#and i had to just leave it there too and run to my drs apt
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dayurno · 2 months ago
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why is it that whenever i get on tumblr u always update literally a minute before … my subconscious dayurno radar is insane
SUBCONSCIOUS DAYURNO RADAR like a shark slowly swimming towards you…. i dont know maybe we’re connected. should we kiss
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sparrowjaywrites · 3 years ago
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Forget-Me-Not
-Spencer Reid x Female Reader-  Plot: When the team is caught in explosion you wake up with no memory of who you are, or who anyone on your team is.
Y/N = Your name
Y/L/N = Your last name
H/C = Hair color
Heat burned around her as the young woman stumbled to her feet; her vision was hazy, blurred. There was a part of her who wondered if the blurriness was from her pounding head or her missing glasses… glasses moments ago she hadn’t even known she wore. Her feet kicked against debris small stones and smoldering pieces of wood; she could see an opening… a doorway red and blue lights flashed through it. She coughed as she moved, she needed to run, to get out faster… yet despite her desperate need to escape, a need she didn’t understand she couldn’t make her feet drag any quicker over the soot covered floor.
She stumbled through the doorway the red and orange haze of smoke quickly replaced by police lights that blinked fast enough she wasn’t sure if everything was washed in blue and red or possibly purple as her vision began to blur more each time she coughed. A man… no two men raced towards her shouting words she couldn’t make out past the ringing in her ears. Her knees gave out just as one of the men a handsome black man with kind eyes reached her. The other man was just as handsome though in another way… cute with curly brown hair and a singed sweater vest over a buttoned up shirt that she was sure had once been white.
She let the men drag her towards the ambulance slumping into their arms her boots dragging on the black cement. She was placed on a stretcher the second man, the nerdy one she dubbed him simply climbed in with her holding her hand tightly in his. She didn’t know why he held onto her so tightly but she found she liked it; it was comforting for some unknown reason.
The drive to the hospital seemed to pass in a blink of an eye… or maybe she’d just passed out for a moment; that was more likely she mused as she was rolled through the ER doors. Nerdy man followed her inside but was quickly rushed away by a nurse. The nurses were speaking to her asking questions she still couldn’t fully hear though she could now make out the low hum of their voices. They quickly stopped speaking to her just offering her comforting smiles as they worked. She knew she must have been loud with her hisses and yelps of pain as they began to remove blackened pieces of cloth from her legs and chest, and small pieces of metal from throughout her body.
Nerdy man was back as soon as the nurses let him past. Again her hand was in his as he talked to her and tried to smile at her. She blinked at him blankly, she couldn’t hear him… the nurses must have said as much, a doctor had even looked in her ears. Why was he bothering? Who was he, why did he seem so upset by her blank stare? He lifted a hand from hers and brushed his fingers along her cheek, she jerked her head back at the motion. Holding her hand was one thing, to touch her face when she didn’t even know him was another. The man quickly moved his hand back looking at her questioningly; hurt clear in his brown eyes.
A nurse quickly joined them injecting something into her IV, it wasn’t until her eyes began to shut that she recognized the burn in her throat and realized she had been yelling. What she had yelled she had no idea, nor did she care as her eyes drifted closed.
---Line Break---
The next time the young woman awoke she was in a room. She scanned the room with squinted eyes, she couldn’t see much of anything clearly, no she would need her glasses for that. Glasses she had left behind in the burning warehouse she had woken in originally. She cursed her stupidity her eyes landing on a man reading a book beside her, she could hear the turn of the page every few moments, far too quickly for anyone to actually read she suspected. Blinking back the haze of sleep… or drugs, yeah definitely drugs, she recognized the man.
Why was Nerdy man by her bedside again? She blinked at him staring silently until he glanced up as the beeping of her heart monitor sped up as she tried to figure out who he was. Those brown eyes that seemed so very precious to her though she knew not why locked with hers. A relieved smile split the man’s face as she immediately set the book he’d been holding aside.
“Y/N?” His voice fit him, his long lanky form straightening as he grasped her hand once again. Y/N? Who was Y/N? Was she Y/N? The woman blinked fear flickering through her as she realized she didn’t know… what was her name? How old was she? When was her birthday? Who was the man sitting next to her? “Whoa, hey it’s okay, you’re safe, we’re safe.” Nerdy man quickly reached out cupping her cheek in his large hand his long fingers gently caressing her skin as she began to hyperventilate.
“Who are you?” She managed to rasp out past her smoke damaged throat. Brown eyes widened at her question his hand quickly falling from her cheek as he gazed into her eyes worriedly.
“Y/N? It’s me, Spencer.” Spencer… the name fit, recognition pinged in the back of her mind, though the sensation was short and fleeting gone before she could grasp it.
“I… am I Y/N?” She swallowed thickly speaking her words slowly, she could hear the fear in her voice, it was almost solid it was so thick. Nerdy man… no, Spencer closed his eyes clearly blinking back panicked tears as he took a deep breath then nodded.
“Yes, you’re Y/N. I’ll be right back.” He quickly stood striding out of the room in long strides on long legs. Though blurred Y/N couldn’t help but note he had a very nice ass… shut up, Y/N, this isn’t the time. She chastised herself surprised how quickly she accepted her new… or old name. It felt like a long while before Spencer returned followed by two men, one clearly a doctor in a white coat the other a man in what was clearly a suit, though he had the tie and jacket draped over his arm.
“Hello, Agent Y/L/N, my name is Doctor Lynn; Spencer here tells me you don’t remember him?” The doctor asked slowly giving her a content smile. Y/N shakes her head silently noting the deep frown on the suited older man’s face and the pain that quickly covered Spencer’s face. “Agent Y/L/N do you know where you are?”
“A hospital… is Y/L/N my last name?” Her eyes move to Spencer as she asks the question, he had stood by her through everything from the moment she’d stumbled out of the warehouse too lying in the bed she was now in. He was who she trusted to answer her honestly.
“Yes,” Spencer said clearly though his voice rasped with unshed tears. Suit man placed a hand on his arm reassuringly.
“Agent Y/L/N, can you tell me what you remember about yourself?”
“I… I have H/C hair…” She responds after a moment of thought, small flashes of cutting off long H/C locks in a bathroom, a school bathroom as a teenager flashing through her mind, “I wear glasses… I left them in the warehouse… I couldn’t fully remember them so I didn’t pick them up.” She adds after a moment.
“Well you’re correct on those counts. Agent Hotchner, Dr. Reid could you please wait in the waiting room?” Both men shared wary looks but nodded leaving the room. The suited man shooting her a caring smile on his way out. The next few hours… at least it felt like hours were spent being whisked through the hospital from one machine to another then back again. Nurses explained what they were doing every step of the way, every hour she was asked if the remembered the three words the doctor had told her before her bed had been rolled from her room. Spoon, House, Rock. She passed with flying colors or so her Nurse, Rebecca Jones informed after each memory check.
“It seems you have amnesia Agent Y/L/N. We believe it was caused by the head injury you received in the blast along with brain damage caused by multiple seizures you experienced in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.” Dr. Lynn explained slowly and simply making sure she nodded before continuing. “You seem to be forming new memories and retaining information perfectly well, which is a surprise considering your ADHD, making us believe your experiencing retrograde amnesia, your bouts of recognition also assure us your symptoms are temporary.”
“So I’ll get my memories back?”
“You should, I can’t promise you’ll get them all back, you’ll likely never remember the moments before the blast, but overall we have high hopes for your prognosis, Agent Y/L/N.” They discussed more technical things such as bringing in a social worker and psychologist to determine if she is mentally sound enough to be in charge of herself or if her medical power of attorney would need to be brought in. It was quickly determined she would need to be placed under her medical power of attorney’s power until she at least remembered more about herself and her life. From there though she was informed of everything being done and all conversations she was not a part of them.
Normally she’d have been furious about this she suspected but considering she couldn’t even remembered her damn birthday let alone what medications she was one, where she worked, or any of her family she agreed this was probably for the best. She didn’t see Spencer or suit man again until the next day; they came into the room cleaned up and in fresh clothes.
“Hey, Y/N how you feeling?” Suit man asked smiling at her.
“Like I was blown up… which I was so that seems pretty apt.” She shrugs in response. She had learned she had second degree burns covering both her legs and a good portion of her chest. She had also been riddled with shrapnel though all of it had been removed and the cut’s either sewn or glued closed and covered. She was told she could be released in about forty eight hours when she’d been woken for the billionth time by her nurse that morning. All her wounds could be managed outside the hospital but they wanted to keep her a few days due to her concussion.
“Memories or not you’re still you.” Suit man snorts with a small grin.
“Good to know. So which of you is my medical power of attorney? They said you two were handling my affairs so I assume it’s gotta be one of ya?”
“I am, I uh… we made each other our power of attorney’s when we moved in together.” Spencer spoke up nervously. Y/N’s eyebrow rose at his words… moved in together? Her mind flicked to the sense of comfort she got from him clutching her hand, the way her mind immediately jumped to… less than appropriate thoughts when looking at his very fine ass, and the way he hand caressed her cheek. Oh… oh, that made a lot more sense now.
“Dating, engaged, or married?” She asked calmly smiling as he immediately turned bright red and started stuttering over himself.
“You two are married.” Suit man snorted. Y/N nodded slowly, thinking hard she could remember a wedding dress, blue flowers… forget-me-nots… huh ironic she snorted at the memory before smiling. It may have only been flashes but the memories brought joy, so very much joy.
“What are you smiling about?” Spencer finally found his voice sitting beside her in the same chair he’d been sat in the night before.
“I was trying to remember, forget-me-nots… at our wedding? A bit ironic now wouldn’t you say?” She asked with a small laugh. Spencer’s face lit up at her words as he chuckled along with her.
“I’ve never known anything to fit the meaning of the word better.”
“I mean, the odds, we tempted fate with that one didn’t we?”
“Clearly...” He took her hand in his squeezing it. “Do you… remember anything else?”
“My dress, at least I’m assuming I was the one in the dress,” She raises an eyebrow her eyes moving up and down his slim form. “Though I’m sure you’d look very beautiful in one.” The laughter from her other side was sudden and quickly covered up with a cough as suit guy quickly left the room.
“Your dress… I don’t wear dresses” Spencer quickly confirmed his own amused smile blindingly bright. Maybe, just maybe she could get through this after all?
 ______________________________________________________ AN: Hey Everyone I know it’s been years since I posted but I’m back with this little story I suddenly had the urge to write at 3 am. I plan to post the original version of this which is with my original character as well for anyone interested in that. I may make a part 2 if people are interested, and if not then the one with my character will probably at least get a part two. I hope you all enjoy!
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chainofclovers · 3 years ago
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Ted Lasso 2x7 Thoughts
“Headspace” is a very apt name for this episode, in which we learned almost no new information about the characters in Ted Lasso but learned a great deal about the way many characters’ brains work.
Most of the episodes this season have been so full of new information (if you wanna know something about how my brain works, the critique that early s2 episodes lack conflict does not compute), so full of dramatic irony (Sam and Rebecca don’t realize they’re messaging each other on Bantr! Rebecca’s voicemail to Ted doesn’t actually indicate that she spent a significant portion of time panicking and looking for him!), and misunderstandings that it was really nice to spend a bit over thirty minutes on an episode with very easily mappable plotlines.
Ted and Sharon and Therapy
Ordinarily in my little recaps I talk about the characters as real people making their own decisions, because every character on this show feels very real. But I have to take a minute to just, like, celebrate the acting in these scenes. Sarah Niles and Jason Sudeikis brought the perfect energy to each of their three scenes in Dr. Sharon’s office.
The drinking bird toy! The way he switches from nodding along with it to shaking his head no while the bird continues to shake its head yes, just like Ted shook his head no while saying yes, they should hire a sports psychologist! The way he finally stills the bird in the final therapy scene in the episode...but performatively throws the tissue box.
