#I��ll cross that bridge when I get there I guess!

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Lilia Vanrouge Bloom Birthday Personal Story: Part 1

"Happy Birthday"

Part 1 (Part 2) (Part 3)

[Diasomnia Dorm – Birthday Party Venue]

Lilia: Happy New Year and Happy Birthday to me!!

Lilia: I can't believe I get to usher in such a lively day. I guess it's not too bad of an idea to randomly choose a birthdate.

???: Randomly choose a birthdate…?

Lilia: Oh, sounds like my Presenter has arrived. Hurry and come on in.

Jamil: Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Lilia-senpai, what were you saying just now…?

Lilia: Don't sweat the small things, Jamil. I'm looking forward to this today.

Jamil: I don't think it's a "small thing," but… I guess I won't look too deeply into it. Now then, bringing us back on track…

Jamil: Lilia-senpai, Happy Birthday. Here is your first question.

Jamil: "Are you good or bad at flying?"

Lilia: Kufufu, flying through the sky is one of my specialties. Whether I like the class or not is questionable, though.

Jamil: Are you saying… The school's course is too easy that you're bored?

Lilia: Not at all. It's so enjoyable to see all you youngsters try to fly with all your might like little birdlings who have just left the nest.

Lilia: But y'know～ When it's time for me to fly, that broom is just～

Jamil: I see, so it's an issue with the flying implements. Here at this school, all students have to use the brooms provided to them to maintain equality, after all.

Jamil: So, what is your preferred way to fly, Lilia-senpai?

Lilia: Great question! My preferred method is… Using just this body of mine.

Jamil: So, in other words, you fly without using any equipment.

Lilia: Right. They say that using a broom or a carpet makes it much easier to control your movements while flying, but…

Lilia: When you get to my level, those kinds of equipment just get in the way. They also tend to get caught on tree branches, or the walls of alleyways.

Jamil: Setting aside the fact that I doubt there'd ever be a chance to fly in such a narrow space… I suppose it'd be better to be as nimble as possible.

Lilia: Yep. I've traveled to many a country with this old body of mine. I've crossed fields, mountains and even oceans sometimes.

Lilia: Yet, sometimes it's also nice to take the train or a bus.

Lilia: I wonder how many years ago it was… I had a very interesting experience once where I spent a week just taking the train everywhere.

Jamil: A whole week using a train… I'm quite eager to know how you spent your time on board.

Lilia: I slept for most of it.

Jamil: You slept!? Despite it being an exciting train trip...

Lilia: We were just traveling through the empty wilderness, so the outside scenery was never-ending and never changing…

Lilia: And the shaking was too intense, to start with. I just couldn't read a book or play any games anyway.

Lilia: Plus, the chairs and beds were just too hard, and by the time I got off the train, my whole body was stiff.

Lilia: I've experienced many a thing, but that was the first time that my body hurt so much from not moving around at ll.

Jamil: Are you saying that that was your interesting experience?

Lilia: That's right!

Lilia: Using wisdom and engineering, railroad tracks have been laid all across the vast land, bridges have been built to cross rivers, tunnels have been dug in large mountains...

Lilia: The routes built by those pioneers can carry babes and elderly alike to far-off lands.

Lilia: That was a journey that allowed me to personally experience the dedicated persistence and efforts of the humans.

Jamil: There are stories of families cultivating the lands or roads for generations… If you put it that way, then I suppose there's a sort of charm to that kind of inconvenient travel, hm?

Lilia: I thought they were still laying chunks of metal all over the ground, but now people can fly so freely in the sky…

Lilia: Human ingenuity is really quite fascinating.

Part 1 (Part 2) (Part 3)

Requested by Anonymous.

[ncisladaily]

NCIS: Los Angeles aired its final episode on May 21. One day later, fans learned that would not be the last time they saw at least one of their favorite characters.

LL Cool J reprised his role as Sam Hanna in the NCIS: Hawai’i Season 2 finale, to help out Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey) and Kate Whistler (Tori Anderson) in Caracas. Though he offered further assistance, Tennant insisted she’d be OK. Immediately after the episode aired, CBS announced that LL Cool J will be recurring in Season 3.

But even before that, we couldn’t help but wonder if we’d see any of the LA characters again, especially since members of the three teams — in D.C. (NCIS) and Hawai’i — teamed up earlier in the 2022-2023 season. There are the other shows. There’s the possibility of a revival of some sort, especially given what’s happened with other shows. (Just look at Criminal Minds; it lives on at Paramount+ with Evolution.)

“I think that’s very possible. Since we have done a crossover, some of the characters have appeared on the other shows, so it’s quite possible that they end up making appearances there,” NCIS: LA executive producer R. Scott Gemmill said when we talked about the finale, but added, “That’s sort of, at this point, a decision beyond my capability.”

And would Daniela Ruah, who played Kensi Blye going back to the NCIS backdoor pilot episodes, be up for reprising her role? “Technically, I’ve actually played Kensi in two extra episodes from those that we’ve counted on our show, and then it’s actually a third one if you count Hawaii Five-0 as well. This woman is such a huge part of me,” she told us. “In regard to me showing up on another NCIS, it hasn’t been discussed, talked about, or looked into. Obviously, I don’t know. I guess I’ll cross that bridge if it comes my way.”

We’ll have to wait and see for now, but at least we know we’re getting more Sam Hanna!

[whatgoeswhumpinthenight]

A Devil’s Deal Part 4

Part 1 || Previous Part || Next Part

Taglist: @whumping-out-of-time @darklyria

TW: Vomit, Swearing, blood, noncon touching

“Mutt, 20 minutes or no food.” Apollo had grown used too Zariels way of waking him up, either be dressed and down in the dinning hall within that time frame or go hungry. Apollo quickly got dressed with the bare minimum and headed too the dining hall, when he arrived he noticed Zariel pinching the bridge of his nose, a sigh came from him then he spotted Apollo. “Mutt come over here.” Apollo walked over too him, a quick boot too his gut had Apollo crumple to the ground a weak vomit that was mainly stomach acid scalded his throat.

“W- why?” Apollo looked up to see his scowling master who promptly used Apollo’s head as a foot rest with an axe kick sending it back into the floor.

“Because I will be dealing with an old flame to get some vital info for our search.” Zariel beckoned a maid who was awaiting any order. “Wine, red, just bring a bottle or three, it’s going to be a long day.” The maid bowed and promptly left the room. “So Mutt you will not look at him, if you do I won’t stop whatever he decides to do to you aside from taking you.”

“U- Understood.” After a few minutes of silence Apollo heard the door open, with his advanced hearing he knew it it wasn’t the maid that left.

“Maid the wi-” Zariel promptly went silent. “You won’t let me get sloshed before we talk huh?” Three wine bottles were placed on the table and a chair was pulled out for somebody to sit upon.

“And you won’t let me play with your dog?” the man said in a playful tone.

“You know the damn rules, don’t make me teach them to you again.” Apollo heard one of the wine bottles taken and opened, no glasses were on the table so he surmised that Zariel was drinking straight from the bottle. “Unless you’re in the mood for broken fingers.”

“Yeah, yeah, so who are you looking for dirt on this time? Xatrix? that other werewolf? somebody related to your roadblock?” Apollo’s ears perked up at the mention of werewolf, he yearned for a pack, it was in his nature to do so as a social creature. “Your dog is interested in the werewolf at least.”

“Well he’s not the one paying you, you know damn well what I want Ephrial.” Zariel’s foot went from the back of his heel too the bottom pressing down hard on Apollo’s head as he leaned forward. “So get along with it before I remove you.”

“From what you told me you tracked down your sibling too a hospital to only find it burned down, well I can confirm they are alive.”

“No shit, why do you think I got the Mutt.” Zariel crossed his legs which let Apollo free. “now tell me where.” Apollo looked up at Zariel too see his scowl.

“Apparently they were transferred alongside a man who’s only files I found indicate his name as Samuel Hall, I wasn’t able to get his address due to the fire but he’s just a human.” Apollo looked up at the man across the table from Zariel, he had a dark silver hair with a few brown streaks amidst them, he wore some sort of white coat with blue accents, when Apollo looked into his yellow eyes did the world around him feel heavy and dark, dread crept up his back as his blood ran cold, there was an uncontrollable shaking that overtook him, it took all his power to not vomit up his stomach acids, his breath grew erratic. “Aww the puppy wants to play.”

“Work first, play second.” Zariel looked down at the shaking Apollo who had wrapped his arms around himself, Apollo looked up to not see the usual anger from failing Zariel but saw a look of disappointment. “You can play with the Mutt as part of the payment.” Ephrial scowled but agreed with a nod. “Good now tell me why the fuck I should care about some random human?”

“Olvon has taken to them as their master so find the master and you get the servant.” Ephrial and Zariel both had smirks grow but for very different reasons.

“Alright then i”ll transfer your payment while you play with the Mutt, Just don’t kill him, I still need his nose to find this Dr.” Zariel left the room.

“Well then little puppy I guess I get to play with you for a bit.” Ephrial petted Apollo’s hair until he calmed down. “Calm now? good.” The petting quickly turned to a grip upon his hair as Ephrial bashed Apollo’s face upon the floor. “I always wondered about werewolves, I hear only silver can kill right? So if I do this you’ll live anyway.” Apollo had dealt with their face being bashed before but the strength that the man had was staggering, until Apollo felt Ephrial grip his left ear by the tip. “Okay and One-” Apollo whimpered and whined hoping somebody would save him from losing an ear.

“Two-” Apollo tried to fight back but whenever he tried it felt like his body turned against him, what was to be a gash with his claw to Ephrial’s throat became one to his own side, attempts to grip Ephrial’s arm became Apollo choking himself, it felt like an eternity between two and three.

“Three.” Before Apollo’s ear was ripped off he felt instead a quick clean cut, when he opened his eyes Apollo saw Ephrial with a letter opener in his chest piercing his heart, between his thumb and pointer finger was the tip of Apollo’s ear. “I wasn’t going to kill him, just remove an ear so why the hostility?”

“I told you I needed the nose and you broke it, now get out or I’ll contact your little brother.” Zariel glared daggers at Ephrial.

“Fine fine, but next time I will enjoy your puppy to my full extent.” Ephrial stood up and started to leave without removing the letter opener.

“Touch MY dog and I’ll kill your horse you son of a bitch.” Ephrial just gave a thumbs up as he left as he came; without much to note. “Apollo you get to rest for the rest of your day, we can deal with punishments when you acclimatize to his effects.” Zariel finished his bottle of wine and downing another while undoing his vest and tie ripping open his dress shirt to get comfortable, Apollo looked at him and was surprised that Zariel had more muscles and scars then he would expect from somebody like him. “Can’t walk or talk? yeah that’s not unheard of.” Zariel walked up to Apollo and grabbed his hair, dragging him away from the dining hall, Apollo knew he was going to his room which was somewhat nice of Zariel. When Zariel went past Apollo’s room did he begin to worry about where they were going, when Apollo entered a luxurious room with Zariel did he start to panic, his body would not listen to him still, would he be tortured in his master’s room? When he was hoisted onto the bed did he calm a little. “I’m drained and drunk after dealing with that angel, you’re keeping me warm dog so-” Zariel got comfy holding onto Apollo. “Move and I remove your liver got it? either way goodnight.” Apollo laid there for who knows how long until he fell asleep.

[browneyedmissy]

Like a Friend

Pairing: Rafael Aveiro x Casey Valentine

Summary: Feelings run high after Rafael saved the boy on the bridge. OH2 Chapter 5 expansion

Author's Note: Welcome to my insomnia fueled quarantine writing where there is angst all around. I have many a drafts that I am working on in the wee hours of the morning.

Playlist: Missing You by John Waite, Save Your Tears by The Weekend, Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash, Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World, Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root

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When Rafael saw that boy hanging, terrified, he knew he had to do something.

He drowned out Elijah's warning as he climbed down, feeling the adrenaline as he opened the hatchback and saw the driver in the passenger seat. He couldn't have been older than 16, Rafael concluded, the same age as some of the neighborhood boys were.

"Climb up to me slowly, no sudden movements." Rafael called out as the boy trembled.

"I can't. I'm shaking." He gripped harder onto the car and Rafael's eyes softened.

"What's your name?"

"Garrett." The driver said quietly.

"Garrett, my name is Rafael. Nice to meet you. It's okay to be scared. But I'm going to help you as much as I can. Can you climb through the seats for me?"

Rafael felt the car begin to sink as Garrett climbed over and froze, staring at him wildly.

"Hey, it's okay. Just a little bit more, okay, grab onto my hand."

The boy nodded and crawled over to Rafael as he saw rope drop down. He looked up to see long brown hair and a worried expression on Casey's face. He gave her a nod.

"Climb into my shoulders, I've got you." He said as Garrett obeyed.

"Rafael! The rope!" He heard Casey's voice as the car began to groan. He took a deep breath before leaping to grab the rope as the car plummeted to the river.

"We're okay, Garrett." Rafael said to the trembling boy on his shoulders as he climbed up. He heard the sirens of the ambulance approaching as he reached the bridge. Garrett slowly loosened his grip on him before sitting in disbelief on the sidewalk.

"Hey, look at me for a minute." They both turned to see Casey approaching him with an analytical face. She kneeled next to Garrett and briefly checked him out. "I don't see any injuries, just a heightened heart rate. I think you'll be fine but I want you to go get checked out just in case."

The boy looked at Rafael before throwing his arms around him. "Thank you so much, Rafael."

A few other paramedics came to escort him to the ambulance, leaving just Rafael and Casey. He felt a little awkward, sitting with her like that until she turned to face him.

"Show me your hands." She said briskly. He winced as he turned over his hands and she saw where the rope burn had started to settle in. She pursed her lips as she examined it.

Absently, Rafael noted that this was the closest Casey and him had been since they had broken up and he started dating Sora. They had agreed that they could be friends- but honestly, he hadn't seen much of her since besides an awkward hello as she passed him in the hallways. He had been as surprised as her when Elijah came up with her and realized it was the first time he had really seen her outside the hospital in a while.

"Only first degree so it could have been worse. But you'll want to wash that right away and wrap it." She concluded as she looked up. She blinked as she met his eyes, feeling the heat rise in her neck as she pulled away, dropping his hands.

"You should go see your supervisor." Casey said suddenly, standing up and brushing off her jeans. "I'm going to go find Elijah."

-

I'm sorry, Aveiro, but I have to suspend you for now.

Rafael sighed as he leaned back on the couch, covering his eyes with his arms. He had been trying to distract himself with his friends but he knew realistically he needed to come up with a plan. While his supervisor had a soft spot for him, she was also still tied up with paperwork from the tunnel collapse months ago and he knew realistically his job was unsure.

He heard a door as Casey stepped out in a pretty black and gold dress, her wavy brown hair pulled into a ponytail, highlighting the angles of her cheek and the soft curve of her neck.

"Is Jackie out here?" She asked, glancing around.

"No. Do you need her?"

"Umm..." She looked at her roommate's door as if it would open. "I need help zipping up the back of my dress."

"Oh. Umm, I can do that." He said, scratching the back of his head. They had agreed that they were good, but he wasn't quite sure what that really meant.

"I guess." Casey shrugged as she turned around, moving her hair over to the side. His fingers brushed over the warm skin of her back as he zipped up her dress. He took a step back and she turned around.

"Thanks." She cleared her throat as she stood awkwardly, crossing and uncrossing her arms. "Umm, how's Sora?"

"She's good. She's out on a business trip right now but she'll be back soon."

She gave an absent tug on her ponytail as she nodded. "I'm sorry to hear about your job, Raf."

Rafael gave her a half hearted shrug. "Can't do much about that. Chief hasn't been too pleased with me since the tunnel collapse. She had to file a lot of paperwork and she was upset that I put myself in danger."

Casey bit her lip in thought and he remembered the conversation they had in the low lights of the hospital.

"She and you had the same words for me when I woke from surgery." He laughed softly. "How I couldn't risk my life to be a hero."

Casey felt her blood run cold as she looked at him, shutting out the memories of his still body on the stretcher, how she heard Bryce and Harper's voices muffled in the air, everything blurring until she realized she was standing over his body with a surgical mask on.

"Well we agree for a reason. You weren't the one in the hospital when you were wheeled in, Raf." Casey said, surprised at the anger biting at her words. "We lost many people that day, Rafael. I don't remember their faces anymore because we were so overloaded. I just remember their names and I am thankful that your name didn't join that list. I still don't know what I would have done."

"Casey..." He hesitated. His mind flashed to the memories of him waking up with her dozing in the chair, ordering takeout for him and her cuddling up next to him watching TV.

"Part of the job. It's fine, Raf." She said shortly, giving him a dismissive shrug. "I just... When you were hanging off that bridge earlier. I don't know. I just got scared."

He frowned as her voice trembled with the last words. She was looking anywhere but at him now and he could feel the tension building in her shoulders.

"Our kryptonite." He said softly. "You hated when I put myself in danger and put others over myself."

Her head whipped as she looked up at him. "Because I'm selfish, Raf and I wanted you to stop putting yourself I'm danger. But I couldn't ask you to change that about yourself. We broke up because you were going to quit your job because of me."

He blinked, hesitating for a moment. "I wasn't-"

"You were considering it. You were considering it because you knew I was having nightmares and I couldn't be the reason why you tried to change yourself. I admired how much you loved people, Raf. It's what drew me to you in the first place. It's one of the reasons I loved you."

Too late, Casey realized, those last words had come out of her mouth. Rafael looked at her in surprise and she winced.

"I didn't know you felt that way." He said quietly.

"Felt. We're friends now." Casey corrected, feeling nauseous as the words came out. Her heart still broke a little everytime she saw him and shattered when she saw him with Sora. "We broke up. I care like a friend now, Rafael."

"You never told me you loved me when we were together, Casey." His eyes softened towards her and she suddenly felt trapped in her own skin. Every inch of her wanted to run because she couldn't handle being in front of him with those feelings beginning to surface.

"Neither did you." She finally whispered. "Doesn't matter anymore. It's in the past now."

