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thespianbooks · 4 years ago

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A Court of Nightmares and Starlight //Chapter 2//

(Chapter 1) (Chapter 2) (Chapter 3) (Chapter 4) (Chapter 5) (Chapter 6) (Chapter 7) (Chapter 8) (Chapter 9) (Chapter 10)

Maybe I was sick.

As a high fae, I had never actually been sick before. In fact, I hadn’t been sick since before that fateful day in the woods; when I shot an arrow and killed Andras in his beast form. I cringed, my stomach churning at the reminder of Tamlin and his court. The memories of my past human life, of my life at the Spring Court, were only going to make me feel worse just as I was beginning to feel better. A few days had passed since I jolted awake and puked my guts up in the middle of the night. At first, I thought it was a one-off. A recurring nightmare that reared its ugly head, and my negative reaction to it. However, the next day my nausea spell returned with a vengeance in the middle of a painting lesson at my studio in the Rainbow. I barely had enough time to excuse myself and leave Ressina in charge before winnowing back into my bathing room at the estate before hugging the toilet again for the rest of the hour. By that evening, I had miraculously been able to eat a light dinner, but after a fitful couple hours of sleep that was plagued by another nightmare, I was in the bathing room once again.

I managed to hide my illness from the others that day, but I knew Mor was suspicious the next when I showed up to breakfast and only nibbled on a piece of bread with butter. She was the first to theorize I had the flu, and both Elain and Nesta prompted the question on whether fae could actually get sick. Elain was more curious than Nesta, who simply snorted a remark about how she thought fae were too powerful for common viruses. While it was meant to be more of a snarky comment than an actual question, I couldn’t blame her for it. After learning about how terrorizing a female's cycle was during my first year after being Made, I had also been curious regarding what other ailments fae experienced.

Such powerful immortal beings, like myself, aren’t so vulnerable to the common cold like humans are Feyre darling, Rhys had remarked with an amused grin when I asked him about it. But there are times we do fall prey to it on occasion. Although, it's more like a nasty, lingering flu since our symptoms are more severe than humans.

It made sense; as immortal beings with magical abilities, we wouldn’t experience the same ailments our human counterparts would. When we did, it would be more enhanced; just like a female's cycle was more exaggerated than a humans. I supposed as a more powerful and stronger being than a human, dramatic ailments were the trade-off. The more I thought about it, I figured Mor had probably been right, because as the next day and a half passed, my nausea spells lingered along with some body-aches and fatigue. I also noted a strange and faint glimmer in the pit of my stomach. It had been there for the last couple of days, and it felt strangely instinctual--intuitive, rather than a symptom of my illness. I thought of it even now, as I sat in the library with Mor and Elain; finalizing details for the party we were throwing on Starfall in a couple of weeks.

For the most part, my symptoms had subsided today. The nausea still lingered through most of the morning, but now as lunch was approaching, I was confident I would be able to eat and keep a meal down. The nightmares had stopped as well, and I was finally able to get a full-night's rest. After the night they began, I made sure to keep my wall of adamant up for Rhys. My stupid illness was the least of his worries while he was in the Illyrian mountains, and the least of mine as well.

“Feyre, what do you think?” Elain asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turned to her, “About what? I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening,” I admitted, reminding myself that now wasn’t the time to be drifting away in thought.

Mor giggled, amused. “I told you she wasn’t listening to anything we were just talking about. She’s too busy daydreaming and worrying about things she shouldn’t be worrying about.”

I rolled my eyes, “Well excuse me, Mor, but as High Lady I think I do have plenty to worry about,” I argued, but she merely waved it away.

“Leave the Illyrian camps to Rhys. He, Cassian, and Az can handle whatever situation might be brewing,” she reasoned.

I tried not to notice the way Elain’s face seemed to redden at the mention of the shadowsinger. While it was no secret that she and Azriel spent more time together since moving into the estate, I knew Elain still tried to avoid any conflict with Mor; despite the secret Mor still hadn’t revealed in the last decade. She had centuries at hiding her closeted feelings, and just as I had promised her during the war, I wasn’t about to reveal a thing. Despite wanting to ease Elain’s nerves in regards to the Cassian-Mor-Azriel situation, I knew it wasn’t my place. We had plenty of time to see things worked out as they should.

Nesta, on the other hand, had little regard for their delicate circumstance. On the rare occasion that she would join us for dinner, she frequently bit out any remark she could when she noticed any connection between Azriel and Elain. In the last decade, her hard edge did not soften a bit. Some years ago, I realized that would probably never change, and although she seemed in a better place now than she previously had been after the war, I was glad to know she was at least slowly allowing us back into her life. Things had been tense after I banished her from Velaris at the beginning of the decade, but after her period at Cassian’s cabin in the Illyrian mountains, I saw a flicker of hope on the horizon. She returned with Cassian after a year, and while I had been expecting nothing but contempt in those grey-blue eyes we shared, instead there was...an understanding. Our reunion was uneventful, but at least tensions were beginning to ease.

After learning Elain and I were working on the estate, she outright refused to have a room, but Elain insisted we include one anyway. She somehow managed to figure out a way to connect their quarters together, so at least when Nesta deigned to visit her, she would see she had a place of refuge from the rest of us. Amren and Elain were still the only ones she allowed closest to her; though from time to time I could hear her and Cassian with their usual verbal sparring matches in the library. She never discussed what happened in that cabin, at least not with me. I had an inkling she discussed it with Amren, but after her return I thought it best not to ask any questions. I was happy with our current standing, because at least she was here now and the rest could wait.

“I guess you’re right,” I amended, trying not to dwell on the Illyrian mountains and the tension Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel had to face in the camps.

“I’m sure they’re alright,” Elain added, “I’ve heard Cassian and Azriel talk about the Blood Rite. I bet they’re enjoying the final ceremonies right now.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I nodded in agreement, noting how quickly she threw in Cassian’s name before Azriel’s.

“And they’ll be home in a couple of days, which means we have to finish up this work now before Rhys gets back and holes you up in that suite of yours for Cauldron knows how long” Mor shot me a knowing grin as she rolled her eyes in mock disgust.

Elain’s face flushed again, but I merely shrugged, “I can’t help it if my mate finds me irresistible.”

“Does he know you’ve been sick?”

I sneered, turning to the paperwork laid out in front of me, “Let’s get back to party planning, shall we?”

Mor grinned again, knowing she had made it under my skin but said nothing else about it as we spent the rest of the afternoon finalizing our plans. Since moving into the estate seven years ago, we moved our Starfall celebrations from the House of Wind here. Elain had been the one to suggest we hold a grand party for all of Velaris; knowing full well our expanse of land allowed for such an occasion. I had been so happy to see that she was finally starting to return to her old self; to see just a bit of the person she was before she was Made, that I couldn’t argue. Even Rhys and the rest of the inner circle approved of the idea, and it became an annual tradition for us.

To my relief, I was able to eat lunch and an early dinner without experiencing any more nausea. After my meeting with Mor and Elain, Mor whisked her away for a shopping trip at the Palace of Thread and Jewels. I opted out, happy to wear my traditional Starfall gown Rhys’s mother created for me. Well over a decade later, and I never tired of wearing the same gown every year; it bore too much sentimental value to wear anything else. After the first couple of years, I tried playing with the look by adding different pieces of jewelry, but after trying and failing at several attempts to match a jewelry set with the gown, I now let Nuala and Cerridwen style it to their heart's content. They were better at dressing me anyway.

I sighed, eyes drifting from the paperwork on my desk to my office around me. The wall of windows to my right allowed the natural light in; accenting my off-white furniture and the pale lilac rug in the center of the room. After the nightmares of darkness and closed-in walls, I wanted nothing but open air and light. I wanted our estate to allow us to view the city at night as it was intended; bright and colorful lights in the distance as well as mirroring off the river. I wanted to allow the elements and natural cycle of the day to reflect inside and for everything to simply breathe comfort and home. After everything we had been through, we all deserved this bit of peace--and the estate served as that peace. I smiled to myself as I reminisced over the furniture pieces Rhys and I mulled over; after noticing the off-white color scheme I was planning, his argument had been that since this was the Night Court after all, we should-

I bolted upright in my seat; startled by the sudden flicker in my abdomen that ripped me from my thoughts; that same instinctual flicker I noticed a few days ago. I paused as it fluttered for a few seconds, like a miniscule heartbeat pulsing through my core. Just as quickly as it had arrived, it vanished. I remained unmoving, scared that the nausea would return along with it. When I felt nothing, I slowly reclined in my seat, loosing the breath I held throughout the ordeal. I had been feeling that flutter for days and related it to my symptoms; now that I was on the mend, I expected that to have gone away as well. It was such a strange and foreign sensation. It wasn't outright physical, more like a gut feeling personified. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact way to describe it, the only thing I could relate it to was the bond Rhysand and I shared.

Perhaps it was the bond letting him know I was sick, because not even a second later I felt Rhys run a delicate finger along my shields. I willed my heart to slow before lowering them just enough to allow us to communicate.

I felt that, you know

Felt what? Innocent. Just play dumb.

He wasn’t falling for it. Felt whatever it was that just rattled inside of you. Did you have another nightmare?

I was silent for a minute. He didn’t know what it was either; probably assuming it had something to do with the other night. No, I wasn’t asleep.

Have you been sleeping?

I sighed, knowing I couldn’t hide the last few days from him forever. On and off, I’ve had a few nightmares here and there.

I could feel his dark shadows roiling and gathering from here; concern immediately taking over my mate. Do you need me to come home?

My heart fluttered at the thought, knowing deep down I did want him here. It didn’t matter how long we were apart, a few hours, days, weeks; I would always want my mate at my side, but the rational part of me knew we had our obligations to attend to. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t like that period of weeks I had infiltrated the Spring Court before the war with Hybern.

No. You’ll be home in a couple of days. I’m fine now, I had a couple of bad nights but last night was actually good. No nightmares, and no puking. Not a total lie, but I felt like I could omit the suspected illness I had been experiencing. For now.

Those dark shadows lingered, as if trying to create a protective and calm aura around me. It was rare that Rhys had felt so possessive, and I knew it was an innate male-bonded reaction more than anything. Still, I felt his reluctance before he said anything else.

After this week is over, it's going to be a long time before I leave your side again

I smiled, part of me still finding it amusing when his feral male-bonded instincts took over. He still cringed and apologized whenever his overprotective behavior became too much and leaked out, but I knew it came from those primitive, feral ways of our ancestors.

I wouldn’t complain.

His shadows began to dissipate as he chuckled. The sound immediately filled me with want for him and I had to sigh deeply to quell it. I miss you.

I know

I could feel his smug grin as I sent him an image of my vulgar gesture. Prick

Always. I could almost see that grin on his handsome face as I moved from my seat behind my desk to an armchair on my attached balcony.

I’ll be back before you know it, my love, and we can resume our nightly attempts. Maybe this time apart is what we needed.

I looked out towards the city from my seat on the balcony, willing my heart not to ache at what he implied. The sun was setting on the horizon; its amber glow bathing me in its warmth as the image of my would-be son plagued my thoughts. I thought of the way those bright blue eyes sparkled, so like Rhys’s always did when the light caught them at a certain angle. He would be so beautiful.

Yes, he will be

I smiled, and closed my eyes as I leaned my head back. Just come back to me and we’ll see if we can actually make that happen

Oh, I have every intention of making sure that we do

I had to bite my bottom lip in an attempt to once again repress my desire. I pictured his suggestive grin, throwing my shields up once again in response and as a goodbye.

That night, I dreamt of those bright near-violet eyes as I had pictured earlier. Only this time, they belonged to a young Illyrian male that greatly resembled the High Lord of the Night Court as said High Lord led him through the camps he would one day train in.

(tags: @df3ndyr @judexcardanxgreenbriar @emikadreams )

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rebornghostgirl · 4 years ago

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Ok for drabble, please!

((Thanks for the ask… I want to do something different for this drabble, so I'm going to start on something new. This is very experimental, so my writing may be off.))

Phaedrus of a being: Shapeshifter or Reincarnate

It wasn't often that it got the chance to be up here in space, nor did it get to pick where it would go next. Usually, it would just be able to phase through the nearest open rift and assume its new identity there as it went along the cosmos, but this time something new was happening.

The giant being laid down on a giant nebula and stretched it's arms. It took a moment to enjoy itself in its personal space, a chance to relax wasn't very available at first. With one leg across another, it began to lazily swipe through different planets with it's finger, as if it was shopping for a new home. It'd set aside ones that seem probable, and moved on with ones that didn't seem like fun.

The being had a chubby feminine build and had gray skin made of stardust, ice, and metals; it's hair glowing from some kind of nuclear fission had strands of every color in existence. Stars made constellations all over its body and beautiful ice swirls covered it's legs and arms. Light spectrums shimmered in its eyes.

The being did not know what to make of itself other than that it can travel through these worlds as one of the many living creatures on it. It has found countless planets with countless beings to choose from, but for some reason, it liked to choose from earth.

Earth was beautiful as it was variable, with many different directions it can evolve into.

The being had seen anthropomorphic animals, humans with blue skin, and sometimes it saw humans and creatures of the fictional nature able to exist in its own multiverse, and so many more.

The being has the ability to settle on a world and eventually if enough time and attachment to the world decreases, it can move on leaving the body of what it became to continue living there. It has done so to many worlds and made many bodies.

It had taken a liking to multiverses where any and all fictional characters exist and live together in harmony. The being always found it funny where characters are fully aware of their own existence or lack thereof. It made the being feel better about its own feelings, because it can travel and fragment itself through so many worlds, it felt like it had a sense of existence, then again no sense of existence or being 'alive' at all.

Before it decided to make a new body it looked at the countless worlds it has already inhabited. It could see their fragments living within each world, some worlds having multiple fragments.

The ghost twins, Athena and Ares, is one. Santerprant and her family is another. Velocity Skyrusher, the cat, and her cog partner Rowan. These few are the being's favorite, however, with countless more bodies available.

These bodies, all made originally, by this being able to live in their respective universes, sometimes reusing or reimagining the same characters in different universes.

Sometimes the being gets hurt, emotionally or physically, most of the time by those it thought was trustworthy. But it has learned to look past the badness and the pain to see the world as it is, beautiful in all its faults. It has no concept of understanding human nature and it's something that it attempts to do so as it inhabits each and every fragment.

It has attempted to create its own world, one where it deems as perfect, with beauty and goodness everywhere. Unfortunately, the being has failed miserably many times, before realizing that you must have chaos and negativity to finish your world. When it realized that things must be at a balance it managed to create its first world. It made it about… 9 years ago. It was a world of fairies and U.N.I.Q.U.E teddy bears. It saw it and thought it was good, then rested.

As the years rolled on, the worlds have thankfully become more and more detailed and imaginative. But always remember, dear reader, that you can do it too, but it takes practice. The being has finally recognized that creativity takes as much practice as anything else in its life. It's lost count of how many worlds it has created by now, but it speculated to be in the hundreds.

Back to the matter at hand, it was time for the being to make a new fragment. When it first recognized its existence and sense of being alive, it felt almost powerless, unable to control where it flew, but with practice it was now confident of its abilities. It looked down on the worlds and universes for inspiration.

Boring, boring, boring… all the worlds began to look the same, maybe it was better off making a new world with its own wonders to find. But wait… who is… that?

Gazing off into a specific world where all Fictional characters exist. It, now identifying as a she, saw a man she thought was handsome. He has shoulder length gray hair, his eyes blue as the ocean with a sliver of green as if she was staring into an aerial photo of a lush tropical island. He was tall, refined, a bit eccentric, and most of all very kind. He was a bit older, but it just made his features more rugged and defined. It was like looking at a fine bottle of aged wine.

His voice was deep and had a charismatic rasp to it that made her adore every word he spoke.

Now she had to know his name, she began to shrink and fly close to the world, her hair flowing behind her spread out like two beautiful wings, circling the planet and its satellites to hear all the data she could about this world. The closer she got the more her heart soared, and the more her hair disintegrated.

She knew this feeling, it was romantic attraction, a curious feeling, often making her make rash and stupid decisions in an effort to love her new target.

Like this stupid and rash decision, she was flying too close to the planet's atmosphere and began to lose her 'wings' as her hair disintegrated into icy dust. With the loss of her ethereal hair, she began to take a new form. This form would be human in nature, and will be her to go to form of an african american pangendered girl. Plus sized, natural black coily/kinky hair, brown eyes, a hankering for knowledge.

For you had your home in the stars…

You had wings that soared among the heavens…

But you saw the earthly world in its beauty…

So you flew down to see it…

Not realizing the corruption and evil in it…

Such earthly filth melted your wings…

Your memory faded and scrambled, forgetting the home you once possessed...

10,000 years your soul shall wander…

If you'd seen the most, a philosopher you shall be…

You Will return someday…

Through philosophy, a good life, and love…

Will you go back to your home in the stars?

The goddess falling down not caring about herself or anyone. She must make this man happy, must enjoy the wonderful man this world has to offer. It's destiny, fate that she and he would find each other. She wants to give him so much that she can offer. Love is unconditional, you can give anyone love, just like her father from another world.

She began thinking of her ghostly father and his love for his partner, his name was Beauregard she thinks, she couldn't remember the name of the partner, or was it partners?

Her memory of her godhood and previous fragments were fading. She does have memories of being a scientist in this world. Was it? Was she forcing herself into this world, making a place for herself to be here?

Time felt like it was bending around her, as if it was accepting her into this world. As flesh and blood enveloped her body she felt it's earthly corruption fill her thoughts and mind. But it wasn't like any other thoughts of worldly desire. It was love… the thought of being with this man she saw. Being his partner, sharing love between each other. Flesh allows her to hug him. Flesh allows her to be with him and not just admire him.

Or maybe Plato meant it in a different way? You must find the stars and heavens on earth with love. To navigate the mysteries of life and find your heavenly home on earth with love. Be it with a partner or with friends.

Or better yet to fall in love with a friend. As she finished her thoughts, the godhood and all memory of it leaving her body, she fell with a loud thud next to the man.

Somehow unharmed, she still felt a type of pain and groaned a bit. The pain of being human begins now, she thought. The man gasped and reached down to help her up.

"Are you ok, ma'am?" He choked.

"Yes! Especially since you checked on me?" She said getting up.

"That was a nasty fall, ma'am. Are you sure you're ok?"

She wobbled back on her feet. "Y-yes…"

"Umm… What's your name?" He asked.

"My name is…" she scratched her head. "I don't remember…"

He gulped. "Oh no, You must've hit your head so hard you have amnesia now…"

"No it's not that… I don't have much of a place in this world." She said.

"Ma'am… Allow me to call an ambulance…" he said gently grabbing her hand.

She smiled. "No no… I just need to go home."

"B-but, If you forgot your name, then how can you know where your home is?" He sputtered.

"I don't know. What if I never had a home, in the first place? I know where I work… maybe that'll job more of my new identity." She shrugged. She felt that she did this before many times. It was like second nature to her now.

"Uh… all right, then. Maybe… you worded your sentences very strangely. I'll go, but if you can't remember, you'll have to let me call an ambulance." He said with a frown.

"Oh you noticed that… I'm impressed. But please… tell your name?" She asked.

"My name is Avery Richman… I came to live here in Japan from the goldstock Republic…" he said.

"Avery… Avery… such a lovely name… I am… I am… Athena… yeah that's my name. I'm a scientist here in Japan to study monsters and spirits. Ghost Biology is new nowadays… H-here's my keycard to my job." She pulled out a keycard from her pockets.

Avery blinked. "Well that was fast… still I feel I should take you to the hospital anyway."

"Only if You let me take you out for dinner… Must thank my hero for helping me." She smirked.

Avery frowned a bit but shrugged and returned the smirk. "You're strange, but polite. I'll humor you…"

As they walked away Athena felt like she nailed it. The romantic feelings of friendship bubbling in her heart. Avery was special, not everyone gets this feeling. Not even her closest friends got this. She looked up in the twilight sky and felt as if she was close to the stars once more again.

A voice rang out in her head. "Welcome to the living dead girl universe… Your name is Athena and this is your Significant other, now. I don't make the rules."

She blinked, but kept walking. "Living dead girl… but I'm alive." She thought.

The voice rang out again. "Not for long…"

#drabble #asktheghosthost #feel free to tell me what you think #thats for anyone #i wanna be a better writer

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ashes-2-cashes · 6 years ago

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Chapter 4 of Glitter and Gold is out now!

I've been working on this chapter for a while now and the very last 2 scenes were honestly the most difficult to write because I just couldn't get the feeling of right.

After a few frustrating attempts, I settled down for those two and honestly, I think they're the best visuals I've written lmao

anyways, thank you for all the kind messages, and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

Pale pink lips blew a puff of smoke from them, tentative blue eyes watching as the smoke swirled up and dissipated into the humid, spring air that blew in from the window. The sound of muffled footsteps on rug caught his attention as he watched from his peripheral vision. The steps stopped before the door, and soon, came a knock from the other side. He could see the shadow of the person through the cloudy window looking into the room, tall and patient as he rolled his eyes and took another puff, not uttering a sound in hopes they would go away.

“Jonathan, I know you’re in there. Can I come in?”

The detective blew the addicting nicotine from his lips slowly, sighing quietly and crossing his leg over the other. He still refused to answer his mentee, desite a feeling deep in his gut telling him to say something. He shrugged it off as paranoia and heard as Tyler sighed and leaned against the door, the old wood creaking with his weight.