(Someone is going to need those tissues, Ted. It might be you.)
I also LOVE that this is the first time we see Sharon in an extended scene that takes place in a session. We’ve seen her rapport with the players, we’ve seen the results, and we’ve seen the things she does to make someone feel comfortable at the start of a session, and that’s all the information WE need to know to feel confident in her excellence as a psychologist. But because Ted hasn’t been able to fully appreciate those things, it’s so fitting that his sessions are a time for us to learn more about Sharon’s approach along with him.
It’s just...such good acting. The way she tells him he doesn’t need to worry. The kind of charming (but not performatively charming, just...charming) smile on his face when he claims he knows he doesn’t need to worry. And the way his voice changes a little as the conversations progress—deeper, less controlled, with some very genuine Midwestern “ma’am”s.
Sam and Rebecca and Awkwardness
Sam and Rebecca were so awkward when talking to each other in the hallway! If I had been in that hallway I would have been physically unable to stop myself from doing something even more awkward and diverting to make it stop. (I say this as someone who is neither disgusted by or delighted by the direction of the Bantr storyline. This is a good story about two good people who are in very different places in their lives existing in both a manufactured connection and the real, and very different, connection they have when they aren’t glued to their phones. This story is supposed to be awkward and uncomfortable.)
I did like the parallels of their friends sort of urging them on/coaching them through the inherent panic of the three dots that appear and disappear—a source of panic whether you’re the one creating the dots on the other screen or watching them and feeling at their mercy.
I like that in this episode both Ted and Rebecca are loudly broadcasting “I AM NOT IN THE RIGHT HEADSPACE FOR A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP”—Ted with his rueful awareness that Michelle would be upset if she heard him still referring to her as his wife, Rebecca with her insistence that relationships are doomed and awful even though she’s talking to two people (Keeley and Higgins) in committed relationships.
Roy and Keeley and Space
This plot was a really wonderful...counterpoint? complement? to the places both Ted and Rebecca are in as Ted starts to come to terms with the fact that he’s going to have to deal with his past and the losses he’s suffered (including the loss of his marriage) and as Rebecca questions whether she’s really going to embark on the next phase of a relationship with someone whose identity she does not know.
Because Ted and Rebecca are stuck apart, it was great to see Keeley struggle with needing space from Roy without worrying for a second about whether or not this challenge was a threat to their relationship. (Keeley and Roy aren’t used to long haul relationships, so they both see it as a threat, but the audience doesn’t have to.)
There was so much going on in that boot room. I love the coexisting realities there—Rebecca and Keeley and Higgins treating the boot room as their personal room for secret smoking, but as the crowd grows all these other unspoken dynamics emerge (it’s been two days since the panic attack and this is the first time we see Ted and Rebecca in the same room and there’s no evidence that they’ve talked about what happened with the panic attack or Rebecca’s parents or any of the big stuff).
Everything about Keeley’s plotline this episode reminded me of how Ted and Keeley are so similar (and, to a lesser extent, Rebecca and Roy are so similar). Rebecca and Roy both tend to write things off (Rebecca is so certain any relationship she has will be doomed, but it’s just because of how hurt she already is; Roy wanted to convince himself he was happier as a pundit than as a coach, but it’s just because he was scared of how much he wanted to be back on on the pitch), only able to deal with things when a safe person like Ted or Keeley sort of startles growth out of them. (We talk a lot about how Rebecca should be in therapy, but Roy should too.) And Ted and Keeley! Everything’s great, everything’s sunny, but look at how Keeley stands on her couch and screams in sadness and anger when she blows up at Roy and he leaves.
This time, things work out between Roy and Keeley because he figures out what Keeley was trying to communicate and respects what she needs, but in the future she’s going to have to figure out how to articulate herself more clearly. (And so will Ted...not only in therapy with Sharon, but as everything with the other coaches and the team and Will and basically everyone in his life come to light.)
Nate and Beard and Twitter-Insecurity-Rage
Ahhhhhhhhh.
This plotline made me feel almost as nervous for Ted (the things he doesn’t know) and Beard (the things he knows) as it did for Nate and Colin and Will and everyone.
At first I was really bothered by the repetition of Nate checking Twitter. We know! He’s on Twitter a lot now that he’s semi-famous! He’s obsessed! But then it occurred to me that it’s extremely perfect that Nate checking Twitter becomes this silent refrain building him up or tearing him down based on the latest 280-character compliment or take-down. Because this is how the internet works! You get obsessed with something on it and then check it a million times per day until you feel sick. It could be a dating app, or a trending story, or almost anything. If you check it often enough, the internet won’t even have anything truly new for you...it just feels like it does. So the repetition of Nate scrolling Twitter wasn’t meant to deliver us new information, but rather to mimic the old information coming through again and again.
I feel so deeply for Nate, who’s brilliant about football but unfit to coach because the power dynamics of coaching are a totally foreign concept to someone like him, who relies entirely on external inputs to take his actions. Ted and Beard and Roy all go and learn things and bring them back to the pitch, but none of them have had the capacity to teach Nate how to do this. Even Nate’s private thoughts, which he wrote down during s1, only come to light when Ted prompts him. And when your external inputs are coming from social media and an unappreciative father and a hyper-awareness of insult after years spent on the receiving end of bullying...it’s very dangerous. Maybe even literally physically dangerous.
I also feel so deeply for everyone who interacts with Nate right now, particularly Will.
Some Bonus but Never Extraneous Trent Crimm
Trent in the pub made me NERVOUS. Seeing him in this new place where Ted goes to wind down, almost coaching Ted through lying to him about having had food poisoning?! When they both clearly know that isn’t what happened?!?
It felt very fitting that this uncomfortable yet kind-of-mercifully-executed lie takes place towards the end of an episode full of such positive and negative growth for the characters. Such movement. It felt all wrong (in a good way), like covering something new and smooth and precious with spackle because maybe you actually wanna paint something else after all even though it won’t serve you in the long run to do it. To paraphrase Dr. Sharon, the truth will set you free but first it will piss you off, and Ted’s conversation with Trent is a reminder of all the layers there are to cut through on the way to the truth.
If Apple TV could simply release 2x8 - 2x12 this week, I would bargain with something crazy and miserable like giving up caffeine until October 8, the air date for the season finale. I continue to love this season and to feel the serenity of watching excellent actors execute on excellent scripts...but we’re getting to the point where the momentum’s built up and is heading to ever-scarier places, and I neeeeeeeeeed to knoooooooow.
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thadelightfulone · 4 years ago
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All I Want... 25 Days of Christmas Challenge, Day 17
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December 18th - Part 2
DeeDee parked in front of her apartment building and Erik pulled up beside her in his rental. He got out first and walked over to her car to help her out.  
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“A girl could get used to this kind of treatment.”
“Is that right?” He grabbed her briefcase from her. “So, where are we headed?”
DeeDee pointed forward, “This building, Apt B15.”
Erik followed DeeDee as they walked into the building. He looked at the numbers on the doors as they passed them. Even numbers on the left and odds on the right. A quick assessment let him know her apartment was at the end by the other set of entry doors.
As soon as they passed B10, Erik slowed up to let DeeDee pass him. Then he scooped her up in his arms in a basket hold. 
“What are you -” DeeDee squealed as she turned and held onto him for dear life. 
Erik never broke his stride and kept walking. He laughed as DeeDee buried her face in his neck. “You ok there?”
“You couldn’t just hold my hand again?” 
“I mean, I could have. But nah,” He stopped in front of her apartment but did not make a move.
“Erik, you can put me down now. I have to open the door.” 
“Do you?” He shifted her in his arms. He gave her two quick squeezes to her side. 
“Seriously?” She huffed and let go of him long enough to hand over her keys. “It’s the  purple and silver key, Mr. Extra.” 
Erik opened the door to her place, and set DeeDee down before they stepped inside and he closed the door.
“Take a look around, I’m gonna freshen up real quick before we go.” DeeDee took off her heels and walked towards her room.
“Sure thing. And don’t forget, you’re picking where we go. It’s your night.”
She turned back to him, “Ummm no. I am sure there are places that you want to go to since you are back. Pick one.” 
“Little Miss DeeDee.”
“Ewww, not you combining names like that.” She walked up to him and poked him in the chest. “Why are you so difficult?”
“How am I being difficult? I want to go where you want to go.”
“What happened to what the lady wants, she gets.”
Erik’s face fell and DeeDee smirked. 
“So, as I was saying, I know there has to be somewhere you want to eat at again.” She pointed a shoe at him. “The first place that comes to your mind is where we’ll go.” 
Erik opened and closed his mouth, she had him. DeeDee winked at him and bounced down the hall to her room.
He walked over to her desk and set her laptop case and purse down. He made his way around the living room. The space really spoke to DeeDee and her personality. She had pictures of various floral and nature scenes on the walls interspersed with painted wooden framed photos of her, her family and friends. From the curtains to her furniture accents, if he didn’t know purple was her favorite color, her living room alone gave it away. All the pillows on her gray couch were various shades of it.  
Erik unbuttoned his suit jacket and sat down on the couch, “Maybe I should start calling her a purple faerie.” 
In the corner off to his left, he saw there was a small little potted tabletop Christmas tree decorated with silver tinsel and 3 simple handmade ornaments. Erik smiled as he looked everything over. In the midst of everything, she still had some time for Christmas spirit. 
“Actually, I’m just good with plants, but don’t have space for a big live tree.”
He didn’t realize it said that last part out loud. Erik shivered and turned around at the sound of her voice. It was so nice to hear it in person and not over the phone. It made him feel things, he never thought he would again. And they are attached to the beautiful breath-taking woman standing before him.
DeeDee had changed into a taupe and gray sweater dress. The material hugged her curves in all the right places. In her hands, she had some matching booties. 
“So, have you decided where we are going yet?” She asked.
Erik looked at DeeDee, “Uhhh, yeah.” He cleared his throat, “Yeah. Does Miss Carrie still have her spot up the street?”
“You mean, The Juke Joint?”
“That’s the one.” He stood up and walked over to her, “I remember she had some of the best gumbo I have ever had, and her seafood boils were the best, too.”
“Now, her food is good,” she scrunched her face, “but the best?” She leaned on his shoulder to put on her shoes. “Ehhhh.”
“Oh, so Dr. DeeDee cooks?” He held her hand to balance her.
“Thank you. I know how, yes. Do I cook regularly, no.” She straightened up and smoothed out the dress. “I just haven’t had the time but I definitely enjoy cooking when I can.”
“So, will I get a homemade meal before I leave?”
“Of course. Will it be from me, definitely not.” She shook her head and went to the desk to get her purse. 
“Wow, ok.” Erik laughed and walked to the door, opening it, “We should probably go, so we can get a good table.”
“Yes, we should.” DeeDee walked past him and handed him the keys. 
He locked up and held the keys out to her. 
“Good boy.” She patted his hand as she took the keys back.
“Like that?” 
“Yop,” she popped the P. 
“I see you Little Miss Dr. DeeDee.” He watched her walk in front of him, “I see you.”
DeeDee looked back over her shoulder and switched her hips, “My eyes are up here, Mr. Erik.”
“Yeah, I wasn’t even trying to look at them though.” He directed his fingers, “Gone ahead and turn back around.”
“Mister Erik!” DeeDee squeaked.
“I like the view, so sue me.” He moved his hand again. 
Suddenly, DeeDee ran for the door. He followed after her. “Girl, if you don’t -” He slowed down and watched her ass. “THANK YOU!” He yelled after her.
Erik roared with laughter, when DeeDee flipped him off as she dipped out the door.
---
The parking lot was full when they arrived at The Juke Joint. They walked in and were immediately seated at a booth. Erik waited as DeeDee slid in first, then followed after her. 
As they looked at their menus, they heard a loud sound come from the back of the restaurant.
“Where is my baby?” A loud boisterous voice made its way closer to them, “I heard he was here.”
