Nanashi stepped forward, Trowa Barton's fur trimmed cloak flowing from his shoulders, and glared up at the war mage.

"I am Trowa Barton."

The lie was unbelievably bold.

The war mage's lips curled into a sneer, but Nanashi didn't wilt, didn't lower his gaze or his chin.

"Then you are mine," the war mage snarled. He thrust a hand into the space between them, gloved fingers calling on the icy magic beneath their feet.

Nanashi bowed his head over the hand, pressed his lips to the covered flesh, and bit down.

The war mage roared, shocked and furious, and grabbed Nanashi by the back of his head.

"You INSOLENT fool!"

He dragged Nanashi from the guild hall, into the snow, and threw him to the ground.

The arch mage stumbled out to watch.

He saw the war mage clutch his wounded hand to his chest and the raise the other.

A whirlwind of snow and ice surrounded first the war mage and then Nanashi, growing higher and fiercer and whistling with force until-

It faded away, leaving nothing behind but an icy gust. Not even the footprints of the war mage or Nanashi remained.

The arch mage tottered back into the hall, allowed his favorite apprentice to lead him to a chair, and he wondered just how long it would be before the war mage sought vengeance for the terrible trick of fate that Nanashi had wrought.

----

Might write more?

What does everyone think?

[tails89]

“That— That’s your blood! Why the hell didn’t you say anything!?” - for the whumpy prompts thing pleeeeeeaseeeee :D

Here ya go!

Set after HTTYD 2

Hiccup stumbled.

Astrid threw out her hand to steady her boyfriend, frowningat the tacky feeling of his black flying leather. She drew her hand back,paling when they came back streaked with crimson.

“That- That’s your blood! Why the hell didn’t you sayanything!?”

“Huh?” Hiccup stopped in his tracks, looking down at hisclothing. He’d been pale since the crash, but they’d both put it down to shock.He felt battered and bruised, nothing serious, but now that he thought of itthere was this stabbing pain in his side. “Oh! I didn’t- I-“ Hiccup swayed onhis feet.

“Oh for Thor’s sake, sit down.” Astrid pulled Hiccup down tosit on a fallen tree.

The two dragons had run off ahead, but they came dashing backthrough the tree, Stormfly’s keen senses having picked up the smell of blood.

Toothless nosed at his rider.

“I’m fine bud,” Hiccup rested his right hand on the NightFury’s snout. “Just a scratch,” he caught Astrid’s worried expression. “Really,I didn’t even notice it until just now.”

And now that he had noticed, by the God’s did it hurt.

“Show me.” Astrid was already working to undo the strapsthat held the leather pieces of Hiccup’s outfit together. The dark material wassticky along the edge where the thick black leather ended and the lighter brownfabric crossed down over his stomach. Astrid frowned as she ran a hand over thesuit. “This is torn,” she noted. “How did you not notice this?”

Hiccup shrugged, wincing at the motion. “I was more focussedon the fact I’d survived falling out of that tree.” He joked.

“You shouldn’t have been up a tree in the first place.” Astridscowled to cover up her feelings of guilt. “You’re the chief of the villagenow,” she reminded him. “You can’t just go galivanting off and throwingyourself into these dangerous situations.”

“We’re allowed time off,” Hiccup argued. “We’re allowed tolet off steam. We were messing around. Accidents happen.”

“I should have asked Stormfly to put you down on the ground.”Astrid had successfully stripped Hiccup of his top layer of leather. Herfingers brushed over the jagged rip in the layer below. Here the blood wasobvious against the light brown material.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Hiccup tried to reassure hisgirlfriend. It wasn’t easy when his breaths were coming in ragged gasps as shepoked at a particularly tender spot. “It was funny.”

“It was foolish!” Astrid’s outburst shocked Hiccup.

It had been funny. In a situation similar to Astrid’s firstencounter with Toothless, Stormfly had plucked Hiccup from the air after he’ddived off Toothless. Under Astrid’s instruction she had dumped the dragon riderin a tree.

They had both laughed at Hiccup’s surprised squawk.

And then Hiccup had slipped.

He’d probably only been a few metres up the tree and he’dmanaged to snag onto the last branch long enough to slow his decent. He’d stillhit the ground with a painful thud.

In a much gentler voice Astrid directed Hiccup to raise hisarms so she could remove the last piece of armour.

“Yeah, that might not be possible.” Hiccup’s face wastwisted in pain. Toothless gave his rider’s face a sympathetic lick.

