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tanyawritesstories · 4 years ago

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Liquid Hearts | The Mandalorian x Reader pt. 7 finale

It's the end! This is the last chapter in this series, I hope y'all have enjoyed the entire thing thus far. I hope you think this end is satisfying, sorry if this chapter is so much shorter than the other ones. I hope you enjoy! 🥰

Series Masterlist

Word count: 2.6k

Warnings: fluff, so many feelings, arguing, canon divergence, more fluff, hints at past abuse, Din is adorable when nervous

•••

Din’s jaw dropped under his helmet. The Supreme Chancellor’s daughter. How was that even possible? This entire time he’d been traveling with an extremely powerful and important person and he hadn’t even known it. “That makes sense,” he heard Cara say from behind him. Din walked over to Y/N. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She sighed. “It wasn’t important and I was trying to stay away, to be invisible,” she answered. “I left the Rebellion just before the war ended. I was tired of it. Tired of being held hostage, tired of being protected and treated like an object of power.”

“My husband was an X-Wing pilot, I married him right after my mother said it was ok if we left the rebel cause. I never turned my back on them, never betrayed them. But I hated being in the spotlight, having to give orders, having to kill, having to tell families that their loved ones had died in combat,” tears accumulated in her eyes again. “I could only live that life for so long.”

Din wasn’t mad at her, how could he be? He realized now that the past she didn’t want to tell him about had been riddled with hurt and abuse. He understood now.

“Fett should be here soon and I’ll be gone,” Fennec said. She walked to Din and Y/N. “I hope everything works out,” she said to Din. “Thank you, Fennec,” Y/N said, “for helping rescue me and my daughter.” Fennec nodded to her and left the bridge. “What now?” Koska asked. “We wait, until the New Republic arrives and we sort everything out,” Bo-Katan answered her.

~~~~

It was a tense hour and a half until the New Republic X-Wing transports showed up. Luke hopped back in his X-Wing and helped escort the light cruiser to the nearest habitable planet with a suitable secluded spot where they could land. The X-Wings landed first, their pilots exited the craft and waited.

Y/N came out of the light cruiser with Din, Cara, Koska, and Bo-Katan all behind her. Din had offered to carry Mandi for her while she did official business. Y/N greeted Carson and Trapper beside their X-Wings. “So how have you boys been?” “Getting old,” Carson replied. Y/N laughed, “it’s good to see you both again.” Carson put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry about your husband,” he said. Y/N smiled sadly and nodded. “The Chancellor is on her way here, she should arrive in a few minutes,” he said.

“She’s coming in person?” Y/N questioned. “Of course she is, she hasn’t seen her daughter in four years,” Trapper put in. Within a few minutes a large New Republic transport landed. Several armed guards and security exited the craft first and stood at attention. Then Mon Mothma herself came out of the craft. She looked at her daughter and saw the turmoil in her eyes, walking towards Y/N with her arms open. Y/N ran into her mother’s arms, hugging her tight.

“I missed you, my dear,” she said. “I missed you too, mama,” Y/N replied. They pulled away and Mon Mothma pushed Y/N’s hair out of her face. “I’m so sorry about Aogen, I heard what happened,” Mothma said. “Are you doing alright?” Y/N nodded and smiled sadly, “I’m getting there.” Mothma cupped her daughter’s cheek. “Last I heard, you were only weeks away from your due date. I haven’t seen my grandchild yet.”

Y/N smiled and turned around, motioning for Din to bring Mandi over. He hesitantly approached with Mandi in his arms and Grogu in the shoulder bag. Y/N took the baby from him and placed her in her grandmother’s arms. “This is your granddaughter, Mandi,” Y/N said. The older woman smiled and cooed over the baby. “How old is she now?” “A little under three weeks,” Y/N answered. “She seems like a healthy, happy young one,” Mothma stated. “We have this Mandalorian to thank for that,” Y/N said motioning to Din. “He delivered her, and has been helping me take care of her ever since.”

Din flushed under his helmet, not used to the attention and he wasn’t sure if he liked it. “You have my deepest thanks, for protecting both of them,” Mothma told Din. He wasn’t sure how to respond. “Um, it was my pleasure,” he managed to say. She handed Mandi back to Y/N. “I hate to have to talk business but you said you captured Moff Gideon,” she said. “Not me,” Y/N said. She turned around and faced the others that came with her. “They did, plus a couple others that couldn’t stay for the festivities.”

Mon Mothma addressed the three women and Din. “You all have my utmost thanks and the thanks of the New Republic,” she looked back at Y/N. “Where do you have him?” Y/N smiled and jerked her head towards Cara. “New Republic Marshal Dune will lead you to him.” Cara smirked as Mothma told a few guards to go with Cara to get Gideon. “I will address the situation of Mandalore with the other two later, they have been on the radar for sometime, I will work something out with them,” Mothma ensured.

Luke approached and the Chancellor greeted him. “What was your issue with Luke this time?” Mothma asked her daughter. Y/N got a determined expression on her face. “He wants to take this child away from his father,” Y/N answered. She pointed to Grogu, who looked up at the strangers with curious eyes. “He must be trained or he will continuously be at risk,” Luke said. “Fine, but can Mando at least be allowed to visit your school and see his son, you can’t take him away forever!” Y/N protested.

Luke thought for a moment. “I suppose that could be an option,” he said. “Anytime he wants, they’re extremely attached to each other, and the kid only listens to Mando anyway,” Y/N added. “I can agree with these terms,” Luke said with a nod. “Does that sound good to you, Mando?” Y/N asked Din. He looked between the three expectant faces all waiting for an answer from him. “I just want the kid to be safe,” he said. “Very well, perhaps you would like to visit when the school is finally finished,” Luke offered. “Then you could see your little one in action.”

Din nodded slowly. “I’d like that.” Luke nodded respectfully to Din. “We have one more thing to discuss,” Mothma said. “This Mandalorian hasn’t exactly had pleasant run-ins with the New Republic recently.” Din sighed, there had to be a catch. Y/N stood tall. “I will take on any lawful repercussions that he may have warranted,” Y/N announced. Din looked between Y/N and her mother. “No,” he said, putting his arm around Y/N’s back. “I can’t let you do that for me. You already let yourself get captured and tortured by the Imps.” “I know, and you saved me, so we’re even,” Y/N said. “Now I’m doing this for you, so-”

“No, I can take responsibility for my own choices,” Din said, taking her hand. “That won’t be necessary,” Mothma interrupted. She called to someone behind her who walked over. “See that this Mandalorian’s criminal record gets wiped clean.” Y/N and Din exchanged glances. “You have done a great service to the New Republic today, it’s the least we can do for you,” the Chancellor said. Y/N got excited and wrapped Din into a tight hug. He chuckled and hugged her back. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some other Mandalorians to talk to.”

~~~~

It took a couple weeks to sort everything out. The New Republic had promised to help Bo-Katan any way they could although it looked bleak. Y/N hid the Darksaber on the ship they were taking back to Trask to pick up a couple other Mandalorians. Din was given plenty of time to say goodbye to Grogu and even flew him to Luke’s Jedi school on Ach-To to drop him off. Y/N had come with and Luke took them both on a tour. They decided to stay the night and Din found Y/N away from everyone else, sitting on a rock and watching the sunset.

“Can I join you?” Y/N smiled. “Of course.” Din took a seat next to her and stared out at the water. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you who I was initially,” she said. “It’s ok, I understand why you did,” Din replied. “I’m still sorry, that I was such a burden, that I dragged you into the whole New Republic mess, I know I-” “Hey,” Din put his hand on her knee. “You weren’t a burden, not at all. In fact….I enjoyed our time...together.” She smiled at him again, “As did I.” Y/N took his hand off her knee and held it in her hands. “Mando, I...I meant what you saw me say when I was taken,” She stuttered. “I know you may not feel the same way, but I have to get this out. I love you.”

She looked out at the setting sun. “I thought it was wrong at first, my husband hasn’t been gone that long but it….I’ve never felt this way before, and…” she trailed off. Din shucked off his gloves and couldn’t resist reaching over to cup her cheek and turn her head to look at him. “Y/N I….I love you too.” He sighed shakily, might as well let it all out. “I’ve tried to deny it, tell myself it wasn’t real, but I’ve never felt anything like I do when I’m around you. You’re so good with both the kids and you’re such a strong person…”

Y/N smiled and leaned over to him, pressing a kiss to the cheek of his helmet. “I know that’s as close as I’ll ever get to you, but that’s ok. I love you regardless and I always will, you’ve done more for me in a matter of weeks than anyone has in my whole life. Thank you for that.” Din's heart rate sped up as he thought of an idea. “That’s not exactly true,” he said. “Family members can see my face, I..I let Grogu see me just before I let him go with Luke. And Mandi saw me without it by accident.”

Y/N laughed, a heavenly sound that Din thought could drive away any bad weather. “What do you mean on accident?” Din sighed. “The first night on that frozen planet, while you were sleeping she woke up so I took her up into the cockpit with me and got her back to sleep, I was eating and bumped my helmet and woke her up. I picked her up to calm her down and she opened her eyes,” he explained. Y/N giggled again. “No wonder she thought you were her father, you were the first male face she saw.”

Din chuckled and took a deep breath, standing up and pulling Y/N with him. “I...I want to show you…” She shook her head. “If you don’t feel comfortable then don’t, I’m not pushing you to-” “I want to,” Din said. He slowly placed both hands on his helmet and lifted it off his head. Awe was written all over her face as she looked at him. “Stars, you...you’re beautiful…” she breathed. Din blushed and looked at the ground. She cupped his cheeks in her hands and made him look at her. “Would you look at that, I’ve fallen in love with the most stunning being in the whole galaxy.”

