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biggest-stupidhead · 3 years ago

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Can I ask for an request where Levi is a soldier who is pointed to protect a royal person. Then he fell in love with her active attitude, smart brain and support to the scout

AN: This took me so long. I deleted it like three times on accident so this is as good as its going to get 😂. do let me know though if I misspelled anything I didn't skim over it sooooo YOLO.

Summary: Levi is asked to attend the summer gala with !princess reader.

Word Count: 2.8 K

Warnings: mentions of Levi's scarring, some cussing? I think? that's about it

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Levi's hand trembled as he ran the fine toothed comb through his damp hair. He scowled back at his own reflection, eyes avoiding the pink scars that marred his skin. It had been nearly a year since he had been discharged from the military due to his injuries. At first he had struggled to find a routine, having been in the military for more than half of his life, it was a huge loss.

His hand jerked unexpectedly and the comb pulled through a knot in his hair painfully. He clicked his tongue and dropped the comb, gripping the edges of the sink to steady himself.

How pathetic.

There was a time when he could complete these tasks with no problem. But now his body seemed to be failing him, if he stood for too long his joints protested, he struggled to hold a pen due to his lack of fingers. He also wore an eyepatch to cover his milky right eye and some of the scars that covered the right side of his face.

Normally Hange would help him get ready, they were the only person he could stomach seeing him this way. But Hange was busy, they had meetings all morning. So Levi was left on his own, and he managed as well as he could. Although it took him double the amount of time it usually took, he still did it.

He grabbed his cane on his way out of his humble apartment, the carriage was waiting for him outside. In the carriage was the last person he wished to see, Zeke Jaeger. His glasses glinted in the sunlight as the coachman held the door for Levi who sat as far away from the war chief as possible.

Zeke blew out a puff of smoke, which swirled around in the small space. Levi's lip curled into a sneer, and Zeke smirked pleased to rouse a reaction from the retired Captain.

"Big day today eh Levi?" He spoke around his cigarette and Levi rolled his eyes.

"I suppose." He agreed, eyes never leaving the man.

That was about the only words exchanged between the two, the ride was thankfully short. The carriage arrived to the castle just after noon, the coachmen opened the door for Levi and Zeke. The sunlight was bright and made Levi squint, it didn't help that the castle seemed to glow as the sun bounced off of it.

"This way old friend." Zeke instructed and Levi followed begrudgingly, Zeke led Levi through the halls and into a large ball room. The castle staff was scurrying about, carrying massive bouquets of flowers and other decorations in preparation for the summer gala. Levi had attended this very event many times over his career, but he had not intended on joining in this year. Zeke paused a few feet away from Erwin, who was standing before a young woman Levi had met a handful of times. You had aged in the past two years that he hadn't seen you, although you weren't any taller, he could see the age on your face. Much as he assumed you could see in his, you also carried yourself more confidently, shoulders back, chin up.

Erwin paused and turned to greet the two men, who both saluted him and you.

"Captain, how nice to see you." You hummed, a pleased glint in your eyes as you curtsied, much to his surprise.

"You as well Zeke." You seemed less excited to see the war chief.

"Princess, you look lovely." Zeke closed the distance between the two of you, taking your hand a bit too eagerly and bringing it to his lips. You smiled a bit tersely, but allowed it.

"Ah, and you look...as hairy as the last time we met." Your jab threw Levi off, but Erwin seemed to have expected the exchange. Zeke laughed heartily and pulled back.

"Such a sharp tongue on you princess." He chuckled and you shrugged, a smug grin on those lips of yours.

"You make it easy."

"Princess, you are aware that Levi is to accompany you to this year's gala yes?" Erwin steered the conversation in a more relevant direction and you nodded.

"Mhm, and I'm very excited to be escorted by Eldia's most eligible bachelor." Levi wasn't sure if you meant it sincerely, or if it was his turn to face the wrath of your sharp words.

"I'm sure you are." Erwin chuckled, his hand falling on the back of your tricep. You gathered your skirts and took a few steps closer to Levi.

"The last time we met, you weren't keen on dancing, I do hope that's changed." You smirked at him and Levi barely fought the flush off of his cheeks as you pushed past him.

"We can go in the drawing room and discuss logistics, the gala is a mere week away after all-" Levi tuned out whatever it was Erwin was babbling about, too focused on watching you saunter out of the room.

Levi spent the next week trailing behind Erwin, attending meetings and luncheons with other high ranking military members. It was boring, but nothing that he hadn't done before. The day of the gala, Hange arrived with the remaining of the 104th cadet corps. Levi felt great relief at seeing the familiar faces, Hange had eagerly came to hug him, and he pretended to hate it. Mikasa even came and gave him the briefest of embraces, Connie had been the most excited, throwing his arms around his former captain and squeezing him tightly. Armin had grinned sheepishly, and offered a small wave. Jean just nodded respectively in Levi's direction. Gabby and Falco had tagged along as well, wearing their best uniforms, decorated with their medals.

"I can't believe we get to come to the summer gala!" Connie gushed, his hazel eyes wide as he soaked in the castle in all of its glory.

"We won a war." Jean huffed, eyes sharp, hand fidgeting with his medal on his lapel.

"We lost more than we won." Mikasa murmured, her own shaky hands reaching for a scarf that was no longer wrapped around her neck. The cheery mood quickly dissipated at Mikasa's statement, Hange cleared their throat and clapped their hands in an attempt to drag everyone from their thoughts.

"Let's go meet Erwin then." They said, and Levi nodded.

"Let's." The group walked through the halls, Hange in the lead and Levi at their side, it felt like old times. The kids, well they weren't really kids anymore, were beginning to return to their annoying selves.

"-will we be able to eat the food?" Gabby asked, and Levi nearly flinched, the statement reminded him all too much of Sasha. Connie seemed less phased, he sighed and brought his arms behind his neck as they walked.

"I sure hope so."

"We're here on business." Mikasa reminded them and Jean hummed in agreement.

"We're here as representatives." Armin added, and Hange chuckled.

"Use this as an opportunity children." Hange cooed, pausing in front of the doors to the drawing room.

"Have some fun, get drunk, you've earned it." Hange then pushed the doors open, revealing the cozy drawing room, Erwin sat with his legs crossed in one of the arm chairs, a book in his lap. He closed the book and stood, his sleeve hanging limply where his arm once was.

"Cadets, erm or should I say captains." Erwin chuckled awkwardly as the kids all jumped to salute him, fists clenched over their hearts.

"Commander." They all greeted in unison.

"Sit, we have much to discuss."

The discussion was rather tame, a short bit of it had been relevant. Where the kids were to stand, what they were to say and how they were expected to act. The rest of the afternoon had been spent catching up and enjoying each other's company. Just a few hours before the guests were to arrive, Erwin sent the group off to find their spots.

Levi found himself waiting outside of your room, his watch gripped tightly in his fist, watching the minutes tick by. You emerged about fifteen minutes after him arriving, your dress was a deep emerald green, elegantly hugging your frame in all of the right places. You smoothed the silk gown skirts and smiled at him, the red lipstick on your lips making your teeth seem extra white.

"You look ravishing Captain." You complimented, accepting his arm before walking slowly down the hall, careful to keep his pace.

"...as do you." He choked out, a blush tickling his ears.

"Did you get all done up for me?" You pressed, hand tightening around his bicep.

"No." He answered, although he was partially lying, the truth was all he could think about as he dressed, was you. How would you be dressed? Was he to match you? Or was he expected to wear his usual military dress? He had opted for the latter, and it seemed to work well, the inky black dress coat and the gold medals that decorated his lapels seemed to compliment the emerald in your dress.

"Well, I sure hope that you will at least dance with me." You pouted, shooting him a hopeful look.

"Tch." He clicked his tongue, truthfully it was all that he could mange, he was nervous enough about joining you this evening. But you asking him to dance? He had never danced in his life, and with his legs in the state they were in now?

The two of you stopped, overlooking the ball room which was already filled with guests, milling about with flutes of champagne. You snuck a glance at Levi, who was looking down at the crowd with a bored glaze over his eyes.

"Ready?" You asked, squeezing his bicep once and he nodded, chin held high as the two of you slowly made your way down the staircase. Levi's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for familiar faces, which he found in their designated spots. He knew that the king had asked him to accompany his daughter largely as a political move, not for protection as he had in the past. But old habits die hard, he double checked exits and kept an eye out for shady people, it was easier than looking at you after all. Not because you were ugly, rather the opposite, you were stunning and that intimidated him.

After at least forty five minutes of socializing, the dancing began and you tugged impatiently on his arm, which you had yet to let go of.

"Please Levi, just this once." You whispered so only he could hear, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end at your closeness.

"Princess." He said sternly, although his voice did shake a tad, and you grinned, knowing that you had nearly convinced him.

"Captain." You countered, taking a step towards the dance floor.

"Just one." he said after a moment's hesitation before falling back in step with you.

"Just one." You affirmed with a wicked grin as you led him into the mass of bodies.

Levi felt his pulse race, his anxiety was roaring he had absolutely no clue how to dance, especially with his legs in the state that they were. You seemed to sense this, carefully taking his hand and resting it on your hip as you stepped ever so closely to him. Your chest was pressed against his, and he was sure that you could feel the pounding of his heart as it threatened to escape his ribcage.

"You just follow my lead." You whispered as he brought his other hand to rest naturally in the palm of yours. He nodded, eyes wandering down to glance at his feet, which were partially concealed by your skirts.

"It goes something like this, step-" You took a step towards him and he took one back.

"Then to the left," You instructed softly and he obliged, the two of you moving slightly out of sync.

"Then forwards again." You nodded as he stepped forwards and you stepped back, skirt swaying.

"Then to the right," You chuckled as his brows remained fixed in a tight knot as he tried to focus.

"Then we do it again." You seemed satisfied, and he nodded it was simple enough, although he could already feel the strain of the activity in his joints.

"Easy." He huffed, taking the lead and you giggled and fell into step with him.

"Tell me Levi, when you went across the ocean and fought those men, who were you fighting for?" The question caught him off guard and he nearly forgot the next step.

"That's an odd question." Levi shot you a mean look and you shrugged.

"I want to know what pushed Humanities strongest to be so strong." You answered, unfazed by his sour look.

"I fight for the people." He replied curtly and you sighed.

"That's a boring answer, I want to know what really drives you." You pressed and Levi frowned.

"Its the truth."

"Then tell me a lie." You raised a brow, challenging him and he screwed his nose up in distaste.

"Why would you want me to lie to you?" He asked out of genuine curiosity, no one had ever given him such a request.

"To spice some things up I guess." You hummed nonchalantly and squeezed your hand that held his.

"Then I would tell you I fought that war for you." He regretted the words, but you seemed to be pleased by them.

"Aw so you did think of me while we were apart." You cooed and Levi nearly broke away from you, but he only gripped your hand harder.

"You were the last thing on my mind." he huffed and you let out a throaty laugh. A lie, he thought of you often.

"You really are funny." You let your head fall affectionately into the crook of his neck and he swallowed thickly, as your scent washed over him.

"I didn't mean to be."

"I know, that's what makes it funny." Your breath tickled his neck as you spoke, you seemed to be in no hurry to pull away.

"Hmph." He hummed stupidly, unable to form words with you so close.

The song ended and you lifted your head, one of those wide grins sprawled across your lips.

"That wasn't so bad was it?" You whispered cheekily and he scoffed as the two of you exited the dance floor. You both found a seat at one of the tables set on the outskirts of the room, taking a break to drink and enjoy each others company.

Levi rubbed his knee under the table, the dance had truly taken a toll on him and he barely suppressed a groan. You noticed, shooting him a concerned look.

"Does it bother you often?" You asked, dragging your chair closer to his. He rolled his eye and pulled his hand slowly away from his leg.

"No."

"You're lying, just tell me the truth."

"I thought you wanted me to lie to you." He snapped back and you scoffed.

"Not about this." You reasoned and he sighed deeply.

"Yes, it hurts like a bitch." He turned to face you, his knee knocking yours and you frowned.

"You should've told me, I wouldn't have made you dance."

"I-" He paused, catching himself before the words left his mouth. But after one look at your open and concerned face he couldn't not say what he had been wanting to say.

"I wanted to." He admitted and your eyes widened a fraction.

"You...really wanted to?" Your words were raw and clearly Levi had caught you, the witty young princess off guard.

"I did."

"Would you do it again?"

"Yes."

"Hm." A smug look crossed your face and Levi scowled at you, not liking the way you seemed to be plotting something unbeknownst to him.

"What?" He snapped and you let out a short burst of laughter.

"I knew that you weren't lying when you said that you thought about me." You teased and he growled lowly under his breath.

"Maybe that was your last dance with me."

"Easy now, let's not be hasty, we have the whole night after all darling." You patted his shoulder, standing slowly and walking around the back of his chair to squeeze his shoulders before slipping off into the crowd.

He hoped that you meant it, that you would come back even if he could not dance with you again. He hoped that you had thought of him too, that his fighting had all been worth it. To spend the rest of his life by your side, even if he was just your guard or even a political ploy. He would do it for you, and he would do so happily.

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ariadnelives · 2 years ago

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RHAPSODY IN BLUE

A new short story, set in the Ariadne’s Angels universe, is now available! You can check it out at AO3, or under the read more!

2618

“ You girls are angels ,” the crying woman had told them. A young Pilar Aguilar and Racquel Ramos had taken her words to heart. Up until then, they had been in it for survival, and of course, to feed Pilar’s nine-year-old sister, Sasha. That was, on its own, a noble fight.

However, the woman’s words had made it clear to Racquel that they had a gift. Sasha wasn’t the only starving child on Mars, and she had the power in her hands to take some of the hoarded wealth of the system’s plutocrats and put it towards something worthwhile.

Racquel and her partner in crime were scarcely older than Sasha themselves. She was coming up on her twelfth birthday, and Pilar had only just turned thirteen. In the early days, they had no idea how far in over their heads they’d gotten.

“You sure this is the place?” Racquel asked, crouching behind a concrete pillar on the top floor of a parking structure, “this is like… what, a nightclub?”

“Romano does business out of here,” Pilar replied, “Big mob boss. Deep pockets. Really bad dude. If we’re looking for people with too much, who deserve to be robbed, first place to look is in this guy’s orbit. While they’re in there, we’re cleaning out their cars.”

“You’re sure we’re not gonna get, you know,” Racquel said, dragging a finger across her throat, “whacked off?”

“Romano’s gonna whack a couple of little girls?” Pilar said, “please, if he catches us, just start crying, then punch him in the nuts and run. You got the scrambler?”

“Yeah, it should work,” Racquel replied. “Do you know what we’re looking for? Are we sure they’ll even have anything in their cars?”

“Everyone here is rich as shit,” Pilar said, “and most of them are tied up in something shady.”

“Aren’t all rich people?” Racquel asked, smirking. She was new to her radical views, and still felt a little thrill every time she voiced them.

Pilar smiled. “Now you’re getting it,” she said.

Racquel positively melted inside. Pilar was, by a wide margin, the coolest girl she’d ever met. She had been relatively popular at school, due to her smarts, high social status, and the fact that she was, admittedly, pretty adorable. The other students all wanted to be her friend, although due to her incredibly strict home life, she was rarely allowed to spend time with them outside of school. She’d gone to an incredibly affluent Catholic girls’ school, and she’d never quite been able to connect with any of her friends there in a meaningful way.

It was like there was a distance between them. They seemed concerned with all the wrong things, who was invited to which party, who’d made a fool out of themselves by associating with the wrong sort. She got along with almost everyone, but didn’t really feel like they actually knew each other. It didn’t help that most of the other girls at school had recently become very, very interested in boys, a subject she just couldn’t relate to. It was like everything else they said to her: she assumed it was fake, and that they simply said it because that was the proper way for a young girl of their station in life to feel. She’d learned quickly to feign interest, because her friends were quick to grow suspicious if she admitted how much she did not care about boys.

All of that had changed last night, when Pilar had caught her crying in her sleep, and she’d confessed everything about her parents, and her old life, expecting to be thrown back out on the street. Instead, Pilar pulled her tight and showed her compassion. Racquel, for the first time in her life, felt like someone else actually saw her. This scrappy, smooth-talking, tough, beautiful girl with holes in her dirty jeans and her greasy hair tied back with the torn-off sleeves of her t-shirt.

Beautiful, she’d thought, and suddenly it was like a floodgate had opened inside her. She suddenly understood everything her schoolmates had said about boys. It wasn’t that they were faking their interest, or that they had feelings she did not. She’d simply been looking in the wrong direction the whole time. She’d always known there were girls who liked other girls, but she’d only ever known high-society phonies, never anyone who would’ve stirred up these feelings in her.

Being an incredibly impulsive preteen, immediately upon realizing this, she’d lunged at Pilar and kissed her. Pilar was so surprised she almost started laughing, but she was quick on her feet, and kissed Racquel back.

Pilar had known about her interest in girls for a long time, and knew about her interest in Racquel ever since she’d seen that EMP Scrambler. This girl was a bona fide genius, and Pilar was transfixed to meet someone so smart, especially another kid.

“Come on,” Pilar said, “the coast is clear. Let’s see what these creeps keep in their trunks.”

A machete lodged itself in the concrete above them.

“You goddamn street rats think you can steal from my clients?!” screamed the machete-wielding lunatic standing over them. Her bionic eyes were flaring wildly, her blue mohawk falling down into her face, and a vein in her forehead was throbbing.

“RUN!” Pilar screamed.

Racquel did not take this advice. She had prepared herself to use Pilar’s first “if we get caught” plan, and immediately began to cry, and threw her fist forward, connecting with the deranged woman between the legs.

Their assailant crumpled, and Pilar and Racquel scampered down the ramp of the parking structure.

“Next thing you build,” Pilar panted, “some sort of getaway vehicle! We did not think this through!”

“I can’t drive! I’m 11!” Racquel huffed and puffed as they ran.

“Some kind of legs?! Just… something that lets us go faster!”

They arrived at the ground floor and the exit was within sight, when the blue-haired maniac fell down the gap in the center of the spiral ramp, landed on the ground floor, and executed a flip to place herself directly in Pilar and Racquel’s path.

Pilar and Racquel stopped in horror. How had this woman not broken every bone in her body? She had just dropped four floors at top speed!

“ Lucky shot, kid,” she said, “don’t think you’re gonna get me in the jewels twice.”

“Please don’t kill us!” Racquel said, “we can get you money. Lots of money!”

“I already have money, you little fuckin’ weasel,” their assailant said, pointing her machete right at Racquel’s throat. Pilar’s eyes flared, and she fumbled with her small pocketknife, as though she expected to take on this madwoman herself.

“Oh, a little tough guy, is it?” This woman asked, “what are you gonna do, shitbird, you gonna fuckin’ shank my ankles? You just saw me drop four fuckin’ stories without a scratch. You think some fuckin’ Oliver Twist-ass urchin with a knife is gonna do shit to me?”

Pilar flicked the knife open and stepped forward.

“ Relax, knight-in-shining-fucking-armor,” their assailant said to her, “I ain’t gonna slice and dice your little girlfriend. ”

Both of their eyes flared.

“Or not girlfriend, Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” she said, “didn’t mean to cause some sort of goddamn middle school drama. I don’t kill kids. Not a fair fight.”