Astrid drew the small dagger Hiccup kept tucked into hisleft wrist guard.

“Hold still,” she told him, slicing through the thick fabric.She hissed as the material fell away to reveal the sweat and blood soaked tunicunderneath.

“I really don’t feel good,” Hiccup muttered.

“There’s a lot of blood,” Astrid inspected the tear in thetunic. Bits of stick fell through her fingers. “How hard did you hit that lastbranch?” She wondered out loud. “The Thor damned thing pierced right throughyour armour.”

She used the rags of Hiccup’s shirt to wipe away some of theblood and inspect the wound. “I can’t tell if there’s anything stuck in thereor not.”

Hiccup paled even further. “You don’t think-“ he started.

Astrid held a wad of cloth to the wound to stem the bleeding.Hiccup hissed as the rough fabric made contact with his skin. “We can’t besure,” Astrid lifted the makeshift bandage to see if it was still bleeding. “Weneed to get back to Berk now.”

“We should take Toothless, he’s much more sneaky,” Hiccupmurmured.

“Don’t go silly on me Hiccup, you haven’t lost that much blood.” Astrid joked, but shewas worried. There was a lot of bloodon Hiccup’s clothes, she just didn’t want himto know that.

“As you wish Milady.” Hiccup stood, swaying on his feetwhile Astrid held him steady.

“Try not to faint,” Astrid pleaded. “I don’t think I couldcarry you.”

Hiccup scoffed. “I’m tougher than that.”

“That’s the spirit babe.” Astrid encouraged him to walk overto Toothless. Never mind how stealthy he was, the Night Fury was shorter thanStormfly and it would be much easier to get Hiccup onto his back. Astrid wouldbe able to ride behind him and control the tailfin.

“Up we go.”

Hiccup blanched as the movement sent a spike of pain throughhis side. He grit his teeth and held on to the front of Toothless’s saddle.Astrid climbed up behind him, reaching around his narrow waist to hold onto him.

“You keep pressure on that wound,” she instructed him.Hiccup nodded, one hand held the tatters of his tunic against the hole in hischest. Though four inches shorter than her tall boyfriend, Astrid had no troublepeering over his slumped shoulders and directing Toothless to take off.

Stormfly flew level with them as they made the short journeyback to Berk.

She felt Hiccup go lip in her arms as they touched down on thewooden decking outside the healer’s hut.

“Gothi!”

The small woman came running.

()

Hiccup opened his eyes with a groan. The sharp pain frombefore had muted to a dull ache. He shifted on the firm pallet, sending a flareof pain up his side. He resolved to never move again.

“Don’t you ever do that to me again!” Astrid sat beside him,watching over her boyfriend with a worried smile. She brushed away the straylock of hair that had fallen across Hiccup’s forehead.

“I didn’t do anything,” Hiccup mumbled. “You’re the one whodropped me in a tree.”

“I’m sorry.”

Hiccup flapped his hand lazily. “You’re forgiven.” He toldher. “So can we go now? Because my bed at home is much more comfortable thanthis one.”

“Only if you promise to stay in it,” Astrid warned.

“You can stay in it too,” he smirked.

“Hiccup!” Astrid shot a glance at the healer, who Hiccupdidn’t seem to realise was present. From where he lay, Hiccup followed her gaze.

Shooting upright with his hand clutched to his chest, Hiccupstared at Gothi with wide eyes.

The tiny woman chuckled and waved the two Vikings away.

“The Gods hate me,” the young Chief complained. Astridhelped him up and over to where Toothless was waiting anxiously. She gaveHiccup an amused smile and waited for him to settle himself in the saddle.

“The Gods can be fickle,” she told him. “But I’m not and Ilike you very much.”

“Thank Thor for small mercies.” Hiccup pretended to groanwhen Astrid smacked him lightly on his uninjured shoulder.

“Though why I likeyou will always be a wonder.” She wrapped her arms around Hiccup just as Toothlesslaunched into the air, headed for home.