“You, you’re stunning too,” he said, still blushing. “Yes, most beautiful..” It was Y/N’s turn to blush now. “You’re too sweet, Mando,” she said. “Din,” he corrected. “My name is Din.” She smiled. “Just when I thought you couldn’t get any better,” she mused. “What happens now?” He sighed, setting his helmet on the ground and taking both her hands in his. “I know we haven’t known each other for long but I’ve been all over the galaxy, met all kinds of people and I’ve never known anyone who makes me feel the way you do. I don’t want to pass it up and never have the chance again..”

“Neither do I,” she agreed. “What do you say? Together from here on out?” He nodded. “Yes, I’m not losing you again.” Y/N smiled up at him as happy tears welled in her eyes. “Can I kiss you, Din?” A smile came to his face, “yes.” Y/N leaned up and her lips met with his in a passionate kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck and he pulled her closer by her waist. They stayed connected for as long as they could go without air before reluctantly breaking apart. Their foreheads rested against each other, basking in their newfound love. Din quietly asked her a question.

“Marry me?”

Four years later…

Mandi bounded off the Razor Crest, her bare feet touching down on Ach-To’s lush grasses. She ran up the hill and searched through the groups of children in Jedi training, looking for her older brother. She spotted him with a group of other children, practicing their levitation. “Grogu!” She called out. She ran as fast as her little legs could carry her over to her brother, greeting him with a hug which he returned. “Mandi!” He gurgled happily. The little girl was now taller than Grogu despite the fact that he had been growing.

“Mandi!” She looked over her shoulder to see her father walking with her mother. “Don’t disturb them while they're training, you can wait,” he called. Luke came out of a nearby hut, smiling at his visitors. “It’s quite alright, Mandi. They can have a break,” Luke assured her. Mandi took Grogu’s hand and the children wandered off together. Luke strode over to Din and Y/N. “I see a lot has happened since I last saw you both,” he remarked. “Only ever good things,” Y/N said, rocking the newborn in her arms. He looked more like Din than Mandi did. Luke placed a gloved hand on the baby’s head.

“It’s been a bit of a wild ride,” Din said with a smile, “she went into labor early again.” Luke watched as their child slowly woke up and looked around. “What’s his name?” Din and Y/N exchanged glances. “Mar’eyce,” Din answered. “It’s Mando’a for discovery, and finding a state of heaven,” Y/N added. “He’s a result of the heaven we found with each other.” Luke smiled and looked back down at the little one. “A perfect name.” He let the baby clamp onto his finger and Luke’s brow furrowed for just a moment, something Din noticed. “What is it?”

Luke chuckled. “You two are going to have your hands full,” he said. “This little one is Force sensitive as well.” Y/N’s jaw dropped and she laughed. Din was shocked. “How do you know?” “I can feel it, most likely Mandi and Grogu can as well. Mar’eyce is strong with the Force,” Luke informed. “Stars, you’re potent,” Y/N joked, slapping Din’s chest plate. “Hey, hey,” he admonished lightly. “We’re in public.” Luke smiled at them. “I’d best find where Mandi and Grogu ran off too, he will be eager to help teach her how to levitate things.”

Luke left Din and Y/N and the woman laughed. “What’s so funny, my love?” Din asked. “We are outnumbered by Force sensitive children, this’ll be fun.” Din put his arm around her and held her close to him, smoothing his hand over his biological son’s little head.

“Yes, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

#star wars #the mandalorian #the mandalorian x reader #din djarin #din djarin x reader #grogu #frozen series #star wars fanfiction #series finale

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roman-writing · 6 years ago

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no end in sight (6/7)

Fandom: World of Warcraft

Pairing: Jaina Proudmoore/Thalyssra

Rating: T

Wordcount: 8,302

Summary: Jaina goes to Suramar seeking aid after leaving the Kirin Tor. An AU exploring the events post-Theramore and Jaina’s recovery during Legion.

Read it here on AO3 or read it below the cut

“I’m a strange new kind of inbetween thing aren’t I

not at home with the dead nor with the living.”

— Sophocles, trans. Anne Carson; from Antigonick.

Even attempting a simple mirroring spell in a glass of water made her wince. Jaina tried twice before she finally gave up and just found a silver-handled mirror, small enough to hold in one hand. Surprisingly, it had not been one of Valtrois’ possessions, but Oculeth’s. Apparently he used it as an attachment when tampering with particularly fiddly apparati. That at least explained the dark remnants of grease caught in the handle’s engravings.

Wiping off the handle with the hems of her robes, Jaina held up the mirror to inspect her face. It had been months since she had last seen her reflection with any clarity. Her hair had grown longer; honestly it could use a trim. Her skin was paler from all her time in the night-washed lands of Suramar, wheredusk reigned even through summer. Most notably however were the tattoos engraved on her face.

After their confrontation a week ago, Thalyssra had performed the second to last procedure with an unprecedented gentleness. It had taken just as long as the others -- if not a little longer -- and Thalyssra had wielded the ink and copper-tipped bone needle like a painter’s tools, her fingers warm and soft against Jaina’s face.

Jaina traced the leylines with her own fingertips now. They curved along her neck from her collarbone, circled behind her ears just beneath her hairline, and then slashed from brow to jaw down both her eyes. With every heartbeat they seemed to pulse. Her eyes caught the light in an unearthly glow, like resin.

“You look fine, if that’s what you’re wondering.”

Jaina lowered the mirror rather quickly. Her hands were not as steady as she would have liked. She worried her lower lip between her teeth. “That’s not -” she almost said, but bit back the words. Instead, she lifted her chin and her voice was far more calm than she felt, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Oculeth replied, still bent over his lab table strewn with half-finished gadgets and scrawled notes.

“Though, I’d be much more inclined to believe you, if you’d actually looked at me.”

“An unnecessary step in the process, Lady Proudmoore. You always look stunning.”

“A charmer and a liar,” she drawled, “And here I thought I was the only one.”

Completely deadpan, Oculeth replied, “You’re in Suramar. You’ll find folk like us everywhere. Can I please have my mirror back now?”

Oculeth held his hand out towards her without looking up from the device he was working on, which appeared to be an armoured gauntlet that would occasionally twitch its mechanical fingers. Her enchanted mask was propped on one corner of the table, a dusky silk streamer trailing from the edge. They were safely concealed behind two screens, which blocked off a section of Shal’Aran for Oculeth’s private lab.

Jaina handed the mirror over. As she did so, she peered over his shoulder, standing behind him. “What on earth is that, anyway?” she asked, cocking her head at the mechanical arm that was responding to Oculeth’s fiddling.

Rather than Oculeth replying however, Valtrois’ voice sounded behind them. “It’s the armoured plating taken from a high-end security construct in the noble district.” When Jaina glanced around, Valtrois was already walking up beside her to stand behind Oculeth as well. She planted her hands on her hips in an impatient pose. “Are you still tinkering away? I need that to build an ephemeral mana-storm projector.”

“Patience is a virtue,” Oculeth murmured. He prodded at the armoured gauntlet’s interior with his tools, and the whole hand spasmed in response. “Fascinating!”

Valtrois rolled her eyes. “Just give it over, won’t you?”

“Do you know how hard it is to kill one of these things? When else am I going to have the opportunity to deconstruct a Chronarch Defender?”

“In the afterlife, at this rate.” Valtrois flicked one of Oculeth’s long ears, and he flinched, glaring at her over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be working on teleporting the Horde Champions into the Arcway?”

“I thought teleporting them to the bottom of the sea would be more fun.”

Valtrois flicked his ear again, and he swore under his breath.

Jaina’s eyes widened. “You’re going to what?”

“Oh, you didn’t tell her about the plan?” Valtrois asked Oculeth, far too sweetly to be truly innocent.

Rubbing at his ear, Oculeth grumbled something about ‘doubled security’ and a number of choice Shalassian curse words that Jaina did not know followed by Grand Magistrix Elisande’s name.

“Please tell me you’re joking,” Jaina said, looking between the both of them.

Valtrois’ answer was accompanied by an elfin, one-shouldered shrug. “Needs must.”

“And Thalyssra is alright with this?”

Oculeth blinked at her in confusion. “But of course.”

Jaina’s jaw tightened. She drew a deep breath through her nose, but the anger left a metallic, coppery taste in the back of her mouth. “Of all the hypocritical -! After that whole lecture about why I -! And not wanting people to risk their lives -! And now she’s -!”

Jaina choked on her indignation. She clenched her hands into fists. She could feel the heat rising up her neck. In the past this would have meant unpleasant splotches of colour in her cheeks. Now, a flicker of dark light flashed at the edges of her vision, blinding white, leaving purple streaks in its wake. It spread across her skin, washing over her in a shiver like a flash of water against hot iron.

She started in surprise, blinking away the afterimages, which lingered in her eyes. Her anger vanished, and in its stead a bewildered wariness. Slowly pointing to herself, Jaina asked, “What was that?”

Valtrois was staring at her. Even Oculeth had abandoned his tinkering in favour of watching Jaina with wide-eyes. They glanced at each other in a silent exchange. Then, Valtrois clapped her hands together once, bringing them beneath her chin in the pantomime of a thoughtful pose. “Oh! Well, you just went a bit -- you know -- incorporeal. It’s fine. You’re fine! See?”