"Casey..." Everything seemed to move in slow motion for her as he reached out to touch her cheek.

There was a turning of a doorknob and they both jumped apart as the door opened and Jackie emerged from her room. Jackie raised an eyebrow at the two of them and Casey gave her a slight shake of her head.

"Alright then, Sienna, Bryce and Aurora are going to meet us there." Jackie said as Rafael nodded, recognizing Casey's relief at the interruption. "Greene, let's go!"

Rafael gave Casey a backwards glance as he walked with Elijah but she was arm and arm with Jackie, speaking in hushed tones.

"Spill, Valentine. What happened just then?"

"You know. Feelings. Messiness." Casey let out a short derisive laugh before resting her head on her roommate's shoulder. "You don't normally care for this kind of talk."

"No, but you're my best friend and I know things have been awkward with you and Rafael."

"I appreciate that, Jackie. I just... I wish I could move past that stage with him, you know? This awkward yeah, let's be friends but not actually because feelings. What would you do?"

Jackie sighed, glancing at the back of Rafael's head. "I'm not good at this, Valentine. I actually like Superman too and you know that I don't like most people. Honestly, I would get over him by moving on rebound with someone else."

Casey bit her lip. "We broke up for a very real reason. We didn't break up because I don't love him."

"Don't or didn't love, Casey? I think you need to ask if that heartbreak worth having him in your life."

-

"Will you dance with me?"

Rafael turned to see Casey, reaching out her hand. He blinked at it, thinking about that night they had been under the stars in his neighborhood, dancing away the night.

She sensed his hesitation and she withdrew her hand. "If it's awkward, I'll just ask-"

"No! No, I'll dance with you." He blurted as he reached out to grab her wrist. He winced a little at his eagerness.

She bit her lip in thought for a moment before she turned her hand and put the other on his shoulder. His frame was a little stiff but it still felt so familiar that it made her heart ache.

"If I'm going to be honest, I've been avoiding you since we broke up." She admitted. "It just... It kinda hurt seeing you and especially when you started dating Sora again."

"Same. I missed you." He admitted. "It's not the same coming into the hospital without you. I used to bring the nurses coffee while I was there in hopes of seeing you."

He wondered for a moment whether or not he should have said those things. He thought for a moment about Sora, feeling a little guilty about the way his heart pounded when he heard Casey say that she had loved him.

Casey laughed softly. "I know. They all adore you for it."

"Are we okay then?"

There was a long pause and Rafael watched Casey bite her lip in contemplation.

"I had a good talk to Jackie earlier and she asked if a little bit of heartbreak was worth having you in my life." She said thoughtfully. "I had to think about it, but it is. You are a kind and selfless person and the world is lucky to have you in it. And I'm lucky to have you in my life, even just as a friend. I might need a little extra time and space, but I'm here for you, Raf."

He brought her closer and she hesitated before resting her head against his chest. His heart raced and he wondered if she could tell how fast it was beating.

"To moving on as friends." He said quietly into her hair. He felt a gnawing curiosity, a question that had crossed his mind earlier bubbling to come out.

"Can I ask, since we're just friends," Rafael said thickly. "When did you realize?"

He couldn't say the word love out loud. He and Casey were broken up and it didn't make a difference anymore but some part of him wanted to know.

"That night we did surgery on you. When you told me it was worth it to be crushed by rubble so that you could kiss me."

His grip on her upper back tightened. "The night you came with me to meet my vovo."

They danced in silence for the rest of the song and Casey had the sudden fleeting wish they could stand like that, in each other's arms and forget about everything else.

"I'll always care about you, Raf." She said as she took a step back. His arms were still warm against her as if he had the same thought as she did. His eyes met hers and his heart ached as the next words came out of her mouth. "To being friends."

He dropped his arms and nodded, his throat dry with the words he swallowed down.

"Right. Friends."

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Tags:

@heauxplesslydevoted @hatescapsicum @cora-nova @princess-geek @flyawayboo @sunnyxdazed @loveellamae @my-remedy-is-euphoria @narrytheworld @drakewalker04 @annekebbphotography @drakewalkerfantasy

[rune-writes]

Yellow Flowers of Reunion

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Word count: 3265

Rating: G

Summary: It has been four years since Zack moved to Midgar. When he is having lunch with Aerith and her mother, he is reminded of his home and his parents.

Note: Part 1 of an ongoing Mother’s Day series centering on Zack, Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith. Part 1 is Zack’s story. 

Read on AO3.

~*~*~*~*~

It was a spring morning when Zack was sitting on one of the church’s benches, watching Aerith tend to her flower bed. He had sneaked out of morning practice. Thinking he had been making good progress with no one noticing his absence, he almost jumped when his phone beeped just as he reached the sector 5 slums, and he realized that was not the case at all.

Right. Go and have your little date with Aerith. I’ll just be here covering your ass.

Zack couldn’t help the snicker. He could just imagine the frown and resigned sigh on Kunsel’s face. Of course, his friend would have figured out where Zack had disappeared to since early in the morning. Even when he hadn’t even told him about Aerith, Kunsel had somehow known that Zack was seeing a girl. Actually seeing one.  

Anyway, Zack would have to treat his friend to lunch later. He silently promised Kunsel that as he made his way to the Sector 5 Slum’s church.

It had been too early—Aerith hadn’t even gotten to the church yet by the time Zack arrived. So he stood there, looking around, walking around, sat on the bench then crouched by the flower bed. No matter how many times he had been here, he was still amazed real flowers could bloom in a place as barren as Midgar. A miracle. It shouldn’t be odd then, should it, that he had thought of her as an angel when he fell down through the hole in the roof of her church?

Zack stroked his finger down the soft petals of the yellow flowers, a small smile playing across his lips. Where was Aerith? What if he made a surprise visit to her home instead?

Zack jumped up to his feet, the thought of the surprise lining Aerith’s lovely face filling him with glee, when he realized he didn’t know where the girl’s home was.

The thought had barely crossed his mind when the sound of heavy creaking against the wooden floor drew at his attention. Zack looked up to see the double doors slowly opening and Aerith slipped through them, her light blue dress swaying around her. She stopped short when she spotted him. Even in this distance, he could make out the slight widening of her eyes and her mouth opening in a silent gasp.

Well, he didn’t get to see Aerith’s home, but he did get to see Aerith’s surprise. Zack’s lips broke into a huge grin, his hand flying up in an encompassing wave, and her name rolling off his tongue before he could think.

“Ah, right!” Aerith’s sudden outburst broke through his reverie. When Zack looked, she was already looking up at him from her spot by the flowers. “My mom’s inviting you for lunch.”

Zack blinked. “Your…mom?”

Aerith nodded with a smile on her face. “I know you’re busy, and I told her you might not make it, but she still said you should come whenever you can, so…” Aerith let her voice trail off. He noticed the anticipation in her eyes, but Zack’s brain couldn’t quite catch up. He was dumbfounded that Aerith’s mom knew about his existence.

“You’ve…told your mom about me?”

Aerith nodded.

Zack blinked again, and again, letting it slowly register that yes, her mom knew about him. When it finally did, he bit his lower lip, trying to hold back the smile threatening to break free. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to cry. He wanted to jump and dance and pick her up and swing her around. But Zack remained on the bench, finding his gaze fixated on a bit of a crack on the floor by his feet.

“So, can you or can you not make it?”

Zack cleared his throat and took a deep calming breath. “Today?”

“Yes, today.” A hint of exasperation in her voice but all he wanted was to smile. Good thing he had most of the day off. Treating Kunsel to lunch would have to wait for a while longer.

“Sure, I can make it,” he finally replied, and when he met her gaze again, Aerith smiled so sweetly, her eyes crinkling in the process, and he thought he was probably the luckiest guy in the world right now.

***

Her house wasn’t hard to find, actually. Even if he had gotten lost, Aerith seemed to be quite well-known among her people that if he were to ask for direction, they would probably tell him. Though on the other hand, him dressed as a SOLDIER operative might prompt them to give him false information—judging from the side eyes he had received from some of them.  

Past the train station and into the Sector 5 Slums, through various shops and rundown, densely packed neighborhood, they entered the grassy area between an orphanage and a community center that led to a winding tunnel-of-sort and opened up to the most beautiful scenery Zack had ever witnessed in the entire metropolitan steel city. So much sun; so much greenery. A huge clearing within a wall of rocky outcroppings. Water fell down the face of the cliff on the other side into a stream between a cute little cottage and what seemed to be Aerith’s own personal flower garden.

If he were to describe the place in one word, it would be vibrant.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?” Aerith asked with a coy smile and a glance up at him.

It was, to the point that it made him speechless with awe. He could only reply with a nod. Aerith giggled at his loss for words.

“Come on,” she said, grabbing his arm and leading him down the short flight of wooden stairs into a small riverbank with makeshift wooden bridges on either side. To his right was the garden beyond, with a plethora of reds and yellows and greens and oranges dotting the vast winding yard as far as his eye could see. Aerith led him to the left, past a mailbox and over the rickety bridge. The water beneath was so clean, and so clear, with water lily leaves scattered on the surface and schools of fish swimming underneath it.

They reached the stone pavement beyond, where rocks were stacked on either side to create more flower beds. Zack spotted roses and daisies and marigolds and even cattails among others. A mixture of various sweet scents teased his nostrils.

When was the last time he was in a place like this? So calm and peaceful and serene. Far from the hustle and bustle of city life on the upper plate, where smoke from factories and vehicle exhaust coiled the atmosphere. It reminded him of his home.

Aerith opened the cottage door and Zack was immediately greeted by the rich smell of stew boiling in the kitchen. He adjusted his eyes to the slight dimness and found himself in circular dining room that probably also served as a living room, with a singular round table and four wooden chairs around it. More flowers lined the walls, in vases or baskets, on tables and cabinets. A small CRT TV nestled in one corner. A staircase led up to a second floor.

“I’m home!” Aerith called.

A reply came from his right, where a woman in a green dress and an apron was stirring the pot of stew on a stove. “Welcome home, Aerith.” She looked over her shoulder with a smile. Her gaze flitted over to Zack and the smile bloomed into a beam. “And you must be Zack.”

To be honest, whenever he had the time to let his mind wander, Zack had conjured countless scenarios of meeting Aerith’s parents in his head. He had wondered what her house looked like, and how her parents would receive him, whether they would accept him or reject him, and what he would do were that to happen.

To be honest, Zack had never thought her mother would be the first one to invite him for lunch.

Zack hastily bowed his head. “I’m Zack,” he said with a light flush to his cheeks. “Thank you for inviting me over.”

He was rewarded with a soft chuckle. Aerith’s mother wiped her hands on her apron as she turned to face him and stepped out of the kitchen area. “Yes, the pleasure’s all mine,” she said. “I’m Elmyra, Aerith’s mother. My daughter’s told me quite a lot about you. I heard how you’ve helped her a lot.”

“Ah, well—” Zack scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin, “—we help each other a lot I guess. Aerith’s been really kind to me ever since I met her.”

A giggle from his side and he glanced down to find Aerith covering her lips with a finger.

Elmyra smiled. “Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Zack,” she went on. “We’re going to have chicken stew today. Just make yourself at home, okay?”

Zack nodded stiffly.

“And Aerith, you can go ahead and set the table.”

“Okay—”

“I’ll help!”

Aerith was heading for a cabinet on another side of the room when she laughed at his interjection. “Stop being so uptight,” she said. “Just put your sword down and take a seat.”

“But—”

She shushed him with a hiss and Zack had no choice but to back down. He pulled his sword from his back and let it stand against the wall. Aerith gave him an approving nod before making her way to the tableware cabinet.

Zack pursed his lips and resigned himself to follow the mother and daughter. He turned to face the table and took in the small room.

Elmyra had said to make himself at home, but to be honest, it was actually difficult to make himself feel not at home. Aerith’s house had that sort of warm, homey feeling to it. The smell of stew cooking in the kitchen, the tableware cluttering as Aerith pulled them out of its cabinet, and the scent of aging wood mixed in with the various flowers on the tables—they weren’t much, but they did remind him of home. If he shut his eyes, he could just imagine that he was back in Gongaga with his mother cooking in the kitchen while his father worked outside, and as he entered the house, she would turn around with a smile on her face and said, “Welcome home, Zack.”

As Aerith set the table, Zack found his eyes drawn to the set of photographs on a side table by the TV. One was an old photo of a young couple he thought was Elmyra and her husband, smiling in front of the house. The other had probably been taken several years after, and in it was a slightly older Elmyra, holding a little girl around seven or eight, wearing a cute orange shirt with a matching orange skirt, her long brown hair tied to the back. The man from before was nowhere to be found.

“Who gave you permission to look at photos?” her voice piped in from behind him. Aerith bobbed her head around his side and peered into the frame Zack was holding.

“Little Aerith was too cute, I couldn’t resist the temptation,” Zack replied with a grin. “I don’t see your father, though.”

Aerith didn’t answer immediately. She stared at the other photo, her eyes drawn. “He died in the war,” she quietly said.

“Oh—” he caught himself. “I’m sorry—”  

But Aerith only shook her head. “That’s okay,” she replied. She didn’t elaborate, and he didn’t ask anything more, because Elmyra called for them, then, saying their lunch was ready. The smile was back on Aerith’s face, as though Zack hadn’t just broached a sensitive topic. She plucked the photo from his hands and put it back on its place, ushering him to take a seat at the table.

***

Three bowls of hot steaming stew lay on the table. Having now sat before one of them, the chicken stock smelled even more overpowering than ever before. The broth was thick with potatoes and carrots and a dash of parsley at the top. The chicken thighs looked crispy. It made his mouth water.

“Dig in,” Elmyra said from her seat across from him.

Zack nodded, grabbed the spoon, and scooped the broth with the potatoes and carrots into his open mouth. The taste exploded inside him—so rich and delicious, the vegetables so soft. It warmed him inside out. Zack didn’t remember the last time he ate something so good and he was smiling before he knew it and had already scooped another spoonful of stew.

“It’s good,” he said. The chicken, especially, was so tender and it seemed to melt in his mouth. “It’s really good.”

The smile on Elmyra’s face was so bright as she looked at him. Then she looked at Aerith and nodded at her daughter to enjoy her meal. They started talking, then—about life in Midgar and Zack’s job as a SOLDIER, about the slums and the people living under the steel sky, about Aerith’s days and the flowers she had tended to—and it made him feel warm. This house and the two people living inside it made him feel a sort of warmth he hadn’t felt in years, and when Elmyra asked her next question, Zack found himself pausing.

“Where are you from, Zack?”

“Gongaga,” he replied.

Elmyra blinked in surprise. “That’s a long way from here.”

Zack chuckled, somewhat self-deprecatingly. “That goes for most of us SOLDIERs. I came here when I was thirteen.” That was barely four years ago—a mere boy from a backwater town who had looked up at the stars and dreamed of becoming a hero.

“Have you ever been back home since you came here?” Elmyra asked again.

Zack shook his head. “We don’t get a lot of time off,” he said.

“Your parents must miss you a lot, then.”

It was a simple, innocent statement, one anyone he’d met on the street would probably have said, but it made Zack go still, because unlike other boys who had left their village with the blessings of their families and townspeople to look for jobs in the big city, Zack had gone in the dead of the night, without a word or a letter to his parents. His hand had stopped midway to his mouth, the stew forgotten.

It had been so long since he had any home-cooked meals. All he ever had since he arrived in Midgar were either the cafeteria food they served in the barrack, rations he got on missions, or, if he were up for a splurge, the various restaurants and bars in the upper plate. He had been too preoccupied with his new life that he had never even thought of his home, or his parents, in the years he had been here.

***

“Do you think I should send them something?” Zack asked Aerith once they were out the door.

They had finished their meal and Zack had bowed and thanked Elmyra for having him. He promised to visit some time, but Elmyra just laughed it off and told him not to worry.

“Who?” Aerith asked.

“My parents.” They walked leisurely down the stone pavement toward the bridge at the other end, waiting for the stew to go down his stomach and he was ready to face whatever wrath his friend would unleash upon him once he returned to Headquarters.

“Hmm, well—” Aerith had a finger to her lips, deep in thoughts. Zack’s gaze flitted over to the flowers just as Aerith said, “Why not flowers? It’s going to be Mother’s Day soon, too.”

Mother’s Day. How could he have forgotten about that? In fact, Zack didn’t remember having sent his parents anything in the past four years.

But, flowers were a great idea. His mother loved flowers. And he would write a letter, too. They weren’t much, but they were a start. He’d write them more letters after this.

“And good thing you’ve got someone with a beautiful flower garden such as this,” Aerith went on, beaming as she spread her arms wide to encompass the entirety of her garden. Zack couldn’t help but laugh at it.

“What sort of flowers do you recommend, then?”

“Well, carnations are best for Mother’s Day—” her eyes turned downcast, “—but sadly I don’t have carnations. You can probably find some in the upper plate, though.”

Zack shook his head. They’d gotten past the first bridge, and instead of taking the stairs up on the right that would lead him back to the Slums, he led Aerith through the other bridge toward her personal garden. A patch near the bridge by the water was filled with the very same flowers he saw in her church.

“What about these?” he asked, crouching down by the yellow flowers. “They’re the ones that grow in your church too, right.”

“Good eye, Zack,” Aerith said, crouching down beside him. She caressed the long yellow petals with a smile. “These flowers mean reunion. They’ll be perfect.” Her bright smile was still plastered on her face when she looked up at him, and it made him want to smile back.

***

Kunsel was waiting for him in Headquarters with a frown and his arms folded, because Zack had gone out for more than half the day without so much as a notification or any sort of permit and Kunsel had to come up with a half-baked lie whenever someone asked about him. He gave a resigned sigh when Zack promised to buy him lunch, and instead, shifted his focus to the large bouquet of yellow flowers in Zack’s hands.

“Aren’t you supposed to give flowers to the girl and not the other way around?” his friend asked.

“These aren’t for me,” Zack said with a laugh. “They’re for my mom.”

Kunsel stared at him at that, as though he had sprouted two more heads, and Zack laughed. “It’s Mother’s Day,” he said. “Want me to let her know you’re looking for a bouquet too?”