More writing

Whumpy prompts

[beau7x-blog]

Chapter 10 - Setting Sail

Kelsan was enjoying the peace and quiet in the downstairs bar.  Shiny had finally given up, and went to bed frustrated. His head still throbbed but it wasn't as painful as before as he lazily sketched on a spare piece of paper. He kept getting images in his head, as if his mind was trying to remind him of something he once saw, but he couldn't remember.   He suddenly jumped and nearly fell off the bar stool after an ear-piercing scream broke through the silence. He steadied himself and looked around wildly, trying to find the source while his heart thundered painfully. He heard the rumbling of footsteps above him as people ran out of their bedrooms to investigate. He ran to the nearest window, certain the screaming came from outside. He could hear shouting upstairs now, people confused and scared, making sure everyone in the house was accounted for and unharmed. It was dark out; he could barely see the street in front of the house. He turned, feeling the rumble of people running down the stairs, but before he could see who was going to reach the bottom first, a disheveled Jules ran out from the kitchen like a bat out of hell, burst through the front door, and was gone instantly. "Kels! You okay?" Lucksoar called out jumping down the last two steps of the stairs   Kelsan stumbled around confused and finally focused on him, "Huh? Yeah, I'm-was that Jules? I think that was blood" "What happened?" He asked as he approached him, the others taking to the windows; he caught a glimpse of Bigfoot running out the front door. "I-I don't know. I just heard screaming then, I don't know." "Everyone stay inside!" Ladybugs voiced boomed from the kitchen.   She ignored the calls for answers as she marched sternly to the front door, closed and locked it. Kelsan heard someone shout "You can't lock us in here!" Ladybug grabbed a nearby chair and stood on top of it, whistling loudly to gather everyone's attention and silence, "Look, I know as much as you do, but it might be dangerous out there, and you are all either patrons or employees. It is our duty to keep each other safe. Jules and Bigfoot are investigating if anyone needs help." "We should be helping them!" A voice called from the crowd. "I know how you guys feel, wanting to help, but a bigger crowd could cause more problems. We don't want anyone else getting injured or lost out there." Kelsan began to zone out, his head throbbing, dulling the voices around him. He clutched the thick, purple curtain of a nearby window for balance and stared into the darkness. As his eyes focused he noticed a large crack running through the glass.

