#and how it's never Enough for the galaxy to treat them kindly and gently like they all deserve

[ohwaitimthewriter]

Shev’la (Silent)

Pairing: Paz Vizsla x earthling!reader

Rated: Mature (+16)

Warnings: mention of abuse (implicit), mention of violence (more or less explicit), mention of rape (implicit), homesick feeling, concussion, angst? if you see anything else let me know! 

Words count: 2.7k

Summarize: Three years ago, The Empire got a grip on Earth resulting in an event called The Purge. The aim was to kidnap earthlings to enroll them as stormtroopers and those who didn’t fit in the quality of being soldiers, ended up as slaves. When the owner of a bar on Nevarro bought you from the Empire, you knew you’d never see a glimpse of your home ever again. But you could never forget the face of your last hope.

A/n: Hi! So here’s chapter 1! I’m quite nervous about it simply because there’s a lot of NON-sweet stuff happening in there 😂 This chapter just drained my energy last night and I had the same feeling while translating it today. So yeah, I hope you’ll like it! Enjoy your reading!

Shev’la Masterlist. // The Mandalorian Masterlist. 

This was not the way you had hoped you would one day discover the immensity of the universe. And you never thought you could do it in your lifetime. You had imagined this world to be a little softer than the one you had lived in for most of your life. How could you have been so naive? How could you have thought that the universe would be different? Less violent? More tolerant? It was a doomed hope from the beginning. It was just so earthy to think that.

And today, here's where you were. Getting shoved around while you were cleaning a table. Being insulted for a wrong order when it was the owner himself who had made a mistake. And if one of those humanoid creatures discovered that you were an earthling, and it was an outburst of hatred.

You didn't understand why the people of the galaxy have such a deep hatred for the people of Earth. Before the Purge, Earth was on the fringe of the universe. In both senses of the word. Too far from the farthest parsec to include it in the galactic world and too... 'full of ignorant people' to want to include it in the galactic world. You weren't too sure what had suddenly awakened the Empire's interest in Earth either.

But what you understood perfectly well was that the earthlings were nothing more than common gnats squashed on a windscreen.

It wasn't that life was better on Earth. The planet itself had some small inconveniences that often made us dream of a better place. And although the memories of your past life began to dry up, you missed it, you missed this blue planet.

It was always at the end of your day, when night had long since fallen, that you missed it the most. You always put on your coat. You hid inside and if after all these years the smell of your home had finally disappeared, your brain always managed to make it up. It was amazing what a simple chemical reaction in the brain could do. The illusion of a delicate perfume. The illusion of the smell of a good fire in the fireplace mixed with the sweet smell of marshmallow roasted over a wood fire. These were the only smiles that could make their way through. Sad smiles. Little smiles that said that you had experienced beautiful things, but not anymore. Smiles that, when they appeared, only left an even greater emptiness in your heart. And it was hard to think that they would certainly be the last.

And then you heard a slight knock on your bunker door. You knew who was behind it. Every night she came to visit you. Xgrid. Another slave. One too young slave. She must have been twelve or thirteen years old. It was when you first met her that you realized that the galaxy spared no one. What a rotten thing to do to a child.

You bend over to reach the opening button to let her in. Xgrid was a Togruta. She had told you about being sold by her own parents when she was only 8 years old. Poor child. So the world never had empathy.

Xgrid found comfort in you. You no longer spoke but you listened to her express her fears and anxieties. You let her snuggle up to you. You knew that reassured her. She had found in you what it was like to have a real family and you were certainly the only person she trusted. Xgrid was like your little sister.

The Empire had taken away much more than your home and your freedom. And you found in Xgrid certain traits of character that your own little sister, your late beloved little sister, had.

"I was told I would have to work at the bar tomorrow." She said and you frowned. "Bara says I'm old enough now.”

What a scumbag.

You showed with your hands the pad you used to communicate with her and Xgrid took it out from under her parka.

You quickly tapped on the screen and a robotic voice read out your sentence.

"Did he tell you why?"

"No. Just that I had to be good.”

And you already knew what Bara was thinking about. A wave of anger bubbled up in your chest. It was out of the question. You wouldn't let him. Not to a child.

You tapped again on the screen, this time not to be able to communicate with Xgrid but to send an encrypted message to Bara. "Put me on Xgrid's watch tomorrow." And his reply was soon: "You'll take two shifts then.”. And you double your first message. Xgrid won't be alone tomorrow.

"I will be with you." You told her.

Xgrid cuddled up a little more to you and you could feel her shaking. She was scared. And how can you not be afraid at such a young age? Until now, Xgrid was in the kitchen. She was more or less safe there. But the bar. The bar was the merchandise display. And there was one thing you had vowed to do since you had met Xgrid: to protect her. No one, no creature in this galaxy would ever get its dirty hands on her. You clenched your teeth in anger. You didn't want to show Xgrid how much it affected you. She was a child, she couldn't go through that. No child should have to go through that.

You tighten your arms around her and tapped on the pad again.

"Tomorrow I want you to do everything I tell you. I don't care what Bara wants from you, whatever he says, come and talk to me first. Do you understand?”

"Yes, I understand.”

You put a kiss on her forehead, and you felt her being carried away by sleep little by little.

Life could be so unfair. Your head rested against the wall behind you and you closed your eyes. You did something you had never done before. Even on Earth. You prayed. If in all this vastness there was someone, something close to what could be called a God. You prayed that nothing would happen to Xgrid that you couldn't stop. You had long ago condemned your body to the trauma of violence. But you couldn't condemn a child. And you prayed so hard that someone would hear you. That someone could save her. You prayed until you fell asleep.

And when you woke up the next morning, it was because of the vibration of your bracelet. Yes, you had a long day ahead of you and Xgrid was already gone. Probably in her bunker, not far from yours. You took off your coat and you weren't surprised to see Xgrid waiting for you at your door.

"I don't feel like going. I don't want to go," she said.

Your hand rested tenderly on her cheek. A compassionate smile appeared on your lips and you did your best not to make it seem forced. Because you didn't feel like smiling anymore. Because you couldn't smile in this kind of life that wasn't a life at all. But for her, you could make that effort.

You asked her for her pad with a wave of your hand and she gave it to you quickly.

"Neither do I." The robotic voice answered for you. "But I’ll be right here, I'll look after you.”

She nodded and you told her to go ahead of you, keeping the pad with you. There was one thing you had to do before.

Bara was never at work before her slaves. So you carefully walked down the corridor leading to his luxurious flats.

You knocked gently at his door and when he opened it, not without an annoying grumble, he arched an interrogative eyebrow, a look that overflowed with disgust for your person.

"What do you want from me, earthling?" He grumbled between his teeth.

You quickly tapped on the pad and as you read the sentence again, you hesitated for a second, taking your time to get fully aware of what you were going to ask him. Yes, there was no other choice but this one. And you clicked on send.

"No matter who is asking for Xgrid, send me instead." You said and Bara laughed.

"Send you instead? But what exactly do you believe?”

"She is too young. You can't do that to her.”

The robotic voice didn't put as much emotion into it as you could feel. And seeing Bara give you a vicious smile, the kind of smile that gave you a chill, you couldn't hide your dismay.

"Earthling, did you think for one moment that I would treat Xgrid the same way I treat... you?" And the 'you' came out as bitter on his lips, the disgust was on his face, but you are now used to it. "Don’t you think that earthling, only your species has the right to special treatment." He said, and what made you grind your teeth was that he was proud of it. "Now that things have been cleared up, you can go to work.”

And without another word he closed the door.

To tell the truth, you felt reassured. Sort of. You were reassured to know that Xgrid would not go through what you had gone through.

Morning time had been like a morning could be spent as a slave. Let's say that for once, no harm had come to you or to Xgrid. You still had your eyes on her. And especially, on all the customers in the bar who, under one pretext or another, might want to hurt her.

It was not until around noon that the incident occurred. A small group of Quarren had come in a little earlier and Xgrid was kindly taking care to bring them everything they asked to be brought.

You kept an eye on them. You were no longer watching the main entrance and you didn't notice the Mandalorian that had just walked through the door. No you, all you cared about was the safety of a child.

Ever since these Quarrens had taken their place at a table in the middle of the room, you had a bad feeling. The kind of feeling that twisted your stomach. You were watching their every move while you continued to serve and clean the other tables.

And you hadn't seen the Mandalorian, this giant of man had leaned against the bar and was watching in silence. He had come to look for someone. He had come on a mission and you didn't know it, but he was aiming at the same creature as you. But certainly not for the same reasons.

