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your-divine-ribs · 8 months ago

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Good Touch

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A very stressed out Van comes into your salon for a massage so you help him to relax in the best possible way… I wrote this just after the Cardiff 2022 gig got cancelled 😭 // Just pure self-indulgent smut because I fancy this man so bad I have no other excuse lol sorry 😂

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"I'm so glad we're nearly done for the day, I can't wait to get home. Thank god I've not got any more clients."

Your colleague and salon receptionist Naomi looks up as you push through the door after heading back from a much needed coffee break. A small frown creases her forehead.

"Actually Y/N, you do have another client. He was a late booker from this morning. Haven't you seen it in the diary?"

"No..." Your heart sinks as she slides the appointment book towards you across the counter, squinting at Naomi's practically indecipherable scrawl. "Mr... what? Mr McCarr? McCaw? Don't recognise the name. He's not a regular then..."

Great, you sigh to yourself. A brand new client last thing on a Friday. These days your diary is full of satisfied repeat bookers and you've got to know all of them well during your time at the salon. It's almost like you can forget you're working at times, you just switch on the relaxing music and chat to them whilst you massage away their tension knots and usually their worries too. It's often soothing even for you, but this week has been long and exhausting and the thought of making polite conversation with a total stranger for a whole session when you're ready to go home is totally draining.

Well... let's just hope he's one of the quiet ones who just wants to lie there and zone out.

"It's actually McCann... excuse my terrible writing!" Naomi laughs. "But yeah he's new. He came in grumbling about his manager ordering him to come for a session. He's had some shit go down at work or something... I don't know. He was pretty vague, mumbling like he really didn't wanna be here."

You look quickly towards the treatment room door which is thankfully shut. "He's already here?"

"Uh-huh," Naomi nods, scrunching up her face. "He looks like shit... really stressed out... like maybe he's not slept for a month." She grins mischievously. "Shame really as I reckon he'd be proper fit normally!"

"Naomi!" You exclaim in a hushed whisper, stepping over in alarm. "For Christ's sake keep your voice down!"

Naomi just shrugs, unfazed, tapping her manicured fingernails on the counter. "He won't hear, the door's shut. Chill out! Anyway, enjoy... he's booked in for a full body massage!"

Her eyebrows shoot up suggestively at the final few words, but you don't partake in her smutty behaviour. You've always prided yourself on your professionalism. You'll just go in and do your job... work your magic... in forty-five minutes you'll have another satisfied customer.

You take a deep breath and open the door...

You should have realised. You should have put two and two together, but why would you? Okay... McCann isn't exactly a common name, but the thought of having a real-life, living, breathing, famous rockstar casually dropping into your salon is the last thing you'd expect on a Friday afternoon.

But sure enough there he is, larger than life and a hundred times more handsome than his videos on YouTube, perched on the edge of the treatment bed wearing nothing but a pair of tight-fitting black boxers. Very tight-fitting actually, you note, quickly wrenching your eyes upwards to meet his sparkling blue gaze and his awkward looking slightly crooked smile.

"Alright love?" He greets you in that familiar tone that you've grown to love by watching every interview of his that you've scoured the internet for.

You're flustered even though you tell yourself that you shouldn't be. In your line of work you deal with clients in various states of undress all day, every day. It's just that they're not normally Van McCann, singer of your favourite band. The very same band who've just brutally broken your heart and put a serious dint in your finances by pulling out of a stadium gig you'd been set to attend only weeks away. You'd been devastated and frustrated, not to mention fuming about the band's lack of communication with their loyal and dedicated fanbase, but all of a sudden those feelings of resentment take a backseat to your utter shock at having this most elusive of your idols sitting there before you, eyes glowing with a subtle kind of amusement at your stunned expression.

"Oh... errr sorry... wasn't I supposed to get my kit off yet?"

"Yes... yes... of course!" You blurt, checking yourself when you realise you sound overly eager, making out you're clearing your throat so you can take a moment to compose yourself, forcing your inner fangirl back into hiding. "I mean, sure. I can't massage you fully dressed now, can I?"

Van nods but his smile slips as you step forward to retrieve a towel off the bale on the wall, and now you're a little closer you can see what Naomi was talking about. The skin under his eyes looks dark-tinged and puffy, his skin sallow under the lighting. He sighs under his breath as he gets to his feet. "Might as well get this over and done with then."

His comment makes you bristle slightly but you recall Naomi's earlier comment and you take the chance to explore his lack of enthusiasm. "Oh, my colleague mentioned something about your manager making you come? You don't sound too thrilled about it. Most people love coming for a treatment. It's therapeutic you know."

"Yeah well... I don't need therapy," he says quickly, his voice tight and defensive. You've obviously hit a nerve. You hadn't realised that you'd stepped back, recoiling, but Van notices. He looks immediately embarrassed, offering an apologetic smile, pushing a hand through his hair as he talks.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to snap... it's just... errr... it's just I've really been going through it at the moment. Things have been... difficult... really difficult." His eyes dart around the room before they meet yours again. "You could say pretty much everything I touch is falling apart these days."

You're full of intrigue, literally bursting with curiosity to find out the reason behind the band's demise, but he's made no reference to show that he knows that you're aware of who he is. In fact you think he probably suspects you don't and he's relieved about that. Despite your desperation to find out the band's fate you really can't probe him. You don't want to scare him off, but you also don't want to treat an unwilling client. It just doesn't feel right.

"Look... I'm really sorry to hear that, but I probably shouldn't treat you if you don't want to be here..."

Van cuts you off, looking contrite. "It's not that I don't want to be here, really. Please don't take offence. It's just that I don't know how a bloody massage is supposed to miraculously cure all of my problems, that's all."

He chuckles and rolls his eyes, and you smile back, holding out the towel to him which he accepts.

"I'm sure it won't... but it will relax you, I can promise you that. You can just lie back and close your eyes and check out of real life for a little while. C'mon, why don't you just try it? You might like it. Let me take care of you for a bit."

Oh... you hadn't meant it to come out quite like that, so intimate-sounding. You feel your cheeks begin to warm as his grin widens.

"Well, if ya put it like that how can I resist? I'm sure I'll be in very capable hands! Now... how do you want me... on the bed?"

His last line's said innocently enough but there's an underlying cheekiness simmering just below that gorgeous smile that makes your belly flip. You bite back the smirk that's threatening to surface along with a very inappropriate smutty comment, trying to restore the composed and professional demeanour that you usually display with your clients.

"Yeah, just lie down right here." You look down quickly to hide your flushed cheeks, patting the soft sheet draped over the bed. "If you start off lying on your front then I can do your back, and then you can turn over." You pause, mentally bracing yourself before you say the next line, but ending up blurting it out in a tumble of rushed words. "You can... umm... take everything off if you like... you don't have to but some clients prefer it that way. It's completely up to you though. You can use the towel to cover yourself if you do."

Fuck... your cheeks are on fire now, your pulse starting to race. The room suddenly feels like a furnace as you watch Van quickly hook his fingers under the elastic waistband of his boxers without hesitation, starting to inch them down his slim hips.

"Oh... I'll step out and give you some privacy!" You exclaim, hurriedly whirling around to avert your eyes at the realisation that he means to completely strip off right there and then in front of you.

"Not a problem," comes his relaxed voice from behind you. "I'm not shy."

A giggle of pure embarrassment bubbles up inside and you bite down on your lip to stem it, trying to control your pounding heart. You need to pull yourself together and fast. In a moment you've got to turn around and deliver a relaxing and professional massage but all you can think of is getting your hands on his naked body for all the improper reasons.

"Just let me know when you're ready!" You say brightly, stepping forward to peruse the massage oils, deciding on a blend of patchouli and sandalwood. You tap the small speaker on the shelf and a wave of soft, soothing meditative music fills the small room. Scented candles are already lit to give the room a calming ambience.

"Ready... I'm all yours!" You hear him call back.

Yes... yes you are, you smile to yourself as you move over to dim the lights before finally turning around.

He's laid out on the bed on his front as instructed and for the first time you can get a good look at him uninhibited. His wiry body is lean but taut, his skin pale save for the slight flush where he's obviously caught the sun on the tops of his arms and around his neck. The tiny towel that you gave him is draped temptingly over his pert little ass and you curse yourself for not giving him an even smaller one.

"How are you feeling? Are you comfortable enough?" You ask, tipping some of the oil into the palm of your hand and warming it between your fingers, coating them in the fragrant liquid.

"Uh-huh I'm good... yeah I'm all good," he replies, shifting slightly where he lays and bringing his arms up to fold across the end of the table. He lays his head sideways against his crossed arms. You have a clear view of his face from here and you can see that his eyes are shut. "I've never had a massage before... I don't really know what to expect."

"Just relax," you tell him. "That's all you need to do. Just leave the rest to me."

You step forward until you're inches away from the table, looking down on him. You can hardly believe that this man who's dwelled in your fantasies up until this moment is lying here in front of you, naked as the day he was born, completely at your mercy. Tingles of excitement are sparking through you and again you have to take a moment to compose yourself, surreptitiously shaking out the tension from your fingers which are trembling slightly.

You start by placing your palms on either side of his spine just below his neck, trailing your hands down to his lower back, then up again, this time moving in circles, firmly smoothing his flesh as you go. He lets out a small sigh and you feel him sink down further into the bed.

"That feels nice already," he murmurs. "Think maybe I am gonna enjoy this after all."

Not as much as I'm going to enjoy it, you muse to yourself, smiling as your fingers nudge the towel aside to smooth over the top of the contours of his ass, thumbs pressing into the small of his back.

"I'm only just getting started," you say. "I can feel a lot of tension in your muscles, so I'm going to have to be thorough."