Jules could feel his feet punching the pavement below him as he ran down the dark street. He didn't need to see where he was going he told himself; he knew where to go, he could feel it. Noticing a figure slumped on the ground he ran faster. He knelt beside it and gently rolled the limp body onto its side. It wasn't Adrianna but some strange man he didn't recognize, blood trickling from his nose and ears.  Jules tried to rouse the man, shaking his shoulder gently but received no response. Jules looked up as Bigfoot approached and crouched next to him “Hey, you okay?” Bigfoot asked Jules “Huh? Yeah, - what? Why? I mean-” Jules was confused as to why Bigfoot was concerned with him and not the unconscious man bleeding in the street, “Do you know him?” Bigfoot gently took the man’s head into his hands and stared at him before shaking his head, “Never seen him before. I’ll call an ambulance?” Jules nodded in agreement, “Are you okay to stay with him?” “Where are you going?” he asked already dialing the paramedics “I have to find Adrianna, she’s out here somewhere.” Jules called over his shoulder, already running down the street again Fear Confusion Sadness Guilt All these emotions invaded his thoughts, he could feel them swirling inside of him like a cyclone. 'Who was that? He was going to hurt me. What was he going to do to me? What did he mean by he heard me calling to him? Why was he attacking me? I hurt him. I don't know how but I hurt him. Oh, God please don't be dead. Don't be dead. I didn't mean to kill him.' Jules could hear Adrianna sob these words but found her, huddled in a dark corner behind a stack of old wooden pallets at the end of a long bricked off alley. Clutching herself tightly, tears streaking her cheeks, her body trembling, he saw her lips did not move. He gently placed an arm around her shoulder making her flinch, but still did not look at him, and continued to rock back and forth, shaking. He knelt down in front of her and called her name, placing his hands gently on her cheeks, he stroked her tears away and called to her again. Nothing. 'I didn't mean to kill him. I didn't mean to kill him. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it.' The words swirled around in his head as Adrianna continued to stare at something that wasn't there. Grabbing her arm and wrapping it around his shoulder he found her not resisting, but rather stiff, as if hesitant to move of her own accord. Jules grunted as he lifted her into his arms, thankful for her petite build, but nearly dropped her as he straightened his back. She didn’t even flinch as her body fell. Returning back to the café he passed by Bigfoot still with the unconscious stranger. He had rolled the man into the recovery position as he continued to receive instruction from the 911 operator.   ‘He isn’t from the café... no ID on him. Well at least he’s still alive.’ Bigfoot’s eyes widened in panic as he saw Jules approach with Adrianna trembling in his arms. “Shit, is she okay? What happened?” Jules merely shrugged his shoulders Bigfoot stood and touched Adrianna’s arm, but she didn’t react to his calls, “Should I get another ambulance?”   Jules looked down at her, frowned in frustration and shrugged, “I don’t know what happened, but she doesn’t seem to be hurt. I’ll take her to the cellar where it’s less crowded.” Bigfoot nodded. “Oh, you might want to go through the side entrance; was getting pretty crowded when I left.” Reaching the side of the house, Jules now faced a problem he hadn’t thought of before; How was he going to open the door while carrying Adri? He stood in front of the side door, gingerly trying to turn the knob without dropping her but couldn’t get a firm grasp of it. Looking around if there was a safe place to put her down he heard the door unlock and slowly open revealing Twi nervously peering out. “You guys okay?” He whispered. Again, Jules shrugged as he stepped in to the house. “Where’s Big?” Swinging Adrianna through the storeroom doorway he replied “I’ll tell you downstairs.” Realizing there was no longer a comfortable place to lay Adrianna down in the cellar, Jules carefully and slowly slid his back down the wall next to the desk into a sitting position, Adrianna carefully cradled in to his lap. “Adri?” He called to her softly and her eyes finally shifted and stared into his “I didn’t mean it.” she whispered shakily, her face pale and glistening with a thin layer of cold sweat “I know, I know. He’s okay, he’s not dead. You didn’t hurt him.” he reassured her hoping a little lie would comfort her. ‘I did. I’m sure I did. I heard him screaming. I think. Did I? I don’t know anymore.’ “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” She didn’t respond but played what had happened over in her mind again and again trying to make sense of what happened. “So... uh...” Twi chewed at his lip uncomfortably, the floorboards creaking as he shifted his weight. Looking up at him Jules said “Honestly your guess is as good as mine. It’s hard to understand what happened, but I think, some guy tried to maybe kidnap Adri?” Twi knelt down next to them “Oh shit, is she okay?” “I think so. She’s not in pain or anything, just shock I think.” “Huh.”  Twi stared off in thought before continuing, “So what about you then?” He looked at him confused “Hm? What about me?” “You know, the screaming and bleeding and stuff. Downstairs.” “Oh, yeah, um, I’m not really sure.” “Oh, okay.” Twi nodded slowly, “Cause uh, that’s not normal and uh, you may want to get that checked out.” Jules gave a half smile, “No, it was, - I could hear Adri screaming and it was just so loud I honestly thought my head was going to explode.” Twi stared at him with concern, “You heard her screaming?” “Yeah? How could you not?” “Oh, maybe because we were up the street and underground, and no one else heard it.” Jules looked up at him in surprise, “None of you heard her?” Twi shook his head, “No, we were freaking out ‘cause you suddenly started screaming and then ran out.” “Oh.” Jules slowly nodded his head, “That makes sense I guess.” Twi looked puzzled, “Uh, no? No, it doesn’t make a lot of sense.” he shook his head. “Oh, I meant it makes sense why I was the only one who heard her.” Twi stared at him even more confused seeking more information “Oh, right, um, I think I’m psychic.” Jules explained nonchalantly   Twi gave a face of bewilderment, “I’m sorry? What? What in the what what? Dude, you can’t just drop that on someone.” Jules shrugged his shoulders and looked back down at Adrianna, now seemingly asleep, “Well, I mean, I’m the only one who heard Adri, I heard what she was thinking outside cause she sure wasn’t talking. These past few hours I kept hearing voices in the back of my head. It’s muffled and distant, and when I try to concentrate on it, the more out of focus they become.” Twi swept his hands over his face, “Uh, you know they have a term for that-” Jules shook his head calmly, “I’m not insane Twi. It’s not like the voices are telling me to burn the house down or anything. Most of the time I can’t understand what they’re saying. But I can hear her loud and clear.” he said nodding to Adrianna. Seeing Twi seemingly not convinced he added, “Is it really that hard to believe, Twi? Considering you were living in the shadows earlier tonight.” “Oh, yeah. I kind of forgot about that.” He nodded, “Well, when you put it that way.” he shrugged.

