#I think magical mystery tour just made me upset because i wish they had the beatles interacting more

[beatlesmenrock]

my beatles movies rankings

[toysoldiers-rwby]

[CS] 4. Duty

4. Duty

Cutting Strings

Characters: Penny, Winter, Xanthic Word Count: 8k

If robots are just tools…

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Primary Function: Protector  

Penny learned many things during her few short hours outside her father’s facility. Those with familiar background and status gravitate towards each other. Penny suppose the human variable meant different was of understanding the world. Same behaviors and actions can be used to express different emotions, particularly when people whisper under their breath and avoid looking at others.  

Though Penny still had a difficulty figuring out how May and Winter communicated with just looks. Even sign language used an actual method of communication.  

So far the Military Event was the best day of her excistance. Her true first day out in the world! She got to learn more about her future teammate and possibly made two new friends, Winter Schnee and May Marigold. But… It was odd, that the best day of her excistense could affect someone that was not present.  

Penny was starting to understand how powerful the gaze was.  

She sat at the facility’s kitchen table, head casted down and hands intertwined in her lap. She ignored the slamming keys and hard-light screens. Across from her, Ashley Xanthic furiously typed lines of code. The hacker would run simulation after simulation, until the checks ran red and continued working. Bit by bit, she hacked into Atlas’ network, byte by byte Penny Polendina was becoming an official citizen of Atlas.  

Ironwood wanted her to supervise the hacker. Something that required closer observation but Penny didn’t want upset Ms. Xanthic anymore. She sighed quietly, squeezing her hands. She wasn’t doing a very good job…  

“What’s the point in running the Kingdom if you can’t cut corners?” Xanthic growled to herself. Penny spared a glance up. Her future teammate took a break to sip her coffee but her head just kept tilting back and back before she just groaned into an empty cup.  

“It’s to prevent-”  

“Abuse of power, total dictator ship,” Xanthic droned. She put her cup down, looking at Penny through the gasps of her hard-light screens. "But here I am, in a secure military facility, hacking into Atlas Security with resources the General provided."  

If the public found out General Ironwood manipulated the system, he would be stripped of both his council seats. If the public found out a hacker had done it, the consequences wouldn’t be as dire. Still the General must have other reasons for using her as a scapegoat.  

Penny looked at her hands again, “He cannot make such quick changes legally, the process would take too long. Everything has been signed and approved-”  

“Of course,” Xanthic snorted. After hours of working, the hacker finally stood up. In a few short strides she was at Penny’s side, boxing her into the chair with slender arms. Penny knew Xanthic wasn’t fit, wasn’t a fighter. Her hands weren’t calloused like Aro’s but steady, soft, and precise. Penny could easily win but somehow she felt small and weak under that white burning glare.  

Staring into eyes that were so similiar to her own… but so full of resentment was not pleasent.  

"So why would the General," Xanthic hissed the title out like venom, “Need me to skip the queue?”  

“And why should we tell a criminal, one caught red handed by General Ironwood himself.”  

“Winter!” Penny gasped, hydraulics in her back straightening her posture. The specialist’s voice alone lifted her Aura, but seeing Winter glower back at Xanthic corrected any insecurities the hacker caused. “What are you doing here?”  

“I don’t resume my duties till tomorrow,” Winter said, eyes closed and shoulders tensing for a moment. Xanthic sneered. Penny ignored it because Winter refused to acknowledge the hacker. “I did offer you a tour of Atlas Academy.”  

“How about you don’t make my job harder?” Xanthic asked throwing up her hands. She walked to the fridge, making sure to brush against Winter so the Specialist was forced to acknowledge her. Xan was shorter, but somehow she seemed to have just as strong of a presense. “Marigold gets a pass but you and Glade are aware of the consequences that comes with fame. You really think people wouldn’t look up the mysterious ginger? She is a ginger right?”  

“Penny did not disclose her identity until after we witnesses saw us together,” Winter said with an annoyed sigh.  

“Now you know. Yet you still insist on parading her around?” Xanthic reason. She crossed her arms and glared threateningly at one of the best Huntresses in Atlas. Both women were too busy posturing and trying to intimidate each other to see Penny shrink ever so slightly. She quickly straightened out again when Xanthic lost with an infuriating sigh. “Seriously. Please don’t make my job harder than it is.”  

“Penny’s cover is already ruined, what else would hinder your task?”  

“Research,” Xanthic said opening the fridge. She frowned and gave Penny a disapproving look. “It’s practically empty. Is that why you’re all skin and bones?”  

“I’m not skin and bones…” Penny mumbled under her breath. It felt… bittersweet, a small victory in admitting what she is but what was the point if they didn’t understand it? Predictably Xanthic didn’t believe her. The hacker rolled her cybernetic eyes and peeked into the freezer next.  

“Neopolitan ice cream. I can forgive the lack of food,” she said with a small smile. Penny added the favorite flavor to Xanthic’s notes. “I can do what Ironwood-”  

“General Ironwood.” Winter corrected.  

Xanthic continued without any acknowledgement, “Told me to do, get the legal documents into the system or I can do a good job and actually leave some breadcrumbs for people to find.”  

“Breadcrumbs?” Penny asked.  

“According to Ironwood,” Xanthic started, ignoring the way Winter’s hand twitched in frustration. She looked for cups and spoons. “You’re another SDC orphan.” At that Winter’s composition changed, for a split second she looked guilty. Guilty and sad over a lie. Penny sealed her lips tight and looked down at her hands. She wasn’t lying but her Aura still flared across her system. “I’m editing old security photos and videos too hide a very obscure Penny in it. So it doesn’t look like she just magically appeared out of nowhere.” The hacker finished, looking at Winter. There was a shift between them… Xan’s voice barely audiable to Penny’s sensitive eqiupment, “We don’t want a repeat of last time…”"  

The Specialist hummed, eyes glaring in Xanthic’s direction but not really focused on her until whatever thought left Winter’s mind, “Very well. I’ll inform General Ironwood.”  

“Unnecessary but it’s your energy to waste,” Xanthic said waving her hand. She sat back down in front of her temporary workstation and went back to writing lines of codes.  

“Waste of…” Winter paused, practically growling under her breath. No sound came out but with her facial expression, Penny practically heard it. “And what would be an optimal use of my energy?”  

Xanthic pointedly looked at the near empty fridge. Dr. Pietro’s facility was locked down durng P.E.N.N.Y’s finalization process. There was no reason to stock so much food in the recreational kitchen.  

“I am not doing your grocery shopping!”  

“I’m under house arrest!” Xanthic threw up her arms. Around both wrist was a bracelet with gravity and lighting Dust built in. Once activated it would pin her arms together or send a volt of electricity. Ideally non-lethal. "And I’m gonna be here for at least three days."  

“I’m sure the General wouldn’t mind if we accompany you.” Penny said quietly. The two barely stopped from yelling at each other and looked at her. “The Ace-Ops rudely escorted you here from you’re home. I didn’t see any bags either… so…” Luckily Xanthic was dressed for the day… still dressed from the previous day. Under Xanthic’s unblinking cybernetic eyes Penny’s confidence waned.  

Winter took a deep breath, a finger on her temple. Penny stared, wishing she would unclenched her jaw instead. “Was it Herriet and Elm? Those two are quick and rash.”  

“Herriet and Vine, actually.” Penny said.  

“Figures. Vine has always been to the letter,” The Specialist started to walk down into the living room, “I’ll contact General Ironwood and request your cuffs be synced with my Scroll.”  

“Oh how kind! Ms. Schnee and her girlfriend taking me out for a walk. May I have a treat Mistress?” The hacker asked, her monotone voice alive with sarcasm. She even struck a pose along with batting long eyelashes. Perhaps it would be more effective if her makeup wasn’t so intimidating.  

Winter scowled and the two Atlas elites stared at each other for a minute. The silent challenged ended in a draw, they broth broke eye contact with Winter taking a seat and closing her Scroll. Within a few minutes Xanthic had finished her ice cream and checked the fridge again. With a some excessive force, Xanthic shut the fridge and continued working. Penny watched her hit the backspace more than she should.  

“Alright!” Xanthic yelled, ten minutes later. “I’ll play… nicer than usual.”  

Winter looked too dignified and controlled to smirk but the air around her was far too smug. Maybe it was the lack of reaction that held superiority? Whatever it was it annoyed Xanthic and puzzled Penny.  

The call only took a few minutes. Winter returned to the kitchen and held her Scroll to the gravity cuffs around the hacker’s wrist. It beeped twice, the cuffs flashing green. Outside an unmarked car pulled up. Once Winter opened the door Xanthic’s attitude resurfaced.  

“Are you fucking serious?” She asked staring at the front seat. Their transport was being driven by an AK-200. “I’d like to live.”  

“I’ll drive if you’ll shut up,” It seemed the Specialist was nearing her limit.  

“Again, I’d like to live.”  

“They aren’t that bad,” Penny reasoned softly. She physically stepped between them, even if they could clearly see above her head. That chip of insecurity wedged into her a little. Winter’s patient gaze gave her the strength to continue with a straight spin and even voice, “Safe driving is within their capabilities.”  

“Hm… fine,” Xanthic huffed crossing her arms. “I suppose three VIPs dying will finally help people realize these things are horrible.” Winter quickly got into the car, hiding her face but the door slammed with enough force to shake their transport. Xanthic sneered, a small victory. It would take more than a simple crash to harm a huntress… but her future teammate was a civilian.  

“How terrifying is it to live without a protective Aura?” Penny asked following Xanthic in. This time Xanthic glared at her while Winter sneered. Penny merely tilted her head in confusion, staring at the hacker for an answer.  

“You and fucking Glade,” Xanthic muttered. She looked out the window and the car was relatively silent as Penny tried to figure out how she insulted her future teammate.  

Their first stop was Xanthic’s house. It was big enough for a family and gated, Penny could see some trees growing in the backyard and a garden being tended too by a robot and two Ace-Op members. Before the gate could close behind them, Xanthic swung the door open and jumped out of the slow moving vehicle. Winter was quickly to follow so Penny felt compelled to do the same, even if her steps weren’t a confident march like Winter.  

“Welcome back, Lady Xanthic.” The robot gardener greeted with a bow. “May we prepare a meal for you and your guest?” Xanthic ignored it, pointing a finger at Clover then Marrow. Rude, Penny frowned looking at the robot. It didn’t seem to mind…  

“What the fuck are you two doing here?”  

“I could ask you the same question,” Clover said. His eyes gently swept to Winter and momentarily lingered on Penny. She ducked her head, eyes on the ground and stepping behind her Specialist. “But knowing Schnee, it’s classified.” He smiled but it wasn’t directed at Winter. Her professional mask didn’t recuperate any friendliness but the lack of a negative response was approval, in a way.  

“We’re ensuring you don’t escape a previously hacked into facility, pack your things, and run off,” Marrow answered. By Xanthic’s scowl and huff at a proper answer, the question must have been rhetorical. Penny was realizing most of her questions weren’t actually questions. Marrow plucked an apple from the robot gardener’s basket and took a bite. He hummed at the taste. “Oh and wonderful place! Very hermit and simple.”  

“The singular word would be self-sustaining,” Xanthic growled arms crossed. She finally looked at her butler. It was a different model than the one Penny first saw, smooth and curved, the design and cut in the chassis flowing almost gentlly. “Pack all the leftovers and anything you can prepare in 10 minutes. Not staying long.”  

“Understood, Lady Xanthic.” The gardenerbot bowed a little, then knelt back down and resume working on the garden. Through the window Penny saw two more robots walk into the kitchen. The robot did use we when addressing Xanthic, the robot’s AI must share a network, a hivemind. One of the butlers was definitely the model Penny saw driving the night they first met. Sharp edges, thick layered metal plates, intimidating faceplate, a bodyguard?  

Marrow whistled, “Impressive. For a criminal.”  

“Standard. For a genius.” Xanthic scoffed walking to the front door. She pressed her Scroll to the lock and it slide open. When Marrow moved to follow Clover stopped him.  

“You heard the bots, we can enter the yard but not the house. Until we have a warrant, they are authorized to open fire under the Home Defense Clause.”  

Xanthic chuckled softly, “Good Bobs.”  

“Thank you, Lady Xanthic.” Her butler chirped. Penny frowned staring at it before following Winter. The synthetic voice was flat, could almost past as human if Xanthic wanted it too.  

“Man… how does manage to show us up on her day off?” Marrow mumbled walking to Clover. “And the girl?”  

“Classified,” Winter called over her shoulder. Marrow yelped, a little surprised his loud voice carried that far.  

The first thing Penny’s sensors detected was an increase of temperature. Once she entered Xanthic’s home she understood why. Servers and machines lined the walls, countless of physical monitors mounted onto a surface and displaying news channels across the world. Others had lines of code or blueprints, one monitor occasionally flashed red and ‘Simulation Error. Project: BILLY unable to sync’.  

Xanthic stared at it but glanced at Winter. The Specialist glanced around the room for any weapon, then trained her eyes on the hacker. Xanthic grumbled, walking into the kitchen and sitting at the table. Like Aro’s home there was small electrical components and tools, but only one.  

A broken robot that looked like a ram laid on the table, small enough to fit in a pocket.  

Penny sat down and slowly reached for it. “May I?”  

“I can’t exactly stop you.” Xanthic barked. Penny flinched and recoiled. Xanthic sighed, “Right, I’m suppose to play nice… Yeah go ahead.” Slowly Penny scooped up the broken bits of metal and wire. Cradling it. “It was meant to be a monitoring bot.”  

“You mean spy?”  

“I mean as in a kid’s pet. The current cybernetic pets haven’t been changed in half a decade. It’s boring.”  

“… But a goat?” Winter asked with a raised brow.  

Xan smirked, “Greatest Of All Time.” This time Winter did let out a visible display of distain, along with… some surprise? Penny giggled at the light flush across her face.  

She politely decline the food the serverbots offered. Winter accepted a smaller portion while Xanthic scarfed it down. They continued their neutral banter for a few minute, talking about mundane robots walking around Atlas. Penny tried to focus all her processing power into examining the broken robot, but she kept focusing in on Winter’s voice.  

They were objects, they were supposed to be weapons. Xanthic scoffed and argued, they were flexible tools, with familial potential. The two agreed that robots were things but not on the functions. Penny’s function was to protect, she was a weapon. She was her father’s daughter, family… Her Aura stirred throughout her systems, sinking and sinking like it was trying to unplug her power unit.  

In her palm was a pet… “May I have this?” Penny asked.  

Xanthic looked at her through the glass of her cup and finished inhaling her water. “Sure. I doubt I’ll be able to work on any of my personal stuff now.” She held up her wrist, cuffs shining in the sun.  

The hacker spent the remainder of the 10 minutes packing some clothes and books. Winter looked through both, packing it even neater than Xanthic originally had it.  

The trip for groceries was short and uneventful now that Xanthic was cooperating. Penny almost missed her antagonism. It was entertaining, Penny found herself fiddling with the broken bot, thoughts drifting. The future members of APCX were quiet. Winter had her usual professionalism on but every so often worry would break though when she looked at Penny.  

Robots were tools, not meant to function outside their purpose. According to General Ironwood, she was a protector. According to her father-  

“I lied.” Xanthic said suddenly. Her volume was neutral but after a car ride with soft music it was an abrupt cut in Penny’s thoughts.  

“Surprising.” Winter sneered. It wasn’t as hostile as it was earlier but not as playful as with May or Aro.  

“Me and Glade have… history. That was supposed to be a gift.”  

“Really?” Penny asked. Winter held her Scroll to the facility’s front door and escorted the two VIP’s back to the recreation quarters. “I checked Aro’s files. There was some inconsistences during her internship with my father.”  

“I’ll have to fix that later then.” They were in the same environment nearly five years ago. That was enough confirmation for Penny. She helped Winter put away the food and memorized what they bought. Penny doesn’t eat, Winter isn’t a frequent visitor- though Penny hope that is going to change, so everything is Xanthic’s. She noted a surprising amount of sweets, either mint chocolate or some kind of strawberry flavor. She favored salt and vinegar snacks. The meals her butlerbots packaged was well balanced, most things fresh from her gardens.  

Winter synced the hacker’s cuffs back to the recreational area. Penny pulled the remains of the robot from her pocket… and stared at it. If weapon can’t be intimate with people, what does her time at the Military Event classify as?  

“Penny?” She heard Winter’s whisper shortly before registering a light pressure on her shoulder. She almost jumped. Her Aura ramped her system, nearly triggering a fight response. With concentration Penny was able to calmly look up at the Specialist. “Are you alright? Did the crowds at the store bother you?”  

“No…” It was her and the hacker that troubled Penny. “I’m-” fine. The words stopped in her synthetic vocals. She could feel her Aura swirl in her chest at the lie. “Just thinking. I’m going to gather some tools and materials for this little…”  

“Billy. I’ll send you the software after you fix it.” Xanthic said.  

Penny quickly excited the room, Winter’s hand just hovering there for a few seconds before Penny turned the corner and lost visual of both of them. Weapons can’t be friends. Penny shrank in, hands squeezing tighter and tighter. She ignored the warnings and only focused on the wires tightening in her chest.  