“So we can go?” Racquel asked.

“Oh that’s goddamn rich,” their assailant said, dropping her machete, and then moved so fast that she was holding each of them by the ear by the time the machete hit the ground. “Name’s Blue. I own this place. You’re coming up to my office to explain yourselves, and you ain’t fuckin’ leaving until all my clients have taken their ugly-ass luxury cars and all their fuckin’ shit out of here with them.”

She grabbed them both by the ears and pulled them directly towards the elevator. Both girls tried to pull themselves away.

“Look, your ears are coming to my office,” she said, “I suggest you join them.”

Raquel and Pilar followed this advice and walked at a brisk page to keep up with Blue so their ears wouldn’t be torn off. She sat them down in two plush chairs in her office, and locked the door.

“Now,” she said, “you girls are going to explain to me what exactly you think you’re doing here tonight.”

Both girls remained silent.

“You. Short one,” she said, pointing her machete at Racquel. “You got a name?”

Racquel knew full well there would be a massive reward for her safe return to her parents right now, and would rather die than let anyone claim that reward. She was also, however, only 11 years old, and still not very quick on her feet.

“ ...No?” She had to try.

“No name, huh?” Blue asked. “Look, kid, I’m not trying to bust you. I honestly don’t give a shit who you are, outside of our little business together here tonight. I just need something to call you.”

Pilar, much quicker on her feet, recalled a conversation they’d had recently about an old Greek myth the two girls had bonded over. “Her name’s Ariadne.”

It was like a lightswitch clicked in Ariadne’s head. The name “Racquel Ramos” suddenly seemed almost alien to her. Pilar had named her, and there was no going back now.

“That’s me,” Ariadne said, “Ariadne.”

“Hmm,” Blue said, producing a wallet that Ariadne recognized as her own from her empty palm, and pulling out a card from within. “So you’re not Racquel Ramos, sixth grade student at St. Joan Preparatory Academy?”

Ariadne could’ve sworn ice flooded through her veins.

“Because her parents are looking everywhere on Earth for her,” Blue explained, “it’d be unfortunate for them if she was on Mars, the one place they can’t look for her.”

Ariadne said nothing. Pilar started looking for ways out of this situation for the both of them.

“Relax, short stack,” Blue said. “Tall one, have you ever met someone on Mars who’d do Raul and Rosario a favor, for any amount of money?”

Pilar shook her head no.

“And what’s your name, tall one?” Blue asked.

“My own business, ma’am,” Pilar replied.

Blue stared at her angrily for a second, and then burst out laughing.

“You’re crazy, kid!” Blue asked, “bona fide fuckin’ lunatic. You’re lurking around in parking lots, trying to rip off mob bosses, neither of you is armed, neither of you knows how to fight, no exit strategy… you’re pretty goddamn young to have this big a death wish, sweetie.”

Pilar looked embarrassed.

“Unless…” Blue finally saw it in both of them. “It’s not a death wish, is it? No, you’re both… Christ alive, why didn’t I see it before? You two have heard the call, haven’t you?”

“I don’t think the clergy would have us,” Ariadne replied.

“Shut the fuck up, kid,” Blue said in her gentlest tone of voice, “remember, you’re the one who forgot to bring a weapon on a crime spree, and I’m still the one holding the machete. No, I’m talking about… it’s like, there’s been something missing inside you, your whole lives.”

Blue’s whole demeanor changed. She stared off into the distance, as if Pilar and Ariadne weren’t even in the room. They both got the sense that they were seeing a side of her that she didn’t often let people see.

“Like, you spent your whole life just spinnin’ your wheels, sittin’ in place, can’t even figure out where you’re even tryin’ to go. And then, one day, something falls into place, the wheels hit the ground, and you just start goin’. Suddenly, you know exactly who you’re supposed to be. You stop seein’ the shadows on the cave wall, and start lookin’ at what’s castin’ em, and then finally, seein’ the sun and realizing it can be yours if you just stand up and walk out of the cave. The whole path becomes clear, and all you gotta do is walk it, and you’ll be who you need to be.”

Blue snapped back to reality.

“You two felt that, didn’t ya?” Blue asked, suddenly snapping back to her original demeanor. “That’s why your dumb asses tried to rip off those mob bosses.”

Pilar and Ariadne were shaken by her speech. Neither of them had put it to words yet, but that was exactly, to the smallest detail, what they had both felt when that woman had told them “you girls are angels.”

“Your faces say it all,” Blue said. “You were stealing from these fucksticks because they got too much and too many people don’t have enough. Too bad your first steps landed you in the crosshairs of somebody whose job it is to keep their shit safe. Lucky you, following the call never leads you someplace you’re not supposed to go. You were supposed to make that mistake, because you needed to meet me.”

Ariadne and Pilar looked at one another. Ariadne asked, “why?”

“What, you taking stupid pills?” Blue asked. “I heard it too, duh-doy. When I was not much older than you.”

Blue rifled through her desk, and pulled out a map of New Moyamensing. She lay it flat on her desk, pulled a balisong from her pocket, flipped it open, and pierced it directly into the map.

“ Stealing shit from the mafia don’t hurt ‘em in the long run,” Blue explained. “Mob dicks, they exploit people who are already poor. You ain’t hurtin’ em taking a few trinkets from their cars, they can afford more shit. That’s why I do business with ‘em. It pays to have dirt on people like that. I learn enough of their secrets, I guarantee return customers. I got return customers, I get more dirt. Every dollar in my pocket is one they don’t have. But you really wanna hurt them? You really wanna help people? They’re predators , preying on the poor. You wanna deal with them, you gotta go after the big sharks.”

“ How do we do that? ” Pilar asked.

“ You shittin’ me, kid?” Blue said, “I stabbed a knife into a map like 40 seconds ago, and you haven’t even looked at where? ”

Pilar and Ariadne leaned forward. The financial district. Mars One Bank.

“That bank houses the safe-deposit boxes of the 10 richest people on Mars,” Blue said. “The real scum of the system. The wealth they hoard is why there’s enough poor people for the mob to exploit in the first place. Clean those boxes out without being detected, and I’ll show you what you need to know to follow your calling.”

Ariadne and Pilar glanced at each other in giddy excitement.

“Ma’am, do you believe in fate?” Pilar asked.

“Beyond the calling? No, it’s all a bunch of bullshit. Things just happen, or they don’t,” Blue explained. “And if I hear the word ‘ma’am’ pass your lips again, I’ll take them away from you.”

“ We were there earlier today,” Ariadne said. “We already did it. Those boxes are empty. ”

Blue laughed. “You’re shittin’ me. Where’s the loot?”

Pilar looked uneasy. “Pawned,” she said. “Used the money to buy dinner for the other poor folks living under the bridge.”

Blue laughed a deep belly-laugh. “You are crazy. The shit in them boxes coulda bought your ticket anywhere in the system, and you spent it on one dinner?!”

“I’m 11,” Ariadne pointed out. How was she supposed to know what that stuff was worth?

“That’s when we heard the, uh…” Pilar said, “yeah.”

“The calling?”Blue grinned madly. “Welcome to school, girlies. You just got yourselves a teacher.”

2315

The unusually tall, bearded man with cheekbones that could cut glass and long black hair that blended seamlessly into the wide-brimmed black hat that very few had ever seen him without piloted their stealth cruiser to the twelfth location of the night. His message was, unfortunately, not sinking in with his young daughter.

“Consider yourself fortunate, Princess,” he had lectured her on the 16-day journey from the Oort hypersphere all the way to Earth, “most young Oort have already heard the call of our people by your age. They don’t get to experience this rite of passage.”

“So you’re telling me,” Princess said, “that I could’ve been spared the joy of this little vacation if I’d pretended to hear the call when all the other kids did?”

“Have some reverence for the old ways, child” he spat back.

“Old ways?” Princess asked, slumped down in the passenger’s seat. She wore the black slacks and button-down shirt that was customary for this rite, in order to help her more easily remain unseen. It didn’t help, however, that her ringlets of electric blue hair stood out even in the dark of night. “The Oort didn’t exist yet when Lola was my age. How can we have ‘old ways?’”

“You don’t know your history,” her father replied, disappointed. “That’s the purpose of this trip. To show you where it all began. Why it all began.”

“Yeah, I know we came from Earth,” Princess replied. “Everybody knows that. We just went further out than anybody else, lost contact, and–”

“We weren’t called the Oort then,” he explained, “but our people have always existed. We’ve had many names through the millennia. Shadowmen. Fair folk. Tylwyth Teg. In my family’s homeland, we were called Dwende. In your mother’s, Chaneques. Throughout history, we have always heard the call. More often than not, we had no choice.”

Princess rolled her eyes. Her father had always been superstitious, and it was no surprise to her that he believed the old myths of the Oort having supernatural roots on Earth. She herself had never quite believed this. She’d seen the advanced technology people grafted into their bodies, and the genetic mutations and modifications so many, including her parents and grandparents, had received. Of course, she believed in magic , any idiot could do it, and she used it herself fairly regularly.

This was the problem with the concept of “the supernatural.” Nothing could be supernatural, because if something existed, it was natural. Any magic you study hard enough is just science, and any science you don’t understand might as well be magic. The first caveman to generate and harness the power of fire– a mythical hero named Terstam in Oort culture– was looked on by his peers as a sorcerer.

As far as Princess was concerned, “the call” probably didn’t even exist. Most people, at some point in their lives, have a dream, or an ambition, or even just a goal, and many of them set out to achieve it. The Oort are technologically advanced enough to make most dreams, ambitions, and goals incredibly achievable, so most Oort who set out to do something, manage to do so. After 17 years of life, not having heard this mythical “call” everyone was always hammering on about, she was convinced that it was just a collective act of wishful thinking. People had noticed a phenomenon and ascribed an otherworldly explanation to it, like the Mandela Effect, or the belief that a lull in the conversation always occurs on the half-hour.

“This world, all the worlds of the sun-seers, are culturally poisoned by their sin and vice,” her father explained. “You have seen this firsthand. They indulge their lust, their greed, their gluttony through rank exploitation.”

“Believe it or not,” Princess replied, “I already knew all that without my father taking me to a strip club.”

“You haven’t heard the call,” her father replied, “we aren’t going back to the hypersphere until you do. There is no better way for you to understand why our ancestors chose to remove ourselves from the culture of the sun-seers, why we must continue to remove ourselves from it, than for you to see its depravity with your own eyes.”

“Look, daddy I get it,” she said, “the system is a messed-up place. You don’t have to trot me around to strip clubs and crack dens to scare me straight.”

“ If you haven’t heard the call,” he explained, “you don’t ‘ get it.’ You cannot.”

“How do you know I haven’t heard the call?” She asked, frustrated. “Maybe I have! Maybe I just… thought it was something else!”

“ One of the gifts of our people,” he explained. “We see people as they truly are, not as they sometimes appear to be. It’s how we knew you were a girl when you were born, even though the sun-seers would’ve branded you a boy, forced you to spend years playing the part before you figured out who you really were.”

Blue sighed. The one commandment of their people: THIS ABOVE ALL. TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE.

“You know how much I appreciate that,” Princess replied, “our people– you and mami, letting me grow up as I actually was.”

“And despite this,” her father said, “you are unsatisfied in our home, in the cloud.”

“Of course I am,” she said. “All day, I go to school to learn how to maintain the equipment that grows our food. Then I come home, and maintain the equipment that grows our food. I go to bed, and do the same thing the next day.”

“Without us, people starve. Feeding people isn’t a noble calling?” Her father asked. She thought at first that he was patronizing her, but something in his eyes told her that he was actually asking.

“Of course it is,” she said.

“People starve if no one does what we do,” her father explained. “When I was a boy, there was a food shortage. I heard the call then, and did everything I could to ensure there would never be one again. Your mother did too. It’s how we met, and fell in love. I’m thankful the universe called me to this task, because it brought you to me.”

“Well, I gotta give it that,” Princess replied. “It’s just not… my calling. It’s not that I don’t care if people starve, it’s just…”

“Someone else is already doing it?” Her father asked.

Princess chuckled. “Yeah, I guess they are.”

“I don’t know what your calling will be, my darling,” he said. “I brought you here, to the beginning of all things, to the spark that lit the flame of our people’s flight to the promised land, in the hopes it would present itself. If our life is not what calls to you, it would be a cardinal sin for you to live it. This above all…”

“…To thine own self be true,” Princess completed, almost by reflex. Unfortunately for her father, she shared the gift of their people, and could read him like a book. “But you hope your life does call to me.”

“Is that so criminal?” He asked, “for a father to wish his daughter could stay close to him? But I know it’s not meant to be. You are meant for something… more… than I can give you.”

Princess looked at her father. He was near tears, but maintaining a brave face.

“It is said,” he explained, “that those who do not hear the call until they’ve come back to the beginning are meant for great things.”

“It is said,” Princess corrected, “that all are meant for greatness.”

“A liberal interpretation of the scripture,” her father conceded. “People rise to the level they’re capable of. We Oort are the supermen, the truly extraordinary, who are capable of more.”

“ We are the lucky,” Princess insisted. “When we hear our calls, we have the resources to see them through, and a community to support us.”

“We are truly blessed,” he said.

“Imagine what the people down here would accomplish,” she said, “if they could just… do whatever it is they had their hearts set on.”

“You’re starting to sound like Brother Y,” her father chuckled, referencing the mad preacher, barely older than her, who, like many of the Oort, believed that their gifts should be shared, for a price, with anyone clever enough to find him, and foolish enough to agree to a deal with him.

“Is he so crazy?” Princess asked. “Why shouldn’t we share our gifts with them?”

“I’ll show you,” he said. “Our next stop… these are people who have every privilege on Earth.”

He stopped the ship on a hilltop overlooking a gathering of people carrying dim, smoldering torches, setting up some sort of effigy on the next hillside.

Princess got out and looked out at the silhouetted figures erecting what appeared to be a cross.

A man who appeared to be their leader began to speak, but Princess couldn’t hear a word he was saying. The crowd began to whoop and cheer, though, and something about it made her skin crawl.

The leader shouted a slogan that Princess couldn’t quite make out.

“See the hatred of the sun-seers,” her father whispered to her. “See how they use power when they’ve got it. Imagine what these men would do with our magicks.”

The leader brought his torch to the cross, setting it ablaze. The bright light of the burning cross illuminated the leader, and his assembled forces, clear as day. Princess saw their bright white robes, their pointed hoods, and with the gift of the Oort, could see the vile, ugly truth of their being.

The hatred within these men would destroy everything it touched.

Suddenly, Princess saw what her father had been trying to show her all along. The depths of evil that her ancestors had sought to remove themselves from. She heard music that she knew only she could hear, and felt every drop of blood in her body coursing through her veins.

“ Our founding parents,” she said, “the pioneers… they saw this… and they ran?”

“We could not be part of the sun-seers’ hatred,” he said. “This is why we live in secret. Why we don’t… uninhibit those who aren’t worthy of our gifts. People whose calling leads them down the path of hate and destruction.”

The electronic thrum of the music rang in her ears, and she could hear a vocalist calling to her from centuries in the past in a language she couldn’t understand:

“ Wem der große Wurf gelungen

Eines Freundes Freund zu sein

Wer ein holdes Weib errungen

Mische seinen Jubel ein! ”

“No,” she said firmly, “that’s not how I’m gonna do things.”

Her father stared at her in awe, overjoyed. “You’ve heard the call.”

“Get out of here, daddy,” she said, “I don’t want them seeing you.”

“They won’t,” he said.

“Your calling is at home,” she said.

“I have a greater calling, right here,” he said. “Do what you must. Make me proud.”

She walked onto the ship and grabbed a spare can of fuel and a large utility blade, then moved steadily towards the rally, without responding. She couldn’t even hear her father over the sound of the vocalist’s dulcet, almost synthetic tones.

Calculations flew through her mind faster than she could comprehend, telling her muscles exactly how to move to do what she needed to do to become herself.

She got as close as she could to the assembled men while still able to remain unnoticed, and as she heard their chants of “WHITE PRIDE! SYSTEM-WIDE!” ringing through the night, decided she didn’t want any of them to get out of this without knowing what had come for them.

She let out a shrill, piercing ululation, sharp enough to cut through the hateful chanting on the air and the glorious, joyful music running through her head, and every hooded head turned to face her as she launched herself into the air, 25 feet above the assembled crowd, and sliced through the can of starship fuel so that it rained down on the whole group. She landed several feet from the leader, thrust her blade between his knees, and yanked it up sharply, cleanly bisecting him. She was panting with rage and excitement. The assembled men attempted to scatter, but she moved too fast. With another swipe of her blade, she cut through the base of the burning cross, and kicked it towards them with strength she didn't even know her body was capable of, so that it landed in the middle of the assembled group, causing an explosion that blasted most of the men to shreds. There were only four survivors, and none of them were fast enough to avoid Princess, whose body moved of its own volition and, one by one, she and her blade danced from man to man and cut each of them to ribbons, their clean white robes ripping into jagged red scraps, their screams of pain and terror drowned out by the beautiful tones of the synthesizer in her mind, calling forward to her from centuries ago, and the vocalist’s electronic jubilation.

She finally understood what it meant to be Oort. She had always been smart, always a gifted magic practitioner, and had a healthy appreciation for the body modifications that gave her people their abilities, but she finally got what everybody had been telling her all her life.

Like every Oort before her, Princess was uninhibited. She had heard the calling, and transcended the self-imposed illusion of human limitation. Her blade, her cause, was now an extension of herself.

She felt almost contemptuous of her forebears. All this time, there were people spewing such hatred, causing such suffering, and her ancestors had chosen to run and hide. She was never meant to stay on the Oort hypersphere. All her life, she’d felt like she was overflowing with hatred and rage, and had nowhere to put it, because she lived in a community built on tolerance and self-expression. The idea of unloading it on someone undeserving never would’ve even occurred to her.

The same could not be said of the sun-seers. Many of them would gladly, even gleefully, direct their own rage and hatred at innocent people.

She heard the vocalist’s words ringing in her ears as she surveyed the righteous carnage she’d just left in her wake:

“ Froh

Froh wie seine Sonnen fliegen

durch des Himmels prächt’gen Plan

Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn

Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen ”

Isn’t it wonderful , she thought, that people like that will finally get a taste of their own medicine?

She returned to her father, who gazed at her in awe, and nodded solemnly. “As I said, you are clearly meant for greater things. You will not return to the Hypersphere.”

“Where will I go?” She panted.

“ Your Lola was similarly called to leave her home,” he said. “She will take over your education from this point on. She has… connections , in her life on Mars, which will aid you in your calling.”

Princess laughed confidently. “Did you see what I just did? You really think I need training?”

“It is the fool who thinks herself an expert,” he replied, “and the wise will always think themselves the true fools.”

“Fuckin’ A,” she said, the words just feeling right in her mouth, “I should’ve been doing this shit the whole goddamn time!”

Her father smiled. He didn’t need to say it. He’d always been able to see his daughter’s true self, to hear her true voice. He was immensely proud that she’d stopped holding herself back, so he could finally actually hear it aloud.

2618

It had been six weeks since Blue had taken them in. At Pilar’s insistence, Sasha was to receive no direct training from Blue.

Blue had urged her to budge on this. She could see Sasha’s potential as clear as day. Pilar, however, was absolutely firm that Sasha should never need to fight.