His only reply is a soft "mmmm" which sounds far more sensual to your ears than it probably should. Your mind wanders, imagining him flipping over and pulling you down on top of him, hitching up your dress whilst you straddle him and grind shamelessly against him.

You try to clear your mind, moving upwards again and using your fingers to caress the muscles across the tops of his shoulders, working out the knots of tension as you go. His skin is soft and smooth, more so than you would have imagined, and the way your oil-soaked hands glide across his flesh is arousing you beyond belief. His body glistens in the candlelight. Maybe this was a bad idea. You can feel your professionalism ebbing away as you bring your hands down to focus on his slender waist, not making a move to replace the towel when it slips to the side, exposing his bum.

Van doesn't seem to notice or maybe he does but he just doesn't care. He has a blissed-out expression on his face, his eyes screwed shut and his lips slightly parted, a small crease adorning his brow as he lets out a sound that's halfway between a whimper and a sigh.

"You have no idea how good that feels... really. You're some kind of goddess, I'm sure of it."

His words fan the flames that are already simmering inside of you and you can feel the ache grow between your thighs as you shift your position to move down to his legs.

"Oh, I don't know about that," you reply, laughing softly. "My clients always seem to go away happy though."

"I don't doubt it.... mmmm... god that's so good... ohhh..."

There he goes again. Christ... those little moans that he's making are not helping matters. If he's this expressive just from a basic massage how would he react if you showed him your real talents? You push the thought away, reaching for more oil before you begin on his legs, wrapping your fingers around his calves as you massage your way up, spreading your hands wide as they slide up his thighs.

"F... uck," he groans, low and drawn out and you see him push his pelvis into the bed as your fingers trail dangerously close to the sensitive area between his parted thighs. Now you're certain that you're not the only one getting turned on, but it's hardly surprising, with each stroke you're pushing the boundaries of decency, edging closer and closer to forbidden territory. His arms move from their relaxed position so he can grip the edges of the bed and you smile to yourself as you feel his body stiffen.

There are strict rules of conduct for masseuses in your salon and you're breaking every single one. If your manager could see you now you'd be facing a disciplinary at the very least, or at worst you'd be fired. That doesn't stop you though, your fingers kneading teasingly at a spot that makes him visibly shiver until you feel the muscles in his thighs clench up tight under your touch.

"Are you still feeling okay?" You ask, finally moving your hands away, wiping the excess oil on the towel before you gently drape it back over his bum.

"Yeah... yeah I'm all good," he answers, but his choked up voice would suggest otherwise. Maybe you're going too far. Your salon prides itself on offering the most soothing treatments, leaving clients feeling calm and relaxed, not wound up tight like a spring, gripping the treatment bed like their lives depend on it.

"Are you sure? I know my massages can be pretty... intense."

He lets out a throaty chuckle. "Intense? That's one way to describe it! Think maybe I'm... errr... enjoying it a little too much."

You can't help the grin which stretches wide on your lips at his words which are like music to your ears, a green light to continue in your endeavours to make him feel good. You've never really considered your ability to make a person's body react to your whim a talent before, more like a gift. So what's wrong with bestowing a gift of your own on someone else every once in a while? He so obviously needs it.

"It's time to turn over now," you tell him, grasping the edge of the towel to lift it, allowing it to screen him as he moves.

"Al... already?" He stutters, uncertainty in his voice as he shifts. "I... errr... umm... okay then."

He rolls on to his side and you train your eyes on the far wall as he does to allow him his privacy, only looking back down to replace the towel when he's settled on to his back.

Oh...

All of a sudden the source of his hesitancy is abundantly clear as you see the the towel tenting slightly over his cock. You have to fight hard to suppress the self-satisfied smirk you can feel trying to surface, quickly looking away, your eyes meeting Van's in an awkward moment of understanding.

He smiles sheepishly, his cheeks tinged an adorable shade of rosy pink and you fleetingly consider acknowledging the situation you've both found yourselves in, but you decide against it, opting to just carry on instead.

You can feel his eyes on you as you turn to reach for more oil then you step to the head of the bed, looking down on him. He blinks up at you, stunning pale greeny-blue eyes framed with thick, long lashes. You're certain you're not imagining the wordless exchange that you can feel taking place, a tender kind of lustfulness that his imploring expression conveys. He wants this. You know he does.

You place your hands on either side of his neck, letting them trail down to his collar bones and then outwards across his chest before drawing them back and repeating the movements over and over. You can feel his heartbeat thundering under your fingertips at each pass, his chest rising and falling deeply.

"You okay?" You check in on him and he nods, eyes swirling with intensity.

"Uh-huh..." he breathes out, then he clears his throat. "You're pretty incredible at this, you know that?"

You smile, soaking in the praise, wondering if he thinks every client of yours gets this extra special attention that he's receiving, wondering if he cares?

"It's working then, is it?" You grin.

Van laughs and you can feel it vibrate through his chest under your palms. "Put it this way, I'm not exactly thinking about my problems right now!"

"Good... that's good... that's the aim."

You step back around to the side of the bed so you can reach further, moving your hands down over his abdomen, letting your fingers slip under the edge of the towel and trail down the V of his hips. He lets out a shaky exhale and you glance up to see his eyes fluttering shut, his mouth slightly agape. He looks divine lying there, his oiled skin shimmering in the flicker of the dim candlelight, the temptation to pull away the towel so strong that you find your fingers twitching with longing. That's just a step too far though. Teasing is one thing but giving one of your clients a sneaky hand-job is another entirely. Besides, just because he's turned on it doesn't mean he's giving you consent to relieve his tensions in such a sensual way. He'd definitely have to ask... or maybe even beg...

Fuck... you wonder what that would sound like falling from those full pink lips of his, the same lips that are currently being pulled in between his teeth to stifle a groan. You coax it from him anyway as your hands move down to grip his thighs, pushing them slightly apart as you knead at the sensitive flesh. The towel rises up even further in response and now you know you've really crossed the line. Van's gripping the edges of the bed tightly, his breathing coming heavy and ragged. His hips press upwards as if to chase your touch as your fingers wrap around the top of his thigh under the towel, the backs of them just barely grazing his balls as you move away.

"I think we'd better finish there for today," you say hurriedly, watching carefully for his reaction, pleased when his eyes flick open with a look of dismay. "That's if you've... umm... had enough?"

He pauses for a moment, his brow furrowed in a hopeful kind of eagerness. "You mean there's more... if I want it?"

"Yes," you say with no absolutely hesitance, boldly meeting his needy gaze, gauging his reaction whilst you try to formulate your next words in your head. "I mean I think we both know that there's more than one way to relax somebody... a more unconventional way to relieve that obvious tension if you like."

You try not to think of Naomi innocently sitting outside at the reception desk filing her nails whilst you're in here propositioning a client in the most sordid kind of way. Despite her earlier teasing you just know that she'd be horrified by your actions. You start to fret that maybe you've made a mistake, but then Van speaks, and your worries melt away in an instant.

"I want it... I really want it... please."

In a deft motion he tugs at the towel and it falls away on to the bed, exposing him completely. As expected he's gloriously hard, his cock just as delectable as the rest of him, thick and rigid with a flushed tip, just begging for your attention. You waste no time in wrapping your fingers hungrily around his girth, swiping your thumb over the sensitive head.

"Shit," he mutters. "I can't believe this is happening."

He hoists his body upwards, propping himself on his elbows, craning his neck to watch as you begin to caress him, taking your time, sliding your oil-slicked fingers slowly and deliberately up and down his length.

"Tell me if you want me to stop," you murmur, the shock and excitement of what you're doing hitting you as he lets out a throaty groan and you worry that Naomi might hear.

"No... don't stop," he gasps breathlessly. "Please don't ever stop. It's so good... mmm."

His eyes flick between yours and his cock, dark and heavy-lidded, strands of his hair fallen forward on to his face which is creased in pleasure. You don't think you've ever witnessed a sexier sight, the obvious enjoyment etched on his face, his hips pistoning upwards needily as he fucks himself into your hand.

You pick up your pace, gripping him firmly, flicking your wrist over the head at each stroke, loving the way he writhes under your touch. His jagged panted breaths mingling with his choked groans and the obscenely wet sounds of your slick hand moving over his length seem to bounce off the walls of the small room making everything seem more intense.

"Keep going," he groans pleadingly. "Please... just like that... ahh fuck."

You're torn between wanting to stretch this out and wanting to drive him to his peak, the sinful noises he's making travelling down to your own core, soaking your panties through. You move to cup his balls with your free hand, gently massaging them, satisfied when he grits his teeth and lets out a particularly primal sounding groan.

"I can't hold on... I'm gonna come... fuck, fuck... FU-CK..." he hisses, thrusting into your hand, his whole body spasming. You watch him, transfixed as his jaw falls slack and his eyes glaze over as the swells of his climax peak and he comes, hard, milky splatters of cum painting his belly and spilling out over your knuckles.

You tug him a few more times until you've milked every last drop out of his orgasm and he's shuddering under your touch, his head hanging forward, muttering incoherently under his breath.

You release your grip on him, reaching for the towel and perching on the side of the bed, waiting for his reaction as you clean off your fingers, your heart pounding in your chest.

"Holy fucking shit," he finally murmurs, raising his head, his blue eyes meeting yours, full of wonder and shock and an awe-like reverence that makes your breath catch in your throat. "I know I'm brand new to this whole massage thing but I'm guessing that's not how it usually goes down?"

He accepts the towel from your outstretched hand as you offer him an awkward smile, the enormity of what you've just done hitting you now. "I can promise you I've never done that before. I... I don't know what came over me... sorry."