Then the squeezing gave way.  

Six days since her last artificial skin tear, rest to zero.  

Her room was simple, very similar to the workshop back in Atlas Academy. No bed, only an examination table with mechanical arms for maintenance. The drawers were full of tools, parts, or accessories. Things that was on the workbench for weapons. People did not wear artificial skin. The tear was easy to repair, thin layer of sillicone and wires around her index finger was torn clean off.  

A light knock on her door made Penny jump. Xanthic would be stuck in the recreational area, trying to leave would meant a painful shock. Winter… she was Ironwood’s second-in-command, she may have access to most of the facility but-  

Another knock.  

“Y- Yes?” She called out. To her surprised and relief her father opened the door. “You… knocked?”  

“Winter fetched me, told me that you seemed upset,” Dr. Pietro said. His chair slowly walked forward, as if ready to turn on a moment’s notice. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted privacy or not.”  

“Ms. Xanthic is restricted to the living quarters of this facility. Winter would be authorized entrance if allowed here,” Penny said. Pricacy was a human concept. She wasn’t… “My privacy is unnecessary.”  

“That does’t mean you can’t want it,” Dr. Pietro said gently. He looked at Penny’s hands and took a breath. Concern, worry, love. Emotions meant for people. It was easy to read these emotions from her father, yet somehow tiring.  

She was tired of seeing him worry.  

“I’m sorry,” Penny mumbled.  

“Maybe this entire Vytal Festival is a bad idea…” For once, Dr. Pietro’s voice was stern. It wasn’t hard like how the General’s could get but it was so odd hearing him frustrated.  

“No!” Penny yelled. She gasped at her own volume. Dr. Pietro jumped in surprised but he didn’t look mad. In fact he nodded and encouraged Penny to continue. “I want to fight! I want to see Vale.” And after the stories Aro told them during the Military Show, Penny wanted to see Minangire. May told stories about the mountains in Minstral and Winter balked at the heat in Vacuo. She wanted to see the world. Her simulations programs were the most accurate ones developed but nothing compared her own experience.  

Her father looked concern again and Penny made a noise. It was a reflex she hadn’t perform before, that hum of frustration May did so much. Her father looked shocked but smiled and laugh.  

“I’ve never seen you pout before. My, my, one day and you’ve learn so much already,” He said patting Penny’s hand. “And that’s really the General decision to make. And I doubt he’s changing his mind.”  

Penny let him repair the tear in the artificial skin. She made sure to watch, wanting to cherish the moment just as the others cherished their visits to other kingdoms. A moment that was truly hers and not programed into her. A special gel will act as a conduit for the wires and adhesive for the silicone. His hands went to work soothing everything back in place, encouraging the material to bound in a way that wouldn’t leave a mark.  

“I will always worry, my dear,” Dr. Pietro said. “I know you are fully capable of taking care of yourself, but it’s just what fathers do.” The word stirred in Penny’s processors, she hoped it would stick. After all, weapons didn’t have fathers.  

“Then… what do daughters do?”  

Whatever Dr. Pietro had to say wasn’t fully vocalized. Instead the smile dropped for a moment and he sighed. “That depends on the girl,” Dr. Pietro said, “Specialist Schnee chose to leave her family… Family company to protect others.”  

“And… Ms. Xanthic?”  

Dr. Pietro raised a brow, “I think it’d be best if you asked her yourself.”  

Penny flinched at the thought. There was a 2% chance of a pleasant conversation. 95% chance Xanthic would yell at her. Penny left the remaining 3% as open-to-human-nature.  

“I… suppose,” She grumbled. There was a 100% chance of avoiding confrontation with Xanthic if she did not ask.  

Primary Function: Protector Daughter

[brightbeautifulthings]

MAYHEM BY ESTELLE LAURE BLOG TOUR & CHAPTER EXCERPT

The Lost Boys meets Wilder Girls in this supernatural feminist YA novel.

Available July 14th, 2020

It's 1987 and unfortunately it's not all Madonna and cherry lip balm. Mayhem Brayburn has always known there was something off about her and her mother, Roxy. Maybe it has to do with Roxy's constant physical pain, or maybe with Mayhem's own irresistible pull to water. Either way, she knows they aren't like everyone else.

But when May's stepfather finally goes too far, Roxy and Mayhem flee to Santa Maria, California, the coastal beach town that holds the answers to all of Mayhem's questions about who her mother is, her estranged family, and the mysteries of her own self. There she meets the kids who live with her aunt, and it opens the door to the magic that runs through the female lineage in her family, the very magic Mayhem is next in line to inherit and which will change her life for good.

But when she gets wrapped up in the search for the man who has been kidnapping girls from the beach, her life takes another dangerous turn and she is forced to face the price of vigilante justice and to ask herself whether revenge is worth the cost.

From the acclaimed author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back, Estelle Laure offers a riveting and complex story with magical elements about a family of women contending with what appears to be an irreversible destiny, taking control and saying when enough is enough.

About the Author:

Estelle Laure, the author of This Raging Light and But Then I Came Back believes in love, magic, and the power of facing hard truths. She has a BA in Theatre Arts and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and she lives in Taos, New Mexico, with her family. Her work is translated widely around the world. 

Twitter | Instagram | Get Your Copy

Read on for a special chapter excerpt of Mayhem!

three Santa Maria

“Trouble,” Roxy says. She arches a brow at the kids by the van through the bug-spattered windshield, the ghost of a half-smile rippling across her face.

“You would know,” I shoot.

“So would you,” she snaps.

Maybe we’re a little on edge. We’ve been in the car so long the pattern on the vinyl seats is tattooed on the back of my thighs.

The kids my mother is talking about, the ones sitting on the white picket fence, look like they slithered up the hill out of the ocean, covered in seaweed, like the carnival music we heard coming from the boardwalk as we were driving into town plays in the air around them at all times. Two crows are on the posts beside them like they’re standing guard, and they caw at each other loudly as we come to a stop. I love every- thing about this place immediately and I think, ridiculously, that I am no longer alone.

The older girl, white but tan, curvaceous, and lean, has her arms around the boy and is lovely with her smudged eye makeup and her ripped clothes. The younger one pops some- thing made of bright colors into her mouth and watches us come up the drive. She is in a military-style jacket with a ton of buttons, her frizzy blond hair reaching in all directions, freckles slapped across her cheeks. And the boy? Thin, brown, hungry-looking. Not hungry in his stomach. Hungry with his eyes. He has a green bandana tied across his forehead and holes in the knees of his jeans. There’s an A in a circle drawn in marker across the front of his T-shirt.

Anarchy.

“Look!” Roxy points to the gas gauge. It’s just above the E. “You owe me five bucks, Cookie. I told you to trust we would make it, and see what happened? You should listen to your mama every once in a while.”

“Yeah, well, can I borrow the five bucks to pay you for the bet? I’m fresh out of cash at the moment.”

“Very funny.”

Roxy cranes out the window and wipes the sweat off her upper lip, careful not to smudge her red lipstick. She’s been having real bad aches the last two days, even aside from her bruises, and her appetite’s been worse than ever. The only thing she ever wants is sugar. After having been in the car for so long, you’d think we’d be falling all over each other to get out, but we’re still sitting in the car. In here we’re still us.

She sighs for the thousandth time and clutches at her belly. “I don’t know about this, May.”

California can’t be that different from West Texas.

I watch TV. I know how to say gag me with a spoon and grody to the max.

I fling open the door.

Roxy gathers her cigarettes and lighter, and drops them in- side her purse with a snap.

“Goddammit, Elle,” she mutters to herself, eyes flickering toward the kids again. Roxy looks at me over the rims of her sunglasses before shoving them back on her nose. “Mayhem, I’m counting on you to keep your head together here. Those kids are not the usual—”

“I know! You told me they’re foster kids.” 

“No, not that,” she says, but doesn’t clarify. “Okay, I guess.”

“I mean it. No more of that wild-child business.”

“I will keep my head together!” I’m so tired of her saying this. I never had any friends, never a boyfriend—all I have is what Grandmother calls my nasty mouth and the hair Lyle always said was ugly and whorish. And once or twice I might’ve got drunk on the roof, but it’s not like I ever did anything. Besides, no kid my age has ever liked me even once. I’m not the wild child in the family.

“Well, all right then.” Roxy messes with her hair in the rear- view mirror, then sprays herself with a cloud of Chanel No. 5 and runs her fingers over her gold necklace. It’s of a bird, not unlike the ones making a fuss by the house. She’s had it as long as I can remember, and over time it’s been worn smooth by her worrying fingers. It’s like she uses it to calm herself when she’s upset about something, and she’s been upset the whole way here, practically. Usually, she’d be good and buzzed by this time of day, but since she’s had to drive some, she’s only nipped from the tiny bottle of wine in her purse a few times and only taken a couple pills since we left Taylor. The with- drawal has turned her into a bit of a she-demon.

I try to look through her eyes, to see what she sees. Roxy hasn’t been back here since I was three years old, and in that time, her mother has died, her father has died, and like she said when she got the card with the picture enclosed that her twin sister, Elle, sent last Christmas, Everybody got old. After that, she spent a lot of time staring in the mirror, pinching at her neck skin. When I was younger, she passed long nights telling me about Santa Maria and the Brayburn Farm, about how it was good and evil in equal measure, about how it had desires that had to be satisfied.

Brayburns, she would say. In my town, we were the legends. 

These were the mumbled stories of my childhood, and they made everything about this place loom large. Now that we’re here, I realize I expected the house to have a gaping maw filled with spitty, frothy teeth, as much as I figured there would be fairies flitting around with wands granting wishes. I don’t want to take her vision away from her, but this place looks pretty normal to me, if run-down compared to our new house in Taylor, where there’s no dust anywhere, ever, and Lyle prac- tically keeps the cans of soup in alphabetical order. Maybe what’s not so normal is that this place was built by Brayburns, and here Brayburns matter. I know because the whole road is named after us and because flowers and ribbons and baskets of fruit sat at the entrance, gifts from the people in town, Roxy said. They leave offerings. She said it like it’s normal to be treated like some kind of low-rent goddess.

Other than the van and the kids, there are trees here, rose- bushes, an old black Mercedes, and some bikes leaning against the porch that’s attached to the house. It’s splashed with fresh white paint that doesn’t quite cover up its wrinkles and scars. It’s three stories, so it cuts the sunset when I look up, and plants drape down to touch the dirt.

The front door swings open and a woman in bare feet races past the rosebushes toward us. It is those feet and the reckless way they pound against the earth that tells me this is my aunt Elle before her face does. My stomach gallops and there are bumps all over my arms, and I am more awake than I’ve been since.

I thought Roxy might do a lot of things when she saw her twin sister. Like she might get super quiet or chain-smoke, or maybe even get biting like she can when she’s feeling wrong about something. The last thing I would have ever imagined was them running toward each other and colliding in the driveway, Roxy wrapping her legs around Elle’s waist, and them twirling like that. 

This seems like something I shouldn’t be seeing, some- thing wounded and private that fills up my throat. I flip my- self around in my seat and start picking through the things we brought and chide myself yet again for the miserable packing job I did. Since I was basically out of my mind trying to get out of the house, I took a whole package of toothbrushes, an armful of books, my River Phoenix poster, plus I emptied out my underwear drawer, but totally forgot to pack any shoes, so all I have are some flip-flops I bought at the truck stop outside of Las Cruces after that man came to the window, slurring, You got nice legs. Tap, tap tap. You got such nice legs.

My flip-flops are covered in Cheeto dust from a bag that got upended. I slip them on anyway, watching Roxy take her sunglasses off and prop them on her head.

“Son of a bitch!” my aunt says, her voice tinny as she catches sight of Roxy’s eye. “Oh my God, that’s really bad, Rox. You made it sound like nothing. That’s not nothing.”

“Ellie,” Roxy says, trying to put laughter in her voice. “I’m here now. We’re here now.”

There’s a pause.

“You look the same,” Elle says. “Except the hair. You went full Marilyn Monroe.”

“What about you?” Roxy says, fussing at her platinum waves with her palm. “You go full granola warrior? When’s the last time you ate a burger?”

“You know I don’t do that. It’s no good for us. Definitely no good for the poor cows.”

“It’s fine for me.” Roxy lifts Elle’s arm and puckers her nose. “What’s going on with your armpits? May not eat meat but you got animals under there, looks like.”

“Shaving is subjugation.”

“Shaving is a mercy for all mankind.” 

They erupt into laughter and hug each other again.

“Well, where is she, my little baby niece?” Elle swings the car door open. “Oh, Mayhem.” She scoops me out with two strong arms. Right then I realize just how truly tired I am. She seems to know, squeezes extra hard for a second before letting me go. She smells like the sandalwood soap Roxy buys sometimes. “My baby girl,” Elle says, “you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to see you. How much I’ve missed you.”

Roxy circles her ear with a finger where Elle can’t see her.

Crazy, she mouths. I almost giggle.

[ficsandcatsandficsandcats]

04. I’m tired of my friends/family setting me up on horrible blind dates so I made up a relationship and now they want to meet this mystery person - for either Jask x reader or Valdo x reader *eyes* whichever you're feeling bro

Fandom: The WitcherPairing: Valdo x ReaderWord Count: 2,298Rating: TTaglist: @heroics-and-heartbreak @whatevermonkey @mynamesoundslikesherlock @magic-multicolored-miracle @writingstudent @mlleecrivaine @coffee-and-stories @ultracolorfulnerdcollection @astouract @your-not-invisible-to-me @kemmastan a/n: Tasty, tasty topes. This time with 100% more Valdo Marx! Enjoy!

“Kill me.”

You groaned the words as you slumped into a seat by your friend. His emerald eyes peered up from the notebook he was writing in, glancing at you with a bemused expression before returning to his work.

“No, I shan’t. Why, what’s happening?” he asked. You lifted your face and propped your chin on the table, not caring how ridiculous you looked, lost in a world of misery of your own making.

“My parents are coming to town tomorrow night,” you bemoaned.

“I thought you liked your parents,” Jaskier replied.

“I do, I love them very much. Their opinion matters a great deal to me,” your words were spoken in a rueful tone, your expression full of woe, “They want to meet my boyfriend.”

“Ah,” Valdo said, nodding and then blinked a couple of times and looked at you, “Your what?”

“Boyfriend,” you repeated, pressing your face back down onto the table. You didn’t see the frantic look in Valdo’s eyes or the way he tensed.

“I didn’t know you had a boyfriend,” he said, fighting to keep his tone light.

“I don’t,” you replied, face still planted on the oaken expanse. You didn’t see the look of relief wash over his face. A look that was then quickly replaced by confusion. He reached over and gently knocked on your head. You lifted your face to look at him and he was struck silent for a moment by the beauty of your eyes as you gazed up into his.

“I think you’d better start at the beginning,” he said as his senses returned to him. He ordered you some mead as you sat up and with a heavy sigh told him the whole sordid tale. How your family, though lovely and loving, kept trying to set you up on these hideous blind dates. How for awhile you endured it but finally it became too much so you made up a boyfriend. You’d thought it was the perfect plan. You lived far enough away from your family now that they could hardly pop by to meet him and you found it easy to improvise answers to their questions about him. Oh what does he look like? Green eyes, brown curly hair, beautiful face. What does he do? He’s a musician! Writes excellent music and travels around the world thrilling people with his songs! Does he love you? Oh very much! So much, in fact, that he hangs upon your every word.

“You know,” Valdo said with a mischievous little smile, “This boyfriend of yours sounds oddly like me.”

You furrowed your brow in confusion.

“No, he doesn’t,” you argued.

“A handsome, green-eyed musician who travels the world?” Valdo repeated, his very green eyes staring into yours with the most infuriatingly self-satisfied twinkle. You felt your face go warm as you realized the truth of it.

“Many people have green eyes,” you said, looking down into your cup, suddenly wishing you had two more of them.

“Handsome?” Valdo teased.

“Many people are handsome!”

“So you do think I’m handsome.”

“Focus on the problem, Valdo!” you cried. He considered you for a moment, debating whether to push and keep tormenting you or not, and ultimately decided the latter, another, much better plan brewing in his devious mind.

“So what are you going to do?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Come clean I guess. Or say that we broke up,” you replied.

“What if it wasn’t a lie? What if he was here?” Valdo glanced at you surreptitiously.

“I mean sure that would be fantastic but boyfriends don’t just come out of nowhere,” you scoffed.

“No, not nowhere. Cidaris, though,” he said. You gave him a confused look and he sighed.

“Y/N,” he said, pacing his hand on yours, not noticing the way you swallowed hard at the sudden contact, “Will you do me the honor of allowing me to be your fake boyfriend?”

Your eyes widened in shock. You opened your mouth to protest but then thought carefully.

“Would you really?” you asked.

“Of course!” he declared, “I’m a talented performer and we already know everything about each other thanks to our long friendship. Frankly I’m surprised you didn’t come to me sooner.”

“It truly never occurred to me,” you said. You didn’t see the way Valdo’s features fell as you said this, already moving to head back home and finish preparing for your family’s arrival now that you had one crisis sorted.

“They’ll be here tomorrow midday. I’ll grab you to meet them for dinner?” you suggested.