“Acting like bad news and smoking isn’t going to help this case. Weren’t you the same person who told me that sometimes, we can’t save everyone, even when we try our hardest?”

“Just cut out Tyler. I’m sure Montoya needs you doing other things around the station.”

Before he knew it, Tyler threw open the door to the office and stomped his way inside, a scowl on his face as he glared at Jonathan and crossed his arms. The older man glared back, but showed no signs of moving from his place. The room was suddenly filled with a heavy silence that settled onto their shoulders as the younger tightened his hands into fists.

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? One second, you’re all over this case, the next, you step out and chase away the only two people with our best lead. Is there something you’re not telling us about? What did-”

“Ice it, Tyler. The only thing you should know is the reason I am doing this is to keep you and everyone else involved safe. This thing, person, god knows what at this point, is far more dangerous than any of the cases I’ve worked on before.” Jonathan took a last puff of his cigar before he put it out on the ashtray beside him, the last of the nicotine making swirls around his head before being blown away by the air coming in from the window.

“Every single case that you have taken that got you to where you are today were dangerous. You hunted and took down a drug lord with a single revolver when you were 20. You took down a knife-wielding, intoxicated murderer with your bare fucking hands when you were 21. So don’t give me that bullshit that this case is too dangerous.”

“Yeah but back then I wasn’t having visions of my dead mother!”

Tyler immediately went quiet, big blue eyes looking at his mentor with regret before he looked away and rubbed his arm. Jonathan pinched the bridge of his nose as he shook his head, mouth dry from all the cigars he had been smoking. He caught sight of his bloodied clothes bundled up and kicked underneath his table in an attempt to forget the events that had happened not even a day ago.

“Look I. . Just. . We’ll be at the hospital downtown if you need us.” whispered Tyler, so soft and vulnerable, that it nearly convinced Jonathan to accompany him. Almost. He knew Tyler was pulling the guilty card, and he’d be damned if feel for it so easily. He simply watched as Tyler sighed and walked to the door, standing at the doorway before glancing back over his shoulder at the detective.

“We need to catch this fucker, Jon. Not just for the people, or for your reputation, but for the city too.”

“Whatever you say, detective .” he mocked with venom in his tone as Tyler simply shook his head and left, closing the door behind himself. As soon as the footsteps faded away, the detective sighed and stood, walking over to his desk and pulling open a cabinet underneath. He stared at the typewriter stored inside and thought for a few seconds, before pulling it out and setting it down on his table. He loaded some paper into the old machine and sat down, staring at the buttons for a while before he started typing away.

When he thought he had enough for the time being, he stood up and grabbed the papers, clipping them together and placing them underneath a pile of folders. He grabbed his black jacket off the couch and threw it on, going towards the door and placing his hand on the light switch. Before stepping out, he glanced back at his empty office and took in the silence, dim light pouring in from a slight gap in the blinds.

He turned the lights off and closed the door behind himself, his shoes padding across the navy blue carpet underneath him.

“Sir, you’re going to have to talk to someone, you can’t just refuse information to detectives.”

“I ain’t talkin’ to no bull, sharper or not.” spat the injured man, crossing his arms and looking away almost childishly. Scott sighed as he rubbed his temple with one hand, the other holding onto Marcel’s leg gently.

“You cannot just refuse to help an officer, Marcey. It’s against the law.”

“Don’t call me Marcey.”

Cartoonz pinched his nose as he sighed with frustration, leaning back against his chair with his legs crossed. Ryan bit his lower lip as he fidgeted in the hard seat, moving a pen between his fingers almost impatiently. Tyler’s fists were closed tight, biting his tongue in order to hold back a nasty comment towards Marcel childishness. Before anyone could say anything, a nurse knocked on the door before peeking her head in, light brown hair tied back into a small bun in the back of her head.

“Excuse me for interrupting, but Detective Smith just arrived.”

Pushing open the door, she held it open for Jonathan who walked in and gave her a grateful, handsome smile. She giggled, before excusing herself from the room. Jonathan smoothed his shirt out before walking towards the bed, sparing not so much as a glance at the other three.

“I was told you refused to walk to my men about the events that happened.”

“Indeed I did, Detective. I have my reason.” Marcel said with confidence, sitting up slightly taller despite the pain in his ribs and chest. Jonathan nodded, before taking a seat beside the bed and resting his elbows on his knees.

“Well, now you have me here, so will you start talking or risk getting fined for obstruction of justice, Mr. Cunningham?”

“I’m ready to talk, Mr. Smith .”

“Then let’s start with the events that led up to the shooting. Where were you earli-” before he could finish, Marcel held up his hand to stop him, looking around at the other 2 detectives and Tyler with an ambivalent look. Seeming to understand, Jonathan turned to Tyler and jerked his chin towards the door, which had the younger man nearly fuming.

“What? No, we’re not leaving. We spent so much time trying to get this bum to talk, and once he actually agrees, you want to kick us out? I’m staying right here.”

“Tyler, this is an order. Get out before you’re forced to.” Jonathan hissed with an impatient look in his eyes, which had Tyler glaring back and shaking his head. Before he could stand, Ryan placed a gentle hand on Jonathan’s shoulder, quickly retracting it once Jonathan jumped away from it.

“To be quite honest, I agree with Tyler. Not only that, you seem to forget that we’re also helping solve this case, and anything this man tells you might be important to what we already have.”

With a sigh, Jonathan turned towards the injured man and his partner, who looked at him with a lack of agreement but said no more. Marcel leaned back into the pillows that were propping him up and sighed, before looking at Jonathan and licking his chapped lips slightly.

“You heard them, didn’t you?” he asked quietly, caramel skin glowing a pretty shade form the light that came in. the detective looked at him with confusion clear on his features.

“Hear what?”

“The windchimes. You heard them too, right? That’s why you came into the shop. You heard the windchimes.”

“Jon, what’s he talking about?” Luke asked as he say the younger man go stiff in his seat, blue eyes blown wide as a pale hand gripped the arm rest. He blinked, trying to force himself to say something, but all that came out of his mouth was a weak ‘what?’.

“Detective, you have done something foolish. This whole case will put all and every single one of you in danger, as well as your family. You need to drop this as soon as you can.”

“What the hell is he saying? We aren’t just going to drop this case, we’ve come way too far into investigating to simply leave it.” Tyler argued as the other two mumbled in agreement. Jonathan turned to look at them, before turning his attention back to the injured man. Scott looked equally confused on the other side of the bed, his hold on Marcel’s knee slightly tighter.

“How. . how did you-”

“No one just goes into that shop. Hell, know one even knows that shop exists . You coming in out of nowhere was no coincidence, unless. .”

“Unless what? Answer me!” the panic in his voice was evident as Jonathan tried to swallow back his nerves.

“Unless you understand alchemy.”

An unnerving silence settled over the hospital room as Jonathan felt the air had been punched out of him. Not a single person dared to move, not even breathe at that point. Soon, Scott broke the silence by pushing back his chair and getting up, walking to the other side of the room and looking out a window. Ryan gave his partner a look that had the older man shaking his head in confusion. Tyler stared at the dark skinned male with wide eyes, mouth feeling like cotton as a chill went up his spine.

"There's no way-"

“You told me you weren’t practicing it anymore, Marcel.”

All eyes were now on Scott as he had his arms crossed over his chest, slowly turning to glare at Marcel, who hung his head in shame.

“I know, but I had to. It was the only way I could get someone to listen.”

“Wait, what do you mean practice? Alchemy is a form of science, you can’t just simply ‘practice’ it without the necessary materials, none of which were found in both the store and your home.”

Marcel turned towards a confused Ryan, taking a deep breath in and sitting up all the way.

“Do you mind passing me the piece of chalk in my jacket?” addled by the bizarre request, the detective hesitantly nodded and got up, heading to the bloodied jacket stuffed in a plastic bag. Pulling a small piece of white chalk out of his pocket, he walked back over to the bed and handed it to the younger man.

“Thanks.”

Hissing in pain, he slipped his feet off the mattress, much to the protests of the rest. When he felt Scott and Ryan try to pull him back, he moved their hands off with a look in his eyes and slowly stood up, whimpering slightly at the white hot pain that shot up his chest and burned his lungs. Before anyone could tell what he was doing, he shuffled over to the nearest wall and started drawing something that had everyone but Scott’s attention.

“I don’t think this is really the time or place to be drawing-”

“Just watch.” Scott interrupted Luke, eyes glued on the wall with a disappointed impression in them. Before they could say anymore, the caramel skinned man stepped back slightly, letting the piece of chalk fall to the ground as he inspected the picture before him.

He had drawn what appeared to be a large circle, a smaller circle inside and with a bigger triangle overlapping them. Three smaller triangles crossed both the smaller circle and the triangle, their sharp edges barely touching the outer circle that seemed to bind everything together. Jonathan stood from his spot and came to a stop beside Marcel, looking at the piece with fascination as Marcel simply kept looking forward.

“What is this exactly?”

“It’s called a transmutation circle. It’s what helps begin an alchemical transmutation, such as turning lead into gold, or wood into a carving. This is one of the most basic circles that anyone who knows alchemy could use.”

“So you’re saying that, with this circle, alchemy is in fact possible without the need for science?”

Marcel turned towards Ryan, who was trying to sketch the picture in front of him into the leather bound notebook in his hand. He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled nervously.

“Not exactly. . In order to understand alchemy, you need to understand the basic rule of equivalent exchange, which is where something can only be changed if another thing equally as valuable is offered. Uh. . to sum it up quicker, it’s understanding what makes up the object, the deconstruction of said object, and the reconstruction of it into a different thing.”

“Jesus Christ, how the hell do you exactly know all of this?” Tyler mumbled from his place, head swirling with the information Marcel spewed out like nothing. The shorter man shrugged and rubbed his arm, before clearing his throat and facing the circle once more.

“Step back a bit, please.”

Jonathan immediately moved backwards and watched as Marcel got into a stance, before suddenly clapping his hands together in a form that resembled that of someone praying. What sounded like the echo is metal scraping something filled their ears, before a bright flash of electricity burst from the circle on the wall, forcing them to cover their eyes.

When the blast of wind and electricity faded, their eyes slowly opened to reveal Marcel holding a stone carving of a dragon in his hand. The wall was missing a chunk of it, making an indent that went in, in a weird pattern. The dark skinned man turned around to face the others as he held the dragon towards the detective, who hesitantly took it and examined it.

“This. . how. .”

“I deconstructed the wall and reconstructed it into this, while giving back what it needed to form. I’m pretty sure the alchemy you were taught does nothing like this, huh?”

“No. . not at all. .” mumbled Ryan, coming up next to Jonathan and looking at the small dragon with wide, curious hazel eyes.

Marcel smiled.

Suddenly started coughing hard, hunching over and gripping the front of his white shirt. Jonathan and Ryan immediately were on his side, trying to get him back into bed while Scott rushed out, his voice resonating the empty halls as he yelled for a doctor.

The dragon laid forgotten on the floor, it's head broken off from the impact.

“Y-You. . need to. . dr-drop it. .”

“Marcel, stop talking. You’re coughing up blood already, this isn’t any good for you!”

Marcel wheezed for air as he clapped his hands together once more, falling against the wall and returning it to its original state.

Two bloody handprints stained the white porcelain wall.

Both doctors and nurses rushed in, pushing him back into the bed as the detectives stepped back. Before Jonathan could go anywhere, Marcel grabbed the sleeve of his sweater and pulled him close, whispering through bloody lips,

“Trust no one.”

“Sir, his lung has collapsed and he’s going into shock, we need you to leave right now.”

Jonathan slowly nodded as Marcel let him go, eyes fluttering shut as he kept heaving for air. As the detective left the room, he closed the door behind himself and leaned against it, frozen for a moment as Marcel’s last words raced through his mind.

Trust no one.

Luke, Ryan, Tyler and Jonathan stayed with Scott, who looked like he was ready to have a mental breakdown any second. After what seemed like an eternity, a doctor opened the door and came out, which had Scotty jumping on his feet and rushing towards the man. The detectives stayed behind and, although they couldn’t hear the quiet conversation, knew what the news was by the way Scott’s shoulders fell defeatingly.

Jonathan slowly stood and walked over to the younger man, throwing his arm around his shoulder and attempting to lead him back to where they were sitting. Before he could even take five steps, Scott was pushing Jonathan away and glaring at him, backing up from the group of detectives.

Trust no one.

“Don’t fucking touch me. . It’s your fault this all happened and now. . now he’s gone. .”

“Scott-”

“Shut up! Just go away, leave!”

Before any of them could say anything, Scotty was walking back into the room, leaving them all in a silence that was deafening. Luke slowly stood from where he was and shook his head, walking towards Jonathan and placing his hand on his shoulder.

“You can’t save everyone, no matter how hard you try. Come on, we have more research to look for now.”

The blue eyed man simply nodded, still staring at the porcelain white door with a look of regret. Luke left him alone as he walked back to Ryan, who threw Jonathan a sympathetic look before walking into an elevator and leaving. Tyler stood by the chairs and waited for his ment- no, his friend to walk back, not saying a word as they both took the elevator down to the first level and walked out, leaving behind their only lead in the case.

Trust no one .

Three weeks later, Marcel’s warning came true.

He remembered that day so fucking clearly, so painfully. He remembered it as clear as crystal, the happiness he felt just days before at his wedding ripped away and torn to shreds with a few simple words. The blood he tasted in his mouth as he bit his lower lip, trying not to cry before the officer at his door, in front of the rest of his friends. The repulsive metallic taste that was left in his mouth, his swollen lip adding to the disheveled look he wore all day. Getting home and not being able to mourn, not being able to cry for him, not at his funeral, where he drowned in the sea of black rippling around him.

(distant - n u a g e s)

He remembered finally being alone in that church, black tie loosened and hair sticking up in various places as he made his way up the aisle, alone. He remembered reaching the shiny coffin, deserted in the church with marble statues of saints to accompany his abandoned soul. He remembered suddenly falling to his knees and letting out the most woeful cry, clutching the front of his suit as he cursed the heavens above, the hells below, cursing himself as he sobbed and screamed for the person who’d never come back.

He remembers the day Tyler died.

Jonathan found himself sitting in a large velvet wing chair in the little lounging area beside the chapel, chin resting on his pale hand and his suit wrinkled. His ankles were crossed as he was faced away from everybody else, the dim blue afternoon light washing over him and the carpet covered floor below him. He drowned out the quiet chatter in the background from mourning family members and friends, his mind wandering far, far away, to a place where only the statues of saints and the paintings of Jesus accompanied him in such a lonely little room. He could feel the cup of tea resting on his lap get colder by the minute, the smell of jasmine reaching his nose. Despite that, he kept gazing out the window, despondent blue eyes watching the waves hit the sandy beach, pulling the grains resting on the shore back to the depths of the endless ocean, where they’d rest until the end of times.

He could hear someone walking towards him, coming to a stop beside him and letting their hand rest at the top of the tall chair. Jonathan refused to move, watching from the corner of his eye as the person finally came into view and sat across from him.

Sitting in the chair in front of him was Tyler, his light brown hair combed back in a way that showed all his young and handsome features. He was dressed in the suit he wore to Jonathan and Evan’s wedding, his brown tie just a bit crooked like he always wore it. The sleeves of his grey blazer were rolled up, the blazer just slightly unbuttoned to reveal the cream coloured dress shirt underneath. Camel coloured chinos were custom tailored to rise just slightly above his ankle, leaving his brown leather shoes to shine in the dull light. The younger man crossed his right leg over the left one, resting his ankle on his knee and leaning lazily back against the chair.

For a second, the detective felt like falling apart all over again, letting the dam in his eyes break and leave a cascade of tears falling down his face. But instead, he watched Tyler from his position, not daring to move in case the vision of his best friend went away. The younger looked at him with an unreadable expression, baby blue eyes blinking slowly, lashing fluttering with every close of his eyes.

“Are you going to continue?”

Tyler’s voice sounded far away yet somehow, close, echoing for eternity inside his head.

“I don’t know. .” the detective whispered, afraid that the rest would think him crazy for talking to himself. Tyler smiled knowingly and huffed a soft chuckle.

“Liar.”

“What?”

“Liar. You’ve lied to me before and now, here you are, lying to a ghost. You do know what you’re going to do, Jonathan, you just haven’t come to terms with it because you’re afraid of letting go.”

Jonathan nearly threw his head back and laughed, but settled down for a quiet chuckle instead, blue eyes going as dark as the ocean outside. Tyler, however, simply kept on smiling, linking his hands together and playing with the ring on left hand. He looked so real, so alive, Jonathan nearly reached over to run his fingers gently over the pale cheek.

“Tyler, I’m-”

“Don’t. It wasn’t your fault. Nothing could’ve stopped the events of that day, no matter how much you wish and pray.”

“I’m just. . I’m so sorry for dragging you into this investigation. If I had just listened. .”

“If you would’ve listened to everyone else, you wouldn’t have come this far. You did good Jon, you really did.” Tyler whispered to him, his rich, gentle voice carried by the wind and blown like the petals in a white dandelion. Jonathan shifted and placed his tea down, before resting his elbows on his knees and hiding his face in his hands.

“Could you do me one last favour?” the younger asked, so small and soft, it made a lump form in Jonathan’s throat, making him unable to speak. He simply nodded, pressing the palms of his hands harder into his eyes to stop the tears from slipping out.

“Take care of Kelly for me, will ya? She’s a strong, independent woman, but right now, I know she needs all the support she can. She’s tearing, and I don’t want to see her breaking apart completely, dead or alive.”

“I-I promise. . we’ll take good care of her. .”

“Thank you.”

Looking up, he saw the image of Tyler slowly start disappearing, his outline becoming fainter and fainter by each passing second. Jonathan bit his lower lip, before letting a sort of whisper-cry escape his throat.

“W-Wait, Tyler. . ! I. . I need to know. What exactly did you find that night. . ?”

The dead look in those baby blue eyes sent a chill down his spine.

“The end of all.”

(Spiritual Fog - Sloati)

“That was a close call, Father. Are you absolutely positive you want to continue letting these filthy humans investigate us?”

“Do you dare doubt your father, child of mine?”

The strong, deep, rich voice of a man boomed through the empty room, silencing the person in a second and leaving them under an intensive gaze that could kill anyone, human or not.

“No, Father. I do not doubt the almighty strength and wisdom you bear.”

“Good. Now, why don’t you go introduce yourself to your new sibling?”

Slowly, the powerful man stood from his throne of stone and metal, walking down a small set of stairs and to the much shorter figure waiting for him with their hands behind their back. With a heavy hand on their shoulder, their Father led them further back into the tunnels, where a tall man struggled to get up, the muscles on his arms and back rippling underneath his shirt.

“Meet your new brother.”

Brown eyes watched as his new brother slowly turned to look at both him and his Father, head tilted slightly and watching them curiously.

Baby blue eyes blinked in the dark.

#glitter and gold #BBS #banana bus squad #h2o delirious #I AM WILDCAT #Cartoonz #ohmwrecker #fourzer0seven #basicallyidowrk #alchemy #im so sorry #but at the same time #im really not

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gumnut-logic · 6 years ago

Link

For the full version of this chapter, please see above. Please note the rating.

For an abridged version, with the usual Teen rating, please see below (and read the author notes)

Title: Gentle Rain

Warm Rain Series

Part Nine (abridged)

Author: Gumnut

28 - 30 Jan 2019

Fandom: Thunderbirds Are Go 2015/ Thunderbirds TOS

Rating: Teen

Summary: Sometimes it is so gentle, you don’t realise it is happening.

Word count: 1529 (abridged version)

Spoilers & warnings: Virgil/Kayo, Scott/OC, spoilers for Warm Rain up to this point in the timeline.

Timeline: Six months after ‘The Proposal’, almost a sequel.

Author’s note: For @scribbles97 There are two versions of this chapter. In the first scene a character decided he wanted to up the rating, so I have archived the full chapter on Ao3 and nowhere else. All other versions have the first scene removed. Personally, I would recommend reading the full version, as there is a great deal of emotional content in that scene, however for those who are not of the age for that rating or prefer not to read such content, please see this version. Again many thanks to @scribbles97 for her extensive assistance on this. I owe her soooo much chocolate.

Disclaimer: Mine? You’ve got to be kidding. Money? Don’t have any, don’t bother.

-o-o-o-

Missing scene

-o-o-o-

Em ended up on a lounger on one side of the balcony, shaded by the building. It was quiet, the breeze was lovely, and after pulling out her tablet to read one of her latest medical journals, she found herself drifting off to sleep. Still recovering from her own injuries, she let herself go.

Some kind of aircraft woke her. It took a moment for her to work out where she was. The sun had moved towards evening, the breeze cooler but not unpleasant.

In the distance a small pink...something...was approaching to land on the runway.

She blinked, her head foggy from the unexpected nap.

“You know, you were supposed to visit me.”

She jumped, turning to find a pair of blue eyes grinning at her. She frowned. “You are supposed to be in bed.”

He raised his arms in guilt free exclamation. “I did! Two hours. Over and above your orders, dear Doctor.” The grin was back, obviously a better mood returning with that sleep. “It is you, who has obviously been neglecting your health.” A mock glare. “I may not know specifics,” and he spat the words despite his humorous tone, “but I can see you needed it.”