Erik tried to hide his laughter while DeeDee looked up in alarm.
“Oh my god, this woman.” She lowered her eyes to the table.
“Erik! Boy, where are you hiding?” Shuffling could be heard down the aisle. “Ooooh, there he go.”
DeeDee watched Erik as the voice approached their table. An older woman with silver grey hair in a long ponytail and hair net stood in front of them. Her blue and white gingham dress was covered by a white apron that read ‘Mama’s House.’ He slid out of the booth, stood up and pulled down his jacket. 
“Ooooh, lemme get a look at you. All sharp in a suit. And your hair. I remember when you couldn’t even grow a beard and wore that awful mini fro.” She looked him up and down, “This grown ass man standing in front of me. You look good baby.”
“Thank you ma’am.”
“Now now, you know it’s Miss Carrie. You ain’t been gone but a minute, but you still one of my babies. Now, give me a hug.” 
“Yes, Miss Carrie.” He leaned over and engulfed the much smaller woman in a hug.
“Lord, I always knew you would grow up to be something spectacular.” She shook her head and mumbled, “If I was a few years younger.”
Erik laughed while DeeDee groaned from her seat at the table. 
Miss Carrie looked at her, “DeeDee? Girl, why you so quiet?” 
“I didn’t want to interrupt you, ma’am.” DeeDee slid out of the booth and hugged her.
“So, you just gonna let me run on about this man and not speak. I know I taught you better.” 
“Hi Mama. And I didn’t even know you knew him.” 
“Knew him. This boy practically lived here when he was at Southern.” Miss Carrie watched her, “But how do you know him?”
“I, uh --” DeeDee wrung her hands in front of her.
“We met through Quis, Miss Carrie.” Erik interjected.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. Quis is your doctor mentor. Okay then.” She waved them both to take a seat. “Still doesn’t explain how my great-grandbaby can’t talk to me.” 
“Your what?” Erik looked over at DeeDee.
“Yeah, DeeDee’s my oldest son��s only boy’s oldest daughter. The one child I have a relationship with.”
DeeDee sighed and put her elbows on the table. A quick chirp from Miss Carrie and she pulled her arms down into her lap.
“I did not know that Miss Carrie.” He eyed DeeDee, “But you know she was telling me earlier that your gumbo isn’t the best.” 
“She said what now? Boy, everything this girl knows how to make, she learned from me.” She glared at DeeDee and pulled out her spoon, “You ain’t too old to get my spoon neither. Don’t play with me.”
DeeDee kicked him under the table and scooted away. Erik winced and leaned over to rub his shin while laughing.
“I hate you.” She mouthed to him.
“No, you don’t.” He mouthed back and winked at her. “Mama, can we have two bowls of your famous gumbo.”
“Of course, baby. You want your mix, too?” 
“Your sweet tea and lemonade? Yes ma’am.” His eyes lit up. “It’s been years since I’ve had it.”
“Great. I will be handling your table myself since you are my special guest.” She picked up their menus, “And I should put DeeDee in the kitchen for talking that mess. Better be glad you on date.”
“Mama!”
“Nah, girl. I see your dress and we know you live in them yoga pant things. This is a date and I’m happy for ya.” Miss Carrie smiled at Erik, “You did good, girl. Real good.”
When Miss Carrie left the table, Erik scooted closer to DeeDee. She pushed him away. 
DeeDee crossed her arms, “I didn’t know the good Doctor was a snitch.” She huffed.
“Snitch??? Who talks shit about their grandma, no great-grandma’s gumbo recipe? I’m surprised you didn’t get popped with that spoon.” He laughed, “You would have deserved that.”
“Shut up. And look, if I knew she named the Stevens lemonade after you, I wouldn’t have said anything.”
“Wait, she named it after me?” Erik looked at the drink menu and smiled. “I knew I loved that woman.”
“You gotta tell me about how you know her because apparently I know more about you than I really thought.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, she talked a lot during those cooking lessons.”
“What did she tell you about me?”
“Mama always talked about this lonely boy with a huge appetite. He came down south to learn about his mother’s family after his parents passed away.” DeeDee’s voice faded away. 
“No, it’s ok. It’s true.” He looked at her, “I found this place after connecting with my dad’s side of the family. It was a lot to take in, finding out I was royalty and stuff. Like real royal lineage.”
Miss Carrie quietly slipped the drinks on the table and winked at DeeDee.
“I was just walking down the highway and spotted it. Mama came and sat with me. I poured my heart out to her that day.” He grinned, “Actually, she was the first person I told after I found out.”
“Wow. And then you became regular here?”
“Yeah, I was here at least 3 times a week. I have tried everything on her entire menu. In fact, I am sure that I may have helped create a few items.”
“You did.” Miss Carrie arrived with big bowls of gumbo. She set them down along with some hush puppies and with a medium clay pot. “Here’s your rice, baby. I loved this idea you had of keeping a separate container to control how much people want.”
“Thank you, Mama.” He said. “I’m glad I could help out in any way.” He immediately dug into the gumbo.
“I know another way you can help me out.” 
Erik cleaned his mouth with a napkin and laid his spoon in the bowl. “Ma’am?” 
“Take care of this girl.”  
“Mama…”
Erik looked at DeeDee as he answered, “It would be my pleasure.”
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pink-peony-princess · 4 years ago
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A Little Piece of Art
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The art gallery had always been one of Shawn's favourite places, he loved the colours, the textures, even the smell of the freshly painted canvases.
During his residency year of Emergency Medicine this love, had become something more, something sacred. His weekly visits to the local art galleries were the only chance he got to 'just be'. He found something so comforting in the way the colours melded together forming any number of unique patterns, the colours quietly, but boldly expressing the many emotions with fuelled the artist's work.
Maybe it was this that he connected with the most? Life as a medical resident was hectic, always ruled, by other people's, needs, wants, emotions, there never seemed to be time to address your own wants and needs. But time, at the art gallery, Shawn found, gave him an escape, a way to wonder off into a world of bright unchecked colour and vibrancy, away from the harsh unrelenting realities of people's all too often life-threatening and life-changing injuries, away from everything an everyone. Well everyone except one person that was.
He'd first met Auburn three years ago, it was a chance encounter, he wasn't meant to walk into that particular little gallery , and she wasn't meant to working that day, but as fate had it she was and he did.
They'd striked up a friendship fairly quickly, a mutual interest and respect for the works of art and the artist's behind them fuelled many hours of conversation. There had always been an unspoken, but undeniable chemistry between the two of them, but Shawn was busy with work and didn't want to drag someone else into that mess, and Auburn was just too shy to ask
When Shawn found out that Auburn was single, he was shocked. She was gorgeous, with long platinum blonde straight hair and the perfect figure, yet up close she had just the right amount of freckles scattered over the bridge of her nose, breaking the facade of perfection.
Auburn had been equally as confused when Shawn admitted that he too was single. She could understand the reasoning behind it, with a busy job and other commitments including a family that lived out of state, she couldn't however get over, but Shawn was gorgeous like some Greek God doctor-model who had just made his way from the runway and into her gallery. He was tall and lean, but muscular with tattoos scattering his hands and arms, deep brown eyes which seemed to reach your soul with the barest glace and a mop of perfectly kept brown curls- always tamed by hair product which Auburn longed to run her fingers through.
Two years and much flirting later and Shawn had finally gotten up the courage to ask her out l, to which she immediately agreed. He'd taken her to one of his favourite restaurants for dinner and they're talked for hours as if they'd known one another for a lifetime. Shawn told her about his hobbies, medicine was number one for which Auburn admired him for following his passions, closely followed by the guitar and ice hockey, not to mention family, he loved his family, Auburn found this to be an immediate turn-on as she too was close to her family although she couldn't get to see them as often as she liked l, they were across country and an art gallerist's wages certainly did not cover the cost of the ticket.
She found herself telling him all her most embarrassing stories from grade school when she's tripped and fallen into a muddy puddle bigger than she was in front of her entire class, and all about the time she'd been left to sit outside the movie theatre in 8th grade for two hours waiting for a date that would never show.
Shawn was furious at this, exclaiming that he would never do that to a girl, and anyone who would, was a coward, before downing the rest of his Tequila.
Admittedly by then they were both a little drunk and high on life and the presence of each other
When the evening ended Shawn walked Auburn home like the gentleman he was,turning to leave her and she made it to the doorstep, but something in him made him turn around causing him to crash into her body with the force of a truck as she too made her way to him. The two sharing a heated kiss before Auburn turned head down to hide the raging blush and wide smile that lit up her face and made her way inside.
From that moment the two had been inseperable, with Auburn moving into Shawn's condo- a far cry from the crusty old place she'd rented when she first got the city.
They'd done the whole meeting each other's families, both feeling completely at home and welcome, before a year later getting the happy news that they were expecting.
Auburn had been feeling off for over a week when Shawn finally convinced her to go to the doctors and get a blood drawn, a million things flying through his head as to what it might be.
The pregnancy news had completely shocked them both, but as they had sat there together staring down at the piece of paper stating the cause of all her sickness, irritability and hunger there was no denying that it was right.
They were over the moon, elated at the idea of being parents with Shawn referring to the baby as he laid his hands on her stomach as "Their happy little ancient!"
To say that Shawn was protective was an understatement a helicopter parent (to be) might be more apt Auburn thought as Shawn handed her what fleet like her tens of pills as she ate her breakfast before rushing from the room only half dressed to finish getting ready for work which now that he was finished residency (and at the top of his class, which Auburn loved to brag to her friends about) was a local hospital where he was working.
...
The day started normally, Auburn went off to the gallery to start her day l, daydreaming of seeing Shawn who'd been away on training for the last little bit.
Somewhere in this perfect daydream, everything came crashing down. The last thing Auburn was aware of was the screech of tyres and the immense, unstoppable feeling of pain.
...
"Dr Craigen,we need you in triage one." Brian's nurse Amy spoke as she came skidding into the room.
"Can it wait?"  He asked looking up briefly from the hand of a young girl he was suturing after she was bitten by a dog.
"No, it can't." He could hear the tension in her voice,  so he stood removing his gloves,  and paging another doctor to take care of the girl before following her out.
"What is it? Who?"  He asked as Amy all but ran through the corridor. His question was cut short as they reached the bay in question.
"Just stay still! For God sake, you don't have a choice." He couldn't see the patient's face from outside the door,  but he could see that two nurses and an intern were currently trying to restrain her,  against her will.
"What on earth do you think youre doing Doctor Tanaran?"  Brian asked as he grabbed a pair of gloves and stepped into the room. The intern stepped back from the patient, turning to look at him.
"We need to get an I.V. in her,  but she's not cooperating," he responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Brian?" The person on the bed asked. He recognised the voice immediately and sure enough as he stepped around to the other side of the bed,  there lay Auburn  a close personal friend, someone who he considered to be like a sister, and the girlfriend of one of his best friends, Dr. Shawn Mendes.
She was almost unrecognisable, bloodied,  and bruised,  tears flooding her face and falling into the linen of the bed staining it a muddy brown as they mixed with the blood flowing from a nasty looking gash on her head,  an oxygen mask laying forgotten beside her.
"Auburn?" he asked finally making eye contact, before looking up to find that she had not even been attached to any monitors yet.
"Everyone get your hands off the patient, now."  he stared poignantly at the intern that who still had his hands on her.
"She just wouldn't cooperate." he grumbled as he stepped back.
Brian saw red at that, turning to glare before speaking.
"Have you thought about why the patient might be uncooperative?  Have you even bothered to ask?"  I questioned folding my arms across my chest.
He looked down at the floor,  but didn't answer. "Didn't think so.  So not only have you terrified an already distressed patient,  but you've assaulted the girlfriend of Dr. Shawn Mendes,  head of this ER."
His head snapped up at this,  a look of shear panic on his face.
"Dr. Craigen I didn't think-"
"That's right,"  he interrupted.  "The same way you haven't thought the three other times I've had to speak to you over the duration of your time here so far.