When Xgrid approached their table again, you pretended to clean the table next to theirs. You were nervous. And you had every reason to be, because no sooner had the little girl been next to this Quarren than he suddenly stood up and his gaze could not lie. You knew it by heart and what was coming next was often painful.

He barely had time to raise his hand on her when you stepped in, grabbing the Quarren's arm forcefully to stop him in his tracks.  

And you didn't have time to regret your move. In a split second, you felt the violence of the elbow hitting your skull and all you could see were stars dancing in your eyes.

The Quarren, furious, spoke a language you didn't understand, and your knees had slammed against the ground so hard as you had been knocked out from the impact. The pain paralyzed your body and no matter how hard you tried to come back to your senses, you couldn't recover from it.

And between the fog that clouded your vision, you saw the Quarren's feet suddenly leave the ground and a crashing noise echoed a few seconds later.

Xgrid had knelt down beside you, trying with all her might to get your attention but your head was spinning and spinning and suddenly you felt nauseous before you threw up the poor piece of bread that you had for breakfast this morning.

What you couldn't see was the Mandalorian who had just beaten up the Quarren that had hit you.

This was not what the Mandalorian had intended. No, it wasn't even exactly part of his mission. Yes, his target had been this Quarren specifically, and yes, the purpose of his mission was to put him where he couldn’t do any harm, but no, he had not planned to do it in the middle of this bar. But he couldn't have help it.

He couldn't just stand there and watch you defend this child, and not worry about what might happen to you afterwards. He simply couldn't be insensitive to the courage you had mustered. And wanting to attack a child in the first place in the presence of a Mandalorian... it was surely the stupidest idea ever. And if you hadn't stepped in, it would have been a joy to dislocate this Quarren’s jaw.

But you had stepped in and that made two brave people he had to defend. You had given him quite an impression and he probably wouldn't forget it for a long time.

And you, kneeling on the ground, your skin was shaking. Your body was slowly recovering from the impact but you knew you would need medical treatment. The concussion needed special attention but you really wondered if Bara would allow this. You felt Xgrid's little hand on your bare shoulder. It was soothing to have someone close to you but soon it was replaced by the shadow of a giant.

The Mandalorian had knelt before you and without asking your permission, he raised your head in his gloved hands, observing your eye movements attentively. It took several seconds to focus on his helmeted face and he seemed to be sufficiently satisfied with this eye response before he slid his arm under your shoulders and lifted you up.

You staggered on your legs, your inner ear struggling to follow the movement but the Mandalorian had foreseen this. He held you firmly but with a bewildering softness by your shoulders and waited patiently for you to regain your balance.

Your hands had found support on his forearms and when your body found enough strength to allow it, you suddenly became aware that you were touching a man and that a man was touching you... without hurting you.

Your hands quickly fell to your side and you wanted to take a step back to put a little more distance between you and him, but he only allowed you to do so once he was sure that you would stand on your feet with no need of assistance.

"You should show this to a doctor." He said, his voice still muffled from the helmet.

And you said nothing. You could never say anything. Your head hurt, but you risked looking around the room and your eyes widened before the monstrous mess that awaited you to clean up. Bara was going to kill you.

Bara. Your gaze panickily escaped towards the bar to see Bara appear at the entrance to the corridor leading to the kitchen. And he was furious. But he held back. You could see it. He was holding back with all his strength because the Mandalorian was there. And he was the only one who could stop anyone from taking action.

"I'll take care of it. " The Mandalorian told you. "Take care of yourself instead.”

And you thought his last sentence was... stupid. How could a slave take care of herself? He didn't seem to know. He didn't seem to know what you were. But he simply leaned over to Xgrid and you were already ready to step in again until you noticed his hand resting tenderly on the little girl's cheek, one knee on the ground to be at her level.

"You were brave." He said.

Then he stood up, grabbed the dead Quarren by the ankle and dragged him to Bara. Words were exchanged, but again you couldn't hear them, and the headache didn't help either.

And when you saw him leave, his victim dragging on the ground behind him like a common mop, you didn't know that this Quarren was not his sole target.

For a long time, this bar had been in his sights. For a long time he had known that Bara Qongg was not as clean as he pretended to be. And he knew that you and Xgrid had been deprived of freedom for far too long.

This Mandalorian had just saved you and you didn't know that he was planning to free you.

[masterjedilenawrites]

The Sniper and The Medic: Chapter 9

Starring: Crosshair, OC Joan Vo

Chapter Warnings: Some angst

Taglist: @proadhog @skippyhopperwisdom

AO3 Link (In case you like it better over there, it’s okay, no judgement)

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Chapter 9: Insult to Injury

Crosshair had never been one to run from conflict. Whether it was with weapons, words, or something in between. Even though he hated it, he hated being ridiculed or attacked, he hated losing or feeling less than, he still embraced the fight. Oftentimes he even started one, just to get ahead of the inevitable confrontation.

This thing with Joan, though, he couldn't bring himself to face. He did everything he could to avoid her. Avoid seeing her, avoid thinking about her.... He managed to make it a whole week, but just barely. It was somehow a harder week than the one he'd spent without seeing her before. He'd liked her then; he'd had hope. Now all he had was his wound pride, and a little nagging voice in the back of his head that wondered if maybe he had overreacted.

But now there were only two days left before their training ended and their lives as soldiers began. And he had to see her. It was required.

He sat on the examination table, the same one he'd sat on all those weeks ago when he'd first met her. He had dreaded that moment, not knowing he'd be dealing with someone like her. Someone so kind and caring toward him and his brothers. Someone who was honest and fair and didn't take crap from anyone. Someone beautiful. He tried not to remember how he'd felt when he'd first seen her, and all the feelings he'd acquired since then. But his stomach churned in protest, the room containing too many memories to simply be ignored.

Doctor Joan strode into the room a few minutes late, wearing her full-length blacks and carrying a datapad. She plopped it unceremoniously onto the table next to him. He planned to not look at her, keep his gaze fixed on the opposite wall, and to not respond to any of her attempts at conversation, only offer short answers to any questions necessary for her final assessment. He expected her to either be upset by it, or just not care.

But instead, Joan was silent. He didn't see her move from his periphery, only stand with arms crossed looking at him with a very neutral expression. He wasn't normally bothered by silence, but this one eventually became unbearable.

He finally glared over at her, and she immediately spoke.

"How are you?"

He snapped his gaze back to the wall with pursed lips. Nope. He wouldn't give in.

"Crosshair."

Usually he'd have to fight to keep his heart steady when he heard her say his name. But she was mad, he could hear it in her voice. His name did not sound so sweet to hear now.

"I'm fine," he said, hoping that would shut her up despite knowing it wouldn't.

"You asked to see me last week," she regarded him with narrow eyes. "And then you blew it off. Hunter says you're busy but I know you're avoiding me. You are not fine. And unless you open up and tell me about it, I don't know how to help you."

She had spoken just long enough for Crosshair to get worked up. He couldn't stop himself from breaking his own resolution to stay silent.

"Just stop," he snapped and her eyes grew wide. "Stop acting like you care. Like you're not just doing a job and none of us matter."

"But I do care," she said slowly.

"Just like you care about the regs?" he dismissed with a snarl. "Calling them your brothers, flirting with them.... You have no idea what they are really like. How... how condescending and spiteful and... and cruel they can be."

He was really worked up now. He jumped off the table and began pacing aimlessly. Words spewed from his mouth, far more than he'd ever said at once before, and he wasn't sure any of them were making sense but he suddenly had a need to get them out.

"The things they say, the names... They call us the bad batch. Bad. Because we're different and so that means we're good for nothing, right? Even though I can shoot a moving target from a thousand meters away, it doesn't matter. Still not good enough." 

"Cross..." she started to say softly. But he didn't want her sympathy. He stopped pacing and whirled to face her.

"You don't get it. You don't know what that's like. Everywhere you go, you've got everyone tripping over themselves to get your attention. Me included. And you just eat it up. Like it's a game to you. Acting like you enjoy my company, like I'm special, and then turning around and doing the same thing with some reg."

Joan's look of surprise through his ranting now turned into one of confusion. "I'm sorry... what?"

"Don't act like you don't know," he scoffed. "I saw you laughing with some regs in your office, when you were supposed to be meeting with me."

He was done now. He'd said more than he should have and he didn't like how she still didn't seem to understand. He clenched his jaw and refused to look at her, burning holes into the opposite wall with his gaze instead.

"Wait," she said, tying to wrap her head around it all. "This is about... you're not seriously... jealous?"

"No," he quickly snapped. Maybe a little too quick.