“Hmph.”

He snorted, far too energetic for her liking. With some difficulty, still not entirely used to the new shape of her body, she rolled herself over, turning her back to him. Her view switching to palm trees and that beautiful ocean beyond.

No comment, but he didn’t leave.

She let her brain finally boot up properly, the fog clearing, only leaving a vague headache.

“We will be having guests shortly.” His tone was quiet and respectful.

That got her attention. Twisting her neck to try and see him, she gave up and forcibly rolled herself back over. Unfortunately, she ran out of lounger.

The unnerving lack of support under her shoulder and she was flailing.

“Em!” A strong hand grabbed her, halting her fall. “John!”

Hurried footfalls on hardwood and a pair of gentle hands had her, lifting her back onto the lounger.

“Doctor Harris?” That musical voice. Shock slipped into embarrassment. Two pairs of Tracy eyes were looking at her with concern.

“I’m sorry. Thank you, John.” A small hesitant smile. “Scott.”

John let her go, stepping back, automatically looking to his older brother. Something passed between the two men and John dipped his head in her direction. “Not a problem, Doctor.”

“It’s Em, John.”

A slight smile. “Em.”

Those green eyes flicked to Scott once more and his lips twisted slightly, almost as if in amusement. “Please excuse me, duty calls.” And he backed away before darting back inside.

Scott’s gaze was on her immediately. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Embarrassment stilted her response.

She straightened herself up and reached for her hoverscoot on the other side of the lounger. Scott backed up a little, his hoverchair whirring. She pushed herself vertical and, with her back to him, she shuffled herself aboard. Securing her harness, she mobilised the device, turning slowly and rising to his height.

Her confidence returned with her posture. “Now, who did you say was coming?”

He blinked at her, his lips thinning just a little. “Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her chauffeur, Parker. Close family friends. They will be staying with us for Christmas.”

As if on cue, a woman’s voice echoed as the elevator opened. “Surely you have a better pun than that?”

“There is no better pun than that.”

“You could have fooled me.”

Gordon led an elegantly dressed blonde-haired woman into the room. An older gentleman followed them, his expression one of fond exasperation.

Scott moved forward. “Merry Christmas, Lady P.”

“Scott! It is so wonderful to see you home again. And a Merry Christmas to you too. How are you feeling?” Quick strides and open hands, she clasped both of Scott’s in greeting, careful of his cast.

“Getting there.” His smile was genuine and had Em examining the woman. She was all poise and decadence. This woman had money and liked to show it. But then so did the Tracys. Em wasn’t poor, but she suddenly felt it, hoping the dress she was wearing didn’t have its tag showing. She fidgeted.

Scott must have sensed her nervousness, because next moment he had reached back and grabbed her hand, bringing her forward and into the conversation. “Lady Penelope, this is Doctor Em Harris. My saviour on several fronts.”

Em’s eyes widened and she stared at him a moment. He shot her a devilish grin.

“Well, that is quite fortunate, as Scott Tracy has needed to be saved for some time. Mostly from himself.” Scott started and stared at their guest in astonishment. She smiled at him before turning back to Em. “Very pleased to meet you, Doctor.”

“Em.”

Perfectly pink lips smiled. “Em.” Her eyes flickered to Scott and back. “I’m Penny.” She gestured to the man behind her. “This is Parker.”

The older man dipped his head in greeting. Em smiled at him. “Very pleased to meet you.”

Penny turned towards the desk. “John, it is so wonderful to see you down for Christmas.”

John was shunting holograms from one part of the desk to another, his hands continually in motion. “It is nice to see you, Lady Penelope.” But his attention was clearly divided.

“Where are Virgil, Alan and Kayo? Mrs Tracy?”

Scott shifted in his seat. “Alan has gone to collect another guest in Tracy Two. Grandma is down in the hangers. Kayo is with Virgil, who is resting, I hope. We had a nasty one today.”

That prompted a series of concerned questions and Em fast discovered that Lady P was well and truly part of International Rescue, though she had no idea what part the polished woman played.

Or why Gordon appeared to be in her orbit.

The younger man’s eyes were tracking every move the woman made. She hoped he realised exactly how obvious he was.

Though Penny did not seem to mind.

And Em couldn’t talk. Scott still had her hand in his. It was rather nice if she had to admit to it.

She let her thumb gently rub the back of his hand. She caught his gentle smile with one of her own.

“Parker, could you please attend to our luggage. Gordon, would it be possible for you to give him a hand?”

The younger man blinked and clearly considered saying no, but an arch of a perfectly plucked brow had him standing quickly. A mock bow. “Most certainly, m’Lady.”

“Em, would you like to take a turn about the island before dinner? Scott needs to attend to his Grandmother before she wears a hole in the hangar floor.”

Beside her, Scott started in his chair.

Penny pinned him with her eyes. “I have no doubt that if Virgil wasn’t indisposed, he would be down there with her.”

Scott snorted. “Of course, he would be, for more than one reason.” But he sighed. “I get the message.”

“And besides, I would like to take the opportunity to get to know Em a little better.” Her smile was suddenly a double-edged sword and Em fought the urge to back away.

-o-o-o-

The sun was starting to light up the horizon in yellows and oranges as Penny stepped outside. Tracy Island truly had its rugged beauty, though not a beauty that lent itself to heels. Which was unfortunate since this skirt simply didn’t go well with walkers.

It couldn’t be helped. She would just have to step carefully.

Doctor Harris followed her with a whir of hoverjets. Fate had been rather cruel to the young woman. Combing through her history had revealed a decent spirit, a strong moral backbone and a fighting attitude that had managed to get her through all the hurdles life had thrown at her. Despite everything the woman had a successful career and appeared mentally healthy above expectations.

The fact Scott Tracy was willing to hold her hand raised the level of inspection Penny needed to deploy.

Kayo had been in contact with her on a regular basis sourcing information on the doctor who had saved her eldest brother. Ever wary, Kayo went to the extreme to protect her family. She had to. Whether the person in question was simply a friend or a prospective lover, Kayo did her best to make sure they were not a threat to the Tracys. And if they were, she removed the threat.

Penny was inclined to agree on this strategy.

So, between herself and the security officer, Emaline Harris’ life was an open book. They knew her preferences in breakfast cereal, where she bought that breakfast cereal, and if she really wanted to, she could find out exactly how long it took for the woman’s body to process that breakfast cereal.

It was invasive and it was rude, but the Tracy’s were worth it.

Emaline had been cleared.

But now she was holding Scott Tracy’s hand.

Scott Tracy didn’t hold hands.

He kissed. He dated. And occasionally, he conquered.

He didn’t hold hands.

Penelope needed to know this woman’s heart. She needed to know it now.

-o-o-o-

End Part Nine.

Part Ten

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #virgil tracy #scott tracy #kayo kyrano #virgil/kayo #scott/em #warm rain #gentle rain #scott/oc #penelope creighton-ward #parker

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theosymphany · 6 years ago

Text

Under the sun’s warmth

Piers came to slowly, being very aware of a warm body beside him and a pair of beefy arms that held him close from behind. He smiled a little, taking a deep breath and taking in the warmth and the pleasant scent of his partner. Chris was quiet, which meant that he must have been awake.

He turned, trying to get a glimpse of Chris but it was hard without straining himself.

“Morning.” He said, lazily twisting himself slowly to face Chris.

“Morning.” Warm brown eyes greeted him with a small smile.

“You’ve been up long?”

“A little. It’s cute to watch your sleep. And wake.”

“Creep. Your arm must be sore.”

“Well actually it’s quite dead.” Chris squirmed as Piers moved to let him retrieve his arm. “Ow, ow ow!” The pain was evident on his face as blood rushed back in.

“Sorry.” Piers said, rubbing along Chris’s arm to get the blood back in.

“Hurts like hell, but it’s ok, all worth it.” Chris winced, then smiled again. “Or is that an excuse to feel me up?”

Piers withdrew his hands sharply. “Excuse me, who had his hands inside my shirt while I slept?”

“You’d complain it’s cold otherwise.” Chris said, with heavy lidded eyes.

“It is kinda cold. What time is it?” Piers glanced over at their alarm clock.

“Hmph, still early, and oh.”

Chris must have felt him go stiff because he held his wrist. “It’s OK babe.”

Piers shook his head, as if trying to forget. “July first…. It’s hmm, six years now.”

“Yep.”

“Well I remember it for a different reason. It’s six years after our reunion six year ago!”

“Ha. That was sweet too, even though I didn’t’ realize it at the time. We should celebrate with, uhh, a big bottle of Rakija and the scent of cheap hooker’s perfume.”

“You know, for a big dumb American you blended in pretty well to Edonia.”

“Yeah well, guess all that training is muscle memory now. As I recall you guys stood out like sore appendages. Guess who’s the sniper?”

Piers was suddenly wide awake. “We were not running intel Chris. We wanted to be visible and we wanted to find you!”

Chris grinned in apology. “Well well. That always gets a rise out of you.”

Piers sighed softly. “It was really stupid what Command did to us. Forcing you back in the outfit on a mission doomed from the beginning.”

“Like you said at the time, the world was going to hell in handbasket and the mission didn’t have a sliver of a chance if you all went without me.

“I said that?”

“Yep. Turns out you were truly capable enough on your own, Acting Team Leader Nivans.”

Piers was quiet for a moment. “I know that I wouldn’t have done half the stuff I did if you weren’t there beside me. You fight for the ideal. I fight for the personal.”

“Give yourself more credit than that. You did right with Jake and Sherry, and all the other decisions you made there.”

“But…”

Chris cut him off and put an arm around Piers’ back. “There is great strength that comes from protecting those you love. You made the sacrifices and you made it happen. I can’t ask for more than that. Well, except spend the rest of our lives together, and some secret room service couple of times a week.”

Piers face planted on Chris’ chest. “Here we are all serious and you let your other head do the talking.”

“Oh hell no. He does all the talking where you’re involved.” Chris said with a wink.

“So it’s a Sunday, what are we gonna do today?” Piers said, resolved to change the subject.

“Hmm, easy morning, take Ruff out, food, some woof time and whatever else?”

“That’s like most of our weekends.”

“That’s good right? Or you want more adventure? White water rafting with zombies?” Chris’s eyes sparkled with mischief.

“I want as few reminders of nasties as possible. No humidity, no water and no tentacles. Something American, homey…. Hmm I know. That Southern BBQ place that has the massive meat platters that has way too much food for two people. I want that.”

“Ha. Always planning his food first. That’s my Piers. I’m in hungry mood today and don’t fancy cooking so hell yes! And it’s too much food for two people, but not two people and a four-legged black hole when meat is concerned.”

“Oh yes! We have to bring Ruff along, you’ve got the rug and picnic set in the car. There’s a nice trail up nearby on the hill. He can run off lead and we can enjoy the sun.”

“Sounds like a date.” Chris kissed Piers on the top of his head.

“Thanks for buying lunch.” Piers kissed the crook of Chris’s neck.

“I am?” Chris asked, then shrugged. “I am.”

The little hill was windier even on a warm summer’s day. The wandered along, Chris holding Ruff’s lead while the GSD went exploring and working off those wings and brisket and pulled pork and hot links.

“One good thing about all that distant control is we don’t really need this anymore.” Chris said, gesturing to Ruff’s lead.

“More us time.” Piers grinned.

“Hey look, there’s a swing near the trees over there. You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Piers looked around. “No tangos in sight Captain.”

“Good boy.” Chris said. Ruff yelped happily somewhere and Piers shook his head.

“There’s only one seat.” Piers said as they got to the swing.

Chris tested it for his weight then nodded in approval. “It’ll take.”

He sat first, then motioned for Piers to join him.

“If you insist.” Piers said cheekily as he straddled and sat himself on Chris’s lap.

The warm rays of the afternoon sun shone through the west and Piers can see it had bleached some of Chris’s hair. His face took on a softer glow, though he can see a few new lines on his face. If anything, they added to his confidence, his authority.

“What are you thinking?” Chris swayed gently on his feet.

“Of how beautiful you are with the sun on your face.”

“Thinking just the same thing.” Chris said, leaning in. “You still take my breath away every day.”

They danced their lips around each other, gently savouring each touch, planting kisses light as a dragonfly skimming across water.

Piers nuzzled his face next to Chris, feeling the little pricks from his stubble. Chris held him in his arms as they swayed gently in the breeze.

Piers could feel Chris’s heartbeat, and the warmth from his arms joined with the warmth of the sun. The hold was solid and he hugged Chris back, thinking of nothing else but to be in the moment, desperately drowning out everything else.

Slow sniper breaths. The sky was blue, the clouds tinged with orange. The grass was more green than yellow, but only just so. There’s the call of birds, rustles of insects in the grass, the odd creak and groan from the swing as they swayed in time to his breaths. Chris was rubbing his back soothingly and he realised he was squeezing a bit too tightly.

This is real. All of it, and he is here. All of him.

Ruff watched from a distance his daddies locked in love. He tilted his head, half expecting the whistle for him to come but knows that he’s probably got more time freedom to roam still. He found a warm spot in the sun and sat low, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings. His favourite humans are going to have all the time and peace in the world.

Another year another July 1st Tribute. Thanks for the rest of the fandom for their works and support. I based the final scene on @daemoncollection‘s gorgeous work Under The Sun’s Warmth - http://fav.me/dcfwyal which is reblogged above. Shoutout to @nimrod262 as without his encouragement this work wouldn’t have happened.

#Nivanfield #Chris Redfield #Piers Nivas #fanfiction #July 1st #fluff #inspired by art #Sir Ruffington III

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rallis-fatalis · 5 years ago

Text

The Siren

Even the Legends' Guild has some legends of its own, and not just in the form of the guild members there. Adam and Rallis hear rumors of a songstress that roams the Guild at night and lulls everyone into a deep slumber, and decide to get to the bottom of the mystery right in their own backyard.

The Legends' Guild was bustling with people this morning. Legends ran back and forth delivering reports, or discussed their mission plans over breakfast, or looked over the boring jobs posted on the notice board that anyone could take and as such held no real appeal. It was here the great Legend Adam Kananga Neeson stood, perusing the details of countless missions up for grabs. They really were nothing special, and he wanted something with at least a hint of challenge to see his new partner's skills in action.

It hadn't been long since he had met the wild card that was Rallis Fatalis, the famous dragon lady of the Legends' Guild, in the flesh. After they agreed to join forces and make a team, and after taking time to recover from their Wilderness excursion, they had only done a few small tasks to get to know each other and learn the other's skills. Currently, Adam was looking for another task where they could do just that.

A loud yawn broke his concentration as his partner in question shuffled beside him. That was something he learned quickly. The dragon had no concept of a sleep schedule and woke up and napped whenever she wanted. Adam had already had breakfast and prepared for the day before she had even strolled downstairs.

She yawned again and rocked on the balls of her feet. "Good morning," she sang. "Whatchu doing?"

"Looking for something to do," he replied. "You should probably eat before I pick something. It's already getting late."

"The sun isn't even all the way up yet! It's not late!" She ran off and grabbed an apple and quickly came back. She picked the stem off and tossed it aside before downing the apple in a single bite, core and all. "Besides, it looks like everyone woke up late and on the wrong side of the bed. They're all grumpy!"

"Probably because the lodgings are too fucking small to get a decent sleep," Adam growled. If he bumped his head on the ceiling of that broom closet excuse of a bedroom one more damn time, he was going to take his sword and get physical with the support beams. He looked over to the tables and Rallis was right. It seemed most of the Legends downstairs today were tired, pissy, or both. There were arguments over the simplest things, like who in the party would get the last bite of bacon or who would get to choose the job of the day. People shoved each other as they walked and glared at each other, practically begging for a fight. Even the people standing at the job board with them didn't seem like they wanted to be there.

"How odd. Why is everyone in a foul mood today?"

"Because the Siren has been gone for weeks."

Adam and Rallis turned to find Radimus walking up to pin more notices to the board. "Hello and excuse me, you two," he greeted as he got to work. Rallis gave a bouncy hello and Adam helped him with his paper stack.

"'The Siren,' sir?" Adam questioned.

"Oh, you haven't heard of her? I'm surprised! You've been here long enough to have had the chance to at least hear her once!"

Rallis hopped into the conversation excitedly. "I didn't know we had a siren! I've heard they're super pretty and sing super nice! Tell us more, please!"

"The Siren of the Legends' Guild," Radimus continued. "She appears only at night to sing in the garden. Her otherworldly songs bring sleep to everyone who listens, the beautifully stunning sound enchanting all to fall into a deep slumber. It doesn't take long for the music to take effect, and thus no one has ever seen her. She has been singing here on random nights for almost half a year now, and even though she has been here for so long, no one can predict when she will arrive and sing. I have no interest in finding her."

"Why not?" Adam asked. "Sirens can be extremely dangerous, if you choose to believe the tales. And we aren't terribly far from an ocean..."

"Well, none of my Legends have gone missing or drowned at the Witchaven docks so I'm confident that we'll all be fine. Honestly, I rather appreciate her song. Best rest I've ever had. I'm sure everyone else would tell you the same." He pinned the last job to the board with a smile. "Now that's done! So long you two!" He grabbed another handful of snacks before returning to his office.

Rallis scooted between Adam and the board, eyes sparkling with determination. "Adam we gotta find the siren!"

"We have to do no such thing," he retorted. "We don't need to go near anything that dangerous."

"But I love pretty music! I want to meet someone who can sing so nicely they make everyone sleep and feel better! Maybe she can teach me how to do that too!"

"You have heard what they can do, right? They lure sailors with their song and drown them! And we're right next to an ocean! Hell, if I remember correctly a siren is what caused Witchaven to turn so desolate and ruined."

"Well isn't it a good thing I'm not a sailor and I know how to swim! I'm gonna find her and tell her to sing and make everyone feel better!"

Adam pulled a job off the board. "Not right now you're not. Right now we're helping the Ardougne zoo with some escaped monkeys. Now go get ready."

__________________________________

Later that evening, once everyone had returned for the night and readied for bed, Rallis perched herself on the windowsill of their little closet sized room and stared at the garden a couple storeys below. She had a view of some of the large shady trees but that was about it. She wouldn't see much even if she wanted to. Adam sighed as he finished getting ready for bed.

"Get to sleep, Rallis. Don't waste the night trying to look for some fairy tale."

"But I wanna see her! Even just once!"

Adam rolled his eyes and turned the light off. "When you're tired tomorrow because you didn't go to bed, I don't want to hear any complaining."

She pulled the chair over, wrapped her blanket around herself, and got comfy. "You know, I used to sit in the garden at night too before I met you. Sometimes I'd sleep out there too. It reminded me a little bit of home. It's really nice to watch the stars and sleep under the willow tree by the pond. I was out there all the time! I wonder why I never saw her."

"Maybe she doesn't like someone sharing her stage. And perhaps she doesn't like nosy dragons trying to watch her performance. There's a reason people have only heard her and never seen her."

Rallis gasped. "You might be right! She knows I'm watching! If I pretend to sleep but listen for her, maybe she'll come!" She dove to the rug on the floor and curled up tightly in her blanket, ears trained toward the window.

"Is the siren Santa now?" Adam teased.

"Shhh!" she hushed. "I'm trying to listen!"

Adam snickered under his breath. "Have fun then. Good night."

The next morning was the same as before. Sleepy grumpy Legends stalked the hallways, going through the motions with added yawns. Rallis had fallen asleep, much to her disappointment, but upon seeing everyone else still tired she knew she hadn't failed her mission. Days passed and they played out the same. Rallis would wait for the siren until she fell asleep, and the next morning would reveal she had never come. Rallis was growing more disappointed by the day, and she settled on a plan that she kept to herself. That night, she would sleep in the garden and keep watch! She would do it every night until she met the siren! All she had to do was sneak out once Adam had fallen asleep. It was perfect!

She would begin her vigil tonight, and she'd meet the siren for sure!

That night, far into the wee hours of the day before the sun rose and the moon fell, Adam woke with a stretch. The accursed 3am desire for a drink. He knew he should've had more water before bed. He kicked the covers off and shuffled to the door, careful not to wake Rallis. He tried his best to find his way in the dark, but something underfoot made him slip with a trip, man yelping as he fell to the ground on his butt. He cursed and hissed and grabbed whatever had made him trip. It was Rallis' blanket, but there was no Rallis.

'Where did she run off to this late at--?'

A beautiful quiet sound broke the silence of night. It was faint and gentle, almost hidden by the chirps of the crickets.

'What is that?'

He walked closer to the window and the sound grew slightly clearer and louder. It sounded like singing, quiet singing in a foreign language. And it was coming from the garden below.

'The siren!' Adam jolted awake fast, grabbed his sword, and ran down the stairs. Had she lured Rallis into her clutches?! It was time to see just what this songstress of a monster looked like and stop her!

He slipped through the doors of the main hall and made his way to the garden entrance. The singing was louder now, though only slightly. It sounded like this siren was singing more to herself right now than for others. He slowly crept deeper into the garden and closer to the noise.

The song grew more clear as he walked, and with every step he took, it grew louder, and his footsteps grew slower. His stealthy steps grew sloppier and shuffled in the grass. His sword grew heavy and he could hardly find the strength to pick it up. His eyelids began to slide shut and his body grew tired.

'What the hell... is going on?'