"Sorry?" He echoes quickly, his eyes bulging in disbelief. "Please don't apologise! That was..." he pauses, shaking his head, searching for the right words. "That was probably one of the hottest experiences of my life! Really... I mean it!"

A deep scarlet flush washes over you. "I hardly think so..."

"Trust me, it was," he cuts in, his eyes bright, a kind of youthful sparkle in them that looks good on him. "My only regret is I didn't even ask you your name... you know... before..."

He stops, chucking warmly, dabbing at the sticky mess on his belly before he drapes the towel over his lap and swings his legs around so he's sitting next to you on the bed.

"It's Y/N," you say, quietly.

"Van," he offers, holding out a hand to you in a greeting gesture, laughing when you accept it. Then you're laughing too at the absurdity of the belated formalities now when you've already shared an intimate moment together.

"Note to self," he grins up at you as you break away and get to your feet. "Make sure you're on first-name terms with a girl before you accept her offer of a hand-job!"

"Oh my god!" You giggle, cheeks glowing, huge grin splitting your face in two as you raise up a hand to your face, embarrassment flooding you now.

"I... errr... suppose I'd... errr... better give you some privacy now... you know, to get dressed." You start to back away, glancing down as you start to turn, feeling awkward now the heat of the moment has dissipated and it's painfully obvious the two of you are nothing more than strangers thrown together under a happy coincidence.

"Hold up... wait... Y/N..."

Van's voice comes urgently, stopping you in your tracks. You spin around, coming to face him, looking at him expectantly, surprised to see an awkward hesitance about him. He's still naked save for the small towel he's holding which is barely covering his modesty and you battle with yourself to keep a straight face.

"On my way in I saw this little coffee shop just across the road. I don't suppose you'd like to go and grab a drink with me would ya... if ya not busy that is? I figured you probably got off work soon?"

His voice rises up hopefully and your stomach flips with excitement but you try not to let it show, keeping your inner fangirl in check who's bursting to start doing a celebration dance at this dazzling turn of events.

"Yeah," you nod, returning Van's warm grin with one of your own. "Yeah... I'd really like that."

#good touch #catb imagines #van mccann x reader #van mccann fanfic #van mccann #fanfic #vanfic #smut

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nkp1981 · 1 year ago

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Back in the 19th century, Booker is on his very first mission with Joe and Nicky, where Joe is giving the orders.

Joe: "Keep an eye out for my lovely ass!" Booker looked confused at Joe and Nicky. Joe: "Not you, Booker. Only Nicky is qualified for that job. Your only job is to stop the cannon to your right!!"

my creation

#yusuf al kaysani #nicolo di genova #sebastien le livre #sebastian le livre #joe #nicky #booker #yusuf x nicolo #joe x nicky #marwan kenzari #luca marinelli #matthias schoenaerts #the old guard

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author-a-holmes · 2 months ago

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Random Headcanon Generator Tag Game

Thank you @rumeysawrites for the tag (HERE)

Tagging forward, with no pressure, to; @duckingwriting, @oh-no-another-idea, @faelanvance, @elliottsbigstrongboyarms,

@mr-writes, @pluttskutt, @thatfunkylilfey, and anyone else that wants to play, consider this an open tag <3

How To Play: Use this headcanon generator to make headcanons for your OCs! Then talk about how accurate they are.

Lizzy Hail

"Lizzy drank an almost toxic amount of coffee once"

While this isn't actually true, I could believe it to be true. She is not a morning person. She relies on coffee to move from conscious to awake. I could believe it.

Booker Reed

"Booker is a horrible liar."

Untrue! Booker is actually a really GOOD liar. The fact that he doesn't like to, is probably his saving grace, but Booker could excell the two-talking, double-speak, that is natural within the Fey Court.

Cara Evelyn

"Cara will remind others in the midst of chaos how good they're being."

I can see it. Cara's quite a naturally sweet person. If she thought someone needed to hear it, to get them up and fighting again in the midst of said chaos, the words would come easily to her.

Andric Roche

"Andric can drive."

This one is so simple it feels like a cheat. Yes, Andric can drive. It's seen in the first book, and it's important to the plot in book two as Andric's car is the only way Lizzy and Booker can get to all the places they need to be.

Nameer Khatri

"Nameer has chronic nightmares."

Not something I'd thought about but, again, I can see it. Nameer is a kavian hunter. He's very good at his job. But that does mean he's witnessed, and done, some truly horrendous things. But Nameer's also a genuinely good soul, so I think they could definitely weigh heavy on his mind. Might also explain why he's so often laughing and joking, and taking those small pleasures where he can.

Mia Harris

"Mia does not know what sleep is"

This is an interesting one. It's true. Sort of. Mia does work herself to the bone, but it's not entirely willingly. She has a lot of demands and expectations placed on her from her home life. So she pushes, and she should sleep more than she does. And while her attitude isn't naturally the friendliest, all those sharp edges are only eenhanced by the pressure she's under, and the drastic lack of sleep she operates on.

Connorbar Moore

"If Connorbar was presented with an intergalactic portal, they would enter it without question."

If 'Intergalactic' was 'portal to Arbaon', then the answer is yes. 1000%. Without question or hesitation. Unfortunately for you all reading this, the reasons why are spoiler territory.

Olwen Pryce

"Olwen has fallen asleep at their desk while working in the middle of the night."

Another easy one to end on. Yes. Olwen is Connorbar's right hand, and she takes it very seriously. She's absolutely fallen asleep trying to keep on top of work, and Connor has absolutely ordered her to bed when he's found her.

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much-obliged-timothy · 1 year ago

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June of Doom #10

The Old Guard - #10 - Shackle

They were caught reviving on surveillance cameras during a job on Wednesday.

Copley had tracked it back to Merrick’s competitor and deleted all traces of the video on Thursday.

Nicky went missing after a routine trip to the store for supplies on Friday.

Joe began blaming Andy on Saturday.

“Twice!” he yelled, raking his hands through his hair and kicking over the chair he’d been sitting in. “Twice, Andy! And both times, he was taken!”

“Joe, we’ll find him,” Nile assured.

Andy said nothing; she only stared into the fireplace with her hands pressed together in her lap. Joe stormed over to stand between her and the fireplace, demanding her cool gaze.

“Don’t just sit there,” he practically snarled. “Not when Nicky is missing.”

“Copley is-”

“Copley and Booker are the reason he was taken before! Like hell do I trust him to find Nicky now!”

Andy stood up so fast that Joe braced for an attack when he saw her hand coming up. Instead, it came to rest on his shoulder, startlingly gentle.

“Joe,” she said, her voice firm and her eyes hard. “I will not stop until he’s found. But we canvassed the entire area three times and we lost his trail once they left the city. We need Copley to analyze the surveillance videos to pick the trail back up. I can call Booker to help.”

“No,” Joe said, turning his head away. “No, I can’t look at him right now. This wouldn’t have happened if Booker had never…never…” He cursed aggressively in Arabic.

Andy squeezed his shoulder before dropping her hand away and heading for the door. “Come on. We’ll discreetly ask around the surrounding cities. You’re right; it’s better than sitting around.”

Joe looked infinitely relieved to have something productive to do, even though they all knew it was likely futile. Still, he, Andy, and Nile left their safehouse and got into a car together, all needing to focus on something instead of their growing fear for Nicky.

Copley found Nicky on Monday.

Andy had barely hung up the phone before they were arming themselves to storm into the complex Copley had finally dug up. They knew they couldn’t just throw caution to the wind, not when the captors would likely be expecting them to come for Nicky, but they still made quick work of getting to the complex and scoping it out.

Lightly guarded outside, but heavily guarded inside. They made quick work of the outside guards before storming inside, slashing and shooting their way through the guards there.

Joe watched attentively despite the rage driving him forward. When he spotted one guard who seemed to be issuing orders to the others, he pounced at the opportunity and shot the man in the knee. He grabbed him by the throat, throwing him up against the wall and pressing his scimitar to the man’s throat, murder blazing in his eyes.

“Where,” he said, his voice frighteningly calm, “is he?”

“Please,” the guard whispered, eyes wide in terror.

“You are a fool if you believed you could hurt him and live,” Joe said, pressing the scimitar closer. “Tell me where he is and I’ll make it quick. It is the only mercy I will grant.”

Tears crawling down his cheeks, the man lifted a shaky arm and pointed down a short hallway. A heavy door stood at the end of it, a keypad next to it.

Joe didn’t have to say anything. The man gave up the code, lying dead seconds after as Joe slit his throat with a swift movement of his arm.

“Andy! Nile!” he called. “Cover us!”

He ran down the hall and punched the code in. The door hissed open, revealing a heavy, clear door that looked in on a room so heavily filled with a yellowish-brown gas that he could hardly make out a slumped over form against the far wall.

“Nicolo!” Joe cried, pressing against the door. He pushed off, looking around frantically and spotting the control panel for the room. He wasn’t Booker, but after a few minutes, he managed to shut off the gas, vent the room, and open the protective door.

The moment it was open, Joe was running for the slumped figure. His heart sank at the sight of Nicky.

Nicky’s skin was horrifically red and blistered. Blood was pooled around him, dried in thick patches beneath his nostrils and down his chin to his shirt. Dried vomit lay around the room along with more patches of blood, indicating that this had been ongoing for a while.

“Nicky,” Joe whispered, dropping to his knees and hovering his hands over Nicky’s ruined flesh. “Nicolo. Nicolo, please. Wake up. Wake up!”

He was dead. How many times had he died, alone and in pain in this room, waiting for his family to come rescue him? Over and over again, an agonizing, lonely death, just like Quynh.

“Joe?”

Andy stepped cautiously into the room, her face contorting to fury at the sight of Nicky. She clenched the gun in her hand tightly, taking deep breaths to keep her temper in check.