"Okay, good," she stated, starting to come out of her confusion and settle back into her usual, sensible tone. "Because that'd be pretty ridiculous, getting jealous over me being nice to people."

He knew that. As soon as she'd said the word, as soon as he had a name for the emotions he'd been fighting all week, he knew he was being completely and utterly ridiculous. He'd never minded her kindness to his brothers; in fact, he'd admired it. But seeing her with the regs had definitely made him feel jealous. Threatened. He still hated them, he would never budge on that, but he'd had no right to project his anger and insecurities onto Joan.

"I mean, what do you think I do with my time?" she continued, still appalled this was why he had been upset with her. "Just sit around and wait for you to need me? Sure, the clone force is my main responsibility, but there are other ways I'm useful here."

Crosshair lowered his gaze to the floor but kept his posture tense. He wasn't sure what to do now. How could he possibly take back everything he'd said? The foolish and immature way he'd been acting?

Maybe Joan could sense his guilt as she slowly moved closer, like she was approaching an injured animal. He sure felt like he was, albeit, his wounds were of his own fault. She stood just in front of him, silent again, though this time not to coax him into speaking. He looked up at her to see her eyes casting about, thinking of what to say.

"My parents were doctors," she eventually began. "They would travel to underprivileged communities all over the galaxy, even as far as Wild Space. And they'd take me with them. I might not have understood the technical parts of what they did. I'd learn all that on my own later. But they did teach me how to care for people. All peoples, no matter who they were, what they'd done. It's not just my job, but my duty to make people feel better. I can, so I must. Whether it's helping someone recover from an injury, or laughing at a joke that isn't that funny."

She gave him a little smirk, and he found himself falling for her all over again.

"I'm not going to apologize for being nice, especially to those who will probably never meet someone willing to treat them kindly again."

He shook his head rapidly. "No, you're not the one who needs to apologize. I...."

He hesitated with the word, it wasn't one he said very often. He remembered being in a similar situation not too long ago, where he'd snapped at her unfairly, and he'd walked away with only a smile as an apology. She deserved more from him now.

"I'm sorry," he said, trying to say it clearly and confidently. He held her gaze and repeated it for good measure. "I'm sorry, Joan. I shouldn't have been jealous like that. I have no right to tell you how to treat others. And you really are so good to everyone. That's... one of the reasons why I like you."

He didn't say the last part as confidently, dropping his voice low and almost stuttering it out through a suddenly shaky breath.

She smiled and nodded, accepting his apology just like that. No strings, no deals. He wasn't worthy of such simple forgiveness. But he would take what he could get.

"Well uh, just so you know," she said, tucking her hair behind her ears and looking down at the floor. Crosshair felt that familiar wave of warmth rising from his chest, the one he'd been ignoring all week, and thought he'd never get to feel again. He was careful not to get too carried away this time, though. He didn't want to read into anything. He would wait patiently for her to tell him and he wouldn't jump to any wrong conclusions.

"I do enjoy your company. When you asked to see me... Well, I hadn't been having a good week, and that day.... Let's just say I didn't expect to be able to do much. But I ended up looking forward to you coming by. I was worried when you didn't show. It made the day that much worse."

She was still looking downward, and he let his gaze follow hers. Her fingers were twisting the hem of her shirt.

"I know I don't fully understand. Your life, what you've been through. But there's some things you don't know about me, either."

Her hands were so close to his. He reached out for them, carefully testing her reaction as he let his fingers brush against hers, gently loosening them from her shirt, and intertwining them with his own. She seemed hesitant to accept his attempt at comfort, but she wasn't retreating. Not yet. Encouraged, he held on a little more firmly. For a few seconds, she let him, and then she finally withdrew.

"In this room, you are my patient. I have to treat you the same as all my patients. Professionally." She took in a measured breath, her eyes finally looking up into his. "But outside of this room, I'm allowed to have friends. Or enemies. Or... other things."

Her lips twitched into a small smile and so did his. He wasn't sure how he could misinterpret her now.

"What are you doing tonight?"

Her smile grew and she let out a breathless laugh. "Nothing."

"Well, maybe we could get to know each other a little better? Since we've clearly had such a hard time understanding each other so far."

Joan nodded, starting to take a few steps back toward the table, ready to get the examination underway. "I'd like that. What did you have in mind?"

He followed her and sat back atop the table while he thought about it. "Sector 11, just to the right of the double doors. I'll meet you there."

"Okay. I should be wrapped up with all this testing for you boys by eight."

She held up a syringe with an apologetic look.

Oh right, he groaned internally, now snapping back to reality. The dreaded testing....

[oncejedi-blog]

.

[mirkwoodshewolf]

The Magician; Brian May x reader

*Author’s note*

Okay guys here we go with the final part of my Hallowqueen series. I apologize if the whole story feels rushed, I sorta struggled trying to make the sweetest guy of Queen into a dark fictionized magician but I hope I still made you guys happy.  Thank you all so much to everyone who gave this mini series a chance and I hope that in the next couple of days, you all have a happy and safe Halloween. Enjoy my lovely darlings and I hope to have the next part of my Aladdin queen series back up hopefully this weekend ;)

Warnings: DEATH, drugs (not like drugs drugs but like poison drugs) hints of dissection, and yeah just some dark themes with this fic.

Link to intro

Taglist:

@psychosupernatural​

@plethora-of-things​

@ixchel-9275​

@waddles03​

@geek-and-proud​

@mexifangorl​

@queendeakyy​

@precioustyler​

________________________________________________________

While walking through the circus you soon find yourself bumping into someone.

“Sorry.”

“Why don’t you watch where you’re going!” the man hissed at you.  You look to see a rather mean looking adult.  He was at least twice your age and had multiple piercings as well as a tattoo across the left side of his face.

“I said I was sorry.”

“But clearly you’re too stupid to even look up to see that someone’s in front of you!”

“What’s going on here?” a voice soon called out. You both turned around and soon coming up was the curly haired magician.  The pierced man then tried to make himself look like the victim.

“Well I was just minding my own business when this hussy out of nowhere tried to assault me.”

“What?! No I—”

“Simon you’ve tried this before back in Montreal and Vancouver. And quite frankly I’m sick of it, so apologize to the lady and kindly remove yourself from the circus, less I lay the message to Freddie about this.” At the mention of that name, the man turned pale.  But he turns to you and said in a snappy voice.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He then stormed off.

“Simon can be a bit of a handful. Honestly I don’t know why he keeps coming in. We’ve tried to have tighter security against him since he’s caused some problems in the past. You okay though love?”

“Yeah, I’m—I’m fine. But it was kinda my fault I—I wasn’t really paying attention to where I was going.”

“True, but Simon shouldn’t have been so cruel to someone who apologizes, especially if they are a woman. I can’t stand men who treat women with disrespect.” Wow, a true gentleman huh? “How about I make it up to you with some tea in my trailer? If that’s alright with you of course.”

“Oh I couldn’t impose.”

“Nonsense love, I insist. Besides it’s getting cold out there, at least drink something warm before you leave.” You ponder on the offer and you begin to think it wouldn’t hurt, plus it’d be free tea and you could also get to know the handsome curly haired sorcerer a bit more.

“Only if you’re okay with it.” He smiled a wide but warm smile as he said.

“I would be honored.”

“I’m (y/n).” you introduce yourself.  The magician takes your hand and says his name.

“Brian. Brian May.” He then kisses the back of your hand and you could feel your heart skip a beat as you stare into those beautiful blue eyes of his.

He then guides you into his trailer and has you sit down on the blue couch and you can’t help but admire some of the things he has inside.  A telescope, a mini bookshelf with all kinds of spell books as well as astronomy books and physics books.

He comes back and hands you a beautiful crafted Victorian teacup that was white with pink roses painted along the entire cup.

“I hope you like it, it’s herbal tea. Good for the soul.” You thank him and you take a sip but can’t help but taste something bitter.  You try to hold in a grimace but he seems to notice it as he says, “Do you not like it?”

“No, no it’s just—never really had herbal tea like this before.”

“Well I tend to make my teas differently because I use true organic materials and raw herbs without all the pesticides teashop owners use nowadays.” He says.

“And there’s nothing wrong with that. So by saying that I’m gonna take a guess that you’re also a vegetarian.” He fiddles around with his teacup as he says.

“I know Roger and Fred mock me for it, but I just think it’s cruel to eat animals when they’ve never done anything to us.”

“Wait so you’re also an animal activist too?” you ask as you turn fully to face him.

“In my downtime. At least before I joined this circus I was a part of many animal rights groups. Was about to star my own organization before Fred found me.”