Deniro could see the light above him, tinged red by his closed eyelids. He felt groggy, stiff, his chest hurt like hell, and he wheezed as his breath rattled through his lungs and out his burning dry throat. He tried to raise his hand to cover his face, or turn his head but found his body wouldn’t move. He tried to call out but only rasped. He could hear voices; dull, and indirect as if in another room. His desperation climbed and he forced himself harder to move, but could only open and close his mouth. After what seemed a lifetime of screaming at his own body, willing it to move, a large thunk could be heard nearby. A woman’s voice cried out, “Jesus fucking Christ.” and he could feel wind blowing by him at intervals. “You okay bub?” the voice continued and a shadow passed over his face providing relief from the bright light. Finally opening his eyes his blurry vision made out the figure of a woman leaning over him. He tried to respond but only wheezed. “Can you hear me? Can you blink?” He blinked slowly, struggling to open his lids again. “Okay, excellent, we have a form of communication!” her voice sounded as if she were smiling “Are you in pain?” she asked He blinked. “Okay, is it mainly your chest?” He blinked again, still feeling cloudy but finding it easier to open his eyes again “Okay, that’s normal. Can you breathe okay?” He stared up at her wondering how she couldn’t hear his ragged breath struggling through his mouth “Okay...I’ll take that as a no?” He blinked. “Okay, I’ll see if we have any oxygen or something we can give you around here. Um, can you move at all?” Deniro again tried to force just a finger to curl but found his body not responding “I guess that’s a no. Um, hold on a sec.” The woman moved away and light again blinded him. He could feel a light squeezing on his left foot “Can you feel this?”   Unable to open his eyes he lay in silence “Deniro?” He could hear a muffled voice to his right “Eh? It’s what?” The woman called to it, “Oh, bright. Doi, of course it is.” The woman again moved to his side, shielding him from the light above. “Could you feel me touching your foot?” He opened his eyes and blinked.   “And here?” She continued gently squeezing his left hand He blinked at her again She reached over him “And the right?” This time he managed a small nod with his blink. “Hey! You moved your head! You’ll be fine in no time bub.” She looked back up to the voice on his right, “He’s what?” “Thirsty” The voice replied. Deniro blinked as much as he could and tried nodding again “Well, go get something then.” she called back before looking back down at him, “Okay sweetie, I know you’re in pain and probably very confused, but you’re safe, and you’re on your way to getting better okay? There’re people here who will be watching over you, and we’ll try to make you as comfortable as possible.” He began to recognize her voice. A maid from the café he thought, but he couldn’t place a name or face just yet. But wasn’t he in hospital? He had a feeling a lot of time had passed, maybe he was mistaking the voice and it was just a nurse that sounded like someone he knew.   “I’m just going to check your heart rate and your lungs okay?” she explained. He felt a light pressure of what he assumed to be a stethoscope on his chest. ‘Definitely a nurse then’ He decided “Well, your heart is certainly thudding along nicely. Hm... lungs are a little raspy. I’ll keep an eye on it-Dah! Jesus Bigfoot, you can’t go be throwin’ your arms out there all willy nilly.” ‘Wait, Bigfoot? A nurse wouldn’t be calling him that. Where am I? What the hell is going on?’ “Okay sweetie, can you open your mouth a little? I’m going to pop a straw in.” Deniro did as instructed as sucked down the heavenly water. It never tasted so good, and he couldn’t seem to drink fast enough, feeling the cool water slide down his throat, easing the raspy pain. “Whoa, whoa, simmer down, you’re gonna suck down the whole cup.” Panting from drinking so hastily, Deniro lowered what little height he had of his head and rested. He noticed his vison was now starting to become clear and he recognized the woman as definitely someone from the café - probably Beau from what he remembered, but what was she carrying? It seemed there was something long and large on her back but it was too out of focus for him to define. Noticing him starting to stare behind her Beau picked up a small cloth from her apron and folded it over his eyes. “I’m sure you’re very confused, and maybe a little scared, but trust me that we’ll explain everything when you’re able to talk and ask questions. For now, you’re safe and being watched over. If you need anything, just think about it really loud. I know that sounds weird, but trust me, like scream it in your head and someone will be with you shortly, okay?” Beau could see Deniro furrow his eyebrows as much as he could but also nodded slightly. She left the chamber, relieved to be free from the heat. She lifted the bottom of her shirt and wiped the sweat from her face. She had taken it upon herself to be the nurse down in the lab, trying to feel useful for something. On her way to the containment cubicle Adrianna was resting in, she checked the monitor of the light chamber. On the screen she could see Twi, resting calmly reading the research notes on his mutations on the lone bench within the small bright room. She pressed a button turning on the microphone which directed into the room; “How are you doing in there, bub?”   