Get out of this room,  and go and tell your resident that I don't want you on my service anymore.  Oh and Tanaran," Brian called as the man made his way for the exit.  "If I ever see or hear you do something like that ever again,  I will personally make sure you're pulled from this program."
He sighed and turned around to see Auburn smiling softly.
"Thanks Bri"  she spoke softly, very dazed,reaching her hand out for him to take. Somewhat restricted by the board and collar she had been placed on for spinal management.
"No problem hon. He's got an attitude that one.
So I'm just going to start slowly okay.  I'm just going to hook you up to some monitors so that we can check you're heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen. Can I see the chart please? " he asked one of the nurses that was stood meekly in the corner.
"Yes Doctor," she responded before leaving and returning a minute later with the relevant information.
"Okay so it says here,  that apart from that gash on your forehead and a fracture to your arm you have  some fractured ribs, a suspected bruised spleen and a dislocated ankle as well as possible spinal injuries," he listed off as he took in the notes from the Emergency Services.
"They only got half way through checking her." the other nurse  responded. Brian nodded, before placing the chart in the holder at the end of the bed,  and returning to Auburn's side. He picked up her hand gently to check her pulse,  watching as her eyes fluttered,  drooping slightly.
"Auburn, I need you to try and stay awake for me," he spoke, tapping her check softly, moving to check her focal response with his pen light and finding that she had a fairly moderate concussion.
She let out a small groan,  but managed to open her eyes, watching me tiredly.
"That's it," he praised. " smiling before grabbing his stethoscope from around his neck and resting it to her chest.
"Deep breathes," he asked quietly. She did as asked, but it was obvious from the way she was wincing every time she inhaled that she was in pain.
"It hurts and I want Shawn." she cried.
"I know you do hon. We'll get him here soon," he promised, paging one of his nurses to go and find him.
"How bad is your pain one to ten?' he asked,  watching her closely.
"Eight " she answered.
"Okay I'm going to help ease some of that okay. " he spoke resting the I.V.tray that the previous doctor had set up next to the bed.
"Tell me what you remember? " he asked, trying to keep her talking.
"I was just crossing the street,  and a car came out of nowhere. I don't know what happend. I was coming to see Shawn." she added.
"I'm sorry Auburn. " He really did feel sorry for her,  not only as a doctor, but as a friend.  She and Shawn had barely gotten to see one another the last few weeks, and now this. 
"They didn't even stop to help me! " She cried, more tears trailing down her face. He felt so sorry for her, and sick at the thought of how Shawn might react. He just hoped Shawn was able to stay calm,  for both of their sakes.
"Small scratch." he warned, inserting the line, and getting her started on some much needed fluids and pain relief. She flinched a little,  but didn't pull away. "Okay, so I'm going to get Dave to come and  help me with a spinal exam,  and he should also be able to determine if we need x-rays for these breaks okay" he explained gently,trying not to scare her.
She looked worried at the mention of x-rays,  but he just assumed it was due to her being clastrophobic,  as she didn't say anymore on the subject.
He walked out of the room, quietly closing the door after me, and made my way to the nurses station where I found Dave helping a nurse. As an Orthopedic doctor he was often called down for consults, so it was common to find him here.
"Dave, do you mind helping me for a second mate?" he asked, before coming to stand next to him waiting as he finished his conversation.
"Yeah what is it?" he asked as Brian handed him Auburn's chart.
"Auburn?" He asked disbelief clear in his tone,  eyebrows raised in confusion. "Auburn as in Shawn's Auburn.What happend?
"
"Hit and run." he answered. Causing Dave to wince in sympathy. "They didn't even stop!"
"Has anyone gotten a hold of Shawn?" He asked, shaking his head as they made their way to the door of Auburn's room.
"Yeah, but she's quite distressed obviously,  so I'm just taking it really slowly. At least until Shawn gets here, unless something is absolutely vital," he told him. Dave nodded before opening the door, and greeting Auburn with a bright smile.
"Hi Auburn, Bri told me you got in a fight with a car?" He asked, causing her to smile faintly.
"What have we got so far?" he asked.
"Large laceration on the forehead and a fracture to the left  arm, some fractured ribs, a suspected bruised spleen and a dislocated right ankle as well as possible spinal injuries, she is also complaining of chest pain." Brian added as he hummed at the growing list of ailments.
"Auburn are you having any trouble breathing? " he asked, she nodded letting him listen to her breathing as Brian had. The room was quiet for a few moments except for the beeping of the machines as he moved the stethoscope around her chest, before stepping back with a sigh.
"Slightly muffled left side," he agreed, glancing to the monitors,  a look of concern on his face.
"It'll need to get an x-ray,  and maybe an ultrasound." Brian nodded, adding,
"I'd also like to get some CTs of the head just to be sure there is no underlying bleeding. Is it okay if we give you some oxygen?" he asked wanting to up her saturation, especially given her breathing troubles.
She made a small jerk of the head in the affirmative,  allowing him to place the mask that had lay beside her back on her face.
"Any other pain?" Dave asked lifting the blanket to assess the damage to her lower extremities, she took a few shaky breaths.
"Just my ankle."
" Okay,we just need to turn you and have a feel of your spine. Before we do, anything else, as we don't want to aggregate anything." Dave explained coming back to stand at the head of the bed. "All you need to tell me is if you feel anything sore."
She hummed in resonse,  unable to nod due to the collar.
"On three, one,two,three. " Brian spoke before rolling her and holding her steady.
"Any tenderness?" Dave asked as he made his way down her spine, gently feeling for abnormalities.
"No." she answered innnediately.
"Wiggled your toes for me?" he asked as he went to stand by the end of the bed again. She did so,  causing them both to breathe a sigh of relief.
Five minutes later and Dave l had decided that x- rays were necessary, due to the precarious nature of the fractures in her arm and ankle and that the fractured ribs did need further investigation, however that no spinal damage had been done,  meaning she could be removed from the collar and brace.
"Where's Shawn?"  She asked, again as they went about removing the neck brace. Brian was starting to wonder what was taking the nurse so long himself.
-Shawn-
I hadn't been able to focus all day, it was my first day back after being away at a two week trauma conference,and also the first time I would be able to see Auburn and the baby since she was meeting me at work. I sighed as I tried yet again to focus on the swirling numbers of the department's budget on the screen in front of me.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a knock.  "Dr. Mendes you're needed down in triage. Urgently." A nurse spoke,making me stand and follow her immediately.
-Third Person-
"He's on his way now hon, but we really should get you up to x-rays okay." Dave spoke, going to start moving the bed.
"Not not until Shawn is here," she begged, catching his hand and stopping him. Seconds later, and Shawn ran through the door, eyes wide as he took in the site of me.
"Auburn, baby,what happend?" he asked, leaning down and gently stroking her head, careful of the cut.
"They didn't stop!A car!" She cried a fresh batch of tears starting.
Shawn was pretty calm considering the situation, Auburn however was not, Brian could see from the monitor that her heart rate was spiking and he tipped his head to Shawn, indicating for him to do something.
"Try and slow your breathing honey," he encouraged softly as it spiked to about 130 when it had previously been sitting about 110. She managed to slow it a little, Shawn not saying anything,  merely cupping her face gently and kissing her head.
"Shawn, " Daves spoke,  "we really need to get her to x-ray. She has broken ribs, we need to determine how bad."
"No, no x-ray," she interrupted again.
"Sweetheart, you'll be fine,  I promise. " he spoke,  stroking her hand softly.
"It's not that." She answered, looking away.
"Then what?" Dave asked looking to Shawn.
"I'm pregnant," she whispered. "We found out two weeks ago. We wanted to keep it a surprise."
"Someone get Connor down here," Shawn ordered almost too calmly.
Dave and Brian shared a worried look, if she was pregnant,  there was a possibility that something may have effected the baby.
"Page Connor." Dave mumbled to Brian.
"I've already done it ,he's on his way." Briam tried to reassure him, hoping that he would calm a little at the fact that the best ObGyn was going to be consulting.
"No what if something's wrong? " Auburnpanicked,  catching on.
"Auburn you need the ultrasound," Shawn spoke firmly.
Her lip wobbled a little causing Shawn to soften his tone a little.  "I'm sorry babe,  I'm just worried about you. And you need the x-rays," he added.
"Auburn, you need to understand that while normally we wouldn't use x-ray, in this instance it's important,  we won't have a healthy baby,  unless it's mummy is healthy too yeah? " Dave explained gently.
  "O-okay," she agreed reluctantly.
"I think we can however forgo the CT, given that you've been alert the whole time. " Brian spoke earning a smile from her.
"But you won't be allowed to sleep for the next few hours and even once you can we'll need to wake you every hour, on the hour," Dave warned.
Just as we were about to start moving up to radiology having unhooked the bed Connor arrived.
"Sorry I came down as fast as I could," he apologised "Hi Auburn," he smiled as he came over to the side of the bed.
"So you found out you were pregnant two weeks ago?" he asked. She nodded.  "And everything has been normal so far? No bleeding?
"
"No." She answered, nervously, causing Shawn to squeeze her hand a little.
"Okay then, I'm just going to pull your gown up."  he did so before reaching for the gel. That was housed next to the portable ultrasound machine that we always kept in the triage bays. They were smaller, and less powerful, but still useful in situations like this. "This will be a little cold," he spoke before placing the gel on her stomach. The room was silent, everyone waiting with baited breath, Auburn with her eyes shut. Connor hit a button on the machine and the room was filled with a rhythmic thumping.
"What's that?" her eyes snapping open to met his.
"Congratulations Auburn, that is your baby's heart beat. Junior seems very happy,  very strong heart rate at 150 beats per minute." Connor smiled. 
" Oh my God!" she cried reaching up to hug Shawn, before sharing a kiss.
"Judging by the size, bubby's just gone 12 weeks," Connor added, pointing out the measurements on the screen.
Everyone's faces were the same- all smiling from ear to ear.
"Do you want a copy of the scan?" Connor asked.
"Hell yeah!" Shawn agreed making Leah laugh. "This is going on the fridge."
Twenty minutes later, and we had all gone down to radiology, Shawn not having left her side. A permanent smile etched on his face.
"Just stay still for me Auburn." Dave asked,adjusting her leg to get the right image.
Once that was done, and it was determined that nothing needed surgery she was taken back up to a more private room, and Dave set about casting her.
"This will feel a little funny, but it won't hurt now." He reassured her as she became a little fidgety,  giving her some laughing gas and upping her pain meds slightly.
It was then Brian's turn to stitch up the wounds on her head, something which should have been very straight forward, but she was terrified,  having all but jumped (or gotten as far,which wasn't very) into Shawn's arms.
"It won't hurt Princess, Brian will numb you up good okay?" he spoke, sitting next to her, while Brian sat on a rolly chair by her head, Dave next to Shawn.
"Ready?"
She nodded.
"You're being so brave Princess," Shawn encouraged as she clung to his hand.
"Have you thought of any names for the baby?" Connor asked from where he sat in the corner working, having left briefly while they were at radiology and then returned, wanting to be here for support. Something which Shawn was grateful for.
...
An hour later and they were officially off shift, but  had all taken up residency in Auburn's room,  wanting to keep an eye on her, as she was a part of the family. They all sat quietly doing paper work,  as she rested, fast asleep now that we have deemed it safe.
"How are you feeling Shawn?" Brian asked, looking up to find Shawn watching her.
"I don't know, I have never felt so many emotions in one day!" he laughed, before Auburn broke the silence with a small moan.
" I'm cold," she mumbled,  "And sore," she added, visibly shivering.
"Here,  budge up." Shane spoke, helping her to move over,  before getting into the small bed again.
Connor got up to adjust the pain meds and check her vitals. However she didn't settle.  "What's wrong Poppet?" Shawn asked. Sometimes the meds could make patients a little agitated.