“Oh my god I never thought I would meet another animal right’s activist here.”

“Wait so you’re…..” you then show him your bracelet which was an organization for Badger conservation. “You help out badgers?”

“Been working with these guys since high school. We help rescue, rehabilitate, and release badgers once they’re done recovering.” You say proudly.

“That’s amazing love, badgers are one of my favorite animals.”

“For real? Mine too. I never met another person who loves badgers.”

“Well here I am.” The two of you laugh and that’s when he asks you.  “So how did you get involved with the badger program?”

“Well like I said it was when I was graduating high school. I always wanted to be a vet technician but not for just domesticated pets, I wanted to do the exotic animals like wolves, badgers, hedgehogs, foxes, bears.”

“And did you become one?”

“Well I would’ve but then the math got too hard for me so I ended up failing college at the time.  After a couple years I went back and made my major to English. Kinda stupid huh?”

“No not at all. There’s nothing wrong with an English degree. What was your area of study?”

“Folklore and mythology.”

“Really? That sounds fascinating.”

“It really wasn’t. I mean at least the courses I was required to take weren’t. There was hardly any courses on the real mythology that I could take at my college. Anyways it was then I saw a flier for rescuer volunteers for this organization. I gave them a call, did the interview and here I am 10 years later.”

“That’s amazing. How many rescues were you apart of?”

“Well I didn’t get out onto the field till 18 months after my training. But if I remember correctly I think I’ve done 100 rescues.”

“Wow.” Brian said in awe as he kept his eyes locked right on you.

“Yeah. My recent rescue was a pair of hedgehogs. They got swept up by the river from the recent storms we’ve been having.”

“Aww the poor little things. Are they alright?”

“Yeah, they’re currently being incubated to get their body temperatures up. But nothing serious was damaged, just a little cold, wet and scared. At least the siblings didn’t get separated from each other.”

“Yeah. There’s nothing worse than when animal siblings get separated from each other.”

“Right. Alright I’ve bored you enough with my stories.”

“Oh no love not at all. I find your story very interesting. I mean if anything I think I’ll be the one boring you if I were to tell you my story.”

“Well I’ve got all night Bri.” You don’t know why you called him that so you quickly apologize. “I’m sorry I-I-I-I just…..”

“It’s alright. In fact all my friends call me that. Plus it—sounds lovely when you say it.” You couldn’t help the slight blush that came across your face, and it only seem to grow darker as you felt his hand take yours and you can feel his calloused thumb stroke the back of it. “Well to make a long story short besides animal loving, I’ve always just been fascinated by space and the wonders of the universe. As a sorcerer I get a further in depth look at what lies beyond the cosmos, and actually bring it before an audience.”

It was then his hand began to glow a soft blue color and soon all around the trailer was a mini-version to the galaxy he had presented earlier that night.  All the constellations coming to life in their pictured form.  Pisces the fish swam around you while Leo came up to you and nuzzled your head.

Orion the hunter stood before you and bowed in respect almost like he was greeting a Queen.  You smile and bow back to him before he dissolves back into the stars.

“Oh Brian this—never did I imagine the cosmos could be so beautiful.” You whisper in awe.

“I may hold the cosmos and everything regarding the universe in the palm of my hand, but I see a far more beautiful sight in front of me.” You turn and see that he’s looking at you with such wonder and warmth.  

At his pickup line you can’t help but bashfully lower your head but he lifts your chin up so that he can look at you properly. He stands up and holds his hand out to you.

“I normally don’t ask this but—would you like to dance?” you look up at him and you couldn’t explain it but there was something just pulling you towards him.  You take his hand and he helps you stand up.

“Uhh Bri?”

“Hmm?”

“I—don’t know if a trailer is a good place for dancing.”

“Oh right, silly me.” With a wave of his hand, the trailer almost seemed to disappear and all that was surrounding you was nothing but starry skies. “Is this better?” he asks you.

“Yeah.” You muttered.  He takes your hand in his and slowly almost kinda sensually wraps his other arm around your waist, making shivers and sparks of electricity run up your spine.  He then leads you in a gentle sway.

You both stare into each other’s eyes and that’s when Brian says to you.

“(Y/n). Has—anyone ever told you that your eyes sparkle like the stars themselves?”

“No one but you Bri.” You confess.  He leans his forehead against yours and you can’t help but surrender to his touch as you close your eyes and lean closer toward his lips.  Soon enough your lips meet with his and you end up kissing him.

At first you had no idea why you were doing this and one part of your head was telling you to back away and stop it, but then there was this other part telling you to keep going.  You feel his hand gently cup underneath your jawline which caused the kiss to go deeper.

You moan as you quickly fall under the spell of Brian’s kiss.  If he wasn’t magical before then there was definitely something about him because you just couldn’t stop kissing him, nor did you want to separate from him.

Suddenly you felt this agonizing pain in your stomach. You forced yourself to break free of Brian’s kiss and embrace and the room turned back into the trailer.

“(Y/n), love are you alright?” your vision started going in and out as you pant.

“I—suddenly don’t feel so good. God my—my head’s spinning like a top.”

“Perhaps some more tea will help you?”

“No, no…..” you try to walk away but all you ended up stumbling around the trailer, knocking things over. “Air….I need air….” You somehow finally managed to reach the doorknob but a hand covers your own. You look up and see through your blurry vision, three Brian’s.

“You’re too sick to go out my dear. Please rest. I can take care of you.”

“No, no I…..” he picks you up bridal style and takes you into what looked like a bedroom.  He sets you down on the black bedsheets and the next thing you feel is a cold rag being dabbed across your sweating face. “Wha—the tea….”

“You’re mumbling love. I can’t understand you.”

“The tea tasted bitter—what did you put in it?”

“As I said before it was freshly grown herbs, tea leaves, a teaspoon of honey.”

“No you—you poisoned it…..somehow. I…..” you groan in agony and that’s when you hear.

“Well. There was one more thing, but it wasn’t poison. A special potion I brewed up myself. Amortentia.”

“Wha?”

“Think of it as a—love potion of sorts. It increases pheromones in the body as well as estrogen. It’s not harmful once digested, just increases your hormones a bit.” This didn’t make any sense.

If the tea wasn’t poisoned, the why did it feel like you were dying? You groan in agony again and you could hear Brian’s gentle coos and shushing as he lay down close beside you, stroking your cheek and kissing around your face.

Wait; unless—no it…..it couldn’t be that way.

“Figuring it out now love?” his voice suddenly had a darker tone to it.  You look up at him and he just grins down at you darkly as he chuckles in the same dark tone. “At first I didn’t want to believe Freddie but I guess it is true that one kiss can seal someone’s life.” He brushes the hair out of your face and walks over to his dresser.

He then holds up what looked like a stick of chap stick but as he opens it he says.

“With a bit of nigh shade berries and a dash of arsenic, it does become quite the concoction for a—toxic kiss.” Ahhh shit! How could you be soo foolish to accept the tea? That’s always the first thing people poison whenever it comes to a murdering or killing, so why were you so stupid?!

He comes back over to you and tells you as he hovers over you.

“Now don’t get me wrong love. It’s nothing personal, and nothing against you. In fact—you are beautiful. Too beautiful in fact to be in this body. You are a true star that should belong in the cosmos. So allow me to help you get there. Well—it’s not like you have a choice in the matter anyways.” He chuckles once more before pulling something out of his drawer.

“Please……don’t do this.” You whisper with your last breath. He looks down at you and cups the side of your face and whispers.

“No need to be afraid love. And no need to be embarrassed. Your body is beautiful. And I will enjoy every second of this.” He then shows you a scalpel.  You wish you could scream but the only sound you could hear was the sound of your heartbeat slowly stopping.  Your vision goes dark and soon all you feel is numbness before you finally draw your last breath.

Within a week in Paris, Brian now stood before the audience showing the audience the beauty of the cosmos.

“So you see monsieur’s and mademoiselles. The stars show us what lies beyond our universe. And sometimes, we can see those we love amongst them.” It was then a formation of stars came down before Brian and they morphed into a young woman with (h/l) hair and her eyes were replaced by two of the brightest stars ever imagined.  “Hello my love.”

Her arms wrapped around Brian and she leaned up against his chest and clung onto him like a child needing comfort from their parent.

[cutiesaeran]

MCYooSeven thoughts!

Alright so I’m being forced to face the fact that the odds of me actually writing this - as much as i want to - are extremely low considering my lack of energy lately, my kids being sick, me getting sick, busy life, etc, so here are some mcyooseven thoughts I have floating around my noggin today. I’m thinking this will be a two-part post, this first part is mostly YoosungxMC buildup. The second part will focus on them bringing Seven into the fold.