“Whatever floats your boat, kid. You know she’ll hear the fuckin’ call too, eventually,” Blue said, “doesn’t have to be fighting. You just let me know when that happens. I’ll see to it she becomes who she’s supposed to be.”

“She’s supposed to be nine years old,” Pilar said, starting to tape her hands up for a sparring session. “Focus on me.”

“Hey dumbass,” Blue replied, “you’re supposed to be thirteen. Ever tried it? Kiss a girl, sneak into an R-Rated movie, write some Val Deimos fanfic.”

“You know I can’t do that,” Pilar said. “I have something else I’m supposed to do.”

“You wanna know something about the call?” Blue asked. “No bullshit, no jokes, just the straight dick? You gotta be true to it, but it doesn’t gotta be all you are. I’ll help you pursue your calling, but it can’t be all business. You still got a childhood. Use it.”

Pilar finished taping her hands. “Just… show me how to keep her safe. That’s what I’m good for and that’s what I’ll do.”

This rubbed Blue the wrong way.

“Fuck it,” Blue said, “sparring session cancelled.”

“ What?! ”

“We’re doin’ something else today, you thick-skulled little brat,” Blue said, “why am I bothering teachin’ you to fight? You’ve heard the call. All you gotta do is listen to it and you’ll make it through any fight. Clearly you know what’s best, so why not give you your final exam now?”

“Final exam…?”

“You and me, one on one, for keeps,” Blue said. “I’m goddamn invincible. You beat me, you can beat anybody.”

“I’m not ready for–”

“Tough tits,” Blue said. “Somebody comes for that little sister of yours, you think they’re gonna wait until you’re fuckin’ ready? Tell you what. You live, you’re good enough to take care of your sister. You die, I take on the responsibility myself.”

Something deep in Pilar’s bones told her this was wrong. She was meant to be Sasha’s protector, and Ariadne’s. To leave their safety to somebody else would be tantamount to betraying the very essence of her being.

“Look, I get it,” Pilar said, “I was being dramatic, and I’ll focus more on–”

Blue produced a throwing knife from her empty palm and flung it past Pilar’s left ear.

“ Jesus!!” Pilar yelled.

“MOVE, BITCH! GET OUT THE WAY!” Blue said, queuing up another knife. “I’m not gonna miss a fuckin’ stationary target a second time!”

Pilar started to move as quickly as she could, dodging knife after knife as they lodged in the walls of the sparring room behind her, split-seconds after her heart moved out of their path.

“ You’re insane! ” Pilar yelled.

“AM I?” Blue shrieked, and flung a volley of knives at Pilar, who was forced to bend over backwards to avoid them. “WHY?”

“ I’m just a kid! ”

“ Oh, NOW you’re just a fuckin’ kid?” Blue said, launching more knives in Pilar’s direction. “Because before, you were big miss bodyguard, talkin’ about ‘boo hoo hoo, all I’m good for is fighting.’ What happened to that? ”

“I was just–”

“It’s fuckin’ sinister is what it is!” Blue insisted. “You wanna protect your sister? You wanna protect that little fuckin’ girlfriend of yours?”

“ YES! ”

“ And you don’t think they feel the same way about you?! ” Three more knives lodged themselves in the wall in Pilar’s wake.

Pilar’s muscles were burning, her joints screaming, but every fiber of her being told her that she had to win this fight. Blue would not hold back, and if she lost, she would surely die. Ariadne and Sasha’s safety would be left in the hands of this madwoman, and neither of them could be who they needed to be.

Pilar closed her eyes and, by sound and feel alone, dodged six more knives.

“Now you’re fucking getting it!” Blue screamed. “I’m every enemy you’ll ever face, and they will kill you! Any protection you give your little fuckin’ squeeze and your kid sister is worthless if you don’t protect them from that! From losin’ you!”

On the word “you,” she launched another knife at Pilar’s head. Pilar ducked at exactly the right moment and slid between Blue’s legs, popping up behind her and throwing a blow at the back of her head.

“You ain’t doin’ them any favors talking about how you’re good-for-nothing,” Blue said, swerving aside effortlessly, catching Pilar’s hand, and flipping her over her shoulder. “Be kind to yourself, there will never be another you!”

Pilar got to her feet, and Blue produced six more throwing knives in her hand. On each word, she sent one flying through the air at Pilar’s body: “ THERE’S JUST NOBODY ELSE THAT’S YOU! ”

Pilar closed her eyes and listened to the signals of her body and spun, dodging each one expertly, but managed to grab the handle of the last projectile mid-flight, and turn its momentum back against Blue.

She opened her eyes just in time to see the blade collide with Blue’s forehead. It bounced off and clattered to the floor.

“ JESUS CHRIST AND HIS GODDAMNED VIRGIN MAMA!” Blue yelled, grinning widely and beginning to laugh with genuine pride and joy in her voice. “Honey, you did it! ”

“ What the fuck?! ” Pilar asked, barely able to catch her breath.

“You actually got the jump on me, and you killed me!” Blue laughed.

Pilar looked at the ground, at one of the knives embedded in the ground. And then she noticed: hundreds of notches, all around the floor and walls, each one exactly the size of the tip of the throwing knives. Precisely the size they would need to be for a blunt knife to stick in the wall without needing to be sharp.

Pilar picked one up. Rubber knives. They might have left a bruise if any of them had hit her, but nothing worse than she might’ve gotten in a regular sparring session.

“You tricked me,” Pilar said, “I was in no danger.”

“No, I lied to you,” Blue replied.

“If one of these had hit me, the game would’ve been up,” Pilar said. “How would you have made your point then?”

“You really still don’t get it, do you, shit-for-brains?” Blue smiled. “I’m only doing this because I see you brats as you really are. I know that when push comes to shove, each of you will do the goddamned impossible. That’s the essence of what it means to be– well, people like you and me.”

“You bet on me passing the test,” Pilar said. “You were sure none of these things would hit me.”

“I didn’t even have to fake it,” Blue explained, “I’m fuckin’ glad we’re on the same side. You’d be really fucking annoying as an enemy.”

“How did you know?”

“In the parking garage,” Blue said, “I threatened that little girlfriend of yours with a machete. You stood up to me, a lunatic twice your size and much better at fighting, with a pocketknife. I saw you, really saw you, there and then, and I thought ‘imagine what that kind of bravery would lead to, with my skills.’”

“I think I’m starting to get you, Blue,” Pilar said.

“You starting to get that you’re fucking good for something other than fighting?” Blue asked. “Getting that through that thick fucking skull of yours? You got people who give a shit about you. Not everybody’s so fucking lucky. I’ve met people who are only good for fighting. You know what I do with them?”

Pilar looked at her expectantly.

“I fight them,” Blue said. “Guess how many of them lived. If I didn’t see somethin’ good in you other than your fists, you wouldn’t be standing here wondering about it.”

“You know,” Pilar pointed out, “when you ignore how you say things, you’re actually pretty nice.”

“Don’t go fuckin’ telling people, I got a rep to maintain,” Blue said, “and I won’t hesitate to whoop your narrow behind if you screw that up for me.”

The door slid open, and a haggard, disheveled Ariadne poured through, covered in engine grease, it with a pipe in one hand and some sort of makeshift device in the other. Twenty minutes ago, Blue had administered her final exam. She’d locked her in a sealed room with no technology except a security camera to monitor the test and a speaker to deliver the instructions. Blue told her, through the speaker, that she had 20 minutes to escape before she killed Pilar. Blue, to the best of her knowledge, had not left any means of escape, but her calling told her she was doing what she needed to do to help Ariadne become who she needed to be.

“Where are… you two are…” Ariadne asked. “You’re okay?!”

Blue smiled, and looked at the device in her hands, clearly cobbled together from the electronics in the security camera and speaker. Ariadne had found a way.

“I was never in any danger,” Pilar assured her, “and neither were you.”

“I always knew you had it in you,” Blue said, “Just had to find the key to letting it out. Turns out, the both of youse really give a shit about living long enough to save one another.”

Ariadne looked at Pilar. Everything Blue said was true. She had run from her family on impulse, after finding out her parents’ true nature, but she’d been completely directionless, living just for survival, ever since, right up until she met Pilar. Something about her just made the whole world make sense. Pilar and Sasha were her family now, and there was no height she wouldn’t climb to if it meant keeping them safe.

“ Whoever you two fuckin’ idiots are supposed to be,” she said, “you’re supposed to be those people together .”

2624

“The hell kind of wedding present is this?!” Spacebreather asked. “A handwritten book on how to satisfy a woman?!”

“ Right? You’ve never needed a handbook before, ” Ariadne said. “Which is impressive, you know. Since you can dish it out, but you can’t take it.”

“I’m almost afraid to open this other one,” Pilar said, “look at the size and shape of this thing. Who knows what’s in there?”

“It… doesn’t bode well,” Ariadne said, surveying the box. It was a black box, about eleven inches long, and two square inches thick, tied in a soft blue ribbon.

“You don’t think it’s a…” Pilar hesitated, “…marital aid, do you?”

“I know for a fact the gift shop at her nightclub sells replicas of her own–”

“Okay, like… that does feel like classic Blue, and it’s not like I wouldn’t have bought you one if I’d known about them,” Pilar laughed, “but we can agree that it’s weird if she sent us one, right?”

“Look, I love that woman almost as much as I hate her,” Ariadne said, “but if she sent us a replica of her own dick, I give you my permission to beat her to death with it.”

“Baltimore and Beam got us a new console for the war room,” Pilar said, “Flax got me a new set of knives, and got you a bunch of broken machines to put back together. Why can’t Blue be more like them?”

“Okay, look, we don’t know it’s a marital aid,” Ariadne said, “let’s not get mad at her for something she technically hasn’t done yet.”

“ You open it, I’m terrified,” Pilar said.

“Okay, but if it’s not a marital aid,” Ariadne said, “you know it’ll probably be something way worse.”

“You gotta open it, mi amor,” Pilar said, “this is the most stressed I’ve ever been.”

“Okay, okay,” Ariadne said, pulling the ribbon off and opening the lid, revealing a small envelope on top of a blue silk handkerchief. “Oh! There’s cards! One for me and one for you!”

Ariadne handed the envelope labeled “Pilar” to her new bride, and opened her own.

“‘This is the root of all evil,’” she read aloud, “‘put it towards something good.’ Huh. Weird.”

She pulled the handkerchief aside and saw two stacks of Martian bills, and Ariadne knew better than to question where Blue had gotten it.

“Oh my god,” she said, “there must be millions in here. What’s your note say?”

Pilar looked at it in awe, just stunned, at a loss for words.

“It says ‘get your mind out of the gutter, pervert. More than one thing is shaped like that. If you want one of my marital aids, you can buy one like everybody else.’” Pilar started to laugh. “I hate when she’s right. She’s annoying when she’s right. Why is she always right?!”

“Well,” Ariadne said, throwing a handful of bills at Pilar, “you heard the woman! We’re married now, go get me a damn marital aid!”

“We spent too much time with her,” Pilar laughed. “She really rubbed off on us.”

“I’m glad she didn’t hear you say that,” Ariadne said. “‘Rubbed off on us?!’ She would’ve pounced on that slip of the tongue.”

“‘Slip of the tongue?’” Pilar laughed. “You’re not doing much better.”

“I’ll never get her,” Ariadne said. “She swings a machete at my head, I punch her in the nuts, and she… personally handles our education, for free, helps us steal enough medical supplies to train Sasha, for free, helps us build our home, for free, and then sends us a few mil on our wedding night. What does she get out of all this?”

“I get it,” Pilar said. “She always used to tell me, ‘I’ll take the money, but I don’t do it for the fuckin’ money. Money is a sick muse.’ The money is just a means to an end for her. It’s her… calling.”

“Don’t tell me you believe in all that calling stuff now too,” Ariadne said.

“I know you felt it too,” Pilar replied. “I’m sure you’ll deny it until the day you die, but we both felt it. Together. And every time we’ve dug into it, we’ve hit gold.”

Ariadne couldn’t convincingly protest, so she didn’t.

“ Really annoying,” Ariadne said, “when she’s right.”

“ That’s why she did this,” Pilar said, “somewhere in that… deranged, unhinged mind of hers, she actually believes in our cause. She does all this for us because the things we do… serve her calling as much as they serve ours .”

Ariadne nodded solemnly, then said, “have we considered the possibility that she’s just bugfuck nuts and does whatever she wants at all times, and there’s no rhyme or reason to it beyond that?”

Pilar considered this and nodded back. “I don’t see why both things can’t be true.”

2627

“–and the only person in the universe good enough to stop me is fighting by my side. The only difference now is that you know I’m real, that I’m watching, and most importantly, you know what I’m capable of if I find out you’ve laid a hand on a child. Bye now!”

Blue was fit to burst with pride, watching the flickering hologram of the woman Ariadne had grown into. She’d helped shape these girls and couldn’t help but feel some responsibility for the change they were about to bring into the system.

It was her first time back on the Oort hypersphere in over 100 years. She looked around the room and saw several familiar faces, including at least one other person who she wouldn’t have expected to see back here in her lifetime.

“You are fools,” her father growled from behind her. “You have no idea what you’ve set in motion.”

“Relax, daddy,” Blue replied, “I know exactly what the fuck I’m doing.”

“And what, exactly, is that?” He asked.

“What you taught me,” she said rather calmly. “When I was a girl, you told me I was meant for greatness. That I had big shit to do, and that the worst fuckin’ thing I could do is deny my calling.”

“She’s a good kid, Manny,” La Pesadilla said, coughing out a cloud of smoke. She was flanked by her usual companions, an old black woman wearing a sweater knitted to resemble a galaxy, and a harsh-looking white woman in a white tank-top with close-cropped gray hair. “That little wife ‘a hers too. Annoying as hell, but but good heads on them shoulders.”

“I’ve asked you not to call me that,” her father replied, “and it’s not about how smart they are. Their affairs are not ours. I was against it nine years ago when you told me you were teaching them our ways. I was against it four years ago when your lola started feeding them information on where to strike. Your meddling is going to leave the sun-seers spheres of influence disrupted beyond repair.”

“Pardon me,” La Pesadilla said, somehow feigning a sarcastic curtsy without leaving her chair, “Manuel Ezekiel Paolo Hocson-Guira. God, don’t know what my daughter sees in you.”

The beautiful woman in the sleek black dress sitting next to him, with ice-blue hair and long, pointed black fingernails, scoffed. She’d long since realized that arguing with her mother’s taunts was a fool’s errand. Her husband knew she loved him. She knew he was worthy of her love. He called her his Queen, and that was the only name she needed. Who cared what that bitter old jackal thought of him?

“Disrupted beyond repair is what I’m goin’ for, daddy,” Blue explained. “I’ve been living in the goddamned cesspit the sun-seers call a solar system for over three hundred years. They’re everything you said they were, centuries ago. Hateful. Violent. Cruel. And they live in a system that rewards that sort of behavior. And you were there when I heard my calling. To–”

Manuel sighed. “–to return the cruelty of the hateful back on their heads tenfold. I remember.”

“The sun-seers think our daughter insane,” Queen said, her voice dripping with elegance. “She is regarded as a lunatic. A terrorist. They hate her for killing bigots, rapists, and murderers.”

“In fairness to them,” La Pesadilla said, “she don’t tell anybody that’s who she’s killin’. With our eyes, we see people in ways the sun-seers can’t. Far as they can tell, she’s just… walkin' down the street, killin’ random people.”

La Pesadilla had a point. Blue didn't bother to justify herself to anyone when she delivered her pointed brand of justice — certainly not to law enforcement. She frequently committed murder in broad daylight, in front of dozens of witnesses , because she could see who in any given crowd was a wife beater, or a child molester, or a white supremacist, or any number of other things that sent her into a righteous homicidal rage. She didn't explain why she did what she did because she didn't care whether people thought the worst of her. She didn't worry about possible legal consequences, since the modifications she'd made to her body— including biological, cybernetic, and even magical—made it almost impossible for any agent of human law enforcement to arrest her, kill her, or track her down. Her bases of operations on each planet— usually food and drink establishments she owned— were all fully protected against anyone who wished her ill. Anybody who wanted to arrest her could search the block the restaurant was on for a thousand years and never find it.

Because of this, over the past 300 years, women fitting her description were wanted on hundreds of counts of murder on every populated planet and moon in the system. Of course, no such woman had ever been tracked down, and no law enforcement agency worth their salt would consider “what if all these crimes were committed by one nigh-immortal woman, and the reason nobody's ever been able to apprehend her is that she moves fast enough to dodge bullets and is durable enough to catch them with her bare hands” to be a more viable explanation than “sometimes murders are committed by blue-haired women, regardless of location or time period.”

Nonetheless, Queen was not amused by La Pesadilla's defense of the sun-seers' condemnation of her daughter. “They see her as she appears,” Queen retorted, “ not as she is. If they knew why she did what she did— ”

“Mami, enough,” Blue pressed, “I don't do any of this for a pat on the back. Not my job to save every fuckin' idiot upset about my methods from bein' wrong about my motives.”

“It’s one of her best qualities,” said Father Y, the mad preacher, from his end of the table. “She doesn’t care if people love her for the good she does, or even if they know she’s doing good. She sees something that needs doing, she does it.”

“I don’t need your fuckin’ support, Y,” Blue snapped. “Besides, they’re right. I am a lunatic, and a terrorist.”

Blue had a point as well. After all, she was also wanted on hundreds of counts of theft and property damage, and had no hidden motives for those crimes. The charges of theft were because she frequently went shopping, especially at high-end department stores, and yet had never, in her 300 years, paid for a single article of clothing. The charges of property damage were because she enjoyed smashing things and setting fires, and frequently got bored. At the very least, she tried her best to not smash or burn anything unless its owner was either “irritating to her,” “a large corporation,” or “played music out loud on public transit,” all of which she considered crimes deserving of a hell of a lot worse than having their stuff smashed or set on fire. She made no apologies for these things either — she wanted things for free and she loved smashing stuff. Anybody who had a problem with that, she wished the best of luck in stopping her.

“It’s not surprising you two would side with her,” Manuel replied. “You, La Pesadilla, who meddles to your hearts’ content, and you, Mad Preacher, who’ll give away any of our secrets for money.”

“ Hey now,” Father Y laughed, “I don’t deal in anything so cheap and tawdry as money. ”

“As far as I’m concerned, this should be a tribunal for your head,” Queen snapped. “It’s a matter of public record that Dr. Simon came to you for help prolonging his life.”

“And I gave him sun-seer tech to do so,” Father Y said. “I’ve collected my debt. Got a few hundred souls out of him.”

“ What the fuck are you talking about, Y?” La Pesadilla asked. “Sun-seer tech. Peh! You claimed the soul of an insane cyberneticist 15 years ago, and you gave Simon the tech you took from her– based on our shit, that you sold her.”

“ Semantics,” Father Y said. “Stoker knew her shit. I just gave her a little inspiration. I didn't make the damn thing kill her. ”

“All of this is a goddamned moot point!” Blue shouted. “Who gives a shit whether Father Y or Lola or any of us interferes in the sun-seers’ affairs? Lola blackmails a politician, Father Y sells some shady shit to some cult leader. Yeah, they’re pieces of shit! Maybe I am too! But it’s what I had to do! I was called–”

“–The calling is not an excuse to act without considering the consequences of your actions!” Manuel shot back. “You have set a fire in a world that is not your own! This goes well beyond murdering a few klansmen in rural Appalachia, or butchering every man you meet who beats his wife!”