“What kind of a boyfriend would I be if I wasn’t there to greet them with you? Don’t be silly, Y/N, I will be at your home at midday tomorrow,” Valdo insisted.

“Careful, Valdo, I may get the wrong idea and think you’re eager to play the part,” you joked.

“Well you know me, love. Always up for a good shenanigan and if I get to have a lovely lady on my arm as I do it, all the better,” he replied smoothly, looking at you expectantly.

“That’s brilliant. Keep that up and they’ll think you really mean it! Alright, got to be off, see you tomorrow!” you called behind your shoulder and hustled out of the tavern before he could see how red your face got. Lovely lady? Surely just getting into character. Unless…

—–

Valdo made good on his word, showing up to your home at noon on the dot. He was dressed in a finely craft deep green doublet that brought out his eyes and he’d coiffed his curls in that rakishly disheveled way that you knew took him hours to get just right. He’d brought flowers, for you and for your mother who was beyond ecstatic to finally get to meet this “mystery man” who’d swept her daughter off of her feet. Valdo insisted on providing a personal tour of the village you’d taken up residence in, taking your mother’s arm and charming her silly. Your father would have been upset if he wasn’t so busy chatting quietly with you about the man of the hour.

“He isn’t exactly what I pictured for you,” he admitted.

“What did you picture?” you asked, surprised by how upset his words made you. It wasn’t as though Valdo was your actual boyfriend after all.

“Oh I don’t know, some hunter or soldier or something of that sort. You always used to go for a beefier man,” he explained.

“Don’t describe people as beefy, dad.”

“Shall if I want to. In any case, it’s no criticism. He seems a very learned, kind fellow. He even learned your mother’s favorite flower somehow,” he said. You realized he was right though you figured it was just a lucky guess. You’d only mentioned it once in passing some years back, there was no way he could remember.

The end of the tour was dinner, where the true interrogations started.

“Now how long have you been together?” your mother asked.

“Two months.”

“Two years.”

You exchanged a nervous glance with Valdo who didn’t so much as flinch as he gently took your hand in his, gazing at you adoringly as he said,

“Well, she is right. Technically we have only been dating for two months but I’ve loved her since the moment we met.”

You squeezed his hand and gave him a grateful smile but your mother followed up with another question quickly.

“How did you confess your love?” she asked a little breathlessly, ever the romantic.

“Mum,” you scoffed, but again Valdo was prepared.

“I prefer to think of every kind act done towards one’s lover as a little declaration of love. So this again becomes a complex question because I feel that this was expressed so many times in acts before the words were spoken that I can hardly remember when deeds became words,” he explained. Your mother sighed and clapped her hands in delight.

“My daughter tells us that you are a musician,” your father said, eager to move on to something less personal, “What do you play?”

“The lute, good sir. Though I am also well versed in the lyre, the hurdy gurdy, and quite a few other instruments. I travel with the lute the most,” he answered. You could tell by the set of your father’s jaw that whatever came next was going to be dangerous and you silently prayed that he wasn’t going to ask Valdo what his intentions were, though based on how things had been going he’d have another answer ready in seconds.

“My daughter’s work is rooted here, offering her little opportunity to travel. How do you maintain the relationship while traveling abroad so? Is this something you would continue to do after marriage?”

For once Valdo froze but this time you were ready, angered by the way your father described the situation and the not so subtle judgment of his trade or his worthiness as a partner.

“Valdo and I make it work because it is not just on Valdo to do. I am happy to do my work here and I am happy for Valdo to travel. Neither of us want to give up our livelihoods and nor should we! Hell, perhaps I could close up shop for a little bit and go with him or he could perhaps take some time serving more local villages. In any case, there’s no good reason for us not to be together and I’d thank you to trust us on that,” you answered, a little more heatedly than you’d intended. Your father seemed taken aback but then smiled a little. You felt Valdo’s eyes on you, an unreadable expression on his face.

There were no more questions after that and the conversation shifted into how things were back home, how your siblings regretted being unable to come and see you as planned and how the crops were doing. You and Valdo escorted your parents to their room at the inn and then he insisted on walking you back to your house, declaring that no gentleman let a lady walk home alone, whether they were their actual boyfriend or not.

You walked in silence for a bit, each thinking over the way the day had gone. Valdo was trying to form the right words in his mind, taking the time to carefully think it over. Your method was slightly less contemplative.

“I think that went well! All things considered,” you said.

“So I am fulfilling my role adequately?” Valdo asked, though the smug expression on his face told you that he already knew damn well that he was. You bumped into his shoulder and he bumped back.

“You got a bit angry with your father there,” Valdo said.

“I hope that wasn’t awkward for you. I didn’t mean to get so upset and I’m not entirely sure why I did. He’s not wrong to wonder how we do it. Would do it. Are pretending to do it.”

“Did you mean your answer?” he asked, “All of it?”

You considered the question, butterflies rising in your stomach strangely at the question. A sense of anticipation in the air that you tried to ignore, not wanting to raise your hopes for nothing.

“I did,” you answered. Valdo stopped walking and you followed suit, eyes meeting and staring at each other in silence as you waited for him to say the words that were clearly on the top of his tongue.

“So why don’t we?” he asked, all in a rush instead of the slow, eloquent speech he’d planned.

“What? Date?” you asked.

“Yes.”

“Well… I mean… Why now?”

“I’ve never felt that you might say yes. And frankly I wasn’t sure if I had the right to ask. I’ve thought about the things your father said, been thinking about them long before he voiced them tonight. But hearing you dismiss them all, hearing you say that it could be done… It gave me hope I suppose. Tell me my hopes aren’t in vain, Y/N,” he said the words in a soft plea, one hand rising to caress your face tenderly. You felt a genuine thrill of panic and excitement run through you, emotions that were overwhelming and had you scurrying to your defense mechanism of humor.

“So you feel certain now that I’ll say yes?” you joked, but Valdo didn’t fall in step.

“Hopeful,” he clarified, bottle green eyes never leaving yours, thumb just barely grazing the corner of your lips which you licked nervously.

“Valdo are you… are you asking what I think you’re asking? I’m not trying to be daft I just really, really need to be sure,” you said. Valdo smiled and stood back, you missed his touch as soon as his hand was gone, and then he held out the hand like one requesting a dance.

“Y/N, will you do me the honor of allowing me to be your boyfriend?” he asked. Your face broke into a wide grin and you laughed, taking his hand and allowing him to sweep you up in his arms.

“Yes,” you answered, “Gods yes.”

The beautiful mouth you’d admired for years was suddenly pressed against yours and your arms wound around his neck, one hand sliding into the mass of curls that were as soft as you’d always known they’d be. He was a gentler kisser than you’d expected but as you pulled back he nipped at your bottom lip and you saw the roguish glint in his eyes, the cocky smirk back in place. You swatted his arm.

“You’re an ass,” you said laughing.

“No,” he insisted, pulling you close again in a dramatic sweep of his arm, “I’m your ass.”

The sound of your laughter echoed through the village as you continued the trek home, hand in hand.

[babywarg]

Drpepperony Prompt: In her search for a way to help Tony, Pepper finds a very unique group of people in Nepal.

Hi @mistressstrange! Thanks again for another lovely prompt. This one went on a bit long, but I hope you like it 😘

Er, it pretends Iron Man 3 and the Doctor Strange movie happened at around the same time frame 😺

[8/22/2019: Have to put up this obnoxious note again: NOT ACCEPTING NEW PROMPTS AT THE MOMENT. Thank you for understanding 💕]

***

Anxiety, said the therapist she’d had to consult in secret, because Tony reacted badly when she suggested he see a specialist himself. Panic attacks. Possible PTSD.

She immediately recalled the time Rhodey told her about the “freakout” Tony had at the restaurant (“Please don’t tell him I told you - knowing him, it’ll freak him out more.”) That time she tried to wake Tony from a nightmare, and the Iron Man armor pinned her to the bed, sensing her as a threat.

The time when Tony’s Malibu house was blown up. The final confrontation with Killian, and Extremis.

All those times when Tony couldn’t sleep, and when he slept he had nightmares, even after Extremis had been eliminated.

Rest, the therapist said, when Pepper asked what he needed. Lots of it. And an arsenal of relaxation methods. He should learn how to recognize the signs of anxiety so he can better manage it.

She tried to get him into yoga, visit support groups, meditate…but all of it bored him. Pills were ineffective and made him feel “wonky” besides. He cut his caffeine and alcohol consumption, which helped some, but he also became irritable and depressive.

In short, despite her best efforts, he showed no promising signs of recovering.

She had said they needed a break…she had been hoping she and Tony could take that break together. But he refused, claiming he couldn’t imagine he’d be able to rest if he were taken away from his work.

So she took a week’s leave from work, to try and seek a cure by herself.

Pepper didn’t know exactly what was plaguing the man she loved.

But she was damned if she was going to lose him to it.

***

She heard there was a guru in Kathmandu, a “miracle worker,” who could get even the most tensed-up person in the world relaxed.

She flew into Nepal to meet him herself, and found him a complete and total quack.

So, no guru to bring back to see Tony. With days to spare, she decided to take some time for herself, and see the city.

It was what she did when she was younger, before her busy years in Stark Industries: she would travel, then break off from her tour group and wander alone, taking in the sights and sounds and enjoy just being somewhere different.

It was refreshing. No one knew her there, and no one expected anything of her.

Until she found herself herded by two shady men into a dark alleyway.

She could hold her own, that was true. But the two she thought she had whupped had come back with support, and six against one was simply more than she had trained for.

She was starting to get overwhelmed, when he heard a deep male voice yell for her assailants to stop.

At first it was just one person - a white guy around her age, with a scraggly beard, wearing very plain brown robes and a monk’s hood.

The other was a man in blue robes, but who wore a hood as well. He hung back until the first man cried out:

“Mordo! A little help?”

Then the other man smirked. “Looks like the two of you don’t need any,” he remarked, before unhurriedly jumping into the fray.

Unfortunately, though they were fated to win, given that her two new companions appeared to have above-average martial arts skills, Pepper was already winded by the time they arrived, and could not defend herself well.

One of the assailants had a knife. It tore a mean gash on the inside of Pepper’s forearm.

Unnamed guy noticed it only after all the attackers had been soundly knocked unconscious.

“Mordo,” he breathed, as he inspected the gash, “she’s wounded. She has to come back with us.”

“No,” the man exclaimed, seeming to know exactly what he meant. “Strange!”

Before Pepper’s eyes, a glowing portal appeared out of nowhere.

And the man leapt into it, with his arms around her.

***

Pepper shut her eyes as they entered the portal, and found herself in a sort of monastery.

She would have had more time to observe her surroundings, but she was already being half-dragged down a corridor by the man, who had not released her.

“We have to move quickly. You’re losing a lot of blood.”

She wasn’t sure what the man meant. She wasn’t feeling any pain…

But that was when she realized the man also had his hand on her arm…and that hand was glowing.

Glowing.

And shaking at the same time, though that was perhaps to be expected, given how bad those old scars on it looked…

Was the glowing what was stopping the pain?

Mordo, who had followed through the portal, was striding behind them. He seemed upset.

“We don’t just let outsiders in the way you did,” he was telling the first guy. “The Ancient One won’t approve of this.”

“I’ll deal with the Ancient One later,” was the level-headed response. “In the meantime, please get the medical supplies from Wong.”

With a final glare, Mordo left to do as he was bid.

Pepper took a bit of time to realize she was being herded by unfamiliar men a lot in this city - was she just taken to a secondary location? Was she unsafe?

But all thoughts of being unsafe fled her mind when the man sat her down on a large, ridiculously comfortable pillow, and raised her entire arm, applying firm pressure both on the wound and on a vein in her upper arm.

This guy knew what he was doing.

“Relax,” he said to her, “I’m a doctor.”

A doctor whose hands could glow and who could defeat armed opponents while completely unarmed himself, and open sparkly portals that could take him from one place to another in a heartbeat?

…Okay.

“You saved me,” she remembered to say through the confusion. “Thank you.”

He looked up into her eyes briefly, and she was stunned.

What a strange, captivating color…

“No need for that,” he replied, almost smiling. “But you’re welcome.”

***

As it turned out, she needed the next few days to recover.

Doctor’s orders.

She was in some sort of monastery…forbidden to go to certain areas, which she really wasn’t driven to explore anyway.

She really had lost a lot of blood. The day after the attack, she just wanted to stay in bed, eating the sparse but healthy fare she was given, and enjoying the view.

Her room had a brilliant view.

She had booked a decent suite for her journey, which promised a good vista of the city…but what she was given there was nowhere near as majestic as the one she got in that monastery.

“Lovely. Isn’t it?”

She turned and saw the unnamed man from last night, standing at the doorway with his hands behind his back.

But the man was looking at her. Not the view.

She wasn’t creeped out, however. It didn’t feel as if he was checking her out, or radiating any sort of ill intent.

She felt safe and relaxed in this place, in his company.

“I know people who’d pay a pretty penny for a view like this,” she confessed.

“Well, donations are always appreciated,” he disclosed. “But not compulsory in the least.”

“Not even after you saved my life?”

The man snorted. “Please, you could’ve taken them all by yourself.”

It was a joke, she was aware, but a well-meaning one. Which made her smile.

“I honor my debts,” she said, offering her hand for him to shake. “And I’m in your debt, Doctor…”

“Strange.” He took her hand. “But you can call me Stephen.”

***

As Pepper regained her strength, Stephen showed her around the unrestricted parts of the large monastery - which she learned was called Kamar-Taj.

Strangers who didn’t come for religious purposes were uncommon there, but not unwelcome. And she learned she was allowed to stay by their leader, the mysterious and reclusive Ancient One, who was out of grounds at the time and was not available for her to thank personally.

The monks lent her a cell phone for making international calls, and Stephen lent her his laptop so she could tell people about her whereabouts. She sent out a mass email saying she had an “incident” and would be staying a bit longer. She was canceling her flight home, but rebooking.

When?? was everyone’s frantic question.

When? was Tony’s weary, sleepless, desolate inquiry. I miss you, Ms. Potts. A hell of a lot.

“As soon as I can, Mr. Stark,” was her immediate reply. “I miss you a hell of a lot, too.”

All through everything, Tony remained foremost on her mind.

As they spent more time together, Stephen came to vaguely explain the magic that they learned in Kamar-Taj - about how they weren’t exactly secret, but weren’t exactly public knowledge, either.

Pepper got his meaning off the bat. She had been around people with superpowers, and understood the need for a measure of secrecy.

He also told her a little about himself. His life in the States. His old practice. His accident. How it might have been the best thing that happened to him, though it still gave him pain, in more ways than one.

(That last part reminded her of Tony as well. The ordeal in the desert, from which he emerged a changed man. The pain from the scarring that he would not - could not - let go of.)

In return, Pepper told Stephen about her boyfriend. The one she’d come to Kathmandu for. The most important person in her life.

And Stephen listened. Patiently. Until she found herself apologizing for talking his ear off.

“Please don’t be sorry,” Stephen said calmly. “Before, I never really appreciated the privilege of hearing someone talk about the things that matter the world to them. Now I do. I can tell you’ve kept all this in for a long time, and I’m honored by your trust.”

She liked him. A lot.

She wished she could take him back with her.

“I think you could do him a world of good, actually,” she thought aloud.

Stephen frowned. “You mean, because he needs a doctor?” It sounded like he was preparing for an argument.

Pepper smiled.

“No,” she assured him. “Because he needs a friend. Someone who may understand what he’s been through. Someone he’ll listen to.”

***

“You seriously think that’ll get me interested?”

“All right, then, enough about being friends. Now I’m asking you to see him as a medical expert.”

“Not that kind of doctor.”

“Just once! What’s the harm?”

She had to use her powers of persuasion to get him to agree to her request to join her on her trip home. It took a few days, too. He was stubborn, almost as stubborn as Tony…

But as with Tony, she could tell he liked her, too. In a way that meant there was a limit to how long he could say “no” to her.

“Fine,” he groaned eventually. “I’ll meet him. Just once. For a medical examination. Then I’m coming back.”

It wasn’t what she wanted, but she was going to take it. She’d convinced him there wasn’t a doctor in the world she trusted as fully as she did him.

Which was, in a way, true.

She’d talked to Tony about him, as well. From their phone conversations, he seemed genuinely interested in Stephen. But of course, that might just have been because he saw Stephen initially as someone who saved Pepper’s life…

But he didn’t take kindly to the notion that he was going to be given a medical examination. He’d avoided seeing specialists all that time - he was doubtful that a “doctor” of vague expertise, who could do magic, could be what he needed.

Pepper sighed. Their first meeting was probably going to be strained. But it was still worth a shot.

On the day they were due to leave, Pepper waited for Stephen at the monastery’s gate. She was surprised to see him for the first time in Western clothing - slacks, a jacket, black shoes, a round-neck shirt.

And with his beard neatly trimmed, into a shape that suited his face well.

Pepper admitted to herself that she possibly, just possibly, had a thing for vain men with meticulously trimmed facial hair.

“Ready to go?” he asked her.

“All set,” she answered. “Got your ticket?” He’d better. It was a pricey ticket. Business class.