Adam turned a corner around a row of bushes and someone was there, sitting under a tree! He couldn't quite make out what, the tree's shadow obscuring the figure. He tried to call out but all that came out of his mouth was a yawn. He dropped his sword, his eyes fell shut, and he collapsed in the grass listening to the beautiful sound of music.

His rest didn't last long.

"Wake up! Wake up, Adam!" Someone was calling his name and shaking him. "Get up before I scratch you!" A nasty pinprick of a scratch on his cheek jolted him awake. He shot up from the grass with a start. His wake up call had been Rallis. She smiled as she sat in the grass in front of him. "Hello sleepy head!"

"Rallis? What are you doing out here?"

"Looking for the siren! I've been out here all night! I thought I heard her walking this way but turns out it was just you. Why are you here?"

"The siren!" he shouted. "She's here! I heard her singing! It was coming from the garden and I came to investigate."

Rallis chirped in confusion. "I didn't hear anything and I've got much better ears. The only singing out here was--"

A window overhead slammed open and a grumpy tired looking older man stuck his face out the window. "Would yee do me tha' favor of shutting the hell up! Do yee 'ave any idea the time o' night it is?! How can I be expected to sleep with all this ruckus!"

Rallis' ears drooped. "Sorry Mister Tony. We'll be quiet now."

The man harrumphed and slammed his window shut. Rallis stuck her tongue out. "Grumpy old gardener."

"The gardener?"

"Yeah. Tony is the gardener that takes care of everything. He hates me because I wake him up when I come out here at night. He doesn't like any kind of music or singing, the ornery fun-hating grump! I call him Tony the tone-deaf."

"Singing! Right!" Adam quietly exclaimed. "I heard singing! It's the siren!"

"I didn't hear anything other than you. The only one singing out here was me."

Adam slowly blinked at her. "...What?"

"I was getting tired keeping watch so I sang to myself to wake back up! I thought I was being super quiet though. I didn't mean for anyone to hear me."

"So you were the only one singing?" he confirmed. "You didn't hear anyone else?"

Rallis shook her head and Adam face-palmed with a groan of realization.

"Then tell me, why did I fall asleep to the song that you, not the siren, but you were singing?"

"Because you were tired...?" the dragon tried.

"For Saradomin's sake Rallis, no! You're the damn siren!"

Her cheeks went red. "Huh?! But! Everyone who hears her says her songs are beautiful! Mine aren't beautiful! And her songs are so peaceful they can calm anyone and put them to sleep. I don't sound that good at all! Momma sings like that, not me."

An idea came to Adam. "Sing for me. Right now." Rallis squawked in protest. "Sing like you just were. If I start to fall asleep, that will prove I'm right!"

Rallis covered her blushing face. "I can't sing with an audience! I only did that twice and I never want to do that again."

"Then I'll turn away and close my eyes." Adam did just that, waiting for her to begin.

Rallis whined. She hated singing in front of anyone other than... She supposed she could just pretend Adam was him then. She very quietly began to sing, a gentle calming tune of chirps and trills. Her voice was as soft as silk and sweeter than honey, and it made his head heavy with sleep. He started to nod off and Rallis noticed.

"You're just playing along!" she interrupted.

Adam let out another huge yawn. "I swear I'm not. Believe it or not, you're the Siren of the Legends' Guild. You've even been here long enough for it to make sense. Didn't Radimus say it started about half a year ago? If I remember correctly, that's around the time the report on Kreathkren was published."

Rallis' entire face turned bright red as she came to the realization that her friend was right. "This is so embarrassing. To think all those people like my singing so much they can't even sleep without it!" She wanted to crawl into a hole and hide. Or maybe drown at the bottom of the pond. Either worked. "Why doesn't Tony like it then?"

"Rallis, he's tone-deaf. To him it probably sounds like you're a screeching bird."

The dragon sighed and rubbed some of the red from her cheeks. "I guess I'll make everyone have a nice sleep then! It's been a while. You should cover your ears or something so you don't pass out again."

"Way ahead of you." He pressed a finger into each ear. "I'll be back upstairs. Good night and see you tomorrow, Miss Siren."

Rallis stuck her tongue out at his comment and giggled once he left. She still couldn't believe so many people liked her singing. She smiled and walked back to her favorite spot under the willow by the pond and began to sing. Everyone would have a good sleep and be so nice tomorrow.

A familiar window slammed open and an angry old voice broke her song. "WILL YEE SHUT UP?!"

Well, everyone except Tony.

#oc tag #my writes #osrs #runescape

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necrobonello · 7 years ago

Text

Shattered Kingdoms Part 2: Orenan

Summary: After thousands of years after the war that eradicated the original diamonds and nearly all of that generation’s gems, a new trio of diamonds have risen to power and are at war for dominance. A lone pearl is fighting for her sisters, hunted down by Black Diamond and various bounty hunters. But little does she know that she will be a part of something much bigger than her own revolution.

Shattered Kingdoms Part 2: Orenan

Black Diamond’s stronghold was in an uproar. Gems of all ranks scattering throughout the decorated halls, each rushing to work on their specific tasks. Guards remained alert, drones were as lively as ever, and whatever pearls were around were cleaning and helping their superiors as much as they could. A momentous day was on the horizon. In three days, the neutral gem harvest was about to commence. Three lava drones carried crates of bubbled gems to safes and teleporters.

“This year’s trade is going to be the best yet!” One said.

“We’ve managed to capture quite a few of Purple Diamond’s quartzes. We’re bound to make tons!”Another one cheered.

“And all the pearls. With that rebel force taking em left and right, they’re in a real high demand now. War effort is important and all but once this is all settled we’re gonna need good servants and entertainers.” The third one added.

“And what? We’re not good enough to fill that role?” The first one said.

“Not as good as a pearl anyway.”

They all laughed as they rushed to their station. But then one of the lavas tripped over a crease in the ornate rug that lined the hallways. She stumbled over and landed on top of her crate, the lid popping off and several of the bubbled gems rolling out. She quickly scraped most of the bubbles into her crate, but in her desperation accidentally clawed the last bubble, popping it. Her friends placed their crates down and attempted to pick up the spherical stone, but the gem already began to regenerate. The three lavas stepped back in terror as a blue light formed, showing the gem’s massive frame. The light dispersed from the frame, revealing the gem to be Dalmatian Jasper. The lavas placed themselves in front of their crates, hoping the freed gem wouldn’t smash and release the rest of the captured gems. She gazed down with an enraged glare at the clumsy lava.

“Hey. You got a Camel Jasper in there?” She asked.

The lava shook her head, and the angered quartz cracked her knuckles.

“Well I guess I’m gonna have to smash those little boxes til I find her little ga-”

Dalmatian Jasper gasped as she felt something sharp pierce her back, and then felt another sharp pain in the back of her head. She was silent for a second as the lava’s stared at her in confusion.

“Aw come on I just got he-” Dalmatian poofed away, leaving behind her gem and a pair of yellow sai.

The lavas looked ahead to see one of the higher ranked gems heading towards them. The clumsy lava flopped over and immediately bubbled the gem, rolled over to place it in the box, and scrambled to her feet to salute her superior.

“Thank you for your help sir! I accept full responsibility for my actions and will not repeat them again sir!” She shouted.

The other lavas were afraid of what would happen to their friend.

But the superior gem merely went past them. The lavas looked, confused at the lack of punishment. They saw him smoothing out the carpet with his foot.

“No need to worry. I saw what happened, not your fault.” He said in a smooth voice.

He spoke with confidence and bravado. He gazed at the timid drones with a lazy yet intimidating stare. His pewter pupils unfocused and yet they still felt like they pierced through them like his sai that pierced through Dalmatian Jasper. His long, abalone hair was tied with a white bow three fourths of the way down. His shirt was like an apron, as the pearl river cloth covered only the front of his torso, his shoulders, and a small strip of his back and sides. His twin clear, rectangular gemstones, his shoulders, and most of his back were exposed, showing off his toned frame and white skin. Lastly he wore black slacks and wrought iron colored dress shoes. Though handsome, his looks masked a facade that only the higher ups knew was all too real.

The poor lava was stunned by her superior. She only saw him in the halls every now and then at long distances. She had never even heard the sensual tone in his voice. But she managed to snap out of her daze before he could call her out on that as well.

“Thank you for your mercy commander White Topaz!” She blurted out.

“Understand that I am being lenient on you due to someone else’s incompetence. Undoubtedly another one of your cut has screwed up keeping this place in perfect condition. They’ll receive a talking to as they nearly made you look incompetent. But know that an accident should only happen once around here.” White Topaz warned.

“Yes sir.”

“Now get back to work. I have my own business to attend to and you have bosses that will say what I have to say anyway.” White Topaz ordered.

“Yes sir! Thank you sir!” All three lavas said as they rushed back to fulfil their duty.

White Topaz smiled as he continued on his own business. He walked through the busy hallways and chambers until he finally made it to the giant door to his diamond’s throne room. The door opened for him and he entered inside. His diamond was gazing upon him. The gem bowed his head and approached her grace.

“Good morning my diamond. What have you summoned me for?” He asked.

“Good morning, White Topaz. As you’ve seen, the whole colony is in a tizzy because of the upcoming auction. We have much to offer and much to gain as per usual, and as you know someone has to bid in order to get the best of the best. I would like that to be you.” She offered, “I would go myself, but due to that bit of...terrorism that occurred last time, I’d rather not spoil the affair for all of us.”

White Topaz nodded.

“Anything in particular that I should pick up for you?”

“I’ll send Pyrite-0 to accompany you. She will be your personal assistant and the one in charge of my shopping list.” Black Diamond said.

White Topaz bowed once more.

“Consider it done. When do I leave?”

“Now. I’ve prepared a ship for you and the pyrite shall be your pilot. You depart to K-051. The auction isn’t for another three days so please enjoy yourself before then. You’ve captured many gems for me so it’s fair that you receive a proper reward.”

“You’re too kind.”

“And one more thing. Just in case something still goes wrong, I’m sending Jet to accompany you.”

White Topaz raised an eyebrow.

“Jet? But isn’t she off planet as well?” He asked.

“Yes but knowing her she’ll finish her assignment before nightfall on K-051. Rosen will be with you on the day of the auction as well. She’s busy right now gathering a last minute supply of gems. Purple Diamond has managed to capture a fair share of our troops and Red Diamond is has nabbed a few of our troops as well.”

“I thought that Red-”

Black Diamond rose from her throne.

“White Topaz! What business I have with Red Diamond is strictly confidential. She is an uncontrollable beast that acts on her own accord but she can still be reasoned with to some extent. Our relationship is mutually beneficial despite her troops going off on their own agenda. So I will ask that you do not question my decisions. Are we clear?”

White Topaz bowed his head.

“Yes my diamond.”

She sat back down in her throne, resting her chin on the back of her hand.

“Go.” She uttered.

White Topaz turned around and left the throne room. Black Diamond pressed a button on her throne’s other armrest and a hologram of a wavelength appeared.

“Yes my diamond?” A young sounding voice answered.

“Send a message to agent Jet to go to K-051 as soon as she obtains the package.” Black Diamond ordered.

“Right away.”

/**/

On a cold, desolate planet far beyond Black Diamond’s supervision, a lone Amethyst warrior was running through the snow covered tundra towards a large arm shaped ship. Violent winds sent a flurry of snow from the ground and sky, masking her in the blizzard. Despite the thick blizzard, a couple of Amethysts standing guard outside of the ship managed to see their sister. They waved to her, happy to see their friend, unaware of the terror she is experiencing.

“Open the ship doors! Get it running, we have to leave!” She screamed out.

The violent winds were overpowering her pleas. The once happy Amethysts were now confused at the desperate cry of their sister. Their confusion was then eradicated as they saw their sister’s form as she emerged from the blizzard. Her arm was missing, a chunk of her long hair was burned off, and she had a nasty, gray cut in her stomach inches away from her gem.

“I said start the damn ship!” She screamed.

One of the Amethysts rushed to her sister while the other one opened the door to the ship. The three quickly rushed into the ship, the injured being carried by her counterpart. As they entered, a couple more Amethysts rushed over to the injured friend.

“V-022! What happened to you!?” One of the new Amethysts asked.

“I’ll explain later! You have to get us out of her before she arrives!” V-022 begged.

“We’ve been trying to start the ship up! It’ll take another four minutes before it reaches optimal power levels. This damn blizzard is making it hard to move out of here.” The Amethyst that brought her in said.

The group of Quartzes were interrupted by a sudden alarm.

“Attention all available units! The ship will be ready to depart soon with the cargo. However we see an abnormality outside of the ship! A...cloud is on the ground!?” The announcer shouted.

V-022’s eyes went wide. She knew what was coming. She grabbed one of the gems by her uniform and pulled her in close to her.

“You have to make them start the ship up! Lift us up now and worry about coordinates later! We can’t let her in here! She destroyed my squad!”

“Who did!?”

“One of Black Diamond’s generals is here! She destroyed all-” V-022 was interrupted by the sound of glass and metal being torn asunder.

All quartzes looked at the door and saw a black sword decorated with gray nubs down the middle of the blade pierce through the ship’s door. A gray liquid dripped off the sword, sizzling as it hit the ground. The quartzes all stood their ground, gearing up for the fight, except for V-022 who was still lying on the ground.

“NO! You have to run away and get as many troops as you can together! She’s too strong!” She pleaded.

“Can you stand?” One of the Amethysts asked.

V-022 stood up slowly. The sword was effortlessly gliding through the thick door as V-022 was being pushed away from the group.

“Warn the others and get some destabilizers! We’ll stall them as long as we can!” The Amethyst assisting her said.

“I told you there’s only one gem!” V-022 shouted.

“Then she’ll be gone before the cavalry arrives. But just to be safe, go!” The quartz closest to the door shouted.

Begrudgingly V-022 ran, clutching her stomach as she abandoned her stubborn friends. She made it to the end of the corridor as the four amethysts looked to see the blade almost done making a circle through the door. The free bits of metal started to slide from their position and into the hallway. They were about to tilt over and fall, but an unknown force pushed them downwards. As they fell, a surge of snow and fog flew into the corridor. Dazed by the sudden burst, the amethysts were caught off guard by a shadow in the fog. One of the Amethysts was cut in half, her scream was accompanied by the sound of liquid being spattered across the wall, followed by a sizzling noise. The next three amethysts quickly fell as well, each one bisected in some form, causing them to poof away.

V-022 looked over her shoulder to see the fog of death leak into the hallways. Her fear reached its peak as she sprinted as hard as she could to reach her crewmates.

“Gotta tell em! Gotta warn em!” She thought to herself.

The fog was closing in on her from behind, but she saw her remaining squadron of gems rushing to her. She smiled as she dashed towards them. She saw ten quartzes all armed with destabilizers and blasters.

“Girls quick! Forget about me and shoot-” She was cut off as the dark sword of the intruder flew through her neck. The blade melted her form like a hot knife through butter, sending a splash of gray liquid and purple blood spurting from the exit wound. As it flew towards the others, the entirety of the blade could be seen. The chappe was shaped like a skull, with the guard shaped like sharp, curved horns pointed towards the blade with a black jewel in the center. As V-022’s form and the sword dissipated, the group of quartzes saw a figure in the fog.

“Kill her ass!” One of the quartzes shouted.

There was a brief flash of light from the shadows and then the ten quartzes fired their blasters at the figure. Green light illuminated the hallway, piercing through the fog and hitting the walls. Explosions, the sound of decimated metal and glass, and the war cries of the quartzes echoed throughout the corridor. After twenty seconds of continuous fire, one of the quartzes raised her hand to signal the others to hold their fire. They all did as instructed, but remained on guard. Smoke was mixed in with the fog, but the majority of it started to clear up. It finally cleared, revealing the hall littered with rubble, the walls and ceiling littered with holes of all sizes. One of the amethysts tapped the other on the shoulder.

“You five check the rubble for her gemstone.” She ordered.

Her comrade nodded and five of the troops did as instructed. They pointed their blasters at the ground as they kicked over the chunks of rubble.

“Be careful with how you kick that stuff V-048, we’re gonna need that stuff when-” One of the quartzes let out a small yelp as they felt something burn their shoulder.

“What was that V-042?” V-048 asked as she turned to her friend.

V-048 felt her shoulder and felt something burning her. She looked to see something eat its way through a bit of her shoulder. She looked up to see one of the larger blast holes had an edge coated with a mysterious gray liquid. She suddenly realized what had just happened and turned to the other gems.

“She’s in the vents!” She screamed out.

Gray fog came flooding out of the hole and the quartzes were in a state of panic. The shadowy figure dropped from the hole and swung her sword in a circular arc, cleaving V-048 in half and flinging acid at the other gems. The liquid spattered over all five of the gems around her, causing each of them to scream out in pain as it burned through their forms.

“My eyes!” V-042 screamed as she tried to desperately scratch the liquid out of her eyes.

The figure rushed towards the other quartzes and swung wildly at them. She managed to take down one of the burly gems before they begun to strike back with their destabilizers. Two stabbed at her, but the assassin dodged the first attack and parried the second one to hit another quartz. A loud buzzing noise roared out over the chaos and a burst of light showed the forms of each of the gems. The assassin was a little over half the quartzes size. In that flash, the assassin slashed at the quartz that attacked her, cutting through her head and causing her to retreat into her gem. A couple gems that were investigating the rubble poofed away as well, the acid eating too much of their forms away. One of the quartzes managed to grab the Black Diamond agent’s arm, holding her sword in place as the second quartz aimed her destabilizer at her torso. The trapped gem dropped her sword onto her captor’s foot, it sinking and melting it as the tip effortlessly melted through her. The small gem let out a torrent of fog from her mouth, the violent hissing noise complementing the intense pressure of the gas battering the face of her enemy. She pulled another sword out from her chest and slashed the quartz across the chest, creating a deep cut filled with her acid. In the background, one quartz managed to aim her blaster at the assailant as the remaining amethyst writhed in pain.

“Evil...bitch!” She screamed as she pulled the trigger.

The mystery gem grabbed the remaining amethyst and jerked her downwards. She caught the large gem in one arm as it took the brunt of the blasts. She hurled her sword in a forward arc towards the trigger happy quartz. The gem she took as a shield poofed away, but before the last quartz could deliver a deadly shot, the sword cleaved through her right shoulder and a large portion of her chest. She poofed away, and the only remaining gem and noise came from the last quartz still crying in pain. The fog started to clear up as the assassin calmly walked towards her wounded prey. She summoned one final sword from her gem as she approached the downed gem. As she raised her sword to deliver the finishing blow, the quartz swiftly grabbed her by the ankle and yanked her off her feet. Black Diamond’s agent fell on her back and the quartz quickly got on top of her, grabbing her small head with her giant hands. She started to squeeze tightly, the large stomach wound from the acid spray began to leak blood onto the agent as she strained all her muscles to crush her enemy’s skull.

“Die you piece of shit!” She seethed.

Black Diamond’s agent screamed out in pain, but she managed to force herself to thrust her hand into the gem’s wound. The amethyst winced and clenched her teeth in pain, her vice grip loosening slightly. The hand inside of her felt like a blade, but she mustered all her strength to try to win this struggle. But as the gem’s fingers began to spread and pull back inside of her, her strong grip began to soften as she yelled out in pain. In an instant her form vanished as her downed enemy’s hand ripped through her chest from the inside. The fog was finally clearing and Black Diamond’s agent breathed heavily, the pain from her head slowly going away with each breath. She got up onto her feet and looked down at her gray hand. It was coated with purple blood and the fingers looked jagged and sharp, as if they were made out of crystal.

“It’s been a long time since I had to use this technique. I’m getting careless.” She thought to herself.

A light enveloped her hand and her fingers returned to normal. With a quick flick of the wrist she whipped the purple liquid from her hand. She reached into her cool gray sash located around her slim waist and pulled out a black sphere. She pressed the side of it with her thumb, activating it and displaying a wavelength.

“Are you finished commander Jet?” A gruff voice asked.

“Yes. Send in the clean up crew. I’m going to the control center to see if there’s anyone left.” Jet answered.

“Right away.”

With that Jet walked out of what little smoke and fog remained, revealing her form. She had straight black hair that reached an inch past her shoulders, with bangs covering one of her blue gray eyes. She wore a shoulderless black dress with three gray frills going vertically down torso. The dress split a little above the knee level, revealing a pair of dark gray boots with white gray toe boxes and heels. Her black, spherical gem was located in the center of her upper chest. She had a mid sized, flat dorsum nose and mildly thick lips coated with oxford blue lipstick. She had a stern stare on her face as she approached the cockpit of the ship.

She opened the door and saw a large room filled with chairs and benches of uniform size. The rim of the ship was lined with control panels littered with various buttons and electronic boards, and a glass window surveying the outside of the ship. Inside the cockpit were three terrified pearls. One had her hands on the control panel, but was motionless in Jet’s presence.

“Don’t bother. We’ve been jamming your ship’s signal. You’re ours now, and you will cooperate otherwise you’ll be imprisoned like your security. Understood?” Jet ordered.

“Yes!” One pearl blurted out.

“Good.” Jet moved to the center of room and sat down, “Set your coordinates for planet K-051. Your cargo is now our cargo.”

“Yes miss!” One of the pearls uttered, “It will take us about ten minutes to do so!”

“Good.” She uttered.