“Get him to the safehouse,” she said stiffly. “Nile and I will make sure there’s no one left to come after him again.”

Joe began to carefully lift Nicky’s lifeless body into his arms when he heard the rattling. He froze, then let his eyes slowly travel to the shackles around Nicky’s ankles. He hadn’t noticed them before because of the angle Nicky had collapsed at. But there they were, glaring, tearing into Nicky’s already-wrecked flesh.

“Andy,” Joe choked out.

Andy drew her ax and slashed through the shackles. Joe held Nicky to his chest, carrying him swiftly from that awful room. Nile looked horrified at the sight of Nicky, but Joe ignored her questions, desperately needing to get Nicky somewhere safe.

But even once he had Nicky arranged on the couch of their safehouse, he couldn’t help his restless pacing as he triple checked all the locks and security systems. He’d insisted on going to the store with Nicky, but Nicky had refused because he knew Joe was tired after training that day.

Nicky had simply smiled, pressed a kiss to Joe’s temple, told him to get some rest, and disappeared out the door. When he did not return, Joe’s worst nightmares came true.

At least when Merrick got them, they were together. But for Nicky to be taken alone like that…

Joe couldn’t stop thinking of Quynh. Who knew how long they would’ve kept Nicky locked up, dying to the gas in that room?

Joe finally sat, pulling a chair right up to the couch and gripping Nicky’s hand in his. He shook his leg anxiously as he watched carefully for any sign of revival.

When it finally came, it was just a pained, weak breath. But it sent a wave of relief through Joe, so strong that it forced out a sob Joe hadn’t even been aware he’d been fighting back.

“Joe?” Nicky’s voice was as wrecked as his flesh. He squeezed Joe’s hand, wincing at the pain. “Joe.”

“Nicolo.” Joe pressed both hands over Nicky’s, bending his head until his forehead touched them. “Nicolo, my heart, can you hear me?”

“Yes,” Nicky croaked. His other hand reached out blindly until it found Joe’s hair, brushing through his curls. “Eyesight hasn’t repaired yet.” He had a small smile on his face. “I knew you’d come.”

Joe gently kissed both of Nicky’s swollen, closed eyes. “Always, my love. Always. I’m sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”

Nicky rubbed his thumb softly against Joe’s hand. “You came. It’s all that matters. I can’t see, Joe. Come here.”

Joe obediently shifted from his chair to the couch, wrapping Nicky securely in his arms. Joe looked down at Nicky’s injured ankles, shuddering at the memory of the shackles holding him there like a condemned prisoner.

Nicky began to run his hand through Joe’s hair again. Eyesight or not, he knew Joe’s body like his own, and so he easily tilted his head and kissed the spot between Joe’s eyes, where he knew there’d be a wrinkle of concern.

“I’m okay, Yusuf,” he assured, despite his blistered skin, his shredded ankles, his blind eyes, his scratchy voice, and the nosebleed that was starting. “There’s a lot that needs to heal. That’s why it’s taking a little longer. But I am healing.”

Joe grabbed a tissue and held it under Nicky’s nose, pressing their foreheads together. “I’m staying right here. When you get your sight back, you’ll see me, not that fucking room.”

That small smile was back. “Then I am a lucky man.”

Kidnapped and tortured horrifically, and he still thought he was lucky just because he would see Joe’s face again. Joe held him tighter. The world did not deserve this man.

“You’re safe now, Nicolo,” he whispered, tucking Nicky’s head beneath his chin and rubbing his back soothingly. He knew Nicky too well to think this had not scarred him. His wounds would heal, but his mind was another story.

“Of course I am,” Nicky whispered back, pressing into Joe, allowing Joe this weakness of his. “I knew I would be, once I was back with you.”

He healed slowly but surely. Still, Joe did not relax until the skin on Nicky’s ankles was smooth again.

The horrible image of those shackles would not fade. But with Nicky safe and healed in his arms once more, he vowed to make sure such a thing would never happen to his love again.

#june of doom #june of doom 2023 #the old guard #nicolo di genova #yusuf al kaysani #yusuf x nicolo #joe x nicky #andromache the scythian #jtdoesjuneofdoom

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beatrice-otter · 9 months ago

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Sedoretu Exchange recs

I have finally, over a month after the collection was revealed, had both the time AND the brain space to read through the entire collection. If it weren't sedoretuex, I would probably have given up, but there aren't that many sedoretu fic out there so I wanted to savor what was just written.

First, I received an amazing DS9 fic by violet_pencil that does SUCH interesting worldbuilding.

Bread and Roses (19535 words) by violet_pencil Fandom: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Kira Nerys/Miles O'Brien, Keiko O'Brien & Miles O'Brien, Bareil Antos & Kira Nerys, Bareil Antos/Keiko O'Brien, Bareil Antos/Kira Nerys/Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien, Kira Nerys/Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien Additional Tags: Episode: s01e01-02 Emissary, Bajoran Culture (Star Trek), Canon Rewrite, Episode: s01e13 Battle Lines (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Episode: s01e20 In the Hands of the Prophets, Culture Shock, POV Kira Nerys, Season/Series 01, Kira Nerys has PTSD, Alien Cultural Differences, Worldbuilding, Marriage, Alternate Universe - Sedoretu Marriage Series: Part 2 of violet's star trek fusions & crossovers Summary:

"Marriage is the greatest adventure of them all. It's filled with pitfalls and setbacks and mistakes, but it's a journey worth taking." — Miles O'Brien, "Armageddon Game"

Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses. — James Oppenheim, "Bread and Roses"

Other fics I loved:

Any Four Walls (11952 words) by tielan Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Steve Rogers/Tony Stark, Pepper Potts & Steve Rogers, Maria Hill/Steve Rogers, Maria Hill/Pepper Potts, Pepper Potts/Tony Stark, Maria Hill & Tony Stark, Maria Hill/Pepper Potts/Steve Rogers/Tony Stark Additional Tags: Sedoretu, Developing Relationship, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Canon-ish Summary:

“I thought we should probably have a discussion,” Tony says blithely. “About futures and pasts and all that.” As always, tielan does an amazing job of handling the characters with insight and grace.

A Kryptonian Marriage (2493 words) by Chromatographic Fandom: DCU (Comics) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Clark Kent/Selina Kyle/Lois Lane/Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent/Lois Lane Characters: Lois Lane, Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle Additional Tags: Sedoretu, Pre-Relationship, but it's gonna happen, Lois Lane-centric, on screen Clark/Lois, Kryptonian World Building, For funsies, Krypton had moieties, and sedoretus, but Earth does not, Timeline What Timeline Summary:

Lois loves Clark - all of Clark, and she'll show it to him in every way that she can.

Or: Earth doesn't have moieties, and sedoretus - but Krypton did.

Interesting worldbuilding, and I love Lois' care for Clark and his culture

Four, for Four Decades (9624 words) by blueyeti Fandom: James Bond (Craig Movies), The Old Guard (Movie 2020) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: James Bond/M | Olivia Mansfield, Andy | Andromache of Scythia/Booker | Sebastien le Livre, Andy | Andromache of Scythia/James Bond/Booker | Sebastien le Livre/M | Olivia Mansfield Characters: M | Olivia Mansfield, James Bond, Andy | Andromache of Scythia, Booker | Sebastien le Livre Additional Tags: Canon-Typical Violence, Canon-Typical Behavior, Sedoretu, Sedoretu politics, Historical, Immortality, Immortal James Bond, Worldbuilding Series: Part 1 of Bond & The Old Guard Sedoretu Summary:

In November, 1950, James Bond died on M's orders. He came back.

Great explanation for why James Bond has kept going on for so long ...

#fic rec #james bond #mcu #superman #deep space nine

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whenthesunshinesonanewhope · 2 years ago

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The “When the Sun Shines on a New Hope” Ships (Belated Valentine’s Day special!)

Hello, hello, my dear friends! This is your hostess with the mostess, Miss Kani, and love is in the air (or at least, it was yesterday)! Hope you’re all doing well today.

So, to celebrate the belated occasion, I figured going ahead and explaining the ships thus far in When the Sun Shines on a New Hope! All of them will be displayed in the cut below. Now, let’s get started!

Edward Atkins and Henry Grennan

Probably the most established couple so far in this human AU. Edward is rather supportive and dedicated to Henry, while Henry does occasionally experience anxiety as a result of his previous accident with the Flying Kipper. Regardless, Henry does love his jobs and thanks to Edward, he is able to find some ways to cope if he ever feels distressed. Currently, Henry is deciding to move in with Edward at his home near the Tidmouth household.

Gordon Considine and Booker “BoCo” Williams

Both of them first met thanks to Edward, but they first interacted when Bill and Ben were being little shits menaces and trying to torment Gordon with riddles until BoCo decided to calm the twins down and save him. Ever since, Gordon had noticed that BoCo was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Gordon does get easily flustered when BoCo decides to show him affection, but their relationship has grown to become something more thanks to Edward.

Toby and Henrietta Liechti

The old married couple of the Tidmouth household, who looks after Thomas, Percy, and Mavis. Similar to Henry and Edward, they both follow a supportive and loving relationship (with one person experiencing anxiety). As wise as Toby is, he does experience a few hiccups due to overthinking and difficulty with adapting. As a result, Henrietta is always there by his side in order to support her husband and make sure he feels safe.

Oliver Greenwell and Lucian “Toad” Hargrave

Toad is the ray of sunshine to Oliver’s stormy days. Both of them were childhood friends that grew up in the same village, and even when they had faced danger and even near death/“scrap”, Oliver vowed to do what he could to protect Toad. Both of them have received their own respective scars (especially Oliver), but their close friendship eventually blossomed into a romance. While Oliver does sometimes get busy with detective work, he does what he can to make time for Toad and even enjoys some of his hobbies with him, such as visiting the aquarium and looking at whales.