Kunself scoffed. “For one thing, I know it’s Mother’s Day soon and I’ve already prepared something for my mom.”

Zack whistled teasingly.

“For another,” Kunsel went on with a frown, but the frown was only short-lived, and it was replaced by a small smile. “I hope your mom likes it.”

He hadn’t expected Kunsel to say that, and for a split second, Zack was left speechless. Kunsel chuckled, and gave him a pat on the shoulder, before leaving off to who-knew-where. He looked back once, saying, “Don’t forget about that lunch, now!” and disappeared behind a door.

The short quip broke through his trance, and Zack found himself laughing in the empty hall. He had promised. He wouldn’t forget. But now, he would go back to his room, pull out a paper and pen, and write his parents a letter. An apology for leaving town so suddenly and for worrying them, because he wanted to become a SOLDIER so bad, he hadn’t thought his actions through. He hoped his parents were all right, and he wished for their safety and health.

Happy Mother’s Day, he wrote. His pen paused over the paper, biting his lip. But the sight of the yellow flowers beside him brought his mind back to that afternoon in the flower garden where she smiled her bright smile as her green eyes met his. The smile blooming on his face was so instantaneous and instinctive and he saw no problem writing it down.

P.S. I have a girlfriend.

~ END ~

[literallychris]

This is a very long vent post because I can’t sleep, am very sad and needed a way to get it out. TW suicide & self harm

I love you a lot, and miss you a lot. It's a shame how things are. I feel guilty about lots of things, and even though it's hopefully better for both of us, it's hard not to feel like a piece of garbage for going this route. I always feel shitty and evil and blah blah, whether it's warranted or not.

It's hard not to pull a 180 on it, too. Every day like "maybeeee I should go back?" I'm constantly daydreaming about things magically being fixed, and we get to talk again. I've never really had many lights in my life, still don't, but you were definitely one of the brightest, and it's hard not having that. It's hard not knowing what's going on with you day to day, or getting to joke around with you, or being there to comfort you, hoping someone's there to do it. Someone to count you to sleep. I never liked that you had to struggle, but I fucking loved being able to help take care of you. You've got a lot of struggles, I hope someone's helping. I don't want you to hurt.

I've missed people before, but I just missed them. I actually notice your absence all the time. Things don't feel normal anymore, it really sucks. One time I ended up going through my old screenshots. We all know how that goes. Reading chat logs, not even anything funny or interesting, just random stuff I had for whatever reason. As soon as I stopped, I realized how wild the tonal shift in my life has been. "Wow, for 5 minutes my life felt normal again."

You're everywhere. I see the things you'd like everywhere, stuff I wish I could send you, someone saying something that you might say. I recently streamed to our server, and right at the beginning, one of my teammates was the first to join in. It was the first time I heard their voice, and their voice, and cadence, and jokes, was so spot on for yours that it almost killed my mood immediately. It was weirdly comforting eventually. I guess the familiarity helped my anxiety.

I'm drowning myself in lots of work these days, getting dev shit done, even if it's personal work. I'd love to say it's me taking initiative to improve and be productive, but honestly I think it's a distraction technique. I can't be idle these days, my mind goes to bad places fast. It scares me sometimes, because I spent years fighting mental illness, and depression, and suicidal thoughts, and I think I got pretty good at it! For a long while all of that stuff was easy to shove away. Now, if I have 10 seconds without immediate mental activity, I think of you, or any of the other things I'm struggling with, and it's a slippery slope to places I don't wanna end up again.

I think I'm writing this because I need to hurt myself, but I can't allow myself to do it other ways. I could put my phone down, but I'm thinking about it all anyway, so may as well utilize it, right? Plus, writing is a distraction, right? I write all of the team's goofy, happy news posts, I should spend time letting the less than positive stuff out, even if it's about you and you won't even see it. I keep going on tangents like this and I think that's why. More distraction. Even when I'm hurting myself, I'm still trying to take care of myself. Mental illness is weird.

But just like every other time, eventually the distraction wears thin, and I'm back to square one. I truly hope that whatever's going on with you, you're getting along better than I am. This is really lame. Whenever I think about you suffering, I need to scream, so please I hope you're able to better yourself and be strong and okay! I want you okay, so badly.

I don't know what's gonna happen in my life, neither the short term nor long. Things are weird. I feel like I'm burning bridges before I've actually crossed or not. I picture myself lighting a match, dropping it, going "Hopefully I make it!" and breaking out into a sprint across a long-ass rickety bridge. Sometimes I wanna make it across, sometimes I wanna turn back, sometimes I hope I fall into the abyss. Kinda feels like that's where I'm at now Har Har.

You and I are both sick, so things are hard to figure out and get through. Especially stuff like this. Above all, I want us both to end up happy, whatever form that takes. And we're both fighters, so we'll get there. I'm the guy who sent a suicide note to his teammates, then went and sat in the woods with a gun for a while. It's been some years, and you've seen how optimistic and positive I can be! And you, I can see that same fire for recovery blazing inside of you. I've seen you trying so hard, it always amazed me. I've seen you knocking on death's door too, and yet you're still around. I've never felt you were hopeless, you've got so much strength in you. You got this!

Whatever happens, we're gonna be okay.

[pyrotrolls]

♥️ ♦️ ⏳ 🎁 Vemili

Troll relationship ask game

♥️: What an ideal matesprit is

W-WH@t W@S tHE QUEStION?

♠️: What an ideal kismesis is

KISMESIS? I... DON’t W@Nt ONE! HONEStLY. SEEMS LIKE @ LOt OF WORK @ND I @LRE@DY GOt MY H@NDS FULL WItH MY CLUB, HOBBIES, OtHER... POSSIBLE QU@DR@NtS. I RE@LLY DO NOt NEED tO @DD @ PItCH REL@tIONSHIP! 

((he doesn’t know what he wants out of a blackrom but it IS open and romance-able. ;))) however it is extra challenging if you are a clown. date vemili on hard mode, wear clown paint))

⏳: How long they take to fall for someone in any quadrant

I GUESS tHE @DVER@GE @MOUNt OF tIME? WHEN I RE@LIZE It I’LL KNOW. It’LL LIKE, HIt YOU LIKE IN tHE MOVIES. B@BE, QU@DS @RE CONFUSING @S FUCK. I JUSt W@NN@ CHILL, LIStEN tO MUSIC, t@KE SOME PHOtOS @ND H@NG OUt WItH MY FRIENDS. IF I RE@LIZE I’M P@LE OR RED OR FUCK IF BY SOME CH@NCE EVEN PItCH, tHEN I’LL CROSS tH@t BRIDGE WItH GOOD OL’ F@SHION SUPPRESSION UNtIL I KNOW FOR @ F@Ct It’S RECIPROC@tED. 

🎁: What kinds of gifts they like to give their quadmates

S@ME GIFtS I’D GIVE MY FRIENDS NOW. SHIt tHEY LIKE, FOOD OR SN@CKS tHEY E@t. CDS tHEY WOULD LIStEN tO. FLOWERS OR G@RDEN BOOKS FOR L@MB, @ tINY COWBOY H@t FOR LYSS@V @S @ JOKE @ND @LSO HIS LUSUS WOULD LOOK PREttY CUtE... V@LL@H DESERVES @ B@tHBOMB FROM LUSH @ND @ NICE L@ttE. BRUUNO GEtS @ COPY OF tROLL tWILIGHt. DUMB SHIt. 

[lollyholly99]

Ineffable Valentines - Day 9: Kiss

i’m late I’m late i’m LATE but here’s my fill for day 9 of these prompts! today’s prompt: kiss! @ineffable-valentines

AO3 link

There are many ways to kiss, and, therein, many firsts for kisses.

Technically, their first kiss of any kind happens in Rome, in 55 AD. At that point it's a greeting, common amongst the men (and man-shaped beings) of the time. And it needn't mean anything more.

It's been 14 years since Crowley and Aziraphale last saw eachother. Another coincidence brings them together once more: a particular senator needs tempting into evil, while also needing a blessing - so say the pair's respective superiors. They've been sent to damn and save the man, which is a piece of knowledge they find out later on, upon having a conversation and sharing their plans with eachother.

"Crowley!" the man says with a smile as the demon enters, interrupting his conversation with the angel he'd been sitting with. He heads towards Crowley, arms spread wide. "It's been too long!"

"Oh, only a year or so," Crowley responds, himself smiling. "Then again, I guess that is a while, eh?" For a human.

The man, once close enough, kisses Crowley's cheek, which the demon reciprocates slightly disinterestedly. "It's so nice to see you again. Oh!" He gestures towards Aziraphale. "Come, sit with us - meet Aziraphale, he's an acquaintance of mine."

Crowley's yellow eyes widen behind his sunglasses. "Aziraphale?"

Aziraphale looks up at the mentions of his name. "Craw- Crowley?"

"Angel!" Crowley exclaims.

He makes his way towards Aziraphale, and when he's in front of him, he leans down and kisses him. To his mild surprise, the angel does the same. It's quick, it's nothing more than a greeting, everyone in the room would recognise it as such... but the contact still excites the both of them.

"Oh, you know eachother?" asks the man.

The pair answer simultaneously.

"He's an old friend of mine." "He's an old acquaintance of mine."

Aziraphale clears his throat, and answers by himself this time. "We've known eachother for quite a long time."

"Uh, yeah." Crowley agrees. "Cor, when was the last time we met up? 's been at least a decade or two."

"Must've been at Petronius', yes." Aziraphale says, smiling. "It's lovely to see you again."

"Likewise."

---

Their next kiss occurs some time in the 1810s, at a ball where they've once again been assigned to carry out heavenly and hellish work. They don't exactly remember the details of the evening, considering there was a slightly more interesting event that happened that night.

"You look... well, if I'm perfectly honest, positively stunning, my dear."

The pair walk through the entrance and into the ballroom, arm in arm. Aziraphale's comment is directed towards Crowley, who is currently in disguise as his partner, a guest he's brought along as a favour after she hadn't been able to secure an invitation for herself.

Crowley, in her black ballgown with its red trimmings, blushes at the compliment. "Oh, shush, angel."

"It's true!" Aziraphale insists. "You look so very beautiful tonight. Any gentleman in this room would feel blessed to be in my position, at your side."

"Obviously they'd feel blessed to be you, you're an angel."

"That's besides the point. Now, dear..."

Aziraphale gently takes her hand, bows, and brings it to his lips... and then he kisses the back of it.

"...Might I claim the first dance with you for tonight?"

Crowley feels herself blushing further, and tries her best to fight it. She feels the touch of the angel's lips lingering on her hand, feels warmth blossom in her chest, feels electricity bouncing between the two.

"Y-yeah. You may."

---

The next occurs on the night of the averted apocalypse.

They're at Crowley's flat, sitting on his comfy bed, discussing the meaning of Agnes Nutter's last prophecy.

"Faces, faces... Maybe it doesn't mean our own - what's got faces...? Clocks? Coins?" Crowley rubs his temples as he thinks. "Choose your faces - a mask?"

"Crowley..." Aziraphale pipes up, looking down at the mug of hot cocoa in his hands that Crowley had prepared for him. His forehead is creased with worry. "Crowley, do you... do you really think we have a chance of surviving this... aftermath?"

"Eh? Crowley snaps out of his thoughts. "Well, I mean... if we can figure this prophecy out, maybe. Probably. I mean, my best guess? Agnes wanted to help out."

"What... w-what if we don't?"

The demon looks up at the angel, at his face, where his eyes are filling with tears.

And there's an image that hurts.

"Angel-"

"We 'll have tonight, but... tomorrow... there's not a chance we won't face retribution - after everything we've been through, we're going to lose it all...!"

Crowley shifts himself over on the bed, moving closer to his friend. "Aziraphale... It's... it's gonna be-" He sighs. "No, fuck it, I'm not gonna tell you it's okay, because it might not be. You and I both know that. You're not stupid, so I'm not gonna lie to you."

His words do nothing to comfort Aziraphale, who curls in on himself further.

"But," he continues, covering the angel's shaking, clasped hands with one of his own, and letting his other one rest on his shoulder. "We still have a chance. We can figure something out. 's better if we just think about that, yeah?"

Aziraphale takes a deep, uneasy breath. "...Alright."

"It's alright for now. We're okay right now. We'll burn that bridge when we get to it tomorrow."

"...Isn't the phrase 'cross that bridge'?" Aziraphale asks, wiping away a tear.

Crowley chokes up a laugh. "We're disastrous. 'Burn' seems more than fitting, in my opinion."

Aziraphale forces a laugh of his own, then sighs. "Crowley... I'm... I'm so scared..."

"Honestly... you and me both, angel,"

The demon, unthinking, leans forward, and kisses the angel's forehead, desperate to bring him any sort of solace.

"You and me both."

---

Finally, there's the first day of the rest of their lives.

Crowley's caught by surprise after lunch, when they're back at the rebuilt bookshop.

Well, he'd had a warning when the door had closed behind them, if only a short, quick, unfinished "Um... May I...?" from Aziraphale, to which he'd responded with a "Uh, yeah, sure...?"

He finds himself being dragged closer by the lapels of his jacket, the angel's mouth crashing against his own.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Crowley chuckles, pulling back after a moment of surprise. "What's with the abrupt... all of this?"

Aziraphale looks embarrassed all of a sudden. "Oh... oh, I'm sorry, my dear, I should've made my intentions clearer. Do you not want to, um...?"

"Oh, no, I certainly do - I'm just surprised at you, angel."

Aziraphale laughs sheepishly himself. "Well, I thought... now that we're free agents, I wanted to, um, match your speed, so to speak. I got to thinking about that occasion in the sixties - the nineteen sixties - it was quite obvious what our feelings towards one another were back then, and, well... I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer."

The demon knows exactly what he's on about.

You go too fast for me, Crowley.

"I waited six millennia for you, for us, Aziraphale, and I'd wait so many more if I needed to. No need to rush to 'match my speed', or anything." Crowley says with a smile, wrapping his arms around the other's waist. "Unless, of course, that's what you want."

"Oh..." Aziraphale smiles fondly back at the demon. "I do. Very much so, my dear."

Their lips meet again, in an act full of joy, of excitement, of love, of relief.

And they'll meet again, and again, and again, plenty more times after that.

[peterpstuff]

Venom 02

01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06

Pairing: Peter Parker x Venom!Reader Summary: the events of venom but this time Peter Parker is involved in them. Pre infinity war and pre endgame Warnings: swearing, violence, death, blood, eating people (if you saw venom, you know what I mean)

“Dad! Have you seen my lab coat?” you said while looking inside all of the boxes.

“No sweetheart, I´m sorry” he yelled from the kitchen.

“He hid it somewhere” you heard your mom´s voice from your bedroom´s door.

You smiled thanking her and went straight to the kitchen. You folded your arms around your chest as leaned against the door frame; he turned to look at the new presence and quickly turned around back to the food.

“So did you find it?” he was obviously playing dumb.

“Mom says you hid it”

“No I didn´t!” one of his hands flew to his chest, trying to look offended.

“Edward Charles Allan Brock!” you heard your mom yell and you let out a small laugh.

Your dad rolled his eyes and went to look for your lab coat. Your dad was no other than Eddie Brock, brown hair, green eyes, and good body shape for his age; well known for being a reporter that brings down big companies. You loved your dad more than anyone else; he has always been your best friend. When you were younger you´d go everywhere with him and help him unmask this life threatening companies. Your mom Anne, in the other hand, she was more serious than your dad; she was a lawyer. Not that you had a bad relationship with her but you were daddy´s little girl. She was blonde, had brown eyes and was incredibly intelligent. People said that you were funny and outgoing like your dad, along with his green eyes and brown hair, but you had your mom´s intellect.

“I know it´s hard for you, but you need to let me go” you said as soon as your dad entered the kitchen, lab coat in hand.

“yeah yeah, I know you´re old enough and need your space and need to learn about responsibilities and bla bla bla but you´re still my girl and it´s hard to see you grow up and move out on your own” he leaned against the kitchen isle holding onto it.

“I´m moving two blocks away dad, I´m not moving to the Arctic” you rolled your eyes

“I know, and I know it´ll look good for your college applications but the whole Life Foundation is giving me the heebie jeebies, you know Drake has been accused of trying stuff on humans and being responsible for their death? I just want you to be safe”

“I´m a Brock, ok? I know what to do if someone tries to inject me stuff and turn me into a rabbit” you laughed to lighten the air a little bit.

“Yeah, I know. If you need ANYTHING just call me, ok? With the internship, with Peter or with the new house”

“Sure thing” you said as you hugged him. Seeing him this worried about you, made your heart ache.

“No funny business with Parker, ok?”

“Dad! Gross!” you quickly took the lab coat from his hands and went back to your room.

-

“That was the last box” Peter says as he lays the box on the floor right next to the others.

“Thank you for helping me” you said giving his cheek a small peck.

“My girlfriend is moving out, of course I´m gonna help her. Imagine all the parties I´m gonna make here while you are at your internship”

“Asshole” you said as you flipped him of, making him laugh.

Hours went by as you arranged everything from the boxes, stacking some of them into an empty room; remembering to check what´s inside some other day. You were now laying on the couch cuddling with Peter as you were both tired from the whole moving. He had his right arm wrapped around your shoulders as he held you close to his body, your head in his chest listening to the steady beat of his heart almost making you drift to sleep. Peter´s left hand was playing with strands of your hair and yours were wrapped around his torso feeling the warmth of his body. Your eyes slowly became heavy, making it very difficult to keep them open.

“I hate to wake you up but you should be at Life´s Foundation in an hour, I´ll drive you” Peter whispered.

You groaned and got up to get ready for your first day. You picked something formal for the day, you wanted to make a good impression, a white blouse and some black trousers seemed like your best choice. You fixed your hair and applied some make up, only then putting your lab coat on. As you exited the room, you saw Peter over the phone and when he saw you he quickly hung up.

“I´m really sorry…” he said apologetically.

“What did you do Parker?”

“It was from the Stark internship, they need me right now” he said as he nervously played with his fingers.