To prove her point, she reached out and pinched Jaina’s cheek. Hard.

“Ow!” Jaina slapped Valtrois’ hand away with a scowl, and rubbed at the side of her face.

“You might even say the matter itself was ‘immaterial,’” Oculeth added. He offered Jaina a smile, which she did not return.

Valtrois shook her head at him, but tried to hide it.

“Too soon?” he asked in a small voice.

“Too soon,” Jaina growled, while Valtrois nodded and masked it as a straightening of her shoulders. “I thought these inscriptions were supposed to make me better.”

“They are. They will,” Valtrois assured her. “You’re just at your most unstable right before the last procedure. Think of trying to contain the flow of water through a pipeline that you have to install piece by piece. The pressure is going to be at its greatest right before the last pipe is put in place.”

Jaina rubbed at the lingering ache behind her eyes. “I understand the magical theory behind it. Is there nothing we can do to make it stop? I have four more days until my last procedure, and I rather like being tangible.”

At that, Valtrois merely shrugged. “Meditation? Calming music?”

“I can sing for you?” Oculeth offered.

“I’ll pass,” Jaina said.

From beyond the screens, there came a rising murmur of voices, and footsteps milling together in unison. The three of them glanced at one another, before Oculeth rose to his feet. As Valtrois pulled back one of the screens, Jaina had reached for the mask and was tying it place behind her head. The illusion draped over her, and she joined the others in seeing what the commotion was all about.

People had begun to cluster around the arcan’dor. All around the railings and even the lower level they gathered. From here, nothing about the tree seemed to have changed. Frowning in confusion, Jaina pushed her way through the crowd after Valtrois and Oculeth. When she reached the most central platform that circled the trunk, she froze.

There, Thalyssra gripped her staff in hand and was speaking in a hushed, grave voice to Farodin. Even as he listened, he shook his head with a worried furrow to his brow; his great weathered scythe was slung across his back. Behind them, the bark of the arcan’dor had begun to tarnish from its usual gleaming silver. Now, the trunk was the grey of corroded iron, and the jewel-like tones of its heartwood had begun to dim.

Closing his eyes, Farodin raised the palm of his hand over the trunk of the arcan’dor. Slowly, he let his arm fall, and gazed up into the perfectly symmetrical branches. “We have run out of time.”

Another concerned murmur swept through the watching crowd at those words.

“That can’t be right.” Thalyssra began to pace around the tree, as if the force of her glare alone might cure whatever sickness ailed it. “We were supposed to have a few more weeks before this stage. Why is it so far advanced?”

Farodin sighed, “I do not know.”

“You’re supposed to be the expert.” Thalyssra gripped her staff tighter, using it to gesture at him. “So? Explain.”

A weariness hung about Farodin’s broad, fur-clad shoulders. When he shook his head, it was accompanied by the clatter of bear claws strung around his neck. “I am sorry. Some things just are, Thalyssra.”

The muscles of her jaw bunched together as though she were clenching her teeth. She rapped the end of her staff against the ground in a series of nervous staccato taps, and for a moment she seemed deep in thought. Finally, she came to a stop beside him, and asked, “How long?”

“A few days. Maybe less.”

Together the two of them looked up into the high silvered branches. Then, Farodin placed a broad hand on Thalyssra’s shoulder. What he said to her next, Jaina could not understand; it sounded like Darnassian.

She shrugged his hand off and said in a low tone, “We can speak of this later.” Her voice sharpened. “Oculeth.”

Oculeth stepped forward. “Yes?”

She tilted her head slightly towards him, but did not look away from the arcan’dor. “How long until you can safely teleport us into the Arcway?”

Oculeth spread his hands. “I can have an advanced beacon prepared in four days, but after that we will need our Champions to use it to survey key areas around Suramar.”

“And the mana-storm projector?” Thalyssra asked.

To that, Valtrois answered, “Five days. But only if I don’t sleep.”

A tense silence followed those words. The others held their breath, waiting for the First Arcanist’s decision.

Jaina stepped forward. “Thalyssra -”

“No,” Thalyssra snapped. She did not turn to look at Jaina, instead firmly keeping her eyes upon the arcan’dor. “I don’t want to hear a word from you right now.”

It wasn’t that they were fighting, so to speak. It was just that they had not spoken much since Jaina’s last procedure. And by that, she meant they had not exchanged more than a few words in thirteen days. In all her years, Jaina never had gotten the hang of self-preservation.

“You promised,” was all Jaina said.

Thalyssra’s shoulders tensed. Her long ears twitched, tilting back. She turned her head slightly, just enough to give the impression she was glancing towards Jaina without having to actually make eye contact. “And I have a few days to keep that promise.” She started towards the stairs, every movement stiff, speaking in a brisk tone to Oculeth and Valtrois, “Use the last of the arcwine if you must. This is the end, whether we are ready for it or not.”

Neither of them wasted a moment on a sarcastic remark or any of their usual antics. Oculeth hurried back towards his area of Shal’Aran, while Valtrois was already in motion, joining Oculeth to retrieve her armoured plating. As Thalyssra began to descend the stairs to her own private lab beneath Shal’Aran, the crowd of Nightborne slowly dispersed, talking in hushed tones as though someone had died. They gave Jaina a wide berth, casting her curious glances. None were brave enough to approach her.

None save Farodin.

He waited, unmoving, until the crowd scattered. His golden-eyed stare was as intense as ever, tempered only somewhat by a considering edge. The blade of his scythe gleamed over his shoulders like a dark crescent moon.

Jaina had to brace herself when he walked towards her, as if waiting for a blow to land. “Can I help you?”

It was so reminiscent of their first interaction, that the corner of his beard twitched in a tell-tale smile. It did not look unkind on his otherwise stern face. “I believe we can help each other. As has always been the case.”

Jaina’s eyebrows rose. She had to stifle the urge to check and make sure her mask was still in place despite the fact that she could feel the illusion cottoning onto her like a second skin. She did not trust him. “Why should I trust you?”

If anything that only seemed to amuse him more, though he hid it well. “Why should you not? Because I know who you are? Your secret is safe with me.”

“No. Because I don’t know what side you’re on.”

The glow of the arcan’dor gilded him from behind as though all in silvered in moonlight, and his eyes burned, gold, uncanny, and druidic through the shadows of Shal’Aran. “Some ties grow deeper than whatever banner flies above the battlefield, Lady Proudmoore. I am willing to trust you, though I do not know you.”

Jaina’s face screwed up. Light, but she never could stand the vague proverbs of druids; they couldn’t just state something in good honest language. “Why?”

“Because she trusts you.” Farodin nodded towards the stairs that Thalyssra had just descended.

Jaina inhaled a sharp breath before she could stop herself. Her eyes flickered towards the staircase, then back to Farodin, who was watching her with an expression that was -- if anything -- understanding. Though what he understood, she could hardly fathom herself. Not yet, in any case. Not now.

Slowly, Jaina said, “You want the arcan’dor to reach maturity and bloom.”

Farodin inclined his head in agreement. “And you want to save your loved ones from a fate worse than death.”

Jaina gave a curt nod.

“Then I will speak to the First Arcanist on your behalf.”

At that, Jaina could not help but huff with wry laughter. “And how is that supposed to change her mind?”

“It isn’t.” He swept a hand to his chest in farewell. “Seek harmony.”

And without another word, he folded himself into the shape of a raven in a wisp of smoke, the undersides of its wings bearing a band of jade feathers. Jaina stared after the bird, which soared around the branches of the arcan’dor before vanishing. Then, shaking her head, she muttered to herself. “Damn druids.”

Halfway through day three, both Valtrois and Oculeth barely left their respective workstations. Valtrois’ usual scrupulous attention to grooming had completely dried up, and Oculeth only ever glanced up for a glass of arcwine infused with an herb stimulant that made his fingers tremble slightly while he worked. Jaina let them be. The one time she had tried to be helpful, Valtrois had snapped something at her in Shalassian that Jaina didn’t need to translate to understand.

Thalyssra approached Jaina’s partition before their final procedure with a potion of purging. When she rapped lightly on the partition, Jaina glanced up from a copy of the Arcanomicon written in Draconic, with two dictionaries open at different pages on the ground beside her. She had known that Thalyssra would come around with the potion, but somehow she was still surprised; somehow she had thought that one of the others might have been sent instead.

Thalyssra was many things, but a coward was not one of them.

Jaina marked her page, and shut the book, setting it aside atop one of the open dictionaries. “How are things progressing?”

Thalyssra pulled the screen shut behind her. Her posture was stiff. “Poorly.”

“I’m sorry to hear that," Jaina said with utmost sincerity.

For a long moment they just looked at one another. Then, Thalyssra approached, holding out the glass vial towards her. “You’ll be pleased to know this is the last of these foul potions you’ll ever have to drink.”

“Thank the Light,” Jaina sighed.

She leaned forward to take the vial, but Thalyssra did not let it go right away. Instead, both their hands lingered on the glass surface. Jaina froze, looking up from where she sat on her mussed bedroll.

Jaina opened her mouth to break the silence, when Thalyssra spoke first, “The wither has begun to spread to the arcan’dor’s roots. There is no more time.”

She let go of the vial, and Jaina was able to take it. The glass felt like a lodestone in her hand, weighing her arm down. Her mouth was dry. “Oculeth and Valtrois -?”

Thalyssra shook her head. “They’ve done all they could in the time given them. And now I have -” she paused, “- come around to the fact that we cannot wait any longer.”