Donald McIntosh and Kani Okimoto

An opposites attract deal. Donald is a charming jokester who can be rather protective if need be (especially when it concerns his brother Douglas and the other Little Western Squad members), while Kani is a devoted young lady who is able to perform her tasks with ease but becomes easily flustered when she messes up the smallest things. She… sometimes gets Donald and Douglas mixed up with each other, but Donald is rather patient and knows she’s doing her best.

Skarloey and Rheneas Llywelyn

The old married couple in the Skarloey Mansion, and the adoptive parents of Rusty, Duncan, and Luke. They were both close friends since childhood, and their relationship only grew. Even when Rheneas was sent away to recover, Skarloey never stopped waiting for his partner to return. So, when Rheneas did return, they both decided to get married and settle down. Both are rather protective of the members under their household, and they never fail to do what they can to support the kiddos’ learning and give advice whenever needed.

And finally…

Luke O’ Glaisnigh and Millie Jeanne Violette

The Princess and the Pauper, if they were a couple. Luke is rather timid, especially since he had just received closure after the entire Blue Mountain Mystery episode, and he would much rather spend his days in a forest surrounded by deer whenever he is done with his work. Meanwhile, Millie is a princess and the determined, prim, and free-spirited adopted daughter/granddaughter of Stephen. Both of them balance out each other nicely, and they exude a rather wholesome passion towards each other.

And that’s about it! ❤️

This has been Miss Kani, and I’ll see you all when the sun shines on a new hope!

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rockislandadultreads · 2 years ago

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Bittersweet Books: Fiction Picks

The Scent of Burnt Flowers by Blitz Bazawule

When the windshield of his Chevy Impala shatters in a dark diner parking lot in Alabama, Melvin moves without thinking. A split-second reaction marrows in his bones from the days of war, but this time it is the safety of his fiance, Bernadette, at stake. Impulse keeps them alive, and yet they flee with blood on their hands. What is life like now that they are fugitives? Pack passports. Empty bank accounts. Set their old life on fire. The couple disguise themselves as a pastor and a reluctant pastor's wife who's hiding a secret from her fiance. With a persistent FBI agent on their trail, they travel to Ghana to seek the help of Melvin's old college friend who happens to be the country's embattled president, Kwame Nkrumah. The couple's chance encounter with Ghana's most beloved highlife musician, Kwesi Kwayson, who's on his way to perform for the president, sparks a journey full of suspense, lust, magic, and danger as Nkrumah's regime crumbles around them. What was meant to be a fresh start quickly spirals into chaos, threatening both their relationship and their lives. Kwesi and Bernadette's undeniable attraction and otherworldly bond cascades during their three-day trek, and so does Melvin's intense jealousy. All three must confront one another and their secrets, setting off a series of cataclysmic events. Steeped in the history and mythology of postcolonial West Africa at the intersection of the civil rights movement in America, this gripping and ambitious debut merges political intrigue, magical encounters, and forbidden romance in an epic collision of morality and power.

The Next Thing You Know by Jessica Strawser

As an end-of-life doula, Nova Huston’s job—her calling, her purpose, her life—is to help terminally ill people make peace with their impending death. Unlike her business partner, who swears by her system of checklists, free-spirited Nova doesn’t shy away from difficult clients: the ones who are heartbreakingly young, or prickly, or desperate for a caregiver or companion. When Mason Shaylor shows up at her door, Nova doesn’t recognize him as the indie-favorite singer-songwriter who recently vanished from the public eye. She knows only what he’s told her: That life as he knows it is over. His deteriorating condition makes playing his guitar physically impossible—as far as Mason is concerned, he might as well be dead already. Except he doesn’t know how to say goodbye. Helping him is Nova’s biggest challenge yet. She knows she should keep clients at arm’s length. But she and Mason have more in common than anyone could guess… and meeting him might turn out to be the hardest, best thing that’s ever happened to them both.

Monster in the Middle by Tiphanie Yanique

When Fly and Stela meet in 21st Century New York City, it seems like fate. He's a Black American musician from a mixed-religious background who knows all about heartbreak. She's a Catholic science teacher from the Caribbean, looking for lasting love. But are they meant to be? The answer goes back decades--all the way to their parents' earliest loves. Vibrant and emotionally riveting, Monster in the Middle moves across decades, from the U.S. to the Virgin Islands to Ghana and back again, to show how one couple's romance is intrinsically influenced by the family lore and love stories that preceded their own pairing. What challenges and traumas must this new couple inherit, what hopes and ambitions will keep them moving forward? Exploring desire and identity, religion and class, passion and obligation, the novel posits that in order to answer the question "who are we meant to be with?" we must first understand who we are and how we came to be.

Bitter Orange Tree by Jokha Alharthi, Marilyn Booth (Translator)

The eagerly awaiting new novel by the winner of the Man Booker International Prize, Bitter Orange Tree is an extraordinary exploration of social status, wealth, desire, and female agency. In prose that is at once restless and profound, it presents a mosaic portrait of one young woman’s attempt to understand the roots she has grown from, and to envisage an adulthood in which her own power and happiness might find the freedom necessary to bear fruit and flourish. Bitter Orange Tree tells the story of Zuhur, an Omani student at a British university who is caught between the past and the present. As she attempts to form friendships and assimilate in Britain, she reflects on the relationships that have been central to her life. Most prominent is her bond with Bint Amir, a woman she has always thought of as her grandmother, who passed away just after Zuhur left the Arabian Peninsula. Bint Amir was not, we learn, related to Zuhur by blood, but by an emotional connection far stronger. As the historical narrative of Bint Amir’s challenged circumstances unfurls in captivating fragments, so too does Zuhur’s isolated and unfulfilled present, one narrative segueing into another as time slips, and dreams mingle with memories.

#Fiction #Historical Fiction #to read #tbr #booklr #book blog #booktok #sad stories #bittersweet #Book Recommendations #reading recommendations #book recs #books to read #library books

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sanctamater · 2 years ago

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VERSE: SHE TELLS THE TALES BUT IS NEVER PART OF THEM. SHE WATCHES AND REMAINS ABOVE WHAT SHE SEES. an insane dragon a.ge au.

in which: a. com.stock is a very tired bard, a single mom who works two jobs, who loves her kid and never stops, with gentle hands and the heart of a fighter. she’s a survivor (and elizabeth is the eldritch angsty teenager we all know and love).

the basics.

name: amelia comstock; formerly nostrand born: in the 4th month on the 31st day, 9:03 dragon age: anywhere from 27 during the events of origins to 41 during the events of trespasser. nationality: fereldan titles: lady comstock, lady of the forge, lady of amaranthine, lady of the mines. occupation: minor noblewoman (bannorn) of the amaranthine region; purveying over the silverite mines. later arms supplier to kirkwall’s templar sect, eventually arms-master to the inquisition. class: rogue; long-range. specialization: bard marital status: widowed as of 9:30; formerly married to andrastian cult leader zachary hale comstock. children: elizabeth comstock; born in the late summer of 9:22. extras: only child of the prior bann and his lady wife - orphaned at 16. head of a rather large and squabbling family.

a brief timeline of events.

pre origins: amelia is the head of the nostrand family, a minor noble family of the amaranthine region that oversees the expansion and collection of the silverite mines that they use in their forges to create stunning metalworks - blades, arrows, daggers - of the finest quality that is then sent to templar orders and standing armies in ferelden and orlais. though a minor family, they are exceedingly wealthy and decently connected. though now respected by the nobility, amelia’s teenage years after her father, the late bann, passed away in 9:19 were tumultuous ones - soured and tainted by a string of rumoured flings and affairs after an arranged marriage with an arl’s son fell through, facing rumours that the two had been less than chaste towards each other while still engaged; leaving the teenager furious and ostracized. isolated, she meets a lowborn preacher - zachary hale comstock - taking his newly formed cultists on a pilgrimage through the wending wood, and enthralled by his talk of redemption and second chances, she becomes a member and pledges herself to him; eventually becoming his wife in 9:21.

a note on this andrastian cult: zachary and his followers preach that the world has been tainted by the blight and the maker has abandoned thedas; in order to bring the maker back, the world must be cleansed in fire. zachary’s second chances are nothing more than a death cult with plans to purge thedas using the power of the fade to ‘reset’ the waking world to a state before the blight, and destroying any ability of the blight to return through a similar cleansing in the fade. nobody will probably survive this. zachary claims to be a prophet and has decreed that his child will be the weapon to do this; the one to ignite the world.

zachary is desperate for amelia to produce an heir to his cause as soon as possible - when almost a year passes with no sign of pregnancy, he blames her for their failings. amelia has an emotional and physical affair with a sellsword booker dewitt (a ferelden mercenary) and falls pregnant. she gives birth to elizabeth in 9:22 after an extremely complicated pregnancy and is left weakened by it; surviving only through the use of blood magic courtesy of mage robert lutece. elizabeth is hailed by the cultists, now living within the walls of amelias estate, as their saviour.

despite her ties to this cult, amelia is a personable noblewoman who has become locally renowned for her generosity and kindness alongside her oratory skills - she aims to exemplify the love that the maker and andraste hold for all of thedas and its creations. however, when it is realised by amelia and her innermost circle (rosalind; rift mage, robert; blood mage, and zachary) that elizabeth is indeed a mage in 9:26, amelia withdraws from the public in order to protect her daughter from not only the templars and chantry, but from zachary himself; with ever more friction forming between the so called prophet and his ‘subservient’ wife, who has learnt more and more of what he intends to do to thedas, and has begun to work against him and his goals.