“ Look at her! ” Blue shouted back. “Daddy, look at this girl and tell me you don’t see what I see.”

“She’s…”

“ What?” Blue asked. “ What the fuck is she!”

“She is… one of us.” Queen replied.

“She is not one of us,” Manuel explained. “She was born of Earth. She’s never set foot in the Oort cloud.”

“She heard the calling,” Blue replied. “She’s one of us. I know you can see her, daddy.”

“I see a girl who–”

Blue, the master of colorful language, uttered the most cutting insult an Oort could possibly hear.

“ Daddy, you lie to yourself.”

Manuel gasped.

“She’s right,” Queen said. “Beloved, it’s plain as day. This girl, born of Earth, is an Oort.”

“Her wife, too,” Blue explained. “And that little sister. Her little girlfriend. In fact, just about every member of their crew is.”

“How?” Manuel asked. “How can that be? She has no Oort ancestry! Her DNA is unchanged, exclusively human! She doesn’t use magic–”

“Not for lack of trying,” Blue added, “I must’ve told her to try it a thousand times.”

“– If this girl can be one of us, what does that mean for us?” Manuel challenged Blue. “What does it mean for them?”

“The Oort were born of Earth, originally,” Blue explained as calmly as she could. “You told me yourself that we existed long before space travel.”

“ I existed before space travel,” La Pesadilla added.

“And what did I tell you, all those hundreds of years ago?” Blue asked.

Manuel thought back to that day. “That all were meant for greatness,” he said. “That the difference between us and them is that we have the resources to follow our calling. And you wondered what the Sun-seers could become, if they had our gifts.”

Blue smiled. “Daddy, I love you,” she said, “but sometimes you’re thick as shit. Don’t you see what I’ve done? I haven’t shared any goddamn Oort technology or knowledge with them.”

“ Impossible,” Manuel replied. “Look at her! Look what she’s built . The space station, the biomechanical cyborganics she used to revive the dead cultists–”

“All her,” Blue replied. “Every last fuckin’ bit. She finds what’s broken and she fixes it. Little goddamn twerp’s got more brains than a zombie buffet. It’d be annoying if it weren’t so damn useful.”

“You’re telling me,” Manuel said, incredulous, “that this Deathsbane’s regenerative serum is not based on Oort science? It took us over a hundred years to develop healing like that.”

“ I was already an old woman,” La Pesadilla chimed in. “Fat lot of good it did me, now I get to be an old woman forever. ”

“Deathsbane is the greatest goddamn medical mind in human history,” Blue replied. “I didn’t tell her how to do shit. I helped her family steal some outdated medical textbooks and… found her a few unlucky cadavers to study. She did the rest on her own.”

“That can’t be,” Manuel replied, “what exactly did you do for them, if they truly are using no Oort science?”

“You’re not listening, Beloved,” Queen explained. “They are using Oort science. It’s just their own creation.”

“I taught them to follow their calling, that’s all,” Blue said. “Saw to it they wouldn’t run into brick walls chasin’ who they were supposed to be.”

Queen smiled. “She uninhibited them,” she said. “Isn’t that right, Princess?”

“ I’ll admit to some magical protection in the first few days. Sue me, I’m a fuckin’ softie. But truth is, they didn’t really need it, so I stopped pretty quick. They figured their shit out on their own. Most people do, when they’re actually allowed to .” Blue explained. “Guided ‘em around a few obstacles, eventually taught them well enough to climb over ‘em themselves. All I did was give them permission to step over the self-imposed illusion of human limitation.”

“And the crew?” Manuel said, quite a bit worried at the implications of these revelations. “You said they were all uninhibited too. Your hand was not in that?”

“All fuckin’ her. I ain’t even met most of those brats.”

“ You’d be surprised,” Father Y offered up, “how much like us a Sun-seer becomes when you give ‘em a clear path between who they are and who they’re supposed to be. Been bangin’ this drum for centuries. The sun-seers, they’re just us .”

“I fuckin’ hate when we’re on the same side,” Blue spat back. “Annoying as he is, he’s right. And that’s what I’m trying to do with them. See, I see the world as it is. Dirty. Cruel. Hateful. Full of wretched, festering monsters begging for the kindness of my blade. That’s what we see.”

“Our most sacred magic,” Queen said reverently. “The ability to see things as they are, not as they appear.”

“But what my girl there sees,” Blue explained, pointing at the frozen face on the hologram, “That’s the next step. See, she don’t look at the system and just see it for the hateful thing it is. She sees deeper than that. She sees what it ought to be.”

“You’re suggesting she’s some kind of messianic figure?” Manuel scoffed, “possessing abilities we do not?”

“Fuckin’ idiot,” La Pesadilla groaned, and turned to Queen. “You know, hon, divorce is always an option, even after 500 years.”

“Not abilities,” Blue explained. “And sorry, daddy, but she’s right. You are being an idiot. ‘Course she’s not the goddamn messiah. But she, and her crew, have a perspective that most of us lack. Back when I was a kid, you showed me the ugliness of the Sun-seers’ world and I was furious that our ancestors ran. I decided to stay and do something about it. Cut the fuckin’ hate out like the cancer that it is. You were proud of me.”

“I am still proud of you,” Manuel insisted.

“ These girls… they’re like me, see,” Blue explained. “They’re facing the problems head-on instead of running. They fuckin’ took down Imperator Susan Goddamn Weaver . The Light will never command anyone again because Ariadne and her little family followed their callings. And since I taught them to find who they were supposed to be and chase it, they teach everybody they meet how to do the same.”

“Proving,” Father Y added smugly, “that there ain’t no difference between us and them. The Oort aren’t special. We’re just people. And people are just us.”

Queen smiled. She’d always liked Father Y, all the way back to when he was Brother Y.

Manuel scowled. He’d always hated Father Y, and it was immensely frustrating to him to admit when he had a point.

“The results will spiral out of control,” Manuel said. “Left unchecked, your interference… their influence, will…”

“…Create a world where everyone has the power to follow the one commandment.” Blue finished his thought for him. “This above all–”

All of those gathered replied in unison, conditioned by centuries of habit. “ To thine own self be true. ”

Manuel sighed deeply, and smiled broadly. “You take after your mother,” he said. “Stubborn and persuasive.”

Blue turned her chair around and admired the map of the solar system on the viewscreen at the back of the room. “She's out here givin' everybody a fuckin' chance. I'm out here cuttin' down anybody who wastes theirs on dishin' out hate and pain. How's that add up? All the survivors, livin’ their truest self,” she said. “Could mean they all die. Could mean a new age of enlightenment. Could mean… some shit we couldn’t see coming in a thousand years. Ain’t it fuckin’ beautiful? ”

“ It doesn’t matter,” Manuel said, realizing the truth behind his daughter’s words. “It’s done. ”

2632

Blue left her lover sleeping blissfully in the afterglow of their recent marathon session. She pulled on a pair of boxer shorts and slapped on her “around-the-house” pasties, and made her way through the space station she’d been kindly invited to stay on for the weekend following the recent celebration, eventually stumbling into the kitchen.

She grabbed a bottle of red wine off the wall, pulled the cork out with her teeth, and began to drink directly from it.

“Cookie?” She called through the kitchen. No response. “Guess I need to do everything myself.”

She began to rifle through the cabinets looking for a midnight snack. She took another swig of Cabernet, polished off the bottle, and found a significant amount of sliced fresh mozzarella in the fridge. She reached for it, and felt a pulse in her cybernetic implants. A light in the center of her hand blinked. She pressed it, and her eyes projected the image of her father in front of her.

“Hey daddy,” she said, “how’d mami’s meeting go?”

Manuel was at a loss for words. How could he put into words how it felt to watch his wife meet with the Chief Magistrate of Mars, and three of the Sovereigns of Earth? The Primarch of Calisto? To have actual, open diplomatic relations with the Sun-seers? To offer the sun-seers a portion of the Oort's food yield to help feed their hungry? This sort of risk would’ve been unthinkable to him even two years previously. How could he put into words what the actions of his daughter’s proteges made him feel? How could he express the depths of his pride, at the world she'd had a hand in creating, without her even asking them to see her as she was, rather than as she appeared?

He tried his best, and came up with seven of the most powerful words any father could possibly say to their child:

“You were right,” he said, “and I was wrong.”

Blue smiled. “I love you, daddy,” she said, “but all I did was fuckin’ pay it forward. You and mami taught me to find myself. I just copied what you did, and these girls…”

Manuel smiled. “Changed the world?” He asked. “Took what you taught them, ran with it in ways that amazed you, impressed you, and surpassed you? Made you proud? I guess you finally know how your mother and I feel. Thank you, for being so… you.”

She grinned broadly, and popped a piece of fresh mozzarella in her mouth.

“Thank you for teachin’ me how,” she said. “Think I could’ve been this fuckin’ fabulous otherwise?”

She said goodnight to her father and took enough of the fresh Mozzarella into a small bowl to bring back to her lover. She produced a lit cigarette from her empty hand and took a puff from it. Nasty habit, she thought, I’d quit if I could fuckin’ get sick.

She looked around at the station around her. This whole station, everything it stood for, and everything its crew had accomplished was all because one day, fourteen years earlier, she’d seen herself in a couple street urchins and decided to take part in an act of creation, instead of engaging in her usual destructive impulses.

“Heh, gotta start listenin’ to my own fuckin' advice,” she said, “maybe I am good for something.”

#short story #writers on tumblr #scifi

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thetargaryenbride · 4 years ago

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Levi x Reader:: Marks

Summary:: Sometimes you hated those scars so much, letting insecurities wash over you and allow self-hate to take place. But Levi was always there to remind you how beautiful you were.

Word Count: 1458

Warnings: Some nudity

Feedback is deeply appreciated~!

｡☆ ❅ ★━━━━ ❅ ━━━━★ ❅ ☆｡

You let out a hiss as you slowly unbuckled the belts of your gear one by one, letting them drop heavily on the ground before quickly discarding your uniform and undergarments, throwing them in the laundry basket, leaving you bare. Blood flow finally began running smoothly and normally now that there was nothing to painfully tighten and restrict your thighs. You undid the taut bun, setting your hair free and relieving your scalp with a short massage as you proceeded to enter the bathroom. You let out a sigh of content the moment the hot water washed over your body, easing your sore and tense muscles.

The past forty eight hours had been nightmarish. You had returned from an expedition gone wrong. Two of your squadmates had been injured and as a good captain you had stayed by their side for hours as the doctors and nurses treated them. After that you hadn’t even had the time to wash and change as a mountain of paperwork had been placed on your desk. If that hadn’t been enough, the families of your injured subordinates wanted to speak to you so you had to spend more time reassuring them that everything was all right before returning to your tedious tasks. You had been so busy and just like that, two whole days had passed. The same could be said about the other higher-ups. Levi, Hange, Erwin, Mike and the other squad leaders and section commanders were up to the neck buried with work and in such moments you asked yourself whether it was worth to become a captain.

There was so much responsibility.

You wrapped a towel around your body as you finally exited the bathroom, now feeling more refreshed and clean. But when you stepped into your bedroom and passed by the mirror, you froze, slowly turning to look at yourself.

Your skin has always been easy to bruise and you hated that. Now, staring at your thighs – at the ugly markings from the belts marring your skin – you felt sick. And suddenly, you got reminded of every scar your body held. There was one on your calf when a titan had bitten down as you were trying to save a comrade from its jaws. At this point you probably had multiple scars on your back from the amount of times you had fallen, gotten hit or thrown left and right or smashed while fighting those monstrous creatures.

There was one on your abdomen too. It brought shivers down your spine every time you remembered how you obtained it. It happened on the day Wall Maria fell. The Scouts had returned from an expedition. Instead of returning to the base, you had asked Commander Shadis to visit your family – inform them that you were alive and ease their worry.

Your house was near the gates.

You had spent amazing few hours with your family – eating and laughing and chatting together. And then there had been an explosion and only a second later something heavy had rammed against your house. The sound of breaking and cracking of bricks and wood and falling debris had been deafening. You had almost been buried alive under the debris, a piece of wood stabbing you. You had thought that you were going to die. But someone unexpected had come to save you.

Levi.

That had set the beginning of your relationship. When you had asked him why he had gone looking for you despite all the odds, he had just shrugged, saying it was because you were the only person he was able to tolerate. It was valid, considering you were the first and only person to offer him and his friends help and friendship after they joined and you had made sure to shower them with lots of care and kindness.

You didn’t know whether it were insecurities or something else but right now you felt horrible. You hated those scars. You hated your body. You tiredly sat on the bed as you thought about all those other…normal girls who had clean, spotless, soft skin. Tears gathered in your eyes and before you knew it, you were sniffing, trying to suppress your sobs as you cupped your hands over your mouth.

You didn’t even hear when the door to your private quarters opened.

Levi’s eyes widened as they fell on your shaking shoulders. Your back was facing him as he stood silently by the door frozen, unable to move, his mind immediately listing and searching for reasons as to why you were crying.

His legs quickly carried him to your form and he crouched down in front of you, placing a hand on your knee. You flinched as you lowered your hands and looked at him through blurry vision before wiping away the offending liquid. He waited a bit, giving you time to compose yourself. When you seemed ready to talk, he spoke.

“What’s wrong?” it was a simple question but his tone was soft and soothing that you felt like caving in and telling him. But you were also ashamed. You didn’t want to appear weak or stupid in front of him. You didn’t want to bother or worry him unnecessarily. After all, one of the reasons as to why he allowed himself to love you, allowed himself to accept you and enter a relationship during those horrid times, was because he knew you could take care of yourself. He knew that you could handle anything thrown your way and survive and come back to him even stronger.

But sometimes you couldn’t help but allow a few moments of weakness. Was it selfish of you?

“It’s…nothing. I’m just being silly, that’s all,” you breathed out and he frowned, his hand squeezing your knee a bit scoldingly.

“You’re crying your eyes out for nothing then? You know you can tell me. But if you don’t want to, it’s ok,” he said as his other hand moved to grasp one of yours in reassurance, making you let out a sigh and close your eyes.

“I hate my body. I hate how…many marks it has,” you sniffed and prepared for him to say that you were behaving like a child or to berate you and scold you for being so weak, eyes squeezing more and more shut when you imagined every scenario.

But he didn’t do anything like that. Instead, what he did surprised you.

He gently unwrapped the towel and let it fall and pool around you, leaving you bare and exposed. You had half a mind to cover yourself with your hands but you were curious as to what he was about to do.

His face got closer and closer until he placed his lips onto your thigh, right over the still red markings from the uniform belts.

“Is it this one?” he asked quietly as he gently kissed it before moving to the one on your other thigh. “Or this?” he repeated the action before lifting his head, hands softly brushing against your legs and climbing upwards, passing by your hips, caressing your sides and resting there as he nuzzled against your abdomen.

“Or maybe this one?” he whispered as he peppered the jagged, long scar with fluttering kisses while his hands raised more and roamed over your back, fingers tracing each scar with such care and love that the tears started falling again. But this time it wasn’t out of sorrow or self-hate. It was because he was worshipping your body. He was worshipping you.

And it made you fall in love with him all over again.

“You don’t need to be ashamed of these scars and marks,” he muttered against your skin and your hand went to thread his raven locks. “They are a proof that you went through hell and you were strong enough to push through and survive. To keep living. Because if there’s one thing that’s worth it in this cruel world, is staying by your loved ones’ side and building beautiful memories together. That makes all the pain and hate fade,” he said before he looked up, his eyes meeting yours as one hand went to wipe off your tears, thumb brushing your cheekbone tenderly.

You gave him a watery smile as you leaned and captured his lips in a delicate kiss which quickly turned into a searing one as you tried to pour all your passion, gratitude and love through it. He rose to his feet and climbed on the bed without breaking the kiss, causing you to lay down as he towered above you, the hand that had brushed your tears still caressing your cheek with love while the other slid down to cup your breast.

“Let me show you how beautiful you are.”

#levi x reader #levi ackerman x reader #LEVI ACKERMAN #aot x reader #snk x reader #reader #reader imagine #reader insert

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liloelsagranger · 3 years ago

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Night shift - finally a new Rocketshipping-fanfiction

My dear friends,

it’s been a while since I last posted an entry. Let me tell you why and what, besides Covid-19, made me pause from publishing fanfictions over the last couple of months. Of course, Switzerland was very affected by the pandemic and still is today. We had numerous lock-downs or as Swiss people call it “slow downs”. My mother got very sick last year, I almost lost her. The doctors said she would only live two or three more days, but my mom is a fighter. She had to stay at the hospital for months, she endured countless medical examinations, had to take meds and slowly learned to live again. I’m so proud of my mother that she was strong and determined to get better. When she turned back home, I started to take care of her and I hate to leave her on her own, even if we’re talking about half an hour or less. Right now, she’s doing quite good, actually, we’re on vacation and she makes a great effort to participate in life in Italy. She’s my role-model! She will never be the same as before, but she won’t give up, she wakes up every morning to make progress. I prayed for her and her well-being, I prayed every single night she might get another chance and now we’re here at the beach and dining in fancy restaurants. It’s been a horrible year for everyone, a year full of sorrow, tears and desperation, a year where I was constantly afraid, the hospital would call me with some bad news, but she did it! She survived and she fights for her life! So proud! Good news is: I passed my doctoral exams and I’m officially allowed to call myself Dr. phil. des. Melanie C. but that won’t ever stop me from loving Team Rocket so here it is - a brand new Rocketshipping-fanfiction for you guys. LOVE YOU! Night shift

Chapter 1:

It was past ten o’clock when that miserable looking guy entered the diner. He inconspicuously sat down in the farthest corner of the café and immediately hid his face behind the menu card. Nevertheless, Jessie the waitress could make out the pathetic expression on his face, how he was cowering like a whipped dog. She had seen quite a bit in this diner. Drunks, thugs, addicts and other needy people who asked for a sympathetic ear, compassion and understanding, but that guy was different. He suffered terribly, but did not dare to communicate, instead he hid from the world so as not to attract attention and quietly endure his fate. Jessie had to do something about it. Of course, she didn’t want to play the Good Samaritan. She knew the tricks of the men who entered this diner. Most of the time, they told the waitress tall tales, hoping to be comforted, whatever they meant by that. But this young man did not make a shady impressionHe was well dressed, looked well-groomed, and Jessie was especially struck by his bright emerald green eyes, the only thing in his face that had not yet been veiled by grief and sorrow. She decided to do something about his displeasure.

“Did you have a rough day?” she asked while disinfecting the table.

He looked briefly into her eyes and nodded. “That’s one way to put it,” he answered, the gaze immediately lowered again.

This would be a taciturn conversation, but Jessie didn’t give up easily, she was a natural at making even rocks talk.

“Listen! No matter what happened, I’ve seen or heard some things. If I can help you in any way, my name is Jessie and I’m in charge of this table today. Let me just get the gum out from under your seat and get you a cold drink. What would you like?” She pulled a spatula from her apron and rubbed away the remains of the spoiled brats that marred her diner.

‘Wow,’ the young man thought to himself. ‘A strong, self-confident woman who lends a hand herself and who’s not above cleaning up dirt.’ Their eyes met briefly, and he forced a wry smile.