"I want to have a bath,  I feel gross,  and you smell different. " she grumbled,  her nose wrinkling. Shawn looked up at Connor and Brian,all laughing.
"How much of the stuff did you give her?
"
"I'm serious." she pouted, swotting Shawn's shoulder. "I don't like the smell of the scrubs. It doesn't smell like you."
"How 'bout this?" he asked bending down to reach for his bag, and grabbing a hoodie.
"Much better," she spoke,  nuzzling her head into him.
"Now I'll help give you a pat down with a cloth if you want?" he offered. You can't really have a proper bath yet cause of all the wiring and your cast."
She nodded
"Just sit up slowly okay. You might feel a little dizzy." Brian warned, standing up to help too.
  Connor went ahead to start the water for her while Dave came to help move the wiring as they supported her to hop to the bathroom. Eventually Shawn just picked her up,being extra careful of her ribs, holding her under her shoulders instead,and cradling her somewhat like an infant.
Half hour later, and Shawn had successful sponge bathed her, the rest of the group having gone back to their work while they waited.
"Get some rest Princess,you've got a little piece of art growing in there, you and Jellybean need it, he whispered as he placed her back in bed, rubbing her stomach softly.
"Love you," she whispered, already half asleep.
"Love you more," he replied kissing her head, they all shared a smile, because at that moment, all was right with the world.
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pinkpeonyprincessblog · 4 years ago
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A Little Piece of Art
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The art gallery had always been one of Shawn's favourite places, he loved the colours, the textures, even the smell of the freshly painted canvases.
During his residency year of Emergency Medicine this love, had become something more, something sacred. His weekly visits to the local art galleries were the only chance he got to 'just be'. He found something so comforting in the way the colours melded together forming any number of unique patterns, the colours quietly, but boldly expressing the many emotions with fuelled the artist's work.
Maybe it was this that he connected with the most? Life as a medical resident was hectic, always ruled, by other people's, needs, wants, emotions, there never seemed to be time to address your own wants and needs. But time, at the art gallery, Shawn found, gave him an escape, a way to wonder off into a world of bright unchecked colour and vibrancy, away from the harsh unrelenting realities of people's all too often life-threatening and life-changing injuries, away from everything an everyone. Well everyone except one person that was.
He'd first met Auburn three years ago, it was a chance encounter, he wasn't meant to walk into that particular little gallery , and she wasn't meant to working that day, but as fate had it she was and he did.
They'd striked up a friendship fairly quickly, a mutual interest and respect for the works of art and the artist's behind them fuelled many hours of conversation. There had always been an unspoken, but undeniable chemistry between the two of them, but Shawn was busy with work and didn't want to drag someone else into that mess, and Auburn was just too shy to ask
When Shawn found out that Auburn was single, he was shocked. She was gorgeous, with long platinum blonde straight hair and the perfect figure, yet up close she had just the right amount of freckles scattered over the bridge of her nose, breaking the facade of perfection.
Auburn had been equally as confused when Shawn admitted that he too was single. She could understand the reasoning behind it, with a busy job and other commitments including a family that lived out of state, she couldn't however get over, but Shawn was gorgeous like some Greek God doctor-model who had just made his way from the runway and into her gallery. He was tall and lean, but muscular with tattoos scattering his hands and arms, deep brown eyes which seemed to reach your soul with the barest glace and a mop of perfectly kept brown curls- always tamed by hair product which Auburn longed to run her fingers through.
Two years and much flirting later and Shawn had finally gotten up the courage to ask her out l, to which she immediately agreed. He'd taken her to one of his favourite restaurants for dinner and they're talked for hours as if they'd known one another for a lifetime. Shawn told her about his hobbies, medicine was number one for which Auburn admired him for following his passions, closely followed by the guitar and ice hockey, not to mention family, he loved his family, Auburn found this to be an immediate turn-on as she too was close to her family although she couldn't get to see them as often as she liked l, they were across country and an art gallerist's wages certainly did not cover the cost of the ticket.
She found herself telling him all her most embarrassing stories from grade school when she's tripped and fallen into a muddy puddle bigger than she was in front of her entire class, and all about the time she'd been left to sit outside the movie theatre in 8th grade for two hours waiting for a date that would never show.
Shawn was furious at this, exclaiming that he would never do that to a girl, and anyone who would, was a coward, before downing the rest of his Tequila.
Admittedly by then they were both a little drunk and high on life and the presence of each other
When the evening ended Shawn walked Auburn home like the gentleman he was,turning to leave her and she made it to the doorstep, but something in him made him turn around causing him to crash into her body with the force of a truck as she too made her way to him. The two sharing a heated kiss before Auburn turned head down to hide the raging blush and wide smile that lit up her face and made her way inside.
From that moment the two had been inseperable, with Auburn moving into Shawn's condo- a far cry from the crusty old place she'd rented when she first got the city.
They'd done the whole meeting each other's families, both feeling completely at home and welcome, before a year later getting the happy news that they were expecting.
Auburn had been feeling off for over a week when Shawn finally convinced her to go to the doctors and get a blood drawn, a million things flying through his head as to what it might be.
The pregnancy news had completely shocked them both, but as they had sat there together staring down at the piece of paper stating the cause of all her sickness, irritability and hunger there was no denying that it was right.
They were over the moon, elated at the idea of being parents with Shawn referring to the baby as he laid his hands on her stomach as "Their happy little ancient!"
To say that Shawn was protective was an understatement a helicopter parent (to be) might be more apt Auburn thought as Shawn handed her what fleet like her tens of pills as she ate her breakfast before rushing from the room only half dressed to finish getting ready for work which now that he was finished residency (and at the top of his class, which Auburn loved to brag to her friends about) was a local hospital where he was working.
...
The day started normally, Auburn went off to the gallery to start her day l, daydreaming of seeing Shawn who'd been away on training for the last little bit.
Somewhere in this perfect daydream, everything came crashing down. The last thing Auburn was aware of was the screech of tyres and the immense, unstoppable feeling of pain.
...
"Dr Craigen,we need you in triage one." Brian's nurse Amy spoke as she came skidding into the room.
"Can it wait?"  He asked looking up briefly from the hand of a young girl he was suturing after she was bitten by a dog.
"No, it can't." He could hear the tension in her voice,  so he stood removing his gloves,  and paging another doctor to take care of the girl before following her out.
"What is it? Who?"  He asked as Amy all but ran through the corridor. His question was cut short as they reached the bay in question.
"Just stay still! For God sake, you don't have a choice." He couldn't see the patient's face from outside the door,  but he could see that two nurses and an intern were currently trying to restrain her,  against her will.
"What on earth do you think youre doing Doctor Tanaran?"  Brian asked as he grabbed a pair of gloves and stepped into the room. The intern stepped back from the patient, turning to look at him.
"We need to get an I.V. in her,  but she's not cooperating," he responded as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Brian?" The person on the bed asked. He recognised the voice immediately and sure enough as he stepped around to the other side of the bed,  there lay Auburn  a close personal friend, someone who he considered to be like a sister, and the girlfriend of one of his best friends, Dr. Shawn Mendes.
She was almost unrecognisable, bloodied,  and bruised,  tears flooding her face and falling into the linen of the bed staining it a muddy brown as they mixed with the blood flowing from a nasty looking gash on her head,  an oxygen mask laying forgotten beside her.
"Auburn?" he asked finally making eye contact, before looking up to find that she had not even been attached to any monitors yet.
"Everyone get your hands off the patient, now."  he stared poignantly at the intern that who still had his hands on her.
"She just wouldn't cooperate." he grumbled as he stepped back.
Brian saw red at that, turning to glare before speaking.
"Have you thought about why the patient might be uncooperative?  Have you even bothered to ask?"  I questioned folding my arms across my chest.
He looked down at the floor,  but didn't answer. "Didn't think so.  So not only have you terrified an already distressed patient,  but you've assaulted the girlfriend of Dr. Shawn Mendes,  head of this ER."
His head snapped up at this,  a look of shear panic on his face.
"Dr. Craigen I didn't think-"
"That's right,"  he interrupted.  "The same way you haven't thought the three other times I've had to speak to you over the duration of your time here so far.
Get out of this room,  and go and tell your resident that I don't want you on my service anymore.  Oh and Tanaran," Brian called as the man made his way for the exit.  "If I ever see or hear you do something like that ever again,  I will personally make sure you're pulled from this program."
He sighed and turned around to see Auburn smiling softly.
"Thanks Bri"  she spoke softly, very dazed,reaching her hand out for him to take. Somewhat restricted by the board and collar she had been placed on for spinal management.
"No problem hon. He's got an attitude that one.
So I'm just going to start slowly okay.  I'm just going to hook you up to some monitors so that we can check you're heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen. Can I see the chart please? " he asked one of the nurses that was stood meekly in the corner.
"Yes Doctor," she responded before leaving and returning a minute later with the relevant information.
"Okay so it says here,  that apart from that gash on your forehead and a fracture to your arm you have  some fractured ribs, a suspected bruised spleen and a dislocated ankle as well as possible spinal injuries," he listed off as he took in the notes from the Emergency Services.
"They only got half way through checking her." the other nurse  responded. Brian nodded, before placing the chart in the holder at the end of the bed,  and returning to Auburn's side. He picked up her hand gently to check her pulse,  watching as her eyes fluttered,  drooping slightly.
"Auburn, I need you to try and stay awake for me," he spoke, tapping her check softly, moving to check her focal response with his pen light and finding that she had a fairly moderate concussion.
She let out a small groan,  but managed to open her eyes, watching me tiredly.
"That's it," he praised. " smiling before grabbing his stethoscope from around his neck and resting it to her chest.
"Deep breathes," he asked quietly. She did as asked, but it was obvious from the way she was wincing every time she inhaled that she was in pain.
"It hurts and I want Shawn." she cried.
"I know you do hon. We'll get him here soon," he promised, paging one of his nurses to go and find him.
"How bad is your pain one to ten?' he asked,  watching her closely.
"Eight " she answered.
"Okay I'm going to help ease some of that okay. " he spoke resting the I.V.tray that the previous doctor had set up next to the bed.
"Tell me what you remember? " he asked, trying to keep her talking.
"I was just crossing the street,  and a car came out of nowhere. I don't know what happend. I was coming to see Shawn." she added.
"I'm sorry Auburn. " He really did feel sorry for her,  not only as a doctor, but as a friend.  She and Shawn had barely gotten to see one another the last few weeks, and now this. 
"They didn't even stop to help me! " She cried, more tears trailing down her face. He felt so sorry for her, and sick at the thought of how Shawn might react. He just hoped Shawn was able to stay calm,  for both of their sakes.
"Small scratch." he warned, inserting the line, and getting her started on some much needed fluids and pain relief. She flinched a little,  but didn't pull away. "Okay, so I'm going to get Dave to come and  help me with a spinal exam,  and he should also be able to determine if we need x-rays for these breaks okay" he explained gently,trying not to scare her.
She looked worried at the mention of x-rays,  but he just assumed it was due to her being clastrophobic,  as she didn't say anymore on the subject.
He walked out of the room, quietly closing the door after me, and made my way to the nurses station where I found Dave helping a nurse. As an Orthopedic doctor he was often called down for consults, so it was common to find him here.
"Dave, do you mind helping me for a second mate?" he asked, before coming to stand next to him waiting as he finished his conversation.
"Yeah what is it?" he asked as Brian handed him Auburn's chart.
"Auburn?" He asked disbelief clear in his tone,  eyebrows raised in confusion. "Auburn as in Shawn's Auburn.What happend?
"
"Hit and run." he answered. Causing Dave to wince in sympathy. "They didn't even stop!"
"Has anyone gotten a hold of Shawn?" He asked, shaking his head as they made their way to the door of Auburn's room.
"Yeah, but she's quite distressed obviously,  so I'm just taking it really slowly. At least until Shawn gets here, unless something is absolutely vital," he told him. Dave nodded before opening the door, and greeting Auburn with a bright smile.