origins: the blight breaks out in 9:30 in ferelden; with rumblings of a sentient darkspawn experimenting on their silverite mine workers, leading the mines to be abandoned as a solution to the problem until it is solved. elizabeth’s powers become unstable during this period; and she is haunted by the voice of the architect in her dreams. amelia finds out what zachary intends to use elizabeth for in the near future when the time is right. furious, a fight breaks out between the two, and he attempts to strangle amelia to death. she, however, manages to hit him over the head with a rock carving, and continues to do so until he is (mostly) dead. with most of the estate already evacuated, amelia packs up what she can for herself and elizabeth, and leaves zachary and the estate for the darkspawn. they survive on their own for a few months, before joining a group of refugees that are heading to safety in the free marches. origin sidequest: silver and gold for the penitent. the warden and their companions will encounter amelia in the amaranthine region with a group of refugees fleeing ferelden. she will plead her case; offering a sizeable amount of gold for the slaying of the architect within her mines and for their restoration. if the architect is slain, amelia will be able to regain control of her mines and creates infrastructure to ensure the safety of her workers once the blight is over.

dragon age 2: amelia and elizabeth arrive in kirkwall in 9:31 dragon, seeking to get as far away from the cult they abandoned and with amelia wishing for elizabeth to gain some sort of normalcy despite things, and is able to employ another apostate to train elizabeth in secret, stabilising her powers for the time being while they set up roots in hightown. as a show of good faith, amelia donates a sizeable amount of gold to kirkwall’s templar order, and in 9:32, cements a deal with knight-commander meredith stannard (@idolbound) to provide them with discounted arms as tensions rise as a result of the qunari compound at the docks. while many nobles and the wealthy of hightown are not concerned with lowtown, amelia finds that she cannot quite shake the teachings the cult had drummed in to her for over a decade, and is one of the very few - if not only - nobles in hightown that can be found in lowtown - either offering courier, foundering, smithing, or metalwork employment to its residents, or distributing gold to them as well. she is one of the few that will attempt to table improvements for both lowtown and darktown and take them to the viscount.

as tensions rise in kirkwall, amelia and elizabeth are once again faced with the prospect of abandoning their home for somewhere safer, though neither know where that could be. in 9:37, kirkwall’s chantry is blown up, and the mage rebellion starts alongside the mage-templar war; halting any progress on leaving kirkwall. elizabeth and amelia stay to help rebuild kirkwall until the breach is opened in 9:41. da2 sidequest: beware of false prophets. hawke will be contacted by one of amelia’s servants who will request for hawke and their party to meet with them in lowtown at night - once the party arrives, amelia reveals herself and explains that the cult she and elizabeth have escaped from has heard rumours that they are in kirkwall and surviving members are now hunting for them - namely elizabeth; and knows they will stop at nothing until they take elizabeth from her. she promises to pay hawke handsomely if they do her the service of deterring these cultists. there are three courses of action - hawke may give up amelia and elizabeth’s location to these cultists who are searching for their holy mother and messiah, hawke may lie and send them to the far corners of thedas to search, or hawke may kill these cultists outright.

inquisition: elizabeth, entranced by the control of the breach and drawing parallels to her own powers, requests that amelia take leave of kirkwall to join the inqusition, or elizabeth, tired of being shut away, will go alone. afraid to lose her daughter, amelia agrees; and the two leave for skyhold after the mage-templar war is ended, and make their way to haven. once there, amelia offers her services as both a noble bard and overseer of excellent weaponry to the inquisitions forces; serving as an important diplomatic connection as well as supplying the inquisitions forges with raw material from her mines to be forged into weaponry, becoming its arms-master. elizabeth, now in skyhold, is able to be trained officially as a rift mage, and begins to explore the depths of her powers. the two will stay on as inquisition agents after the events of trespasser, regardless of the inquisition being “disbanded” or “slimmed down”, continuing to work for the greater good.

dai loyalty quest: sins of the mother. amelia’s approval - while not a finicky thing - can be difficult to obtain given her own wavering beliefs and loyalties. she disproves of conscripting the mages, strongly approves of offering them a full alliance; strongly disproves of disbanding the templar order, approves of preserving the order, and disproves of recruiting them - she is generally approving of pro mage decisions given elizabeth; and strongly approves any positive chantry related options. once her approval is high enough, her questline opens up - concerning elizabeth’s origins and powers. the inquisitor can return to amelia’s long abandoned estate; discovering amelia’s diaries and zachary’s paperwork (along with his corpse, lol) and gains insight into what occured within amaranthine. the inquisitor can choose to bring amelia to judgment for her killing of her husband - or choose to let it lie. blessed be the child. if the inquisitor chooses to let it lie, the second half of her loyalty quest begins - elizabeth, growing ever confident in her powers, faces a crossroads both within and without. the inquisitor can either harden her; creating a very powerful human weapon within inquisition - albeit one that lacks empathy and has little care for others around her; but her abilities remain unstable and she is at a high risk of becoming an abomination. a softened elizabeth is much more confident in her abilities; stabilised and in tune with her connection to the fade and all those who dream in it.

on elizabeth.

not gonna lie this was a point of contention for me given that the depth and enormity of her powers is based off of wanda maximoff and she can create new realities jut by thinking about them and is generally an op time god so with that in mind -

elizabeth is a mage; and not just any mage, but a dreamer. she is able to enter the fade at will and is particularly sensitive to demons alongside her intense connection to the fade. she is able to shape it to her will when in the fade (including the ability to create new sections of it), and is able to pull others through with her. in addition, elizabeth can open unstable ‘doors’ into the fade, and in areas where she stays for prolonged times, reality will begin to ‘warp’ as the veil weakens around her. the longer she stays in an area, the more she can bend the merging of the fade and the waking world to her will; and things will begin to change - small things, at first; perhaps gardens where there were none, or roses where there was once lavender. but this weakening of the veil is dangerous, and eventually demons will attempt to come through using elizabeth’s dreams. elizabeth, for all intents and purposes, is always veering on becoming an abomination.

much like in the canon of bsi, elizabeth is, unfortunately, an experiment. this connection to the fade is a result of fellow rift mages rosalind and robert lutece’s (twin mages; with rosalind being a rift mage and robert being a blood mage) interference in regards to the andrastian cult and its wish to reset thedas to a time before the first blight. experimenting with equally unstable fade magic, zachary and rosalind brought an infant elizabeth into the fade, for only a moment. faced with hostile demons after a moment of exploration, they attempt to cross back over into the waking world of thedas, only for elizabeth to lose her pinkie in the fade, forever altering her connection with it.

amelia, obviously, would never send elizabeth to a circle - she is her only child and the most important thing in her life. though her wealth has given her the means to pay gold and coin to apostate rift mages to train elizabeth, though until the fifth blight, elizabeth is trained by rosalind and robert. elizabeth grows up secluded in her mother’s estate, tucked away from her family and prying eyes until the blight forces them to relocate and they end up in kirkwall - where she is still kept away from others in order to not only protect elizabeth from the templars, but to keep her from any who may seek to use her powers for their own gain. once they are able to leave and inquistion starts, the two will go to skyhold where elizabeth will (hopefully) receive the training she needs to stablise her powers while experiencing ‘freedom’ for the first time in her life.

given the fact she has received training elizabeth is able to control her powers - to a degree; but she is still, for the most part, a child; and fear and anger can get the better of her; and her dreams terrify her. sometimes, things happen; mistakes are made - and the truth is elizabeth does not even know the limits or depths of her powers as of yet.

on zachary.

i hate him and he’s dead. <3

#this is actually lexies fault.#all of my aus r the fault of my friends. smfh.#all my aus r: amelia loves her daughter elizabeth so much (i am beating up ken behind a dumpster)#🕊️❝ ( verse. ) SHE TELLS THE TALES BUT IS NEVER PART OF THEM. SHE WATCHES AND REMAINS ABOVE WHAT SHE SEES.#thanks gale for rubbing our one braincell together for this #strangulation mention //#strangulation tw //#abuse tw //#abuse mention //#human experimentation tw //

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thatstormygeek · 3 months ago

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This is a blueprint for Begging the Question of America, one that says that all of the nation’s evil sits, definitionally, outside of its substance. When Nina Simone said “Mississippi Goddam,” she wasn’t cursing America’s soul, but rather expressing her deep but momentarily thwarted belief in our country. Republicans will kill ‘em all and let god sort it out. Democrats, more civilized, leave the sorting to historians. The Democratic National Convention is a machine for the production of this sentiment. It is very good at its job. It takes in the ragged world and produces smooth unanimity. All inequities are recast as feel-good stories. Tom Suozzi, the blandest of cardboard Congressmen, proudly told the crowd that his father was elected the youngest judge in New York state. “What a country!” he said. An amazing country, where the son of a judge can become a Congressman. There is rhetorical jujitsu and then there is the even more masterful form in which every edge of every issue has been sanded down so cleanly that they all flow by without any objectionable points that one might even grab onto. There was Keith Ellison, the progressive attorney general of Minnesota, dutifully assuring anyone worried about Kamala Harris’s and Tim Walz’s foreign policy that “everyone is included in their circle of compassion.”

The belief that political parties should be vessels of moral change is a minority view. The Democratic Party, evolving though it is, has not lost its muscle memory for bringing down a hammer on its own left flank. All week, the Uncommitted movement—the delegates who have been withholding their formal support of the ticket in order to try to force the Democrats to do something meaningful for the people of Gaza—have been asking the party to allow a Palestinian American to speak from the convention stage. The party said no. Instead, last night it gave a large block of time to the Chicago-born parents of a young man who had been attending the music festival in Israel when Hamas attacked on October 7, and who is still being held hostage. Their pain oozed from their faces. Their story was heart-wrenching. They even expressed a generic hope that someone, somewhere, will “stop the despair in Gaza,” as though despair is a naturally occurring phenomena, rather than one with a very specific source. Their voices deserved to be heard. Their speeches would have been a perfect time to also feature remarks from one of the many Palestinian Democrats who have asked for a chance to give voice to the pain of their own friends and family. But no. What cannot be said on the stage of a political convention tells you just as much about a party’s values as the things that they allow you to hear.