Jaina took a moment to run her thumb over the textured glass of the vial. “What did Farodin say that made you change your mind?”

Thalyssra’s gaze was steady and unblinking beneath the shadow cast by her hood. “He didn’t. My mind was already made up. All he said was that regardless of my choice, I needed to reconcile the fact that I have come to value your life above theirs.”

Mouth dry, Jaina tried to think of some reply, but nothing seemed suitable.

Thalyssra turned to leave. She paused before pushing open one of the screens. “Tomorrow, should Oculeth and Valtrois not have their devices ready, I will need to call upon you and make good on my promise.”

Jaina’s grip tightened around the vial. “I’ll be ready.”

She wasn’t ready.

As usual, a broken night of sleep -- courtesy of the potion, the itching, and the near-constant headaches -- found Jaina muzzy and exhausted the next morning. She was half asleep when someone burst into her partition and shook her shoulder.

“Wake up.”

Jaina jerked. Squinting, she rasped, “What -?”

“It’s time,” Valtrois said.

It still took her a second to figure out what Valtrois was talking about. Then the adrenaline hit like a punch to the gut. Jaina scrambled upright, kicking off her blankets as she did so.

“Where are the others?” Jaina asked, running her hands through her hair in an attempt to tame it somewhat.

Valtrois gave a vague wave of her hand before rubbing at her eyes. “Downstairs, setting up the preparations.” She had to stifle a yawn.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not the one you should be worried about.” Then Valtrois added, “You won’t need to get changed. Let’s go.”

Jaina let go of the clothes she had been rifling through. Valtrois was already stepping into Shal’Aran and waiting for her, and she didn’t have time to grab the enchanted mask. Instead, she grabbed her Kul Tiran cloak and draped it across her shoulders. She was tugging the deep cowl over her head as she stepped outside. As it turned out, this was all for naught; Shal’Aran was entirely empty of people. Signs of life were still scattered around, but everyone had presumably been herded to a safer place.

Clutching the cloak tightly around her, Jaina followed after Valtrois. They descended the spiral stairs beneath the arcan’dor. As they did so, Jaina dared to glance up at the tree. The once silvered bark was now gripped with streaks of iron that twisted all along the symmetrical trunk, and the ends of its branches curled with wither like leaves in autumn. Tearing her eyes away, Jaina quickened her step.

Two floors beneath the great, dying tree, the usual corner of the chamber where Jaina and Thalyssra performed their procedures had been prepared as it always was. A few screens. A low table stretched with cushions and fabric. A copper-tipped bone needle, and vial of moonglow ink upon the floor. Except this time, it was not only Thalyssra who was waiting for her. Oculeth stood with Farodin and Thalyssra near the centre of the chamber. All three of them fell silent and glanced up when Jaina came into view.

While Valtrois could walk across the chamber floor without any issue, Jaina grimaced and had to pick her way carefully, avoiding the complex web of leylines that merged directly beneath the arcan’dor. She lifted the hems of her nightgown around her ankles, and walked with bare feet. By the time she reached the very centre of the room, the others were all waiting for her.

“You’re looking radiant this morning, Lady Proudmoore,” Oculeth greeted her with a weary smile. His usually impeccable posture drooped somewhat.

“Thank you. It’s my natural pallor.”

He chuckled, and the corner of Valtrois’ mouth quirked though she made no remark.

“Let’s save the humour for later, shall we?” Thalyssra said. She looked towards Oculeth and Valtrois. “Is everything in place?”

“The projectors are ready,” Valtrois gestured to a number of squat metallic columns positioned around the room. “Once the mana-storm has been sparked, they’ll do the rest.”

“And I’ve set up a perimeter to catch any overflow,” Oculeth confirmed.

“Good.” Thalyssra nodded, then turned to Jaina. “All you need to do is set the storm in motion, at which point we will pull you out and complete your final procedure over there.”

“Right.” Straightening her shoulders, Jaina paused. “And if it all goes to custard, so to speak?”

Behind Thalyssra, she could see Oculeth mouth the word ‘custard?’ to Valtrois, who shrugged.

“Then we have Valtrois’ enchanted wrappings,” Thalyssra answered, her voice far too calm. She grasped Jaina’s shoulder warmly, her eyes even warmer. “You’re going to be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”

With one last squeeze, Thalyssra let go of Jaina’s shoulder and stepped back. She and the others went to stand along the very edge of the room. Jaina shifted her weight from foot to foot.

They were all watching her, waiting. She could feel the hum of energy vibrating against her ankles and calves, making the hem of her nightgown shiver. Jaina stood at the epicenter of the room, with every leyline in Suramar directed to the space just beneath her bare feet.

And nothing happened.

“What are you waiting for?” Oculeth called between cupped hands.

“I don’t know!” Jaina tapped the toes of one foot against the floor, sending little spirals of light curling into the air like steam. “Is it on?”

Valtrois glared at her. “I did not just hear you say that.”

“Well, you come over here and make a mana-storm, then!”

To Jaina’s surprise, Valtrois began marching across the room right for her.

Raising her hands in a gesture of nervous surrender, Jaina said, “I didn’t actually mean -!”

Valtrois did not stop until she was standing right in front of her. Then, she loomed over Jaina, her face dark with fury. “Is this on?” She rapped her knuckles against the side of Jaina’s head.

Jaina spluttered and knocked Valtrois’ hand away. “Excuse me -?”

“After all this time, you’re going to play the coward now?” Valtrois snapped.

Jaina’s mouth worked, but no noise came out in spite of herself. Indignation bubbled in her chest.

“This was your idea!” Valtrois pointed to the tree above them, then back at Jaina. “You practically begged us to let you do this, and suddenly you can’t?”

A flush crept up Jaina’s neck. “That’s not -!”

“This oversaturation of mana is all you have left of your pathetic little city!” Valtrois jabbed a finger against Jaina’s shoulder, at where the inscriptions had been carved all over her skin. “And you can’t even make the destruction of Theramore worth it, can you?”

The words knocked the wind right out of Jaina. She felt like she had been punched in the gut. The edges of her vision narrowed with encroaching light. She shook her head against it. “Stop it,” she said, but it came out as a feeble mumble.

Either Valtrois did not hear, or she did not care. Every word she spoke lodged itself in Jaina’s throat like a barb. “I suppose they all died for nothing, then. You absorbed some of that mana bomb, but you couldn’t save them. You weren’t enough. And you’re still not enough. You’ve come all this way, just to let everyone down once again.”

“Stop!”

Jaina shut her eyes, but all she could see was a vast, all-consuming white. Energy arced across her until she vibrated with it, until she could feel a seething burn rush along every vein. Instinctively, she flinched back from it. Her breathing came in short rapid gasps, but slowly the surge of mana faded to a manageable hum beneath her skin, waiting to resurface at the slightest provocation.

When she opened her eyes again -- one at a time, as though she were afraid of what she might see -- it was to find that Valtrois had backed up a few paces. Bright arcs of energy continued to race along the ground like lightning, occasionally sparking along Jaina’s legs and hands.

“Well,” Valtrois sighed, running a hand through her long hair. “Making you angry almost worked. I am sorry about that, by the way.”

Jaina was saved from responding by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Thalyssra stood to the side. She tilted her head back towards the perimeter of the room. “Thank you, Valtrois. Could you give us some space please?”

Valtrois went to rejoin the others with only an apologetic glance in Jaina’s direction. Jaina scratched at her arms, at her shoulders and wrists. The buzz of mana was almost unbearable.

Gently, Thalyssra took her hands to stop her from scratching. “What’s wrong?”

Jaina choked out a watery laugh. “What isn’t? I’m about to throw my life away for Horde sympathisers.” The more she thought about the whole situation, the funnier it became. She laughed again, shaking her head. “You know what the funniest part is?” Jaina pulled one of her hands free of Thalyssra’s grip to wipe at her eyes. “It’s probably the best decision I’ve ever made.”

“Jaina -”

"How will I know how to stop? Can I even stop once it starts? What if I can't? What if -?" Jaina cut herself off, and bit her bottom lip. She took a deep shaking breath. She couldn’t look Thalyssra in the face. "I don't want to be the bomb that destroys the last hope of salvation for your people."

For a long moment, Thalyssra made no reply. She dropped Jaina’s hand, and Jaina felt something burning in her chest.

“We have a saying in Suramar,” Thalyssra said a fluid Shalassian phrase, and then translated. “‘To lead is to stand alone.’ It means only those who bear the weight of leadership can truly appreciate it. But I have not stood alone these last few months. Nor do you stand alone now.”

She stepped close. She cupped Jaina’s cheek with one hand, and leaned her head down. For a fleeting, electrifying instant, Jaina thought Thalyssra was going to kiss her.

“I am here,” Thalyssra murmured. “Whatever happens, I am here.”

She waited for Jaina to nod, before stepping away. Thalyssra retreated to the walls with the others, leaving Jaina in the centre of the chamber once more.

The leylines hummed their eerie song, and to the south the Nightwell burned like a distant star. Rather than try to push the noise away, Jaina closed her eyes and let the sound sweep over her into a drone. Her heart beat rapidly in her chest, slowing with every deep, even inhalation, until it kept time with the Nightwell’s haunting song. She did not feel her hands unclench at her sides, nor the drift of cloth as the edges of her cloak stirred as if in a breeze. Eventually even the song faded in the wake of her heartbeat, until there was nothing else.