He smiled wryly. “Miss Potts…you should get your money back from the airline, before it’s too late for a refund.”

He made a familiar gesture with one hand, and a portal opened in front of them.

On the other side of the portal was Tony’s workshop in upstate New York.

***

Tony was hopped up on caffeine and jumpy when they arrived.

In fairness, a shimmering portal opening out of nowhere was going to make anyone jumpy.

But seeing Pepper cooled his blood instantly. He trapped her in a tight embrace.

“I was so worried,” were his first words to her.

When they broke apart, he cradled her bandaged forearm delicately in his hands, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the bandaging was expertly done.

That was only when he paid attention to the other person in the room.

“Dr. Strange, I presume?” Tony looked him up and down.

Stephen stepped forward and offered a trembling hand for Tony to shake.

“Stephen, please,” he said pleasantly.

Tony ignored him and addressed Pepper again.

“So…what, is he staying? Should I fix up one of the spare rooms?”

“No need to bother,” Stephen interrupted, withdrawing his hand. “I won’t be here for long. I’m just here to do what’s necessary, then go back to my training.”

“Oh yeah?” Tony faced him squarely this time. “And what are you training to be, a model for some off-the-rack fashion line for high school librarians?”

Instead of getting puffed up, as Pepper feared, Stephen raised an eyebrow.

“Clearly I’m in the presence of an expert in dressing himself. What’s that, two, three sizes too small?”

They stared each other down. Pepper’s impulse was to intervene, but she was stopped by the fact that she felt no hostility at all between the two men.

Not even a tiny bit.

Presently, Tony started walking past her.

“I like this one,” he said casually, with a casual pat on her shoulder. “Well done, Ms. Potts. I’ll go get his room ready.”

She caught his hand before it slid off his shoulder and he walked past her, out of the workshop.

Stephen watched him go, then sighed. “I gather a medical examination isn’t forthcoming,” he ventured.

“Probably not today,” she answered, smiling. “You could stay the night if you want, or travel back to Kamar-Taj.”

Stephen looked back at the door where Tony had exited.

“I think I’ll stay,” he said pensively.

Something clicked just then. It was going to work out, having Stephen here to check on Tony. Pepper just knew.

She’d gone a great distance to find a way to help Tony.

It seemed she’d found exactly what she was looking for.

[jamiebluewind]

Charatcter Descriptions and Summary 2.13

As always, let me know if I need to edit or add anything and tag/ask/PM me about art and stories so I can check them out! I'll try to add warnings later. Also, we have 8 episodes left including this one, so the last one should be number 20.

***

Things

Dusk Moss

Hallucinogenic moss with very few alchemical properties that puts the user into a state of lucid dreaming where they are also concious of waking world (basically fantasy marijuana)

Is a flammable powder that cannot be unlit once lit

Crumpkin said his brother swears by it and that everyone should try it at least once.

It will even you out if you take a little bit and a quarter of teaspon will send one of them on a trip all day (so what about the size and race of the person?)

Can buy in a massive block from Tinkerer's Hall where a dose of the powder can be shaved off the block to use

Mystery Rune

The rune was abjurative magic: metamagic school (instead of protection, wards, and shields) which shapes the nature of magic itself. Specifically, the rune involved curses and a way to mask powerful curses and spells. One can take a tremendous amount of spellcraft (or the ability to cast multiple spells), put it into a curse, and have the curse ride under other curses. In other words, if connected to an object, the object would have been "cursed" to be a vessel for a wealth of other spellcasting (flash drive), but hidden under another curse (advanced encryption and a virus).

The larger and more permeable the curse, the more able it is to ride under another curse.

The curse on top (dummy curse) works best the more widespread, static (can't be easily ended or doesn't have random frequent spell effects), ambient, and passive it is like using a magical landscapes or creatures instead of a spell made by a spellcaster.

***

PCs With Datemates

Kristen

Took a picture on her crystal of the unknown goddess mural (originally wondered if it was a tequila advertisement)

Kissed Tracker and the tree she was hiding behind

Wanted rosé with the cold fratatas, but thought it was weird that he put both kale and spinach in them (as did Tracker)

Looked through the medical papers Adaine and Riz found and figured out how to cure the Kalina infection (greater restoration due to studying records or a tinsure that requires dusk moss, the alchemical supplies Gorgug got from the tinkerers, some things Adaine can pull from her jacket, and one or two things they'd only be able to find beyond the wall)

Her and the group decided on the tincture method despite the risk of curing behind the wall as she can only cast greater restoration once per day (only one 5th level spell slot and 5 infected: Tracker, Sandra Lynn, Ragh, Riz, and herself), but the option of using greater restoration on herself and Riz while leaving the others behind or inside Van was discussed (side note: could she team up with any of the locals bards/clerics/druids/artificers/celestial warlocks who know greater restoration and teach them the specifics of the altered spell while they wait on the others to get back?)

Suggested they pretend they all died after they take the tincture in order to give them an advantage due to Kalina thinking the party was cut in half (all but Adaine agreed)

Owns little handcuffs with her and Tracker's initials on them

"I don't know why I'm saying this, but Go Ball."

Assumed that the team in hell were just stuck in a waiting room, possibly drinking pina coladas

Investigated where Aelwen, Adaine's mom, and Killian entered the briar wall. It was much more tangled, far from Arborly, up a cliff with difficult rocky terrain between them and the temple. It was a place where they wouldn't be looked for, but it would take them longer to get there.

Tracker

Said the thing with Vraz made her werewolf issue with the Shrine of Thorns the second weirdest thing that's happened

Started transforming after glancing at the uncovered mural image of the unknown goddess, growling as half her head transformed as she fought changing before rolling off and hiding behind a tree (per Kristen's suggestion)

Couldn't go to hell because she couldn't enter the shrine

Gorgug

Got springs put in his shoes by the gnomes which gave them thick rubbery soles (Spring Coiled Sneakers of Bounding) and also asked for shock thing from tinkerers which would have a spare the dying effect (unknown if he got it)

Wears size 19 canvas shoes

Looked through a big log book with the alchemic ingredients in tinkerer's shorthand before buying the same alchemical ingredients that Killian bought (magnesium, antimony, and mercury which are used in magical candles) for 350 gold. Killian also bought two huge blocks of dusk moss incense (600 gold for both which he split cost wise with Fabian), but he was nervous about buying it (dusk moss details above).

Explained cell towers to the tinkerers

Considered jumping into space to either get to or place a satellite

Found a picture of his parents launching their satellite into space (Wilma and Digby giving double thumbs up, the van tipped on it's nose with it's back doors open to launch the satellite from the back of it, a lot of papers and a mobile desk in van's glovebox) and found space tech-esk routing info for the satellite in Van which allowed him to make a satellite phone

Originally left his crystal and the info with the tinkerers (original timeframe 1-2 days), but came back to help which speed up the process

Was curious why Gilear wasn't infected by Shadow Cat like Sandra Lynn and was later sorry he brought it up

When they found out they couldn't enlarge/reduce Van, he considered making a massive vest with massive pockets he could wear that everyone could jump in before they used enlarge/reduced on him, but the idea was scrapped

Suggested that if they played dead after taking the tincture to not warn Gilear so he wouldn't be acting when they "died".

"Hey, this is based on nothing, but I feel like Gilear is dead."

Believed that hell wasn't as bad as people said it was, just unfamiliar and like 5 degrees hotter

Ran into the briars after the portal closed

Likes a hot hot tub because warm ones just makes him wonder what's cooking in there

Was up all night sweating with his hoodie off (first time in a long time) working on his phone before finishing up the crystal pack (made his phone into a satellite phone). He felt pretty good about making it work.

Got a slew of unread messages once he turned his phone on (few old ones from Zelda, some from his parents checking in, and tour stuff)

Called Zelda with a video call, putting his hoodie back on as it rang and rang (most of the call is in Zelda section)

Told Zelda he loved her for the first time (after she said it first). Said he wished he was there, but hadn't figured that technology out yet and admitted that he might not have service once they went into the forest ("I'm here to communicate")

The gnomes erupted into cheers over the crystal working, but he was equally exciting over Zelda saying she loved him. They popped some gnome wine (pink fizzy champagne that smelled like cloying sweet strawberries) and shared it with him in celebration

Got a bunch of DMs from the other seven maidens saying "Way to go big guy"

Zelda

Was at Ostentata's house at night for a party (everybody was telling the story of when Gorgug jumped the fire elemental there and when he backyard wrestle smashed the beer pong table while time was stopped) when Gorgug called

Told her adventuring party he was calling before she went outside, but they followed

Answered her phone while still wearing her earbuds and assumed he was back, but was told he figured out how to make his phone work. He did it because he felt like it was important to be able to talk to her, the world, and her (not because it was part of the quest). She asked if they had cell towers, but Gorgug said that he had been working on artificer stuff and used his parents' satellite.

Started crying over Gorgug doing a whole bunch of new science to make his phone able to call back, apologized to him over getting upset, and said she missed him and he was the best

Was embarrassed by the other maidens eavesdropping (they called out "Good lookin out Gorgug! Stand up thing to do! You did it!"). Gorgug went on speaker and said "Well hello guys!" before she shooed them off to talk to her boyfriend

Made sure that Gorgug's friends weren't in danger over him working on his project, but was reassured that he was having down time and it would also help them in the long run

Told Gorgug that she loved him for the first time and freaked out (insulting herself) before he said that he loved her too. This was followed by her saying "oooh I just wanna... I just wish you were here."

Said the Red Waste was super hard, but they were done and thought they would get a good grade on it

Called Gorgug cool (and was called cool by him). Said what he did meant a lot to her. The call ended with one last quick I love you from Gorgug.

Fig

Subpoenaed to be a witness for Gortholax before a tribunal due to him being negligent for his infernal domain (after his 9th and final request for appearence lapsed). The print of her subpoena got so fine that it was mostly illegable without a magnifying glass. It was also in infernal (which she can read)

Asked Vraz if she could leave the door to hell open with them following later (left open, but was yelled at)

Considered disguising herself as Gortholax and offered to disguise herself as a famous lawyer from billboards to help Gilear

Wanted to know more about law so she could defend Gortholax domain and yelled "THE CHOSEN ONE!" when she discovered that Gilear knew the law

Wanted to start a grass roots campaign about the demons working with the nightmare king (as devils hate them both)

Asked her mom why Gilear wasn't infected and discovered her parents had slept together many times, but not in the last 3 years

Got upset with Riz over his opinion on devils (quote in dialogue link)

Had to be the first through the portal to hell, but straddled the flaming doorway with Riz on her back to try to keep it open

Tied a rope around Hangman so she could wakeboard while smoking a clove, library card behind her right ear

Thought Gortholax's home was tasteful and knew the door code.

Blamed herself for the quality of Gilear's life (quote in dialogue link)

To Vraz "What going on with you? Do you need a hug?"

Lit a cigarette in court, told them that Gortholax was trapped in a gem, put her feet up, and said Kalina the Shadow Cat used a proxy to trap Gortholax with the assistance of demons (but was able to hide the fact that she was the proxy from Vraz)

Asked for help getting into the forest of the Nightmare King, but got yelled at because calling a recess does not mean the trial is over

Cut her arm and offered the tribunal her blood as proof she was Gortholax's daughter, but the blood sizzled when it hit the ground and either summoned or created an imp which served as proof

Ayda

Told Adaine what the rune was (details below)

Still working on plane shift

Got upset over Fig getting sucked into hell, insisting that they had to go rescue her "Well, we should do whatever we can to make it happen as fast as possible because I'm going to get another kiss, whatever happens"

Said Fig's lips are the softest things she's ever felt (grossing out Adaine) and "If I don't smell Fig's hair again, I'm going to incenerate"

Asked Adaine for advice as the Oracle, wanting to know how many potential futures there were were Fig wouldn't want to kiss her or be around her anymore and if they could be avoided. She was also worried that Fig might have kissed her, but not felt attracted to her.

"If we kissed a bunch of times over the course of an hour, does that mean we are girlfriends or wives?" (potentially but ask to clarify)

Was worried that she would look sad, weird, or not normal from a social standpoint for asking Fig to clarify if they were girlfriends (to which Adaine said she was not and was in face very very cool).

Worried about her mind being foreign to other people and despite not being the same as Adaine, felt better after talking to someone who understands not being like everyone else.

Told Adaine "You're a very special person to me and your friendship means the world to me. I hope we study magic together for a long long time" and that she loved her.

Has notes on how her brain works and built an entire friendship section in the library because she was so lonely.

Went to the Synod to be alone because she lived "on a dirty pirate island"

***

Other PCs And People In The Party

Adaine

Released an aura in the crime scene and might have put on gloves

Found the non detection runes her mother had placed (to keep elves off the trail) and the remains of two rituals, one to kill Killian and one to put the Devil's Heart (with Gortholax) inside Killian. The rituals happened 24 hours appart, meaning they left the night the teens arrived or her mom knew to kill Killian before Aelwen arrived.

While looking for something in the room (something nice her mom might have said about her), she found a blank piece of parchment on a small desk and revealed a message using "the pencil trick" ("Aelwen is with me. You are betrayed. You have no other choice darling. Come with us.") which she believed was probably for her dad. Later got the original copy (wrote out for a sending spell) by using mend on ashes she found in a trashcan

Suggested a cold fratata picnic

Pulled beautifully printed pamplets out of her jacket for Fig's grass roots campaign, but they had a typo so she tossed them

Told the group to give a thumbs up to someone who had the message spell (currently only Fig and Adaine) if they had something to say to keep it from Kalina

Was caught by briars and ejected from the hell potral, keeping her from entering, but decided that heaven and hell were just reflections of each other so she wasn't worried

On dusk moss, said "I've heard it's good for anxiety." and suggested that they all got high while waiting on their friends to return from hell (but was unable to convince the others)

Discovered that the unknown goddess' spellbook had a distinguishing mark on it, an occult rune that was in a lot of stuff at Compass Points (which Ayda would have studied) and on the coin given to Kalvaxus (more info under mystery rune)

Liked a hot tub that started off very warm at first and then got more comfortable

Messaged Ayda late at night for help "Avast ye scurvy devil. How is plane shift going? Also, need info on rune. It looks like [x]" (answered back "I'm not a scurvy devil. Let's use the synonym. Right jacket pocket.")

Found a key made of glowing blue crystalline energy in her pocket as the keyhole on a nearby door started glowing slightly blue.

Was given a scroll with a first level spell by Ayda that granted her access to the Synod of Spyre which is a meeting place for wizards

Told Ayda "I think your great",  made her laugh by telling her that curses were "ten a penny", and told her that she enjoyed talking to her about their magic as Ayda is someone who gets it and is not mean to her

Asked Ayda to tell her everything (about the kiss), but then realized that she didn't want or need to know everything. She did say (about Ayda and Fig) "I support this. I am happy about it. I am amazed. Oooo she's secretive!" and that while on a macro level, some people will kiss without caring, Fig wouldn't because she cared about everybody (she did kiss those two older guys though?)

Admittedly that being oracle only let her help out a little every day and occasionally she got a terrifying vision, but she doesn't know when the event will occur or what will cause it

To Ayda, "If you like a person and they like you and the relationship is good, it shouldn't matter how other people feel about it? I think."

"I want to be alone and also surrounded by my friends at all times."

Riz

Worked the crime scene in the Owl and Harp with Adaine (putting on gloves before starting)

Found that the rituals were specifically to get Kalina into Silvar by bypassing the need for permission from a devil authority by using petrismosis to move from an infected creature into a gem to commandeer the devil within it

Petrismosis: The body's ability to start having elements of the magical gem within it to start permiating orgainic membrane; the process of an organic body and gem to become one which includes osmosis of blood to gem (ragh mom constrantly fights against the being within her gem using her rage, blood, and soul)

Told Adaine "It's great to fin- be around someone who just focuses up. Me and you? Everybody else is super horny. Super emotional. But me and you? *slaps hands together* No emotions between the two of us." (she was looking for something nice from her mom)

Discovered that Adaine's mom had packed WAY more rations than they needed to get to the temple, some alchemical ingredients, and all primary work, leaving only hints behind as well as some research and medical diagrams (which Adaine and Riz took). The medical diagrams were extremely old velum grave robber level medical stuff written in a character based pictogram language (think hieroglyphs, almost like emoji) that was most likely centaur. One medical diagram was of a disected and dismembered centaur with dark, very scary looking cat symbols (refered to as the disease or infection) behind eyes, in ears, on tongue, deep in sinuses, and on spine. It also showed that the brain was carefully taken apart and looked at, but the infection was not present there.

He and Adaine deduced that Kalina could only look through one person at a time using their senses and couldn't get into their brains, but could cause paralysis. The only safe place would be the moon haven/Kristen's hallow, but Kalina might be able to ride one of the infected into the haven if she was actively trying to do it. They could however talk anywhere using telepathy (such as the message spell).

Was worried about going to hell while infected, but later said "I meantioned that I was concerened about going to hell and her possibly being able to see the trial, but hell is also bad so I don't really care if they end up fighting and killing each others. Let's just go to hell. Also, they're super far along already. They have Gortholax and they're in. So it's not like... yeah."