“You know, kid. You can’t rely on anyone. If you want to get everything done, do it yourself and don’t trust anyone. This world doesn’t give you anything for granted!” She briefly wiped the back of his chair before disappearing behind the counter and pouring the young man an ice-cold Coke.

“I have rarely seen you so concerned about a customer. Normally you show yourself aloof and only take the order, so as not to get involved in embarrassing conversations. Must be a really great pike, this pathetic creature in the far corner. Could it be that you’ve got a tiny crush on this guy?” For Eddy, teasing his best friend was the greatest pleasure. He didn’t know her like that. Jessie usually resisted any kind of small talk. This was due to her dark past, when she had repeatedly fallen for advances from men who were never looking for a steady relationship, but for a quick fix. Eddy had witnessed this bad time of his friend, how her heart was broken, how she was badly played with, and how she was simply dropped like a hot potato. Jack was the worst example of them all. While Jessie was already hearing the wedding bells ringing, he was making love to the women of the Strip and deceiving Jessie night after night with other broads. Jessie was devastated when she found out Jack was cheating on her. She was furious, not even at her lying boyfriend, but at herself for having been so stupid as to trust a man.

Jessie gave Eddy a light pat on the head. “Don’t be silly! That time is over. I can take care of myself, I don’t need male support for that. I’m a big girl, I make my own dough, and I keep my head above water pretty well. No, not a chance, I’ve sworn off flirting.” Nevertheless, she caught herself as her gaze wandered to the young man in the corner. “Oh yes, this time is definitely over,” Eddy smirked.

“Jessie, could you bring us a side of fries, please?” Misty’s order echoed throughout the hall. The twenty-year old waved her hands. She was used to speaking loudly, almost shouting, to attract guests to her daily water Pokémon show. Sometimes she walked up and down the streets of the Strip all day in the blazing hot sun, trying to win people for her underwater attraction. As an excellent student, she could have taught at any college, but she had decided early on to get into show business and make her living doing what she really loved, joined by Dewgong and Starmie. Her parents had not agreed with this decision at all, it was wasted talent, they had claimed, and had summarily turned Misty out the door. Since then, she had been struggling through life on her own, but could always count on Jess, the diner and her two best friends, Ash and Brock, young people who were also not favoured by fate.

“Temper your voice, twerp!” Jessie couldn’t help but grin. She spread the ketchup bottles around the table, hoping Ash wouldn’t spill on himself and the diner again. His constant companion Pikachu immediately hopped on his shoulder, grabbed a fry and popped it in his mouth. Ash and his Pokémon were carnies. He had trained his friend well and attracted many spectators with his performance. Most of them felt sorry for the guy and tipped generously. That’s why Ash was able to invite his friends to the diner every night, a place that gave them hope where they could experience security. They were convinced that nothing would ever disturb this idyll and that fate, for better or worse, had taken its course.

“Who’s that guy over there?” Brock wanted to know. He had barely sold chocolate and roses tonight. The others held back, but they were certain that their friend was just too pushy with women and that’s why he only collected rejections instead of green bills.

“I’ve never seen him here before. Must be from another area. I can’t tell you for the life of me why he’s wearing a suit at theses temperatures, he looks pretty pathetic to me anyways,” Jessie replied.

“Maybe his car has stalled,” Ash suggested, “and now he was forced to wander through the desert until the tasty aromas from your diner brought him back from his delirium.”

“Or,” Brock interfered, “he had to flee his own wedding because his wife is a real pain in the ass, unlike our sweet Misty,” Brock oohed at his friend. “Forget it, Brock! You and me, this will never happen!” She gave him a gentle poke.

“Enough now with your naïve speculations! Just let him enjoy his drink. We’re closing soon, so get going,” Jessie dismissed their absurd ideas with a wave of her hand, but at this point no one knew how right Brock was.

Dark thoughts hunted the young man. He knew what he would face at home if he was late. Beatings, torture, rebuke, harassment, were just a few words to describe his failed relationship. Unconsciously, he stroked his scarred arms.

“Can I get you something to eat?” Jessie pulled him out of the maelstrom of bad thoughts, of course she had noticed the wounds, but maybe he had gotten those injuries at work. The young man rummaged some coins out of his pants and let them jingle on the table. “Is that enough for a cheese sandwich?” Jessie hated small change, but she would make an exception for him. A friendly smile, a quick nod, and she passed on the order.

“Something’s wrong with this guy,” she whispered to Eddy. “He’s scarred, bruised and pays with penny coins. Possibly a vagrant.” Eddy couldn’t help but grin. “That guy’s been keeping you busy all night, Jess. What’s the matter with you? Are you getting weak?”

The young man could not overhear the conversation between the waiters, but he was sure they were talking about him. He sure made a rather frightening impression, but that was a private matter and not something you shared with a waitress in a diner.

His gaze drifted to the daily paper, which had two faces emblazoned on it: Butch and Cassidy. He had never heard of this odd couple, but according to the news, theses two were causing quite a stir and were terrifying the Strip.

“Oh, so you’ve already spotted them, those two knuckleheads! They keep the Strip in suspense, and heads roll when the taxes don’t add up,” Jessie served him the cheese sandwich and gave him a slight smile.

“Can I get you anything else?” He thanked her and took a hearty bite of his dinner.

The last half hour flew by and the remaining guests left the diner to spend the night on the Strip, as very few had a roof over their heads. Jessie set about cleaning up and Eddy checked the register.

The young man stood up and made his way towards the door. But before he left the diner, he glanced back at Jessie for a moment. A sigh escaped him. What if…?

Jessie returned his gaze and watched him go until the young man disappeared. She walked right up to his table and found a little note on the receipt.

“Thanks for treating me like a human being, James.”

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chaoticpuff17 · 4 years ago

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A Dangerous Game

part 12

masterlist

Namjoon left in a huff after that leaving both Y/N and Jungkook in shock. Neither of them really knew what to make of his exit as they looked at each other with mirrored looks of confusion.

“Well that was interesting.” She laughed. “Shall we walk around the garden?” She suggested smiling at the younger man. What else were they really supposed to do?

She had the time but not the inclination to stay and contemplate what was going around in Namjoon’s head. That was a twisted mess she had no interest in detangling. If you entered the labyrinth that was his mind you were likely to never come out again. It was not a risk she was willing to take, and so instead they walked around the garden.

Jungkook, she found, was a rather shy young man. He didn’t say much, but he followed her like a shadow as they wandered about the gardens. She was looking for an exit. He was making sure she didn’t do anything Namjoon wouldn’t approve of. At least that was what they were doing before they were accosted by the happiest ball of fluff she had ever seen.

“Who is this cutie?” She asked kneeling down to scratch behind the dog’s ears.

Jungkook kneeled down as well smiling as he gave the dog attention as well. “This is Moni. He’d Namjoon hyung’s dog.”

“Namjoon has a dog?” Jungkook nodded. “That man, the devil himself, has a white fluffy dog?” Again, he nodded. And she couldn’t help but laugh. It just seemed so out of character. Weren’t crime lord’s supposed to keep tough dogs like Rottweilers and Pitbulls? But here was possibly the cutest little ball of fluff she had ever seen.

“Your hyung is a very strange man.” She told Jungkook. “Does he even have time for a dog? You know between the illegal activities and kidnapping women?”

“Moni spends a lot of time with the staff.”

“Well that’s no good. Moni and I will just have to be friends from now on. Won’t we, Moni?” She cooed smooshing the dogs face. It was her dog now.

“Come along, boys!” She smiled standing back up straightening out her skirt ready to continue their walk.

She found out rather quickly that the gardens were enclosed by a wall, a very tall wall, but there were trees, trees that were very climbable. They could get her close to the top of the wall. The problem was that she didn’t know what was on the other side of that wall or how many goons Namjoon had watching the perimeter of the estate. And then there was her new problem. Jungkook. How was she supposed to get rid of her new shadow? Those would all have to be problems for another time though. She didn’t have the free reign she needed to properly scope out the area and plot.

Her days quickly fell into a new routine. She would wake up and go to her breakfasts with Namjoon in the morning and share a meal with him in the evening. Other than that she would be free to spend the day as she pleased, so long as she remained within the boundaries of the estate. Jungkook would be with her wherever she went or at the very least waiting just outside the door. The only time Jungkook was not with her was when either Namjoon or Jin was, but Jin’s visits could not be as frequent as she would have liked them to be. But she found a great friend in Jungkook.

The young man was like a younger brother to her now, and she no longer minded his constant presence in her life. He also came with the added bonus of sneaking her into activities that were not quite Namjoon approved such as Mario Kart tournaments or movie marathons. Of course the house staff knew of her activities, but no one could begrudge her a few luxuries without the boss’ knowing especially not when there was so little to keep someone occupied when you did the same things day after day. So they kept her secret, and Namjoon never knew of the little indulgences Jungkook allowed her.

It had been maybe three weeks since she’d been released from her rooms, and she was wondering the garden with Moni and Jungkook like she did most days. Her days were an endless cycle of wandering the gardens, playing the piano, and reading books that Namjoon had prepared. She and Jungkook would have tea in the garden. It wasn’t that harsh of a life. Namjoon treated her well in fact. The only real complaint she had, other than being a prisoner, was how monotonous her gilded cage was. If you didn’t know she was a prisoner, you never would have suspected it. She was treated as the lady of the house, Namjoon’s precious wife.

She was grateful for the gardens and for the piano room. She was even grateful for Jungkook, her guard, her shadow. When it was just the two of them and Moni, she could almost forget that she was a prisoner and that Jungkook was her guard. She could almost forget that he wouldn’t hesitate to turn her into Namjoon if she slipped up. But or a few moments at least, she could forget.

“I’d heard that Namjoon had found himself a woman.” An unfamiliar voice spoke startling her from her reverie.

Looking up she found a man smiling down at her. He was handsome with a lovely smile that normally would have given her butterflies, but nothing was normal about her life these days, and everyone she met was in Namjoon’s pocket.

She stood up straight and smoothed out the fabric of her skirt as Jungkook watched carefully from a few feet away where he had been playing with Moni while she watched the Koi from the bridge. “He hasn’t.”

“Then you’re not the lady of the house I’ve heard so much about?”

“That depends on who you ask.” She scoffed a frown marring her features.

“And what do you say?”

Y/N laughed, the sound bitter. “You must be new. What I say doesn’t matter here. All of Namjoon’s men know who I am and what my position here is. And if you don’t know you’re probably not one of Namjoon’s men.”

“And if I told you I wasn’t one of Namjoon’s men?” He asked curiously.

“Then I’d say you’re an idiot for being here.”

The stranger threw back his head and laughed. “I can see why Namjoon likes you. I’m Mark.”

“Y/N.” She replied shaking his out stretched hand. “So why hasn’t Jungkook removed you yet? He’s watching us like a hawk.”

“Jungkook?”

“The man staring daggers at you from the lawn.” She shrugged. “He’s here to make sure I don’t do anything stupid like try to hop the fence.”

“A caged bird then.” He hummed.

She narrowed her eyes taking him in. In all her time at the estate she hadn’t once met anyone who wasn’t under Namjoon’s thumb. But this man claimed not to be one of Namjoon’s goons.

“So who are you if you don’t work for Namjoon?”

“I’m an associate of his. I have a few businesses based in Taiwan and America”

“Legitimate business or Namjoon’s kind of business?”

He laughed again showing off a dazzling smile. Why were all these mafiosos so attractive? It was a carefree and happy expression, but there was something sharp lingering in his eyes. “A bit of both, darling.”

“Figures.” She sighed turning back to the pond and leaning on the railing of the bridge. “No one who comes here is anything less than shady.”

Mark gasped placing a hand over his heart. “Are you calling me shady? Darling, I’m offended.”

“I met you two minutes ago in a mob boss’ house.” She deadpanned.

“Point taken.” He shrugged nonplussed by her lack of enthusiasm.

“I suppose since you’re an associate of Namjoon’s I can’t convince you to sneak me back to the states.” She glanced over at him knowing full well he wasn’t going to get her out of this nightmare.

“Plotting your escape, jagi?” Her spine stiffened, and she immediately stood upright again at the sound of his voice.

There he was, sauntering up the bridge towards them as put together as ever in one of his suits. Y/N knew immediately that she was in trouble. Though he was smiling, his eyes were cold and hard.

“Tuan.” He greeted the other man with a curt nod.

“Kim.” Came the equally as curt reply.

“Jagi.” Namjoon beckoned her to his side, and she dutifully went unwilling to make him any angrier than he already seemed. He wrapped an arm round her waist, and pulled her into his side. “I do recall that guests are meant to wait in the parlor, Tuan.”

The other man smiled. “Yes, but you have such beautiful gardens. I couldn’t resist a stroll. And I got to meet the lovely, Y/N.” Namjoon’s hand tightened uncomfortably on her hip.

“Jagi, I believe Miss In has prepared tea for you in your rooms.” He squeezed her hip again flashing her a cold smile as she paled. “Tuan, I believe that you and I have business to discuss.” Namjoon motioned for Jungkook, who had moved closer during the encounter, to come and collect her. “There’s a lovely pavilion we can talk in since you enjoy the garden so much.”

He passed her over to Jungkook all the while maintaining his coldly polite smile. The message was clear. Her time in the garden was finished for today, and Namjoon didn’t want her anywhere near Mark. It probably didn’t help that he had walked right into a conversation about her trying to leave. She would probably be paying for that comment later.

“Until next time, Y/N.” Mark bid her goodbye with a sly smile as Jungkook gently herded her back towards the house, Moni following at their heels.

For the rest of the day Y/N was confined to her rooms. She wasn’t locked in like she had been before, but Jungkook stood guard outside making it clear that she wasn’t allowed out until Namjoon himself came to release her. As promised, Miss In had provided tea, but that was the last she had seen of anyone.

Boredom had quickly set in. She finished the book she had with her, and had resorted to rereading it when there was nothing else to do.

“Jagiya.” She was startled from her book by Namjoon. He stood in the doorway with his arms folded across his chest his features set in a stern look.

She sighed uncurling herself from the corner of the sofa and setting the book aside. “I wish you wouldn’t call me that. I’m not your sweet heart or honey or whatever.”

“Jagiya.” The endearment was stated more sternly this time.

“Yes, Namjoon?” She asked keeping her eyes on her hands folded neatly in her lap. She knew full well that she was in trouble.

“Oh, jagiya.” He cooed crossing the room. One of his hands came up to cup her jaw forcing her to look at him. “Talking to strange men in the garden? What were you thinking? What if he had hurt you?”

She pushed his hand away. “I doubt that you would allow someone into the house who would cause disruption. You’re far too careful for that. Besides, Jungkook wouldn’t let anything happen.”

“I appreciate the faith you have in me, jagi, but I don’t appreciate you talking to strange men.”

“He was your guest, and we only spoke for a moment.” She scoffed.

He smiled at her, bu the expression was cold and sharp. “Yes, you spoke for a moment, and yet you still managed to ask him for help leaving me.” Suddenly, she found the yellow of her dress very fascinating. “Did you really think that was a good idea, jagi?”

“I didn’t think he’d actually do it.” She murmured plucking at the fabric of her skirts.

He tsked under his breath. “I thought we’d put all those silly thoughts out of your head, jagi. You’ve been so good recently.” One hand snaked up to grasp her hair at the nape of her neck forcing her to look up at him with a gasp of pain. “Don’t you like it here, jagi?”

“I would burn this whole place to the ground with you in it if I could.” She hissed.

He released her with a chuckle moving instead to cage her against the sofa with two hands on either side of her head. “I know you would, jagi.” The smile he sent her made her skin crawl.

They both knew that she didn’t have any power in the relationship, but that only made his condescending attitude worse. He’d kept her here for weeks and weeks neither of them budging. But there wasn’t really anything she could do anyway, not yet anyway. Even if she somehow managed to escape the estate, she would still be in a foreign city with no phone, no passport, no money, and no way to contact the only person she knew here. She didn’t even know if Eun-ho had recovered from their crash. No one would tell her anything.

“I want you to know, jagi, that if you did manage to escape, you wouldn’t get far. I can promise you that nothing would stop me from finding you and dragging you back to me. You are mine, my wife. There is nowhere on this earth you can hide from me.” He smirked cruelly bringing a hand to her cheek in a gesture that was far more gentle than his words. “Not even that little friend of yours bothering the police can help you now. He came all the way from America for you.” She felt her heart drop, plummeting into her stomach. “Anything you’d like to tell me, jagi?”

part 13

#bts #bts fic #yandere bts #namjoon #namjoon x reader #mafia namjoon #yandere namjoon #rm #rm x reader #mafia #mafia au #dark romance #a dangerous game #soft yandere #fanfic

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mcddox · 3 years ago

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Rhett Mathews - @rhettmatthewsx

Back in December, when Kieran decided he would need to back into dealing to afford his mother's treatment and his obnoxiously high rent, he and Mattie came to a gentlemen's agreement regarding Kieran's new customers. Mattie had been generous enough to allow Kieran to service parties and an exclusive group of clients composed of New York's finest – notoriously known as the best tippers in the business. And Kieran was smart enough – and of a sufficiently questionable moral compass – to take advantage of it. However, whenever the income from dealing didn't reach the expected sum – turns out dealing can be a very unstable business, believe it or not – he resorted to regular, dark alleyway, sketchy motel-dealing. Kieran didn't really love that. Taking advantage of the rich was one thing, but watching people like him succumb to the effects of drug abuse always left him feeling a little... guilty? Yet hospital bills became increasingly costlier, his student-loan payments were late by three months, and on top of that he still had to make rent. So there really wasn't much room to be selective.

And when Georgina told her she wouldn't be able to make it to Chinatown that afternoon and needed someone to go sell there for her – junkies did make for very loyal clientele, oddly – Kieran didn't think twice before taking up her offer to split profits. Hence, there he was, at a shady, old hotel in Chinatown. It was in such a state that it most likely didn't even receive tourists anymore. Just the junkies who had made a home for themselves between the walls covered in mold, once white, now yellowed by time and lack of maintenance. The long corridor – rooms mostly taken by addicts past their point of no-return – reeking of sweat, and spoiled food. Dark, and humid, and degrading. It was the diametrical opposite of the opulence and the glamour of the parties in Oliver Brown's penthouse, or meeting people at cafés and bistros in Tribeca. The contradiction of what his life as a dealer had become. It was misery, and helplessness at its finest. Still, he knew he was bound to make a few hundred bucks – which he so desperately needed. He had better not question it. Not listen to the little voice in his mind wondering how much guilt he would have if those people just dropped dead the following morning. You are just a messenger, he repeated to himself. A mantra that had once worked, but was now growing more and more inefficient.

Life really can be a box of surprises, though – and a very ironic one at that.

Kieran's train of self-deceiving thoughts abruptly stopped in its tracks as he was met with a very familiar sight. Unmistakable golden hair, features sharp, yet delicate like a Michelangelo sculpture. "Rhett?" His voice more expressive than usual, marred by unintended indignation. Why was he... there?