“You were not supposed to start for 3 more hours?”

“I´m really sorry, I´ll call you a cab or something, it´s on me”

“Hey, it´s okay. I can see that this Stark thing is gonna be very demanding”

You slowly approached Peter holding his face between your hands and giving him a small comforting smile which he returned. Peter hated to leave you hanging or missing your dates because things come out of nowhere, either it´s may or the stark internship or Ned needs him; but you understood and now it´s gonna be a hard time in your relationship between both of your internships. You gave Peter a small peck on the lips and left the building with him following behind, both of you going your own to separate ways.

-

You stand in a big white lobby taking in your surroundings. The room had white walls except for the one facing the outside which was a glass wall; the furniture was futuristic in tones of black, white and grey. There was a white desk in the middle of the room with a young lady who was wearing a suit and you thanked your outfit which made you look like you fitted in the whole atmosphere. The lady, her name was Natasha, had told you to wait for someone to pick you up and show you around; she also gave you a small identification with your name on it.

After a few minutes a man came by and took you with the rest of the interns, giving all of you a tour around the building. The architecture was incredible, the elevators were made of glass so you could see through them and bridges connected the floors with one another. You were amazed to see the place where you´d work for the next couple of months.

“And this is Mr. Drake, the head of Life Foundation”

“It´s good to have new interns willing to learn and be a part of making the world a better place” he smiled “to start with I want you to be a part of this new method we´re developing. We got someone who lost an arm but like the Parkinson´s patients who watch on in horror as their bodies slowly betrays them or someone with molecular degenerations, we long to fix him. Anyone cares to venture a guess on how?”

One of the guys in front of me raises his hand and Drake nods in his way to allow him to speak.

“Stem cells?”

“Promising, but the solution I´m thinking is more, radical” he said and then he laughed “it´s okay not to know the answer, I´ll let you continue with the tour” he said as he backed away.

“cross-species genetics” you said loud enough for him to hear, he stops in his tracks and looks at you intrigued “Person gets Parkinson´s when the brain cells that produce dopamine start to disappear. But a zebra fish has the ability to regenerate cells on command. If you can somehow give the ability to the person you´re talking about, that´s that… he´s curing himself”

“Amazing Mrs…”

“Brock, y/n Brock”

“Amazing work Mrs. Brock, it´s a pleasure to have to here”

He turned with a smile on his face and left, a big smile plastered on your face. The tour continued taking you each to the station you were going to work, luckily for you; your answer impressed Mr. Drake which gave you a spot to work on the lab. You spent all the afternoon working on some skin tissue under the microscope, looking for anything that might be wrong or that will help you with your cross-species genetics idea. All of a sudden you felt a hand on your shoulder and you slowly turned around. It was Drake.

“I see you´re still here Mrs. Brock”

“I was just finishing some experiments about the regeneration cells idea; I still have twenty minutes before I have to leave”

“Great, why don´t you turn off everything and come to my office to discuss this idea? I have some files on the other lab which will be great help, go pick them up and come to my office. The lab is on the third floor, take the east elevator and then follow the hall to your left. Password is 24573”

He then left, leaving you alone to turn everything off and close the lab. Even though you were intelligent, your short term memory was the worst so as you exited the lab you kept playing the password in your head. 24573. You make your way to the elevator still repeating the number in your head but without noticing you go to the west elevator. Once you´re in, you follow Drake´s instructions finding some big metal doors which looked nothing like the ones in the lab you were just in. You flipped it off and entered the password. The silver doors slowly opened and you entered. There was a long hall with some offices on either side, you walked through them trying to find the lab, get the papers and leave; this place was pretty creepy. The lights were off, only the dim light of the emergency bulbs light up the scene; it was cold and very quiet, too much for your liking. You then saw the lab on your left and went straight to it but some rooms on your right caught your eye. They were rooms with people in them; you slowly approached them to see inside. Each room was filled with one person, as you continued looking through them you saw everyone was dead.

“Holy shit, dad was right” you whispered.

You took your phone out and took pictures of it, sending them to your dad. He was probably at work so he´d see them later. You turned around to leave but a loud noise scared you, making you jump and scream. You went to the room where the noise came from and there you saw Jude, the homeless woman that always was outside of Delmar.

“Oh my god Jude! Are you okay?” you asked, you wanted to react but you were in shock.

“Y/n, help me out, please, LET ME GO!” she screamed desperately.

“Ok, yeah, let me check how this works”

Your hands were shaking, you were freaking out. Your dad was right. And now knowing this secret could be potentially dangerous for you, they could have you killed. You tried opening the door with your hands but it was locked, you noticed a small controller next to the door. You tried to remember the password, maybe it was the same one but you couldn´t, your mind was blank. The screams of Jude only made you more scared that someone might come inside and find you there. This definitely wasn´t the lab Drake asked you to go to. You typed random numbers into the controller until you remembered. 24573. The door slowly opened and you entered, helping the woman stand up.

“Are you okay? What did they do to you?” you were holding her since she was too weak to stand by herself.

All of a sudden she jumped right into you, making you fall on your back several meters away with Jude straddling you.

“Jude! What the hell?! It´s me, y/n, I want to help!”

You tried to get her off of you but it was no use, she was attacking you, trying to choke you. You tried to fight her but she was too strong, so much stronger than you; which was ridiculous since she was in her sixties and undernourished. She punched you in the face; this made you put your guard down. Jude was then choking you, you tried to scratch her face so that she would let you go but it wasn´t working, it was as if she felt nothing. The woman slowly started to approach to your face; you could feel her breath on yours. Suddenly you felt as if her hands around your neck gripped you tighter and a strange sensation that something was feeling you up, like a vaccine but this time it was a million times worse. You felt this strange energy go through your body and felt like it was pressing against all your insides. Jude fell dead right by your side, at the same time your vision went blurry until everything turned black.

[carrietrekkie]

Right into the cold water.

An awkward conversation, an unexpected turn and a moment that gets lost....

Warning for some blood (not much but better you know it)

“You want me to do what!?”

“You must tell Captain Pike that Captain Georgiou isn´t the one he used to know.”

Okay, I didn’t mishear that, but that didn´t change my thought that the two officers right in front of me are losing their minds.

“He don´t know it.” Saru tilted his head. “Some of the events of our trip to the Mirror Universe are subjected to secrecy, among them Georgiou´s origin.

“Yeah, I knew that all.” I looked at him. “But.”

“For each of us it´s command refusal, high treason and whatever the upper command still comes up with.” Burnham leans towards me. “But it doesn’t work that Captain Pike didn´t know about that things, even now she works so closely with us.”

“And the Captain wouldn´t allow anyone of us to tell him.” With one step Saru was on my side. “Right from the start, it was the wrong decision to concealed it from him and after she appeared here as an agent form Section 31, Admiral Cornwell should have inaugurated him.”

“But she didn’t.“ Michael sighed. „And we couldn´t.“

„But I can.“ I nodded, that made sense to me. I would tell him just another memory, something that sneaked into my thoughts. Strangely my memories from Discovery were always clear and overall completely. “How do I do it?”  

„You go to him and jump right into the cold water.”

“Well, that sounds refreshing.” I gave a long breath, stood up and gazed at both of them. “Where do I found him?”

 Saru accompanied me to the ready room. Still I wasn´t allowed to move freely on board but with the first officer guiding me personally, even the head of security it´s perfectly acceptable with that.

We reached the bridge and actually Pike wasn´t there. Saru pointed to the ready room. He will not further came with me and with twenty Officers on my six, he unlikely thinks I would do any nonsense.

 I paused a moment, took a deep breath, than I went through the door. That was something I still found strange. You had to knock on every door accept here. Just when Pike wanted to be on his own, the room was closed.

I stepped inside and found him sitting on his desk. He looked up, smiled at me but I turned around and was ready to leave again, then I hold up my hand to stop myself, turned around again, stepped forward and the door closed behind me.

“Can I help you?“ Understandably he darted a confusing gaze at me.

„Well, no.“ I bit on my lower lip. How do you start such a conversation? “But I must talk to you.”

He pointed at the chair in front of his desk. I swiped down my uniform, my hands started to sweat right now, than I set down. How would he react? I didn´t knew him enough but I experienced him as calm and considered.  

“What´s on your mind, Cathrin?” Now he looked at me, like I was used to.

“To be honest, it lay heavy in my stomach.” I expel some air. “Puh.” I gazed at him. “You wouldn´t like that.”

“I guessed you say that.”

“It´s about Captain Georgiou.” Pike´s hand shot up, apparently he wouldn´t me to speak on.

“No, you must hear that!” I stood up again and started to walk up and down the room. “She is not the person, for which you hold her. She is from the mirror universe and she is, if you like it, the incarnated evil.”

Okay, maybe this was lightly over the top but it ensured that he kept his renewed objection to himself.

“The Philippa Georgiou that you knew died at the battle at the binary stars. That woman you worked with the whole time are the dished imperator of the Terran Empire and virtually the embodiment of everything you could imagine in your worsted nightmares. She is a psychopathic murderess, sadistically and savage. I saw her doing things, I would love to forget and for me it was all fictional.” I hold on for a minute, then turned around and looked at him. “I knew, Captain Georgiou was an old friend of you, but you shouldn´t trust this woman. She smiled at your face, while she is poisoning your coffee behind your back.”

 Pike blinked really slowly, than he seemed to have to force himself, to open up his eyes to look at me again.

“Ahh and now you threw me out.” I took a step backwards. “I knew that sounds unbelievable but you need to know that.”

“Do you have any prove for this?” He stood up from his chair and walked around his desk.  

“I didn’t.” I watched him, as he came to me. With every step he got closer, the more I had to lean back, to look him in his face. “I can only ask you to trust me, even if you know me too little for that.” I hoped my eyes said exactly what I wanted them to say.

“That sounds incredible.” He finally stopped in front of me.

“I know.” I pinched my lips. “But.”

“I believe you, it´s only.” Pike slowly shook his head, I could see how he bites his tongue.

“There is a reason why I telling you that.” I gave him a tight look. “Why none of your officers stood here.” His eyes grew a little. „Even if they could have explained it much more better to you.“

“That information’s are confidential.” He sighed again and looked like he would rather be somewhere else.

“Not for me.” I smiled lightly at him. „For me it is just a memory I´m telling you. Nobody can fault me, nobody can reproach me with orders or high treason and if someone asked, we just had a cup of coffee together.”

“You are not subjected to the command of Starfleet but your still under our protection. If this comes out.”

“I don´t say anything, if you say nothing.” He had to smile about that for a moment. “It´s enough, if you know it.”

“Did Leland know it?”

“Yes. I didn´t know, how much he knew, but he is adept.” I tilted my head a little bit. “I´m sorry, certainly that doesn’t feel so great.”

“Well, I got that feeling more often since Section 31 showed off.” He clicked with his tongue. “Thanks, that lighten ups the darkness a little.”

“Your welcome.” I placed a finger on my lips. “But reveal nothing.”

“I will not say a word about it.”

“Okay, than I don´t want to disturb you anymore.” I nodded at him, turned around and wanted to go.

“What are you going to do now?” He leaned against his desk, his long legs crossed, a lightly smile on his lips.

“Nothing.” I shrugged my shoulders. „I would look for one of your nice security officers and let him follow me through the ship.”

“I think we can do without it in the future.”

“Really?” I narrowed one eye, fixing him. „You don´t want to annoy me either? That would be mean.”

“No, I´m serious. I think, you proven often enough, that I could trust you.“

“Thank you.” I didn´t make any sense, but I felt a little touched by that.

“Commander Nhan.” It took a second till she responded.

“Captain?”

“The security escort for Ms. Zimmer are canceled. Till now she got free access all around.”

“Aye Sir.”

“After we have done that.” He rejected from his desk and walked toward me. “How about…? Are you hungry?”

“Yes.” I nodded a little unsure.  “I would like that.”

Shortly he laid a hand on my back and pushed me through the door. We left the room and took the turbolift. We stepped out as it stopped and strolled through the hallways.

 „You never noticed anything?“ From the side I looked at him.

“I noticed that she has changed, that she was not longer the person I knew back from our days on the academy.” He avoided a crew member than he closed to me again. “But I blame it on her experience during the war, the explosive force of our situation or the urgency of our mission.”

“Unfortunately I can´t understand that.” Now I must sidestepped from a hurrying officer. I stumbled slightly against Pike and he caught me. “Sorry. Thank you.“

„For what?“ He smirked at me, than he pushed me back on my feet.

“For not dropping me.”

I replied the smile and ignoring the prickle that extended from the spot, where he had touched me.

“Always my pleasure.”

 I just noticed, that we are not heading to the mess hall. I turned on my on axis.

“Where are we going?”

“You can guess three times.” A little to amused he looked at me.

“I guess, that makes you too much fun. “ I raised an eyebrow. “However, I must make it from A to B without getting lost every time.” I raised one finger. “That was the only benefit of being followed all the time, at least I didn´t get lost.”

“You´ll get it sorted out.” He was still smirking. “I´m waiting.”

“Okay.” I stopped, looking around. „We didn´t go to my quarters or yours.“

“Two left.”

“Mmh.” We reached the next crossroad. “We didn´t go to the Arboretum?”

“Ahh, you payed attention.” He twitched his eyebrows.

“The last few days I had a lot of time to read.” I turned left.

“Nope, wrong.“ He interrupted me, grabbed my arm and pulled me in the opposite direction.  

“If we continue like that, we never get anywhere.” I curled my nose. “I thought you were hungry?”

„I am.“ Now he stopped, looking at me. „You only have one try left.” “That’s mean!”

Actually it wasn´t, but I´m taking good care, not too told him that. This was just too much fun, and for the first time in days, it changed my mind. I raised my hands, moving them a little.

“Is there something like a bar here?”

“No. That was the last try.” He leaned towards me. “But nice thought.”

“All right then Christopher Pike.” I put my hands on my hips and tried to made myself as tall as possible. Given my height, which were rather tiny compared to his 6.1, that certainly did not look particularly threatening. “I´m really hungry and I get stinky when I don´t get anything to eat.

He didn´t even tried to disguise his chuckling, than he looked right into my eyes.

“No.”

“What no?” The little façade that I had built up popped like a soap bubble. Why must he look at my like that?”

“You didn’t scare me with that.”

„I wouldn´t scare you. Okay maybe a little.” I let it got. „But I´m really hungry.“

Still laughing, he pushed me on again and through the next round.

„Here we wanted to go.”

“And where is here?”

„Officers´ mess.“

„Ahh!“. I looked around. Overall it looked exactly like the mess hall just a little smaller and with some more armchairs in the corner. “I´ve never was here before.”

We get us something to eat, than we took a seat in the corner.

“Do you eat here usually?” I started to eat.

“No, but experience has shown that it is very crowded at the mess hall at the time and I thought you might want to talk a bit.”

My answer was a little smile.

“There has been flying a lot around your ears the last weeks.” He started pecking in his pasta.  “How are you holding up?”

I swallowed that bit in my mouth. “Quite well, I guess.”  I took my teacup in my hands. “Actually, I´m not sure about that. The time since I came here was like a rollercoaster ride. There are so much things happened that I couldn´t even imagined and my head still plays tricks on me.”

“How do you mean that?”

“It´s strange.” I leaned back. „Every time, if I try to remember anything clearly it seems that this memory fades away or getting blurred. If it’s like something does not want me to remember, and when I do, it's like a blow I cannot avoid.”

„Maybe you tried too hard. Let it come to you.” He raised his fork.

“Unfortunately, I just have the feeling that I don´t have the time for that.“ I observed him, as he continued to eat, until he realized that I was watching him. He swallowed, than looked at me as well.

“Do I have sauce on my lip or something?” Pike pulled in his lower lip to test this thesis.

“No, I just had a strange feeling.” In fact, a few pictures in my head just started to take over the supremacy.

“Good or bad?”

“I don´t know.” I fixed my eyes on his and did not even notice how I almost stared at him. Something was there. I knew there were stories about Christopher Pike but already in the first night here, I had noticed how much had slipped from me, but apparently it was not gone, just stowed somewhere well, but now something bubbled back to the surface again. There were confusing pictures, mixed up with noises and oddly enough some feelings. An odd, but familiar taste spread on my tongue.

“Cathrin.”

I heard someone saying my name, but was not sure, if it was just in my imagination. It sounds peculiar far away.

“Cathrin.“ I felt someone jerked on my knee, that forced me to turn towards this motion and that dull veil teared a bit. “Hey!”

“Chris?” I blinked slowly; he had leaned against me, concern in his eyes. I suddenly tasted blood, grabbed my nose, and felt like I was getting sick when I looked at my bloody fingers.

“Okay, we should go to sick bay.” Pike grabbed a napkin, putted it in my trembling fingers and I pressed it against my nose. Then I realized how he put his arm around me and pulled me to my feet, well he tried. I blinked at him, but it felt wrong and as if it was the hardest thing I had done lately.

“Whoa, Cathrin, Cathrin!”

I noticed how the room tilted forward or was it me?

My torso was stopped by something hard, than I felt how I lost grip and someone, anything in my brain made me suspected that it was probably Captain Pike, lifted me up.

“Stay with me, yes?”

I could saw him right in front of me and somehow managed it to lay my head against his shoulder. Than everything blurred to blue and gold, pervaded by flashes of light and whispering voices.

*****

That wasn´t what he expected when he asked her to eat with him. He just wanted to knew how she was feeling and if she managed to settle in slowly, maybe he just wanted to spend a little time with her, okay he definitely wanted to spend time with her, but that's not how he had imagined it.

“Cathrin, keep your eyes open!”

Again she blinked at him so strangely but he took it as a good sign that she was still holding the napkin in front of her nose. He stepped into the turbolift, ignoring the gaze that a technical tossed at him.

“Sick bay.”

Pike looked at her. He would not said that she was about to lose consciousness, but this here wasn´t normal. Her eyes flickered as if searching for something, but she did not seem to find it. She pushed her back briefly, as if she was trying to fight back against something, her head rolled backwards.