This is pre-game, so Unknown hasn’t hacked and placed MC in the messenger yet. It takes place shortly after Rika disappears, and the “MC” is my OC Summer - a college student at SKY. Summer is there to get her teaching degree and aims to teach ESL someday. :)

They don’t have any of the same classes currently, but Yoosung has seen Summer around because she’s kind of hard to miss. She’s got an undercut that she keeps exposed on the left side, her candy cotton hair kept to her right side by a braid serving as her part. She’s usually seen in black skinny jeans and some sort of band t-shirt, sporting a leather jacket covered in patches and pins on the cooler days. She’s got a hoop in her nose and a star on her lip, her messy makeup somehow working with the ‘I just rolled out of bed’ vibe she has going. She’s also only 4’9”.

But since he keeps to himself mostly, she hasn’t really noticed him.

However. She is a huge video game fanatic and plays LOLOL in her free time - which isn’t much, because she works part-time in a cafe and actually focuses on her school work. Still, against all odds, she landed herself in the ShootingStar server and would be remiss if she didn’t know who SupermanYoosung is. While she’s not #2, she proudly holds her mantel as #10 because it’s hard to keep her life in check and that position, so anyone who has something to say can eat her entire ass.

Anyway. That’s that. Onward.

It’s a particularly bad day for Yoosung, but he’s at school. Well… for the last half of the day, at least. It’s rainy and gloomy and he’s stuck in his dark, moody thoughts as he’s rushing from one class to the next, not paying any attention to where he’s going until he slams into something. Staggering back, he’s horrified to find Summer on the ground, half-drank iced mocha covering her clothes and her umbrella crumpled beneath her. He barely manages to stutter through an apology before she stops him, holding up her hand and standing. She insists it isn’t a big deal - can’t bring herself to be angry at this blushing, obviously upset man - and makes a wry joke about needing a shower anyway. He ends up insisting she take his umbrella, saying she could return it some other day. When he says his name, she raises an eyebrow and says with a smirk, “Thanks, Star Prince,” before trudging onward. Yoosung’s left in shock; no one's ever called him that before.

Later that night, he’s telling everyone who will listen about the girl with the rainbow hair.

A few days later, Summer manages to track him down to return to umbrella. He’s spent this time amping himself up, trying to work up the courage to ask her out. (Of course a girl as cool as her would never like a guy as lame as him, but he can try). He’s sweating and nervous and his face is all the wrong colors as he tries to mumble an invitation, but again, she cuts him off - this time with a chuckle. He’s so cute, she can’t say no to an innocent boyo who’s trying so hard. She gives him a day (Saturday) and a time (3pm) to meet at a cafe she frequents (not her workplace), scribbling her phone number on a very shocked Yoosung’s hand before walking away with a “Later, Star Prince.”

A date. He’s got a date! He spends the night gushing about it, missing all of the subtle signs indicating Seven’s sadness.

The day comes, the date goes pretty well. Summer spends it teasing him kindly, enjoying how easy he is to fluster. But she’s taken by how undeniably sweet he is, and fascinated by the shine in those galaxy eyes when he’s excited. There’s something blocking the starlight within him, keeping him from lighting up the world. She’s sure it has something to do with that deep sadness she saw in him that first day.

He’s totally smitten, and they agree to another date. And another. And another. Soon, Yoosung can brag that he has a girlfriend and she’s happily keeping him under her arm, wanting to both protect him and help him grow. They’re opposites but in the best ways.

Their first kiss happens on the third date. They’re walking in the park at night after catching a movie. Yoosung stops to watch the stars and Summer’s taken by the look on his face; hopeful, longing, and so, so beautiful. When he notices her staring, he flushed a lovely red and she grins, grabbing his shirt and yanking him down to press their lips together. It’s everything he always dreamed of and nothing like he imagined; soft but insistent, sending fireworks shooting through him and when they part, he has the goofiest grin on his face.

For a while, he asks permission before kissing her and she just rolls her eyes, teasing him but always saying yes. She jokes, but it’s actually really nice to be treated like a human for once.

They take things decently slow, Summer content with making out without expectations and Yoosung happy with how things are. He’s scared to move too fast and ruin things, his inexperience a bane in his mind. She’s always there to coach him, to help when needed. But she’s the first to make a move sexually after a particularly intense make-out session that has them grinding. He stops the kiss and holds her in place, trying to hide under his hair because he’s embarrassed. It doesn’t take much for her to figure out he was close to orgasming, and so she goes into full-out tease mode:

“Do you want to come?”

A nod.

“Can you tell me what you want?”

He tries, but words are hard when both your face and crotch are on fire.

She’s experimented a bit with praise already and has found how susceptible he is, so she decides to try something.

“You’ve been such a good boy for me. You deserve a reward. Do you want me to reward you?”

Another nod.

She starts kissing his neck, fingers under his shirt. “Tell me if it’s too much, okay?”

It isn’t, and soon enough her Star Prince is coming apart in her mouth. Once he recovers, he insists on returning the favor and she ends up riding his fingers, gently coaching him through where to touch and how.

He’s a quick learner, she finds.

Six months into their relationship finds him at the door to her apartment. It’s maybe a week after he lavished her in the most ridiculous amount of gifts for dating for half a year, but of course, Summer soaked up the attention.

Today, though, something is wrong. She can tell the moment she opens the door, hair mussed from sleep and in a tight tank top and sweats. His shoulders are slumped more than usual, his eyes rimmed with red and lacking any life. She ushers him in, worried, and sits him on the couch, tucked in a blanket and with hot chocolate. She sucks at comfort, always has, but that doesn’t mean she won’t try.

It’s Rika’s birthday.

Yoosung’s mentioned her, of course, spoke about her as someone he admired, even mentioned her death. But he’s never dove fully into the subject, always too scared that showing that side of himself would send Summer running. But today he can’t, can’t hide it, can’t be alone. And so he spills. All of his worries, paranoias, anger. She lets him talk until the words are gone, then holds him when he cries. Hushes him when he apologizes. But it isn’t until he make an offhanded comment about how “he’s just being dramatic, that’s what his friends tell him” that she gets angry. Very quickly the entire atmosphere of the room changes and she’s facing him, cheeks cupped in her hands as she tells him that every single thought he has in valid. These feelings? Valid. The anger toward V? Valid. His suspicions that Rika isn’t really dead? Valid. Whether or not he’s right doesn’t change the validity of how he’s feeling, because he’s feeling it and he’s allowed to feel things. She’s ranting and raving and going on about how amazing of a man he is and that these “friends” aren’t really friends if they’re so unsupportive, not even noticing how his facial expression shifts from surprise to shock to utter adoration, so caught up in making him realize that it’s okay to feel like this sometimes. Grief is different for everyone, anyway, and who has the right to tell him he’s grieving wrong if what he’s doing isn’t hurting anyone? (Well, technically, the video game habit hurts himself but he’s been studying more, since he can use it as an excuse to hang out with her)

Which is why it’s a surprise when he kisses her in the middle of a sentence, hard, his arms wrapping around her to pull her into his lap. He’s filled with grief and sadness but also love and a feeling of acceptance - something he hasn’t felt in a long, long time. The combination is making everything else feel so much more intense and he can’t find the words to tell her how much he appreciates everything she’s done and said for him, so he chooses to let the kiss do the talking.

Passionate, longing, and mildly desperate, the kiss hits Summer like a brick. The longer it goes on, the more those hands roam and she finds herself wanting, but she refuses to take advantage of him. So she pulls back several times to make him pause, barely able to hold it together at the way he looks at her - equal parts desire and love - but asking him if he’s sure this is what he wants. And each time she’s met with a smile way too soft for how charged the air is between them, a gravelly voice somehow still managing to sound utterly lovestruck as he tells her he’s never wanted anything more than to show her how much he loves her.

And for the first time in her life, she makes love instead of just being fucked. It’s every bit as amazing - if not more - and she could just melt under him with how he treats her like a goddess.

Fast forward a few weeks. Yoosung hasn’t forgotten the remark she made about his friends and decides he wants her and Seven to meet. Yeah, he’s a bit of an ass sometimes but he cares about him, right? And besides his parents and sister, Seven is the most important person in his life. So he manages to talk Seven into letting both of them come over. Seven’s… surprisingly hard to convince, a plethora of excuses flung out about why he can’t (and shouldn’t) hang out with them together, each one tough to fight but Yoosung manages. It’s weird that Seven’s so adamantly against it, but Yoosung figures maybe he’s just a bit busier than normal. They won’t take much of his time.