#Rhett Matthews

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bts-fic-collection · 4 years ago

Note

Hi! Do you have any new mafia jikook fics? Hope you had a great day 💜

Hey there, I do! :) As always, everyone, when it comes to these kinds of fics, make sure you read all the tags and warnings before reading the fic :)

Don't Fear The Reaper by xyoongix

Rating: Not rated

Status: Complete

Word count: 14,508

Summary: Jungkook's brother has been taken by the Reaper and his only hope to get him back is Jimin, a man that helped him once before but for a price. With a sealed deal, an unexpected bond happens and together they fight to take down an empire.

----

"He's one of your men." Jungkook knew that the argument was pointless but he couldn't stop himself."

And I'm a mafia leader." Jimin clocked the gun and pressed it against Jungkook's forehead. "How moral do you think I am?"

...

"Don't tell me you thought we were going to be friends." Jimin looked at Jungkook like he was an innocent child, so naive and oblivious.

"Definitely not." Jungkook said and pushed the gun away from his face, Jimin allowing for it to fall beside him. "But I could go for non-hostile acquaintances."

Rosen by trashpandabear

Rating: E

Status: Incomplete (Updated 19 Mar 21)

Word count: 14,066

Summary: Jimin is suddenly called back from university after an attack on his family, ignorant of the cataclysmic chain of events already in motion. He can deal with being pulled out of school, restricted, and even watched 24/7 for the sake of his safety and his fathers peace of mind. What he can’t tolerate is the infuriating alpha his father placed into his security detail. First he can’t stand him, then he can’t have him. The closer they get, the further his life unravels. The question is, who’s responsible?

give all my secrets away by lustae

Rating: E

Status: Incomplete (Updated 3 Mar 21)

Word count: 113,192

Summary: “I-Is he just as ruthless to his lovers as he is to his enemies?” Jimin nervously asks, mentally hissing at himself for stuttering as he attentively observes the senior agent who blows a sigh.

The latter remains eerily silent as if he was contemplating and debating within himself on how to respond.

“No.” He informs, shaking his head.

Jimin’s nerves slightly ease. His heart no longer felt as if it were about to burst but, it didn’t last long upon the realisation that the other had yet to finish his sentence.

“If anything,” he resumes, his sharp gaze fixing on Jimin, seeming almost emotionless. “He’s much more sinister to them.”

[in which, Agent Park Jimin is assigned to go undercover as mafia leader Jeon Jungkook’s lover in the hopes of uncovering the truth in regards to Agent Jung Hoseok. An agent who had been working undercover within the gang for the past two years, only to suddenly vanish with no trace.]

Nothing Sweeter by elle_O_moonchild

Rating: E

Status: Incomplete (Updated 21 Feb 21)

Word count: 21,024

Summary: Jimin wants nothing to do with his past life or his family's shady business. He is perfectly happy and content living his life under aliases and never really planting roots anywhere. No matter how lonely it was. He was happy...or so he pretended to be.

But when a hotheaded alpha from his past hunts him down to bring him home so the omega can claim his rightful place as head of the family — Jimin finds that he's not just running from his past. But from his future and heart as well.

——————

“Oh, you wanna kiss me so bad right now,” Jimin mocked the alpha as he continued to back up until he was pressed against the bar counter.

The muffled sounds of the party just outside the door made Jimin very aware that anyone could walk in at any moment. Could see him caged by Jungkook’s arms, the alpha leaning down and inhaling his scent in deeply. The two far closer than ‘brothers’ should be.

But Jungkook wasn't his blood brother. He wasn't really even family, no matter how much the omega’s father wanted him to be. Jungkook wasn't a Park.

“I want to do things much worse than kiss you, Min,” Jungkook growled, breath hot and scent heady with desire. “I want to make you scream.”

#ask #jikook #jimin #jungkook #mafia au #violence #abo au #organised crime #smut #Rating: E #Rating: Not rated

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livinglikearoyal · 4 years ago

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K-drama Recommendations (May 2020)

Here is part two of my Kdrama recommendations, since my first one had such a positive response and I had a couple people ask for more. All of the dramas on this list can be found on Netflix US as of posting. These are all dramas I have watched since my last post in November...I have described why ten of them are amazing and listed a handful of others that are worth a shot as well. (I watch too much Netflix...my goodness)

These aren’t in any order based on how much I liked them; they are ordered based on the order I watched them. The ones listed in the honorable mentions list are dramas that either had a somewhat similar storyline to one of the ten that are explained or I just couldn’t find the words to describe them! Obviously, everyone has different tastes and perspectives when it comes to dramas...this is just my take!

I am always looking for new dramas to watch! Send your suggestions and/or thoughts my way!

Suits (law, witty, drama)

Summary: Go Yeonwoo is a man wrapped up in some shady business, just trying to get by. When a deal goes bad, he finds himself seeking safety by blending in with the many applicants trying to join the top law firm in Korea, Kang & Ham. Although he isn’t a law student, his photographic memory and previous experience taking assessments for law students helps him impress the company’s ace: Attorney Choi. Go (illegally) becomes Choi’s apprentice and the series follows them as they figure out how they work together, how to save their company, and how to not get caught. Based on the American series of the same name.

Why I liked it: I watched the American version of Suits as soon as it came out and followed it for several seasons. This Korean version is much more my speed. The storyline is complicated enough to keep your attention but not so complicated to make you stop watching. They took the key components of the American series and made them better: more realistic, less focused on sex appeal and more on the storyline, and you could really connect with the characters. It really hits on the ideas of integrity, truth, and empathy.

The K2 (action, romantic, political)

Summary: Kim Jeha is on the run in France. While trying to elude his captors, he runs into a woman in a white dressing gown and she begs for his help because she is also on the run. He is hesitant but ends up helping her escape her captor’s hold in the subway. She runs but is captured again on the street and he doesn’t help her a second time. Flash forward several years: Jeha is now appointed as bodyguard for the wife of a presidential candidate (she is terrifyingly powerful) and he is assigned to watch over the candidate’s illegitimate daughter, Anna. Anna is the girl from the subway. The series follows Jeha as he seeks revenge for all of the false accusations that have marred his past while also protecting Anna from the political corruption and previous trauma she has encountered.

Why I liked it: This one took a second to get into. The way that the storyline is introduced is purposely chaotic. Once I got to the second or third episode, I really got into it. Each character is well developed: There were so many characters in this storyline and I empathized with most of them. Each character has their own motives and reasons behind their actions; they don’t do something just to fit their role as the “good guy” or “bad guy”. The dynamic between Jeha and Anna definitely had me yelling at my screen several times. The corruption and complications that come along with power is portrayed in such a powerful way. It is a show where you think you have it figured out but you don’t and as soon as you give up and stop trying to guess, something predictable happens. It keeps you on your feet while making you fall in love with its characters.

Inheritors (romantic, teenage angst, social issues)

Summary: Kim Tan is in California after essentially being kicked out of Korea by his family, especially his older brother. One day he sees Cha Eunsang arguing with her sister after Eunsang traveled to the U.S. to see her only to find out that her sister lied and she has been using all of the money that their mother has sent for things less legal than an education. Tan sees that Eunsang is alone so he offers for her to stay at his home mansion. His fiancee (arranged) shows up and is not pleased to see Eunsang in the house so she does all she can to kick her out. Eunsang eventually returns to Korea to be with her mother, who has now moved into a mansion as their housekeeper. Tan also returns to try to smooth over his relationship with his family and he has to return to his old high school, where he had previously set the standard for how privileged students rule the roost. His friend turned enemy is now the “alpha male”. The series follows Tan and Eunsang mostly; showing their varying perspectives on attending the same school but coming from completely different backgrounds and financial situations.. Even comparing Tan’s perspectives from his other “inheritor” peers or himself several years prior is really interesting. It also shows their very different relationships with their families

Why I liked it: This show started out soooo cheesy. I remember commenting to my friend that I was watching this with-- I felt like I was watching a crossover between “Saved by the Bell” and a daytime soap opera. The American characters at the beginning are so stereotypical it was funny to see. Once the storyline got past the first few episodes and they were back in Korea, it really increased in quality-- both visually and written. This is another one that really allows you to connect to so many of the characters. I was constantly wanting to jump through my screen and just give the characters a hug (social distancing may have contributed a little too…). By the end of it, you have nearly 10 or more characters that you are invested in and you really want to see them succeed. The ending can be a little frustrating if you are the type of person that wants everything (all the minor storylines) to be wrapped up in a little bow. The ending closes out the main storyline well but leaves the others very open ended. I will always be on the lookout for a sequel/spin off. Also, Eunsang is a girl that will tell it like it is...she doesn’t take BS from anyone...unless she wants to. She isn’t the stereotypical damsel in distress. Also...that “Love is the Moment” song will forever play in my head during ANY romantic scene in ANY show from now on.

My Secret Romance (romantic, work place drama, comedy)

Summary: Jin Wook is a rich man getting ready to inherit the family company. The only thing standing in his way is the fact that his father doesn’t want him to take over until he is married. And the fact that he doesn’t take proper care of himself nutritionally, causing him to pass out. The company has recently hired a brand new dietitian, Yoo Mi, and Jin Wook’s assistant assigns her with the task of providing three healthy meals for their very picky boss. Yoo Mi, being brand new, is learning to be the head of a very opinionated kitchen staff while struggling to make food that is worth eating. Once Jin Wook and Yoo Mi meet, they realize that this isn’t their first encounter. As the series progresses, the two work on figuring out how to work together after their first meeting, what they feel for each other (especially considering that Jin Wook is expected to marry another woman), and how to work through their interesting family dynamics.

Why I liked it: This is a show that really shows the effect of emotional baggage. Neither of the main characters have a “simple life” and it plays into their interactions daily. It is a cute show, an easy watch, nothing too complicated but definitely heartfelt. It is a good illustration of the different ways that people care for those around them too. There are definitely several complications that come along and they are realistic and well thought out.

Tomorrow, With You (time travel, emotional, romantic)

Summary: Yoo Sojoon is the CEO of a very successful real estate firm. He ends up saving photographer Song Marin from being hit in an intersection and begins to try to get to know her. Little does she know, that Sojoon has been able to time travel using the subway ever since he narrowly avoided being in a major accident in that same subway tunnel. Sojoon is interested in Song Marin because he wants to save her, being encouraged by his mentor, a man that is also able to time travel in the same way as Sojoon. Sojoon encounters the many issues that come along with time travel and does all that he can to avoid the heartbreak that he sees when he travels to the future.

Why I liked it: This one was interesting. All of the characters storylines are so tangled together and there are times when you can’t tell if we are seeing past Sojoon, present Sojoon, or future Sojoon. It feels like we are in that time travel web right along with them. It is definitely a heartfelt story that will have you in your feelings while making you think. Life is complicated, with and without time travel, and this shows that.

Itaewon Class (Social issues, workplace politics, vengeance, family)

Summary: Park Saeroyi is a teenager that gets kicked out of his new school after punching the school bully and refusing to apologize. His father has recently purchased a building and is working to make his own restaurant after being let go from his position (the bully’s dad was his boss). As Mr. Park was making a delivery, he is a victim of a hit and run and passes away. Saeroyi finds out that the bully was the one driving the other car and attacks him, landing Saeroyi in prison for several years. Upon release, Saeroyi sets out to begin his plan to take revenge on the bully and his family for all that they have done. Saeroyi’s goal: Become the #1 restaurant business, overthrowing that family’s company. The show follows Saeroyi as he puts his plan into action and tries to go from the bottom of the totem pole to the top.

Why I liked it: I loved this drama! I’m not sure whether it was the storyline, the diverse characters, or the main character himself. The irony of so many things had me falling in love with Saeroyi’s plan and Saeroyi’s character was so...wholesome. I definitely yelled at my screen several times, especially during the last handful of episodes. The characters (at least those that work closely with Saeroyi) are so easy to love. Even those that aren’t the easiest to love, you still root for them. Now, the bad guys are the bad guys and they stay bad but you can see their motivations...not always making the pill any easier to swallow. It is definitely a drama I would recommend to everyone, whether they like foreign dramas or not. The storyline is good, the acting is wonderful, and it tugs at your heartstrings.

My Holo Love (action, romance, emotional, sci-fi)

Summary: Soyeon has lived a very solitary life due the fact that she has a face blindness disorder where she can’t recognize the differences in individual’s faces. This all stems from a childhood trauma. By chance (or not), she ends up with a pair of high tech prototype glasses that allows her to interact with the AI program that is installed, named Holo. He is meant to be a sort of personal assistant and only the person wearing the glasses can see and hear him. Holo helps Soyeon throughout her daily life, explaining who people are as they walk up to Soyeon so she can identify them and taking on the role of love coach. They become quite attached to each other, emotionally. They both realize the limits though, considering one is a human and one is a hologram. Holo is the spitting image of his creator, Nan Do...a man that the world thinks is dead. He is not. There are many people looking for him and his glasses. This causes him to become well acquainted with Soyeon.

Why I liked it: This one is cute. It is relatively short too...only 12 or so episodes compared to other series that have 20+. It was really interesting to see Soyeon’s relationship with Holo vs. Nando, but a good sort of interesting. The pacing was good and I really became invested in these three main characters. The ending is bittersweet (leaning more toward the sweet side) and how they get there is complicated, sometimes messy, but very intriguing. Definitely a good show to watch if you are wanting to watch something a little out of the ordinary while also seeing most kdrama troupes represented.

Chocolate (medical, romantic, angst, tearjerker)

Summary: The show begins in a small restaurant on the pier of a tiny town. Lee Kang’s mother is the owner and he loves helping around the business and watching her make the meals. He sees a young girl outside that is alone and hungry. He puts his skills to use (mind you, he is young...like 10 years old), and makes a full spread for this girl. He promises to make her a chocolate dessert later on if she returns. He makes it, but she never comes back (it was out of her hands). Fast forward to when these kids are adults. Lee Kang was taken in by his father’s family (who disproved of his mother) and groomed to become the top neurosurgeon at the family’s hospital. The young girl, Moon Chayoung, is now a chef and dating Kang’s best friend. They encounter each other another time in Greece when Kang searches for her to come back to Korea to make a final meal for his best friend who has failing health. Kang and Chayoung end up in a car accident that changes both of their futures and makes everything even more complicated but also provides some reminders about what is really important.

Why I liked it: Good lord, did I cry with this one! Nearly every episode had me in tears: both happy and sad. It is so sweet and sad. Just...ahhh. It is bittersweet like dark chocolate. Even looking back at the episode summaries on Netflix has me feeling some kind of way. I texted my friend after nearly episode just to vent about why I was crying. These characters are so relatable and my heart broke for them so many times while also celebrating for them. The cast is amazing and the storyline really makes you think about what you have and how you should value those around you while you have them around. I will definitely rewatch this when I need to be lost in my emotions. This is a drama that I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about it. I absolutely loved it.

Crash Landing on You (realistic drama, romantic)

Summary: Yun Seri, a South Korean heiress, find herself stuck in a tree on the north side of the Korean DMZ after a paragliding incident and a freak tornado. Ri Jeong Hyeok finds her and hides her in his home, with the help of his troop of North Korean soldiers. He is not a fan of hers and is looking for ways to get her back to South Korea without raising suspicion. His fiance returns from being abroad after years and throws a wrench in the plan as he had been introducing Seri as his fiance to decrease the suspicion of the neighbors. Seri is getting used to life in North Korea. Several issues arise as they try to get Seri back to the south and these complications bring them even closer together.

Why I liked it: This one is sweet. Nothing too emotional or heart wrenching. It is interesting to see how they portray the differences between the two countries and how important our relationships with others are, no matter what the government is like. The storyline isn’t rushed or forced and I really appreciated that. It seemed like events unfolded naturally. The characters are loveable and you find yourself wanting to be a part of their “squad”. Some characters redeem themselves, others don’t. Some characters get the ending they deserve, others don’t. The ending isn’t exactly what the viewer (or at least what I) hoped for, but it is more of a realistic ending and I appreciate that.

Cinderella and the Four Knights (angst, romantic, dramedy)

Summary: Hawon is a high school student that is working multiple jobs. Her step-family is nasty toward her and her father is on the road most of the time. She shows her spunk when she speaks up against some men at a club that are jerks when she delivers food. Hyunmin is one of three heirs for his family’s business and fortune. He sees Hawon’s spunk and offers her a fair amount of money for her to play the role of his fiancee at his grandfather’s latest marriage ceremony. She doesn’t realize what she is in for. When she stands up for herself at the wedding, she grabs the grandfather’s attention. He ends up hiring her to live with his four grandsons to “whip them into shape” and gives her missions to complete, essentially trying to get the grandsons to interact with each other as they each live their own separate lives and don’t like each other. Hyunmin is the eldest cousin and is the “arrogant playboy”. Jiwoon is the middle cousin and is the most withdrawn; he was an orphan and was thrown into this affluent role overnight...leading him to portray himself as wild and rebellious. Seowoo is the youngest cousin and he is a popular singer and is a sweetheart. The fourth knight is the secretary of Chairman Kang, Lee Yoonsung, and he is the bodyguard for Hawon and the three cousins.

Why I liked it: This one is complicated in the best way possible. It definitely hits on many of the stereotypical Kdrama troupes. You fall in love with all of the the main characters, even the chairman (a role that typically is the bad guy). The relationships are complicated, the characters are lovable, and the main female character has a backbone. Throughout the show, I couldn’t decide which “knight” I wanted Hawon to end up with. The writers did a great job at portraying each of the characters in an equal but unique light to allow the viewers to see them for who they are. The storyline is complicated but simple at the same time. I will definitely rewatch “Cinderella and the Four Knights” again.

Honorable Mentions:

Cheese in the Trap

Man to Man

Because this is my First Love

The Lies Within

The Bride of Haebaek

The Legend of the Blue Sea

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jaskiersvalley · 4 years ago

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Art From Ashes

So @dirtydancyart and I were talking about the world they created in which Eskel is a biker, Geralt got involved with Emhyr in some underground shady stuff. Then I came along with this in which Cahir is technically Emhyr’s enforcer but keeps getting mistaken for Ciri’s nanny. Long story short, we wanted some hurt/comfort, some Cahir getting kidnapped and hurt, some Eskel coming to the rescue like a badass. Thus, here we are.

CW: Torture, blood, injuries.

Things had been going surprisingly well after that initial meeting. Eskel had apologised profusely for mistaking Cahir for a decorator. And then for putting his foot even more in it by thinking he was Ciri’s babysitter. For not such an auspicious start, he and Cahir actually got along alarmingly well. Not that they had ever told anyone, officially Nilfgaard and the Wolves were still not openly allies so they had to toe the line. That didn’t stop them from seeing each other or from quietly falling in love. They didn’t need grand declarations or even tokens of affection. For them, it was enough that if Cahir came home late and with blood in his hair, Eskel would wash it out for him with tender touches. By the same token, if Eskel had a run to do, he often found himself with a packed lunch on the passenger seat and a little post it with a smiley face on it. It was more than enough for them, knowing without ever saying anything. After all, if they didn’t say it, they had plausible deniability.

It did however mean trying to be a little more secretive. The nights they spent together were marred by the fact they couldn’t leave at the same time so there were no goodbye kisses on the porch or standing by bikes. That had been another flustering moment in Eskel’s life, discovering that Cahir had a bike in his garage. It was sleek, black and as quiet as a bike could come. Plus terrifyingly fast. Cahir had taken him out to a track just the once and Eskel almost had a heart attack - which was rich coming from someone who would happily rev his way down any stretch of road as soon as it was clear.