Energy hummed beneath her skin like a pulse, like a counter ticking away the seconds before the inevitable. The memory of that day lingered within her very blood even now, in this very moment, and for all moments that existed after. She would never be purged of it, the grief -- like groping in the dark for something that no longer existed. Always the seconds, the days, the years arrayed before her like a spectacle of knives, each no less sharp than the last.

She could not walk through the streets without people seeing a smoking crater at her feet, could not open her mouth without people hearing the names of the dead upon her every syllable. She was a ghost trailed by ghosts, dragging the souls of the past behind her, while far above a bomb would forever be falling from the sky.

The pulse ticked faster in her ears. All it took was a few seconds of exposure -- a stumble on the way through the portal, angry panicked words with Rhonin, being pushed even while trying to drag him through with her -- and now the bomb was in her hands. It was in her teeth. It was in her stomach, and in the cage of her ribs.

The pulse stopped, and absolute silence followed. Jaina’s eyes snapped open, and in every direction a far-reaching expanse of energy rippled outward. The world was washed with light.

And then nothing.

Every noise was an echo. The world was dark, as if cast in perennial night, through which shadowy shapes moved. Jaina was lying on her back. Her eyes were open, but she could hardly see, as if viewing the world through a layer of thin gauze. She squinted, but it didn't seem to help.

“Welcome back,” a warm, familiar voice murmured.

The silhouette kneeling over her bore only the barest resemblance to the Thalyssra Jaina remembered, a faint shadow with but the impression of a face.

Jaina struggled to sit up. “Did it work?”

A hand was placed on her shoulder, and gently pushed her prone again, until Jaina had settled back amongst the cushions. “It worked,” Thalyssra assured her. “There have just been some complications.”

“What -?”

“The important thing is that you’re alive and stable,” Thalyssra continued. She did not remove her hand from Jaina’s shoulder. Jaina could only faintly feel the warm weight of her hand, as if the touch were through layers of thick cloth. “After you triggered the mana-storm we needed, you slumped to the floor. We finished your final procedure as quickly as we could, and -”

“But the tree -?” Jaina tried to interrupt.

“The tree is fine. It is fruiting.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Jaina raised her hand to her face. “Thank the Light. Can I get this thing off -?”

The hand moved to her wrist, pushing her hand away from the bandages covering her eyes and obscuring her vision. “No. Those need to stay for at least three more days.”

Jaina went very still. She allowed her arm to be lowered. “What happens in three days?”

For a moment Thalyssra did not answer. “We see if your body beneath has recovered, or if you require more enchanted wrappings to keep you from unravelling at the seams of existence.”

Jaina stared at her. Then, her eyes drifted downwards to her own body. The sheet that had been covering her had fallen away when she tried sitting up, revealing a torso swathed in strips of long pale cloth. The edges bristled with heat and cold pale light. Beneath, Jaina could just barely make out something more substantial, something that once was flesh but struggled to remember it.

“This -” Jaina cast about for an appropriate comment. Finally she settled on, “- could have been much worse.”

At that, Thalyssra laughed. It sounded watery, but then again everything in this state sounded watery, and Jaina could not properly see her face to tell what sort of expression Thalyssra wore.

When Thalyssra stopped laughing, she said, “Though it could have been better.”

“Well, obviously it could have been better. I’m an Ethereal.”

“Temporarily,” Thalyssra corrected her. “You’re a temporary Ethereal.”

“I bet all Ethereals think that they’re temporary Ethereals.”

“All Ethereals had their bodies completely ripped apart on a molecular level during the assault on K’aresh. I’m pleased to inform you that your body is very much intact.” After a pause, Thalyssra added, “For the most part.”

“Consider me reassured,” Jaina said, dryly.

“Ah, your sense of humour remains. That is an excellent sign.”

“Apparently, it’s all I have left.”

“You have more than you realise.” She gave Jaina’s hand a soft tug, as if to urge her upright. “Would you like to try to stand? I think you’re well enough for a walk, and the others would like to see you.”

For a brief moment, Jaina hesitated. It was enough.

Thalyssra’s voice softened. “If you would prefer to remain out of sight, that is your choice, of course. I will not force you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

Her thumb was tracing a line across the back of Jaina’s hand. Jaina could hardly feel it. She stared down at the phantom touch of their hands. Thalyssra was a faint shadow, like the hollow impression of a person drawn from memory. Jaina’s own hand was light made flesh, searing bright through strips of enchanted cloth. The only things Jaina could see that had substance apart from herself were the inscriptions on Thalyssra’s skin, crawling with mana, and the staff over Thalyssra’s shoulder.

“Nobody knows except Oculeth, Valtrois, and Farodin,” Thalyssra murmured. “If anonymity is still what you’re worried about. Nobody will recognise you. Especially not like this.”

Steeling herself, Jaina nodded. “I’ll go.”

Thalyssra may have smiled at her, but Jaina could not tell. She helped Jaina rise to her feet. As the sheet fell away and Jaina stood, she stared down at her cloth-wrapped feet and legs. It was one thing to understand that the only thing currently keeping her body together were enchanted wrappings, and quite another to actually see it.

"Here."

Jaina glanced up to find Thalyssra's silhouette holding something out to her. Slowly, Jaina took the object, only to realise it was her Kul Tiran cloak. Like this, she could barely see the traditional Navy blue of the material, and the fur draped across the shoulders for additional protection against the weather of her homeland. When Jaina swung it over herself and drew up the hood, it did little to disguise what she was, but it did make her feel surprisingly better.

"Thank you."

Thalyssra inclined her head, "Of course. If you require anything else -"

"I'll let you know."

Jaina had to walk slowly. Every obstacle in her path just appeared to be another shadow. She stumbled on the first step of the staircase, and Thalyssra caught her arm to stabilise her. And yet the oddest part about the whole thing was that her toe did not ache despite stubbing it against the stone floor.

“Are you alright?” Thalyssra moved her hand down so that their fingers tangled together. Jaina had never wished she weren’t covered head to toe in cloth wrappings more than in that moment.

“I’m fine. It’s just difficult to see,” Jaina admitted.

Thalyssra did not let go of her hand as they continued up the stairs, and Jaina did her best to focus on the staff slung across Thalyssra’s back, leading her on like a lantern through the dark. Jaina followed, half-blind and sluggish. Like moving through water, the air always fighting back. At one point, she wondered if she pushed off the floor hard enough, would she drift towards the ceiling. She gripped Thalyssra’s hand tighter.

They stopped on the floor beneath the main level of Shal’Aran.

“Wait here,” Thalyssra said. “I’ll go get them, so you don’t have to walk through the crowd.”

In a brief panic, Jaina tightened her hold on Thalyssra’s hand before coming to her senses.

“I’ll be back in just a moment. Have a broken a promise to you, yet?” Thalyssra squeezed back, slowly disentangling their fingers, and then walking away.

Jaina huffed a joyless little laugh. “No,” she said to the empty air.

The floor directly beneath the arcan’dor was a latticework of leylines, like veins or roots plunged deep into the ground. The effect only gave her a sense of mild vertigo. Tearing her gaze away, she looked up, where the arcan’dor seared the air white with energy. The tree burned bright enough to make the rest of the world slough away into a dim soup.

It was like being back in the Sanctum of Order, beneath the spell of the Nightwell. Potent arcane energy flowed from the arcan’dor in crystalline eddies like a song. She could almost taste the mana in the air, pure and rich.

“I wasn’t aware the Consortium had a vested interest in Suramar,” a voice said.

Jaina jerked around, trying to find who had spoken to her. She squinted, but it did not help. A silhouette stood before her, broad-shouldered and with the faint mimicry of a face, like a smudged child’s drawing of facial features.

She tried to remember what Ethereals sounded like, and finally settled on, “Can I be of assistance?”

The figure may have smiled. She could not tell. “Only if you trade for gold.”

Jaina spread her hands. “I have nothing to sell.”

“That’s not very like your kind,” the figure chuckled, a deep sound. “But don’t worry. It’s information I’m after. I’m looking for someone. A woman. You may have seen her here. Lady Jaina Proudmoore.”

Hearing her own name, she hesitated for just a moment too long.

The figure took a step closer. “I see you know her.”

“Passably,” Jaina replied in what she hoped wasn’t too dry a tone.

“If you could deliver her a message, I would make it worth your while.” And with that, the figure held out something in their hand.

Hesitant, Jaina took it. A quick look inside revealed it to be a bag heavy with gold. She could just see the glint of light across the stamped metallic faces.

In truth, she had little need of gold, but appearances must be kept. She tucked the bag away into an interior pocket of her cloak. “What is your message?”

“Tell her Khadgar hopes she is on the road to recovery, and that she always has a place among the Kirin Tor, should she ever wish to rejoin us. I’d hoped to tell her myself, but the First Arcanist is surprisingly tight-lipped about her patient’s whereabouts. And fair enough, I suppose.” The last he sighed with a shake of his head. “If she should want to seek me out, I will be helping in Suramar as much as I can in the coming weeks.”

Jaina studied him for a long moment. Knowing now who he was, she could almost recognise him: the hang of his cloak, the cut of his hair and jaw. “I will pass along your message.”

Something about his face shifted, and he nodded. “A pleasure doing business. My best to Haramad.”

His form bent in upon itself and flew away. Jaina sighed to herself. She had always hated when druids did that; Khadgar, while not a druid, was no exception.

She was weighing the bag of gold in her hand, when she heard: “And what’s that you have there?”

Jaina turned to find three shapes walking towards her. One she recognised as Thalyssra only by the grace of her staff’s familiar arcane energy.