Summer isn’t thrilled, either, still holding the lack of support against this “friend.” But. She’ll give him a chance.

To be continued. :)

[antiquechampagne]

Chapter 6

Payne kept to herself for nearly a week, rarely coming out of her room at hotel. She replaced her hunting rifle and an assault gas mask to replace to keep her safe during the day. It was ugly as sin and offered little in the way of actual armor, but it kept the sun off of her.  She was too ashamed to ask Daisy if she had any blood bags. She told herself she was keeping out of MacCready’s way, but really she just wanted to be alone. Payne wasn’t even sure if Hancock or Fahrenheit had told anyone about her, but she didn’t want to find out through awkward stares.

Boredom drove her from the confines of her rented room and down into the lobby. Walking down the stairs, she heard a snippet of a song drift from an ancient radio. Payne never paid much attention to what was on the air waves, given most seemed to be propaganda sprinkled with the same dozen songs, but the eerie jingle held her in rapt attention. Drawing her like a siren, she sat down close to the radio to listen. She couldn’t believe it, it was a prewar radio play!

The hotel manager, a grizzled white haired woman named Clair, noticed Payne’s fascination with exasperation. “Child, you’ve been here long enough to hear that pre-war drivel, haven’t you?”

Payne nodded to the contrary. “I haven’t heard anything like this in ages.” She couldn’t contain a small smile as she listened to the adventures of the titular character taking on the villain Fat Fahy with the heroine Mistress of Mystery.

“You look like a damn fool sitting there like a kid, just like Kent, I swear!” This was the second time Payne had heard that name.

“Who is Kent?” she forced herself away from the radio. It was harder than she had thought it should be.

“Kent? Kent Connolly runs that blasted station. He is nuttier than an irradiated Brahmin’s balls. If he’s not wasting all his time reliving that prewar super hero crap in a memory pod next door, he’s broadcasting those stupid stories. You gotta feel sorry for him, though. Irma had to put a timer on his pod to make sure the fool eats and sleeps. It’s a shame, he’s such a sweet guy… but addicted to his own past.”

Payne moved back to the couch near the radio, but a different kind of earworm had crept into her brain. The next day she found herself rummaging through her pack. In the bottom of her bag lay a small silver pin, rusted and discolored. You could still make out the silver band blazoned across the black fedora. She had taken off a settler she had found dead months ago. She wasn’t sure why it had captured her eye or why she had held on to the scrap for so long.

She made her way next door to Scollay Square. The marque loomed large like a grotesque maw, the red doors appearing almost mouth like. Like the jaws of hell Payne though. Shaking her head, she pushed past the entrance and emerged on the other side facing an empty ticket counter. Continuing on, the place opened up to what had been a theater. Where seats once sat stood two rows of transparent pods along the sides, some occupied and pulsing with bizarre lights. On the stage sat a crimson chaise lounge with a reclining aging woman decked out in matching feathers and lace.

“Oh, sorry honey, we aren’t taking any new clients at the moment.” She purred.

God, this is more like home than I thought. Payne approached the dais. “I’m not looking for your services. I am looking for Kent.”

“Whatever for?” Payne held up the pin. “Oh? I wouldn’t have pegged you for a Silver Shroud fan, sweetie.” She pointed to a closed door behind Payne. “He’s in his room, but please don’t vex him too much, hon. He’s been a bit…. sensitive… lately.”

Payne reassured her. “I will try my best to be brief.”

Upon entering Kent’s room, she was inundated with everything Silver Shroud including ancient cracked posters and imposing full size character cutouts. In the far corner sat a hunched figure in a threadbare hat and suit fiddling with a microphone.

A bit startled, Kent greeted Payne kindly. “Oh hi, I don’t know you.” His voice was kind and smooth, well, smooth for a ghoul.

“My name is Payne. You broadcast the Silver Shroud radio show, don’t you?”

Kent’s eyes lit up. “I sure do! I think it gives people a little bit of hope in this world that has gone to pot. Maybe a little escape from all the murder and mayhem, ya know?”

“I can tell you have a lot of passion for those old stories.”

“Oh yeah, they take ya right back… like remembering the first day of school and rushing home to listen to the conclusion of the cliff hanger for The Silver Shroud vs. The Grave Digger to see if the Mistress of Mystery was really dead or not! Oh man, everyone sat inside on a perfect cool summer afternoon just to hear that she had hidden herself in plain sight as the maid the whole time! What a hoot!”

His unbridled enthusiasm was infections and a warm smile spread across Payne’s face. “Well, I wanted to tell you that I am a new fan… and I wanted to show my appreciation.”

She handed the pin to Kent, who gingerly pick it out of her hand. His eye went wide and a wide smile of his own grew.

“Oh, my gosh! Miss! Do you know what this is?” He turn the tiny trinket repeatedly in his hand excitedly. “Where did you find this? How could it even survive this long?” Payne could feel the joy practically radiating off him.

“This…” He held the pin a loft like a lost holy relic. “This is a rare collectable lapel pin created by Galaxy News Radio to commemorate the 300th episode. You had to collect 20 Sugar Bomb cereal box tops and send way for it… but it was random which pin you received back.” Kent went to his dresser and pulled out a box from the drawer, his shoulders still hunched. “There were 25 pins to collect, which include The Unstoppables too because of the Christmas crossover episode! I have 11… now 12 of them! Thank you so much, Miss!” His fingers lovingly glided over each pin as he placed his newest prize into the next empty slot.

“Just call me Payne. I am glad I found one you didn’t already have!” she ribbed him gently. She found his child like enthusiasm endearing, but understood why the hotel manager was concerned about him. His clothes were dirty, his frame thin, even for a ghoul. He shuffled slowly as he walked.

“Would you mind if I visited you again in a few days? I would love to hear more about the Silver Shroud, I really don’t know much about it.”

“You’ve never heard of the Silver Shroud! Oh howdy, you are in for a real treat!”

They thanked each other and made plans for another visit. Payne wandered back to her room and sat down on the edge of the bed. It took a moment of searching her memories to place where her sudden melancholy from her delightful visit. Talking to Kent was like talking to her older brother over old Grognak comic books when they were kids… something they loved to do to pass the time together. She thought of her long dead brother, laid down hugging a pillow and silently cried herself to sleep.

[ashwrites97]

An Ally for Earth

“Comet, are we close to Sol 3?” Nebula asked their helmsman.

“We will be there soon, Nebula,” the helmsman replied, a smile growing on their face. They had never been on another planet before, and they were looking forward to it more than they could possibly express. They might be one of the first to make contact with this new population that would, hopefully, join them in their fight against the ‘others’, who wished to destroy not only themselves, but the universe around them.

Star, the navigator, leaned over to Comet. “It’s bound to be exciting, I can tell you already feel that way. We might end up in the history books of our citizens. Wouldn’t that be something?” they asked their friend.

Comet’s smile grew larger and they wanted to speed up the craft to get there sooner, but speed was not to be changed without direct permission of Nebula. “We will reach Sol 3 in approximately 1 Terran hour,” Comet said, informing Nebula of a more descriptive time line than ‘soon’.

“Very well,” Nebula replied, “I shall be preparing for the landing. Comet, Star, and Meteor will come with me. The three of you are best educated and skilled for such a task. Please ensure that you look respectable in the clothing that Meteor will provide for you.”

Star and Comet looked at each other. “Certainly, Nebula. We shall make you proud,” they said in unison.

Nebula hid a smile and retreated to their quarters, looking over the proposal from their government to the Terrans. They had recently been given the names of the leaders they would be speaking to, as well as the countries they led. They sounded like powerful places, and Nebula couldn’t shake the hope that these powerful countries and their leaders were good. After all, the word ‘United’ in the name of a country gave hope that the world was an open and united place.

Of course, they doubted that every terran was perfect, no one really was, even in their utopian society. Nebula wasn’t expecting perfection, they had learned not to a very long time ago, since one will always be disappointed when they do such a thing.

Comet came on the intercom a while later and informed Nebula that they were about to orbit around Sol 3. Nebula stook from their desk and left their quarters, the proposal in hand. They took Comet and Star with them to Meteor’s quarters where their clothes for their mission would be found. There were no problems until Comet picked up a long piece of patterned cloth and looked at it strangely.

“It goes around ones neck,” Meteor, their anthropologist explained, “here, let me tie it for you.”

In turns, Meteor tied each of their shipmates neckties.

“Whose idea was it to tie a scrap of cloth around ones neck?” Star asked, confusion still evident in their tone.