“Cathrin.” He let her legs slide of his arms, put her down on the floor, placed his free hand on her cheek and pulled her towards him. “Look at me!�� Carefully, he raised her head and her eyes finally found his.

“Hey, I have no clue, where you are at the moment, but you must don´t lose yourself in it!”

“I.” He could see how she swallowed. “I´m on the Enterprise?”

“No you don´t! You are on Discovery!” The most terrible scenarios raged through his thoughts in this moment. “Damn, what takes so long?”

Finally the lift stopped. Pike picked her up again and nearly ran the last few meters to the sick bay.

“Dr. Pollard!”

“Over here.” The doctor stormed at him then guided him through the next biobed. Carefully Chris put her on it, and then he stepped back. “Captain, what happened?”

Pollard immediately started to examined her. Cathrin was pale and shaking, her eyes were wide open, but instead of wandering around the room, as she had a few minutes ago, she now starred at Pike. She was afraid, that he could see and even if he just got in the way here that look pinned him in place.

“Captain Pike?”

“Sorry.” He teared himself away and looked at the doctor. “We were eating, than she began to stare, was strangely absent and her nose starts to bleed.”

Pollard took a little lamp and shines in her eyes, she closed it and turned away. “Okay, that’s a good sign.” The doctor observed the display behind her patient. “No signs for a cerebral hemorrhage or a tumor.” He nurse hands her a hypo spray, she adjusted something and putted it on Cathrin´s neck. Immediately Chris could see her relax, then she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Cathrin can you hear me?” Pollard placed a sensor on her temple than continue to took a blood sample.

“Dr. Pollard?”

“Good. There we go.” The doctor placed a hand on her shoulder. “Do you know where you are?”

“I consider in sick bay.”

“What ship?” Pike stepped towards the bed, for this he got an evil look from the doctor but he ignored it.

“Discovery.” She opened her eyes slightly and squinted at him. “And I knew, we´ve gone through this conversation in a similar way before.”

Relieved, he breathed through. Too much relieved how he recognized.

“Whats going on here?”

“You had a kind of an attack.” Dr. Pollard checked on her pupil response again than typed in something in the device on Cathrin´s head. “Has something like this ever happened to you?”  

„No, never.“ She stroked her head. „I always had a good condition.“

“Okay.” Again Pollard took a look at her vital signs, there now normal again. “Take a deep breath, I'll take a look at you again.”

“Thank you.”

She left and Pike stepped closer towards the bed.

“Are you really okay?” He had lowered his head slightly.

“I´m feeling a little bit sick.” She sat up and grabbed the cloth a nurse left her to clean her up.  Carefully, she wiped her nose, than looked at him. “Is that mine?”

Pike followed her pointing finger towards the blots on his uniform.

“Um yes.” Again he looked at her. There was still that concern in his eyes he had been looking at her earlier. “What happened?”

“I didn´t know.” She pulled her legs up and wrapped her arms around it. “It was like a deep, deep dream I couldn´t escape from.”

“You said, you were on the Enterprise.” Pike crossed his arms, while she raised an eyebrow.

“I´ve never entered another spaceship than this one.” Cathrin turned towards him and dangled her legs from the bed. “I really said, I was there?”

“If I understood it correctly, yes.”

„Maybe I thought about you and my brain linked them together.”

“We probably will not know.”

He released his arms, hesitated a moment and then put them on her shoulders. She looked up into his eyes and he moved a little closer to her. Oh damn, he had never noticed what beautiful eyes she had and this was probably the most inappropriate moment to be aware of it.

“What?” Lightly she smiled at him.

“This time you really scared me.” Chris had to pull himself together that he did not let his hands move to her face. “Can you promise me that you will never do this again?”

“I can try.” She laid one hand on his arm. „Thank you for taking care of me.“

“Well, it was my pleasure.” Then she released him and he had to admit that he didn´t like that she did that but he forced himself to let her go too. Even if it took him some more seconds.

“Must I stay here?”

“No you must.” Dr. Pollard cames back. „Your laboratory values are perfectly fine, your organs are working normal and I can´t found any cause for your attack.” The Doctor looked at her. “But we still didn´t know what causes your partial amnesia or what triggers the release of the locked memories. Maybe that is the normal way if they came back.”

“Sounds unpleasant.” Cathrin shrugged her shoulders.

“Sounds dangerous.”

„Probably both.“ Pollard twitched with her muzzle. „You should take it easy, maybe not be alone for the next few hours and carry the sensor until tomorrow morning.”

“I´ll do it.”

“And get in touch immediately when things get worse.” Strictly she looked at her. “This also could be an aftereffect of your long journey, since we have no experience here, we should definitely keep this in mind.”

“Yes Doc.” Cathrin nodded, what Pollard replied than she discharged her and left them alone. “That was it then with my short-term freedom.”

“I´m sure we will found a suitable solution.”

******

 I started sliding from the bed, as I felt how Pike putted a hand in my back. I just wanted to joke that it was not necessary, but a few violent stars before my eyes made it clear that it actually was necessary.

“Whuu.” I blinked hard and held onto him. “I guess that spaceship is busted.”

“I´m brave and say it´s not the ship.” Pike smirked at me, still holding me. “You feel better?”

“I think so.” Slowly I took my hands of his arms. I wanted to be sure that my legs are really carried me. I took a deep breath as I got a positive feedback than I looked at him. “You can release me now.”

“Sure?” He raised his eyebrows, his gaze still on mine and I was so tempted to denied that question but something held me back and so this moment passes by and he released his grip, also a little bit slower than I expected it.

“So, I'm running after you now or what have you planned?”

“Well, that sounds tempting but now I have some appointments with department heads and officers and Dr. Pollard ordered you to rest up and that´s about the complete opposite of it.” He walked over through the com system.

“Captain Pike to Ensign Tilly.” I smiled when I realized what he was getting at.

“Yes Sir?”

“Did you get some time to keep company to Ms. Zimmer?”

“Of course, Sir.” “We are on sick bay.”

“What? Why? Is everything alright?“

„Just come here Ensign.“

„Copy that.“ 

I had to giggle when I saw his expression.

“I always thought Louvier talks a lot.” He stepped towards me again. “Then I met Silvia Tilly.”

“I find her adorable.” I shrugged my shoulders. „Who is Louvier?“

„My chief engineer on the Enterprise.”  An impudent expression crept around his eyes. “You don´t know that?”

“Haha.”

 “Oh my gosh, Cathrin! What happened? Are you alright?“ We heard Tilly before we saw her, she rushed over to me, throwed her arms around me, than realized that the captain stood right next to her. “Sir, Ensign Tilly logs in as ordered.“  

„Thanks Ensign.“ Pike looked at us. „Cathrin would you be so nice and inform Tilly, I´m already late and remember to call when you are not feeling well.”

“Aye Sir.”

“Good.” And with a smile he left us and I was surprised that Tilly could actually pull it together until he was outside the door.

“Go on, get out of it. I have had enough drama and catastrophes lately, I can´t handle any more.”

“I will do my best to do no drama and cause no catastrophes.” I looked at her. “And if you have nothing else to do, I would be looking for a coffee and finally something to eat.”

“Sounds good. You look like you needed both badly.”

[swimperialentanglements]

CHAPTER 1 – Mara meets Harris aboard the ISD Chimaera

Mara Jade

Mara entered the bridge of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera and headed straight into the state room, where Gran Admiral Pellaeon was waiting for her. She knew the Admiral only by his career reputation within the Galactic Empire which was impressive to say the least.

AdmiralPellaeon

Pellaeon smiled allowing her to read how sympathetic he was in force towards her.

“Differently from others, I have nothing to fear from you, Hand. I have a mission for you. Are you in between assignment from the Emperor? Or should I look for a bounty hunter?"

The Admiral knew how to handle people and for this reason, he tried to toy with her pride. Little did he know how different Mara Jade was.

Mara Jade

"It's up to you Admiral, and how important this mission is for you." Mara crossed her arms - she was used to that kind behavior from fellow Imperials.

AdmiralPellaeon

Pellaeon grinned as she seemed to have accepted the assignment and pulled a chair on his room, next to the bridge of the ISD Chimaera.  

“Please have a seat. It is a long story”, he says.  

“Have you ever heard of Chibias? It is not that bad planet, I believe. It is located in the Mid Rim, close to Sibisme. There is a great concert hall there”, he explained staring at her beautiful emerald eyes.

Mara Jade

"Please continue", Mara was totally focused on his words, quickly scanning her own memory for any additional information.

AdmiralPellaeon

“The Rebel Scum is plotting something from Chibias. We have control of the planet but we want to move stealthily. It seems there is a traitor in the Rebellion willing to cooperate. I could send Veres or a stormtrooper".  

He briefly grinned. "but I believe that we need to be more subtle, less threatening to the Rebel deserter... perhaps somehow charming. We must find out where their fleet is, so that we can strike them at once”. The Admiral slammed the table as recalled the fallen comrades in past battles.

MaraJade

Mara smiled. "Understood, I'll make my way there tonight see what this rebel whistler has to say".

AdmiralPellaeon

Pellaeon nodded.  

“Do you need transportation? I have a highly trained storm trooper who could help you in this kind of mission. His name is Harris”

Mara Jade

The Hand denied with her head. "I can get there on my own"  

She started walking away then pauses for a second. "And thanks for the information, I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased to know one more rebel cell has fallen".

She headed to her chambers.

AdmiralPellaeon

The Admiral was about to protest as she walks away, but he is mesmerized by the sight of her rear, curvaceous body in the black skintight suit. He swallows dry and smirks, turning the communicator to Harris.  

“She’s on her way to her chambers. You’re ordered to go with her. The Rebel shall be at the Concert Hall and you are to watch her. That’s what Vader commanded”.

By the time she arrived at her chambers in the Imperial Destroyer, a young man around her age is leaning against the door. Standing at 1m88, he is well built and good looking. His blue eyes were piercing the Emperor’s Hand as she approached her room. “Greetings, Mara Jade. I’ve been told you are traveling to Chibias. Perhaps I may be useful.” He threw a data card towards her.

Mara Jade

She stared at the young man standing by, the perfect prototype of a stormtrooper... before war gets to them. She guessed he was probably there because of Pellaeon.  

"I wonder why Admiral Pellaeon things I'm in need of any assistance", she frowned.

TrooperHarris

Harris knew about the legendary beauty of Mara Jade. Nothing would have prepared him to her arrival - he was used to have women drooling around him and for the first time, he seemed to have momentarily lost his ground. His heart skipped a beat when she appeared and as he was told, she declined his assistance. A lone wolf. He approached her, trying to regain the confidence he was used to next to pretty women. She can definitively feel his strong signature in the force. As the data card he had thrown at her direction was on the floor, he bent his knees and took it. He raised his trunk and towered over her, tilting his head to the right.  

“I thought you were going to take this data card in the air”, he said placing the hand next to her in the wall and hitting the opening button of the door.

“You’d rather listen to me. The Emperor may be displeased if you treat me unwell”, he smirked as slid into her chambers.

Mara Jade

She was used to higher rank officers’ attitude, but certainly would have never expected it from a stormtrooper, specially not from one so young. Probably had a nice post next to Admiral Pellaeon, his man of trust, and of course, it had gotten to his head. 'Men' she thought to herself, trying to maintain composure

"I don't like to play catch with strangers" she answered in a flat voice, standing still outside the door.

TrooperHarris  

Harris entered her chambers and turned his back to Mara. He was not a force sensitive –not that he knew anything about the Force - but he was stronger in the force than the average person. Little did Mara know that he reported to higher ranks than Admiral Pellaeon.  

“Mara Jade, we have two options. You can stay outside without knowing what I have to offer you. Or you can come inside, open a bottle or Corellian wine, listen to what I have to say and then, kill me with you bare hands”, he said with an equally flat voice.  

“Of course, you can do that, but I think it’d be a waste of imperial resources”.

Mara Jade

She could sense the young man's arrogance as clearly as his presence in the force. "At least I can agree to one thing, I will kill you with my bare hands" she said, walking in, the door closing behind her.  

"Alright", she said, standing in front of him, her arms crossed. "The reason I won't kill you is?" She stares right at him, her patience running low every second.

TrooperHarris  

“I thought we had agreed you’d kill me”, Harris retorted as he walked to a computer station and tapped on the screen. “How safe do you think it is?”

Mara Jade  

"I'm pretty sure it's not, feel free to get to the point please" She looked at the screen from a few steps.

TrooperHarris  

Harris sat and showing no sign of fear, he typed an 18-character password. “Can you recognize this person?” A long file opened with the basic data about a certain Legolas Castor.

Mara Jade

She carefully looks at the picture of the stranger on the screen

"Enlighten me", she asked, lowering her tone for a bit, she had no clue who that man was.

TrooperHarris  

“It comes as no surprise you are no familiar with. He’s the new human ‘nephew’ serving Black Sun’s Xizor. I believe you heard about this criminal organization. We know they have been playing with us and the Rebels”, he was serious as he had heard about her past missions.  

“The point is: we do not know whether Legolas Castor is actually willing to provide us with some information or to set a trap for the fleet.”

Mara Jade

"We should find out", she answered. The name Xizor certainly resonated in her memory. A highly influential character within the Empire, she had never really liked him, but he was in good favor with the Emperor, and whatever she thought about him was out place.  

"There's a good chance that this guy Castor is only a pawn".

TrooperHarris  

“That’s why they are sending you. You have skills no other spy has, Mara.” Harris swirled the chair, so that he faced her.  

“Legolas Castor has a weakness. Redheads. Of all species. We have a ticket for you and know what? You’re seating just next to him in the concert hall in Chibias”, he says without making any effort to hide his concern about her safety.  

“I was commanded to be away watching over you. Don’t worry, I won’t be a dead loss. You may leave me behind if I get into trouble”.

Mara Jade  

"So that was it", she thought to herself. She had used her looks as a wrap on of distraction before, in fact it was quite an advantage given certain kind of targets.  

"I see you and your boss had everything set. Anyways, this should be a piece of cake" she said "Tell your superior I appreciate him taking the time to make preparations ahead", she added.  

"Now, if you don't mind I'd like to get busy", she finished, walking up to her chamber door and opening it, gesturing for the young trooper to leave.

TrooperHarris  

"Not my boss, our boss", Harris muttered in between his teeth without giving further explanation. He watched her rear swaying, almost in provocation to him - for a second, he wanted to slap it but he declined.  

"I am glad we could come to good terms, Mara. You´ll not be down", he agreed with her request and stepped out of the room - as he was in the door, he added. "Look for an old HWK-290 light freighter in the docking bay. We are not using any imperial transport, since it would raise suspicious... and I will fly it", he added, leaving her chambers. He boarded the ship and waited.

Mara Jade

Mara sighed. That trooper indeed had an attitude and that annoyed her, but she kind of like it. He was also very stubborn, something she would probably have to deal with. The information provided by Harris had been useful, and she herself had thought about piloting a low-profile ship to Chibias... Then there was the Xizor business... she had been on Chibias before, trying to bring some order back 8n to place after suspecting said ruler of treason, unfortunately, Xizor had his ways of not getting his hands dirty, so hard evidence of it was hard to find. Maybe, and just maybe allowing the stormtrooper to join her was a good idea, he could eventually come handy, she thought. She gathered her weapons and prepared a small bag with some appropriate clothes, she would have to merge at the concert hall gala and use her looks to her advantage.  

After a few minutes she boarded the freighter and joined the pilot.  

"Ok Harris, Let go".

TrooperHarris  

Harris decided to play the professional - if they were going to partner, there was no reason for them to fight each other. He stood up and bowed showing some respect.  

“There’s a room behind the pilot cabin: keep it for you, Mara” he said as he prepared the ship to take off.  

“You’ve just had a great stress in Sullust, so take advantage of this ride to relax. If you want to play sabaac or just drink some Corellian wine, I’ll be here”. Shortly after, the two entered the hyperspace. The trip would last 1 day in a series of pre-programmed jumps to the hyperspace.

Mara Jade

She was suspicious of the trooper's sudden change of attitude. He had proved himself useful, but she wanted to make sure he was up to the task, she had known a few stormtroopers who despite of the rigorous training would miss a simple target more than once or even fail protocol. Besides, she wasn't just going to sit for the ride, inaction tended to ruin her concentration. So she went and sat next to him.

"So tell me, stormtrooper Harris, how good of a pilot are you?"

TrooperHarris

Harris did not hide his surprise when Mara approached him. Her attitude was stern and professional. He turned his eyes to her and nodded. "I have had my quota of dogfights with smugglers in some missions for the Empire. I'm still alive, so it may mean something", he said as the ship came out of hyperspace, turned slightly and made another jump.  

"I plotted the known routes, even though the Hand may be authorized to use the Imperial-exclusive ones. I thought it'd be wiser, just in case someone hacks the NavComputer when we are out of the ship. It will cost us some time but will add some safety too." He swirled his chair slightly so that he could see her slender body. She was indeed pretty as he had been told. It was clear why she was the Emperor's favorite Hand.  

"I do not expect that we need to use my skills as a jet fighter. I am more worried about going physical. Those Black Sun goonies do not think twice to beat and torture people. I'm glad I can join this mission. Their crime syndicate must be ended".

Mara Jade

She was impressed by Harris's strategy skills, he had even planned ahead to cover up their tracks in case their transport was found. She smiled in approval. He was also very aware of the dangers they would probably encounter once they reached their destination, and most important, she was a professional but by no means infallible, he could see something she didn't.  

"Let's make sure it happens", she eagerly added to his comment.

TrooperHarris  

Harris stood up, towering over the redhead. He casually placed the hand on the back of Mara's chair. He knew he was winning her, although he lacked the degree of development in the force. "Yes, I don´t like those criminals", he snorted in disdain, trying to hide personal feeling of grief and suffering in relation to the Black Sun. Harris left her alone and walked to the cargo bay, where he took off the silly stormtrooper armour and put on a pair of bermuda. He began to do push-ups shirtless, focusing on what was to come.