/**/

A red, rectangular cruiser flew through space at light speed. Meteors were shattered into dust as it blitzed through the cosmos. Inside the ship housed Crazy Horse, Fluorite, and a couple of red pearls which were piloting the ship. The two mighty gems were resting in the back. Fluorite was reading a paperback book titled “The Relic” while Crazy Horse was scrolling through a public newsfeed via a holographic touch screen. She stopped when she noticed her and Fluorite’s names on a headline titled “Red Diamond’s Forces Spread Chaos on K-024!”. The featured picture showed Crazy Horse stomping on a Black Diamond quartz while Fluorite tore into a Purple Diamond amethyst with her teeth. She chuckled and nudged Fluorite.

“Hey buddy, check it out. We made the main feed again.” She boasted.

Fluorite looked away from her book and at the hologram, made a noise of mild amusement and then went back to her book.

“Wow what a riveting reaction.” Crazy Horse joked.

“It’s all the same anyway. Some story trying to downplay the incident we caused. Nothing but watered down crap.” Fluorite responded.

“Yeah I guess it gets a little boring after a while. But this was a good haul. A couple of Black Diamond’s troops, a few of Purple Diamond’s, and even some neutral gems.”

“They should’ve known better than to try anything.”

“I know right? We just wanted to relax and have a nice time, view some of K-024’s calming and gorgeous scenery when some of Black Diamond’s grunts throw a shit fit. In our infinitely merciful and empathetic natures, we assisted in quieting down the jerks and then we get blamed for it. Neutrals have no form of respect.” Crazy Horse commented.

“Well of course they don’t they don’t have any authority figure to watch over em.” Fluorite said.

“At least they offer some safe zones to relax. Had a couple interesting conversations with people on the other side. A lot of them ended in bloodshed but the talks were interesting before it got to that point.”

“Mhm.”

Fluorite turned the page of her book and continued to read on.

“You know a lot of human literature was transferred to digital text, right?” Crazy Horse said.

“Of course. But I prefer this. I like the texture of these antiques.” Fluorite said.

“Well if we’re good you might get a chance to grab some more antiques.” Crazy Horse said, “Human shit’s always been an oddity to me.”

“We oughta be thankful for it. If it wasn’t for them sparking the first revolution all those years ago we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

“With a new troop of diamonds at war with each other in order to establish dominance over the others instead of a singular order?”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing. I was speaking more of the general acceptance of gems as what they are. The views on fusion have also shifted drastically.”

“What’s got you in a philosophical mood all of a sudden?” Crazy Horse asked.

“You know I’m in a more talkative mood after I crack some skulls.” Fluorite said.

“Fair point. And yeah I get what you mean. Status quo is still around though, not that it’s that big of a deal. Wish I could’ve met at least one human before they all bit the big one. Least we can replicate their wares to an extent-”

A sudden beeping interrupted the two gem’s conversation.

“Incoming transmission from the home planet. It’s from Red Diamond!” One of the pearls announced.

“Well what are you waiting for, answer it!” Crazy Horse demanded.

The pearl pressed a button on the control panel and a large rectangle holographic display appeared before the two large gems. The display showed Red Diamond. She sat on a crudely shaped throne of stone. A flow of lava fell behind her like a blazing waterfall. She was a massive gem with a demonic motif. She had a wide face with an equally wide and wicked smile that showed off her jagged and sharp teeth. Her eyes were covered by a dark red, metallic mask with iron mesh covering her eyes. Her clawed hand scratched her pointy chin, bright red nails scratched her blood red skin. Her clothes were nearly destroyed. A black chain mail covered most of her torso, though one sleeve was ripped off, the over was covered with holes, and the torso had a few minal rips. She also wore ripped up leggings. A dark circle was housed on each hip, inside the circle another one that was an even darker shade of crimson, and pants were now as long as shorts, littered with holes near the thigh level with the back of what remained of the pant’s legs hanging off the base of what remained of her clothing. Her ruby hair reached the back of her neck, and from her forehead sprouted a pair of scarlet horns that intertwined and tangled around her head to make a crown. Her spherical gem was located in her chest.

“Hello my babies!” She gleefully shouted in a deep tone.

“Hello mama!” Crazy Horse waved to her.

“I read your article. No doubt they censored a lot for the masses.”

“Yeah it was a bloodbath!” Crazy Horse boasted.

“Of course it was my pride and joy! And you captured what you could?” Red Diamond asked.

“Yes. We got a bunch of em.” Fluorite commented.

“Goodie! Now I have even more of a reason to give this order. I want you two to go to planet K-051 in preparation for the upcoming auction. You know how big of a deal this is.” Red Diamond ordered.

“You’re putting us in charge?” Crazy Horse asked.

“Oh no no no! You’ll be second in command. Obsidian is already there.” Red Diamond said.

Crazy Horse and Fluorite flinched at the mentioning of that name.

“Whaaaat? Why’s that stick in the mud in charge?” Crazy Horse whined.

“Because she made it there first. Plus she’s the one who’s been supplying us with excellent gear and ships. She knows what materials we need the most and that’s why I sent her.” Red Diamond said, “So get there and be on your best behavior. No fighting til the auction’s over!”

Crazy Horse pouted.

“Yes Mama.”

“Good! Fluorite, you watch your sister and make sure she behaves herself. I’ll deposit a bit of walking around money in your accounts to make sure you have some normal fun.”

“Alright but if anyone gets in our face like earlier today we’re going to have a problem.” Fluorite said.

“Be as violent as you want so long as you can justify it to the security drones there. But I’d rather you not get banned from going there. Anyone can do this but it’s such a nice place to be.” Red Diamond said.

“We’ll get you what you need Mama.” Fluorite promised.

“Good! Alright see you soon.” Red Diamond said her goodbyes and the transmission ended.

Fluorite went back to her book and Crazy Horse slouched in her chair.

“Can’t believe we gotta deal with her.”

“Just suck it up. Obsidian isn’t that bad.” Fluorite said.

“Yes that geezer is.”

Fluorite rolled her eyes and flipped the next page of her book.

/**/

On Purple Diamond’s planet, Sardonyx, Sodalite, Carnelian and Chalcedony were riding a cabana boat along the lazy river towards a giant gilded pyramid. They are on their way to personally meet with their diamond, who has summoned them shortly after the cleanup of the base that was destroyed by Number 8. Carnelian was at the helm of the ship while Chalcedony looked over the side. Sardonyx was sitting in the shade at the back of the boat while Sodalite sat in her own corner eating fruit she acquired from the orchard. She gobbled down the delicious purple fruits with one bite each, throwing the ruined leftovers over the edge of the boat. Sardonyx had an irritated look on her face.

“We have rubbish bins here you know.” Sardonyx brought up.

Sodalite ignored her and continued to feast.

“Oh let her be Sardonyx. Her scraps feed the fish.” Chalcedony said.

Sardonyx eased her glare and looked over to Chalcedony.

“The fish eat fruit now?”

“Oh yeah! They eat anything that falls in here.” She pointed to a purple fin cutting through the water at the helm of the ship. The fin swerved to the side and went towards one of the discarded fruit cores that was floating in the water. A giant, violet and white, arapaima like fish raised it’s head out of the water and swallowed one of the cores in one swift motion. A school of them soon followed, leaping out of the water and splashing Chalcedony.

“You should get away from the side before one of them hits you.” Carnelian warned.

“Oh please that hardly happen-” Chalcedony was silenced as one of the giant fish headbutted her as it breached the water. The cloudy gem was knocked to the ground and the fish bounced off the side of the boat, flopping back into the river. She got up and shook her head.

“What did I just say?” Carnelian asked.

Carnelian rubbed her head and Sodalite let out a hearty laugh.

“This is why I do this. I love seeing those big guys jump.”

Sardonyx rolled her eyes but then immediately perked up when she saw the pyramid her diamond resided in. A large, rectangular protrusion housed a gate at the end of the river. Carnelian raised her hand to the gate. Inside, two pearls confirmed who she was via holographic identification and went then opened the gate. The gate rose up high and the boat powered through the current to enter the inner sanctum.

Inside there was a great lake of purple. On the surface of the lake were various facilities floating on islands of gold. Quartzes and pearls alike worked in luxury, weaving tapestries or fishing for the mighty creatures that made the ancient lake their home. The ceiling of the pyramid was translucent bronze, shielding the gems from the harsh rays of the sun while allowing them to still warm them. Great palm trees rose from the surface of the lake, bearing fruit of the most wondrous variety. At the center of the concealed city, raised above all via it’s own pyramid, was a giant square cloaked in golden silk. Inside the outline of their mighty diamond watched over all gems.

“Awright no time for dilly dallying. Let’s get to business. Full speed ahead!” Sodalite called out.

“There’s a speed limit here for a reason you dolt.” Carnelian said, “Besides we’re almost there.”

“Whatever.”

The four gems made it to the steps of the pyramid and began to walk up. Two Amethyst guards opened the veil to them, revealing their diamond. She was laying down on a cushioned, biedermeier bench. She sat up straight when she saw her champions enter. She smiled down upon them as they all kneeled before her.

“Rise my knights.” She requested in a calm, yet authoritative tone.

The four gems did as they were told and looked up at their diamond. She sat with her legs crossed. Her thick, deep plum lips were pursed into a smile, and her violet eyes, which had twin markings underneath them, conveyed a warm emotion to her servants. Her long black dreads mostly flowed backwards, pushed back by a gold crown that housed her diamond shaped gemstone, which was located on her forehead. Two long bands of hair bound at the ends by gold clasps fell to her shoulders. Her neck, shoulders, and upper torso were protected by a gold armor piece. From the shoulders a black veil flowed down to her feet. A white top covered her breasts, but left a v-shaped gap in the middle which revealed a portion of her chest. Her midriff was exposed, and a curved gold belt wrapped around her hips, bending downwards to a sharp tip. From the bottom sides of the belt a white dress bottom wrapped around her hips, growing longer as it wrapped around her legs and eventually reaching down to her ankles at the back of her legs. In the middle of the belt was another black veil that covered her white pants piece and flowed down to her feet. Her biceps and shins were covered by gold bangles and her flats were snow white.

“What business do you have for us, my diamond?” Sardonyx asked.

“As you know auction day is coming very soon. I need a representative to go there and purchase as much military power as possible. The cargo we have acquired was pillaged by one of Black Diamond’s commanders, and we need all the help we can get.” She said, “Sardonyx, I want you to transport our trade goods to the auction house along with Sodalite. Carnelian and Chalcedony will fill in for your roles while you are away.”

“But my diamond, we were just recently attacked! We oughta stay behind and let the two of them go and-” Sodalite started.

“I am fully aware of what happened and I appreciate your concern, but what happened was just a simple group of Red Diamond’s marauders. Their barbaric actions surely won’t be repeated unless Red Diamond has decided to do a full scale invasion. Luckily for us our scouts out in space have confirmed that no other ships have come by us ever since that day. So what we need now is a pair of gems that I can trust and have enough authority to influence and intimidate any and all potential buyers that will attempt to take what we need.” Purple Diamond explained.

“You have specific requirements?” Sardonyx asked.

“Go to the shipyard and leave immediately. One of our pearls will give you a listing of what we need in order of priority. You should arrive by the end of the day. Hopefully by then Tanzanite will have made it there as well.” Purple Diamond said.

“Tanzanite’s already left?” Carnelian asked.

“Yes, she’s currently in an attempt to pursue Number 8.”

“Again? Doesn’t she get that shi...gem is next to impossible to get? He’s like a ghost. And even then capturing him is just gonna paint a huge target on her, or worse yet us. Lots of rebellion factions need him for missions against the other diamonds, not to mention the personal crap he does for Black Diamond.” Sodalite ranted.

“He has to have some sort of hidden agenda with Black Diamond. He at least does good work at taking out threats.” Carnelian said.

“It’s true. Though he is an enemy he is also our ally. No matter who the target is, no matter what faction, he will go and get the job done by any means necessary. I fear the day that he decides to settle with one faction. It may very well tip the balance of this war.” Purple Diamond said.

“If only we could hire him.” Chalcedony said.

Purple Diamond furrowed her brow and scowled at the cloudy blue gem.

“Chalcedony I am disappointed in you. You know very well that I will not allow a mercenary to be associated with my name. The neutral dogs that see this war as an opportunity to gain wealth rather than for a cause we diamonds have established for our people. Though the neutral factions have done well to battle the other diamonds and help mitigate the pressure upon us, they should just allow us to protect them under my name instead of clinging to their own petty ideologies. They had their chance after the first diamond war thousands of years ago, they can’t try to force their hand again now that we three have come back to restore order to this untamed universe.” Purple Diamond lectured.

Chalcedony hung her head in shame, averting her gaze from her diamond.

“Yes you’re right. Forgive me my diamond.” Chalcedony said.

Purple Diamond smiled and pat her sullen servant with one finger.

“Don’t fret over it. You’re just thinking of any possibility to help me end this meaningless fight.” Purple Diamond said.

“I am my diamond. I’m sick of this war. Why can’t we just be together?”

“As am my, my child. But the war long ago has taught us that order through intimidation and class isolation will lead to our ruin. Black Diamond wishes to establish the old ways of ruling that caused their downfall long ago. I’m more than familiar with my sister’s devious and underhanded methods to enforce order. I do not wish that upon any of you, or any of her gems for that matter. Red Diamond’s chaotic nature will drive us all to destroying each other. The universe can’t thrive under chaos. The only true way is through lawful order. We will make a just land where law rules over all under a watchful guise rather than one enforced by fear. But we cannot do that unless we have the proper military power to take on my sisters.” Purple Diamond said.

The gems nodded. Purple Diamond pointed towards the ship yard, east of her chambers.

“Now go! Fulfil your duties!” She commanded.

“Yes my diamond!” The four gems called out as they rushed out to leave. The great diamond laid back down and rested on her bench, watching the four gems rush over to the shipyard.

In two minutes the gems made it to the docks of the shipyard and rushed over to a purple ship in the shape of an oval. A pearl dressed in robes bowed before them and guided Sodalite and Sardonyx to the ship. The two gems turned back as the ship began to ascend. They waved each other goodbye as the ceiling of the pyramid opened up in a spiral manner. The two gems backed up as the door to the ship closed and the two gems were escorted to the main control chambers.

“By the way, my mistress Sardonyx, I made sure to send the coordinates to Tanzanite. Her pearls should know where to meet you.” The pearl whispered to her.

Sardonyx smiled and followed Sodalite to her seat.

/**/

In the lone reaches of outer space, a lone ship lazily floated along a cosmic trail of color. Inside, Number 8 sat in his captain’s seat, looking at a locket. It was circular and had a rusted exterior. What little metal that remained untarnished shone silver, and nearly all of it’s chain has rusted away, leaving only a couple links hooked to it. He stared inside of it longingly, aged for eons, nearly broken and yet it holds something precious to him. Something that he stares longingly at when he is alone. Something irreplaceable.

His trance like stare was interrupted by a notification noise. He recognized the sound as a transmission request. He pressed a button and a tray in his chair shifted open. He closed the locket and placed the it inside the tray. As he closed it he answered the transmission call. A holographic display appeared, showing an angered gem.

“You’re not getting away with your crimes this time you mercenary scum!” She yelled.

Her light blue hair was long, fluffy and reached to her lower back, covering the entirety of the back of her chair. She glared at Tourmaline with her lavender eyes and her full lips were pursed into a scowl. She had a toned body, and the protrusion of her crossed legs gave of the impression that she was a very tall gem. She wore a set of purple earmuffs with circular cups etched to look her diamond’s fruit insignia and ocean blue band wrapping around the back of her head. She wore a cyber grape leotard with long sleeves that turned into fingerless gloves. The leotard had six stripes at her center, the top three and the bottom three meeting in the middle with a raspberry stripe, then a boysenberry stripe and the outline of the pattern was lined with a razzmic berry stripe. Her hips and thighs were exposed, but the royal purple skin of her legs was mostly cut off by a pair of royal blue high heel boots. At the tip of each knee rested a small, diamond shaped purple gem stone.

Number 8 rested his cheek on his fist and lazily gazed at the enraged gem.

“Must we do this every time I have an appointment on one of your planets Tanzanite?” He said.

“You’ve gone too far this time. Attacking a base on the same planet as my diamond, attempt to assassinate two of my subordinate officers, decimating one of our most important research facilities, and insulting our military might by just running away from a fair fight with Sardonyx! I’ve had enough of your despicable actions against my dynasty! Get off your ship at these coordinates. You don’t deserve it, but I will take you in honorably.” Tanzanite threatened.

“Yeah I’m not doing that.”

Tanzanite chuffed.

“Then you’d rather I blast you and bring what shattered remains back to my planet?” She threatened.

“That isn’t happening either. I’ve made sure that this ship has a shield strong enough to take a blast from a diamond cruiser. Your ship doesn’t have a chance in hell to pierce it.” Number 8 stood up and walked over to the hologram, “Why do you always have to be the one gem who feels the need to chase me around. It’s pointless.”

“Have you not been listening to a single word I’ve just said?” She asked.

“Oh please this is no worse than that time I sabotaged one of your cruisers, or blown up a few of your injectors on P-04. But to make it up to your diamond, I make the other diamonds suffer as she does.”

“You act like that makes you a better person.”

“I’m never said I was a good person. But I’m good at what I do, and I’m going to make sure I can keep doing what I’m good at until I have what I need.” He stated.

“And what exactly is that?” She asked.

“I don’t have to explain why to you. Just understand that once I have what I need, things will change for everyone.”

“Well knowing that doesn’t make me want to stop tailing you.”

“You’re that obsessed with getting to me? At this point I’m starting to think you just like following me around instead of doing your job Ms. Commander.”

“My job is to keep my diamond and my people safe, and that can’t happen if you’re here prolonging this war for everyone.”

“You could at least let me do some damage to your enemies as a way of saying I’m sorry first.”

“I think I’ll be happy with you in a bubble.”

“Love to continue this conversation, but I have some important business to take care of on K-051.”

Tanzanite raised an eyebrow and smirked at him.

“Really? Well so do I?”

“Is it about me?”

“Not everything I do is about you.”

“Really feels that way.”

“Well maybe if we have a little spare time I can take care of you. Then you won’t have to worry about work ever again.”

“Sounds like a dream, but a really boring one. I’ll see you around.”

“Yes, you will.”

The transmission ended and the display vanished. Number 8 heaved a sigh and went back to his chair. He had a smirk on his face.

“At least she keeps things entertaining.” He thought to himself.

/**/

Deep inside the Pearl Sanctuary, within Black Pearl’s ship, she, Green Pearl, Akoya Pearl, and Champagne Pearl have all gathered around to discuss an event of great importance. They were all sitting in their own cushioned chairs sitting in a circle. They were waiting on someone to deliver them some information. The door opened up and in came a single pearl. She wore a set of shades with cadet blue rims and aqua lenses. Her sky blue hair was tied in a ponytail which was pressed down by her shades. A choker of alternating teal diamonds decorated her neck, contrasting with her midnight blue skin. Her cerulean shirt and shorts were decorated with dark blue and turquoise rings. She wore sky blue leggings and dark purple shoes.

“I have just finished contact with our informant. The auction will be held in three days.” She said.

“Great. Any information on the auction Night Blue Pearl?” Black Pearl asked.

“The first section will be for captured soldiers. The second section is weaponry. The final section is pleasure and slaves.” Night Blue Pearl explained.

“Meaning pearls.” Champagne said.

“Yes.” The blue pearl explained.

“Then we need to go now.” Green Pearl said.

“Three of us will go. Me, Green, and Night Blue.” Black Pearl said.

“Can’t I go too?” Akoya asked.

“We said that only three of us would come. Too many of us around and it might raise suspicion. We summoned you here to let you know that you will be assisting Champagne in our absence.” Green Pearl said, “The sanctuary must remain in order. We’re going on our most dangerous mission yet.”

“But if we are successful, we will free dozens of pearls from enslavement.” Champagne said.

Akoya had a determined look on her face.

“Alright, I’ll hold down the stronghold with Champagne.” She walked over to the blind gem and helped her up.

“Thank you.” Champagne said.

She looked in Black Pearl’s direction and smiled.

“Good luck.”

“We’ll need it.” Green Pearl said.

The two pearls exited the ship and then Night Blue Pearl leaped up to the pilot seat. The ship began to rumble as it levitated off of the ground. In a matter of seconds, the ship began to rip through the air, into one of the meteorite’s holes. It escaped the tunnel and began to shoot off to its destination.

“We should arrive a bit after our contact. From there we will obtain our safe house and we can begin to construct a plan.” Night Blue Pearl declared.

“Excellent. Now then...let’s get to work on our disguises.” Black Pearl declared.

Green Pearl looked over to her friend.

“What did you have in mind?”

“Hmm...I’d say this.”

A white light enveloped Black Pearl’s form for a brief second, completely transforming her outfit. Her hair changed from her natural form having a tapered cut on the sides and back with a big mound of curls on top curled towards her forehead. She wore a purple dress top that covered her breasts and abdomen, though her shoulders and back were exposed. Her hips and thighs were covered with a black cloth, and her legs were covered with spandex.

“I think this works best. A bit more fetching and it’s color coordinated for what we’re doing.”

Green Pearl eyed Black Pearl for a second, shrugged, and then transformed to have the same outfit, though her hair was let down past her shoulders rather than Black Pearl’s style.

“Looks nice on you too.” Black Pearl complimented.

“Whatever. The sooner I can change back to my normal outfit the better.” Green Pearl looked up to Night Blue Pearl, “Are you going to get changed soon?”