Meteor shrugged. “I have absolutely no idea, but we are not to judge their customs. Perhaps it has some sort of religious symbolism that I have not yet found,” they replied, patting their shipmate on the back.

Nebula nodded. “Meteor is correct. Now, let us depart. We need to go to a place called,” they looked down at the paperwork Meteor had handed them, “Washington DC.”

Meteor nodded. “It is the capital of the United States of America, often referred to as the land of the free, and the home of the brave. One of the most powerful cities on Sol 3.”

Nebula nodded. “Comet, Star, since the two of you are new, please ensure that you take all leads from Meteor and I. Not doing so may cause unwanted problems.”

Star couldn’t help but laugh. “And we don’t want that. We’re just going to teleport into their buildings and ask to speak with them. Have you seen what the Terrans look like? Two eyes, no antennae, 5 fingers!”

“I’m sure you’ll look just as strange to them, Star. With your one eye, antennae, and 3 fingers,” Nebula scolded them.

On the way to the transportation bay, Meteor filled them in on things that are best if one of their society  is prepared for. Terrans, after all, were quite different from their species, but they all knew that different didn’t have to mean bad. Different could be, and often was, a good thing.

In the transportation room, Worm Hole was waiting to send them to Sol 3. They went to Comet and Star and patted the two on the back.

“You two nervous?” Worm Hole asked, receiving nods in relpy. They chuckled lightly and handed them each a fluid pack to calm them down. “I’m sure the two of you will be okay. You’re young, eager to learn, and Nebula must think that you’ll do well, they don’t often bring first time explorers on trips like this.”

Star nodded. “Thank you Worm Hole,” they replied, trying to smile as they opened the fluid pack.

Soon enough, it was time for them to teleport to the surface of Sol 3. They stood on the pad and Worm Hole went about sending them to a foreign place.

Star and Comet winced at the brightness.

“My goodness, that is bright,” Nebula agreed, “it’s only their sun, no need to worry. Your eyes will adjust.”

As they walked towards the building that was in the picture Meteor had showed them, they received strange looks from passersby.

“They think us strange,” Comet said sadly, “I was hoping that they would like us.”

Nebula patted them on the back gently. “In time, if we achieve what we set out to do, perhaps they will. You know that not everyone is accepting of things they don’t understand in the beginning. We cannot expect that of the Terrans if our own species has issues doing such a thing at times.”

Comet nodded and the group walked into the large white building with a group of Terrans. The tour guide began speaking, and Nebula raised their hand, confusing the guide. “Excuse me, where and when might we meet with your leader, the president?” they asked.

The guide’s jaw dropped and they blinked for a moment, trying to process the situation. “I’m sorry... I-I really don’t know. Most people with appointments, other leaders and cabinet members who need to meet with the president come in a different entrance. How did you get in here?” they asked.

“The same as everyone else, I assure you,” Nebula replied, “thank you for your time. We must find this other entrance to meet with your president.”

Turning away from the group, Meteor could sense the panic from the group of Terrans. “This may not go to plan, Nebula,” they whispered quietly.

“We must still persist and make an attempt,” Nebula said.

After what felt to the group like years, but in fact was only one Earth week, and meetings with the leaders of five countries, they knew that perhaps they should have given up immediately. Perhaps even before landing. The leaders did not take kindly to the ‘aliens’, and nor did their people. Comet and Star had sustained injuries to their antennae, and Nebula had a large cut on their arm that would open at times to spill their grey blood.

Transporting back to their ship, they hung their heads, only Meteor remaining behind to speak to Worm Hole, the other three proceeding to the infirmary.

“It didn’t go well. They have their own global issues right now, that it would not be wise to get involved with. Sol 3 is not the place we thought it was, they’re not ready to be our allies,” Meteor said sadly.

“I thought you were part of the group of anthropologists that studied other species to find us a new ally?” Worm Hole asked.

“I was, but it’s taken us so long to get here, and things have gotten worse in the last few years. Seeing the Terrans now, I worry that if they don’t fix what has gone wrong with their species and their home, they will end up like our enemies, destroying themselves from the inside.

“Who are we kidding? They can’t even accept and care for their own people, how were they supposed to accept us and work with us. Different may be a good thing, but they don’t see it that way. I know that Nebula and I are supposed to return in order to sign the paperwork for our government about the arrangements, but I don’t think we will. We were attacked, and not even treated like living things. Sure, we’re not Terran, but we saw Terrans attacking other Terrans in the street. In places where there is no fighting going on.

“They need to sort themselves out before they can work on an intergalactic scale. They have to be truly united, or they’ll never manage out here. I hope they understand that before it’s too late. It would hurt if they tore themselves apart. It happens far too often in this universe,” Meteor said, leaving the transportation bay, is head hanging as they went back to their quarters to continue their research. They would find an ally for their government, and they wouldn’t stop until they had an agreement with one species or another. After all, a species cannot make it alone, the galaxy needed to be united. They weren’t the only ones, and there were bigger threats to conquer.

[bosstoaster]

Beast You’ve Made of Me: Deleted Scene 2

You know how I mentioned I was super trying to get their asses to that council meeting?

Here’s that.

If you’ve followed me for awhile, you’re aware that I spent an afternoon whining about cutting about 4k of material.  This is part of that.

Came directly after Deleted Scene Part 1: Sam Undermines My Narrative

Chapter 11

“Do we really not have a better plan than ‘burst in and announce ourselves’?” Pidge questioned quietly, brows up and expression bland.

In response, Lance shrugged.  “They won’t be able to stop us that way.  And besides, it’ll definitely make an impression.  They won’t have a chance to build themselves up against us, or for Maros or whoever to make a case before we can even talk.”

Nodding to Lance, Allura smiled.  “There are times when dramatics are the most effective.  Politics are one of them.”

Pidge still looked dubious, but she nodded and crossed her arms.  

Glancing down the hallway to the huge double doors that led to the council hall, Hunk tilted his head.  “Are we waiting for something in particular?”

“Just for everyone to sit down, I think,” Keith replied.  He leaned against the wall, watching as well.  “Once it’s all in session we’ll go.”

A few feet back from the rest of the group, Shiro watched.  He should be helping, but it felt like he was so far removed from the situation.  Most of the political back and forth had gone by without him, either because Maros had stalled to avoid meetings or because he’d been to out of it to really pay attention.

Now he was just... here.

Checking the time, Allura nodded.  “This should be fine.  Do you two have the data prepared?”  Pidge and Hunk both nodded.  “Good.  Then let’s begin.”

A hand settled on Shiro’s shoulder, making him jolt.  Glancing over, he saw it was Sam, and he slowly unwound.  “We’ll meet up with you in a few minutes.  I need to speak with Shiro.”

Allura glanced at Shiro in question, then she nodded.  “You can slip in after.  Take your time.”

It was probably a relief, to not have to worry about Shiro in the room.  If nothing else, it kept Maros from getting distracted.

Taking a deep breath, Shiro nodded and watched them walk away without him.  They slipped through the doors, and after a few beats the voices on the other side suddenly exploded into chatter.

“What did you need?” Shiro asked, focusing on Sam.

Sam sighed.  “I wanted to apologize.”

That made Shiro freeze.  He wracked his mind for a reason why.  He didn’t think Sam had done anything wrong, but maybe he was about to break some news.  Dread bubbled up in Shiro’s chest like a tar pit, and he swallowed hard against it.  “What for?”

“I haven’t done what I meant to do,” Sam replied, each word sounding carefully chosen.  “I tried to help to keep you from the worst of what Maros wanted, and it seems I did you no good.”

Shiro stared, eyes wide, then shook his head.  “No, you- when you were there with me, that helped.  Just having someone to speak up when I couldn’t was appreciated.”

“But I didn’t stop you from being alone with him,” Sam replied softly.  “Several times.”

“That’s on me,” Shiro replied, shaking his head.  “You and Allura gave me outs.  But I needed to.”

Sam looked up at him, gaze misty and more than a little sad.  “You never needed to.  And I wish I had taken you aside and let you know that.  Your mental health is worth more than that.”

“I’m fine,” Shiro replied, shaking his head hard.  He took a step back, putting space between them, wanting distance between himself and that guilty look.  “I’m fine.”

Brows up, Sam looked him over.  “Are you?  I bring this up because Hunk spoke to me.  He was worried.”

Because Shiro had scared him last night.  This morning.  Whichever.  Why hadn’t Shiro kept his mouth shut?  Hunk didn’t need that on his shoulders too.  He should have been better than that.  The others deserved that much.

“Yes,” Shiro replied.  He would be.  He’d be better now.