Twi gave a nonchalant thumbs up, then quickly looked back up, “Actually, it’s a bit rigid in here, could I get a blanket or a pillow or something?” “I’ll see what I can do. How do you feel?” Twi shrugged, “Fine, can’t feel the cancer developing so far.” Beau sniggered, “I’ll be back shortly.” Beau became startled seeing Adrianna now awake and threw herself behind a wall next to the cubicle out of sight. Seeing Jules was with her she called out to him nervously, “Jules?” “Yeah, wassup?” He called back but didn’t move “Um, is-um...Is she aware, of what’s going on?” she danced around the words, trying to think of the right thing to say in case he hadn’t told her about the mutations. “Oh, oh, yeah, no, I’ve told her.” “Is it okay if I come in?” she asked timidly. She could hear Jules talking to Adrianna but couldn’t hear what was said. Finally, Jules called back “Yeah, it’s fine.” Beau slowly poked her head around the glass doorway of the cubicle, “Hey, how are you feeling?” Adrianna looked up at her drowsily, “I’m fine, just a little confused.” She was lying down on the steel bed jutting from the east wall, Jules sitting at the end with her feet on his lap. “I can understand that. Um, is it okay if I check on a few things? Heart rate, temperature, that kinda stuff.” “Yeah sure.” she nodded sheepishly.   Beau took in a deep breath and slowly entered the room. Adrianna had already been through so much, she was afraid of causing more trauma by shocking her, but when she got close enough for Adrianna to see her brown, feathered appendages her eyes seemed to widen out of wonder more than fear. Beau knelt next her and placed the stethoscope over her chest, staring at the timer on her phone while trying to ignore Adrianna staring at her wings. “Okay, you’re in fairly normal ranges. How many fingers am I holding up?” Adrianna blinked her focus onto Beau’s hand, “Three.” “Follow my finger...Good. What day is it?” “Uh...Tuesday, I think.” Beau looked at her phone again, “Yes, it is technically still Tuesday, for another six minutes. What’s the last thing you remember, if it’s not too much.” Adrianna frowned and shook her head, “I’m honestly not sure anymore. My head keeps changing things, trying to make sense of what I saw, that I’m not sure if what I remember is what really happened.” “It’s okay, what do you think you remember?” Adrianna took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling. Jules squeezed her leg reassuringly. “I remember, Jules texted me to come to the café. I parked down the street and... on my way up I ran into some guy I’ve never met before. He said some really weird things.” “Like what? Do you remember?” Adrianna shook her head, “Something like he heard me. He said that I was talking directly to him, I don’t know. I said I didn’t know what he was talking about and then he grabbed me and, I don’t know I panicked and started screaming as loud as I could, hoping someone from the café would hear me. I don’t really remember what happened next, it’s kind of fuzzy. I-...I heard him screaming.” Adrianna grew quiet. “I don’t remember much after that. Next thing I remember was waking up in here.” Beau nodded, “That’s okay, just try to rest as much as possible. It’s most likely you went into shock, stay lying down, try to drink some water, and stay warm.”   Adrianna nodded to her then paused, “Can I-um...Never mind” “What’s wrong?” Beau pressed “Um, I was just wondering if I could, touch your wing.” Beau looked at her a little surprised. It was the first time someone had wanted to touch them, “Uh, sure. Just uh, be careful around the edges, they can be sharp sometimes.” Adrianna reached out and gently stroked her wing. It felt strange to Beau and she involuntarily twitched a little. It wasn’t unpleasant, just unused to the area being touched. “It’s so soft and smooth.” Adrianna smiled, “Does it feel weird?” Beau shrugged, “kind of? Only weird like, I’m still not used to having sensation there, but this kind of feels similar to having someone stroke your hair.” “How are the others doing?” asked Jules as Adrianna continued to softly stroke Beau’s feathers “Okay. Uh, Deniro’s conscious now. Heart rate is good, body temperature is normal. Lungs are a little wheezy but hopefully that’ll clear up in time. Twi is fine in his little box. Ladybug still has a migraine though. Not sure what else we can do about it.” “Is it a mutation?” Beau shrugged, “No clue. It could be an early symptom of a developing mutation but, we won’t know until something develops. Or doesn’t. It could just be a normal migraine due to stress, which I wouldn’t be surprised about.” Jules sneered in annoyance, “I guess we can’t put it off for much longer, can we?” She looked down, “I guess not. As much as we all care about each other, everyone has a limit, and we can never guess what people would do to get answers.” “What are you talking about?” Asked Adrianna finally withdrawing her arm from Beaus wing. Jules sighed and looked to her, “We have to tell everyone what’s going on.” “We were going to wait until we had more answers but, it doesn’t look like that’ll be possible anymore.” Beau added, “People upstairs are getting frustrated.” Jules lifted his shoulders, “Fuck it, might as well do it now.” “Are you sure?” Beau asked, a hint of panic in her voice “Do you know what you’re going to say to them?” Jules ran his hand through his hair, “Yeah, kinda. I have an idea. I just need someone to watch things down here.” “I’ll stay.” Beau volunteered. “No,” Jules shook his head, “I need you and Bigfoot with me. Can Ladybug come down?” Beau twisted her lips, “Kinda doubt it. She’s holed up in a dark corner upstairs. I might be able to coax Twi out though. He was saying earlier that the light box isn’t very comfy. And I don’t really like the idea of him spending a lot of time in there.”