Mara Jade

"So that's what it is", Mara could sense this mission has a personal tint for the trooper, perhaps the memories of past battles... and loss. She could empathize with his words, she despised criminals for disrupting the peace and order the Empire worked so hard to keep. But she didn't know what it was like, to take something to the personal ground, after all she had nothing to lose except for her own life which she had dedicated to serve the Empire. She peaked for a second behind her seat and briefly saw the trooper's figure, he was strong and certainly above the average stormtrooper standard of fitness. She smiled and turned her attention back to the window and out to space. They both wanted the same thing, and maybe their motivation wasn't that different. They would both once again serve the Empire for the good of the galaxy.

[ryqoshay]

"Love Novels" may be intended to be sung to a dense boyfriend, but from this Chinese fan's YT video [?v=7CA9gB8ZQak], it works too well if Nico & Maki sing it addressing each other. Maybe sometime after "Running Late", Eli notices how well that video boosts the Nico/Maki ship within the HtHaN universe? (As a side note, the same Chinese fan also created a fan video for "Zurui yo Magnetic Today" somewhere.)

To be honest, I’ve always held a generic headcanon that thelove songs of LL are being sung to a generic fan, gender unspecified. The exceptionto this would the LONLIEST BABY as it uses the English word “boy” multipletimes. However, as I continue to listen to the songs in my playlist, read the translatedlyrics and think about those singing the song, I eventually form headcanons forindividual songs.

BiBi dominates the play counts and as such, I have moreideas about their ten awesome songs. And I would like to eventually mentionthem all in HtHaN in some way; be it a scene about writing the song, editingit, deciding the center, practicing it, performing it, analyzing some aspect ofit, etc.

Back in my early days of shipping NicoMaki, back when translatedcanon content was harder to come by and the fanfic authors were gearing up fortheir heyday, I stumbled across a fic that addressed the creation of the firsttwo BiBi songs, and I liked the idea. Without going into great detail, the girlseach wrote a song based on the other; Nico writing Diamond Princess about Makiand Maki writing Love Novels about Nico. I’d like to take that idea and make itmy own for HtHaN.

I’ve already established that Nico and Maki pulled an all-nighterto pound out the first two BiBi songs, but I would like to backtrack and writea scene or two leading up to that. How obvious either girl is about the factthat they are steering one of the songs toward being about the other girlremains to be seen, and I’ll probably cross that bridge when I get there. So thatall said, both songs, in HtHaN, will be written with the intent of being abouteither Nico or Maki.

Maybe that’s what causes the fans to set sail on the goodship NicoMaki? Maybe a fan video of that nature is what causes Maki to learn ofthe ship? I currently have her set to learn about the ship some time after thethird-years graduate, but as I haven’t written that scene, I am open to retconningthat idea; I think it’s only mentioned once anyway. Or maybe Eli finds the videoand tries to keep it secret from the easily embarrassed Maki for fear that theredhead will not want to perform the songs? Obviously Nico would have already foundthe videos, as she scours the net for idol content, and is definitely the typeto Google herself which might result in her finding such a vid.

So, I guess this was all a long, roundabout way of saying,yeah, I’ll add the idea of a Love Novels NicoMaki fan video to my notes. AndI’ll see what my µ’s muse does with it.

[ash818]

Oh that’s so sadistic: Jon having to watch his parents be near-caricatures of themselves. And the whole LL shtick... I can only imagine him wondering how. Or why. You know, after he’s chucked up his lunch. Welp. Abby. Nothing is written? Well, you have her name carved into stone at some point and weirdly, I thought: Oscars! But I wondered if you would. I'll have to think about that one. Actress, writer, singer...

Actually, I did kind of start writing some Legacy time travel shenanigans...

Kinda like so:

Turns out, it doesn’t hurt to get shoved the wrong way through a hole in the space-time continuum. It’s more like an unbearably intense cosmic tickle. Undignified, verging on pain, but you’d feel like an asshole if you complained too loud.

No, what hurt was falling four feet and landing in a wasteland of crumbled concrete and broken glass.

Next to me, Tish materialized in a crackle of blue fire six inches above the ground. Then she thudded onto the debris-strewn asphalt with a yelp, half pain and half terror.

“Tish!” I yelled, or tried to. What came out was more like a croak. The fall had knocked the wind out of me.

A cloud of choking gray dust surrounded us, and I couldn’t see farther than a few feet. Somewhere above us, glass shattered. I scrambled to wrap myself around Tish, and what felt like little needles rained down on my back. Glass tinkled onto the sidewalk all around us.

“What’s happening?” she gasped under me.

“Fuck if I know!”

Then the ground began to rumble and shake under us.

Someone grabbed my shoulder - a college-age kid with dark hair buzzed short, wearing jeans and a red hoodie. Our eyes met, and I knew him. It was a face I hadn’t seen in years, and never like this.

“Uncle Roy?” I half-whispered.

He didn't even hear me. He was attempting to drag me to my feet, but as I outweighed him by twenty pounds and I was clinging hard to Tish, it wasn’t going very well for him.

“Come on!” he yelled over the screech of metal and the screams echoing up and down the city street. “Let’s go!”

Tish scrambled up with me, and we followed him to a little square of green half a block away. With a jolt, I recognized it as Washington Square Park, on the east side of the Glades. But it was surrounded on all four sides by hulking public housing projects, which couldn’t be right. A strip mall bordered Washington Square. There was an Ethiopian restaurant in it.

Then the earth shook beneath us again, and all three of us crumpled. I covered Tish’s head and as much of the rest of her as I could, and we pulled up handfuls of grass, clinging desperately to the heaving ground.

When the tremors finally stopped, the first to his feet was Uncle - no, not Uncle Roy.

This guy was not my Uncle Roy, though he would be someday. This was Roy Harper.

He found a patch of my shoulder that didn’t have glass embedded in it, and he laid his hand there. “Hey, you’re kind of cut up.”

God, he even sounded different. I remembered his voice a whole octave deeper.

Sitting up next to me, Tish stared at him.

He knit his brows at her. “You all right?”

She nodded mutely, and I was grateful for her silence. My brain was whirring a thousand miles an hour, and we didn’t need to say the wrong thing before we understood the situation.

“You caught some glass too,” Roy said, frowning and reaching for her left arm. All along the back of it, where I had left her uncovered, her skin was studded with red. He mustered up a smile for her, and it was startling how soft it made him look. “I guess he missed a spot.”

The viscerally terrifying rumble had been replaced by the wail of sirens, and the night was bright with firelight and flashing blue reflected off columns of smoke. I cleared my throat. “We need to get out of here.”

“The New Basin Canal bridge is closest,” he said, turning on the spot to orient himself. It was difficult in the wreckage. With every other building half-crumbled in the streets, nothing looked familiar.

“Yeah. If it’s damaged, we move on to Almonaster.”

Roy gave me a strange look, but wordlessly he helped us to our feet. The skin of my back pulled, and the fabric of my shirt pulled harder. It felt like getting stung by a bunch of wasps all at once.

It was not a long walk to the New Basin Canal through the roiling dust, but it took a subjective eternity. Twice we rerouted around blocked streets, and three times we stopped at the sight of a hand or a pair of shoes in the rubble. Dug them out. Couldn’t do anything for them.

So it was almost a nice change to hear someone yelling for help.

There was no discussion. Roy didn’t ask us to follow him to the half-collapsed corner store. He just veered right and gave us a purposeful look. We went to work clearing debris from one window, and our hands were scraped raw by the time the owner and her two grown sons crawled out. All of them were bleeding from somewhere, and the shorter guy had a concussion, but at least they were walking wounded.

Dazed, they fell into Roy’s wake just as Tish and I had.

At a shelter hastily thrown together in a high school gymnasium just across the river in Gentilly Terrace, we caught our first glimpse of the news coverage. They replayed Moira Dearden Queen’s warning at least a dozen times.

“May 15, 2013,” Tish said quietly, sitting cross-legged behind me on a cot, waiting for EMS to get around to us. “That would make it thirty years to the day. Do you think the - the metahuman planned it that way?”

“Don’t know, baby.”

“If he could throw us this far back, there must be a way to throw us forward again.”

“We’re going to figure it out,” I said rotely. “Can you at least get the big chunks?”

She picked glass from my back, and all around us it continued to be, bizarrely and depressingly enough, the fifteenth of May, 2013.

It was eerie, the way the details of the world were subtly off. Our phones didn’t work, and when we asked to borrow a stranger’s, he handed us an ancient iPhone. Every cell number I had memorized reached an error message. The streets were full of old model cars, emergency services’ equipment was decades out of date, and SCPD’s uniforms didn’t look quite right to me.

Eventually someone came along with tweezers, sutures, and sticky bandages to take care of my back and her arm.

Our first night in the past was spent on the gym floor in donated sleeping bags, alongside several hundred other newly homeless Starlingers. Between us, all we had in the world was whatever cash we happened to be carrying, four utterly useless credit cards, and the torn-up, bloodstained clothes on our backs.

“We could go to your parents,” Tish whispered to me, lying on her side with me practically nose to nose. “Or Mr. Diggle. They’ve seen enough weird. They might believe us.”

From what I’d learned of this night in our family’s collective memory, no one we knew was likely to be accessible. Either Dad was still kneeling next to his best friend’s dead body, or he was passed out from blood loss while Dig worked on the arrow wound that had completely perforated his shoulder. Mom was probably frantically googling his symptoms, holding the sterile instruments, or silently praying he wouldn’t die. Aunt Thea’s mother was just dragged away in handcuffs. And Captain Lance - holy shit.

Here in 2013, Captain Lance was alive. He was somewhere out there in the city, probably directing survivors to shelters at that very moment.

“Not tonight,” I murmured, squeezing both her hands. “Maybe not for a little while. None of them are going to have the bandwidth for a couple of strangers claiming to be their relatives from the future.”

“I suppose I wouldn’t, if I were them. So we just make it through the next few days, and we figure out what’s going on here. Then we go to them and...” She sighed. “This is not going to be any fun at all, is it?”

No.

No, it was not.

[spookytomatoetuesday]

Project Wolf´s Cove

Eight – Where does the path lead?

There were no words left to say in this moment. So no one could speak. Rose had led herself slide down against the desk and sat on the floor now, her head resting on her crossed arms, her face turned to the floor. Neil sat in the office chair again, but aimed to push himself away from the desk. His arms were fully extended, but his chair bumped already against the window board behind him. Becky stood close to the door, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, unsure where to go and what to do. She tried to keep watch on the door and of her friends. She looked at John, who had sunken back onto the bed. There he sat, with his hands covering his ears and staring at the floor as well.