“I’ll look at your outfits and copy them before we land. I need to focus on getting us there. But that should only be about five or so more minutes.” Night Pearl responded.

“Great.” Green Pearl looked back to Black Pearl, “So who is this contact we’re meeting? A pearl on the inside?”

“No. My contact is a very old friend of mine. She’s on our most neutral side so I can still trust her.” Black Pearl said.

“Neutral side? You mean Purple Diamond’s court?”

“Yes. Don’t exactly agree with her methods, but the conditions she puts the pearls in are far more tolerable than what Black Diamond and Red Diamond are doing.”

“You know about Black Diamond first hand, don’t you?”

Black Pearl looked away.

“That was a mistake I shouldn’t have made.”

Green Pearl frowned.

“Sorry I didn’t mean to-”

“No it’s fine. We both know why I left, and why I went there. But it’s in the past, and I’m going to make sure no other pearls make the same mistake.” Black Pearl said.

“You mean we all are.”

Black Pearl nodded.

“I fought to make sure the status quo wouldn’t exist anymore long ago. And I will continue fighting until the dream my friends and I had is realized. It’s what he would’ve wanted.”

“He?”

Black Pearl frowned.

“Forget you heard that.”

“Alright.”

There was a beeping noise coming from the ship.

“Planet K-051’s check in is contacting us. Give me one second.” Night Blue Pearl said.

She opened the communications option and typed away at her keyboard, submitting a code in an alien text. She sent the text and it vanished into the aether. She waited for a few seconds and then received a cheery tone and a confirmation message. Night Blue Pearl smiled and jumped out of her seat and then bounded down to the others. She eyed Black Pearl and Green Pearl for a split second.

“Alright! We’re good to go. Just let me change…” A light enveloped her form and she wore the same outfit, though her shades were gone, revealing her ice blue eyes, and her hair was no longer bound in a ponytail, “...and now we can meet up with our informant!”

Their ship slowly ascended down towards the planet’s surface. The planet was bright red with patches of green. As they descended downwards towards a specific patch of green, they began to break through fluffy clouds and peered down at the intensely large continent. On the surface it was completely bare. Massive forests and vast fields of green as far as one could see, even thousands of feet in the air. As they sank downwards towards a field, a hidden gate opened up, revealing a bright metallic tunnel. The pearls’ ship was swallowed by the hole. They all looked around to see that the tunnel revealed multiple floors with ships of all kinds parked. Like a migrating bird, their ship automatically knew which direction to go in. It floated down to the lowest level of ships and parked itself between two spherical cruisers.

Black Pearl was the first to exit the ship, looking both ways to see if their escort was nearby. The other two followed, both were extremely cautious.

“It’s too quiet. You think we were set up?” Green Pearl asked.

“Absolutely not. The line I contacted our friend with was completely secure. And if Black Pearl is putting this much faith in this person, she’s clearly worthy of our trust.” Night Blue Pearl stated.

Black Pearl continued to scan the environment for her contact, but then saw someone come down through the lit complex. She smiled as she recognized who it was.

“I was beginning to get tired of waiting for you.” Her deep voice called out, “But I knew you wouldn’t pass on an opportunity like this. You’ve always been too headstrong to quit.”

Black Pearl beamed as she ran up to the large gem. The others followed and Black Pearl lept into the arms of her friend. Her giant friend embraced her in her strong arms.

“It’s great to see you Sardonyx!” Black Pearl exclaimed.

“Good to see you too little lady.” Sardonyx shot back.

The other two pearls looked on at the two gems with mild confusion.

“I knew you were good friends but this seems like much.” Green Pearl said.

The two rejoicing friends stopped and looked at the other pearls. Sardonyx let Black Pearl down and smiled down on the other two.

“So you’re her partners in crime? Glad to finally meet you!” Sardonyx said.

“Alright, very nice and all but we shouldn’t be talking like this here. There are most likely security cameras.” Night Blue Pearl brought up.

Sardonyx nodded.

“Right. Let's go somewhere a bit more busy. My associate is waiting for us at one of this city’s establishments. It’s human themed.” Sardonyx said.

The four of them began to walk out of the parking lot. Black Pearl had a smirk on her face.

“Human themed?” She asked.

“Yep. Gems around here are very interested in human culture, so they have establishments that replicate what humans used to do.” Sardonyx explained.

“Very interesting.” Night Blue Pearl added, “I wonder how accurate it all is. All documented footage of humans must be centuries old.”

“It’s pretty accurate. I’m speaking from experience.” Sardonyx said.

The group of gems made it to a glass elevator. The four squeezed inside and Sardonyx pressed a button labeled K-051c. The elevator began to sink down and pass through various levels of the Earth.

“The first two levels are basic needs. Security, authorities, and refueling. They keep an eye on everything that goes on at the main level. Luckily this is a neutral planet, so you three don’t have to worry too much about unfair persecution unless you stir up trouble.” Sardonyx said.

“But that’s why we’re here” Black Pearl added.

Sardonyx chuckled.

“I know, I know. Just make sure you start trouble when you really need to.”

They passed through the first two layers and began to descend down to the city. Despite being underground, it was massive and well lit. Street lamps of bizarre architecture lined the cobblestone streets and an artificial sun floated at the rock ceiling. Liquids of various psychedelic colors soared through the air, and the lapis lazuli’s that controlled them danced with them. Gems of all kinds from all factions littered the streets. The buildings were modeled like human stores, but the gem’s architectural style gave them all their own unique feel. In the center of the city was a giant fountain covered with all sorts of Earth and Alien fauna.

The pearls were in awe at the beauty of the city.

“Yep, I had about the same reaction when I came down here. Welcome to Orenan!” Sardonyx declared as their elevator finally stopped. The gems walked out into the bustling city. Sardonyx led the way through the thick crowd. Each pearl stayed close to her as they walked down the busy block.

“Don’t worry, it’s right here.” Sardonyx assured them.

They came upon a cube shaped, gray building. On it was a neon sign that read “Musician’s Hideaway”. The group went inside and were again blown away by the decor. It was filled with high quality chairs and booths. Tapestry’s of old human album covers littered the walls and the interior carpet was white and covered with musical notes. At the center stage there was an alien DJ booth where two gems were jamming as they played the establishment’s music. There was a bar with a back wall decorated in bottles of all kinds. Gems of all shapes and sizes celebrated here. Drinking human drinks of all kinds, be them alcoholic or not, tasting human food, reading about human music cultures, it was a paradise of foreign information.

Black Pearl looked on in awe at everything, even recognizing a few album covers on the walls while Sardonyx guided her and the other pearls to their table. They could see Sodalite already eating her share of fruits and vegetables while Tanzanite rolled her eyes. The four of them sat and began to talk.

In another part of the restaurant, White Topaz and Jet were looking at each other across from their table. At the bar, Fluorite and Crazy Horse were drinking themselves into a stupor, waiting for Obsidian to meet up with them.

Unbeknownst to all of patrons at the club, a dangerous threat was about to enter the restaurant. An agent of controlled chaos that was hunting his prey. Number 8 was walking through the crowded streets and towards Musician’s Hideaway.

#gemsona #gem oc #fic #Black Pearl #shattered kingdoms

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secondstartotheright-imagines · 8 years ago

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Beautiful....curves and all.

Request from @gayvvarden: Hi hey I'm back (-; This time with a request! I was wondering if you could write a Killian x reader (or Killian x pan x reader! I don't mind) where the reader is plus sized? (Preferably not just "chubby" but I'll take what I can get lol) the plot is up to you, but I'm in desperate need of this as there's hardly any around (: Thank youxx

Note: Hope this is okay! <3

Killian Jones x PlusSize!Reader

Words: 1,522

Warnings: Hurtful comments thrown at the reader in regards to her weight and look.

Disclaimer: None of the GIFs used are mine so all credit goes to their creators <3

Words could hurt….badly. You had learned that throughout your life in the Enchanted Forest and when you went into adulthood it was no better. With the Princesses that so often visited this realm the majority of its residents seemed to have it in their head that woman should be ‘skinny and pretty’ – a rather chauvinistic view but then when males outnumbered the females here it became something that was pretty much set in concrete.

If you didn’t fit that mould then, well, you weren’t deemed worthy enough to even be spoken to with an ounce of respect and as for people taking you seriously? Not a chance! You couldn’t even try and make an honest living working from a market stall without taunts being thrown at you left, right, and centre.

“Don’t know why you’re expecting anyone to buy anything from you….you think they want to risk looking like you?”

You’d had negative comments thrown at you your whole life and although they still hurt like a dagger to the chest you had quickly learned to let them slide over you as best you could so when the latest one came your way you simply quirked an eyebrow at the male.

“If that was supposed to be an insult, sir, then you might like to know that it made NO sense whatsoever.” With his mouth agape it looked like he hadn’t been expecting you to say anything back at all which helped to keep you amused during your little exchange of words. “Well if you looked closely enough you would find that I am selling things that I have woven by hand, not food items, because no doubt you are referring to my weight which if I am correct isn’t contributed at all by such items….”

He was lost, completely so, not only because he hadn’t received the reaction he wanted from you but because his intelligence wasn’t quite at the level clearly needed to make the connection between what you were saying and what you were showing him you sold.

“I….I….well….you’re just some ugly woman who is going to end up a spinster in this land!” At that very moment you just couldn’t contain yourself anymore and a huge burst of laughter erupted from you at the childish nature of the man’s comment. Considering how confident he had seemed at first this was quite the downfall for him. “Don’t laugh at me you foul creature!”

The tip of a sword’s blade came to rest on the man’s shoulder as he readied himself to square up to you and as your [e/c] eyes travelled the length of it you soon saw the person who was wielding it. For the love of all that was good he was handsome – not your typical ‘Prince Charming’ kind of handsome as he was much to rugged for that but the sculpted jawline? The enchanting blue eyes? Then of course there was that cocky little smirk that was tugging up at the corner of his lips…what lady WOULDN’T fall at his feet?

“That isn’t the way to talk to a beautiful young woman mate.”

There you were thinking this man couldn’t get any better and yet that voice….you could fall asleep listening to that deep tone of his.

“Beautiful? I think you have been on the rum a little too long pirate.” He turned to face the man that had brandished a rather intimidating weapon, sliding the sword from his shoulder with his hand, before looking at the man before him with an expression of disgust etched onto his face. “Now I suggest you back off with that sword before the whole of this marketplace turns on you.”

You were beginning to feel a little nervous now, worried for the safety of the man that had so gallantly stood up for you, and so your fingertips started to play with the hems of your sleeves as you pulled them both down over your hands. The majority of the women in this village bared their arms, wanting to show as much of themselves off without losing too much of their dignity, but you kept as much as you could hidden…which proved to be useful right now as it gave you something to focus on other than the impending doom unfolding before you.

“I come here every month and trade a lot with the people of this market. In fact the reason why half of them still have their stalls is because me and my crew come here…..so who are they really going to rally behind?”

He raised a single brow at the man, his smirk growing as the fear began to show on his face, and when he said nothing and simply scarpered he couldn’t stop the amused laugh from escaping him as he sheathed his sword and turned his whole attention onto you.

“I’m sorry you had to deal with that love. The man doesn’t know what he is talking about.” His sharp eyes seemed to be taking in every detail of you as they travelled from your waist (he couldn’t see any lower due to your stall being in the way) all the way up to your long [h/c] locks before finally resting on your lips. “I have travelled many realms and have never come across any maiden as beautiful as yourself.”

“Well now I am starting to think he was right about that rum.” Your cheeks radiated a deep crimson colour as one of your hands continued to pull at your sleeve while the other made sure that your dress hadn’t hitched up anywhere it shouldn’t have done. “You should be careful what you say around here….wouldn’t want to ruin any reputation you may have gained for yourself.”

“First of all….I’m not drunk.” The dark haired pirate made his way around to where you were stood at your stall and now your nerves really were beginning to get the better of you. Your heart raced so much you were convinced he could hear it from where he stood and the palms of your hands began to sweat. “Second of all when have you ever heard of a pirate caring what others think?”

He had a fair point and if you weren’t currently trying so hard to keep your nerves at bay you may have even told him that to his face; however, all you could do currently was look at him with your mouth slightly open as though you were some kind of goldfish. His only good hand wrapped itself around your waist, seeming to fit perfectly, and pulled you into him. There was no way your slightly baggy attire was drawing him away from your curvy body because his grip on you was so tight he was bound to feel everything you had been trying to hide underneath it.

His lips drew themselves close to your ear, his facial hair tickling your soft skin as they did, and then his voice travelled down it in such an intimate manner that you could have sworn your legs turned to jelly there and then.

“Those skinny Princesses don’t do anything for me, they’re all the same; needy, fake, and so far up their own backsides they wouldn’t have a clue how to please another.” The hook that was in place of his left hand travelled up to your hair before slipping in your locks as gently as a brush would have done so. “I find that a woman such as yourself can offer far more than just a little bit of fun. You are quite the feisty one too. It’s refreshing to see someone who doesn’t act as the ‘damsel in distress’ when it comes to being faced with a nasty man.”

The busy scene of the marketplace had completely left your mind now and all you could do was lose all logical thought as you revelled in the close proximity he had put you both in. You didn’t even so much as flinch as the hand that was holding onto your waist gripped a little tighter to get a whole load of your skin in his hold, it brought out the smallest of moans from his lips as he finally pulled his away from your ear so he could look into your eyes properly.

“Now what would you say to going for a drink in the tavern down the way? The market is about to close and I have nowhere to be for a while….”

You couldn’t believe that such a good looking man was actually, willingly, offering to take you for a drink and although you still couldn’t quite grasp the ability to speak any kind of formed sentence the smile that spread on your face from ear to ear was the only confirmation the pirate needed to take a hold of your hand and place a gentle kiss onto it….his eyes never breaking away from yours as he did.

“The name is Killian Jones by the way.”

“[f/n] [l/n] …..and thank you.”

“Oh you are most welcome [y/n]. It would be my absolute pleasure to spend some more time with you.”

Permanent tag (now open): @fallenfairy16 @brieflybigwonderland @gayvvarden

(anyone who wants to be added just let me know!)

#beautiful curves and all #killian jones x reader #once upon a time #enchanted forest #imagine #ouat #captain hook ouat #not my gifs #request #answered #secondstartotherightimagines #colin o'donoghue #captain hook x reader #reader #jolly roger #pirate

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kalapenogone · 7 years ago

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P.O.V: Shane - Ch. 9

Sometimes taking a leap of faith leads to a crash and burn.

Acting normal was routine.

Ignoring the painful stutter in his heart when he saw you was routine.

A routine carefully maintained those few minutes but it came crashing apart when you brought up how he used to act and he stiffened.

He needed to leave.

Alone, he couldn’t quite halt the recollection of memories. Days when he was even more untrusting than before. Most were not above taking advantage of him and his friends back then, so when new people tried to edge into his secure circle he kept his guard up. You and your friends kept hanging around him and his friends, they accepted it rather easily and he thought you were nothing but opportunists. You either wanted something, wanted to show off getting in with them, or that it was all a set up for the rug to be pulled out from under them. One had to be right, one was always the case with vultures like them.

Not to mention one had pink hair.

Pink hair was never to be trusted.

He was labelled a hair racist by you and Mai but he remained firm in his belief. When someone had pink hair, horrible things were guaranteed to happen around them. He didn’t think that out of hatred, it simply was. And…

It reminded him of someone else.

One could say it was…triggering.

From there, the memories only snowballed.

After you and him somehow came to be, he supposed most people wouldn't think of them as happy. Especially not after you proved you wielded a mean right hook and swept him off his feet. Literally.

They were too different for them to truly be, too challenging to last.

He supposed that was true, but it strangely wasn't. You and him were messy and complicated and there was hardly a dull moment, but they loved each other. He knew that as well as he knew himself. You brought out a sense of confidence in him that he had never felt before, and he wondered what he brought out in you.

He had a feeling it was a sense of peace, a feeling like you belonged in this world.

They weren't perfect. Sometimes there were fights went long into the night, fights that left an empty feeling in his chest that throbbed with an aching pain until they were together again.

Between the two of them, they had done so much damage. They were like twin wrecking balls, smashing into everything they could find. But some things weren't easily broken, and somehow they found their way back to one another. And they crashed together again. It's not fair to everyone else, he knew. He couldn't stop himself, and afterward he felt drained. And it's not really about you; it's about him. How he’s hurting everybody even now and he knew it and he still wouldn't stop. He didn't want to.

And in those moments, when they were connected, He felt you fully. Your heat, your resonating light, your beauty; all of it came sliding into view, deep focus and cherry lip gloss. Your heart was open, in these moments, and you read his like an open diary. He saw you, and the world around him faded. Everything was centered in you. When you cried he'd wipe away all of your tears. When you'd scream he'd fight away all of your fears. He held your hand through all of those years.

He realized he felt things a bit too deeply. You brought it out in him most. She could never quite reach that deep. She tried though, and he blamed himself too. For not really loving her. For shoving her away.

He thought she assumed it was easy for you, or at least easier. But what she didn't understand was that you didn't just take something away, and he didn't just leave. You had him all along. You still did. And you were constantly letting him go. And he had you, but he could never quite give you up to the world. He was selfish that way, is selfish. And they came around again, back to each other.

When he saw her again, she stared at him as though he didn't really exist. As though he never had. And he knew before that he had chosen you. He knew the moment you kissed him, and it was wrong, but you were right.

It'd been a difficult situation. One where nobody won, because in some small way, they were all to blame. And they all felt bad. There's no other way to put it. And there's nothing they could do but revolve around each other silently.

It started over a year ago.

He messed up.

He made a mistake – a big one – with the one thing that was perfect in his life, the only thing that made sense.

You.

You said that they would be together, but he supposed it was a lie. He knew that he didn't have all the things that you ideally wanted.

He shouldn't have forced you to share things that you didn't want to. He never should have retaliated the way he did. He regretted it every day. He knew he couldn't fix those things, and he knew that you were fragile despite all other evidence pointing otherwise. It seemed way too selfish for him to care at the time.

He remembered the time you smiled at him after the unplanned snowball fight. Your cheeks were nipped by the chilling bite of the wind, and the intensity of your eyes had grown. They had sat by the fireplace at your house, and he swore, he could still smell the aroma of the hot chocolate around them. You were laying on him because you were tired. He remembered whispering those three words.

You were taken a little bit by surprise, of course, but you warmed up to the idea of that.

You were his anchor in his life; the voice of reason in his reckless moments, the arms of comfort in his tired nights and the reason for his smile even on the saddest days. You had become his life, his joy, the best and closest friend he could have ever asked for. The person who understood him more than any other human being walking this lonely planet.

What happened to that version of them? Did the ongoing fight erase that? Could he somehow revive ‘them’?

You were the best thing to happen to him.

And he let you go.

No, but he didn’t just let you go – he made you storm off with flaming cheeks and tears in your eyes, with nasty thoughts of him and bitter heartbreak.

Shane didn’t let you go gently; not like a gentle release from his arms for a bird who deserved to fly.

No, he made you leave; he made you want to leave, biting at his grip that caged you and making sure you left a trail of dust in your wake as a reminder of his loss. If there was one thing you could never say, it was that he was the one just walked away.

He made a mistake.

He made you leave.

He didn’t mean to.

It had been ten days... Ten days of deafening silence that left him free falling through the sky not knowing if his fail-proof parachute would open before he hit the ground. Ten days of limbo only to be told that what he knew to be the undeniable truth was no longer the case.

He let you in... Let you permeate into his deepest crevices because you saw him. Recognized and celebrated parts of him that no one else would acknowledge. He gave you the power to disarm him. You took him by surprise and destroyed him.

He had been naive... Refusing to believe that the universe would bless him with such an amazing gift if it was only to wistfully take it away. Deny him of the fulfillment he had sought for after the disaster that was Emily. Years of wondering if anyone would be the missing piece that would complete his puzzle. He trusted you. Trusted you to be as open and true about your feelings as he had. Had faith, believed you would treat his heart with the same respect he had given yours. But the unrelenting need to seek his answer greatly superseded the desire to maintain the status quo.

He pushed too hard... you fought back.

He never meant to start a war. He just wanted you to let him in. And instead of using force, he guessed he should've let you win.

At that moment, everything seemed to change.

It was in the heat of the moment – perhaps a tipping point of a boiling pot of bitter emotions that he tried to put a lid on – but the words slipped out. It was too late to catch the words that fell from his clumsy lips and they cut you like a knife.

“I just think it’s stupid.”

“It’s not stupid, Shane – you know how much it means to me.”

It was something that you loved. You loved him – but you also loved other things. Other people. Friends. Family. Other things that made you happy, other things that made up who you were – it was something that you held close to you, but after the whole other problem that had blown up before this fight, Shane couldn’t reign in the growing tunnel vision.

He knew he had struck a chord when he saw your eyes narrow dangerously, eyebrows furrowed and fists starting to clench.

“You–”

“I don’t care, Shane. It’s my happiness. Did you want me to be sitting at home all the time, waiting for you to call? Waiting for you while you’re off in England and have my life centered around you?”

“Sometimes I think you don’t trust me. You know I’d never, I’m your boyfriend–”

You let out a derisive laugh, voice dripping with bitter sarcasm.

“So that automatically makes you the centre of my world? Is it my duty as your girlfriend to devote everything I have to you? When you can’t do the same?”