"Hi Auburn, Bri told me you got in a fight with a car?" He asked, causing her to smile faintly.
"What have we got so far?" he asked.
"Large laceration on the forehead and a fracture to the left  arm, some fractured ribs, a suspected bruised spleen and a dislocated right ankle as well as possible spinal injuries, she is also complaining of chest pain." Brian added as he hummed at the growing list of ailments.
"Auburn are you having any trouble breathing? " he asked, she nodded letting him listen to her breathing as Brian had. The room was quiet for a few moments except for the beeping of the machines as he moved the stethoscope around her chest, before stepping back with a sigh.
"Slightly muffled left side," he agreed, glancing to the monitors,  a look of concern on his face.
"It'll need to get an x-ray,  and maybe an ultrasound." Brian nodded, adding,
"I'd also like to get some CTs of the head just to be sure there is no underlying bleeding. Is it okay if we give you some oxygen?" he asked wanting to up her saturation, especially given her breathing troubles.
She made a small jerk of the head in the affirmative,  allowing him to place the mask that had lay beside her back on her face.
"Any other pain?" Dave asked lifting the blanket to assess the damage to her lower extremities, she took a few shaky breaths.
"Just my ankle."
" Okay,we just need to turn you and have a feel of your spine. Before we do, anything else, as we don't want to aggregate anything." Dave explained coming back to stand at the head of the bed. "All you need to tell me is if you feel anything sore."
She hummed in resonse,  unable to nod due to the collar.
"On three, one,two,three. " Brian spoke before rolling her and holding her steady.
"Any tenderness?" Dave asked as he made his way down her spine, gently feeling for abnormalities.
"No." she answered innnediately.
"Wiggled your toes for me?" he asked as he went to stand by the end of the bed again. She did so,  causing them both to breathe a sigh of relief.
Five minutes later and Dave l had decided that x- rays were necessary, due to the precarious nature of the fractures in her arm and ankle and that the fractured ribs did need further investigation, however that no spinal damage had been done,  meaning she could be removed from the collar and brace.
"Where's Shawn?"  She asked, again as they went about removing the neck brace. Brian was starting to wonder what was taking the nurse so long himself.
-Shawn-
I hadn't been able to focus all day, it was my first day back after being away at a two week trauma conference,and also the first time I would be able to see Auburn and the baby since she was meeting me at work. I sighed as I tried yet again to focus on the swirling numbers of the department's budget on the screen in front of me.
My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a knock.  "Dr. Mendes you're needed down in triage. Urgently." A nurse spoke,making me stand and follow her immediately.
-Third Person-
"He's on his way now hon, but we really should get you up to x-rays okay." Dave spoke, going to start moving the bed.
"Not not until Shawn is here," she begged, catching his hand and stopping him. Seconds later, and Shawn ran through the door, eyes wide as he took in the site of me.
"Auburn, baby,what happend?" he asked, leaning down and gently stroking her head, careful of the cut.
"They didn't stop!A car!" She cried a fresh batch of tears starting.
Shawn was pretty calm considering the situation, Auburn however was not, Brian could see from the monitor that her heart rate was spiking and he tipped his head to Shawn, indicating for him to do something.
"Try and slow your breathing honey," he encouraged softly as it spiked to about 130 when it had previously been sitting about 110. She managed to slow it a little, Shawn not saying anything,  merely cupping her face gently and kissing her head.
"Shawn, " Daves spoke,  "we really need to get her to x-ray. She has broken ribs, we need to determine how bad."
"No, no x-ray," she interrupted again.
"Sweetheart, you'll be fine,  I promise. " he spoke,  stroking her hand softly.
"It's not that." She answered, looking away.
"Then what?" Dave asked looking to Shawn.
"I'm pregnant," she whispered. "We found out two weeks ago. We wanted to keep it a surprise."
"Someone get Connor down here," Shawn ordered almost too calmly.
Dave and Brian shared a worried look, if she was pregnant,  there was a possibility that something may have effected the baby.
"Page Connor." Dave mumbled to Brian.
"I've already done it ,he's on his way." Briam tried to reassure him, hoping that he would calm a little at the fact that the best ObGyn was going to be consulting.
"No what if something's wrong? " Auburnpanicked,  catching on.
"Auburn you need the ultrasound," Shawn spoke firmly.
Her lip wobbled a little causing Shawn to soften his tone a little.  "I'm sorry babe,  I'm just worried about you. And you need the x-rays," he added.
"Auburn, you need to understand that while normally we wouldn't use x-ray, in this instance it's important,  we won't have a healthy baby,  unless it's mummy is healthy too yeah? " Dave explained gently.
  "O-okay," she agreed reluctantly.
"I think we can however forgo the CT, given that you've been alert the whole time. " Brian spoke earning a smile from her.
"But you won't be allowed to sleep for the next few hours and even once you can we'll need to wake you every hour, on the hour," Dave warned.
Just as we were about to start moving up to radiology having unhooked the bed Connor arrived.
"Sorry I came down as fast as I could," he apologised "Hi Auburn," he smiled as he came over to the side of the bed.
"So you found out you were pregnant two weeks ago?" he asked. She nodded.  "And everything has been normal so far? No bleeding?
"
"No." She answered, nervously, causing Shawn to squeeze her hand a little.
"Okay then, I'm just going to pull your gown up."  he did so before reaching for the gel. That was housed next to the portable ultrasound machine that we always kept in the triage bays. They were smaller, and less powerful, but still useful in situations like this. "This will be a little cold," he spoke before placing the gel on her stomach. The room was silent, everyone waiting with baited breath, Auburn with her eyes shut. Connor hit a button on the machine and the room was filled with a rhythmic thumping.
"What's that?" her eyes snapping open to met his.
"Congratulations Auburn, that is your baby's heart beat. Junior seems very happy,  very strong heart rate at 150 beats per minute." Connor smiled. 
" Oh my God!" she cried reaching up to hug Shawn,  before sharing a kiss.
"Judging by the size, bubby's just gone 12 weeks," Connor added, pointing out the measurements on the screen.
Everyone's faces were the same- all smiling from ear to ear.
"Do you want a copy of the scan?" Connor asked.
"Hell yeah!" Shawn agreed making Leah laugh. "This is going on the fridge."
Twenty minutes later, and we had all gone down to radiology, Shawn not having left her side. A permanent smile etched on his face.
"Just stay still for me Auburn." Dave asked,adjusting her leg to get the right image.
Once that was done, and it was determined that nothing needed surgery she was taken back up to a more private room, and Dave set about casting her.
"This will feel a little funny, but it won't hurt now." He reassured her as she became a little fidgety,  giving her some laughing gas and upping her pain meds slightly.
It was then Brian's turn to stitch up the wounds on her head, something which should have been very straight forward, but she was terrified,  having all but jumped (or gotten as far,which wasn't very) into Shawn's arms.
"It won't hurt Princess, Brian will numb you up good okay?" he spoke, sitting next to her, while Brian sat on a rolly chair by her head, Dave next to Shawn.
"Ready?"
She nodded.
"You're being so brave Princess," Shawn encouraged as she clung to his hand.
"Have you thought of any names for the baby?" Connor asked from where he sat in the corner working, having left briefly while they were at radiology and then returned, wanting to be here for support. Something which Shawn was grateful for.
...
An hour later and they were officially off shift, but  had all taken up residency in Auburn's room,  wanting to keep an eye on her, as she was a part of the family. They all sat quietly doing paper work,  as she rested, fast asleep now that we have deemed it safe.
"How are you feeling Shawn?" Brian asked, looking up to find Shawn watching her.
"I don't know, I have never felt so many emotions in one day!" he laughed, before Auburn broke the silence with a small moan.
" I'm cold," she mumbled,  "And sore," she added, visibly shivering.
"Here,  budge up." Shane spoke, helping her to move over,  before getting into the small bed again.
Connor got up to adjust the pain meds and check her vitals. However she didn't settle.  "What's wrong Poppet?" Shawn asked. Sometimes the meds could make patients a little agitated.
"I want to have a bath,  I feel gross,  and you smell different. " she grumbled,  her nose wrinkling. Shawn looked up at Connor and Brian,all laughing.
"How much of the stuff did you give her?
"
"I'm serious." she pouted, swotting Shawn's shoulder. "I don't like the smell of the scrubs. It doesn't smell like you."
"How 'bout this?" he asked bending down to reach for his bag, and grabbing a hoodie.
"Much better," she spoke,  nuzzling her head into him.
"Now I'll help give you a pat down with a cloth if you want?" he offered. You can't really have a proper bath yet cause of all the wiring and your cast."
She nodded
"Just sit up slowly okay. You might feel a little dizzy." Brian warned, standing up to help too.
  Connor went ahead to start the water for her while Dave came to help move the wiring as they supported her to hop to the bathroom. Eventually Shawn just picked her up,being extra careful of her ribs, holding her under her shoulders instead,and cradling her somewhat like an infant.
Half hour later, and Shawn had successful sponge bathed her, the rest of the group having gone back to their work while they waited.
"Get some rest Princess, you've got a little piece of art growing in there, you and Jellybean need it," he whispered as he placed her back in bed, rubbing her stomach softly.
"Love you," she whispered, already half asleep.
"Love you more," he replied kissing her head, they all shared a smile, because at that moment, all was right with the world.
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debbierhea · 5 years ago
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proximity - chapter 5
wc: 1624 / tw: alcohol mention / msr, ust, season 4, cancer arc
summary: they don’t do this.
(chapter 1 / chapter 2 / chapter 3 / chapter 4)
i love constructive criticism or just comments in general! feel free to message me here or find me (and my other writing) on ao3 here and leave me a comment. xx
Their rooms were on the third floor - 312 and 314 - side by side and linked together by a door. Scully often thought of their adjoining hotel rooms as an apt metaphor for her and Mulder: physically separate, functioning individuals, cordoned off from one another. That is, unless both doors were unlocked, then opened at the same time. Throughout their partnership, she thought she had heard the lock on his door, on his heart, rattle. She even thought it may have wholly unlatched once, but it was never quite in sync with the turning of hers and she was always too afraid to open the door. Now, it was too late to get the timing right and her room was full of termites and dry rot - nasal cavity full of malignant tumor and veins full of free wheeling cancer cells - and she had no idea why she was letting herself lean into him like this on the elevator.
The elevator car shook as the door screeched shut. The silence that followed was more deafening. He was radiating heat at her side but she felt frozen. Scully didn’t know what to do, what to say. She wants to turn and shove her tongue down his throat again, run her hand under his rumpled collared shirt, or maybe just run.
Instead, she decides to remain pressed to his side and say, “We should have taken the stairs. I’m scared to think of how long it’s been since this elevator has been inspected.”
She can feel him turn his head and look down to her.
“My feet are killing me, but three flights of stairs may be preferable to this death trap.”
He’s smirking. She’s rambling.
There’s a pause when his fingers grip her waist.
“If we had taken the stairs, then I couldn’t do this.”
He’s leaning down now, and she wants to roll her eyes, because what a line, but there’s not enough time because their lips meet and her eyes are closing instead, just as he closes the remaining space between their bodies, just as she closes her mouth around his tongue.
He tastes like dark wine and orange slices and when she runs her tongue over his bottom lip she can taste his sweat. Mulder breathes deeply, not quite panting, as he smooths both hands from her waist down to cup her ass. They kiss and kiss and kiss, Scully’s hands roaming his back, his chest, and finally land at the waist of his slacks. He inhales sharply when her nails slide against bare skin, untucking his shirt. They’re making out like teenagers in the backseat of an old Cadillac DeVille at the drive-in, instead of two thirty-somethings standing in a hotel elevator with shag carpet that almost surely hasn’t passed a safety inspection since the Reagan administration, and Mulder feels like the luckiest person in the entire world.