Might have internalized racism/goblinphobia and has bias towards devils (both from his reactions in this episode and his reaction to Gortholax in season 1)

Suspicious of devils and doesn't think they should be super cool with them (quote in dialogue link), later becoming upset over what Hangman said about goblins ("Oh like goblins have such a great reputation.") and the others reaction to his and The Hangman's statement.

Road into hell holding onto Fig's back.

Upon seeing Gilear knocked out, said "See I told you that hell was bad! I mean, this is awesome, but this is bad." Pointed out the irony of Gilear getting mad at him a long time ago for stealing the first aid kit that gave him the healing feat.

After Hangman said the evil souls were murderers, thieves, and liars, he started sweating and said "Liars huh?" (side note: Riz has actually done all three)

Grabbed Gilear's face and investigated him to figure out why he was so confident (he said no to an offer from Sandra Lynn). Hissed at Gilear and then apologized, saying they were in hell, it was weird, and the things said about goblins earlier made him feel kinda crazy

Hissed at Vraz repeatedly, even after she threatened him.

To Vraz "Well I'm Riz The Ball and I'm just gonna ROLL WITH THIS! We're here! We're here for your trial thing! *hiss*" Is held back by Gilear while Fig tried to push him forward towards Vraz (told her to stop it)

Hissed at Vraz again (when she was mean to Fig) saying Vraz calling somebody in the middle of a trial was weird before the pair got in another hissing/screaming match. Asked The Hangman to hold him back and got his foot run over.

Fabian

Ownes 250 to 312 pairs of shoes (depending how many have been thrown away or given to childen), has size 5 feet (and is self conscious about it), said he had delicate feet and was lithe and dexterous, and his father had small feet and mother had normal sized feet

Said "god damn it" when he discovered Krumpkin wore the same size shoes as him, lied and said he had big toes and wore a 5.5 because he didn't to exchange shoes with a gnome, and quietly said "...let's go" when Gorgug asked if he wanted little bells on his shoes (side note: was he teased in the past?)

Completely confused by tinkerers logbook, so he deferred to Gorgug. Tried to help by rubbing his sheet on the gold coins they were buying supplies with, but nothing happened

Was nervous about buying or using dusk moss, saying he knew a guy who tried it while wearing a hat and now he always felt like he's wearing the hat. Told the rest of the group "We bought so many drugs." when they dot back.

Fabian's bardic "You feel the power of Fabian's support and care for you" (the explanation of his new stats is linked below)

When asked if he wanted to stay in the Tinkerer's Hall, he answered "Absolutely. With all these weird little men and women. No thank you. Ragh, let's go!"

Has a bunch of private stuff on his phone that he doesn't want anybody seeing

Tried to ride Hangman into hell, but caught by the briars and ejected as the portal closed

Told Hangman "You are literally the sweetest meanest thing ever."

Mutters "Go off The Ball, go off" while Riz was in a different dimension from him (yelling at Vraz in hell)

Said he didn't worry about his father as he was thriving, but he missed him. When told he could get word to him, originally assumed Bill would be busy, then agreed but asked Hangman not to be needy about it, then tried to pretend that he was cool either way and that he didn't need it and it wouldn't fill him with joy, then admitted that it would fill him with joy, and finally just asking "yes please do it"

Likes a warm hot tub due to it being better for his skin and he can stay in there longer

(Multiple quotes can be found in the dialogue link below)

Hangman

His presence (a devil) closed the portal to hell, seperating him from Fabian. He could still talk to Fabian telepathically, but freaked out. When asked to turn it down, he replied "I can't turn it down, I'm sad!"

Said that the portal was created for the dark tribunal and afterwards the devils are required to deposite them from where they came from

Gave Gilear his mark by making his eyes glow dark red pinpricks and etching an infernal ruin of blood and fire on his forehead

Got pissed off over Gilear having to ride on him, but did it to stop his complaining. Meanwhile, Riz also road on him (with a "Huzzah!") and Fig tired a rope around him so she could wakeboard on her skateboard behind him

Approved of Riz hissing at Gilear

Said the souls falling into The Bottomless Pit were evil and of murderers, theives, and liars

Got the tribunal to allow them to stay at The Bottomless Pit (as Fig was both Gortholax's daughter and she had passage there) instead of prison

When he was told only Fig was going to go in the hot tub, he pouted and said "I want to go too!"

Offered to send word to Bill Seacaster for Fabian

Gilear

Made fratatas (with both spinach and kale) immediately, but they all got very cold due to the teens being away for hours (were so cold that they thought he put them in the freezer)

He was not "the face" when he worked in Fallenel at the elven counsel (where he said he was a glorified paralegal), but was still an expert in international and interplaner law

When Fig told him that it was his moment and she needed him, he immediately replied with "Nope!". He eventually gave his word to help, but was confused about how they got into trouble in Arborly, discovering the trial was both in hell ("what? what? oh no.") and delivered by a really keyed up woman who was probably working through something ("I...what have you done?")

From Adaine's jacket, was given a barrister wig from Fig ("None of the cultures I've worked for use these wigs"), a gavel from Kristen, and a black robe from Adaine

Found that the subpoena had no clause concerning ther souls, but hell would send people to get Fig if she didn't go

Wears boat shoes and had a powerful aura of disease coming from his feet (again Gilear DOCTOR! or have a healer greater restore!)

His bald spot was hit by a bit of fire before a blast of fire hit him and knocked him out, setting his wig on fire. He was healed by Riz, but left with burns.

Was given the Mark of The Hangman, which was an infernal ruin of blood and fire etched on his forehead which caused a red force field to appear that protected him from the fire as long as he was with The Hangman

Noticed how Fig was acting (library card behind ear) and started asking her questions, but she dodged them until Riz confronted him about his confidence and got him to confess "I got confidence because Sandra Lynn asked to sleep with me and I said no!" Said that he and Sandra Lynn talking until morning and towards the end she made an offer, he said "No. Thank you", and everyone was still happy and fine afterwards

Told Riz he was very scary and intense sometimes, resulting in Riz hissing at him

Did not actually help during the trial due to fear.

(Has multiple quotes in dialogue link.)

Sandra Lynn

Covered for the teens messaging by talking about finding where Adaine's mom entered the forest as the teens nodded along

Had to explain to her daughter that her and Gilear slept together, but she could have gotten the Kalina disease anytime in the last 3 years and Gilear wouldn't have been infected ("I love you. It's weird. Sorry for all this weird info.")

On Kristen attempting to handcuff her "So help me god Kristen Applebees. I understand that I work for you, but so help... wow."

No longer with Jawbone, but ended on good terms

Was very kind to Gilear the first night in Arborly. She offered to sleep with him at one point and was turned down.

When she asked what the teens were messaging about (dusk moss), Kristen said Spring Break and suggested Sandra Lynn have a spa day with a hot tub soak and a massage with cucumbers on her eyes. Gorgug suggested cucumbers on her ears. Fabian said they should get the weird gnomes to pound her (dear god Fabian! XD) with Kristen saying "gnomes all over your body", Adaine adding that they would walk on her back, and Fabian adding that the little shoe bells would be meditative

Ragh

Asked for a lost spring from the tinkerers

Wears a size 17.5 shoe (quote in dialogue link)

Was paranoid about buying dusk moss (ARE YOU A COP!?), but after Crumpkin's reaction, he grabbed Fabian and Gorgug's arms and said "I think drugs are legal here"

Took a solid chunk of dusk moss and was found staring at his hand ("My hand is just little animal on the end of your arm")

Came into the van later, shirtless and looking like he'd sweat ten gallons. Said "Everything in the world is connected", (on Adaine thinking of trying it) "Adaine, for real? I can never be anxious again because I don't even know if I can ever be fully in my body again.", and (response to Fabian saying it sounds scary) "No no. I'm part of the universe dude" before drinking a glass of water and going off to go to bed.

***

Gnomes

Crumpkin Springbill

Head Tinkerer of the Tinkerer's Hall of Arborly

Confused as to why anybody would be mad about people buying or using dusk moss

Told Gorgug that it would take a long time and a lot of materals to build a cell tower

Size 5 shoes (but likes a little toe room) with curled toes so he can puts little bells on them (sounds like the general style of shoes for the gnomes there as well)

Said hello to Zelda enthusiastically over a video call

Polly Pullypad and Osmand Wobbletrouble

Accidentally flew into where they stacked all the old pots and pans (Polly)

Brought Gorgug his altered shoes back and bowed to Gorgug

Asked to examine Gorgug's crystal in exchange for the spring shoes (Osmand)

Suggested they try to skip building a cell tower and connect directly to a satellite

(Unnamed Twins)

Shallower cone hats with tufts of fur on the ends of springs

Took gorgug shoes off his feet

***

Devils

Vraz the Mean

Sarcastic erinyes with a +13 insight and a beautiful but uncannoy vally porcelain face with a beauty mark

When Fig and Kristen asked if she could leave the door open so they could follow "Are you guys having a fun time? BECAUSE YOU SEEM PRETTY FUCKING GLIB! Keep your sass to yourself!", but still left the door open

Got hissed at by Riz a lot (multiple quotes in dialogue)

Said she is having a bad time between her title (Vraz The Mean), species (Erinyes), running hell, and her title (Arch Secretary)

Called the tribunal into order (with her two co-jurors in a room with a small 3 seat judges bench), stating that it concerned the issue of Gortholax's infernal negligence

Tried to call her boss Blozo, but he couldn't come due to traffic

Found that being trapped in a gem counted as extenuating circumstances and he would not be punished, but they needed a new regnant for the Bottomless Pit so they called a recess while they consulted the bylaws.

Yelled at Fig for asking for help after the recess saying (in a durr voice) " *points at temple* Do you know what words mean!? Do you know what words mean!? *jacking off motion* Huh?"

Was going to imprison "the mortals", but was convinced by Hangman to put them under house arrest at The Bottomless Pit

Kystrona (Ky-stron-ah) The Chained

Vaguely humanoid figure that is just like

A person with chains coiled where arms would be as well as the torso and head, making a massive mound of chains

Moved with a lot of strain (including trying to shrug) and voice is muffled from all the chains

Lorzug (lore-zug) The Impaled

Bone thin naked person with incredibly pale skin and translucent vains all over

Impaled through the stomach about 10 feet up a jet black iron spike as they kick and scream

Only responded with screams

Retch Rot

Tiny blood red imp with a scorpion tail summoned by Fig's blood (calls her mistress)

Might look like a red Boggy with really long legs for his size (Ally wondered if he looked like "a really famous mouse", including suspenders, but I personally give Emily's description more weight as she is in fact in hell as Fig)

Valet to Fig while in the Bottomless Pit

Wanted to show them to their quarters and the many doors of The Bottomless Pit (but had to make it clear that the doors were just rooms in the pit and not portals)

***

Other Stuff From 2.13

***

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[To be added]

[ladynonsense]

One Night in the City (TRR AU) Part 3: Awkward

Liam x MC, Liam x Olivia, Drake x MC

Read Part 1 Here

Read Part 2 Here

Part 3 of a series. AU where Maxwell never brought MC to Cordonia. Liam never saw or heard from her again after the night of his bachelor party. Here he’s decided to see her again at the end of his engagement tour and it’s horribly awkward. Apologies to my fellow Liam stans. He’s kind of a dick in my story  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Liam knew immediately that he'd made a mistake by heading to that bar, but was trapped by his friends, needing to stick around to maintain his flimsy "I was just hungry" lie. He slid into the booth next to Hana as if it had been his plan all along.

"She's a friend," he'd said of Riley, defending her to Bertrand, and they all went silent for an awkwardly long beat. He was suddenly very aware that "friend" was probably not the best way to describe a woman you shared a magical evening and intoxicating kiss with and then never contacted again, and he hoped she wouldn't challenge him on it.

After a moment, Riley cleared her throat and seemed to snap out of whatever thought she'd been lost in. "Yes, we've met before," she answered, not quite agreeing with his own statement. "But the 'King' thing is new. Congratulations on your coronation, King Liam, although I'm sorry to hear about your father's passing."

So she HAS looked me up, he thought, frowning. "Yes, thank you, Riley. It has been quite a transition." He wished he knew what she'd read...what had the press been saying? He had been deliberately avoiding the headlines, not wanting to get overly caught up in what was being said about his family or his engagement. At minimum, she must know about Olivia. She'd probably seen photos of them together. He was embarrassed at how much he wanted to know how she felt about that, what she thought when she saw them together. Was she jealous? Did she imagine herself on his arm, instead?

"Earth to Liam. I said, can I get you something to drink?" He must have spaced out there for a moment. Riley was tapping her foot, annoyed. You're pissed at me, he thought, not brave enough to speak the words out loud. Good. Pissed off means you give a shit.

"Oh, yes, sorry about that. I'll have a whiskey - make it double. And one of those delicious burgers...better make that a double as well."

"Sure that's a good idea, Your Majesty?" Drake asked, sarcastic and mean-spirited, raising an eyebrow at him from across the table.

"Oh, fine, you're right, I don't need all that red meat. Just a single for the burger, then."

"Coming right up," Riley said, turning to leave.

"That's not what I--" Drake trailed off, realizing the waitress was already too far away to hear him.

"I'm fine, Drake. I'm not drunk, if that's what you're implying."

"Well, I'm just guessing at an explanation as to why you came here, of all places, alone."

"I invited him!" Maxwell lied to diffuse the tension. "I wanted to recapture the magic of the bachelor party...but I guess I forgot Tariq. Oops."

"Yes, well...thanks anyway, Maxwell, that was a very kind thought. That was a special night indeed."

"So is that how you all know the waitress?" Hana asked innocently. "You were here for your bachelor party? I thought your bachelor party was in Paris."

"Apparently, they needed to have a bachelor party before he was even engaged, isn't that right?" Riley answered, sneaking up behind Hana to deliver Liam's drink order. "Seems like a flimsy excuse to party, if you ask me. And yes, that was the night we met...and the last I ever heard from any of them." She was speaking to Hana, but her eyes were locked on Liam's. He gave her a pained look.

"Yes...it was right at the start of the social season, so we were all very busy for the next several weeks, I'm afraid. But how fortunate that we've come together again."

"So what's the occasion this time?" Riley asked, crossing her arms across her chest. "Is someone else getting married now?"

No one answered right away, forcing Liam to speak up and confirm what she must already know. "Well, still me, actually. The royal wedding is a big deal for Cordonia, and we've been travelling around the world on our engagement tour."

"Who's we?" Riley asked, her friendly demeanor starting to slip.

"All of us!" Maxwell chimed in. "The five of us and several other nobles from court."

"And Lady Olivia," Liam added, answering the real question before this awkward conversation could draw out any further. "My fiancée."

Riley smiled, seeming genuinely relieved that he had come forward with this information. "Congratulations, Liam. She's a lucky woman. And you're a lucky man, I'm sure."

"I suppose I am." Riley walked away again, busying herself with something in the kitchen. Liam frowned after her.

"OK, what's going on?" Hana asked. "Why does it feel like you all hid a body together or something? What on earth happened at this mysterious bachelor party?"

Drake let out an exasperated sigh. "A certain crown prince got cold feet about going through with the social season and comforted himself by taking advantage of an American waitress," he explained. Liam's jaw dropped.

"Is that what she told you? Drake, that's not at all --"

"No, she didn't tell me anything. But you weren't terribly discreet and I've seen enough of us commoners used up and spit out by nobility to recognize it when it's right in front of my face." Drake glared at Bertrand, who deliberately avoided his gaze, staring awkwardly out the window.

Liam frowned deeply, swallowing the rest of his whiskey in a single gulp. "That was certainly not my intention, and I must believe she knows that. I was only following my heart that night...and I was completely honest with her about my obligations back in Cordonia. I only regret that I did not have longer to get to know Miss Riley. I truly hold her in the highest regard."

"Liam..." there she was, apparently the world's stealthiest waitress, standing behind him and Hana once again. He was momentarily embarrassed, but ultimately glad she had heard him. After Drake's accusation, he needed her to know. "I...wondered if you might need another drink."

"Yes. Please. Thank you, Riley." She briskly headed for the bar, her desperation to escape their conversation painfully obvious. Liam got up to follow her, not exactly thinking things through, fueled more by whiskey than by rational thought. He stopped dead in his tracks when she turned around and looked at him with panic in her eyes. Drake's words echoed in his ears, and he suddenly worried he was using his position to terrorize her, without consciously realizing it. He had no idea how to proceed without wronging her.

"I..." he started to speak but trailed off. "I'm sorry for coming here, Riley. I shouldn't have bothered you."

She looked wounded, and he was once again flooded with guilt. No matter what he said, it seemed to be wrong. "You don't have to be sorry for coming here, Liam. I'm glad to see you again, really. I'm just not sure what you want from me. It seems like you found yourself a good queen back home, and you never called..."

"Riley, I never had your number. I suppose I could've tracked you down if I'd tried, but to what end? To entertain myself with your company when I knew I was about to be married to somebody else? It would have been torture for both of us."

She nodded, her expression softening. "You're right. It was always an impossible situation. But I couldn't stop thinking about you. I know it's stupid...we don't even know each other. It just felt, for a moment, like we were destined to be together." She let out a small, embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, that's ridiculous. I suppose there are probably many thousands of girls back in Cordonia entertaining that same fantasy about a fairy tale romance with the handsome pri--...king."