“Stop twisting my words!”

His words came out louder than he intended it to, and the sharp tones echoed in the silence that ensued. You were taken aback by his abrupt outburst, but it did nothing to calm the spiked fury in your veins.

“So what do you want me to do, Shane?” Your voice was cynical, scathing.

“I want to spend more time with you.”

“Well, we’re spending time now, aren’t we?”

He was staring at you with angry disbelief; at the girl in front of him that wore the face of someone he loved but spoke words that made his jaw clench and teeth grate.

This wasn’t the girl he loved.

“If you think spending time on something else will make you happier than me, if you keep bringing up her, then whatever – go ahead. I wanted to spend time with you, but obviously you don’t think the same.”

“Shane, I already told you what I think about Emily and my stance hasn’t changed on that. I don’t care what you do. The point I’m trying to make right now is that it’s not a competition – I’m allowed to do other things, too. I’m allowed to like things that you might not, and while I don’t need your approval, I could at least use some acceptance. I sure as hell don’t need you dictating what I can and cannot do.”

“Is that the type of person you think I am?”

“That’s the type of person you’re sounding like right now.”

He’s glaring at you now, and your eyes were doing the same back at him, seething.

They were both at a standstill, bodies tense and words still hanging heavily in the air.

They had fought before – usually small, trivial little things that blew over within a day – but this, this hurt. Knowing that you could say something like that – and to bring up her when you knew what it did to him – it hurt. This argument was really just compounding on the issue with Emily.

And he thought he might have just been using his anger to cover up the betrayal he felt in his heart for the one person who was supposed to be accepting of him. You were supposed to trust him.

“You do what you want and what makes you happy, Shane – and I’m glad that you can. I’m happy when you’re happy, but why can’t you let me have the same with my own thing?”

There was more to that than what she said.

He was as still as a stone, blue eyes as hard as ice. “Then go if it makes you so happy. Go and forget about the fact that you have a boyfriend.”

It wasn’t meant to be an invitation, but you took it as one, shaking your head in disbelief before prying your eyes away from his cold ones, walking towards the door in angry steps.

“You used to make me happy, Shane. Maybe that’s why I stayed.”

He’s silent, his mind registering you leaving but his body doing nothing to stop it.

“But clearly that’s not the case anymore.”

You held your gaze for a moment longer – you’re begging for him to stop you, to tell you to stop, to tell you to stay – but he remained silent and you made sure to slam the door on the way out.

You didn’t come back.

It’d been a few months.

Months since his stupid, stupid mistake.

He spent every night thinking about it, rewinding the moment you left and replaying the words you said.

He was wrong. He should’ve said it better. He should’ve at least told you to stay. But you were gone; you made sure you disappeared from his life, and god did he hope you were happy somewhere in this world.

But Shane wished that you could still be happy with him.

Because for the past year, he’d been pining over the girl that he drove away; his eyes ringed with black over the sleepless nights he had thinking of you and all he should’ve done, all he shouldn’t have done.

He didn’t truly realize that you were his happiness until you walked out the door and left him in the dark loneliness.

Shane needed you. He needed your smile to light up his days and your kisses to soothe him at night.

He needed to tell you he was sorry. That he was wrong.

At the very least, he needed some closure.

Without it, he was nothing but a fragment of a boy filled with regrets over all the things that were just a little too late.

They met again, by accident.

It was a bitterly cold day and he found out later that you had been rushing home and you didn’t see where you were going until you crashed; spilling hot coffee all over the person in front of you.

He thought about how clichéd it was to meet like that, but a part of him wanted to think that it’s more than just some rom-com coincidence – that there’s fate behind it, like the two of you were meant to find each other again.

You’re stuttering over your apologies, but they died on your lips the moment you looked up and saw the familiar blue eyes that had been glaring at you the last time you stared into them. You looked different, a little taller, a little tanner, something about how your hair was styled and how you fitted into the clothes that were different from the ones you used to wear.

He didn’t know what to say, or what to do – he was half tempted to run away. Now that you’re face-to-face with him, he was reminded of all of his childish stupidity of that one day, and of all the words he wished he could’ve taken back. How did he tell you that he still thought of you when he looked at the stars, that he still looked for you every Sunday morning in the bed sheets next to him? How did he tell you that he didn’t believe in second chances, that he knew you weren’t fond of them either, but god, would you believe for a moment in time that he would only need one?

How did he tell you that he still loved you?

How did he tell you that he wished he didn’t?

How did he tell you that he wished you still did too?

He didn’t have the words, but his mouth opened all the same, words tumbling off his lips gracelessly.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I should be sorry – I’ve ruined your expensive jacket.”

He shook his head vigorously, his heart pounding at the sight of you – at this moment that he only dreamed about, the moment where he’d find you again.

The moment where he’d fix things again.

“No, I’m sorry – I’m sorry… sorry for all the stupid things I said. Sorry for being such a jerk. Sorry for not doing something, then causing shit when I did. Sorry for making you – us – into this. This awkward as fuck how’s the weather acquaintances when we used to be so much more. When we could’ve had more. In fact, you shouldn’t be sorry at all – I think I deserved this, with all I did. Didn’t do. Failed to do.”

You’re still speechless, probably shocked at the fact that he still remembered the argument you had. You didn’t know that it was the only thing that’d been on his mind for so long.

“Shane, please don’t –”

“I screwed up. I made a mistake.”

“We both made mistakes.”

“I know what I did was wrong. I… I should’ve known better.”

“It’s not just you.”

“I want you to know that I… I know better now. I’m sorry. I – I hope you’re happy. I know you’re happier without me messing things up in your life, but I… I wanted you to know. I’m sorry.”

You’re silent, and he was afraid because the last time he saw your lips close, you ended up walking out of his life.

“What do you want, Shane?” Your voice was quiet, soft – not at all bitter or sarcastic like it was the last time you asked him something, but rather, gentle and contemplative.

“I don’t – I don’t like want it to be like this. This – this nothing.”

“I didn’t want the nothing either, Shane.”

He flinched like he’d been hit and he tried not to let your words scar him as much as your goodbye did.

“I haven’t been the same. I want… I want some closure, at the very least.” He laughed a little, like a little awkward relief when he said the words out low. “To have something official. An official break up. An official make up. Not a closed door and a head full of questions. I just- I just wanted- hoped for us back again.”

“And I just wanted an us to begin with.”

“We can make one then.”

“We tried once. We know how that turned out.”

“We don’t know how it turned out – we don’t know how it will. It wasn’t an end.”

“Shane. Listen to yourself. You and I – it’s in the past. We can’t hold on to things – to things that are broken, that are done.”

“It doesn’t have to be.”

“What we have is gone, Shane.”

“Funny. We’re both standing right here.”

You bit your lip. The two of you were blocking the sidewalk with his broad shoulders and your thick jacket; the cold winds biting your exposed skin, but he barely noticed anything around him but the person he thought had disappeared from his life. He was looking at you like you were the sun and he’d rather go blind than miss a moment of your radiance again.

“I can love you again.”

“You can hurt me again.”

“There’s no more distance. And there doesn’t have to be any space–” He took the smallest step towards you. “–if you want to.”

This was everything he dreamed and dreaded of. He was pleading now, and he was afraid. He was so goddamn afraid because he could see your thoughts laid out for him on your face. You didn’t know how to make this stranger into someone you let close enough to love you again, you didn’t know how to make someone who hurt you once upon a time into a stranger.

“Could you love me again?”

“…I want to be happy.”

“Is there a possibility that you can have that with me? Like we used to?”

His voice was tinged with hope, a bit of light starting to shine in his eyes. He didn’t want you to see his trembling fingers or hear his thunderstorm heart; Shane didn’t want you to see just how starved he was of your love, how now all his dreams consisted of you.

You forced yourself to look into his eyes and he remembered how he stared into them, how it was everything he wanted – him, you with him, space taken up by the two of you.

Then he saw weariness in them.

His heart dropped; the gravity of reality pulling him back down to earth she doesn’t love me she doesn’t love me –

“Come with me. Let me fix up that jacket – I think I can wash out the stains before it dries completely – and… and we’ll talk.”

It’s not a yes and it’s not a no, but it’s more than Shane has gotten in the past months, and it’s a leeway to an answer.

“We’ll spend time together?”

He almost sounded like a child with his hopeful voice, and finally you smiled.

“Just like what you wanted.”

“Want.”

He didn’t have to say I want you, but you both knew it’s what he was thinking.

You agreed to be friends. He knew the club, your friends, played a part in your decision. You didn’t want anyone walking around on eggshells anymore when it came to the both of you. It wasn’t an outcome Shane would’ve like but he was thankful you didn’t cut him out from your life altogether.

This was fine. Fine. Friends.

Shaking his head, he flicked off the bathroom light and quietly approached your bed. You slept, bound in a cocoon of blankets, unaware as he greedily drank you in.

You were alive.

That was all that mattered, at least to him.

Suddenly so exhausted, he dropped down onto his knees by your bed, his eyes still locked on your face.

"Listen to me, and you better get it through that thick head of yours," he whispered, gripping your hand tightly. "You are not allowed to die, do you hear me? And you're never allowed to do anything like this ever again, so help me God. I'd… I'd never forgive you."

He scrubbed his free hand over his haggard face and tried not to come apart completely as your heart beat a steady thrum under his fingers. It hadn’t been the case when he found you on the ground, unresponsive to his frantic calls. It was terrifying.

When he had felt for your pulse then and found nothing, for one painstaking moment his world shattered.

He thought…

He thought you’d…

"I can't lose you.” His voice cracked. “I don't care if that makes me a selfish prick. I cannot lose you. Not now, not ever. Do you understand me?"

You remained silent and he ran his thumb absently over your palm, reveling in the warmth he felt there. You were alive. You were going to be alright. You would need time to get back on your feet again, but you weren't going to die. You weren't.

Breathing hard, he lightly pressed a kiss to the back of your hand. He would never know what he had done to deserve you and your unwavering faith and support, but he would never take that for granted for as long as he lived. There was no way he would understand what you had ever saw in him.

"I love you."

God, he loved you so much.

#serendipity #bonus content

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semestakatarsis · 8 years ago

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the adventure of pirate mika and dragon rider taehyung: the treasure in lonely castle

pt. 1

Mika pulled and pushed the iron door with all her might. For the countless time, it did nothing but rumbled loudly, sending dust and debris to the air and down her hair. A loud groan followed every clatter it made, resonated ghostly around the high ceiling of the tower. It sounded so much like a beast was disturbed by the rowdy noise of iron clashing with rocks. Perhaps there was actually a beast napping somewhere inside this glamorous yet abandoned castle. Well, that wouldn't be surprising. It just occurred to her that there must be some kind of beast inhabiting this place as this is the famous Lonely Castle, stood bold and tall in the only island there was in the vast ocean of the Depraved Sea. The island wasn't big; rumour had it that it took only thirty minutes to walk around the whole rugged shoreline. It was the only shelter Mika could find after the wild weather of the area almost wrecked her ship. The Depraved Sea was as dangerous as the legends had told. It was well-known for its monstrous underwater creatures and deadly storms that occur on a daily basis. Mika had no choice but to make her weary ship stranded at the sloppy side of the island. She decided to venture out a bit while her ship took some rest. She didn't expect to get herself trapped in the Lonely Castle, which at first she thought was empty and deserted as its name would probably live up to. Apparently, no one had ever told her that some beast would probably have made this place their temporal home.

However, a beast couldn't become her main concern at the moment, for she was mysteriously trapped in a barred round room up high in the tallest tower of the castle. No food, no water. The only way out was the square window on the opposite side of where she stood, yet it would be too hard to survive three hundred meters jump to rocky water. And yes, the tower was that tall. On a side note, Mika had no idea about who had locked her up here. She remembered entering the main hall, but even before she managed to say "Hello?", she was attacked from behind. The world went dark instantly--she didn't even remember collapsing to the dirty marble floor. A few hours later, she woke up to realize she was being held prisoner. Her dagger was taken, her pocket--used to be jingling with a handful pieces of gold--was empty. Soon she realized that only beings with some sense of intelligence would disarm and rob a hostage, but "beings with some sense of intelligence" might refer not only to humans, but also human-like, half-human, and somehow-still-human beings, like, say, vampires? Cyclops? Orcs?

Engulfed by anger instead of fear, Mika shook the iron door violently. "HEY!!!!!!"

As expected, the beast groaned, a little louder than before like it was getting impatient and probably saying, "Stop making noises, finbutt! Someone's trying to get a good sleep down here!"

"YES, YOU, NASTY SHITSHARK CENTIPEDE!!!!!!" Mika screamed at the top of her lungs. "Let me out of here and let's fight!!!!!!"

Mika spent the rest of the day yelling and screaming curses. She was trying to provoke whomever lived in this castle. She had been through a similar circumstance before and she had learned that provocation was quicker than crying for pity. She was a pirate, after all. Pirates didn't plead for freedom. Pirates fought their way out with their swords and handguns. Mika wasn't too confident without her dagger though, and the idea of hand-to-hand combat had never interested her. But she put the thought aside and decided that there would never be a combat if her enemy had no guts to show up.

"OH, COME ON!!!!!!" Mika kicked the door. "Are you waiting for me to get tired?! Well! I'll never get tired of cursing at you, Mr. or Mrs. Coward! I love cursing! Cursing is fun! Cursing at you is even more fun!"

The rustle of wind filled the air. Even the beast had stopped responding. The color of the sky was divided like a half-rotten tangerine. Orange on the west, dark grey on the east. The surface of the sea imitated the colors, yet its natural blue darkened them a little.

Mika was panting. Beads of sweat rolled down her face. She silently admitted that she was actually getting tired of screaming. At last, after one final kick and "Tell me when you finally find some courage to show your shitshark butt!", Mika stormed to the other side of the room--which didn't take long because the room only held such a small space--and sat on the floor.

It was infuriating, but Mika told herself to calm down. Now that her anger had subsided a little, her brain provided a room for clear thoughts. She leaned back, resting her head against the wall, and closed her eyes. Everything that had happened in the village seemed to find its way to play a rerun behind her closed eyelids. The village that used to be her home, villagers that once were her best friends and family. Mika left them at the age of twelve to follow her brother Taeyong, the only blood-related family she had, who decided to join a crew of sailors that worked for a cargo ship. The ship transported cargos and goods around the world. Taeyong wouldn't even let her come to the harbor at first; there was no way he would let his little sister see him on board for he knew she always followed him around and copied everything he did. But Mika overheard his supposedly secret conversation with the headman the night before and was pretty much convinced that he would be leaving with a group of people at noon, and Mika thought he couldn't just leave without telling Mika what he was actually up to. So after lunch, when Taeyong was diligently washing dishes, Mika sneaked out of the house and ran to the harbor. Eventually, Taeyong found her already on board. To his surprise, somehow Mika managed to persuade the captain to let a little girl join his crew. They had one of their biggest fights afterward and it became a show for people in the harbor.

"You have to stop following me!" Taeyong yelled.

Being the bold kid she was, Mika yelled back, "Why do I have to stop following you? You're my brother!"

"This is not a pretend game, Mika! I'm not pretending to be a sailor! I'm going to be a real sailor, in a real ship! And the sea is real too, and the real sea is dangerous! There are so many monsters out there that could eat you!"

"You can protect me!" Mika insisted, already bawling. "I want to go anywhere with you! I want to be a real sailor, too! I'm not afraid of monsters!"

"You don't understand!"

"No! You don't understand!"

"You're too young, Mika! You're only twelve!"

"You're too young, too! You're only fourteen!"

Unlike his crew that were pretty much entertained and reminded of their family they left in their hometowns, the captain was starting to get tired of watching the seemingly endless fighting. Fortunately, before he considered the thought of setting off without them, the headman came and reconciled them. It was decided that Mika might join the crew and sail with them for a few weeks until the ship returned to the village to drop goods. Taeyong halfheartedly accepted the resolution, but the headman reassured him. That moment, life felt like it just had a new beginning. An adventure to the world beyond the sea, new islands, new people. Mika was looking forward to meeting magical creatures more diverse than fairies and naiads that inhabitat the forest area of her home island. Ah, and more monsters, too. Mika had been secretly growing interest in monster hunting, and her home island was too small for bigger monsters than the boring herbivores aptonoths, moofahs, and kelbis--though Mika was kind of proud of the kelbis for it was a rare species inhabiting only several islands in the world and that should've made her island special--or so the headman said.

Well, years later, who knew she would end up becoming a female pirate?

And the last time she visited her village, which was three days ago, the villagers didn't seem to like her new identity. They attempted two vicious things, so evil Mika couldn't believe she would come to question the loyalty of her own people: burn her at the stake and destroy her ship. At this thought, the images played in her brain started to blur and fade out. It faded in a moment later in a picture of her brother getting beaten up on a deck of a luxury cruise ship by some wicked-looking pirates. He was curling on the floor, one hand protecting his head and the other covering his stomach. The wicked-looking pirates were laughing while kicking him and hitting him with wooden sticks. The cruise ship seemed to be on fire. Pirates were running around chasing passengers and ravaging everything they could put their hands on. The scenes were so miserable that a sudden realization hit Mika so hard it sent chills down her spine and jolted her awake.

Her eyes snapped open.

That was that; it had always been the reason why people despise pirates.

That also should be the reason why her own people in her own village tried to tie her up at a stake and light a fire on her feet, as if they'd turned blind on her.

But Taeyong was the reason Mika chose this path.

Suddenly, Mika realized it was night time and her surrounding had changed. Shadows swayed on the floor. Someone had ignited the torches on the wall. A dark figure loomed in front of her door. Mika tensed.

"Finally," she said, trying hard not to freak out. "You came."

"I'm not the one you'd been calling names earlier," a voice of a man replied. He took a step forward and the light of the torches illuminated his face, a face so human so dashing Mika forgot how to blink. "I'm a prisoner, too, but I've been quieter than you."

1722 words / 170425 / monster reference: monster hunter

#series #pirate mika #x #bts scenario #nct scenario #bts fanfic #nct fanfic #taeyong fanfic #taehyung fanfic

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sudsybear · 7 years ago

Text

Reconstruction

Friendships

The UofR campus was populated with bright students from all over the country. Competition was fierce and encouraged by instructors. “Competition breeds success” was the theory of the time. Curving exam scores contributed to the whole atmosphere of competition. I’m not very good at it myself, but indeed the theory worked for many. A separate slang vocabulary developed. Students with the cutthroat mindset and in the mood for serious study escaped to “B-level” of the library (two stories underground, with no distracting windows or doors) and “throated out.” The room was quiet, the chairs just uncomfortable enough and few distractions. It was the perfect place for uninterrupted concentration on the subject at hand.

I preferred the Welles-Brown Room, a room on the main level of the library that was set aside for casual study. Ostensibly, it is a place for quiet reading. Outfitted like a larger eighteenth century manor house library with a fireplace and shelving along the interior walls. There is a concert piano in the room. It is often a place for recitals and poetry readings. With high ceilings, the tall windows facing the main quad let in the afternoon sun. The room was furnished with comfortable couches and easy chairs. It was overly warm with uneven heat from the radiators and the sunshine streaming in. The room was quiet with the sound of the heavy even breathing of sleeping students. I started to read for class, and my eyes drifted closed and my somnolent noises joined the chorus of snores around me. I napped in the name of reading most every afternoon that Fall. No wonder I was a night owl.

I studied (throated out – ha!) in the library with Stephen Paul. He and his buddy Jim tried to help me with Calculus. I just didn’t get it. What’s the big deal about finding the area under the curve? Supposedly I worked on math homework, or pretended to write a paper or something. More likely I wrote letters to Julie and Erin and Valli and Ross. One night Stephen Paul and I had to be back on the floor for a meeting, and Jim had to go to work at the Computing Center. We got to the library doors and discovered the pouring down rain. The skies had opened and the rains fell delightfully unencumbered. Jim disappeared into the bowels of the buildings to walk the tunnels to work. Stephen Paul and I were going back to the dorm, so we had to dash through the downpour. Neither he nor I had raincoat or umbrella. After about 100 yards we were soaked, so to hell with it. It’s warm, we’re already wet, let’s enjoy it. I sang, “If all the raindrops were lemon drops and gum drops, oh how glad I’d be” and danced through the puddles. I was wearing the Chuck T’s Ross and his mom had given me, and my feet got soaked right along with my jeans and sweatshirt. But I didn’t care…I enjoyed the moment.

Stephen Paul remembers that night better than I do. Years later when I asked him about it, he said it was the most fun he had ever had in a rainstorm. That was an “up” I shared with Stephen Paul. Ross got the “down” later after the floor meeting when I was cold, tired, and still didn’t have my homework done. It wasn’t fair to Ross, was it?

The next morning, on my way to classes I discovered all the worms out on the asphalt path between the dorm and the academic quad. I couldn’t take a step without squishing a worm or its remains. I hated that, and tried to walk alongside the path in order to avoid the squish. The drowned worms attracted the seagulls inland from the Lake Ontario shoreline. They flew in from the lake after a soaking rain and landed on the football practice field to gulp down floating protein. Nasty things, seagulls.

* * *

I was distracted. College is a place to study, learn and be educated, right? I wasn’t studying and I wasn’t learning in the classroom. I was learning not from professors, but from my peers. And the lessons weren’t always pleasant or friendly. Jim and Stephen Paul convinced me to drop out of that advanced calculus course. I got a seven on my first exam. Not seven out of ten mind you, a seven out of a hundred. Even with a generous curve that’s failing. They promised to help me catch up in the other math series.