Another morning meant Eskel had to leave before the rest of the neighbourhood was up. The sun was already shining through the window and he’d kissed Cahir goodbye. Stepping out into the hallway, Eskel sighed and turned to get going. However, he couldn’t resist one final peek through the half open door. A smile twitched his lips as he watched Cahir rummaging for a t-shirt, bare skin on display. It was quite the sight and Eskel sighed, eyes tracing over the phoenix that spread over Cahir’s back, tail and flames dipping down below the waistband of his slacks. Eskel’s breath hitched when, rather than the shirt being pulled on, Cahir’s hands dropped to his flies and his trousers were slowly pushed down to reveal the rest of the tattoo that Eskel did so dearly love to trace with fingers and lips. Confused, eyes flitted up and Eskel’s gaze met Cahir’s in a mirror. A knowing smirk had him blushing which only deepened as Cahir’s finger traced the tattoo along his collarbone before stopping at the flame that licked at his throat, dipping to run over the Nilfgaardian sun that usually lay just about hidden under the top button of his shirts. A wink and a kiss blown at him had Eskel leaving with a smile and a spring in his step.

They weren’t due to see each other for a couple of days. However, the messages Eskel sent Cahir remained unanswered even though they were sporadically marked as read. Worry began to creep into Eskel’s days as the silence stretched on. It was only through Geralt that he learned something was amiss. Emhyr’s daughter had been attacked. While she had been whisked away to safety, someone else had been snatched.

[Who are you and what have you done with him?]

The message he sent to Cahir’s phone was read and, magically, three dots appeared as a reply was typed out.

[Seems the wolf is involved after all. Lies cannot go unpunished.]

Rage flushed through Eskel. Usually he was so good at keeping his emotions in check but his rash actions had caused Cahir problems. He didn’t even want to imagine what kind of punishment his captors would deliver. Throat tight, Eskel’s phone went sailing through the air and bounced off the wall. Searching the news brought nothing up. Of course Nilfgaard wouldn’t go public if one of theirs went missing. Those lower on the totem pole weren’t worth the effort while those higher didn’t want the authorities searching for them. Eskel’s own contacts didn’t bring in much information over the course of the next day. Time was of the essence and he was no closer to finding Cahir. So he did the unimaginable.

“Geralt. We have to talk.”

Thankfully, there wasn’t much need for words. Geralt sighed and shook his head.

“Should have known.” That was all the acknowledgement that there was. “Filavandrel’s men have him.”

That was serious. Worse than expected. Eskel had heard of what those who ran with Filavandrel could do so he began packing heavily for his rescue attempt. What he didn’t expect was for Lambert to silently step into the room and begin arming up. When Geralt did the same too, Eskel gave them incredulous looks.

“You’re not going in alone. We hunt in packs, remember?”

Armed to the teeth, they were on their way. For a change they took Roach, Geralt’s trusty SUV that had seen more blood than most cars. However, they didn’t know what condition Cahir would be in, probably not well enough to hold on for a bike ride. He’d been in Filavandrel’s not so tender care for three days, they were going to be lucky if he survived.

Storming the house Cahir had been kept in was oddly anticlimactic. It was in a quiet suburb and the house naturally had a basement. Well, it wasn’t so quiet as they walked in through the broken down door and shot anyone on sight. Eskel gave thanks for the invention of silencers as he indiscriminately disposed of another scumbag.

Going down the stairs was difficult. It was undoubtedly where Cahir was but Eskel dreaded that they would find. The smell of burned flesh hit them before they saw anything and Lambert swore. There were a few more people in the basement but the wolves were quick to dispatch them. Well, Lambert and Geralt did, Eskel was rooted to the spot as he caught sight of Cahir.

Strung up by his wrists and hoisted so his toes barely touched the ground, his shoulders were strained each time his legs gave out or slipped in the blood on the floor. There was no way to relax in the position and if Cahir’s head fell forward, his breathing turned to a strained rasp. He had his back to the entrance and Eskel could have cried at the sight, the beautiful phoenix tattoo was all but shredded as a whip had torn the skin to strips. Seeing Cahir struggle to get back on his toes, Eskel jerked into motion. Rounding Cahir, he wrapped an arm around his narrow waist and lifted as gently as he could. That earned him a soft, hoarse cry and apologies dripped from Eskel’s lips.

With Cahir in his arms, it was easier to assess the damage. Geralt was next to Eskel while Lambert guarded the door. Their first look didn’t paint a pretty picture. Aside from the oozing lashes on his back, most of Cahir’s tattoos had been destroyed. Deep cuts ran along his collarbones, slicing up the patterns in a mockery of symmetry. There were strips of skin peeled from his ribs where Eskel had liked to trace his fingers over patterns and dates. Worst was probably the Nilfgaardian star. It had been doused in something and probably set on fire judging by the deep, openly weeping patch and the blisters along Cahir’s neck and chin.

“Nenneke. Now.” Geralt barked and wasted no time in helping Eskel pick Cahir up. As Lambert led the way out, Geralt brought up the rear. They’d run extractions all too often so had this kind of thing down to a tee. In the car, Eskel was in the back, holding Cahir and trying to keep pressure off his multiple injuries. With nothing else to do, he could catalogue all the injuries they had missed before - the dark bruising around Cahir’s throat, scrapes to his knuckles from where he undoubtedly fought back, a puncture mark to the crook of his elbow. Who knew what his captors had shot him up with.

Arriving at Nenneke’s, Cahir was taken from Eskel’s arms and whisked away. He wasn’t allowed to see him for almost a whole day but at least he wasn’t chased from the building. Geralt disappeared, probably to talk to Emhyr but Lambert stayed, made sure they ate and drank while they waited. At long last Eskel was allowed to sit with Cahir in his room. For now, he was sedated to help keep him pain free, There were pillows either side of him to stop him from rolling onto his front or his back and an IV dripped steady from a stand.

It was another day before Cahir stirred, eyes opening and struggling to focus. His first words almost broke Eskel’s heart.

“You shouldn’t be here.” His voice was so strained, no doubt the hand shaped bruises on his throat did some damage deeper than the skin. “I shouldn’t be here.”

Cahir slipped back to sleep shortly after that, Eskel’s apologies and promises that he was safe lost as the world span into darkness.

When Geralt returned, it was only to beckon Eskel with him. They had business to sort and Emhyr had a proposition. With backing from Nilfgaard, the wolves went after Filavandrel. They weren’t stupid enough to outright kill him. But they certainly weakened his stance. Viciously indiscriminate, the wolves burned through his network, scorching the earth. Once done, there was just one thing left to do.

By the time Cahir was coherent and out of the danger zone, Eskel was back by his side. His hand was covered in clingfilm and it was something Cahir noted almost immediately.

“Let me show you,” Eskel murmured, all too aware of how quiet the room was. He already felt he filled more than his fair share of it with his bulk, it didn’t need his voice booming through it too. Carefully, he unwrapped his hand to reveal a Nilfgaardian sun. “For the one you lost. It’s a fealty exchange.”

From his pocket, he pulled a wolf medallion and offered it to Cahir. The wolves and Nilfgaard were united now and they were the guarantee of their continued cooperation. Somehow, Eskel didn’t think that was a bad thing by any means. Especially not when it meant he could freely love Cahir exactly as he deserved.

#eskhir #cahir/eskel #eskel #Cahir Mawr Dyffryn aep Ceallach #mob au #cw: torture #cw: blood #cw: injury #hurt/comfort #cahir is my fandom pinata #long post #tldr: don't take what a wolf claims as his

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sshbpodcast · 3 years ago

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Tales from the Holodeck: DS9 Fanfic: Chris’s Story

Not only has A Star to Steer Her By wrapped all of Deep Space Nine, but your podcast hosts are also celebrating our fifth anniversary of bringing you through all of Star Trek! As a treat, we’ve concocted DS9-themed fanfic stories and teleplays in our much-celebrated “Tales from the Holodeck” series that you can listen to us cold read here (this one starts at 39:05). Read on for the transcript of Chris’s Weyoun-Ee’char story below, that might pilot a whole new series we’re all asking for!

“Dude, Where’s My Ee’char?”

By Chris

Random picks: Weyoun, Ee’char

“Tea, earl grey, hot?”

Miles O’Brien instinctively glanced up at those words. Surely not. Sure enough, a lanky Andorian walked up to the counter and accepted the drink that had been called out. Admiral Picard – well, not Admiral, anymore, but even thinking of him as “Jean-Luc” was bizarre to O’Brien – had less than no reason to be hanging around Starfleet Academy. Or Starfleet anything, for that matter.

“Not that I can entirely blame him,” he mused to himself, going back to the PADD containing last week’s warp field dynamics exam. “Nothing’s felt right since Romulus was destroyed. And then Mars…maybe Keiko’s right. Maybe it’s time to retire.”

He sighed and put down his stylus. Twenty years of teaching at Starfleet academy and even he could see how things were shifting. The students grew less and less enthused, dropout rates going up, those that did stay becoming so by-the-book when it came to everything that it was maddening.

“They’re just lacking in imagination,” he’d moaned to Keiko one day. “If I’d thought like them we’d’ve never got the Defiant working like she did. They think the deflector array is just for deflecting things.”

He had immediately realized how ridiculous and old-mannish it had sounded. But even his wife had been on Starfleet ships long enough to get it. Everything on a ship potentially had a purpose no one had ever dreamed of, and dreaming it up in that critical moment could be the difference between getting the ship home and a warp core breach.

“Professor O’Brien?” came a strangely-familiar voice from behind him. He turned and saw what he thought, at first, must have been a Romulan because they were smiling. And there was a sardonic edge to the tone that didn’t seem terribly Vulcan, either. But the fellow had that waxlike pallor that was unique to the latter, something their cousin species had evolved away over their centuries apart.

“Yes. Can I help you?”

“No, but my employer believes he can help you.”

Well, this was shady. Was Section 31 out for belated revenge? Maybe someone had finally slipped in Starfleet Intelligence and the Orion syndicate found out he’d worked undercover against them? Could it be that some T’Lani was still cross about what he and Julian had revealed about their corruption? The grudge could’ve gone further back; someone related to the incident at Setlik III had tracked him down. Christ, for someone who’d only ever been an engineer he’d sure managed to pile up a list of old enemies that could come calling. Ought to at least make him an honorary Commander for that.

“And he would be?”

“An old friend.” The mystery man reached into a pocket and pulled out a small, red figurine. The coonskin cap was unmistakable. “He said this would explain. He remembers the hours you and the good Doctor spent on this.”

So it wasn’t Julian, but someone who knew how they’d passed their time in their DS9 days. Didn’t rule out Section 31, or necessarily a few others, but it did make him feel a little better. He realized the man was still holding out the figure to him, so he reached out and took it, putting it in the bag he’d been carrying his PADD and some miscellany in.

“My employer understands that you’re too cautious a man to just meet somewhere.” The man’s voice – what was it that was so familiar? – had dropped even further. “Be at your desk in twenty minutes. A signal will come in. Use the code on the bottom of the figure.”

The man turned without another word and strode off. O’Brien raised his eyebrows and watched him go. He’d have to tell Julian about this next time they talked; he’d be jealous. Goodness knows how long it had been since his old friend had been involved in any cloak-and-dagger shenanigans.

Despite everything O’Brien was a little surprised when, back at his desk, his computer began to chirp. The text on the screen read “incoming external transmission”. External transmissions were always supposed to go through central comms; only an Admiral could bypass that procedure, normally. He turned the little figure over and punched in the numbers he saw there.

“Ah, my dear Professor O’Brien!”

“Ga-” O’Brien stopped himself. For some reason he felt if he said the full name of the Cardassian now grinning at him from the screen it would just summon the whole of Starfleet security. Just behind him and to his left stood the mystery Vulcan/Romulan from the cafe.

“You look well, Professor,” Garak continued, not acknowledging whether or not he had caught the Engineer’s odd outburst.

“Having you call me that is a bit weird,” O’Brien admitted. “How about Chief? I think that’s still technically my rank.”

“Very well, Chief. I believe you know my associate?”

“Not that I can remember.”

“Oh, how silly of me,” the man said, reaching up. “I still have the mask on.”

His hand slid down his face, and the telltale webbing of a holographic disguise flickered to life as the pallor, eyebrows, and eyes vanished. Instead there was a very different kind of pointed ear, skin like powder, and violently violet eyes.

“Weyoun…”

“Yes, it would seem there were, in fact, a few leftover despite what we had been told.” Garak smirked in that old, familiar, entirely unsettling way of his. “It seems they just meant their Alpha Quadrant supply.”

“Of course, I’m now the actual, final one,” Weyoun added. “Garak here found me right before I was…discarded. My predecessors had not been quite so lucky.”

“Is that where you’ve been the past two decades then?” O’Brien asked. “The Gamma Quadrant?”

“Mostly.” Garak raised his brow briefly. “Someone has to keep an eye on the Dominion. Starfleet Intelligence can hardly be trusted to do it on their own, the Romulans are too busy trying to keep their culture intact, and Klingons have never had a spy agency in their entire recorded history.”

“I see.”

“I came across a story that I thought might interest you.” He glanced down and pecked a few buttons just off-camera, and a ping sounded on the Chief’s computer. “Look particularly carefully at the upper left-hand corner of the screen. It was a pleasure to see you, Chief.”

“Wait…”

But Garak was already gone. O’Brien knew there’d be no point in asking for a trace. Should he report this? He was supposed to, certainly. But this was Garak. O’Brien…well, okay, to say he trusted Garak would be a staggering lie. But he certainly felt like both the Federation and he personally owed him enough that he could be allowed this little indulgence. At least once.

Decision made, O’Brien opened the message he’d been sent. He winced when he recognized rather quickly the world of Argratha. It had all the appearance of a news story of some kind. But the Universal Translator hadn’t caught up to the shift, so he started over and paused it.

Argratha. He’d been twice. The second time some fifteen years later, to testify at a public hearing about his experiences the first time. What his false-memory twenty year imprisonment had been like. There was talk at the time of abandoning the practice; it made the judicial process too casual, too many false guilty charges because, for those who’d never experienced it, what was really lost? The Chief and countless others had told them. How real the time felt, and how cruel the simulation was. He’d told the Special Envoy who’d arranged for him to go that he felt he deserved a medal for how calm he’d been during his testimony. The Envoy had chuckled until the Chief’s expression had told him he had very much meant it.

He started the story up again. When he’d not heard anything for months after his testimony he’d assumed the reforms had failed and the sick practice was still going on. But in fact it had simply taken a bit of extra time and work. The story was about the closing of the final facility that had run such incarcerations. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to weep or go celebrate. He was going to call Keiko straightaway, that much was…

The upper left hand corner.

“No.”

He had almost forgotten to look.

“No.”

Despite it being the entire reason Garak had dropped by.

“Fuck.”

Ee’char. His “imaginary” cellmate. Standing among the crowd of politicians and other self-congratulatory types formally shutting the program down. Almost identical to the twenty-year-older Ee’char from his memories, though one that had clearly lived a somewhat less wretched life. One who’d gotten proper meals and sleep and care, just like O’Brien had.

But did he have the false twenty years that still occasionally wafted into his nightmares and had him waking in a cold sweat? Did he still, on rare occasions, almost set aside a bit of his meal before realizing saving it wasn’t necessary?

“In short, friend,” the Chief said aloud. “Who the fuck are you?”

He was glad the stopover at DS9 to switch transports had been short. None of the old crew were there, anymore, but he was fairly certain he was at least vaguely acquainted with some of the Stafleet staff that still maintained a presence on the Bajoran station, and the last thing he wanted to be was some old man wandering around his old posting looking worn and nostalgic. Even Quark had shipped out for Freecloud. A part of him had been tempted to see if Morn was still at his usual seat in whatever the bar was called now, assuming it was even still a bar. But he had just stayed in the docking ring and then made his way to the next leg of his journey.

He spent the flight through the wormhole standing by a window with just about everyone else. He realized that he’d never gone through it after the War had ended, so it was his first time making the journey in ages that he wasn’t expecting to potentially die on the other end. It was so nice to just watch it, to get lost in its beauty, and vaguely wonder if Sisko was watching him just then.

O’Brien stood in the space between two homes, watching as a car slid noiselessly from the sky and halted in front of the house. Finding his old friend had been much easier than he’d expected; Garak had encoded everything he needed to find the man in the newsclip he’d sent. A door hissed open and the old Argrathan stepped out. He exchanged inaudible words with someone in the vehicle before the door shut and it lazily drifted back into the sky. O’Brien glanced around. No one else seemed to be coming. He watched as the other man walked towards the his home.

The Chief darted from the shadows and jogged across the street. If Ee’char heard him he showed no sign. O’Brien reached up, paused, and then gently tapped the other man on the shoulder. He gasped and spun.

“Yes?” he asked.

“I’m…ah…I’m Miles O’Brien.”

“Oh. Oh! Yes, yes, I remember watching your testimony.” He held out a hand “Ko’vax.”

“A pleasure,” the Chief replied, taking his hand and shaking it.

“But why did you come to see me?”

“We…well, we were cellmates, you see.”

“Were we?” He nodded slowly. “Well. Someone had quite the sense of humor.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been arguing against our mental prisons for a very long time.” His lips went slender and he glanced off. “Please. Come in, have a warm drink.”

“I…sure, thank you.”

“I never had the misfortune of experiencing what you or so many others did,” Ko’vax explained, putting down what seemed effectively to be a mug in front of O’Brien. “But my father did.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.” He picked up his own mug, almost took a drink, but didn’t and put it down. “His story was similar to so many others. To yours. Adjusting was so hard. Too hard. They don’t offer any kind of help to reintegrate to society. To help you deal with the fact that you’ve not actually lost any time but it still feels like a huge swathe of your life is gone. That might be worse than actually losing time. I don’t know.”

“Neither do I. I’ve never had the real version.”

“He lasted…half a year. My brother found him.” Ko’vax paused and took a sip of his drink, and the Chief finally did automatically. Not that he took any note of the flavor. “I’d already started writing letters, but I got more active after that. Showed up at politician’s doorsteps. Showed up and shouted at meetings that had nothing to do with it. Became a real pain.”

“Must’ve been afraid they’d…well, you know.”

“Oh, sure. But I didn’t care. Let them. Let them put me in a fifty year dream, a century, I knew I’d be fine. I’d have my rage to see me through.” He sighed. “I was so angry for so long. I mean, I never stopped being angry, but you can’t be as constantly angry as I was at first. That would be impossible.”

“So what happened?”

“I lived my life. But I never stopped my campaigning. Whatever free moment I could scrounge up was spent talking with others who shared my goal. I guess someone thought it would be a good laugh to have a cellmate based on the man who hated them and their program so damn much.” He smiled. “But then I got to be there today. When it all ended. Thanks to so many people. Like you.”

“I…” The Chief paused. “I’m glad I could help.”

“So what made you come to see me?”

“I wasn’t sure who you were, to be honest. Outside of looking like Ee’char. That was his name.” He paused. “I guess a part of me was almost hoping you’d been part of it somehow. So I could let you have it. And feel less bad about…how things went between me and the other you.”

“We didn’t get along, eh?”

“We did, eventually. And then for a long time. But then, towards the end…”

“It gets particularly bad, yes. Everyone says that.”