She bites at his lip and he grabs two handfuls of her ass, hard. Scully moans at the neediness in his grasp, at the pinch of pain it causes. She hopes he leaves bruises. She wants him to leave something behind, some evidence, some quantifiable proof she can discover tomorrow, perhaps in the mirror while stripping for her morning shower, like dusting for hidden fingerprints at a crime scene. She is a scientist after all.
Her moan turns to a breathy laugh as he grabs for her again, apparently choosing his need of her touch over balance, and they both tip backwards and hit the wall. Mulder’s head cracks against the fake wood paneling and their lips separate. His eyes are still closed, face scrunched up, as he lifts one hand from her body to rub the back of his head.
She huffs another laugh when he finally looks down to her and widens his eyes. “Ow.”
His glance catches on the curve of her lips as she laughs, high and goofy, so antithetical to the Scully she projects to the world. Her prim suits and glares as sharp as her stilettos send a clear message to most - “Though she be but little, she is fierce!” He’d said that to her once. She had been in top form that day, white blouse pressed and tucked snugly into a black pencil skirt that fit like a glove. The police sergeant in Round Top, Texas had been referring to her as Little Lady and variations thereof since they had graced his front door five days earlier. Her speech was level and succinct, but there was fatal venom behind it as she laid into Mr. Misogyny after a buccal swab from the crime scene had been contaminated. She sent him home with a bruised ego and his tail between his legs. The daggers she’d thrown Mulder’s way at his whispered comment made him want to turn on his heel and follow in the sergeant’s footsteps. Maybe the message she sent the world was more like, “Fuck you.” The next day, the sergeant extended a coffee, a powdered donut, and his hand with a mumbled, “Apologies, Dr. Scully.”
That Scully, the no-nonsense FBI Special Agent née Medical Doctor with the clipped but prompt email responses and sleekly tamed bob, was for everyone else. His Scully, Mulder’s Scully, was a different creature entirely. She bantered and argued and threw soft smiles his way. She made him get a side salad or steamed vegetables at least once a day on the road and leaned into him when discussing a theory. Her eyes shone with excitement when she spoke about a new article she’d read in one of her medical journals and she scowled when he flicked sunflower seeds onto the floor of their rental car. She had wavy hair and flannel pajamas and talked in her sleep. She was his toughest critic and his fiercest ally and she let him rest his hand on the small of her back as they roamed the country in search of the truth.
This is the Scully blinking up at him now, cheeks flushed, lipstick smeared, dark bags under her eyes. She is beautiful. Heart-achingly beautiful. And there’s that goofy as hell giggle again, the giggle that makes him crack a smile just thinking about it. They are opposites in every way except those that matter and he can’t take his eyes off her smile. This time it’s Scully that leans in, his Scully.
She sighs quietly at the meeting of their lips, gentle this time, soft. It’s tender and it’s delicate and it’s heavy with emotion and the weight of four years’ worth of struggle, pain, and heartache. Scully thinks for one indulgent moment that maybe it isn’t too late, maybe they’re just in time. But then, there’s a soft “Ding!” and a loud, metallic screech and suddenly they are not alone.
Bodies in sync, they both turn their heads toward the sound. A man, woman, and two young children stand at the now open entrance to the elevator. Mulder is suddenly very aware of his hands on her ass. Her face is scarlet.
Scully decides she cannot take the embarrassment and buries her face in Mulder’s chest. So much for “Fuck you,” he thinks. The two children are having an animated conversation about the latest episode of Scooby-Doo as they enter, none the wiser. The parents, though, seem to be sizing them up. Mulder sees the woman raise her eyebrows, widen her eyes, and realizes he’s still gripping Scully in a not-so-family-friendly place. He slides his hands up to her waist and then continues to move the other to the middle of her back, making small comforting circles. She shakes her head into him, her arms wrapped around his torso, grabbing the back of his shirt underneath his suit jacket.
The couple stay near the front of the elevator. The man punches a button and then looks over his shoulder to Mulder.
“What floor?” The man is smirking and Mulder’s eyes go wide as he glances up to the arrow still pointed at the letter G for Ground Floor.
He clears his throat. “Three.”
The man punches that button too and soon the elevator doors are squeaking shut. The children continue their conversation, their parents silent and stiff as boards beside them.
Scully whispers so quietly he feels the vibration in his chest more than hears it, “We forgot to push the button?”
He huffs out a laugh into her cinnamon hair and nods. He can feel her smile.
There’s another off-key “Ding!” as the elevator jerks to a halt. Third floor. Mulder grimaces as he realizes they have to walk past the family to gain their freedom. Hand reaching for Scully’s he strides forward, passing between the two children and their parents. Scully’s head is down and her steps quick and wobbly as he pulls her behind him.
As they finally leave the most pleasurable and embarrassing elevator ride of Mulder’s life, the man gives a sharp clear of his throat, as if trying to grab their attention. Scully plows forward, not looking back, but Mulder turns his head and receives a sly wink and a-okay hand gesture from him. His wife swats at his hand as the doors close.
Their hands are still tangled together as they turn to face each other. Scully has a death grip on his left hand and throws him a look of sheer horror, the likes of which he’s only seen in the presence of Flukemen and Jersey Devils. The expression on her face, one reserved for the aberrant and anomalous, is so desperately out of place in the hall of this grungy, though unremarkable hotel, he can’t stop the laugh from escaping his lips.
He squeezes her hand and then she’s laughing too.
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Level 28
Why are there so many chapters! What is happening!? I hope you guys are at least enjoying them all! 
Tagging: @loudartanimeeclipse and @ihavenotfallenyet
Master List
Warnings: none?
Happy reading! Hope you’re all well honey bees!
Level 28
With all of your documents now added neatly to the file Ieyasu had provided yesterday, you marched yourself from your lab towards the meeting room outside the BMT offices. Laptop in hand, you quickly set the place up and made sure your connection was excellent; the last thing you wanted was any technical difficulties.
Dr. Tokugawa and Dr. Togo arrived right on time and took seats that faced each other but were still in line with the screen. You started with a greeting that was largely ignored and kept on rolling with the critical information. A vast majority of the info Ieyasu and Mariko needed to know was about the markers being used. If even one of them were potentially affected by the drug study, you’d have to add a tube of additional markers to the assay or revise one of your tubes—neither of which you wanted to do at the moment.
“Very well done (YN),” Dr. Togo complimented, “the marker combinations work out perfectly. I especially like the addition of thirty-eight and one twenty-three to a few of the tubes.”
“I’ll agree, it’s very comprehensive and takes most of the drug studies available into account with your choice in markers.” Ieyasu followed his colleague.
“Ah, for that, you’ll have to thank the hematopathologist team. They picked the markers.” You deferred, making sure to give appropriate credits.
“Either way, that gating strategy is yours, is it not?” Ieyasu quirked an eyebrow as he stared you down.
“It is, I was trying to make the data points easier to differentiate, so I chose gates that pulled the monocyte and myeloid populations apart from each other and the rest of the lymphatic cells.” You answered.
“It’s wonderful.” Mariko smiled at you from her spot across the table. “I’m hoping you had time to read over the drug study information?”
“I did go through it last night.” You nodded, “It’s an interesting paper.”
“We’re hoping to start enrolling patients as soon as possible. How long do you think it will take to get this specific test validated?” Ieyasu pressed.
“That depends. Since we’re currently in the process of validating it, I’ve been running split samples. Could we start off by acquiring samples for me to run? I can cross-check them with the results from other institutions who’s tests are already validated.” You paused, “If we do this with each patient who has an AML diagnosis, I should get enough data for the pathologists to look at by the end of the month.”
“Sounds great, we’ll look forward to hearing from you soon then.” Mariko grinned as she made a motion to stand.
“We’ll meet back up in a month.” Ieyasu nodded in your direction, following his co-worker out of the meeting room.
You guessed that meant it was over? Breathing a sigh of relief, you sent a message to your supervisor before unhooking all your equipment and leaving the meeting room. That hadn’t taken very long, but sometimes that was a good thing. They knew what they wanted and needed, which meant you had unambiguous instructions for once. Excited, you shot off a text message to Yoshimoto and hustled back to the lab to fill Rose in.
→ Got a new work project! → Excited to tell you all about it :) Wonderful news. I look forward to hearing about it. ←
The excitement faded though the more details you gave Rose, you didn’t understand why it was such a big deal that you were working with Dr. Tokugawa. Your not a date, date crasher, as Rose fondly referred to him. Markio Togo was also on the project, and you’d already had more correspondence with her than your current date’s supposed love rival. First, you’d been annoyed, but not the only thing you were worried about was that Yoshimoto would be upset? Why would he, though? Ugh!
Groaning to yourself, you took an angry sip of your water and waited for your date to arrive. This would never have been a problem if you hadn’t talked to Rose, it’s like she enjoyed pulling you out of your comfort zone. YOu were so wrapped up in thought you didn’t even notice when Yoshimoto sat down.
“I thought it was good news?” He tried, leaning towards you cautiously.
“AAHHhhHh!” you yelped, nearly spilling your drink as you apologized frantically to all of the startled dinner patrons throughout the restaurant. “Don’t do that. You scared the crap out of me.”
“I can see that.” Yoshimoto chuckled as he gently folded his hands on the table. “So, news?”
“Oh, right. So, I uh, our lab got picked to run tests for a new treatment drug.” You started.
“That’s fantastic; I assume that’s going to keep you busy at work?” Yoshimoto shared a genuine smile.
“It should. It has been. They want to use the assay I’ve been working on for the past year to look at disease levels in patients.” You explained.
“If it’s good news, why do you look so sour?” Yoshi pressed on.
“Eh, it’s just sort of weird? You spend tons of time developing a test and working on getting it validated, but when people ask to use it, or you get to see it in action doing a cool thing, it makes you feel a weird mix of pride and horror.”
“Oh, do explain.” He cocked his head to the side and listened.
“Clearly I’m smart enough to navigate my way through assay development, but sometimes you just sit there and wonder why they let you do stuff that’s as important as this. Yanno?” You posed the question, not expecting an answer.
“Well, I can assure you I’m more apt to trust something a friend recommends. I’m sure your test is magnificent.” Yoshimoto complimented. “Besides, they wouldn’t have picked it if they didn’t see some practical use for it.”
“That’s true, Dr. Togo and Tokugawa know what they’re doing. You don’t become experts in a field by poking around doing nothing all day.” You sighed, body relaxing a little after the pep talk.
Though the roles seemed to be reversed now, where you had been able to relax, Yoshimoto seemed to have been wound a bit tighter. You cursed that Rose had been right and tried to play it off. If you kept going and tried your hardest not to be awkward, it wouldn’t get awkward. Right? Wrong.
“Dr. Togo? Dr. Tokugawa? Are you going to be working with them closely on this project.” Yoshimoto asked.
“Probably, though, I don’t know why I’d see them any more than I already do, though, maybe for development updates and data review meetings.” You shrugged, sensing the weird atmosphere. “They’re a weird team, but they balance out nicely, where Ieyasu falls short in most social situations Mariko picks up the slack. Meetings are interesting, but productive.”
“Ah, I see.” Yoshimoto was short, but his tone was light as he continued to listen to what you had to say.
“I’ve been tasked with getting the test validated by the end of the month, so as long as I have enough samples, they plan to keep me busy.” You chuckled, rubbing at the back of your neck.
“A shame, I had planned to ask you to several engagements.” Yoshimoto stated.
Was he pouting? It was literally going to be a month, and it’s not like you were going to take up living in your lab while you worked on the project, so why was he acting super weird? Was it just because you had mentioned Ieyasu? Suddenly you were agitated all over again, this wouldn’t have been a problem if Rose had kept her mouth shut and hadn’t told anyone who you’d been crushing on, but you also didn’t understand why it was a big deal in the first place. You’d been going out with Yoshimoto hadn’t you?
“You can still ask me about those engagements, you know.” Your face fell, and your voice showed your agitation.