Jules ran up the stairs calling out “Emergency Jamily meeting!” and started knocking on all the bedroom doors, “Emergency meeting, I need everyone to come downstairs right away.” “Seriously?” A sleepy and confused Lucksoar moaned out “Yes, seriously. This is actually very serious.” “What the fuck, man?” A bleary-eyed Chaotic meatball called stumbling from his bedroom. “I’m sorry for waking you all up, but this is very urgent. I need you all downstairs asap.” Jogging downstairs he noticed Bigfoot with an arm around Adrianna, helping her to a stool at the bar. “Adri, you shouldn’t be-” “I want to be here. I need to be here for this.” She argued. Jules sighed resignedly knowing she would be too stubborn for him to bother arguing. “Where’s Beau?” He asked “In the kitchen.” Bigfoot pointed. “She thought it would be best if she came out after you explained everything. That and apparently she’s starving.” Hearing the dull stomping of people trudging down stairs, Jules took a seat on top of the bar, and Bigfoot took a seat on the stool next to Adrianna. “Okay, thank you all for coming down here so quickly. Is everyone here?” “Ladybug is still upstairs.” A voice called out “Shiny’s in the bathroom.” Called another “Okay, Ladybug can stay up there.” said Jules before yelling, “Shiny! Get down here!” “Jesus, I’m coming. Christ can’t someone take a piss in peace?” Shiny grumbled as he entered the room. “Okay, cool. Can everyone take a seat, please? Is this everyone? Yeah? We're all here? Good. Okay. So, I have a few things to tell you. They are all important, they are all true, and they are all very serious. I need you all to remain calm, and open-minded. We don’t have all the answers, but we will tell you everything we know. Most importantly of all, you cannot tell a single soul about anything you are about to see or hear.” Jules stern expression and tone had everyone in the room silent, before a voice quietly piped up, “Man, if this is a joke, I’m gonna throw you out the window.” “I promise, this is not a joke. This is completely true, and extremely serious. People's lives are at risk here.” At that note Jules noticed a few people’s eyes widen. He took a deep breath and collected his thoughts. “This is going to be extremely hard to believe. We kept this from you because we didn’t know what was happening, or how you would all react. We were scared and didn’t know what to do. We wanted to wait until we had more answers but... I don’t think it’s fair to keep it from you all anymore. We don’t know how or why, but it seems that, some people that have visited or stayed in the café are...changing. I don’t really know what word to use or how to describe it without freaking you out so I’m going to remind everyone to remain calm and let me explain first.” More faces showed concern, confusion, even fear. “Some people are...mutating, like, uhmm, I guess the best comparison would be like, the ‘X-men’.” “Jesus fucking Christ.” Someone in the back cried out rising from their seat, “I cannot fucking believe this.” “Doesn’t matter if you believe it.” Bigfoot called after them, grabbing their shoulder. “It’s true.” They turned aggressively, about to retaliate until they noticed Bigfoot was still sitting at the bar at the front of the café. They stared at the hand on their shoulder, then traced the seven-foot-long arm back to Bigfoot before giving the hand a shy prod. Bigfoot squeezed their shoulder and retracted his arm in response. There was a long silent pause before Jules continued, “Yeah. So, looks like we have a lot to talk about.”