After a few heartbeats, Becky shifted her attention to the adults in the room. Hooper was pale, almost grey. He held his belly and was not moving much. Like Becky, he tried to make eye-contact with Lancer. The doctor was still hunched over by the radio and he still held the receiver in his hand. He bit his lip and had a very tense expression on his face as if he was thinking desperately. “It happened again.”, Lancer muttered. “I told him to go and there he went and got cut down.” Again, no one said a word for a moment, letting the humming of a nearby fridge take over the room. “I´m sorry.”, Becky finally said to break the silence. “What do I do now? All the police officers are gone. The bridge is gone.”, Lancer muttered on. “We need to regroup and think about a plan. One that prevents more from getting killed. Sullyvan reported that there are still people out there hunting for the monster. We need to keep them save.”, Becky urged. “Yeah. We need a plan.”, Neil agreed. But then silence fell again. Everybody sunk back to the moments that they had just lived through and thought back to Sullyvan and the last words he had uttered. Then Doctor Lancer jerked up and dropped the radio receiver, let it clang way too loudly against a table leg. “I should call Tula. Have not talked to her in a while.”, he said and walked over to the desk. Neil and Rose stood both up and left the doctor some space. All jerked when the phone rang just as Lancer was about to lift the receiver. After he had recovered himself, he lifted it, but now to answer. “Yes?”, he wondered. The others looked at Lancer, like they had watched the radio just minutes before. Nothing was to be seen, but something happened. Hooper tried to sit up, Becky gave him a hand. “Yes, mayor. The bridge is gone. Yes, we tried to reach you. No, I can´t connect you to the deputies, sheriff.”, Lancer said. He stared still at the number buttons of the phone and avoided eye contact with the others. They were meanwhile looking at each other and gesticulating about what this new development might mean. Neil was showing thumbs up and thumbs down, always with a question on his face. Rose and John shook their shoulders. Becky was very eager to hear more. Her frown relaxed a bit. She almost smiled again when Lancer waved her over. He did so off-hand, while still nodding and saying “yes” into the receiver. When Becky reached him, Lancer put the receiver against his chest so that the mayor on the other end could not hear him. “Could you and your friends check on Tula please? I would, but I can´t move now. Things might finally be moving.”, Lancer told Becky. She, in turn, stopped in her tracks and just blinked. Her eyes twitched while she was thinking of a reply. “I missed to call her earlier and it is important to hold contact, especially now. Take your friends and stay away from the collapsed bridge. Then you should be fine. Please.”, Lancer added rapidly before lifting the receiver back to his ear and mouth. “Yes.”, he said. Becky clenched her fists and turned around, now facing John and Hooper instead of Lancer. “Ok.”, she said in a low voice and then proceeded to leave the examination room and the practice. Slowly the other three followed her. “It is very warm.”, Rose remarked while the four walked to the pickup truck. She extended her hands into the sun and turned them. “Bound to get sticky.” “Adolpho Villa says that the sun shining on us might hold some promise, but does so only in our perspective. For the sun just hangs there unfazed and utterly oblivious to our earthly emotions and dramas.”, John said while putting his hands on the warm roof of the truck. “Adolpho?”, Rose wondered while she opened the car door. “Is he a real person?” “No, John made him up to use for quotes.”, Becky said. She closed her eyes for a moment and sighed. Then she got behind the steering wheel. “But this whole situation is very… frightening.”, she added. Neil passed by Rose and sat down on the front passenger seat. “It definitely is. I can´t see how this will end. Hope this ends well.”, Neil said. Rose and John settled down on the hot back seats, where the baseball bat still lay. Tensed, they surveyed their surroundings through the car windows. “Keep your eyes open.”, Becky reminded them before starting the engine.  The Lancers´ house was located almost at the end of a cul-de-sac leading to a cliff reaching out over the sea. On this day, the street was eerily quiet and no one could be seen outside. “Let´s turn around before the house. In case we need to get away fast.”, Neil suggested as Becky slowed the car down. She nodded and turned the pickup truck around, using the dead end of the street to this end. When she finally stopped the car in front of the house, towered over them but did not seem special or dangerous. It was a normal house and no strange activity was to be seen on either of the two floors. There were no shadows dancing behind the curtains, nor did said curtains move the slightest when the kids arrived and looked at the house. At least that level of inactivity was true for the front side, the only one the kids could clearly see. “Two in and two waiting in the car in case there is trouble?”, Neil suggested. “Sounds good.”, John agreed from the backseat and the others nodded. “I´ll go and pay Mrs. Lancer a visit.”, Becky decided and left the car. In the back, Rose also opened the door and exited. “I can accompany you. Keep the engine… warm? Keep the gas… combusting, I guess, and keep the foot near the gas pedal, boys.”, Rose said. Neil showed her thumbs up and scooted over to the driver´s seat. “Not sure if this is the way I had pictured and even wanted to get behind the wheel of this car.”, Neil said to John while the other two walked to the door of the Lancer´s house and knocked. “I cannot drive.”, was everything John said to that. No one answered the door. Near the door, a wind chime hung and was slowly played by the gentle breeze. Otherwise, the house was as quiet as the street. Becky and Rose looked around and peeked into the window that was located right next to the door. They could not see anything or notice any person inside. “Could she be gone?”, Rose wondered. “Hm… the car is parked in the driveway. Would she walk somewhere? Now, I mean?”, Becky pondered aloud. The two walked around the porch and looked around the corners of the house. There was not much to see apart from a fence and the car. “I do not like this.”, Rose decided. “This is too quiet.” Becky sighed and then also nodded in agreement. “I forgot to call her earlier and then left her to talk to the doctor. I´m not even sure how much time they had for talking. This feel uncomfortable, as if I let her down.”, she said. “You want to get inside and check if something is wrong.”, Rose realized. “It would be better. The doctor was right about that at least. We need to care for each other.” Rose sighed. “Shall I break a window or do we jump the fence?” “I think they are going to jump over the fence. Yup, they just jumped over the damn fence.”, Neil commented while watching what was going on at the Lancer´s front door. Now also John directed his attention in that direction, but too late. He missed them disappearing over the white fence. “This is not good. What do they do if they need to make a run for it, but no door is open?”, Neil asked. John nodded concerned. “I see what you mean. Let us hope there will be no need for running.” John said and sighed. “This is as well planned as the rest of this… whatever this mess is.” Now it was Neil´s turn to frown and nod and to survey the Lancer´s porch and the road leading to it. “Right? If even you complain about this lack of planning… of about how bad that planning is…” “We are just kids. We did what we could. For me, it is more crazy that the grown-ups did not do much either.”, John said. “True. But… is it surprising?”, Neil wondered. “Still, what should we say to people if they ask why all this went wrong?” He paused again. “Well, at least people should be safe at home. The monster can´t get to every house at the same time. So we at least had some good idea, right?”, Neil asked. Becky and Rose landed on a well-kept lawn on the other side of the fence. It even smelled of freshly mowed grass. A few trees stood in a line parallel to the longer side of the house. The two friends walked under the trees on their way to the backyard. The wind let the leaves whisper above. There were no other noises. There was no other movement. “I hope we´ll not startle Mrs. Lancer when we sneak up on her like this.”, Becky murmured. “Hopefully.”, Rose agreed. “On the other hand, I hope we just startle her while we find her sitting safe and sound in her living room, deeply enchanted by a novel.” She paused and then added: “A really great novel that it does not only distract her from all this mess her surroundings is entangled in, but also completely absorbs her. I need to ask her what book that is.” “Hopefully you…”, Becky said, just to stop midsentence. Through the windows, the two friends could see that a light was still burning in the kitchen. It burned while at the same time the sun, coming from the sea, was beaming inside. An empty cup sat lonely on the kitchen table. Everything else was clean and tidy. A door in the background of the kitchen was ajar. It presumably led to the living room. Becky and Rose decided to go inside. They tried the backdoor. It was not locked and Becky reacted almost surprised when it swung open as she turned the doorknob. Inside it was warm and the air tasted a bit stale in the kitchen. Rose went to the sink and opened the window above it. There was also a strange smell. “I´ll check the living room.”, Becky whispered and snuck through the plain doorway. Rose nodded and was about to follow her. She just turned away from the sink when she heard the scream. Rose jumped towards the doorway and only then recognized that the scream had come from her friend. Becky immediately showed up, storming away from the living room. She collided with Rose and pushed her back into the kitchen. Then Becky broke down next to the doorway. She threw herself with the back against the wall and then let herself slide down to a sitting position, her hands covering her face. Rose crouched down next to her friend. She put her hands on Becky´s arms and head. “What happened?”, Rose asked, then paused and corrected herself: “What did you see?” Becky shuddered and started to cry. She did not look up, she did not take her hands off her face. “She´s dead.”, Becky finally brought forward between sobs. “She´s just dead, there in her living room. Just dead, Rose.” All of a sudden, Becky looked up and grabbed Rose´s hands with hers. “Don´t go there.”, Becky urged. “You don´t need to see this. It´s enough that I did. We are too late, way too late. I… could have called her, should have called her yesterday. And then I just forgot.” She stared ahead and let go off Rose. As nothing but silence followed, Rose sat down beside her friend and leaned against the pale orange wall. “This…”, Rose said but then did not know how to continue. She hugged Becky and found her still shivering. “But you did care for her.”, Rose tried again. “You really did and more so than any other of us. This is your super power. You care.” Becky looked at her. “This I horrible.”, she said in a hoarse voice. “There is no super here and now power. It´s over. There are no more words to say to Tula and no more comfort to give. Because we´re too late. I feel we could have been in time and saved her.” “Maybe, but there is no going back now.”, Rose tried. “I do not know what to say.”, she then confessed. “I do not know how to take away your pain. I wish I could. That once I could be the one with the super power of not only caring but finding a way to actually care for somebody that then feels better.” Becky gently free herself from Rose´s embrace and tried to breathe in deep. Her eyes were still watery and she could not focus on her surroundings. “I don´t know how this can go on.”, Becky said, trying to keep her voice steady. “All this loss. I can´t even focus on Tula anymore, if I´m honest. The loss of her starts to bleed into the raw acknowledgement that Pipps was taken away as well. And all the others. How can this go on? How long do we have to go through this?” Rose sat back, giving her friend some space. Then she shook her head and looked Becky in the eye. “There is no answer I can give, again. I am sorry.”, Rose confessed. “I feel the same as you and I feel the urge to help you here and now. But I can´t. You would be able to, if our places were switched. But I can´t.” Rose wiped her eyes. Then she wiped her friend´s eyes. “All that is to do is to be here.”, Rose said. Becky sniffled. “The boys will be wondering why we take so long. They might get concerned.”, Becky said, changing the subject. Rose hesitated, clenched her fist, but then nodded. “If you are ok to go, we can leave. It will be good to get back to the others and not deal with this alone.”, Rose mused. Slowly, Becky stood up. She was still rubbing her eyes, trying to wipe away the tears. She was also about to straighten out her hair and clothes when a disapproving glance by Rose stopped her. “Let´s go and re-join the other two.”, Becky said. “There is just one thing I need to do first. I want to cover her with a blanket or something. Can´t let her just lie like this.” “The probably have a blanket somewhere there.”, Rose suggested and was slowly moving toward the living room. Becky stopped her. “No. Let me do this. You don´t need to see this. I don´t think that this is something we should share as I said.” With measured steps, she vanished through the doorway. Rose could hear her moving about in the next room, searching. For a moment, Rose was sure she would ignore her friend´s request and follow her for her own best. But this moment passed without Rose moving. She stood there in the middle of the kitchen, wondering what best to do in this situation. She closed the window she had opened earlier, just to open it up again. She walked up and down the kitchen, sometimes coming close to the doorway. She never did go through it. “Something horrible happened.”, John exclaimed when he saw Becky and Rose climbing back over the Lancers´ fence. Neil turned his head around and then saw the two approaching as well. “Oh shit.”, Neil exclaimed. His eyes flickered as he scanned his friends. “But I see no blood, no wounds. Still, you are right…” He did notice that Becky´s face was still red and that she must have cried, he even saw her making unusually shaky steps. She was shivering a bit. John saw the same. He opened the rear car door and got out. “What happened?”, he asked Becky and Rose when they reached the pickup truck. “Tula is… dead. We are too late. I found her in her living room.”, Becky said, her gaze directed to the ground. Neil jumped up and down in his seat and waved his friends to get into the car. He also asked: “Was it the monster?” “No.”, Rose stated. “I don´t think I should drive.”, Becky said with a shaking voice and Rose looked questioning at Neil. “Sure, I can drive…”, he replied, but then shook his head. “I… I did not mean to take over the steering wheel like this. Can´t say that this feels right.” Rose sighed. ”Shall I?”, she asked. Neil nodded and vacated the driver´s seat. He went out of the car and around to the passenger seat. Rose nodded, but did not show any haste. She took Becky by the elbow and suggested her to sit down in the back. Becky agreed and got in the car. She left the door open for John to follow. He hesitated. “Hug her like you used to.”, Rose told John. Then both got in the car as well and all four drove off. “Where are we going and what are we doing?”, Neil asked. “We should drive to the bar, I think.”, Rose answered. “There are people, there is food, there is Erin. We can wait out the situation there – if it is just about waiting now as you said.” She stopped at an empty intersection, before driving on. She looked in the mirror and noticed that John was waving to her. At the same time, he had his attention still focussed on Becky. “Yes?”, Rose wondered. “Should we not… get the devastating news to Doctor Lancer? Because, how else will he even get to know?”, John asked. “Once everything is over, he might stumble home and find Tula… like Becky did.”, Rose imagined while driving the down a road underneath a roof of acorns. She stopped again at an intersection and continued: “We cannot let him walk into this horror just like this, I think. We cannot just stand by.” Becky nodded, John joined her in that, and Neil sighed. “It would be the most responsible to now drive back to the doctor, through the city, infested with a monster, just to bring him the news of his love lost forever.”, Neil said. Rose shot him a glance. “This is not a city.”, she stated drily. “Infested with one monster.”, John added with disapproval in his voice and shook his head. Becky did not say anything. She just hid her face on John´s shoulder. So the others fell silent. Rose stopped the pickup directly in front of Lancer´s practice. It was still quiet as was the whole street. The sun shone as if there was nothing to care about and no pain underneath it. Becky moved away from John, but Rose was faster. She got out of the car and then looked through the window at John and Becky on the backseat. “It is ok. I will go and talk to the doctor.”, Rose announced. When he heard this, Neil bit his lip and wobbled and wavered visibly. Rose went over to his window and looked at him questioning. “I´ll join you.”, Neil decided. “You should not have to do this alone.” Rose nodded to that and made a step backwards so that Neil could open the car door and get out. Together they walked into the practice. They walked slowly, tired and not very eager to deliver the devastating news that another live had ended. John was monitoring the street as they all had taken up as a habit. He still held Becky who was not crying anymore. “I sit here and look at the street like this is an already acquired habit. But I have no idea if this actually helps.”, John commented after a while. “I am not even looking properly. Mrs. Lancer… my thoughts return to her. Now that she is gone, I think more about her than before.” Becky shifted, leaned her back against John and also looked outside and nowhere specific at the same time. “I can stop talking.”, John offered. “No, it´s ok. Actually, it´s good to hear your voice. Please continue as long as you can.”, Becky said. “As long as I still can?”, John asked and tried a smile and a sarcastic tone. Becky did not react or look up. “Well. I will take you up on that. You know me.” “Yeah, please go ahead.”, Beck replied, with a bit less heavy sadness in her voice. “Before we lost the light-heartedness of youth to the horror of pure violence, I stumbled about something. There was this ancient book, almost falling apart because it had been read by so many generations of students before me. Many did not care as was apparent by now. However, I stumbled upon this picture of a duck. It was a normal duck, nothing special. At least I think…” “When was the last time you saw a duck?”, Becky interrupted. “I think the last time was when we saw one together when we were at this pond on a date. There were beautiful ducks shimmering in metallic green.” “There were no ducks.”, Becky reminded him. “It would have been better if there had been.”, John insisted. “True.” “So I saw the duck on a picture. And I could not help but wonder what would happen if we were all transformed into ducks. Not in a traumatic way mind you. We would just wake up one day and be water birds. So what would we do? All our clothes would not fit anymore. Do we sell them? Who would buy human cloths in a duck-world?”, John wondered. “I see a bigger problem.”, Becky interjected. “Which one?” “How would we leave the bed room? Can ducks turn a knob?” John sought out the vague reflection of Becky´s eyes in the car window she was staring through. “Ducks cannot turn a knob.”, John decided. “But you never close your bedroom door when you sleep.”, Becky remembered. “So I would still be free.”, John agreed. “Inside the house in any case. I would try to save you all.” “Of course you would.”, Becky agreed. “The one duck that got away and did not have to do a knob.” After some time, Rose and Neil returned with their heads down and in an even gloomier mood than before. They blinked in the sunlight and then got back into the pickup truck. There was just the noise of car doors being opened and shut close. No one said something for a minute. “How is he doing?”, Becky asked into the silence. “He collapsed into the floor.”, Rose said in a flat and hoarse voice. “We and Hooper had to crawl down to him. I had a serious flashback.” “I´ve never seen him cry before and didn´t think that he could ever cry like this.”, Neil added. “Can we go?” Rose nodded. “Let´s do a grown-up thing and drive to the bar after all these emotions.” Most cars from before were gone, so Rose parked the pickup directly in front of the entrance to the bar. All four went inside where Becky immediately found her mom and hugged her, this time almost desperately. “What happened?”, asked Erin. So they told her and Becky started to tear up again. Then the other three started to tear up. They all sat down in a circle on the floor next to the bar. There, they talked about Tula and how she was lost. “I´m so sorry.”, Erin tried and hugged her daughter again tightly. “But it was not your fault.” “I hope.”, Becky replied and nodded slightly but did not lift her eyes. In low voices and with many breaks between their sentences, the group turned their conversation slowly to Pipps and how he was lost. Neil tried to steer the conversation back to how glad they had been every time they had met Pipps. To talks more about how Pipps was alive. Neil succeeded with that for a while. “When we found him at the beach at his only day off.”, Rose remembered. “He was standing close to the water and then crouched down and got up again.”, Becky added. “Because this way he would see Fleck Island partially disappear behind the curve of the earth. He was so fascinated with that and happy about seeing it. He would talk to us about this for weeks to come every time we would see him at the gas station.”, John completed. “He was a wonder.”, Becky said while whipping away her latest tears. “We spoke about him in the past tense only, already.”, Rose remarked. Then they were silent again. Then Becky mentioned Smith and Sullyvan and how they were lost. “You should not sit on this floor.”, Fred said. “I love my patrons, but you should not sit on this floor like this. At least get a blanket” There was some commotion in the bar now. More people were walking around, more were talking in small groups throughout the establishment. Individual people were even leaving the bar just to return shortly after. “What is going on?”, Neil asked. “People are talking about the monster again.”, Fred explained. “It has been seen. Some want to hunt it down, ring it in, finish it off. Rid us of it.” “To avenge those who were lost?”, John asked in a more monotonous than interested voice. “Also that.” Fred nodded as if deeply convinced with the intentions of these people. The kids still frowned and Becky even shook her head. “Maybe people should just wait until someone comes and deals with this.”, Neil suggested. “Someone as in professionals who should be on the way by now.” “Don´t tell me.”, Fred shrugged. “I´m staying here no matter what. Got to keep an eye on the bar. Hey! Put that down!” Fred jumped up a bit and ran behind the bar where someone was trying to commandeer all the whiskey bottles. For Molotov Cocktails they said. An argument ensued. “I´m just so tired right now.”, Becky said and leaned back against the bar. Her mom, sitting on her right, padded her shoulder. Neil, sitting on Becky´s left, hesitated but then felt obliged to do the same. “You all deserve a rest.”, Erin said. Then her daughter looked her directly in the eyes. “But this is now how you mean it.” Becky shook her head again. Neil sighed, Rose and John crossed their arms, thinking. Erin got up and also crossed her arms, but more disapprovingly. “I can´t see how you getting involved again is a way out of this situation.”, Erin stated. Her daughter looked up to her, puzzled. “I had to say this as your mother.”, Erin defended herself. Then she took a wider stand. “And I will not apologise for that. If there is now way for me to stop you but to physically overpower you and take away your agency… I will at least join you and try my best.” The kids looked at her with big eyes and blinked in a realization neither of them was willing to vocalize yet. So they returned to the other topic at hand. “If there was a way out – for us and for it.”, Neil mused. “If we could get it to leave, you mean?”, Rose added. “It said it wanted a way out.”, Becky remembered. “They want to circle around it.”, John pointed out. Eyes widened. The five of them stood in a circle of their own, discussing what could be done. A plan was devised, the last one they would need. “Sounds like… something.”, Neil said and nodded. Rose clapped her hands and looked at Erin. “Erin, get your leather jacket and your sawn-off pump gun, we are going out.”, Rose exclaimed. Erin scoffed. “This is no weather for leather – and someone already nicked the gun.”, she said. Rose mouth became a thin line and she blinked twice in very short succession. “Still. We are going out.”, Rose repeated. Her eyes were framed in dark shadows and she had to invest some effort to keep them open. All had to do this. So Rose was doing her best in this moment to at least sound lively. “Right behind you.”, Erin said, suppressing a yawn. And so they left the bar again and walked over to the pickup. This time, Erin sat down on the driver´s seat. “This is an adult task.”, she said, while her daughter sat down beside her and the other three squeezed onto the backseats. Rose, John, and Neil looked in the mirror and sought out eye contact with Becky. Once they got their attention, they did their best to each raise an eyebrow. “I think my friends think your last sentence was a bit icky.”, Becky informed her mom. Erin scoffed while starting the engine. “Not all adult stuff is fun or funky.”, Erin stated, before flooring the gas pedal and then loosening the hand break. Despite their high speed, it was not difficult to locate the group of townsfolk attempting to hunt down the monster. There were no torches, but several rifles. There were also angry faces. “You could think they have lost someone.”, Neil commented unkindly. They stopped the car and got out. Cautiously, they approached the group of enraged people. “MacShane, Phd. is here as well.”, Rose noted. “The librarians are present, too.”, John observed and nodded in their direction. “Do you think Lancer knows about his sister in law and how his brother is doing?”, Becky wondered when she looked at the librarians. “True, these two actually lost someone.”, Neil admitted in an apologetic voice. “Should I go over to them?”, Becky asked more herself than the others. John and Erin exchanged a glance. “We wanted to follow them… join them.”, Erin said. So they moved over to the group. Becky was just about to talk to the librarians, when someone yelled that the monster had been found. The group hurried in the indicated direct. Erin and the kids followed hesitantly and in some distance. Still, they got very quickly to a second group that was standing in a half circle close two eyeless and grey storage self-storage houses. There was a street running between the houses, before ending in a dead end where there was a cliff. The group of townsfolk stood in some distance not only to the houses still, but also to a middle-aged man in very plain clothes. “This is close to the edge.”, Neil observed. “In a good or a bad way?”, Rose wondered. “Probably both.” “Is this Mr. Miller?”, Becky wondered and nodded, indicating the plain man. Meanwhile, he became less and less plain as the kids watched. He seemed to grow a few feed, but his arms extended even more than that. His face showed a strange expression of anger, fear, and utter cluelessness of the situation. All this did not face the town´s people. They continued to move in on Mr. Miller, completing the circle. “We need to get behind him, towards the cliff.”, John remarked. “These people have guns, I´m not sure how much sense it makes that we form a circle here, surrounding something.”, Neil pointed out. “I mean, when we take a second and think about where they will direct their fire when it comes to that.” “I hate this.”, Erin commented. “But we are close to the cliff and there on the left is even a narrow path down. A way out.”, Rose said. This did not convince her friends, while the other people were moving closer and closer to Miller and the monster. “This is the perfect place for our plan. If we would have gotten to pick a place, it would be this one.”, Rose insisted. Still, there were doubts, but there was nothing other to do in this situation. So they joined the group again, following the librarians, became part of the circle. In front of them were Miller and some of the town´s folk. Behind them was the dead end and beyond the cliff. Becky moved closer to the librarians. “There is something I need to tell you.”, she said to Lancer, but got no reaction. People were still looking at Miller, while there were claws extending from his fingers. “Look, there is MacShane again.”, John remarked. MacShane was standing close by, tense as everybody else, not giving any attention to the kids. “He could be of use to us.”, Rose said and started towards MacShane. John followed her, while Neil stayed with Becky and Erin, because the circle needed to be maintained at the moment. “Don´t let it come closer to you!”, somebody yelled and guns were cocked. People aimed. “Like, some of us need to dive down rather sooner than later.”, Neil said nervously and moved a bit backwards. Becky and Erin followed him, drawing the circle out. Miller and the monster were turning and turning, facing the crowd, growling. Sometimes it was almost as if he tried to say something. Often it seemed as if he was holding back, twitching instead of extending his claws. “Doctor MacShane!”, Rose yelled. MacShane jumped a bit and took his eyes for a second away from Miller and the monster to acknowledge Rose. “Kids should not be here…”, MacShane said in an unsteady voice. “I´m not sure if I should.” “There might be a way out.”, Rose suggested. “Literally.” “What?” “You told us about the monsters.”, John jumped in. “Do you think this will be enough to defeat it?” MacShane made a step backwards and his glance wandered between Rose and John, before he returned his attention to Miller. “How often have you read about such a situation solving the situation?”, Rose asked. “Never…”, MacShane admitted. “But there is the water right behind us.”, John suggested. “Just a bit in our direction and then to the left and the monster can climb down to the sea.” Rose said. “Hopefully vanishing back into it.” “This makes sense… I guess.”, MacShane admitted again. He now turned towards the kids. At the same moment, gun shots cracked. Miller jumped up like a giant insect. When he landed, he lashed out, just missing some people by inches. There were outcries of shock and people jerked back. “They hit Smith and Lancer!”, a voice exclaimed. It was Becky´s, as her friends realized after something seeming like an eternity. Rose and John hurried back to her. Becky was sitting on her knees next to librarians. Erin and Neil stood close by. “They shot them when they sighted for the monster.”, Neil whispered. “This does not make sense.”, MacShane whispered, as he too joined the group. “Let´s give it an opening then!”, Rose exclaimed. MacShane nodded. He gesticulated to some others to make room. There was now a hole in the circle. Becky grabbed MacShanes´s hands. “Doctor, put some pressure on Smith´s wounds!”, Becky demanded, dragging the scholar over to the librarian. Erin and Neil were crouching next to Lancer, trying to cover wounds with their hands. “I´m not…”, MacShane started, but did not finish. Miller and the monster were not moving. They were turning and growling, but did not seem to regard the opening. Rose waved to it. John froze. Miller´s head jerked in her direction. There were human eyes, even as the mouth grew bigger and bigger. And there was fear in these eyes. Fear and disappointment. Rose waved towards the cliff. “Just go.”, she mouthed. There was a little flash of understanding in the eyes of the monster. It set itself in motion, speeding up incredibly. It brushed by Rose and John and then was gone. It just jumped off the cliff. “It just jumped off the cliff.”, John stammered. “But there was the way down to a beach and there are surely boats…”, Rose said, still staring into the direction Miller had disappeared. John was about to say something else, but the sound of rotor blades drowned his voice. Rose and he turned around. Four helicopters were closing in on the scene of the destroyed circle of people and the monster missing. Becky stood up and waved to the one helicopter which had a red cross painted on its side. Rose and John understood what she was doing and tried to flag that one down. He was lost in the town that he though was his not too long ago. There was a memory of that down by the picture of her when they were young. They were so young but did not feel it. They did, that he had been sure of previously he thought, enjoyed being young and stupidly happy. Now this was like the memory of another man handed down to him like an old beautiful hat. Maybe it was too beautiful to be real. This could have been a dream. It hurt. It hurt to think as well. More and more He had difficulties remembering the name of the street they were chasing down. Street. That was the word. He had difficulties remembering the name of that street. Maybe that was not important, now. It did not seem to care. It just pushed him forward as before. As if that was what was left: A movement. For there was nothing else left. Just moving. Was it still there he wondered and wondered what he meant and who had thought that thought. There was a picture of her, but the face was missing. He tried to remember what it showed, the picture. There was an image of him in his backyard and a light and an old man, the only one there. He was the only hope, a lifeboat after the last lifeboat hat sunk, a broken mirror, a trap. He was lost together with all the others chasing down this road. Maybe there was a hunt but this time he was the hunted. In his memories he had heard of a man sitting on his porch eating a sandwich. As if this could even happen. Weird. He was the power among these lowly being who bore no fault but did not help him either. Mutual assured ignorance. He had to stop as there was food in the way. Food and someone he might have known. All these tiny creatures who he could not understand. Why did he end up among them? There was a voice in his head reminding them that these were scary and yet also valuable. Now they had surrounded him. He could make them leave. He could take them apart. But he hesitated. And then there was an opening. There was a blue see at the end of this road. All this could have been a nightmare. There was a cliff coming up. Now he would see if there was the promise of waking from this world.