“Well. Glad to know it wasn’t just me getting special treatment, I suppose.” O’Brien took another drink. Now that he was paying attention he realized it was very pleasant. He’d have to find out what it was and bring some home. “We fought. You…he…I killed him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’ve nothing to apologize for. I killed you. Sort of.”

“I’m sorry on behalf of a government that will never properly apologize fo anyone affected by their sick little program because they think it’s just fine. They are giving it up with great reluctance you can be sure.” He paused. “And I’m sorry you were driven to that. I know we’ve barely met but you don’t seem the type. So it must have been truly awful to drive you that far.”

“I guess so. I hope so.” He paused. “I don’t know. I’d killed before. Served in one war already by then. But this was something else. Something that still comes up at me in the wee hours. Every time I’d killed before then I could justify it as having been for my survival. And that’s what I told myself it was that time, but I’d not actually proven that first. I told myself it must have been so I could.”

“I wish I could help. I’m almost sorry I’m not who you thought I was.” He shrugged. “If it helps, well…I didn’t go what you went through, but I saw firsthand what it does to people. I know how real it can seem, even to those who go in knowing it isn’t. You had no idea. I’m sorry they used my face as part of your torture. But, if it helps…well, I forgive you. On behalf of the false me. And I only wish you the best.”

“Thanks.” He smiled, nodded. “That actually is nice to hear, somehow.”

The wormhole again. Its eddies and currents and majesty unchanged even as the twenty years around it had entirely altered O’Brien’s world. Why had the gone all the way to the Gamma Quadrant? What would he have done if Ko’vax had been involved somehow? Certainly not killed him. Shouted for a bit? What good would that have done? But what good had this done? No. Time to move on. Figure out what’s next. He’d been in neutral for far too long, and…

“Oh, I know that look,” came a voice to his side that he scarcely believed he was hearing. “That is the look of the Chief when everything seems against him. When things have stopped making sense.”

O’Brien turned. There, not looking a day older when he’d last seen him, still in the now very out-of-date uniform, stood Captain Sisko.

“Well, Chief. It’s time for things to start making sense again. And I’m going to need your help.”

The End

—

For more DS9 fanfic, check out Caitlin, Jake, and Ames’s stories from this round of Tales from the Holodeck! And be sure to keep listening to new episodes every Thursday on SoundCloud, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and stay out of brain jail if you can. Jay-sus.

#star trek #star trek deep space 9 #ds9 #fanfic #star trek fanfiction #ds9 fanfiction #weyoun #ee'char #miles o'brien #garak #hard time

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lore-of-the-silvereyes-rwby · 4 years ago

Text

RWBY lore & World Building Analysis

Atlas and Mantle Part 1

Timeline, Origins, and History

Timeline

We really don’t have a coherent timeline for the series but this is my best gamble for Atlas and Mantle in terms of events and the people born there(Please RT give us an establish timeline)

B.F.B./ Before the Fall of Beacon

F.B./ Fall of Beacon/ RWBY year one

A.F.B./ After the Fall of Beacon

?-200B.F.B. People settle in Solitas for the first time

200 B.F.B. Mantle Founded

199-91 B.F.B. Century of oppression, & Alliance with Mistral

90-80 B.F.B. The Great War

80-79? B.F.B. Nicolas Schnee Born?

45? B.F.B. Ironwood Born?

28-24 ? B.F.B Ironwood attends Atlas Academy

23? B.F.B. Winter Born?

23-1 ? B.F.B Ironwood ascends to General of Atlas Military & H.M.

17 B.F.B. Weiss Born

2 B.F.B. Winters Joins the Atlas Military

0 F.B. RWBY V(s) 1/2/3

1 A.F.B. V(s) 4/5/6/7/8/9

Given from this we have a rough estimate of the timeline that concerns Atlas, and Mantle And the rise of certain characters from Atlas and Mantle. This will carry over to the next section help with the known history of this Kingdom

Origins, & History

This section is going to be a long recap of the history of this kingdom If you already know or are not interested please skip to the summary (Words in Bold should be taken as something to think and analyze upon)

Early Settlement and Rise

Originally founded by settlers who traveled north to the icy continent of Solitas in order to begin a new civilization. Its harsh climates and great mountain ranges helped to suppress the threat of the Grimm, but it also proved difficult for the population to grow. Humanity adapted, however, by using Dust in tandem with advanced technology, developed out of necessity and at faster progression than the rest of the world, creating what came to be known then as the Kingdom of Mantle. Their advancements in Dust application allowed Mantle to expand and devote more territory to mining and research, including the area beside the Kingdom's combat school, Alsius Academy.

Alliance with Mistral

Prior to the war, Mantle formed an alliance with Mistral. The two traded frequently, and Mantle taught Mistral how to form settlements in the snowy northern region of Anima.

Incident at Mantle

After an incident with the Grimm, Mantle came to the conclusion that, if it controlled its citizens' emotions through the abolishment of the arts and self-expression, it would become safer from Grimm. Rather than lose the alliance, Mistral did the same, to an extent. This added to the list of things Vale disliked about Mantle and Mistral, among which was the treatment of their own citizens, their use of slavery and their insistence that their way of life was what was best for everyone.

The Great War

Eventually, Mistral entered a conflict with Vale, after a riot between settlers from the two devolved into the first battle of the Great War. Mantle rushed to their ally's aid, and together, they fought Vale on both Sanus and Anima soil. Having established a presence in Vacuo, the two allied Kingdoms were able to keep Vacuo out of the conflict, and some time into the war, they began pressuring the desert Kingdom to join the war on their side. Fearing that they would conquer Vacuo, should Vale fall, the citizens of Vacuo pushed Mantle and Mistral out of their territory and allied themselves with Vale.

Around eighty years before the beginning of the series, a massive ten-year conflict known as the Great War came to an end. In this war, Mantle and Mistral fought Vale and Vacuo.

During the Great War, Mantle accelerated the pace of its technological innovation, developing new weapons and applications of Dust, giving them an edge during the conflict. Large tracts of land were set aside for Dust mining and research.

Wars end and the road to reconstruction

The Great War finally came to an end with the deadliest battle in the war's history. Mantle and Mistral attempted to take Vacuo's Dust mines to cut off their enemy's supply. There, they were met with the King of Vale personally leading his army alongside Vacuo. It is said that he laid waste to countless men, but historians claim that this feat was aided by the unusually violent weather and Mantle's inexperience in desert combat.

With the war over, the leaders of the four Kingdoms gathered on neutral ground on Vytal to form a treaty and plan the future of Remnant. There, the four Kingdoms' governments were restructured, their territories were redistributed, slavery was abolished, the tradition of the Vytal Festival was begun and the King of Vale founded the four Huntsman Academies.

Atlas Academy and its secrets

Alsius was reopened under the name Atlas Academy and was secretly given the Relic of Creation to safeguard. As a gift to the world, Atlas invented the Cross Continental Transmit System and had the towers for it built on each Huntsman Academy's campus, thus allowing all four Kingdoms to communicate. In an attempt to give back to its citizens, Mantle applied many of the techniques and technologies used in the war to enhance the Huntsman Academy's campus, expanding the school grounds and even securing the surrounding areas. Along with the eventual establishment and merging of the military and research facilities with the government and schools, the original capital of Mantle was overshadowed. The decision was made to move the capital to Atlas, and the Kingdom as a whole was also accordingly renamed to Atlas. Around this time, an incarnation of Ozma suggested to use the Relic of Creation to raise Atlas off the ground. By the present day, the public story for Atlas being kept afloat is due to Gravity Dust.

The Schnee Dust Company

The Schnee Dust Company was founded by Nicholas Schnee in the aftermath of the Great War, in the kingdom of Mantle. Nicholas personally led numerous expeditions around the world to find Dust veins, earning him praise and respect throughout the Kingdoms, while also greatly expanding his company. However, as time passed Nicholas began to grow weary. His family missed him and his health was failing. He was convinced by his son-in-law, Jacques Schnee, to let him inherit the company. Under Jacques' leadership, the Schnee Dust Company's profits grew exponentially, albeit through less-than-ethical practices, such as the use of cheap labor, allowing dangerous working conditions, possible monopolies and having shady business partners.

The Defunct Kingdom of Mantle

The former capital of Mantle appears to have subsequently fallen on hard times,

During the charity concert , guests are heard conversing with Jacques Schnee about the economic disparity between the cities of Atlas and Mantle.

At the same time, they discuss Faunus-Human relations; it is implied that a significant portion of Faunus live in the poorer city of Mantle, and are economically disadvantaged themselves. Those that moved to the city of Atlas were "promised jobs by the Schnee Dust Company amongst others, though it is implied that this is not working out as well as the immigrants would have hoped.

The 40th Vytal Festival Tournament

Preparations for the Vytal Festival were held as early as RWBY's first semester in Beacon. Representatives of the four kingdoms converged upon Vale beginning in the second semester of Team RWBY's first year. The Atlesian contingent, including Penny Polendina and led by academy headmaster and military leader General Ironwood, arrived aboard three Airships in an impressive show of force. The Vytal Festival was marked by a stronger security presence than usual, with a sizable fleet of airships constantly overhead as well as android soldiers patrolling the grounds. This was due to the precautions of General James Ironwood, who was appointed to head of security by the Vale council following the events of "Breach", where Grimm were able to enter the city.

Unbeknownst to the populace, the matches of the 40th Vytal Festival were manipulated by Cinder Fall, who had managed to infect the Cross Continental Transmit System with a computer virus, giving her the ability to decide the match-ups in the tournament.

The festival was marred by Yang's apparently unprovoked attack on Mercury in the first singles match of the tournament. This caused widespread controversy amongst audiences. Unknown to the public, these events were also manipulated by Cinder. Emerald, working under Cinder's direction, used her Semblance to create illusions that led Yang to attack Mercury, mistakenly believing it to be self-defense. The controversy and negative emotions attracted the attention of the Grimm, which attempted to enter the City of Vale. Huntsmen and Atlas forces managed to hold them off but had to call for additional help.

Fall of Beacon

Tragedy struck, the following night, when Penny was destroyed by Pyrrha in a fatal accident, also orchestrated by Cinder, who attempted to make the accident appear like a cold-blooded murder. Cinder then took control of the broadcast with a computer virus and used it to transmit a message condemning the government. The subsequent horror and panic amongst the audience attracted even more Grimm, which managed to overwhelm the defenses that General Ironwood had set up around the City of Vale. With the Grimm attack imminent, the Festival was canceled and Amity Colosseum was evacuated.

During the 40th Vytal Festival, the hosting Kingdom, Vale, is attacked and Beacon Academy and its Cross Continental Transmit tower was destroyed, cutting off Atlas' communication with the other three Kingdoms. The festival's live broadcast and Atlas' robots were hijacked by the attackers, who made it appear as though Atlas attacked innocent civilians. Beacon became overrun with Grimm, and the presence of a petrified Wyvern drew in even more Grimm. Atlas officials searched for a solution, but with Vale making slow progress to retake the academy even after several months, they were not optimistic.

During the several months between the end of Volume 3 and beginning of Volume 4, the Atlesian council voted to place an embargo on Dust exports, in an attempt to prevent conflict, due to the other Kingdoms believing Atlas attacked Vale. This embargo continued into the events of Volumes 4 through 7.

The Present and the Fall to Come

Upon learning from Winter Schnee of a brewing threat in Mistral, General Ironwood decides to close the borders of the Kingdom of Atlas, calling back most of his troops to defend their home. He stations a small group of soldiers, lead by Special Operative Caroline Cordovin, to stay in the city of Argus and restrict transportations to Atlas.

The Atlesian Military aids in the assembly of the Amity Communications Tower, and later defends Mantle in the Battle of Mantle from incoming Grimm onslaughts. Once Ironwood declares martial law and attempts to raise the city of Atlas, the military attempts to capture Ruby's Group as an arrest warrant for them is sent out throughout the kingdom.

Summary

In this long recap we can see that the Kingdom of Atlas is one of long complicated situations and conflicts both internal and external. Both in Survival and society. The Survival aspect prior to the incident of Mantle was less about the Grimm and more of the cost of living. The Early settlers developed advanced tech to heat and insulate their homes (And Possibly burrow underground and make ice carved towns/Like Old Ba Sing Se) As well as establishing trade agreements with Imperial Mistral(Food for tech)

Now comes the social imbalance caused by this survivability. In a word where Demonic monsters drawn by negative emotions force most people to live in armed fortress cities that makes living in Remnant a very difficult task. There is very little hope to wonder whether or not you can prosper in such a world. That is until Mantle became an official Kingdom and once word spread through its trade and the rumors of security and high survivability it would not be much of a stretch for more people to migrate to what could possibly be the safest place on Remnant

Sadly it is human instinct to trade whatever we value for security and peace of mind. And in a place where the Grimm of the time can freeze to death instantly might as well be the city of angels worth any cost. An opportunity for people make a life for themselves instead of just surviving.(Huh... I wonder if their were any walking dead stories in remnant?)

But sadly this was also a crippling blow to mantle as its natural security from the Grimm attracted the desperate it also attracted the corrupted. Why I say that is because of these two lines;

Prior to the war, Mantle formed an alliance with Mistral. The two traded frequently, and Mantle taught Mistral how to form settlements in the snowy northern region of Anima.

Why do these two line make me think that Mantle attracted the corrupt people of remnant as well as the desperate?

Well we all know by now that Mistral was a large continental empire whose power further grew thanks to mantle. And as establish the larger the territory the harder it is to control. This lack of control is why most of the bad people such as thieves and murderers go there to hide. And it continues to be like this to rwby present.

But was it truly the only territory to have such a problem. Criminals by nature are cowardly with a need of guaranteed self preservation when doing something bad. Either from local law enforcement or Grimm. And since Mistral had a trade agreement for tech interchange for food it would not be impossible for fleeing criminals to run and hide to Mantle incase Anima was no longer an option(Similar to fleeing the country(Canada or Mexico)) Sure your still a wanted person by the law but chances are you would have a higher chance of survival if you focus on avoiding the law instead of the Grimm.

And where can you go without worrying about the Grimm; Mantle Do to this it wouldn’t be unlikely that Mid- late Mantle prior to the incident would be remnants 2nd crime-ridden civilization. Just behind Mistral but just a little bit a head of Vacuo.

Which brings me to the other point

The incident in Mantle was most likely the first time that Mantles Natural security failed. And like most security systems when compromised they are either improved and fixed or replaced for something more efficient. But what caused the need for this change in security. The Grimm attack sure but the questions are; why were they there, and how did they get there?

As we know Salem can make improve or make newer Grimm types using her magic so it is quite possible that a prospering city in the frozen tundra would force her hand and she would try to destroy this kingdom to save her ego. As such she made Grimm that can withstand the cold of solitas. The one and only effective security system that Mantle had for over a century(If it ain’t broke don’t fiddle with it).

As most civilizations IRL people usually don’t change unless something unexpected happens that forces said people to improve the conditions of their lifestyle. But what would cause the people of mantle to change their lifestyle so drastically that it makes them almost robotic and inhuman.

Well as the old saying goes; Men do not fear men they fear Monsters. And when your in the only place were the monster can’t get you especially the ones that are drawn to your inner darkness, you’re pretty much free to indulge in whatever passions you deem fit. Especially if your a criminal running from law ranging from petty theft to outright murder(Serial killer in terms of tyrian). And sadly people are also entitled to an opinion, and sadly we all really don’t get along when it comes to opinions. Now what do we argue the most when our opinions clash with one another; Art and all of its medias.

Most people don’t really argue when it comes to the workplace(Unless safety concerns) or the state of other nations(unless your allies) on a day to day basis. For the most part people really don’t care or value that part of their lives mostly because they were already born in what has already established by their ancestors. So they just maintain the status quo of the functional economics of there time however they truly focus all their efforts and time into whatever passions they enjoy. But sadly as I learned through social media we really don’t get along when it comes to media entertainment( Huh as I wrote that I can’t help but wonder if the Mantle incident and the aftermath was meta foreshadowing in regards to the current state of the RT and RWBY fandoms)

Anyway Mantles soon to be outdated security and the emotions of its unchecked citizens have led to the incident that made it rethink its current defense. Something that would improve the chance of survival and make sure the people wouldn’t give into their passions.

The former can be done no problem(IRL one of the reasons why humans are the dominant species on the planet is because we like to make items that kill so other things can die instead of us) But the latter not so much. You really can’t just easily expect people to fall in line just like that or allow you to do so. But do you know what can allow you to do that; Martial Law or a Stratocracy based government(Think of the Galactic Empire)

This makes sense given the fact that Mantle had relied on natural defenses instead of practical defenses like fleets of ships or large militias. Usually when marital law is enacted it is usually a choice made by the current government to reestablish security and control over their panicked and threatened citizens. As well as to ensure that the people don’t revolt and try to replace the current government via revolution once its been made clear that the current government can’t protect its citizens. Usually Martial laws are temporary administrations. Its only when they are dragged out longer than their intended purpose do they become oppressive. So the question now stands; Did Mantles M.L. drag out longer than intended or did it evolve into a Military Dictatorship?

Either way the end result obviously didn’t end well. Not just because of the events it played during the great war but what kind of impact it had and the lingering scars that persisted into Atlas. This is easily recognized by the conflict between rwby and Ironwood when it came to the decision of whether or not to declare martial law.

The scenes in “the worst case scenario and Gravity,” when it brings up the topic of martial law paints a clear picture; this wasn’t the first time its been declared.

Obviously Gravity shows Weiss’s reaction to Ironwoods declaration. It’s almost a tear breaking expression for her and shock that it causes her to quietly say no in disbelief. Now I’m not familiar to the education system of the rich but given her ties to the SDC Atlas Mantle I would assume she is well versed in the history of her kingdom when it comes to politics/ the source of all trade between nations

Now why is that important well assuming this isn’t the first time martial law has been declared and that their have been several periods in the kingdoms history when it was declared its quite clear that it had mixed results that either were fine or dragged out longer than their intended purpose that resulted in the Great war.

A sort of progressive retraction that would not only just start another great war but would tear down all of the pillars of progress of humanity that Atlas had tried to restore. They are becoming ancient mantle once again. More robotic in nature and Inhuman except this time They had accumulated immense power and are willing to use it against anyone who stands in their way of self preservation. Since the show is clearly setting the state for a second great war much like our world wars I find it interesting that despite knowing what caused the first great war and the events that led to it. It is repeating the same mistakes of the past

(In the words of George Lucas; It’s like poetry, so that they rhyme)

Conclusion

After reviewing and giving some thought as I was researching sources and videos for this I was quite surprised by how much was shown and told in regards of the origins of Atlas.

And then comparing those findings to other works and our real world history, and societies, there is no doubt that real world Atlases and Mantles exist or have existed in our world and how they either changed for the better or fallen for the benefit of all(I’ll elaborate more in other posts about that)

But sadly Atlas is repeating the mistakes of the past and it continues to not see it. And unless the people acknowledge that they are doomed, regardless of Salem or not.

#rwby #world of remnant #rwby atlas #rwby atlas soldier #rwby mantle #james ironwood #weiss schnee #rwby ironwood #winter schnee #robyn hill #penny polendina #pietro polendina #arthur watts #jaques schnee #rwby ace ops #rwby happy huntresses #Ironwood analysis

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