Jaina gave the bag a little bounce in the palm of her cloth-wrapt hand. “Someone has already mistaken me for a member of the Consortium.”

“Oh, good! You can raise some money for the cause over the next few days, at least.” There was no mistaking that was Valtrois.

“Yes, and it’s all going to Oculeth’s exemplary research,” Jaina said.

“What?”

One of the figures raised a triumphant fist into the air. “Yes!”

Thalyssra on the other hand sounded concerned, “What did this...client want from you?”

“Nothing I didn’t already have.” Jaina tossed the bag of gold towards Oculeth, and he caught it with a graceful mock bow in her direction.

"So," Oculeth leaned forward, and though his voice sounded excited, Jaina could not make out the expression on his face. "What's it like?"

Jaina thought for a moment before answering. "I don't itch anymore."

At that, Valtrois shrugged and made a noncommittal noise. “Better than nothing, I suppose. Though I was hoping for something a bit more -” she motioned towards Jaina “- substantial, given your current condition.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. What I meant to say was: For enough gold, I will reveal to you the secrets of the universe.”

“That’s more like it. Do I get a friends and family discount?”

“Yes. It’s twice the normal price.”

Valtrois made a rude gesture with her fingers.

The days passed in a blur. Jaina had very little grasp of the passage of time. She could only tell it was night when Shal’Aran fell quiet, and few people wandered the upper floor. The confrontation with Khadgar made her bolder; she braved the upper floor in the full confidence that she would not be recognised.

To her great relief, nobody else tried to approach her for trade with the Consortium, though she presumed members of both the Horde and Alliance continued to flow to and from the shelter of Shal’Aran. Even spending a few days as an Ethereal, she could not get used to faces and objects. Few dared speak to her directly. Those that did were usually after the latest news from Shattrath City.

A Nightborne child tried to speak with her once, but a parent quickly rushed over and dragged them away. Jaina would have laughed, had she not been so strongly reminded of Derek. Also laughing would have only made the situation worse. A lot worse.

It felt like only an afternoon. Like a single, long, unbroken day from the summers of her childhood memories. One moment, she was idly strolling beneath the arcan’dor’s branches with Farodin, discussing the finer details of the Emerald Dream’s connection to the arcane. The next, Thalyssra was leading her to the lower levels to remove the cloth bandages.

“Has it been three days already?” Jaina asked. Valtrois and Oculeth trailed after them, talking amongst themselves in low tones.

Thalyssra gave her an odd look. “It’s been nearly four. I thought it best to err on the side of caution.

Back in the chambers beneath Shal’Aran, Thalyssra shut Valtrois and Oculeth out from the partition despite their complaints.

“What if you need help?” Valtrois insisted.

“Then you’ll be the first to know,” Thalyssra said, shutting the screen so that she and Jaina were left in relative peace. She took Jaina’s cloak and hung it. As she did so, Jaina sat upon the low table, where she had spent so many hours toiling beneath Thalylssra’s needle. Cushions sank beneath her weight.

When Thalyssra turned to her, she knelt at Jaina’s feet. Carefully, she untucked the first strip of fabric from around one ankle. Then she paused, and glanced up. “Are you ready?”

Jaina’s hands tightened around the edge of the table. She nodded.

“Tell me if you feel anything strange.”

“Define: ‘strange.’”

Already starting to slowly unwind the cloth, Thalyssra shrugged. “These are uncharted waters, I’m afraid. Even if it’s an odd feeling, or upset stomach -- don’t hesitate to tell me.”

“Right,” Jaina breathed.

Thalyssra did not hasten. She guided her hands around Jaina’s leg with utmost precision, making sure to neatly roll the strips even as she unravelled them. One leg was revealed. Thalyssra pinned another roll of cloth shut with a small needle, and set it aside with the others on the ground. Another leg was unwrapped without incident, but Jaina blinked when she stared down at her bare ankles.

“They’ve -” she nodded towards her own legs. “- gone dark. Like a light dimming.”

Thalyssra stopped. She held up a pin between thumb and forefinger. “Can you feel this?”

Reflexively, Jaina flinched when Thalyssra prodded her still wrapped arm with the needle, but the expected pinch of pain never came. She shook her head.

“How about this?”

When Thalyssra poked at her ankle, Jaina jerked her foot back.

“Ow!”

Thalyssra placed the needle aside. “I’m going to take that as a good sign. Let me know if anything else changes. Could you stand for me, please?”

Jaina stood until Thalyssra had unwrapped her up to the waist, at which point she was allowed to sit back down. As each strip was unwound, more of her skin was revealed, and the cold air prickled.

“Here.”

Jaina felt a blanket being draped across her lap. She pulled it over herself with a grateful shiver.

When Thalyssra had finished unravelling Jaina’s arms, Oculeth’s voice said from over the screens, “Can we at least come in for the final reveal?”

“It’s nothing we haven’t seen before!” Valtrois added.

Thalyssra looked at Jaina, but made no move. “It’s up to you.”

“Let them in, or we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Standing, Thalyssra made her way towards one of the screens. She pulled it back and stepped aside. She said something in Shalassian that may have been a warning or simply an instruction, for both Valtrois and Oculeth immediately stood quietly on the outskirts of the partition. One of them gave Jaina a little wave, but with her face and shoulders still wrapped, she could not tell which.

As Thalyssra returned, she started with a strip of cloth wound around Jaina’s chest and shoulders. “Almost there,” she murmured. “Still nothing?”

Jaina shrugged the blanket a little higher as each ribbon of enchanted cloth revealed more skin. “Just a little cold.”

Thalyssra worked her way up, peeling away layer after layer. Jaina kept her eyes squeezed tightly shut, wary of any sudden change that might overcome her the moment it was all finished. She could feel her hair trickle loose down her back and around her shoulders in strands as it fell free of its bonds. As the last strip was removed, Jaina braced herself, shoulders tense, face screwed up, eyes closed.

Someone tapped her shoulder, and she opened her eyes. The world still held a trace of darkness, like shadows clinging thickly to the corners of a page, but she blinked it away and soon everything came into focus.

Three unfamiliar faces gazed down at her. They were all of them Nightborne, city-sleek and appearing as though they were ready to attend a royal court at a moment’s notice. Jaina was suddenly very aware that she was very naked beneath the blanket. Clearing her throat, she discreetly tugged the velvety cloth just a little bit higher up her chest, and held it more firmly in place there.

“Don’t go all bashful on us now,” one of the Nightborne said in Valtrois’ voice. Scythe-like ornaments made of pure beaten gold arced over her shoulders. Jaina could read the runes stitched into the woman’s long robes that enchanted the ornaments to float in midair. The woman smiled, revealing long, sharp ivory teeth. “I won’t stand for human prudishness after all we’ve been through. Besides, who do you think helped wrap you up in the first place?”

“Now, now, Valtrois,” said the man in Oculeth’s distinct timbre. “If you want to make our guest blush, that’s not the way to go about it.”

And with that he swooped down to clasp Jaina’s face between his hands and kiss both of her cheeks. Jaina spluttered and blinked as he pulled away. He was grinning down at the flush that had risen to her cheeks, and said, “Forgive me, Lady Proudmoore, but I have been waiting to do that for weeks.”

“It’s fine,” Jaina said faintly.

“That’s quite enough, you two,” the last Nightborne admonished her colleagues, and Jaina started at the sound of her voice.

Wide-eyed, Jaina turned to look at the last of the three standing over her. The woman held her head at a tilt as she watched Jaina. Her hands were clasped, and her fingers bled with silvery arcane energy. Beneath the hood she wore, which cast her face in partial shadow, her eyes gleamed like pale starlight.

Jaina swallowed; she recognised the robes this woman wore -- rich, and heavy, and plum-dark. When the robes had been in Jaina’s possession, she had never imagined what they would look like when worn. Now, she had to jerk her gaze away from the slits in the fabric that revealed a generous length of thigh.

“How are you feeling?” Thalyssra asked.

“Fine,” Jaina answered. And for the first time in a long time, it was not a lie. She touched her own chest with one hand, letting herself grow accustomed to the idea that she was not merely bound light and energy. The tattoos glowed faintly with every heartbeat. Jaina stared at the back of her hand, at the elegant patterns engraved upon her arms and shoulders. Perhaps she was still light and energy, knit together by magic and sinew. Perhaps she was something else entirely. “Good. I feel good.”

Behind them, Valtrois said in a smug tone, “I told you it would work.”

Thalyssra smiled warmly. As she leaned down to gently grasp Jaina’s shoulders, Jaina froze, gripped with the sudden thought that Thalyssra was going to do as Oculeth had done. Instead, Thalyssra placed a soft kiss on her brow. “It’s good to have you back.”

#jaina proudmoore #thalyssra #first arcanist thayssra #jaina proudmoore/thalyssra #world of warcraft #wow #roman writes #no end in sight

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smilingformoney · 5 years ago

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America’s Most Eligible 3 Diamond Scene: Cheer Up Carson

You: Okay, Carson. I’ll help you work out your Ivy woes, for old time’s sake. Carson: Thank you, Jamie! I’ll even take you to the top-secret AME bourbon cellar as thanks. You: I swear, this place has more secret locations than a supervillain’s lair. Carson: Just you wait. You’re about to have your mind blown!