Liam smiled, enjoying her flattery despite the current of underlying bitterness. "It's not ridiculous. I felt it too. It drove me here tonight. As illogical as it is, I needed to see you." He glanced back at his friends, who were all engaged in an animated discussion about...who knows what. Seeing that no one was watching, he stepped closer to Riley, feeling bolder. Close enough that she had to gaze upwards to meet his eyes, her lips parting slightly, as if in invitation..."Riley. I came here because what you made me feel that night...it frightened me. It frightened me because I'd never felt it before, and I wasn't sure I'd ever be able to feel it again. You effortlessly outshone all the women who'd been bred and trained to entice me into marriage. I still don't understand...how did you get under my skin?"

Riley shook her head lightly, deliberately breaking his spell. She took a step backwards. "I'm off in twenty minutes. Can we talk then? My boss is going to be upset with me if I spend the rest of my shift just standing here."

He shook his head in return, embarrassed at his sudden outpouring of feelings. "Riley...I can't...I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry, truly. I need to go."

"Liam, wait--" she took a step to follow him, but he was already rushing out the door, back into the night, back to his life which had moved on without her.

[laurenlistens]

Solar Power

Oh Lorde. From the moment my 13 year old self played Sober at 4:00 AM on an emotionally charged and vulnerable 2017 summer night, I just knew I had found the one. Lorde is one of those “no-skip” artists. I genuinely can’t think of any of her songs that I can’t bump to, even just a little bit. Of course there are the weaker links, Biting Down and Million Dollar bills, which is a shame because some of the other songs that came along with the Pure Heroine Extended album are masterpieces (i.e. The Love Club). Those are reviews for other days however, because I am here to talk about the loooooong anticipated third studio album: SOLAR POWER! This review is a part one, because the album literally came out 14 hours ago and I feel as though my opinions are subject to change. These are just my first impressions after all. Expect a part two in a couple of months, because her music can be interpreted in so, so, SO many different ways, especially depending on what your current mental state is. Now... Onto the album!

I feel as though Lorde is in her “Magical Mystery Tour” era. The album has countless references to psychedelics as well as simply being high in nature, and I am eating that up. When I listened to the whole thing for the first time I really couldn’t help but make parallels to the Beatles because of all of the sound experimentation and added noises, as well as drawn out endings to many of the songs. I genuinely don’t know if the Beatles serve as an inspiration to her or Jack Antonoff, however I can’t help but think that they had significant influence on the album. Perhaps my lens on experimental sound in pop music isn’t large enough and I could be written off as ignorant for saying “lol it sounds like the Beatles” but it DOES! I really love the use of harmonies in the album. I’m obsessed with harmonizing to anything that I listen to, and the fact that she just has these beautiful chords created with her voice built into all of the songs is absolutely amazing. The lack of harmonies was one of the things that very mildly upset me about Melodrama, up until she released the live recordings of select songs at Electric Lady. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with for her live shows in terms of backup singers, because I just know that will be amazing. The overall sound of the album was different from what she’s put out before, but I support it! Melodrama was super different from Pure Heroine, and I think that while Solar Power and Melodrama have similarities, Solar Power stands out as it’s own original entity. While some of the tracks were juuuust a little Taylor Swift-y, the album was raw and different from what we’ve heard from Lorde in the past. Solar Power exceeded my expectations (which I knew it probably would have, I worship the ground Lorde walks on) but I have to admit, I was a little afraid due to the title track...

Solar Power, the title track and the first single released, was not my fave. Far from it, actually. When I first heard it I was so overjoyed by the feeling of Lorde dropping new music that I looked past the fact that I just didn’t really like the song that much. While the music video was camp and it set a good vibe for the summer, I felt as though the song just wasn’t Lorde. I don’t know who it was, but it wasn’t Miss Ella behind those lyrics. It just seemed a little too happy and cute for her down to Earth and raw emotional style. I was let down by that, and I think a lot of other fans were too. Don’t get me wrong, the song definitely still had it’s moments. I love it when Lorde speaks in her songs, it’s sexy as hell and also adds a whole new personal layer. Solar Power was definitely catchy, but if it wasn't Lorde behind the rather kitschy tune then I would not have listened to it.

Stoned at the Nail Salon was good. A solid song. I really don’t have much to say about it other than that. I think it’s one of the weaker tracks on the album and I completely forgot about it after it’s initial release a little bit ago, but I think the lyrics are lovely and real and I liked it!

I LOVED Mood Ring. I loved it. The first time I listened to it I was very eh, but then I reallyyy listened to the lyrics and the tune just blossomed into a beautiful butterfly! As a crystal-charger and stargazer who turns to superstitions to balance my emotions myself, I think Mood Ring is insanely relatable and just the song I need for when I want to connect to my sad girl side! I love the chorus when she says she can't feel anything and implies that she consults the metaphysical to figure out her thoughts and feelings. I felt that too much.

Ahhh The Path!! I really liked how Lorde opened up about her experiences being a very young artist in Hollywood, and this song is a beautiful and emotional representation of that. This track was the perfect opening to the album, it is just so Lorde. I’m such a sucker for sad lyrics with happy music, and this song is so, well, that! I love how the song picks up with the drums, my first time listening to that yesterday was borderline orgasmic, just full body chills. Fantastic beautiful song.

I like California but I think I need to listen to it more. It was a little forgettable, but it’s a pretty tune and I want to have more experiences with this song. The lyrics just don’t really hit it for me! It reminds me of Lana Del Rey but from Lorde’s perspective, if that makes sense. I also don’t love the chorus but honestly that could be subject to change if I keep obsessively listening to the album, which I will be doing.

Fallen Fruit is beautiful. The use of harmonies and guitar solo really make this track special. I explained earlier that I was a sucker for harmonies, and this song takes it to a new level. It sounds a lot like Leader of the New Regime (and oh MAN will I get to that song) and I like that a lot actually! Also, the second verse changes everything up in a way that doesn’t stray away from the initial vibe of the song, and I love it. Fallen Fruit is a fantastic song, it’s imaginative and different from what kind of music is put out today.

Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All) is adorable. I really like it, it reminds me a lot of Pure Heroine, even though it doesn’t really sound like a Pure Heroine song! I love her coming of age music, and while this song is a little bit Taylor Swift-y, I really do like it. The lyrics are relatable to any girl out there, and it’s a great feel good song. I also think it sounds like Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield, and that is one of my all time faves. The “wshhhhh” that she does gives me goosebumps. The ending is my favorite part. Oh my goodness, the airline voice, and music in the background is so sexy and so fresh. Lorde doesn't miss y’all!

I am not sad enough to talk abut The Man with the Axe. I feel like I literally can’t have an opinion on it yet because I haven’t figured it out yet. It’s a great sad song though. Like I know I’ll be crying to this in bath in a few months time.

Dominoes is short, sweet, and a great song. The chorus gets me good, and the lyrics are hella cute and also kind of sad! I love this song, it’s amazing and so versatile, like you could apply this to so so much in your life. I’m moving to college in a few days and I know Dominoes will be such a staple.

Oh my god Big Star!! When I listened to this for the first time I was like, holy shit. This is a Beatles-esque song to me for some reason! That’s not the only reason I like it, it’s beautiful and real and the guitar is lovely. I really wish the English language had more words for beauty and love, because then this review might be a little more interesting. This song represents the emotions that Lorde invokes within in me, and I think that is a very pretty thing.

THE LEADER OF A NEW REGIME!!! Honestly my favorite track on the album. The harmonies, the lyrics??? Way, way, way too good. What can I say, I love her shorter songs so much! It just gets the message and vibes across without being drawn out. This song is everything I needed it to be, and I am absolutely in love with it. It’s hard to put my feelings about this song into words, it’s one of those tracks that makes you smile and gives you a feeling in your body that makes it want to contort to the beauty of the song. I don’t know. I really love this one.

Now last, but certainly not least: Oceanic Feeling! Hard Feelings/Loveless has a very very special place in my heart for being a longer song that tells a bit of a story, and I think that Oceanic Feeling gives off very similar energy. It’s a very beautiful and calming track, something that is perfect for just zoning out and taking in the music. It’s a very sunny and beachy song, and it makes me angry that she didn’t release Solar Power at the beginning of summer but alas! At least it’s here now. This is a hardcore summer song though, and I don’t know how enjoyable it would be if I wasn’t in a warm watery climate. I don’t know if it would make Ohio winters more bearable or increase my yearning for the summer, but honestly I’m fine with any of those feelings. The last minute of the song wraps the album up perfectly. It’s a perfect last track. It leaves the listener guessing, and I think Perfect Places did that with Melodrama too!

If you made it to the very end of this review, wow! This was my first ever music review and I hope I was able to share at least some of my love of Lorde and song interpretations with you. Solar Power is a radiant and glittering ball of angst, love, and yearning, and I absolutely love it. It honors the power of the sun and the Earth while not being weird or preachy about nature, and it embodies her growth as an artist and a person perfectly. The emotion and rawness is there, as I hoped it would be. Yay for an actually sad album! Anyways, I’ll be back soon to talk about another artist I’ve been crazy about lately, and I hope to see you back again soon.

Much Love,

Lauren :)

[tutselutse]

I wrote a Cheryl x Toni thing. Bc I’m obsessed. There is background core four drama. (bc i love it)  

It's been two weeks since the Southside students started stinking up the halls, and Cheryl is not amused. She hates every last one of them and their greasy hair, tattoos and extensive use of flannel. Since Josie is still busy with her band and (ugh) flirting with Reggie, Cheryl has needed something else to do. It has taken her a bit of effort, but she has now managed to establish dominance over every student from the Southside. All it took was wearing her best clothes, a lot of well-crafted insults and in one case accidentally stepping on a foot with her stiletto heel. If no one will like her, then they can all fear her. Still, she'd much rather they weren't here at all.

Someone brushes against her in the hall as they walk past her. Gross. Cheryl debates ditching Chemistry to take a bath in the locker room. It's that sort of thing she used to say to Jason, and then he would laugh all soft and genuine and call her a drama queen. That laugh might be what she misses the most. Her heels are clicking against the floor as she walks and gives her best glare to everyone around her, so they move out of her way. Aside from one Southsider, who bravely still ignores her.

Okay, so she has bested everyone except one person. The pink haired girl. Toni. No matter what Cheryl says, Toni just grins or rolls her eyes. It's becoming quite frustrating, and Cheryl catches herself watching Toni and trying to come up with ways to bring her down.

Whenever they end up near each other, Cheryl drops a snide remark or two. And since Jughead Jones seems intent on including Toni in his ridiculous shenanigans and Betty Cooper seems intent on including Cheryl, they end up near each other more than Cheryl would like.

It becomes a nice distracton fro obsessing over Josie and Reggie. To think of something that will wipe that damn smirk off of Toni Topaz' mouth. She thinks about it at home, at school, when she goes to sleep and when she wakes up.

It's a game, and Cheryl knows she always wins. She jabs and pokes with every word she has, always accompanying it with a sickly sweet smile to cover up how hungry she is for a reaction. It's a game and it's rigged in Cheryl's favor, because one day one of her remarks will hit a sore spot, and Toni will lose. It's only a matter of time.

Mentioning the Southside or the disgusting gang aesthetic doesn't work, but something will. Calling her a poor man's Katy Perry doesn't work on Toni, but makes Kevin choke on a laugh, so Cheryl counts that in her own favor. It's the middle of class, and Toni just leans in and grabs one of Cheryl's pencils, saying since she is poor, she will have to borrow one. Having her up close is intoxicating and Cheryl searches her face for a sign that she is cracking. She finds none.

So she tries harder. She even lets Betty drag her along to the Magical Murder Mystery Tour, just to see Toni outside of her laid back school persona. It's during one of those late night investigations, at the closed down Southside high school of course, because Betty and Jughead seriously lack imagination, where she makes progress. They've split up into pairs, and Cheryl seizes the opportunity to yet again make a snide remark at Toni's expense when they are alone. They've never been alone before. It's exciting.

Toni brushes it off as always and walks into a classroom. Cheryl follows her, not really caring about what they are looking for. She makes another comment, not even thinking about what she is saying, and then Toni is right up in her face, pushing her against the wall

"What's your fucking problem with me?" she asks through her teeth. Cheryl wants to say something clever, something that makes Toni look like a fool, like Watch your temper sweetheart or What? Can't handle a little joke? But they are so close they are practically sharing oxygen and Cheryl's brain seems to be malfunctioning. Instead she just drops her gaze to Toni's lips, currently curved into a snarl. When she looks back up, Toni eyes gleam darkly and she presses herself up against Cheryl, squeezing her even tighter between her body and the wall. Then she leans in and kisses Cheryl hard.

Cheryl gasps and kisses her back. Toni grabs her wrists and pins them against the wall, while biting her bottom lip, and then pushing her tongue into her mouth. Cheryl tries not to moan. She fails a little. Toni pushes a thigh between her legs, and Cheryl hips starts moving. Her body has a crazy response to the kiss, like it has been desperate for this for so long, and getting it is making her fall apart.

Toni kisses her even harder, pressing against her and Cheryl wants more, more, more.

Then suddenly it's over, and Toni watches her with a satisfied smirk, while stepping back and letting go of her wrists. Cheryl remains leaned against the wall, fighting to catch her breath. Toni eyes her up and down and licks her lips. Cheryl knows she must look like a mess and she hates Toni for looking exactly like she did before they kissed. Ripped jeans clinging to her legs, t-shirt and leather jacket in place. Not even that ridiculous bandana around her head has moved an inch. Whereas Cheryl can feel her skirt having moved up her hips, and her lips feel swollen and messy from her lipstick.

Toni pick up her flashlight and just resumes working. Cheryl considers running out of the room, running home. She wishes she could talk to Jason. He would love her even though she just made out with a disgusting Southside Serpent. Running home would mean she lost though. And Cheryl is a winner. Maybe she looked more affected than Toni, but she was the one who was shoved against the wall. And if Toni could seem like it hadn't affected her to kiss Cheryl Blossom, then Cheryl wasn't going to be affected by kissing her.

She resumed the search, and when Toni was distracted, she fixed her lipstick. When they met up with the others, she was certain no one could tell what had happened.

***

Cheryl treats herself to some serious spa treatment that weekend. She is determined to come back to school looking even more like a goddess than usual. Which is hard, she knows, but she never backed down from a challenge. Plus, it always made her feel better to do a complete scrub of her body. She spends a lot of time thinking about what to do now. Clearly Toni is better at this game than she thought, and now it has changed. But Cheryl knows she is a catch, and since Toni is attracted to girls, a different kind of torment seems appropriate. Plus, she clearly had said something that pushed Toni over the edge, so really Cheryl had won that round.

She lets herself sink deeper into the water as her mind drifts back to the kiss. She touches her lips absentmindedly. They are still swollen and sore, but she doesn't mind it much. In fact, thinking about Toni pressing her against the wall and biting her lip is arousing her again. She wonders what it would be like to feel her hands on her body. Then she catches herself and shakes her head.

Control, Cheryl, she tells herself and starts scrubbing her legs again. It was all about control. If there was one thing Cheryl was good at, it was controlling others and their attraction to her. She crawled out of the bath and eyed herself in the mirror. She smiled wickedly. Oh yes. Game on, Toni Topaz.

***

She has perfected a way of causally looking amazing, without seeming like she tries, years ago. This Monday she puts it to good use. She has prepared herself for everything, and knows exactly what to do, to taunt Toni and make her want more. Cheryl has put on a tight skirt and her high boots and let her hair tumble in curls down her back. Her lips are a darker red than usual, and the shirt is just a tiny bit see-through.

What she isn't prepared for is her own reaction to seeing Toni, who is talking to that Sweet Pea guy, and is wearing her usual t-shirt and ripped jeans combo. Cheryl felt a wave of want hit her. She suppresses it and sashays confidently down the hall, not even looking to see if Toni noticed her.

That afternoon Betty drags them into the newspaper room to recap Friday's results. Veronica looks upset, and Cheryl feels a little urge to ask her what was up. Ugh, gross. She notices Toni eye her legs, and almost  smirks victoriously. She needs more. She needs to break her completely. To make her beg Cheryl to kiss her again.

Cheryl doesn't care much for the case, but they all seem excited about the results so she smiles at Betty and starts saying: "If you need my help again, let me know." She intends to leave just then, but before she can make her exit, Jughead's phone rings and he bolts out of the room, and then everyone starts to leave. Damn. Cheryl throws her hair over her shoulder and turns with a huff. Before she can leave, Toni looks at her and winks.

Cheryl is shocked. A part of her wants to throw herself across the room and kiss the living hell out of Toni. Another part is angry! How dare she acknowledge it happened? Like that. With a wink! Also, why does she want to kiss Toni?

The rest of the week passes like that. Whenever Cheryl gets a small reaction out of Toni, she just rolls with it and smiles like she is saying you're doing this for me? Cute. It's infuriating. She wants to win, to wind her up and break her. To throw her off her game, the way Cheryl has been thrown off hers.