#us politics #hamilton nolan #dnc 2024 #defector

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zenasflower · 4 months ago

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Send Flowers to Liverpool

Flowers are a wonderful way to show your loved ones how much you care. They are also a great gift for any occasion. There are many creative ways to present them, such as in a flower box or accompanied by a heartfelt card.

FloraQueen offers a variety of floral arrangements and gifts for every holiday. Their gifts include roses, tulips, daisies, and more. They also offer same-day delivery.

FloraQueen

Flowers are a beautiful way to show someone you Sending Flowers to Liverpool, especially when they are far away. FloraQueen makes it easy to send flowers to loved ones around the world. Simply choose a bouquet, enter payment details securely and track your order.

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Dove Dale Florist

Dove Dale Florist is a Liverpool florist that offers a wide variety of floral designs for all occasions. Its flowers evoke themes of peace, love, and faith. They are also affordable. They have an excellent customer service rating of 4.9 stars.

The shop is located on Booker Avenue and is open seven days a week. Its flower arrangements are a great choice for birthdays and other special occasions. They also have a variety of gifts, including plants and door bows.

Booker Flowers & Gifts

Rated best Liverpool Florist by ‘Three Best Rated’ and North West Regional Winner English Wedding Awards 2022 Booker Flowers & Gifts on Booker Avenue in Allerton specialise in luxury bespoke floral hand-tied bouquets and gifts. They offer same day flower delivery in the Liverpool area and UK wide through Interflora.

Everything is coming up roses at this flower shop on Booker Avenue in Allerton as they have just been accepted into the Good Florist Guide, the gold standard for floristry.

Lula Flower Shop

Lula Flower Shop is a highly-rated florist that creates stunning floral bouquets for Mother’s Day. Their bouquets are also ideal for gifting to loved ones, and they offer same-day delivery.

Local Expertise: Dedicated to crafting elegant arrangements for all occasions, this florist offers a convenient online ordering system and reliable delivery service in Liverpool. They also have a wide selection of gift bouquets, perfect for surprising loved ones. Their contemporary selection of flowers would look striking in this aesthetically modern Lyngby Vase by House Doctor.

Dutch Flower Shop

Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or sending heartfelt condolences, Dutch Flower Shop offers exceptional service. Their floral designs exceed expectations and last for days, ensuring your gift is well received.

Owner Loraine Whittle loves her job and enjoys the fact that no two days are the same. She is a mother of two and enjoys giving Floristry demonstrations. Oli has Asperger Syndrome and came to work at Booker Flowers as part of the Disability Confident Scheme.

Mary Mary

Mary Lou and her team prepare bold, beautiful and creative fresh flower bouquets for local delivery and subscription across Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. They also host flower workshops for all ages.

Mary and her sisters grew up in church choirs and touring gospel shows and decided to pursue their music careers professionally. Their first album, Thankful (released in 2000) and 2002’s Incredible both reached the top of Billboard’s Urban Contemporary Gospel chart.

This duo is widely credited for broadening the gospel music fan base into mainstream audiences.

Fishlocks Flowers

Fishlocks Flowers is a renowned family-run florist in Sympathy flowers that offers bespoke floral bouquets and gifts. They have over a century of experience in crafting beautiful floral arrangements for all occasions. Their services range from wedding flowers to sympathy tributes. They also offer online ordering and delivery services across the city. This year, they have partnered with Liverpool Women’s Hospital to launch an exclusive Mother’s Day bouquet that supports charitable initiatives at the hospital. This heartwarming partnership is sure to bring joy and sentiment to mothers everywhere.

Suttons House of Flowers

Suttons House of Flowers is a local flower shop in Liverpool, specializing in weddings and events. Their floral designs are unique and beautiful, and they offer a range of gift options to suit any occasion.

The shop is run by Carly and Angel, two Michigan natives who came together with a wide variety of skill sets ranging from hospitality to design. They are able to bring a young, energetic approach to their shop and strive to showcase their passions through floral design.

#Sending Flowers to Liverpool

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musicudio · 1 year ago

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Rosario Dawson Net Worth 2023, Bio, Upcoming Movie, Boyfriend, and many more

Rosario Dawson will earn $18 million in 2023. After acting in popular movies and TV shows, she became famous. She debuted as Ruby in Kids, in 1995. Her initial film’s popularity led to numerous job offers.

Who is Rosario Dawson?

Dawson is an American actor. On May 9, 1979, Dawson was born. Most people desire to know Dawson’s wealth. The search for Dawson’s net worth has begun. Online sources list Rosario Dawson’s net worth. To learn additional information, let’s dive into the details and Read the complete post.

Rosario Dawson’s Net Worth

Monthly Income And Salary$1,60,000 +Yearly Income And Salary$2 Million +

The actress “Dawson” is worth $18 million. Wikipedia, Forbes, and Bloomberg all say that the most well-known American actor, Dawson, is worth $18 million. Dawson has been in a number of movies and TV shows that did well. After she became famous, she got a big contract for movies and TV. Her first movie in 1995 made her famous.

Check out:- Tori Spelling Net Worth 2023: Age, Bio, Career, Awards & More

Gizelle Bryant Net Worth 2023, Bio, Boyfriend, Husband, Car’s, House and More

Rosario Dawson Bio

Source of Wealth: Film and Television

Full Name: Rosario Isabel Dawson

Age: 40

Birth Place: New York, NY, USA

Height: 5′ 7″ (1.70 m)

Weight: 60 kg (132 lbs)

Marital Status: Single

Nationality: American

Date of Birth: May 9, 1979

Ethnicity: Puerto Rican, Cuban, and African

Occupation: Actress

Education: Columbia University

Children: 1 (Lola)

https://musicudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/555.webp

Dawson turned 44 on May 9, 2018. She was born in New York. Her full name is Rosario Isabel Dawson, but she goes by Dawson at work. Her Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican mother, Isabel Celeste, raised her family there.

Her mother had her when she was 17. Her mother is neither Afro-Cuban nor Puerto Rican. Her mother married Greg Dawson, who worked on building projects. Her family went to the Texas city of Garland. She has become well-known as an actress.

The films Side Streets, He Got Game, and Girls’ Night Out from 1998 all featured her work. She is well-known for her appearances in film and television. She made her film debut in 1999’s music video for Out of Control. In order to gain fame, she has collaborated with well-known individuals. gamers and voice actors.

In the video game Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure by Marc Eck from 2006, she plays Tina.

Her work is also featured in Lego Dimensions, Dishonoured: Death of the Outsider, and Dishonoured 2.

She spent a lot of time working on television.

She made her Punk’d debut in 2003. She has won the American Black Film Festival and the NAACP Image Award.

How Tall is Rosario Dawson?

Famous American actress Dawson is one of them. Dawson receives an excellent salary. Dawson is 54 kilograms and 5’7″ tall.

Rosario Dawson Children and Parents

Rosario Dawson Dating Life

Dawson’s personal life includes the adoption of Lola, a 12-year-old child, in 2014. She dated the actor Jason Lewis from 2004 to 2006, followed by the director Danny Boyle (2012–2013), before starting a relationship with the comedian Eric Andre in 2017. However, it’s thought that she is still legally single at this time. Los Angeles, California, is where she lives. Rosario is renowned for being a Trekkie because she adores “Star Trek” and even knows a few Klingon words.

Rosario Dawson Boyfriend

Dawson confirmed her connection with US Senator Cory Booker in March 2019. Their romance came to an end in February 2022.

Rosario Dawson Appearance

Eye ColourDark BrownHair ColourDark BrownHeight170 cm( 5 feet 7 inches)Weight(119 lbs) 54 kg

Rosario Dawson Education

EducationLee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute

Rosario Dawson Career

Dawson’s big break came with the controversial movie “Kids,” which came out in 1998. Later, she was in the independent movies “He Got Game,” “Side Streets,” and “Light It Up.”

In 2001, she was in the movie “Josie and the Pussycats.” Dawson was in “Sin City,” “Daredevil,” and “The LEGO Batman Movie.” Dawson was in “The Mandalorian,” “Luke Cage,” and “Jane the Virgin.” She helped start Voto Latino, an organization that urges young Latinos to vote.

Rosario Dawson Upcoming Movies

Haunted Mansion- On July 28, 2023, the English movie Haunted Mansion will come out. Dawson, Winona Ryder, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Jared Leto are all led by Justin Simien. Haunted Mansion added Owen Wilson, Danny DeVito, Lakeith Stanfield, and Tiffany Haddish.

Rosario Dawson Awards and Achievements

Dawson has worked in showbiz since the mid-1990s. Here are some of her most important accomplishments:

⇒“Rent” won her the 2005 Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress.

⇒She won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in Motion Picture for her work in “Rent” in 2006.

⇒“Top of the Lake” won her the 2013 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Dramatic Television Series.

⇒“Top of the Lake” earned her the 2014 Gracie Award for Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Series.