A short walk later, you’re standing in a rustic, immaculately-stocked bourbon cellar! You: Whoa… Your nose fills with the sweet scent of bourbon ageing in barrels stacked along the walls. You: How long has this been here? Carson: The long answer? Since I realised stress pairs perfectly with two fingers of Black Maple Hill 16-year-old Small Batch bourbon on the rocks. You: And the short answer? Carson: I had it constructed and written into my contract halfway through Season 1. Carson reaches high up on the shelf and grabs a dusty bottle with a plain-looking beige label. He pours a large amount of bourbon into two small glasses, then offers you one. Carson: To celebrate your upcoming wedding. Congratulations, Jamie. You: Salud!

-Knock it back!

You close your eyes and toss back the shot of bourbon. You shiver as your belly fills with warmth from the sweet, smoky liquor. Carson sputters as he swallows his small sip. You: What? You expect me not to take a shot that’s sitting in front of me? Carson: It’s not a shot, it’s a glass. That ‘shot’ is worth more than your wedding. This bourbon’s 100 years old! You: If it’s any consolation, it was a really good shot. Carson takes a long sip of his bourbon, then starts to rub his temples. Carson: I thought the bourbon would help me sort out my feelings, but I’m still as conflicted as ever. You: Are you? You like Ivy, she likes you. Sounds like a pretty straightforward situation to me. Carson: That’s exactly why it’s so complicated. It should be simple… but there’s so much history between us. You: Then consider me a historian. Dish. You give Carson a friendly nudge. He smiles softly, then takes another sip of bourbon and sighs. Carson: I’m worried what Ivy and I had was just a fling for her… but it was so real for me. Carson: And I want it to be real, but I’m worried she only sees me as someone who can secure prizes and fame for her. You: All you need to do is prove to her that your feelings are real. She’s had enough showmanship for one lifetime. Carson: I just don’t know if she’ll ever take me seriously as a romantic partner. You: You’ll never know unless you go for it. Otherwise, you’ll always be left thinking ‘what if…’ Carson: But how do I woo her without scaring her away? Carson: I only have one shot left, Jamie. An improbable, complex shot. You: What you’ve got is a complex person. Honestly, there’s a lot of things that turn Ivy off. Carson: Which is why I’m at such a loss. I haven’t felt this way since they discontinued my favourite pomade. Carson: I can’t live like this, Jamie. What do I do? You: I can’t help you be a good boyfriend, but I think I know how to secure that first date.

You: When you start wooing Ivy, you should… -Make her work for it. -ADVICE

You: Play hard to get! Even make it seem like you don’t like her! You: The more you push her away, the more she’ll come to you. Carson: I’m not so sure about that… Carson: Ivy’s been playing games her whole life. She deserves to know someone will be there for her. You: Oh! That’s… a really good point. You: See? You already know what to do.

-Treat her like a queen. +ADVICE

You: After dating someone like Vince, she deserves a partner who will cherish and treasure her. You: She needs someone to lift her up. Carson: Of course! Just like my hair! You: What? Carson: My hair and Ivy have both been repeatedly damaged. Now they need something to help them stand tall again. You: Not the way I would put it, but I’m glad you’ve got the gist, Carson.

Carson takes another sip of his bourbon then starts pacing around the small cellar. Carson: But what do I do once I get her attention? Carson: I used to think I knew what Ivy wanted in a man, but since she got with Vince… Carson: Do I even know what she wants anymore? Does she? You: Of course, that’s easy!

You: Ivy hates when men… -Give her expensive gifts. -ADVICE

You: Ivy is a simple, salt-of-the-earth kinda gal. Forget fancy gifts, she only needs words to sustain her. Carson: Are you sure we’re talking about the same Ivy? The woman practically sustains herself on Hermes scarves and Tiffany necklaces. Carson: I doubt she’d mind if I bought her a Cartier bracelet… or three. You: That’s a solid point. Carson: And, not to brag, but after twelve seasons of AME I’ve got the cash for it. You: Still kind of bragging, but you’re right. You can provide for Ivy in more ways than one.

-Treat her like she’s fragile. +ADVICE

You: If you treat her like she’s some delicate flower, it’ll turn her off immediately. Carson: I would never! You: Good. Treat her like an equal from the start, and try not to patronise her. Carson: My Ivy-profen is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met. I couldn’t dream of treating her any other way.

Carson stops pacing, then comes to stand next to you at the makeshift bar. You place a comforting hand on his shoulder. You: I know you’re nervous. It can be scary to go for something that means a lot to you… especially when it feels safer to live in the fantasy of it. You: But you know Ivy. There’s a lot more to her than her tough façade. Carson: I know… I just don’t want to be another person in her life that lets her down. Carson: What if I can’t give her what she needs? You: You can, and you will.

You: Deep down, Ivy is just… -A hopeless romantic. +ADVICE

You: You saw the way Ivy’s face lit up at the wedding showcase. She loves love. You: As long as you keep the romance alive, then your relationship will flourish.

-Looking for stability. +ADVICE

You: She’s had a rocky life full of people who haven’t exactly had her back in the past… including her own mother. You: If you make sure she knows you’ll be there for her through thick and thin, you’ll win her heart.

Carson: I can do that. Carson downs the rest of his glass, then pulls you into a sloppy bear hug.

-If you gave good advice

Carson: You know what, Jamie? I get why people are always reaching out to you. You: Because I give great advice? Carson: Well, yes. But you listen, too. Which is just as important.

-If you gave poor advice

Carson: I gotta be honest, that wasn’t the best advice I’ve ever received… Carson: But talking to you helped me work out my worries. I think I just needed someone to listen. You: I’m always here to listen, Carson.

Carson smiles at you, and you start to see tears welling in his eyes. You: Carson, are you crying? He pulls an expertly pressed pocket square from his lapel and dabs his eyes before answering. Carson: I know I’ve pulled some messed-up stunts in the past… You: I think AME’s lawyers would classify them as more than that, but go on. Carson: But I think I just realised how much I’m going to miss you, Jamie.

-If you’re marrying Jen

You: Don’t worry, you’ll probably be seeing a lot of me still because of the threesome… Carson: Wait, I never agreed to— You: Jen and her two loves… me and AME. Carson: Right.

-If you’re marrying anyone else

You: I’m gonna miss a lot about this place. I think I’ll always have a soft spot for the way your hairspray smells. Carson: It’s hard to go wrong with warm vanilla and spice… and just a hint of isopropyl alcohol.

Carson gestures to the bottle of bourbon still on the counter. Carson: One for the road? You: Nah, someone told me it’s more of a sipper than a shooter. I think I’d be doing it a disservice. Carson chuckles as he sets the glasses in the sink, then places the top shelf bourbon back on the top shelf. He faces you, lighter and smiling. Carson: Thank you for sticking it out. This show wouldn’t shine the way it deserves without you.

You: Aw, Carson… -I couldn’t have done it without you. +50

You: You sure caused some chaos, but that chaos helped us make some damn good TV. Carson: We made a pretty good team, you and I. You: However backwards it was at the time.

-I’ll miss you too, ya weirdo. +50

You: You and all your eccentricities. Despite everything, I’ve grown to see you as a friend. Carson: I couldn’t agree more.

You: I might not be here, but don’t doubt I’ll be rooting for you from the sidelines. Carson: I can’t wait to see what you do next, Jamie. And for what it’s worth… I’ll always be rooting for you too.

#playchoices #choices stories you play #choices ame #choices america's most eligible #america's most eligible

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mentalpolaroids · 4 years ago

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CH | 18. cold dinner

CH 17

🔸

I grabbed a chair and placed it in front of Noah, where I was before on my knees. I held his trembling hand while I wiped some tears from his face, that held a tired and defeated expression. It broke my heart to see him like this. Seeing someone so goofy, energetic and always positive looking so broken, made my heart ache, and it felt even worse because it was my best friend. That I was mad at. I couldn't help but feel guilty about all of it. There were no tears left on Noah's face but my hand stayed there caressing it, silently letting him know that I wasn't going anywhere. I took the time to analyse his bruises and how they needed to be taken care of so they wouldn't look so bad when healing.

"I'll be right back.", I said in a quiet voice, afraid I would scare him if I spoke louder.

I went inside to look for the first aid kit. Dylan was on the couch, staring at nowhere in specific. He heard me come inside and got up.

"How is he?"

"Better I think. He seems calmer."

Dylan nodded and sat back down, running his hands through his hair.

"And you? How are you?", I asked

"Could be better."

"Everything will be ok, just give it time, ok?"

He nodded again and gave me a weak smile. I made my way to the bathroom to find the first aid kit and, when I found it, I went back to the backyard, smiling lightly at Dylan as I passed through the glass doors. Noah was still in the same position he was when I left, the only difference was that he looked more relaxed and he even looked up when I got near him. He followed me with his eyes as I sat down in front of him and looked through the small white box for something to clean and disinfect the small cuts and bruises on his face. When my eyes met his, all I wanted to do was kiss all his pain away and make him feel like the most loved person in the world. I wanted to comfort him, protect him, make sure he knew how much I cared about him. It was getting harder to stop my feelings for him from growing and even harder to hide it, at least from him. And seeing him like this was making things get out of control. I cleaned his bruises, both of us still not saying a word, but that wasn't necessary. The way I was taking care of him showed that I forgave him for earlier. I didn't care if he broke his promise, I just wanted to make sure he was ok. Kevin's words were stuck in my head for the rest of the day and for more it bothered me to admit, it would be hypocritical of me to stay mad at him for something I usually did too. Noah didn't take his eyes off of me the entire time I was taking care of his face. It was actually making me nervous, but a good kind of nervous. I think he was trying to tell me he was thankful that I was there with him. I was putting some things back in the box when his raspy voice broke the silence.