On Wednesday they bump into each other in the locker room. Toni has just gotten dressed, seemingly the last person to get ready after her Gym Class. Pathetic. Cheryl is there to pick up her broche, which she managed to forget after the Vixens practiced earlier.

"So much later than everyone else," she comments, smiling as sweetly as she can, "It's okay if it's hard for you to put on jeans with so many holes in them."

Toni chuckles and wraps a flannel shirt around her hips. Honestly, why is this living cliché a part of Cheryl's life? She notices the broche not far from Toni's boots. She walks over and picks it up, ready to say something mean about her almost breaking an invaluable object, but when she stands up, Toni is right there. In her face. Smelling like soap. Cheryl swallows and tries to remember what she was going to say. Toni smiles at her, raising an eyebrow and Cheryl just loses it. She moves forward and crashes their lips together, hoping to do to Toni what had been done to her. To leave her heaving and aching for more.

Cheryl forces herself to pull back before she wants to. So she can leave Toni there with figurative blue balls. Toni eyes are darker, but she is smiling with amusement. "I knew you'd be back for more," she whispers and Cheryl feels shivers run down her spine at the word more.

Toni moves towards her slowly, again pressing Cheryl against the wall, and Cheryl downright whimpers. What the fuck? Her hands get pinned against the wall again and Toni looks at her hungrily before finally kissing her. Cheryl drops the broche and gasps as Toni licks into her mouth. For a moment she forgets where they are, who  they are. Nothing exists but their lips, tongues, the sound of their breath and the feel of hands around Cheryl's wrists.

But then Toni let's go of her wrists and places her hands on Cheryl's hips. She can feel the heat through the thin fabric of her skirt. The kiss is even hotter than last time, both girls more eager, more aware of what they want. Last time Cheryl was shocked, this time she knows she has to give as good as she gets. So she does, moving a hand to scratch at Toni's scalp and twist her fingers into that awful pink hair.

Have they ever done anything other than kiss? Cheryl doesn't remember anything else. And yet, it's too soon when Toni pulls back. She smirks at Cheryl, clearly very pleased with herself. Her eyes roam over Cheryl's body and face, and then she whispers "I bet you look gorgeous when you've been properly fucked."

"I always look gorgeous, ChaCha," Cheryl responds, hoping her makeup hides the warmth in her cheeks. She stands up straighter and brushes her hands on her skirt.

"I agree," Toni says with a smile. Ugh. Cheryl kind of hates that smile. Toni could really benefit from turning the smugness down. "We should do this again some time," she says with a wink, and then she leaves. Cheryl stares after her. What the fuck had just happened? She picks up the broche, fixes her lipstick and leaves.

***

Archie Andrews is throwing a party. Cheryl has no idea why, and frankly isn't even interested, but Josie is going (with Reggie. Ew.) and for some reason Betty Cooper invites her to come.

"We'd love it if you came, Cheryl," Betty says and looks at her with those big fish eyes, "I mean, no one knows how to party like you."

"True," Cheryl agrees. She knows Betty is attempting to woo her with flattery, but that's no reason to ignore the compliment. "You need me there to make this thing a success, but I am just not sure I have the time."

Betty actually pouts. Ew. Then Archie shows up, giving Betty a smile that can only be described as tender. Cheryl fights the urge to gag. "Cheryl, are you coming to the party? You are kind of a part of the gang now," he says and looks like an overeager dog.

"I already told Blue Sweater here that I am too busy," Cheryl says and turns on her heel and walks away. Ah, that felt good. Those two were getting way to chummy with her.

Jason would tell her she was being ridiculous. He'd tell her to make friends, and to be nicer to people. Her mother gives her a look when she comes home. Like she is disappointed, but not surprised Cheryl is on her own on a Friday. Whatever.  

That night she shows up at the party anyway. It's a power move to recline, and then show up, like she is bringing them a gift. Herself. Plus, she needs to see what Josie and Reggie are up to. She waits until she is certain they've given up on her, and then she barges through the door, throws her jacket at the nearest person (which happens to be Jughead Jones, how perfect!) and strides into the living room. Everyone stares at her, so she smiles and gives them a little wave.

Betty seems tipsy as she runs over and hands Cheryl a red cup of something and gives her a clumsy hug. There is a whole lot of Southside trashworms there as well. Weird. Archie seems in deep conversation with the Sweet Pea guy. Cheryl looks at them in confusion.

"Oh, they are kind of friends now," Betty explains with a giggle. Figures, both of them are tall and dumb.

"Fascinating," she says sarcastically and drinks from the cup. It's punch, and not a good one. But that might be because of the cheap alcohol someone has spiked it with. Oh well.

Betty just beams again. What is up with that girl?

"Cheryl!" Veronica appears. Cheryl looks her up and down. She looks like a vampire librarian in that black lace dress and the string of pearls. Uninspired as always. Her and Betty dress exactly the same, except Veronica wears colors appropriate for a funeral and Betty apparently never outgrew the colors for baby clothes. It's almost tragic.

"Hello Veronica," Cheryl fakes enthusiasm.

"You look amazing," Veronica says. Her and Betty seem to be on a mission to make her feel welcome. She is right, though. Cheryl's dress is black velvet and off the shoulders, and as always her hair is a cascade of red curls.

They talk clothes for a while, scaring off Betty who looks uncomfortable with all the designer names Veronica is dropping. It's almost a little funny. Then Veronica insist on dancing, and Cheryl follows her. She spots Josie, who is grinding on Reggie's leg. Veronica sends her a look and they both giggle. Veronica says she once spent a night out doing the same, and that Reggie will follow any pair of hips swaying near him. Cheryl shakes her head and says she hopes Josie knows what she is doing. Veronica nods and says everyone is allowed a little fun.

"You are right of course," Cheryl grins, and then they start dancing. Cheryl likes to dance. She is good at it too, and she knows it. Veronica is good too, and since they aren't competing this time, it actually ends up being fun. Well. A little anyway. Cheryl is very aware of how great they are looking right now, and she enjoys it. Veronica is grinning at Archie, who is watching them from the edge of the dance floor.

Cheryl's eyes absentmindedly scan the room of people watching them, knowing she is putting on a show. Then she sees Toni Topaz. Who's wearing an unbelievably ruined shirt, denim shorts and a pair of boots. Cheryl tears her gaze away from the shirt - that thing is more holes than fabric - and meets Toni's eyes. She is staring at Cheryl, mouth slightly open and wow. Her eyes are burning. Cheryl swings her hips and smiles playfully.

Toni responds by biting her lip. Cheryl feels a wave of victory hit her and she turns around, smiling to herself, giving Toni a view of her back. Veronica grabs her hand and spins her back around, intertwining their fingers. Cheryl looks back at Toni, who is still looking at her. Now she is leaning against the wall, with a thumb in her belt loop. They don't break eye-contact again. If dancing while knowing the boys are watching makes Cheryl feel good, there is no way of describing how it feels too dance while being eye-fucked by Toni Topaz.

Cheryl isn't sure which of them is winning this round. Because Toni wants her, it's obvious, but Cheryl wants her to stay right there, to keep watching. When did she start dancing for Toni and not herself? Cheryl finally breaks the spell and looks away. Veronica hasn't stopped making eyes at Archie, so Cheryl pulls her closer and whispers, "Just go dance with your boyfriend."

"But we're having fun," Veronica argues. Cheryl gives her a look, and Veronica lets go and runs off. When Cheryl looks back at the wall, Toni has disappeared.

Cheryl decides she needs more alcohol. She walks back to the kitchen and grabs another cup of the bearable punch. She hears angry voices from outside.

"I wanna be with you."

"Then why did you kiss my best friend?"

"You broke up with me!"

Her curiosity has just gotten the better of her, and she is about to go look when someone speaks behind her. "That was quite the show." It's Toni, leaning against the doorway, looking better than any Southsider has any right to, now wearing that gang member jacket over her clothes.

"You looked like you enjoyed it," Cheryl responds, and sends her a flirty smile. There is no reason to pretend nothing is going on between them.

"I did," Toni walks over and grabs the cup from Cheryl's hands. She takes a sip and grimaces. "That's disgusting. I could mix you something better down in the Whyte Wyrm."

Cheryl scrunches up her nose. "I'd rather not. That place is way too dirty for me."

"Am I too dirty for you?" Toni asks, and Cheryl is taken aback by the directness of the question and the earnest way Toni is looking at her.

"In theory, yes," Cheryl responds, leaning in closer and taking the cup back. She takes a slow sip.

"What about in practice?" Toni asks, placing a hand on Cheryl's and moving the cup down. The feel of her hand against her wrist makes Cheryl heart thump. Memories.

They are awfully close now, lips nearly touching. "Remind me how it works in practice," Cheryl whispers. Toni closes the small distance between them, kissing her softly. Like a test. It makes her breath hitch in her throat. Cheryl doesn't want soft. Not now. Not after the way Toni was watching her before. So she runs her tongue along Toni's bottom lip. This earns her a little whimper. Cheryl pulls back and grins. She takes Toni's hand and drags her along.

They run out to the garage, and when they've closed the door behind then, Toni runs her hands through Cheryl's hair and kisses her hungrily. They stumble further into the garage, almost knocking into some of Archie's instruments. It makes them both giggle. Cheryl feels drunk, but not from the punch, this is all Toni.

Toni, who's hands are inching up her waist, setting her body on fire. Cheryl hands are wandering too, she can't help it. Toni kneels down, pulling Cheryl with her so they are both on the floor. Cheryl pushes the leather jacket off her shoulders, and puts her hands under that thing she is wearing as a shirt. Toni shudders and kisses her harder when Cheryl trails her nails over her bare skin. She kisses Cheryl down her neck, while one hand starts starts running up and down her leg. It makes everything tingle, and Cheryl lifts the "shirt" over her head, breaking the kiss. She takes a moment to just admire Toni's exposed skin, before crawling into her lap and straddling her.

Cheryl doesn't know how long they spend sitting like this, kissing and kissing and kissing, while Toni's hands are everywhere but suddenly she is being maneuvered backwards, so she is lying on her back while Toni hovers over her, kissing her neck and moving a hand up her inner thigh. Cheryl has a small moment of panic because she has no idea what's expected in a situation like this? Is she supposed to reciprocate at the same time? Is that what two women do? Why hasn't she googled this before? She trails her own hand down Toni's side, heading towards her denim shorts.

Toni's hand comes up and stops her. She smiles and holds Cheryl's hand up between them, "Not until you cut your nails," she says with a grin, and Cheryl blushes. Toni kisses her again, and pushes the dress up her hips. Cheryl's breath hitches in her throat.

It's better than Cheryl remembers sex ever being before. Maybe because of how much she has been wanting to do this with a girl, or specifically Toni. As she moans and succumbs into the touch, she finally admits it to herself. She has wanted Toni bad for a while now. Since before they even kissed the first time. And having her now, like this, is better than she thought it would be.

She bites down on her own bottom lip when she comes, so she doesn't cry out too loudly.

Afterwards Toni remains half on top of her, and kisses her gently on the lips, then her exposed shoulder and collarbone. She looks down at Cheryl and grins that smug grin again. "I was right, you do look gorgeous after having your brains fucked out."

"I wouldn't bet on a career in smooth-talking," Cheryl responds and clicks her tongue. She's not sure why she says it. Being snarky is just her default setting, and she is feeling extra vulnerable right now. Toni's eyes drop for just a second, and then she kisses Cheryl again.

Cheryl kisses her back for a moment, but then she starts to worry if people are looking for them. She pushes Toni off and readjusts her dress. Toni looks at her in confusion. "Someone could be looking for us. You and Jugface seemed joined at the hip, and Betty has been disturbingly friendly to me lately."

"You're leaving?" Toni's brows are furrowing.

"This was fun," Cheryl says in a cheerful tone and stands up. Toni's eyes drop, and she bites her lip. She sits there in her shorts and bra and doesn't move and that's when it hits Cheryl. If she leaves now, she has won the game. Toni will be the one left with the obsession. It makes her smile. She looks at the serpent jacket on the ground, and picks it up. A fair price for besting Toni Topaz.

She puts it on as she leaves the garage and rejoins the party. There are a lot more people in the house, and the music's louder. Cheryl glances around. What the hell happened while she was getting laid? She walks into the kitchen and sees Josie and Reggie making out like they've been possessed or something. It stuns her. She has feelings for Josie. Had feelings. Has. It's confusing. The image of Toni on top of her flickers in front of her eyes. She turns on her heel and leaves.

She walks into the living room just as someone yells, "how could you?!" and then Veronica rushes past her into the kitchen and out the back door.

Cheryl looks at the people in the living room, all staring at Betty and Archie, who are standing really close. Ah. Those two are idiots. She turns around and runs after Veronica.

She finds her sitting on the ground outside, ugly crying loudly. Ugh. This is not Cheryl's forte. Jason, help me. She doesn't wanna sit on the filthy ground, but she remembers all the time Jason crawled into the closet with her, even though he hated small spaces, because she was crying. She sits down next to Veronica and places a hand on her shoulder. Veronica responds by turning around and burying her face in Cheryl's shoulder, crying harder.

" It seems I missed the drama," Cheryl says after a moment, "how unlike me."

Veronica makes a strangled noise, like a laugh is trying to escape through the sobbing. Cheryl bites down hard to keep from pulling a face. Veronica sniffles and sits up, wiping her eyes.

"Archie and Betty kissed," she says. Cheryl cringes visibly.

"When?"

"A few weeks ago. We were broken up for a few days and then he just kissed Betty." Veronica breaks into sobs again. "H-how could they d-do this to m-me?"

"They are both kind of dumb," Cheryl says bluntly, "like. Not smart at all."

"Betty is my best friend," Veronica says when she can control her voice again.

"She's not good at it," Cheryl remarks. Why is this comfort thing so hard?

"She forgave me, back when me and Archie made out at your party. But this is different. Right?" She looks like she wants confirmation, so Cheryl nods.

"Um, so different," she says "first of all, you weren't BFF at the time. Second, they weren't dating. Third, she wasn't dating that southsider." Cheryl is good at receipts.

"Oh, Jughead," Veronica says and starts crying again. She's shaking hard, so Cheryl takes off the leather jacket and wraps it around her shoulders. It seems to help her. Cheryl wraps her arm around her again and holds her a little longer.

"I'm gonna drive you home now," Cheryl suddenly says. She is surprised herself. It must be from channeling Jason.

"Okay," Veronica says weakly. They climb to their feet, and when they turn around they see Toni there. Cheryl feels relieved to see her, ashamed of before, and she has a weird urge to explain that she is helping Veronica.

"Need help?" Toni asks.

"Yeah, thanks," Cheryl nods and Toni lifts Veronica's other arm around her shoulder. They take her through the house in silence. Cheryl scares off Archie with a look. When they are outside, Cheryl asks: "How long were you watching?"

"A while," Toni says, "I've never seen you help anyone before."

"Oh."

Cheryl drives while Toni sits with Veronica in the back. When they reach the hotel and has walked her to the door, Veronica hands Cheryl the leather jacket and says "Thanks."

When she is inside the hotel, Cheryl tries to hand it to Toni. "You can wear it a bit more," Toni says with a smile, "it's kinda sexy."

"I'm sorry," Cheryl says, "I know I can be a hateful bitch."

"I've noticed," Toni replies with a smile. A smile Cheryl has started to realize is just genuine, and not smug at all. Cheryl reaches down and takes her hand.

"Let me buy you a milkshake at Pop's," she offers. Toni's smile widens. They walk hand in hand to the car. Cheryl isn't sure what this is, but she thinks she might be done with playing games for now.

[zimniysoldat-fiction]

Uncle Buckaroo

Summary: Director Hill needs the Winter Soldier to take on a rather special assignment.

Warnings: Uh...grumpy Bucky? Language (probably, it’s me we’re talking about)

Word Count: 1,712

A/N: Based on this request. Tangentially related to the request. I was finding it impossible to write the MCU, a 616 AU proved to be so much easier. Even then, I was having a hard time of it. Toddler!Tony is a hard nut to crack. So I didn’t. I hope it’s still enjoyable. Honestly, there are no traces of the MCU in this one. I’m sorry. Enjoy a picture of Bucky chilling with the Sacred Reznor on his spaceship.

Bucky was barely back on Earth a month when Maria Hill showed up at his door with a scrappy, smart-ass toddler. His dark walnut hair and near-ebony eyes looked hauntingly familiar to Bucky, but the assassin could hardly believe the resemblance was anything but coincidence. Still, he had to ask.

“Is that…Stark’s son?” He asked hesitantly, eyebrow kinked with skepticism. “Did Tony finally manage to keep a secret?” Bucky chuckled under his breath, always happy to have fun at Stark’s expense.

“It is Stark, Barnes.” Maria’s voice was flat, dampened with exhaustion and frustration.

Bucky stumbled over his words, hardly forming a syllable as he stepped aside, allowing Maria to bring the child into his apartment. While Maria explained that Tony had somehow reverted to his six year-old self during an exceptionally peculiar experiment-gone-wrong, Tony delighted in playing with the Sacred Reznor, feeding the naked aardvark-like alien little pieces of plum. The kid was so happy, so innocent, so…unlike Tony, that it captivated Bucky.