Steve Deyo and Glen Koch lived in the center doubles. Peter Ragonese and John Witherspoon were their roommates. ‘Spoon was “legacy.” He had money, smarts, and political savvy. A real prep, he played sports in high school, took care of his health, was good looking with clear skin. He had everything going for him except an interesting personality…too bad he got paired up with Deyo and Koch. Pete was a local boy. He cobbled together scholarship money and loans to be able to afford the tuition and fees. He escaped to home a couple of nights already. I didn’t blame him. Wished I could have done the same, really.

Deyo and Koch were potheads. I don’t think they started out that way, but man, did they toke up. Koch was from a small burg southwest of Buffalo in the no man’s land between Buffalo and Erie, PA. For those who have driven that bleak distance across the Thruway, you know what I’m talking about. It’s beautiful farm country for the most part. Not much industry at all…but the farms are closing down as the farmers retire and no one else wants to do the work. I think there were twenty-five students in Glen’s high school graduating class. Small town boy comes to the big city, and gets paired with Deyo.

Deyo – what a character. Intelligent, but far more interested in dope than anything else. He got mean, too. He was one of those guys who was always just a nasty glance away from taking your head off. Some guys get mellow and happy when drunk or stoned. He turned nasty. He scared the hell out of me. Physically, he was large. He played football in high school. Not so tall, but thick. Big arms, he had a beer gut, and fat feet, but white pasty complexion and baby soft blonde curly hair. Such a contrast. He always talked about sex, drugs, and music. And not particularly intelligently. He liked his porn, and paraded it like a trophy. He liked his dope, and smoked it in the open, daring anyone to stop him or complain. He liked his music loud, raucous, and in your face, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. He sat in the hallway in front of the elevators, his stereo blasting shit music, stoned out of his mind.

He and Glen provided entertainment of sorts. They told dirty jokes, pulled practical jokes, administered mild vandalism…and for a while, they did study. I think they were going for Mechanical Engineering. They did have mentors on the floor; upperclassmen pushed them to attend classes, and tried to get them to do homework. Eventually though – both realized they were out of their league, and just smoked their way through the Spring term. Neither returned for their sophomore year.

* * *

Growing up, I attended the high school football game on Friday nights in the fall. Saturdays were dedicated to College ball, and the pros play on Sundays. It’s what you do. You go to the game, shout a cheer or two, sit and visit with your friends, flirt with the opposing teams’ fans, make trips to the snack bar, and hope your team wins. If they do, great. If they don’t, at least you had an excuse to hang out with your friends. The people I tried to befriend were from private prep schools or city schools that didn’t support football teams. Their experience was so foreign to me, as mine was to them. I was a living, breathing representative of what they watched on television. I wasn’t real.

Roz, my roommate, really was a good friend. She was good to talk with. She and I shared insecurities. She struggled as much as I did that term, though at the time I didn’t recognize it. I reached out for home and my old life. She reached over for Mike and the boys of 6124s. It seemed to me that the people around me had a quiet confidence I lacked. I thought I was the only one homesick, bewildered and desperate for familiar. Most of the freshmen on the floor were from stable homes, had rarely moved during childhood, and all struggled with our first months away from the comfort of the familiar. I was drowning in my own struggle and didn’t see anyone else’s private battles.

I’ll share part of a letter from Roz…I hope you’ll see what I mean…

Susan,

I’m sorry we didn’t talk last night. The reason I came in to go to bed instead of 6124’s was to talk to you. I don’t know if you were asleep or not when I came back, but I was only gone 4 minutes (I timed it) If you were pissed off at me I’m sorry.

I guess there’s something I should tell you that’s probably not openly obvious and that’s that I like you a lot. I really do. You are probably the most considerate person I have ever known. When I was having all that headache over not getting into my math class you went through the class selections and tried to find me another class. That made me feel so good. You probably don’t remember it as any big thing but it was the nicest thing anybody could have done, and nobody else but you did it.

You make me laugh. Today putting in the rug was great – it’s been a long time since I’ve laughed as hard as I did today.

I also don’t mean to laugh at your expense. I guess I have a little bit of the bad side of J.G. in me. J.G. said something mockingly at you at lunch yesterday. It was the kind of thing I would be jabbed by. The next time something like that happens I’ll say something. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything then. Sometimes insecurity takes over in me a bit and I get a screwed perspective.

Gaining acceptance by people like J.G. isn’t worth laughing with him at you or anybody else. Sometimes I forget that.

Also – when I make fun of you for keeping the windows open, etc. I’m doing just that making fun of you – I’m not serious. I cut down on that as well.

Also – about the football game. There’s something very girl-next-doorish & All American about cheerleaders football parties on Fridays and a whole lot of other Cincinnati things. I’ve always had this dream to live in Maine. One of the reasons is to get to live a life where high schools have cheer-leaders and non-alcoholic parties. To a certain extent, I don’t believe in cheerleading just because where I come from it’s something I’m not used to and see as a little sexist. But though it may be a slight bit of chauvinistic cheerleading is a part of American life that growing up in NYC didn’t offer – It may be a little romantic but in a way I wish my background was as all American as yours. If I rag on stuff about you a bit overboard realize that there may be a bit of jealousy factor present.

* * *

Foosball – the college bar game of the 1980s. We are a generation raised playing air hockey, bumper-pool and ping-pong in family rooms and basements. Once we got to college, in the Frat houses and the bars, the beer flowed and foosin’ was all the rage.

A group of regulars played a table in the basement of our dorm. (A Million Dollar table, for those enthusiasts who care about such things.) Bart and Craig were an unbeatable team (well almost) who had refined their skills in the fraternity house basements over the previous two years. Foos was serious endeavor, not to be taken lightly. For the most part, Rentz and Sturr played against Bart and Craig, but “Slice”, Dave and Chris filled in when a regular was unavailable.

The table was technically housed in the basement “rec room” across from the laundry facilities. Originally decorated and furnished in the 1970s, by 1985 the room was dark, dingy, and generally unpleasant to be in. They carried the table out into the large fluorescent bright hallway across from the elevators. Foosin’ could be a spectator sport, but there were certain rules. No loud noises at inopportune times. No touching of players or the table while the ball was in play, and absolutely NO messing with the foosball itself. I learned the rules of observing Foos the hard way – after stealing the ball, flirting with the players, and screaming at a wrong time.

Since the games were played on outside the laundry facilities, I had the opportunity to watch, taunt, and annoy the players any time I processed wash. Roz (my roommate) and I had distinct laundry styles. She took her wash down on a Friday afternoon, filled several washers, put the quarters and laundry soap in, and walked away. On Sunday afternoon, she returned to the laundry area to pick up her wash. Over the course of the weekend, her clothes had been transferred from the washers to the dryers (which were free) then pulled from the dryers and placed atop the folding area. Occasionally she was even lucky enough to have someone fold her wash for her. Her parents had signed her up for linen service, too. So she never had to wash sheets.

In my own insecurity and discomfort, I became a neatnik. If I could control nothing else in my life, I would keep my “stuff” neat and clean. When my laundry bag was full and my sheets were getting ripe, I dragged it down to the laundry room and start processing it. Laundry involves a lot of waiting. It was no fun to wait in the laundry room, so I rode up and down in the elevators, going back and forth to my room. Hence, I walked by the foosball table a lot.

Side note: The dorm elevators had names that year. They were “The Vaders.” Someone posted signs designating one Darth and one Ella. Over the course of the year, those elevators were subjected to serious vandalism. They ceased to stop level with the floor, so you might have to step up or down to get out of the elevator. And in the Spring semester, someone pulled the wires out of the button panel and re-wired the buttons. You might push 6, but end up on 8. Or push 9 and end up on 3. My sympathies go to the Otis repairman. He was outnumbered and outsmarted.

Stephen Paul had a serious crush on me by this time. I knew it, he knew I knew it, the whole floor knew it. He was and is a great friend, and we had a lot of fun together, but I just wasn’t interested. I was firmly attached to Ross, despite his insecurities. But that didn’t stop me from flirting or teasing. I walked off the elevator, knowing that a game was in progress and “BAM” someone scored against Stephen Paul (he played defense). The guys loved their foos, and thought it was great when I distracted a player. Thus goaded, I did my best.

* * *

Columbus Day is one of those muddled holidays – banks are closed, stores are open. Post Office is closed, but businesses run. In New York, schools close and the University suspended classes for the day. The break was scheduled on the school calendar, and Mom and Dad arranged for a flight home. I discovered the plane ticket receipts in the same box with Bok-X’s letters – I flew to Cincinnati on Friday, October 11th, and returned to Rochester on Tuesday, October 15th. I must have finagled a ride to the airport – maybe I shared a cab, more likely I begged a ride from one of the guys with a car.

I took the Lesters home with me. In my dorm room, I packed my suitcase and backpack – full of hope that I would catch up on all the reading that I had not yet done – and as I left the room, I carried the Lesters in their aquarium. At the airport, in those pre-9/11/01 days, I checked my suitcase at the check-in counter and lugged those lizards through security and onto the plane. I stowed them on the floor under the seat, and put my backpack up in the luggage bin. When I changed planes in Pittsburgh, I carried them through the airport. Nobody batted an eyelash.

While I remember carrying those lizards through the airport, I don’t remember ever getting rid of them. How odd our memories work. We truly do remember only the good things, and conveniently forget the bad.

After the plane landed in Cincinnati, I gathered my backpack, wrestled the Lesters from under the seat, and got off the plane. Surprise! Ross had arranged with my parents to meet me at the airport. I stood in the hallway in a panic. How was I supposed to react to this? On the one hand, I was delighted - I missed Ross so much, it was good to see him. But my clean compartmentalized world was mixed up again. Ross with my parents? That didn’t fit.

As we walked through the airport, at last I found the courage to reach over and touch and hug Ross. I was scared to demonstrate physical displays of affection for Ross in front of my parents. But now that it was done, I was glad to be home.

My father drove us the forty minute drive back to our safe little suburb. Mom asked questions about the flight and about my experiences in Rochester. In the back seat, sitting next to Ross, I surreptitiously held his hand, tightly, scared and nervous for his presence in front of my parents.

Mom had been having trouble with her car. Dad was traveling so much he didn’t have time to address the problem. So Mom had been stuck in the house without functioning transportation. She and I both struggle with that lack of mobility. I mentioned the problem to Ross, he asked Mom if he could take a look at it, and with her blessing he dove under the hood. Ross spent a large chunk of time in our driveway, happily working on Mom’s Volvo. He found a leak in one of the hoses, and after I was back in Rochester she took the car into the shop and had the hose replaced. Problem finally solved.

The rest of the details of the weekend I spent at home are lost to me now. I can only surmise they were comfortable hours spent with Ross and my parents. Comfortable hours aren’t particularly memorable, going the way of dreams upon wakening. Despite my protestations and misgivings, I returned to Rochester. “Chin-up” “You can do it” “Study hard” were the platitudes fed to me as I carried the Lesters onto the plane.

* * *

Post mark 21 OCT 1985 Cincinnati, Ohio

10-21-85

Dearest Susan

I hereby proclaimeth my undyingeth love (at least I don’t think it’s dying…let me check. OK, no, it’s not dying) for thou. Your handsome frog (who may turn into a prince someday, when all his zits go away) doth proclaimeth (yes, I mean me) that he misseth thou and grieveth very muchlyeth.

Enough Sillyness. HI! Well, not SO silly…I need a hug. WORK, WORK, WORK, it never fucking STOPS!

If you ever get a chance, you should read Peter Townshend’s Book “Horse’s Neck.” Interesting stuff. I finished it last night and this morning instead of doing CALCULUS. But that’s OK cause I got it done later this morning, And we didn’t have class today anyway and that is how I am able to be writing this letter right now! (It is 13:04:51 = 1:05 p.m.) And Recording TAPES for you. Stanley Jordan, sounds like 2 guitars. But it’s only

one! Well, That’s what the Album cover says. I think they’re NOT lying. GOOD album to study to, no words. Really Though, it’s only one guitar, listen close + try to tell……….

D’ya like my multi-color stationery? BRIGHT AND CHEERY! HAPPY JOYOUS CELEBRATION FUN POSITIVENESS! LAUGHTER AND GAYEITY!

OK Ross, calm down. I put Black shit on the windows in the back of the P-I-N-T-O and Pinto was his name-o.

OK, now let’s just see how completely crazy and bizarre we can be. I’m Crazy! I’m NUTS! I’m Whacky!

I bet I’m WHACKIER Than You!

Let’s have a WHACK-OFF and see!

Enough

Down to serious business. How is school going? I really hope you are working hard. I don’t mean to sound parental….

Remember Susan, you’re a special person, so be proud, like the marines.

Ol’ Stanley Flows.

I hope this letter is cheering you up…. You sounded real down last

(Sunday) night. I’m workin’ on it (On what?) on everything. From this letter to weirdness to discipline to….(flip over the record) Muscles to mindpower to imagination, to WORK. To COBOL, to stereos to guitar to clocks to stewed oysters to hand made trinkets to rice patties and lint. And Ear Wax.

I’ve run out of colors of paper. Time to say good bye.

I love you and miss you.

Talk to ya soon.

Love,

Ross

Rossco P. Coaltrain

I found another color paper.

I was just thinking that when you were home – that was really cool! I sure had a lot of fun that weekend, though we didn’t get to spend every waking (and sleeping) minute with each other. I’m not sure whether that was good or bad – probably good. We sure didn’t get into any arguments or have any much-too-deep-type conversations. Whatever. I just wanted to say it was really excellent. I love you.

--Ross

* * *

On a quiet afternoon sometime after October break, I wandered up to the seventh floor suite looking for Jim or Lawrence or someone with whom to pass the time. I dreaded being alone. I found Bart talking on the telephone. He looked sad as he hung up the receiver.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“That was my Dad. My Grampy died.”

“Oh, Bart. I’m sorry. When are the services?” My heart broke for him. Having just lost my grandmother, I could relate. Bart had a car on campus, freedom of movement. Did he want company for the drive home?

“No”

“Why not?”

“I was just home, and I don’t really need to go. I’ve got a lot of homework due.”

“But isn’t your family expecting you to be there? <pause> Well, my grandmother died in September, and I couldn’t go home for that, so I guess...” Why don’t you go home? I’d have given anything to go home for my grandmother’s funeral – I had no money and no transportation. You have a car – just get in it and drive! “I’m really sorry. Is there anything I can do?”

“No, I guess not.” He turned and walked into his room and put an album on his stereo. He turned the volume up. Loud.

I left him alone, returning to my own room, and stared out the window again, watching the construction. I just wanted to be home, somewhere familiar.

* * *

Postmark Oct 22 1985 Cincinnati, OH

No letter – just a tape.

Ross recorded a couple more Pat Metheny albums.

* * *

Stephen Paul remembers…

Jim and his roommate Lawrence were deeply involved with the Protestant Chapel Community (PCC) on campus. They were caring people who enjoyed helping others. While I had fun with the group and felt comfortable, I was also wary. This group was what Ross and friends had railed against for so much of my experience. Whatever the event was this particular evening; I chose to leave early and walked myself across campus to the dorm. (Jim had to work that evening at Taylor Hall.) So dressed in my fancies, a cream-colored wool skirt and lavender wool sweater with asymmetrical neckline (the look of the time) heels, hose, long necklace with the hoop and charms that was so popular, and too much make-up, I arrived on the floor to discover a group heading out to the local diner dive. “You want to come?”

Never one to refuse a social outing (academics? What are those?) I asked, “Dressed like this?”

“Sure!” they replied barely sober enough to drive.

Off I went to the local dive with Stephen Paul and Mike. Nick Tahou’s Hots is in a rough section of town. It is an original greasy spoon, with great basic food. The now famous “Garbage Plate” back then was a regional treasure. Your choice of red or white hot, hamburger or cheeseburger, or an egg plate was served with your choice of macaroni salad, potato salad, or cole slaw, and a special sauce was ladled over the whole plate. Three slices of white bread on the side. Drinks offered were Pepsi products, coffee, or tea. The meal was served not on china, not even diner china, but thick paper plates. You picked your plastic “silver” ware out of the bins to eat with, and paper napkins were at the tables.

The diner was lowbrow, with druggies and street people who had scraped enough money together to get some decent food. It was also highbrow with visiting dignitaries and show people on tour coming in for a taste of the local flavor. It was popular with the college crowd – UofR and RIT students flocked there after a drinking binge. Shift workers, businessmen, hookers, and the police, truly a cross-section of townspeople catered to Tahou’s. It’s still in business today. The original Nick died in 1996, but his son now operates the restaurant. It is an institution in Rochester, inspiring many copycats.

Nick, the owner, emerged from the back rooms to visit with his clientele in the late evenings. Whether talking with intoxicated college students, street people suffering the DT’s, or the police officers stopping in for a cup of coffee, he was always gracious and enthusiastic to meet his customers. He was always cordial, always polite, a wonderful statesman. He told everybody the same awful joke, “When we were young, my wife, she called me a Greek God. Now? She calls me a Goddamn Greek!”

There I was dressed to the nines in the greasy spoon with two barely sober buddies. I had no clue how or what to order, and so Stephen Paul and Mike talked me through the process. I had the giggles at the ridiculousness of the situation. A burger plate, I guess. Pepsi. No extra sauce, thank you. Oh, ummm, Macaroni Salad I guess. I don’t really like potato salad. The counter guy flirted with me – Mike and Steve still tell me about him saying, “I like it when she giggles.” So Mike kept tickling me. We got our plates and found a booth to sit and eat. Laughing and talking, it was much like an evening with David and the gang at Skyline or with Ross at Denny’s.

Later that school year, Stephen Paul took a bunch of friends in his Land Yacht (also called the S.S. Rentz) downtown to Tahou’s. In his enthusiasm for getting his plate, he hopped out of the car, locked the doors and went inside. He then discovered that he had locked his keys in the car with the engine running…frantic calls back to the dorm roused another suite mate, who broke into Steve’s dorm room and found the spare set of keys and drove down to rescue the crew from certain misery.

A couple of nights Stephen Paul got drunk and wandered over to my suite. He pounded on my door and whimpered, “Susan, why won’t you go out with me?” “Susan, we could be so good together, why won’t you give it a try?” Stephen Paul was such a good friend – he still is. He made me laugh. I enjoyed his company. But I was Ross’ girl.

* * *

Bart, Jim’s suitemate, a quiet stereo owner I had shared time listening to records with, kept a rabbit in his room. It was a mini-lop, the breed of rabbit whose ears flopped over instead of standing straight and tall, rendering an adorable “almost like a puppy” look. Bart named the rabbit (a female) “Dude” so that when he walked into his room he could say the phrase of the ‘80s and mean it. “Hey Dude!” The rabbit was a babe magnet, and that didn’t hurt in a school population that was seriously skewed toward the male gender.

Bart acquired the rabbit as a kitten (baby rabbits are called kittens, yes?) sometime during the fall – hey, it could have been when I acquired the Lesters - and trained her over the ensuing months. Bart got her litter trained. Rabbits do love to chew, and Dude did sufficient damage to the loft, chewing on the ladder rungs. She also chewed the stereo wires and the posters on Bart’s wall. But Bart discovered a training tool - Dude had an aversion to Right Guard spray deodorant. So, Bart sprayed all the stereo wires, the bottoms of his posters. Anywhere he didn’t want Dude to chew was sprayed with Right Guard. The resulting look of his room was quite disconcerting and rather humorous. Posters of the St.Pauly girls with their cleavage and scantily clad Farrah Fawcett on the walls, the lower edges of the posters chewed to pieces with the ragged edges then sprayed white with Right Guard.

Jim, Stephen Paul’s friend and confidante, was inducted into Tau Beta Pi, the honorary organization for excellence in engineering. Since none on the floor or in his suite had pledged a fraternity, this was a major event. Jim was now a “frat boy” and as such needed an initiation party. His roommate Lawrence organized the event, arranging for the purchase of a case or two of beer. Empty cases were procured as well, and on Jim’s arrival back to his room from the reception he discovered his half of the room (labeled Chaos, as Jim was not at all concerned about cleanliness) was filled with case upon case of beer. A party then ensued with lots of laughter and alcohol consumption. A year later, when Bart was inducted to that same honorary fraternity, the occasion was not marked in any way.

* * *

I watched construction for hours on end. On quiet afternoons while others were in class, studying at one of our libraries or working, I sat on the radiator in our room and watched the men work. I wrote letters to friends from back home – Victor, Igor, Julie, Erin, Valli and of course, Ross. I just didn’t feel at home or comfortable. I was in flux, anxious, unable to concentrate. So, I watched men tear out a road and build a new one. By this point in the semester, construction was finishing up. They laid asphalt.

The fumes permeated all the way to the sixth floor. Trucks rumbled in and poured steaming asphalt along a section, rollers followed behind and pressed the surface smooth. Working in small manageable sections, it was finished in just a few days. Men wielding hand rollers matched seams and ironed the edges where the asphalt met the granite curbs. They gave the pavement a slight crown so rain and snowmelt drained into the storm sewers. The new asphalt surface, dark and smooth, was perfect for skating or roller-blading. The next step will be to paint the stripes. They’re making it a one-way drive with angled parking.

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