[markwatkinsconsumerguide]

Consumer Guide / No.92 / Realtor Annie Challis with Mark Watkins.

Annie’s a top producer in the real estate industry representing both buyers and sellers from Downtown to Beverly Hills to Malibu and all areas between in Los Angeles.

MW : After leaving the UK, how did you get into real estate in the USA?

AC : I have lived in Beverly Hills since November 1989. I started in real estate after leaving the management company where I was President and we managed various artists. This involved worldwide travel from my US base promoting various star artists. I had been traveling probably nine to ten months of every year for over eighteen years and after my first two week break in that time I decided I didn’t want to do that anymore and have some “me” time. One of my dear friends and ex-client suggested buying houses, renovating and reselling.  Whilst doing that I decided to get my real estate brokers license so as not to have to pay commission to another agent. Then my business just grew from there with recommendations from friends to buy and sell for people.

MW : Did your real estate skills help you when buying your own home? 

AC : No, not really, you see I had actually bought and sold five homes of my own before I started in the real estate business. I love looking at houses, seeing what needs doing, do it and move on. I never really feel emotionally attached to a house, although I do love walking into my home and looking around and feeling peaceful. I guess the contents are more than the bricks and mortar mean more to me.

MW : How is your own home decorated, and would you move again? 

AC : My home is a mixture of antique and contemporary. I believe less is more so there isn’t too much “stuff” lying around. Yes I’d move again. Not sure when or where yet.  At the back of my mind, I think I would like to spend more time back in the UK where I have family. Having said that, I don’t know if I could spend winter there. My blood has thinned out since living in Los Angeles. I get chilly when the temperature goes down to 70 fahrenheit in the winter.

MW : Are there any marked differences in terms of how British and Americans buy and sell property?

AC : There is a huge difference how British and American Estate Agents operate. Over here in the US, agents have to have passed a pretty hard exam to get a license, and in order to buy and sell have to have that license which has to be renewed every four years. Both buyers and sellers are represented by agents over here and the whole process is done with official legal contracts, so rarely use a solicitor. Once someone puts in an official offer it is in writing and there is no “gazumping” (unlike in the UK), and the inspection is far more rigorous to determine if there is anything wrong with the property.

MW : Has Trump been a plus or a minus as far as you are concerned in the US housing market? 

AC : Although Trump has reduced interest rates for loans there are other things he has taken away like the amount of tax-relief on loans and on property taxes.

And with a sense of the country being “up in the air” nobody can predict what will happen - a bit like it is for you at the moment (with Brexit)!!

MW : As former President of Stiefel Entertainment you looked after many top artists in the music business, tell me about your favourite songs by each of these artists you managed...

...Rod Stewart ; The Bangles and Patty Smith...

AC : Well this is difficult. I have to say that I liked most. Thank goodness we never had acts where I hated the music. I went through years of Rod Stewart’s music and indeed we have been good friends from my Capital Radio days. I love tracks that were out before I was involved in management, such as ‘The Killing of Georgie (part l & ll)’ from the 1970s.

I have great memories of the time The Bangles released ‘Eternal Flame’ in 1989 and still love it. It was No.1 on both the UK and US charts.

I liked the track Patti Smyth did with Don Henley in 1992 called ‘Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough’.

MW : Tell me about your time at London’s Capital Radio?

AC : I was working at Radio Luxembourg as an assistant during my school summer holiday and production manager/presenter Dave Cash asked me if I would join a new radio station setting up to start in London. I loved the idea and jumped in. We had an office in Piccadilly at the corner of Down Street with the Hardrock Cafe on the other corner. Director Richard Attenborough was there almost every day and very few of us including programme controller Michael Bukht, who was one of the nicest gentlemen I had met. We spent months there getting the station together, and then moved to Euston and suddenly loads of people joined and there we were. Capital Radio went on-air 16th October, 1973, shortly after LBC, with the first record played being Simon & Garfunkels ‘ Bridge Over Troubled Water’.

MW : Specifically, what shows did you present & produce?

AC : Kenny and Cash was crazy and producing that kept me on my toes. I loved Kenny Everett and Dave Cash dearly. We had such a good time.

I would put together a playlist but basically that show changed second by second, particularly as Kenny was such a genius and would put together jingles and snippets at his studio at home and bring them in the next morning. We did get a few morning calls once Aiden Day was the programmer director about tracks we played.  My biggest memory of that was when we played ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen.  Aiden was not pleased - it did of course go to No.1 in the UK in 1975 and stayed there for nine weeks until the end of January,1976.

I also came up with an idea for Gerald Harper’s Sunday Affair where we played a real cross section of music from classical to rock. Gerald was a well-known actor who had never done a radio show, but his charm from TV came over the air-waves and giving away champagne and roses didn’t harm that. It became a huge success. He was so easy to work with.

I had a good relationship with record labels and pluggers - they all seem to have respect. In fact I’m still in touch with many. It was an amazing social time when they appeared to have unlimited expense accounts for lunches and dinners.

MW : Is there any truth in the rumour that Gerald Harper might have moved from Capital to Radio 210 in Reading?

AC : Don’t know about that!

MW :  ...memories of  Maggie Norden? ;  Roger Scott? and Tim Rice?

AC : I have great memories of Maggie, Roger and Tim. Roger was an excellent broadcaster and went way too soon. I didn’t see much of Maggie and Tim as they had weekend shows. My closest pals were Kenny (Everett), Dave (Cash) and Tommy Vance.

MW : How do you know Steve Blacknell?

AC : I meet Steve through events in the business - it was an extremely social time. We are still in touch.

MW : What do you like to see and do in Beverly Hills? 

AC : I have to say that the area has changed a lot in the years I have been here.  When I first came it seems spread out and lovely as a city, now it is growing into a high rise city. The weird thing is once a home gets old they tear it down and build something new until that fad is over and do the same again. So people are trying to keep some of the older ones now. Los Angeles is such an easy driving access to all climates - here we have the sun and beaches and you can drive for two hours to the snow. Downtown LA, which is like the business area in the City in London is really being built up including theaters, museums, restaurants etc.

MW : What newspapers / magazines do you read?

AC : I read the British dailies online every morning to catch up on what’s happening there. I read The Week, New Yorker, the New York Times at the weekend. There are so many 24-hour news TV channels over here you get up to the second news

MW : What are you plans for the business...and how buoyant is the current market / any trends…

AC : I’ve got sales going on at the moment and enjoying that - who knows what the future holds.

https://www.anniechallis.com/

© Mark Watkins / October 2019  

[jeonjungsmut]

One night in a strange city

Chapter 5 sorry no paps

"Eh hi?"

"Have you, been crying?" Tae asked you, alarmed.

"It's okay, ah, good tears." You laughed nervously. He took your hands in his and pulled you away from your friends.

"I need to, ask you erm something." He whispered.

"Okay." You whispered back to which he smile wide.

"Will you, what you doing tomorrow?" He asked, holding your hands tightly.

"Eh I don't know," you turned slightly to ask alicia but then remember Tae had moved you away from them. "Nothing." You said, because if you were doing anything you sure weren't anymore.

"Ah good! We are having, mini fansign? Do you want to erm come with your friends? Then we, eh we could go for em food after?" You felt his hands getting sweaty as he held yours, you almost laughed at how adorable he was. He was perfect.

"Of course! Of course!" You felt tears bubble again in your eyes and before you had chance to wipe them away Tae reached his hand up and wiped them before caressing your cheek. You saw him close his eyes and visibly sigh in contentment.

"I really need to go. But, what room are you? I can give you, eh pass's tomorrow morning?" He suggested, moving his hand from your cheek to your side. He held you like you were so precious you might break.

"440." Was all you could reply.

He nodded and just as he opened his mouth you both heard the van beep it's horn, signalling for him to leave.

"Ah, goodbye. See you tomorrow, Rhii." He looked at you for a second before boldly leaning down and kissing your cheek very quickly and sweetly, and before you knew it he was gone, skipping away like a giddy child.

"BITCH!" You screamed and ran back to your friends. "He invited us to that fan sign we couldn't get tickets for tomorrow!! He's gonna drop tickets off tomorrow and then I wants to take me out to eat. Is this actually happening or am I dreaming? Also I ripped my dress and it's all ruined but I'm so fucking happy right now I don't. Even. Care. Fuck!" You rambled.

Alicia laughed and told you to breathe.

"I'm so happy for you!! You actually met him and he actually likes you like?? Bitch this is really happening right now!!" Alicia squealed in excitement for you and jumped up and down.

"I know!!! I can't believe, I'm. Wow." You couldn't find the words to describe how you felt but exhausted was definitely of of them.

"Okay but we can't tell anyone they are here. A, selfish reasons and B, they don't want people harassing them while they sleep." Alicia reasoned.

"Yeah she's right. We can't tell anyone about it, maybe our parents but other than that no one. It would be rude to them too to be fair." Zarena added coming over to give you a hug. "I'm so happy for you!! Baby Bee finally catching her man!! WHOOP!!"

"Aha thank you! Well, I haven't caught anything he's just asked to take me to eat, it's not like we're getting married or anything." You nervously giggle, suddenly aware that if he had asked you to marry him you'd have more than likely said yes.

"Welp. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it but for now, we've got a club to party at. So come on" alicia said dragging both of us by the hand and down the hall to where the stairs were since the lift broke.

"Oh I'm so tired now though." You moaned.

"Nope. Nope nope nope. We came this far we aren't quitting now." Alicia was determined that we were going to this club whether we liked it or not.

"How are we gonna get down the stairs in these shoes!!"' Zarena yelled.

"Here." Alicia pulled a small bottle of gin out of her bag. "Down some of this and you won't feel a thing."

"Eh. Okay." Zarena swigged, once twice and then handed it to you. You did the same and passed back to alicia. You felt worse at first but a slow warmth grew in your stomach and you felt ready.

You got down one flight of stairs and turned to open the door to the lobby to find the boys still here.

"Tae?" You questioned as you walked toward him.

"Rhii!" He smiled warmly and brought you in for a hug like he hadn't seen you in weeks. "Practice got cancelled tonight." He pouted. "We came back."

"I see that." You giggled. The gin making you confident and playful. "How come it was cancelled?" You hiccuped.

"댄스 선생님께서 편찮으시거든요.(dance teacher is ill)." Jimin said stepping forward. With the drink in your system you felt more confident with your Korean and decided to put to work what you'd learnt.

"그것 정말 유감이네요 나는 그가 곧 좋아지기를 바란다. (That's a shame. I hope he gets better soon.)" you spoke clearly and actually made sense. You guessed falling asleep listening to Korean was a good thing after all.

Tae's eyes snapped to yours, he was impressed like he was before, his arm snaking almost possessively around your waist. " 우리도 그러길 바래요. 그렇게 지금 무엇을 하고 계세요? (We hope so too. So. What are you doing now?)." Tae asked you as jungkook and Hoseok walked up to you all.

"Eh. Clubbing." You responded not quite remembering the Korean word.

"Ahh Club Party?" Hoseok asked you.

"Yeah you wanna join?" Zarena spoke up, you caught her sneaking glances at yoongi who was falling asleep where he stood and Namjoon who was cooing and adoring a bashful Jin.

"Whoa! Really?" Hoseok looked around at his members for confirmation. "Yeah?" He asked them. Tae nodded enthusiastically and Jimin agreed with a smile. Yoongi announced he was going to bed and left without another word, Namjoon and Jin following behind. Just Jungkook was left.

"부탁이야(come on!)." Tae pushed his shoulder encouragingly, still smiling like a sap.

"좋아! 좋아! 난 올 거야.(okay! Okay! I will come)." He said after a long pause. "Are you, going?" He said with his hand rubbing the back of his neck. You looked over to who he was talking to. Alicia. Nice.

"Yeah." She said before looking away and quickly moving over to zarena. You frowned at her but she waved it away. "Let's go then!" She practically ran to the door.

You looked up at Tae and saw him smirking before pulling you along to follow alicia out the door, the others trailing along.

---////---

The club was packed and you felt squished but the vibe was amazing.

You'd been dancing for about two hours, now officially drunk and pressed firmly against Tae. Your heels allowed you to put your hands loosely around his neck but he still leant down slightly so he could whisper to you above the loud club music.

"Are you having fun?" He whispered, his breath tingling down your ear to the bottom of your spine.

"I can speak Korean you know," you laughed as he kissed your check for the millionth time that night.

"I want to, speak English with you." He tried to pull you closer to him, and your drunk self was full of confidence so you pulled him down to you and kissed him.

He seemed really shocked and you almost pulled back but he sunk into you last minute. His kisses were heaven. So sweet and full of love. But drunk you didn't want love, you stuck your tongue in his mouth and pulled his hair. The moan that came from his mouth made you weak in the knees and his new grip on your ass made your eyes water with need.

"Rhii.." he breathed between kisses and gropes.

"Oh fuck Tae."

"YO! Guys stop!" Zarena came over and pulled you apart. Bitch. "There's a girl over there taking photos!!" She pointed over to the corner where a girl with her phone was stood, point it directly at you.

"Fuck!" You screamed and ran away, Tae following after you.

"We've got to leave!" You screamed to alicia who was dancing with Hoseok Jimin and Jungkook.

"Why?!" She shouted back.

"I KISSED TAE AND SOMEONE TOOK A PHOTO OF IT!!"

Her eyes went wide and so did the boys.

"Let's go."

---///---

The taxi ride back to the hotel was deathly quiet. All of today's events kicked in. Meeting Tae, clubbing with Tae...kissing Tae. You put your head in your hands. You were so happy about all of today but you knew how seriously you'd fucked up today. Tae held your hand the whole way.

When you got to the hotel Namjoon was already in the lobby, pacing up and down. "빌어먹을 놈!!! (What the fuck!!!)." He yelled as you walked in. He shoved a phone in Taes face and you watched his face deflate. He silently passed the phone to you. The girl had already posted the images. Clear as day. You. And Tae. Kissing.

"Oh fuck..." you sighed.

"I've phoned producer Bang and he's gonna be here in a minute to help sort this out." Namjoon explained to you. And you just nodded, hiding slightly behind Tae.

"It will be okay. Promise." He spoke softly to you in reassurance.

"이건 너무 엉망이야. (This is so screwed up)." Jungkook mumbled to himself as he walked away to sit on the lobby seats where alicia and Hoseok had already sat down. Zarena was stood with Jimin, you could hear her filing him in on what had happened.

"I'm so sorry." You said into taes shoulder.

"Yah it's okay!" He pulled you forward and into a tight hug, he kissed your forehead. "It's all okay."

"He's here." Namjoon said gesturing to the door.

"Oh god." You whispered.

There he was. Hitman Bang himself. And he didn't look happy.

You were so fucked.

Chapter 6 coming soon hehe