“This is all…” Bucky was struggling to be polite, “very interesting. But why is he here? Why are you telling me?”

“We need to keep him safe, under the radar.” Maria sighed heavily, “if it gets out that Tony Stark is a helpless kid, all hell will break loose.”

“Sure, but again, why are you telling me?”

“You were off-planet for six months and no one noticed that you were gone.”

“Thanks for reminding me,” Bucky groaned sarcastically.

Maria was far from finished her pitch, stubbornly continuing to plead her case. She was appealing to the fifteen year-old orphan living on a military base, the same one who took up with Captain America, the same orphan who died trying to defuse that bomb on Zemo’s drone. Bucky had spent countless hours wondering what would have happened to that orphan if he had a guardian; someone who would raise the kid, not turn him into an army mascot who would eagerly sign up to become a superhero’s sidekick. Maria was appealing to his ‘what if’ fantasy and it was working. Bucky already adopted a space alien, why not a young Tony Stark? How hard could it be?

Bucky never imagined how exhausting a genius toddler could be. Toppling regimes took less work than Tony. Bucky couldn’t believe it, but he lived for those mornings he got to drop the demon child off at kindergarten, giving him six hours of sweet relief. It’s times like these that Bucky really missed Steve. At least if he were still around, Bucky could drop the kid off on his doorstep. How did he let Hill rope him into this detail? How much longer was he going to have to play single dad in Manhattan?

This was the worst part of taking care of Tony, picking him up after school. Waiting by the gates, he felt like helpless prey being stalked by a pack of lionesses. And a few cougars. He worked hard to maintain a low profile, to ignore their aggressive advances, but the experience was grating. If only he knew how much worse it would get.

“Mum! Mum! Cap’n ‘Merica’s here! He’s really here!” One of the kids came running out of the building, shouting at the top of his lungs as he struggled to keep his backpack on his shoulders.

Bucky’s head snapped up, abandoning his study of cracks in the pavement to investigate the kid’s claims. He really hoped that it was some character actor the school hired, because if it was the real Captain America, Tony’s anonymity would be gone faster than Quicksilver after an ice cream truck. His crystal blue eyes darted across the school yard, he tried to get a decent look inside without drawing attention to himself. He was starting to feel relieved—relaxed and reassured that he couldn’t see any sign of Cap—when a single, friendly syllable sounded like an air raid siren, shattering any hope he held on to. Barnes!

“Hey—” Bucky still faltered with the title— “Cap. Fancy seeing you here.” He tried to smile at the star-spangled man with a falcon perched patiently on his shoulder.

“Me? It comes with the uniform,” Sam scoffed. “It’s more shocking seeing you here. Do you have a love child you’re not telling us about? Is that why you’ve been scarce this last year?”

“Nn—something like that.” Bucky caught himself just in time. “It’s complicated.”

“Uncle Bucky! Uncle Bucky!” Tony enthusiastically cut through the two, attaching himself to Bucky’s leg. It still weirded him out. Sam gave him a poignant look—he saw the resemblance quicker than Bucky had. “No one believes me that daddy knew Cap,” he pouted and Bucky already began to cringe. “They all think this idiot is Cap,” he scoffed, rolling his eyes in a fashion that was oh-so-Tony Stark.

“Hey now, kid,” Sam interjected, “there’s no need for name calling.”

“But you’re not Cap! You’re a fraud! Cap doesn’t have a falcon, he has a shield! Daddy made it for him!” Bucky pinched the bridge of his nose. This was a disaster.

“Wh—whose your daddy, buddy?” Sam’s voice was full of suspicion as he knelt down to meet Tony at his level.

“Howard Stark!” Tony puffed out his chest and turned his nose up. At this age, he was still proud of his dad—Howard was still his hero.

“How—Bucky,” Sam stood up, his face stern, “how about you and Tony come to Avengers Tower with me?” It was a question, Bucky was certain it was a question, but Sam made it sound like an order. In his head, Bucky was already coming up with ways to remind Sam of his place, but Tony had lit up like a Christmas tree in December—he was giddy at the thought of going to the Tower.

“I don’t know if you realize this, Cap, but not all of us can fly.”

As soon as he said it, Bucky had flashbacks to missions where Sam had to carry him as he flew into the mission site. He knew immediately that Sam planned on flying them to the Tower himself. Bucky sighed heavily while Sam grinned. Could this get any worse?

Tony was like a kid in a candy store—his eyes as wide as saucers, his jaw slack, and his mouth slightly agape—as Coulson gave him a tour of the Tower. Bucky and Sam were in the briefing room, joined by the other Avengers in the tower, and Maria Hill and Daisy Johnson—S.H.I.E.L.D.’s top brass with Fury out of the picture. Bucky was happy to let Maria explain everything, allowing Bucky to take the temperature of the room, to read each Avenger’s reaction.

Sam was annoyed, of course. And naturally, Rhodes was irate, insulted, and upset—why wouldn’t he be the obvious choice to take care of Tony? He was his brother in every way that mattered. Carol’s brow was furrowed as she listened, trying to figure out how this happened, and why Hill would cover it up. T’Challa may as well have been a statue, his face stoic, his body language calm and unchanging. At first, Daisy was mostly just bored, already aware of the situation, but as the briefing dragged on, she grew increasingly preoccupied with the CCTV footage from the lab.

“But why Barnes?” Rhodes’ voice was raised, indignant. “He can’t even take care of a plant, never mind a child!”

“Hey!” Bucky interjected, offended, but hardly surprised. “Rog is doing just fine, I’ll have you know. He’s happy and healthy, and Tony loves him.”

The table exchanged confused looks.

“Rog?” Carol inquired.

“I couldn’t keep calling him the Sacred Reznor, so I named him Roger.” Bucky explained matter-of-factly. He forgot that none of them knew about the space aardvark, save for Daisy, who was smirking at the memory of Bucky feeding the thing under his coat in the cantina.

The smirk quickly fell off her face, the footage replaying for the umpteenth time in front of her—it finally clicked, she finally knew why it seemed so familiar, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She wished so fervently that it wouldn’t be him—anyone but him. In a single movement, Daisy grabbed the tablet, spun her chair away from the table, and strode down to where Bucky was sitting. She whispered in his ear while he watched the footage, am ornery scowl weighing down the corners of his lips.

“But Ventolin—” Bucky trailed off, lost in memories of Mer-Z-Bow.

“That Loki is still there, I’ve kept tabs on him.” Daisy murmured, their conversation more private than the rest of the room would like.

“Would you two like to share with the rest of the class?” Sam droned sarcastically, rolling his eyes and leaning back in his chair.

Daisy glared at Sam, but still acquiesced, transferring the images to the large screen on the wall. Everyone watched as Daisy slowed down the footage, going through it frame by frame. What looked like a strange explosion in the video looked more akin to the Dark Bifrost touching down, followed by red, blue, and green smoke enveloping Tony and the silhouette of two others. No one had to be told who it was or what they were witnessing. His tricks and his magic were outright exhausting, his mischief menacing. They all hoped there would be a way of reversing this spell without having to deal with the God of Mischief.

“I guess we need Thor’s help,” Carol’s suggestion came without enthusiasm, or much hope. The Odinson had become unworthy, and the identity of the woman who now wields Mjölnir remains a mystery. To most.

Bucky finally found his smile, his eyes glancing over at Sam. The way everyone else was behaving suggested they had no idea about the crush Sam harboured, or the fondness Lady Thor held for him. Perhaps they were keeping their dalliance private. Maybe Sam was embarrassed. It didn’t really matter to Bucky, he owed Sam after that flight.

“Hey, Sam, aren’t you rather…close to Thor? Maybe you should call her for more than just a booty call.”

TAGS: @oneshot-shit; @marvel-ash; @bovaria; @hymnofthevalkyries; @archangel-trauma; @bionic-buckyb; @lostinspace33; @bucky-plums-barnes; @lauisspntrash; @marvel-fanfiction

[docholligay]

Prompt: "That is because you think with a peasant's values. My world is different from yours!" Michiru/Haruka

SORRY BECAUSE a) I’m sure this was supposed to be funny but oops and b) it took me foreever because it’s like 1800 words and c) it takes place int he Au of Mystery and Shadow, which I rarely publish here

Dream couples are largely an illusion of the popular media, those magical unicorns who never fight, or hurt each other’s feelings, or act inconsiderately or unkindly, and Michiru had, in fact, never imagined herself and Haruka to be any level of perfection, other than the fact that Michiru had, in some great miracle from on high, found someone she truly loved, who loved her back.

Which did, of course, not stop them from occasionally falling into the ridiculous.

If you had asked Michiru how it began, she would have said with a party at her parents’ home, and her own indiscreet child, which was true in its own way, but also an easy scapegoat. In truth, it began the moment each was born, the modeling into the human they would each become beginning from the start, those first strokes on the canvas unable to be erased.

It had started innocently enough,  her parents asking where MA planned to attend school after she graduated. Michiru had began with some wavering thought about the various merits, when MA had interjected.

“I’m going to beauty school.” She did not break eye contact with her grandfather, Michiru seeing too much of herself in the pride of her chin.

Michiru gave a laugh. “Don’t be silly. Your potential far exceeds that of a hairdresser.” She looked back over at her parents. “We’ll begin touring colleges early next year.”

“I’m not going.” MA stared at her pointedly.

Kimi shuffled nervously in her chair. “There’s a science program at the university. I’m going this summer…” Her grandparents were intensely proud of her many academic successes, and Kimi was used to using it to smooth over difficulties.

But MA was on top of it now. “I’m barely passing school anyhow.”

Her grandfather looked over at her. “You are a smart girl, with excellent breeding. There’s no reason you shouldn’t be succeeding, except for lack of effort, if you--”

“There’s always the possibility,” her grandmother smiled, “that she’ll simply marry well. It isn’t ideal, but she’s very attractive, fluent in a few languages, a sculptor. I’m sure--”

“Nope.” MA shook her head, crossing her arms. “Going to beauty school.”

“I think it’s a good job,” Haruka wiped her mouth with a napkin. “And I think you’ll be good at it. I mean, god Michi, how much do you pay to get your hair done?”

Michiru looked over at Haruka. “You don’t think your daughter should aspire?”

“Nothing wrong with practical work, Michiru.” Her voice was ever so slightly tense.

“Well,” Michiru’s mother interrupted, “of course you would think so.”

“She is a Kaioh,” Michiru’s voice was cold and controlled as she took a sip of wine, “and there are expecta--”

“Funny, I thought her last name was Tenoh-Kaioh.”

“I think I want to be a doctor!” Kimi burst over the table. “And I’m working really hard to get good grades, I had all A’s this year, and I won something at the science fair, I’m going on to regionals!”

Michiru smiled at her. “Yes. I brought a cake, to celebrate.”

__

“I cannot believe you.” Michiru threw her purse down on the bed. “How could you say such a thing, in front of my parents?”

“What, that I want my daughter to have a job that makes her happy? I know she looks just like you, but she’s NOT like you.” Haruka wheeled past her and took off her jacket, hanging it on a hook on the wall. “Fucking sorry, Michiru.”

“She has to go to college, Haruka,” Michiru whirled around to face her, “She can always go do her silly hair thing later, but she must have an education.”

“Oh, come on!” Haruka unbuttoned her shirt, “You don’t care about her education, you care about how it looks.”

“Sometimes, how things look matter. Though I wouldn’t expect you to understand that.” Stop. Her mind said. You love her, and you are being unkind. You need to come together.

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean? I think she’ll make good money, and she’ll like it, and that’s all I care about.”

“That is because you think with a peasant's values. My world is different from yours!” As soon as she said it, she hated herself for it, for way it sounded in her mouth, her mother’s voice echoing through her own.

Haruka stared at her. “Are you serious right now?”

Michiru’s voice was calm. “I want her to have a rich, full mind, well-educated in literature and history and philosophy and the arts.”

Haruka just shook her head. “Just say it, MIchiru.”

“And what” she crossed her arms, “Praytell, might that be?”

“Say you don’t want her to be like me.”

Michiru took a breath. “I want her to keep her options open.”

Haruka rolled her eyes. “That’s what I fucking thought,” She transferred onto the bed, “sorry you have to share your bed with a stupid, lowborn peasant, your fucking highness,” she rolled over and looked at Michiru, “You’re such a fucking snob that you’re gonna drive our kid away, you know that?”

“You won’t even attempt to see my side of it, I see. Go sleep downstairs.”

“You go sleep downstairs! I’m already in bed!” Her mouth was in a hard line, and Michiru’s eyebrow twitched.

“Very well.” She picked up her pillow and a blanket. “I’m going to my studio in the attic. You won’t bother me.”

Haruka called after her. “I’ve never been so fucking happy I can’t walk in my entire life!”

___

Kimi burst into MA’s room. “Why did you do that?”

MA looked up from her fashion magazine and sighed. “I don’t care about whatever you have to say.”

“All they fight about is you! It’s always you!” Kimi grabbed the fashion magazine out of her hands and tossed it across the room, and MA raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Couldn’t you just go? Part time??”

MA got up off her bed. “Why should I do something I hate to make other people happy?”

“You’re so selfish, MA!” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Everyone is mad, and I hate it!”

MA crossed her arms. “Sorry I’m not inclined to be a doormat like you.”

“It’s not just this, it’s everything! You’re always in trouble! And it makes Mom and Pop so upset, and I wish you’d just stop!” She felt tears flow down her face, and hated that she couldn’t stop them.

“Oh my god, you crybaby.” MA sneered. “Why don’t you ask Mom why she can’t just let me live my life? She’s always in my business! And I don’t get in trouble anymore!”

Kimi sniffled, “You’re failing…”

“Because I hate it! I asked Mom to let me out of that fancy academy, and she won’t!” MA shook her head. “Besides, perfect child is already taken, Kimiko.”

“That’s not fair and you know it.”

“Whatever,” She scoffed, “You bend over backwards to be the angel. I’m doing you a favor by being your dramatic foil.” She flopped down in her chair and began filing her nails. “Anyway, get out, I’m done talking about this.”

Kimi swung open the door. “I hate you so much.”

___

Up the rickety staircase of the attic, Michiru sat in her studio, the anger long passed as the moon curved across the sky and bathed the ground in shifting white hues. The coolness of the night creaked into her bones, reminding her of the things she’d said, and hadn’t meant, and all she could hear was her mother’s voice, and all she could see was her father’s scorn.

It is difficult, sometimes, to separate others from our expectations for them, and Michiru felt a rare pang of sympathy for her parents having watched her marry Haruka. She had thought them so unreasonable to object to someone who loved her so deeply, and here she was, objecting to something her daughter loved deeply, and excelled at.

She sighed heavily. She wasn’t all wrong--there was more cachet in having a degree, particularly from the sorts of places her family could afford, but what was cachet against a life spent doing something she truly hated? Jobs were difficult enough when you cared for the subject matter.

She had hurt Haruka’s feelings, and Haruka had lashed out. Whether she was 18 or 38, some things never changed, however hard Haruka had worked to change them.

Whether Michiru was 18 or 38, she tended to be a hypercritical snob.

She tossed the blanket on the couch.

___

Haruka turned over, again, unable to get comfortable.

“This mattress is all lumpy.” She said to no one in particular.

Lumped with your guilt, maybe, came the reply. Michiru was so patient with the way Haruka’s raising had affected her, and Haruka never gave her the same consideration. Why had it been so important to her to say that in front of Michiru’s parents? Don’t they give her enough trouble? She could have saved it.

She wished Michiru would come through the door. She wished she could apologize, tell her she loved her, that she wasn’t a snob, and that maybe they could use her connections to get MA an internship at a fashion house or something. That’d be good, right? That’d be enough to convince her parents.

But the door stayed closed, no matter how long Haruka’s eyes trained on it, and she heard only the sound of her own breath, whispering into the night.

__

Haruka awoke to the sound of a tray being set on the bed.

“I brought you breakfast.” Michiru sat at the edge of the bed. “To apologize for my boorish behavior last night. She is, indeed, also your child, and you have every right to comment on her education.” She took a deep breath and nodded. “And I was being a bit snobbish over the entire affair.”

Haruka looked down at the lovingly made dry eggs and lump pancakes. Michiru had cooked herself.

“I know,” Michiru said, interrupting her thoughts, “and so I brought this. “She picked up a carafe of mimosas from the side table.

“Michiru, I’m so sorry.” She looked over at her wife, beautiful in the light of the morning.

“Whyever should you apologize?”

Haruka picked at the pancakes. “I know how you are with your parents. It was mean to do that in front of them. I know better. I shouldn’t have.”

Michiru snuggled in next to her. “We must figure out some manner of united front on this issue, Haruka.”

Haruka put her arm around Michiru. “We have to let her do it, Michi. You kept her at the academy, and it didn’t help.”

Michiru nodded. “Fair, you did capitulate on that issue.”

Haruka kissed the top of her head. “I know it’s hard to let go.You may be a princess, but you’re MY princess.”

“Is too late to return them, do you think? I’ve quite had enough of this whole parenting adventure.”

Haruka laughed, and Kimi smiled as it carried into her room.