⇒“Jane the Virgin” won her the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

⇒“Luke Cage” helped her win the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Hilary Duff Net Worth 202327 June 2023In "Networth"

Selita Ebanks Net Worth in 2023, Bio, Age, Parents, Husband, Height, Weight, Home, Cars, Movies, and TV Shows2 July 2023In "Networth"

Joe Russo Net Worth 2023, Bio, Wife, Cars, House, Career27 June 2023In "Networth"

#net worth #bio

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abcnewspr · 1 year ago

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ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES WILL GANSS PROMOTED TO MULTIPLATFORM REPORTER

’Good Morning America’ Executive Producer Simone Swink Sent the Following Note to the News Division Announcing That Will Ganss Has Been Promoted to Multiplatform Reporter, Based in New York City

ABC/Heidi Gutman*

Good morning ABC News,

I am thrilled to share that Will Ganss has been promoted to multiplatform reporter, based in New York City.

Since 2019, Will has served as a reporter and producer for the ABC News early morning programs. In this role, Will covered the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee from London and interviewed some of entertainment’s most notable figures live from the red carpet of the Tony Awards® and the MTV Video Music Awards for “Good Morning America.” He has also reported from the side of a skyscraper, while skiing down a mountain, and from an elementary school classroom where he launched a franchise called “Kids News Now.” Most recently, Will has also been named the kindness correspondent for “GMA3”’s “Cool to Be Kind” initiative, where he hits the streets of New York City, encouraging strangers to practice random acts of kindness while on the air.

Previously, Will was a booker, anchor producer, and social media producer for “GMA.” Will has aimed to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices with features on Kim Petras, Alex Newell and the boundary-breaking Camp Indigo Point for queer youth while dedicating himself to spotlighting inspirational, everyday heroes. He has interviewed the youngest American and first person with a prosthesis to orbit Earth, tracked down the woman who took a dishwashing job in her husband’s care facility as a way to see him during the COVID lockdown, and spoke with the family who sparked the #RepresentationMatters movement after sharing their son’s reaction to seeing himself on the big screen in “Encanto.”

Further, Will has also habitually spotted trends and sensations before they go viral, introducing ABC News audiences to internet phenoms like The Purple Wiggle and TikTok’s “Serial Tipper.”

Since starting his career with the ABC News team in 2012 as an intern with “GMA,” Will’s work has been recognized with three Emmy Awards® and a Webby Award.

Will is a skilled journalist, and I look forward to his continuing impactful reporting in this new capacity.

Please join me in congratulating Will on his well-deserved promotion.

Simone

*COPYRIGHT ©2023 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All photography is copyrighted material and is for editorial use only. Images are not to be archived, altered, duplicated, resold, retransmitted or used for any other purposes without written permission of ABC. Images are distributed to the press in order to publicize current programming. Any other usage must be licensed. Photos posted for Web use must be at the low resolution of 72dpi, no larger than 2x3 in size.

ABC News Media Relations

Daniela Urso

[email protected]

-- ABC --

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the-baddest-of-batches · 1 year ago

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Dar'Aliit: Chapter Nineteen - The Name of the Peace (Part 2)

18 BBY Krayt Bridge

"Two of them. They're hiding out on Nar Shadda." I toss the disk on the desk.

Admiral Rent looks up at me. He arches an eyebrow. "Impressive results, Lieutenant."

The rank stuck. I don't know why. At least the Admiral hears out my request to work alone. In fact he's heard out many of my requests ever since I walked into his office and told him I wasn't going to plant my shebs on a barstool until the Empire decided to throw me out. He might be a bureaucrat, but he's a solid man with a solid head on his shoulders. And he understands the value I have to the Empire, unlike some.

I shrug. "All in a days work, sir."

'You've located fifteen rogue Jedi, Lieutenant. I would hardly call that a days work." The Admiral picks up the disk. "If this information proves useful, we shall certainly be requiring more of your efforts. In fact, I could quite see you on track to become someone working directly for the Grand Admiral."

I can't tell him that I don't care. It doesn't matter where I'm shuffled off to, I just want to serve the universe and its new Empire. This time we might really have a chance to bring peace. To protect.

"Thank you, sir," is all I say aloud, though.

"You are dismissed, Lieutenant."

I nod and turn to leave. Kamino is gone, but Coruscant feels like home. The Jedi still run rampant, running from their inevitable demise. They're all traitors. Every last one of them.

My quarters wait for me, quiet now. Headshot got his retirement a year ago after the bill passed decommissioning most of the GAR. Only those who elected to stay did. I don't know if Booker went with him. He vanished one night, kind of like Raf. So it's just me now.

I toggle the door and toss my helmet on the bed. There's new armor being circulated. I don't care. I know what serves me well, and it's this old kit decked in white and red.

I sit on the bed and stretch out my neck. Crawling through vent ducts is not the most comfortable method of snooping. I'd do it again, though.

Laying down, I fold my hands behind my head and close my eyes. The edge of sleep washes over my senses and then I hear the chime of another summons. Groggy, I sit up, rub my eyes, and blink before standing up. I snag my helmet and drag my body back out into the hall. As I march back toward the Admiral's office I notice the troopers outside. They aren't dressed like me. They look–newer.

And they're all looking at me.

I manage a tired salute. They split aside one by one and the door slides open for me.

"Sir, is something–" I pause as I step into the room only to find I'm not the only occupant.

"Lieutenant," the Admiral steeples his hands. "Forgive the immediate turnaround, but the Moff has arrived early." He turns to the wizened old man who stands to one side. His uniform is stiffer, well pressed, and his eyes watch me with the sharpness of a man who has seen war, and has won it.

"Lieutenant, I've heard of your accolades." The Moff nods his head slowly. His hair is only grey at the ends. I don't know his name and I can only nod back. Discomfort settles in my stomach.

"It's just my job, sir."

The sharp eyes take me in, every inch of me. I feel invaded, perhaps even mildly violated and I resist the urge to stiffen, as if a straight spine were enough to defend me from his analysis.

"I want you for a new unit we will be installing soon, Lieutenant. I am aware you have been working here on Coruscant for some time and have grown rather comfortable here, but I believe your talents are being squandered."

Talents? I keep my mouth shut.

The Moff turns to the Admiral. "I would like to present a formal request for transfer."

Admiral Rent almost scoffs and it becomes a sigh. This isn't a "request" , it's an order. He nods, however, resignation on his thin pressed lips. "Of course, Moff."

"Then it's settled. We shall process the transfer soon." The Moff turns and there's the hint of a smile on his features. I would describe it more of an elation, however, that only reaches his eyes. The look of a man who is victorious in some war no one else was aware they were fighting. I know it well.

"It will be a pleasure, Lieutenant. I shall forward the onboarding soon, and someone shall be sent to collect you."

"Yessir."

The Moff leaves briskly. The troopers with him and those outside march off and leave us alone. I turn to Admiral Rent.

"I suppose a promotion was in your future," Rent admits, bleakly.

"It's for the peace of the universe," I say bluntly. I turn, my helmet gripped in my arm. Behind me, I can almost feel the sigh of resignation and disbelief at my words.

"Yes," Rent says quietly. "Peace."

4 BBY Cargo Bay

"I really wonder what's in that thing that everyone got so worked up over it," Dross notes as the artifact we've retrieved is carried off by several workers taking great care in moving it.

I watch the coffin vanish from the cargo bay where it was relegated after our return. Sarcophagus is the proper name of it, although we strictly call it "the artifact" to keep its nature safe from prying ears. Wouldn't want anyone on the crew getting any ideas about grave robbing.

Course, I don't know what lies inside, but I know one thing, if it had fallen into the hands of those pirates or worse, the terrorists who were truly after it, this universe would be a lot different today. I can't fathom if it's power, or money that draws terrorists to come after such things. I only know that they will use such objects for one intent purpose: evil.

The fact we have it, makes the universe a safer place.

Zur and Dros walk with me back toward the temporary quarter's we've been assigned. Our flagship is still under construction, so for now, we will stay here. I follow behind the two with my helmet in hand but behind me I can hear the click of heels rapidly catching up.

"Captain," calls out a partly familiar voice. I turn back and see Myren rapidly gaining on the three of us. She holds a datapad close to her chest, dressed in a well pressed white ISB uniform. I slow and let her catch up.

"Something you need, Lieutenant?"

Myren straightens up as she falls in beside me. "I wanted to congratulate you on a successful mission actually. Also the Director wants to speak with you later."

I raise an eyebrow.

"Nothing too important, he simply wants you to meet someone." Myren glances over as a unit of crew passes by. "It will be someone important, however," she lowers her voice quietly. "I'd advise you to behave."

"Sounds like you're implying I don't," I mutter.

Myren looks sideways at me, her face a cold deadpan. "You don't."

I avoid her stare. "But I get my job done."

"That, so far, is your only good track record, Captain." Myren pauses when we reach the outside of the crew quarters. "1700, be there, please. On time, in uniform or," she glances at my armor, "in something proper, and on your best behavior."

Resigned, because I know I can't argue with Myren, I nod. "I'll try."

"You'll do it," Myren confirms.

"I'll be there," I sigh.

Myren sticks out the datapad she's holding. "A bit more information we gathered as well, for your reference. It's from the copied computer data R3 pulled and confirms that the pirates and civilians you eliminated had no connections with the artifact beyond transporting it, as we already knew. I sent all this information to your personal datapad, but I know you don't read the reports."

"You know too much about me." I glance up at Myren's deep red eyes as they judge me, only because they can. I take the datapad from her.

"That's my job," Myren says firmly. "Now do yours, Captain."

The way she says everything makes it sound almost like she cares, maybe a little more than an officer should. It's that hint of worry that's always lingering right behind her stoic glare, and in the back of her voice. I wonder why she cares.

But she's right, I have a job to do right now. And I've always done my job, and done it well. The peace of the universe depends on that.

Next chapter coming soon...6/13

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#star wars #clone trooper oc #dar'aliit fanfic #fanfic #read on ao3 #read on wattpad #chiss #grand admiral thrawn #fic writer #serialized fiction #reblog is appreciated #part two

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