"Thank you. And I'm sorry about earlier, I really am. I should've talked to you."

I stopped what I was doing and looked at him. I was glad he was talking but I couldn't help the guilt that took over me.

"I should be the one apologizing. I should've been more understanding with you. I'm sorry."

He shook his head and took the first aid kit from me and put it on the table next to us. What he did next took me by surprise but I can't say I didn't like it. He grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet just to pull me again and make me sit on his lap. The butterflies in my stomach were going crazy and they almost melted when he secured me against him with his arms around my waist. As instinct, my arms went around his neck and, with his face hidden in my neck, we stayed like that, just appreciating each other's presence and comforting each other with our closeness. I wanted to stay like that forever. Even though I was loving the moment, comfortable silence and all, I decided to break it a little

"I don't ever want to fight with you again.", I pretty much whispered.

"Me neither.", his lips were warm against my skin and I just hoped he didn't notice what the movements of his mouth were doing to my body, "I can't stand the idea of one of us being mad at each other. I need you too much to stay away from you for too long."

I swear I almost melted right there in his arms. I almost cried too. With my fingers in between his hair, I kissed his forehead. Noah sighted and pulled me even closer to him. At this point, we weren't even trying to hide the undeniable affection we felt for each other. We were just there comforting each other and reinforcing the bond we had and that, from now on, we were sure would never break.

That night, I convinced Noah to get a new job so he wouldn't have to spend so much time with his dad. Dylan helped with the idea too, saying it wasn't healthy, physical and mentally, for Noah to keep pushing himself to the limit to deal with the man. For my best friend's luck (and mine), one month later I was offered a spot on the web designing department, which led to the need of a new assistant and that's where Noah comes in. I arranged an interview with Mr. Robins and, with a lot of compliments from my part, Noah got the job. He looked a lot happier and carefree and he was surprisingly good at the job. Not that I expected him to suck because, even though he needed a job, I wouldn't suggest that one for him if I knew he wouldn't be a good fit for it. Plus, I got to see him wearing something that wasn't sweatpants and oversized t-shirts. It blessed my eyes to stare at a computer all day. Everything seemed to be wonderful but, as always, my peace just can't last that long. For that entire month, I saw Julio, pretty much everyday, on the other side of the street when I was leaving the company to go home, sometimes I would even see him wandering outside my usual restaurant during my lunch breaks. I was feeling more paranoid and scared than ever since all this stalking began, because I could count with my fingers the few times Julio wasn't there. I don't think Noah noticed him every single day but he knew he was there, my body language was enough for him to know that something was bothering me, and if something could bother me this much, it was Julio. Fortunately, now that Noah and I worked together we didn't have much choice but to ride together. That was the only thing helping me keep my shit together and Noah was a huge support in that. It was evident it was bothering him too, angering him even, but he kept his cool for me and faced the issue with trying to comfort me instead of confronting Julio and making a scene in front of his workplace, which was smart. Everyday was a battle to push the situation to the back of my mind, that's why I was so excited to go out for dinner with my favorite people. I needed a distraction, and nothing better than the squad together to put my mind at ease.

After work, when Noah and I arrived at my house, Kevin was already there with Dustin and I was sure we had just interrupted a make out session, if Kevin's hair and Dustin's naked torso were any indication. I swore someday I would catch them in the act and I would be traumatized forever, Kevin forgets he doesn't live alone and that I can walk in at any moment. Horny bastards.

"Warming up before dinner, I see.", Noah just couldn't keep the teasing to himself.

"Shut your mouth, Carson, that's just your jealousy talking."

"Hey, Kelly, Dustin thinks I'm jealous of their love making, should I prove them wrong?", he said, as he walked towards me and wrapped my arms around my waist in a, what I hated to admit, seductive way and made me look up at him with a hand on my chin.

"Don't you dare."

He laughed, completely going out of his cocky character and being his goofy and adorable self.

"I'm just kidding, babe, I would never do that in front of your brother."

It was Kevin's turn to laugh, hysterically, might I add, and Dustin almost choked looking at my stunned face, that was red as hell. Hanging around three guys just takes a lot of energy.

We all got ready to leave and decided to drive both cars (Noah and Kevin's), me driving with Noah and Dustin with my brother. Arriving at the restaurant, we didn't see Camila but we decided to go inside. It was too cold for us to just stand there. Like I said earlier, my peace doesn't last very long and, that night, it wouldn't even show up. Julio showed up instead. Camila had the innocent brilliant idea of bringing him. Noah went stiff by my side, Kevin activated his protective older brother mode and I was fuming and willing to make an excuse and go home. I felt Noah's hand on my waist pulling me slightly closer to him and, when I looked up at him, I saw him looking at Kevin, who was also looking at him. My brother nodded, as if approving of Noah's protection. I was glad I had them to back me up in case anything happened but I hated feeling this helpless and weak. I hated that Julio made me feel like this. Against my desire, we all sat down with the couple. Dustin was totally in the dark about everything and Camila was too in love to notice the creepy behavior of her boyfriend, so the two were the most cheerful about the greetings. We were six, Julio was in the middle, it was like he planned to sit somewhere I had no choice but to be near him. I sat down on the left side opposite of Julio, in front of Camila. Noah was beside me, in front of Julio. The environment was so heavy that I just felt like screaming out of anger. Camila was engrossing a conversation with me and I was trying really hard to focus on what she was saying, not only because she was totally oblivious to her boyfriend's psychotic manners but also because Julio's eyes were already on me, like he was just waiting for his girlfriend to get distracted for him to eat me with his eyes. Dustin was trying to engage a conversation too with Kevin and, for more worried that Kevin was, I knew he didn't want to ignore his boyfriend and, honestly, I didn't want my brother to waste time with Dustin or deprive himself from having fun because of me. For more nerve wrecking the situation was, knowing I still had Noah was a reassurance and I knew Julio wouldn't do anything with everybody around. At least anything else than staring.

We ordered, we ate, we talked... All of this with me trying to keep calm and maintain my posture. Camila and Dustin were still oblivious, Kevin was quiet but would participate in the conversations and Noah was about to snap. I could see from the corner of my eye that he was constantly taking deep breaths discreetly and staring at Julio for long periods of time. His leg was shaking under the table and I had to rest a hand on his thigh every time he started doing it in a failed attempt to calm him down. It was like the last dinner we had: Julio staring at me, Noah staring at Julio and me wanting to run the hell out of there. We were all in the middle of dessert when I felt Noah's leg shake again but, this time, my hand on his knee did nothing but make him speak up.

"Ok, can you please stop staring at her? You look like a fucking creep!"

His voice was loud enough to make a few people on the tables near ours look at us.

Julio's amused expression was replaced with one of surprise, I didn't know if of being caught or of Noah being the one to snap. I couldn't read Kevin's face but Camila and Dustin were confused. Very confused.

"What are you talking about, man?", Julio had the nerve to ask. Noah chuckled unamused.

"I'm just warning you, asshole, stop being a fucking creep! Leave her alone and respect you girlfriend!"

"Noah, what are you talking about?", Camila asked, now getting mad.

"Why don't you ask your boyfriend, Cami?"

"Noah..."

"No, Kelly, this is getting ridiculous!"

"Indeed it is, you need to calm down, Noah."

Julio's amused tone was making my blood boil and, apparently, it was doing the same to Noah's. He got up from his chair and rested his hands aggressively on the table.

"Listen here, you fucking..."

"Noah, enough! Not here, please, let's just go!", I pleaded, getting up from my chair too and grabbing his arm.

"Kelly, what the hell is going on?", Camila asked me. I just looked at her and shook my head, not sure if it was from disappointment, tiredness or not knowing what to say. I led Noah out of the restaurant and made him lean against his car. We stood in silence and I took the time to take some much needed deep breaths. I looked at my hands, that I had just noticed were shaking. I saw another pair of trembling hands wrap themselves around mine and being guided to a pair of warm lips.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make a scene, I just couldn't take it anymore."

"Don't worry about it, I understand. It's a good thing you lost it though, I don't think I could take it anymore either."

He smiled sadly and I just felt the urge to hug him. And that's what I did.

"Thank you.", I said, with my voice muffled by his chest.

"For what?", his arms wrapped around my shoulders and I let the weight of his head on top of mine comfort me.

"For defending me and protecting me. For being there for me. For everything, really."

"You really don't need to thank me for that. I do it because I care about you. So fucking much."

I smiled and melted in his warm embrace that felt like home compared to the icy breeze that greeted us that night.

Noah took me home and stayed there with me until Kevin arrived. I was already in my pajamas and cuddling with a pillow while watching tv. Noah had his head on my shoulder and I was sure he would fall asleep if it wasn't for the sound of keys opening the front door. Noah sat up and, after a yawn, kissed my forehead and said goodbye to me and Kevin, who sat down beside me.

"Crazy night, huh?", I joked.

"Tell me about it, I swear I was about to suffocate with questions from Camila and Dustin."

"How's Camila?"

"She's pissed at Noah. And I'm sure she'll want to talk to you."

"Yeah, I think the conversation I've been avoiding it's happening very soon."

After a few minutes of silence, Kevin went to bed and I was about to do the same when my phone rang with a text.

"What the hell was that back at the restaurant??? We have some talking to do girl."

🔸

CH 19

#cold hands #story #original story #angst #romance #oc #mentalpolaroids #noah centineo

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