By...

Shiro wasn’t sure how.

Taking a step forward, Sam frowned.  “Takashi?”

Maybe he couldn’t be better.  Maybe the reason Shiro kept hurting them and scaring them and teaching them the wrong things was that he was just broken.  

“Takashi!”

The shout made him start, and Shiro stepped back again, eyes wide.  It slammed him back into the moment, with Sam looking at him like Shiro was going to fall apart any moment.

Taking a deep breath, Shiro turned away.  “We should join the others, it’s been long enough.”  When Sam started to protest, Shiro sighed.  “Later, please?  Now’s not the time.”

Frowning, Sam tapped his cane unhappily.  But then he nodded.  “Alright.  Tonight, if we’re still here.  No questions.”

Shiro nodded without any real intention of following through.  Then he stepped through the doors.

The room was chaos.  The roar of so many voices made Shiro flinch and step back.

Veprit Sa.  Veprit Sa.

But that wasn’t what they were saying.  And out of the corner of his eye, Shiro saw Sam give him another worried look.  So he took a deep breath and made himself keep walking to the others.

“An entire planet?”  Yelled someone from the back, standing up and bristled so hard their fur was actually standing on end.  “The entire thing?”

Another representative snarled at the rest of the team.  “What are you doing here?  Who even let you in?”

Raising a bored hand, Maros arched his brows.  “That would be me.”

That caused another outbreak, even louder than before, and Shiro stepped over to the others, brows up in question.

Meeting his eyes, Lance gave a tiny shake of his head.  He looked far more frazzled than when they’d walked in.

Shiro moved to put his hand on Lance’s shoulder in automatic reaction, but then he pulled himself back, uncomfortable at touching anyone.  Luckily, Lance didn’t seem to see the move at all.

“The Galra have gone too far,” Allura declared, and it didn’t sound like the first time she’d said that.  “They’ve declared war on all living things, by creating this weapon.  They must be stopped.”

Her voice was full of righteous fury, of the kind of call to arms that had worked to convince all of the paladins to give up their homes and lives and fight for the good of the galaxy.

But they were all very different people from these representatives.

“And have that turned on us?  Are you crazy?”  

“We can’t stop the Galra!”

“They’re going to rip us to shreds.  They’ll kill us just for speaking with you!”

Finally standing, Maros held up his hands.  When the noise didn’t stop, he took a deep breath, and then he roared.

The room went silent.

After a moment to make sure it held, Maros nodded.  “There is no need to get so upset,” he drawled.  “But you are right that the Galra will not look kindly on our guests.  Which is reason enough to stay calm and to not panic.”

The silence held for another long, heavy moment, as the representatives thought that over.

“I don’t know what to say,” Lance murmured, so quiet Shiro barely heard it.  “I can’t think of anything.”

This time, Shiro did put his hand on Lance’s shoulder, squeezing.  “I’m not sure there’s anything you could say,” he admitted, too low for Allura to hear.

Lance didn’t look convinced.

“Why do you let them stay here?” Someone called, standing up.  “You’ve given us all a death sentence.”

Maros only arched a brow.  “Because I am King.  I will do as I please.  The Galra’s wishes are not automatically our own.  And they were providing valuable intelligence about the former mining methods.”

Someone made a furious hissing noise.  “That’s it?  That’s what you’ve sold our lives for?  Those old relics?”

“Are you still breathing?” Maros shot back, unimpressed.  “Then your life is not sold yet.  Sit down.”

Slowly, the representative did.

Maros sat back down in his throne.  “We will discuss this.  And we will make a decision.  And anyone who wishes to make a fuss to someone who may not approve should know that not only will they face the Galra’s wrath, but they will face mine.”

Sullen, unhappy silence filled the room, but no one spoke out.

That wasn’t going to hold.  Not more than a day.

Glancing across the hall, Shiro spotted Selmak and Anise, sitting together.  He tilted his head in question.

Selmak met his eyes and shook his head.

Speaking in favor of them would be political suicide.  Maros could, but they would not.

Well, then.

Finally, Maros smiled and nodded like that was that.  “Now, I think we can all think on that for a while.  Instead, let’s speak of our budget.”

And the meeting continued on, as if they had never interrupted.

Turning to face them, Allura slowly shook her head.  Then she sat down heavily, hands in her lap.  “I don’t understand.”

“Not everyone is like you, Princess,” Shiro replied, gently as he could.  

It was selfish and short sighted.  It was cowardly and small.

But sometimes that was all you could worry about.

“I did tell you not to, you know,” Maros drawled to them, as the meeting let out.  “And this is why.”

He stepped off the throne and tossed his head, looking mostly unruffled, despite his earlier irritation.

Allura bristled visibly.  “I don’t understand how you can treat this so...” She trailed off, probably not having any nice way of putting it.

Brows up, Maros eyed her.  “I told you, there is no Galra warship hovering over us.  There’s no need to make a decision immediately.  We have time to ease into it.  For now, we’ll wait for them, to think, and then next time you’ll speak to them again.”

“Next time?”

Maros turned to eye Osaha, head tilted like he was surprised to hear her voice.  “Yes.  The meeting is over, nothing else will be happening today.”

Osaha stared at him, her fur standing on end.  “They can’t stay here!”

Now Maros frowned, looking well and truly annoyed.  “At my will they may.”

Noticing how she’d overstepped, Osaha scowled and curled in on herself, still aggressive but deferential.  “Your Highness, the Galra-”

“No one will speak to the Galra,” Maros replied, rolling his eyes.  “They’re cowards, all of them.  They won’t want to face the consequences, and nor would they want to open the problems it would cause.  The questions and the interrogations and the possibility of attack.  No, this will keep for now.”

Thinking of how Selmak and Anise had bowed out when the room was running hot, Shiro wasn’t sure Maros didn’t have a point.

Claws out, Osaha stared at Maros like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.  “But-”

“Enough!” Maros snapped, and she yanked herself back from him.  “You forget yourself.”

Glancing at the rest of them, Osaha’s eyes burned.  Then she gave a small bow, teeth visibly gritted.  “Apologies, Your Highness.”

Eyeing her, Maros waved to the door.  “You are dismissed for the night.  Go cool your head and remember yourself.”

For a moment, Osaha looked like she’d disobey.  Her eyes locked on Shiro, and he could see the deep, liquid hate there.

She blamed him completely for this.

And she wasn’t wrong.  Maros didn’t care about the rebellion, about the Galra and their weapons.  He’d just wanted his entertainment, he’d taken the opportunity when it had arose.

This was Shiro’s past, come back to haunt him.  

He shouldn’t have won those fights.  

Finally, Osaha bowed again.  “Yes, Your Highness.”  Then she stalked out and closed the door behind her.

Clearing her throat, Coran caught Maros’ attention.  “I understand your position, but I’m not sure it’s still safe for us to remain.  Even if no one spills, that was a very public display.”

Maros flapped a hand at him.  “Have you seen a single Galra in this part of the castle?” He asked.

In hindsight, no.

“They come here to make demands and to tell me what I should give them or what decisions I should make, and they’re never here a moment longer,” Maros told them, tone disgusted.  “The fear was never a Galra soldier noticing you.  It was the rumors getting out and the word spreading.  That we cannot control.  That group, we can.  There’s no need to leave so quickly.”  Then he smiled.  “Besides, you would miss dinner.”

Lance held up his hand, just up to his shoulder like a student who wasn’t sure they had the right answer.  “It’ll be a while before the next meeting, correct, Your Highness?”  When Maros nodded, Lance took a deep breath.  “So, that’s a long time for us to stay and tax your hospitality.  The best option would be for us to leave and come back at the right time.  That way we don’t catch attention later.”

Freezing, Maros frowned.

Because Lance was right.  And Maros didn’t actually care about any of it.  He just wanted them around.

He just wanted Shiro around.

Stepping forward, Pidge nodded, her arms crossed.  “It’s in everyone’s best interests for us to leave, just in case.”

Maros’ hands clenched at his side.  “One more night.”  He glanced over at Shiro, just once, but enough to prove his goal.

A hand rested on Shiro’s arm.  He glanced over and saw it was Keith.  “Veto,” he murmured, voice low.

Okay.  It was time.  

“Veto,” he agreed.

Glancing back at them, Allura nodded.  “I’m sure you mean the best, but we have other duties to be seeing to, and we can’t afford to stay here much longer.”

Maros’ eyes flicked between them all.  “Understood.  We will speak another time.”  Every line of his body was tense and unhappy, and his tail gave a slow, irritated flick.

But he nodded, and turned.  And then he left.