“I don’t believe it wise to get in the way of your work.” Yoshimoto sensed the change in mood and moved forward, trying to close some of the space.
“It’s not your job to decide what does and doesn’t distract me from doing my work. It’s never been a problem before, why would it be a problem now?” You asked, tone cold.
“Right you are. Shall we order then? I’ll let you know about the events as they come.” Yoshimoto smiled, but you were too over the conversation to return it.
“Whatever.” It was the last thing you remembered saying the rest of the meal.
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prorevenge · 5 years ago
Text
How I got revenge on my cheating ex!
TL;DR at bottom.
This story takes place almost 12 years ago so I'll do my best with the dialog and details but admittedly some things are a little fuzzy. Most of my life I've had a problem with picking men that were not good for me, so much so that I even had a phrase for it "saving the world, one moron at a time". One of my more spectacularly bad choices was a guy by the name of "Bob" (obviously not his real name). I met Bob when I was working one of my 2 jobs at the local mall, he worked somewhere else in the mall so we hit it off and soon enough we were in a relationship. Within a few months my lease was up and we ended up moving in together which obviously in hindsight was a huge mistake but I was dumb and lonely.
Soon enough red flags began to fly, he would say things in common conversation that were simply incorrect (like there's only 4 continents and the rest are actually owned by the martian government and thus don't count etc. ) and when challenged would circular talk until you either agreed with him or dropped the subject. He would also make claims that seemed entirely unbelievable such as when I asked where he had been staying prior to his mom's house he said he "camped in the woods" when I asked how he did that for months on end and without any gear he simply gestured to himself and said "this is all the gear I need". The worst trait though by far was his epic LAZINESS! I have never witnessed someone so lazy in my life.
Bob was unemployed for over a third of our relationship and would simply sit in the apartment watching netflix or playing some war game on "his" computer AKA my spare computer typing away in the group chat. He would never clean up after himself leaving dirty dishes in the sink and filth on every surface while only taking a shower MAYBE once a week. The smell that permeated my apartment could only be described as revolting and could easily gag a maggot. I would inquire a few times a week on his "job hunt" only to be dismissed or given a growing amount of excuses such as "but I don't have a car, how would I get there"... "the bus doesn't run in that area"... "the internet went down so I couldn't apply"... etc. etc. Meanwhile I am working double and triple shifts at my job to try to make up the lost income and running him all over town in my off time getting applications and helping him fill them out and turn them in. Keep in mind he doesn't have a cell phone so all of these apps have my contact info on them. Thus begins the era of him "holding my phone" while I'm at work so he can make calls or schedule interviews as well as I can get a hold of him from my store phone if I needed to.
Things began getting weird, he began staying up later and later on this group chat, sometimes till almost dawn. Sometimes we would hang out all evening until it was time for bed. Then he would always make some excuse on why he needed to check the game before bed and he'd be right there.... hours would pass... no Bob. I began to get suspicious but nothing incriminating seemed to be taking place so I just shrugged it off as me being insecure. Then he started asking to use my car to go see his best friend "Ben", now I wasn't super comfortable with this but I did know Ben pretty well and we got along almost better than Bob and I did so I guess to a degree I trusted Ben more than Bob and agreed to it. This happened a few times while I was working the evening shift and he was always back at the allotted time with my car and my phone and relatively grateful for the opportunity to hang with his buds. Suspicious... umm yes, but I'm the kind of person that is loyal and trusting to a fault and don't assume anything without proof and from every angle all seemed to be on the up and u so I took it at face value.
So one day he asks to borrow my car and go with his friends to a card gaming tournament, he put on a great show telling me how the prize money would help us out and with the deck he had there was no way he could loose. I just had to let him use my car and phone this one last time and he would be able to buy himself a phone with the prize money. I wasn't a huge fan of the idea but nothing untoward had occurred in the previous instances and I didn't feel like spending my only day off at a card game convention that I literally couldn't care less about so I acquiesced. I bought myself a couple green monsters and some vodka and had my own little personal drunk party. Hours tick by and no Bob... Eventually I pass out only to wake up at the crack of dawn VIOLENTLY sick, this went way beyond a hangover. I start retching in the bathroom until there was nothing left but bile but the retching wouldn't stop. Hours ticked by and I lay in my bathroom floor sweating and convulsing with no phone, no car and no Bob. I eventually was able to crawl to my room and wrap myself in a bath robe before crawling down my apartment building stairs and began knocking on the closest doors. It took 3 apartments before someone opened the door and allowed me to use their phone to call my mom. My mother was at my apt in 6 minutes flat and rushed me to the ER where I was diagnosed with an aggressive and antibiotic-resistant strain of C-Dif. Bob finally showed up later that afternoon phone and car keys in hand looking very concerned and claiming to be deeply apologetic but my mom hated him from that point on. I was out of the hospital and back to work within a few days but it was the beginning of the end.
During these last months we were constantly scraping by due to his lack of consistent income and poor spending habits. There were jobs gotten and there were jobs lost for various reasons throughout our relationship but the final job was one I helped him get literally 3 buildings down from my own workplace. This company rents furniture and electronics on a weekly/monthly basis and I happen to know most of the employees and the hiring manager as they are regular customers at my coffee establishment . I was able to use what little sway I had to get him on there and he accepted a job as a delivery man.
Within a few weeks I come home from work to find a brand new TV and entertainment system and him grinning like an idiot. I tell him we can't afford this, we can barely afford to eat and are surviving off scraps I bring home from work. He talks about his amazing employee discount and assures me it's no big deal that the rental fee will just come out of his check etc. I was pissed! Not only had he not consulted me, he also had me on the account as well (my info had been taken from the credit app I filled out as a favor to help their numbers) so if HE flaked I was liable. Fast forward another few weeks the rent is late and we are receiving eviction notices on our door, I come home from work and the tv is mysteriously gone. "Thank goodness" I think, "he finally realized we can't afford it and took it back"... he gets paid, rent gets paid and all is as good as it can be. Until I found a pawn slip for the TV in his pocket as I was doing laundry and went ballistic! He assured me he had plans to get it back in the works and to not worry about it, it will be taken care of soon and no one will be the wiser? I was too pissed to catch on to the secrecy aspect of the situation.
A few more tense weeks go by with him working mornings and myself working evenings while we shared one phone and car... Until that fateful day arrived! I woke up that morning with a migraine headache and opted to let Bob take the car but leave me the phone so I can call someone later on for a ride to work. A few hours of uncomfortable sleep go by before I am awoken by my phone.... I answer the phone still groggy "Hello?"
There is a long pause on the other end of the line until a female voice asks "Umm is Bob there?"
I felt a sickening feeling in my gut and began to shake.... is this real? Am I dreaming?
"No, he's at work right now this is his wife (total lie but hey) is there something I can help you with?" I wasn't rude, I phrased it as a genuine question rather than an accusation.
Another long pause before she began to stammer about maybe she had the wrong number but it was obvious she just wanted to get off the phone with me as quickly as possible and I realized in that moment that I desperately needed her.
"Please" I said with an edge of desperation in my voice.. "I don't know what's going on but I just really need somebody to tell me the truth" the last word came out in a sob and I sat there for a moment in silence trying to quell the urge to just cry uncontrollably.
"Listen" the voice on the other end was almost gentle "I need to make a few phone calls but I promise you I WILL call you back". She said it calmly and with so much conviction that I really wanted to believe her...
"Please, you promise?" I almost begged.
"I promise" she replied
"Ok" I took a deep breath and released it, "I'll talk to you soon" and hung up.
I then proceeded to aggressively pace my living room floor staring at my phone while chain smoking and muttering to myself like a crazy person. I knew who she was calling... I was replaying all those little red flag moments in my head from the last few months, pinning down dates or behavior I'd found suspect when the phone rings again. It's her. I froze for a moment... shocked she followed through and called me back, terrified of what this meant... I answered the phone and what followed was about the most soul crushing 45 min of my life
After initial introductions June (again not the real name) and I began comparing stories and it became glaringly obvious what was happening... They had actually been in a relationship several years prior and had run back into each other on the aforementioned war game where they began to flirt on group chat. All those nights he'd been on the computer he'd been chatting with her. All those times he'd go hang out with his "friend's" he been using my car to take her out and my phone to communicate with her. The time I was sick and alone with NO resources... you guessed it... he was with her! Oh but it get's better...
"Do you have a little silver hummingbird necklace?" she inquired. "Yes, my mother gave it to me for my 27th birthday actually I love it"
"Really?" she said "Cause he gave me one for mother's day"
"OMG" I almost yelled into the phone as I ran to my room and tore through my jewelry box... it wasn't in there... it was around her neck.
From there we discovered not only had he been giving her my property as gifts but he'd had her over to our apartment passing it off as his own. I didn't want to believe him capable of doing something so cruel and disrespectful when I have allowed him to sponge off me for the better part of 3 years. Unfortunately as in confirmation she began describing my apartment to a T, all the way down to my bed sheets. June said he even pulled my "secret box" from beneath my bed and offered to use my adult items on her. She said she found it weird and didn't partake but I threw them away due to the sheer ick factor. Finally she uttered the words I didn't know I wanted to hear"
"You know what we should do? We should bust him together."
My mind immediately started racing, indeed we should! I was a mix of fury, adrenaline and despair so my thinking wasn't exactly strait and details begin to get hazy here. We arrange to meet up at my work and find a way to lure Bob over there but unfortunately she lived about 40 min away whereas I only live about 6 miles from our destination so if I got there first I'd need to stall him (assuming he wasn't out on a delivery). I called a trusted coworker of mine at work sobbing and begging for a ride... to his everlasting credit he got somebody to cover and LEFT WORK to come get me and bring me to my car. When I got to Bob's workplace I went inside to retrieve my keys (this isn't uncommon as they know the car is mine) and was stopped half way through store by Bob's manager wanting to talk about the payment due on "our account".
I don't remember the exact dialog but I said something along the lines of "Look, I don't know when you are going to get your payment." I looked utterly defeated and told him we could never afford the TV in the first place and how I had begged Bob to take it back and now we don't have it anymore as Bob has pawned it and I don't have the money to get it out let alone pay him. I was full on blubbering at this point when he stopped me to clarify that his EMPLOYEE pawned a rental TV under contract. I confirmed that this was indeed true and presented him with the pawn ticket. HE WAS MAD! Apparently such an act is illegal and is terms for immediate termination but he assured me that if I could get the TV back to him there would be no harm no foul and he would terminate my contract without any penalties. I thanked him for his understanding and told him to let Bob know I would be over at my workplace.
My heart is pounding in my chest and blood is roaring in my ears... what was I going to say? What was HE going to say? Would June make it here before he did?? My heart sinks when I see Bob's hulking form making it's way in my direction, I frantically scan the parking lot for June's car... she's not here yet and I'm out of time. He hits the door looking out of breath and guilty as hell and I just stare at him stone faced. I walk outside silently to light a cigarette unsure of exactly what to say and he follows me wordlessly outside.
He starts in with the "it's not what it seems" and "it's all just a terrible misunderstanding" and I just let him dig himself deeper into his hole of lies. I listen, I nod, I pretend to understand until a particular car pulls into view. June parks in the space directly next to where we were standing and gets out of the car... "Hey Bob, how ya' doing?" Bob has gone visibly pale, he hangs his head and sits down on the curb saying nothing to either of us. June and I greet each other and awkwardly shake hands before again returning our attention to Bob. June begins berating him on his lies and deceit, unveiling all of our mutual info and subsequent conclusions while I stood mostly in silence agreeing at the appropriate times but mostly still in shock. After 20 minutes of this I finally mustered up the courage to take my stand.
"We are done, I don't want to see you ever again. I'll pack up your things (only 2 boxes worth) and your sister can contact me in a few days to pick them up. Now I want your key." I held out my hand and looked at him. "Not until I get my stuff out, then you get your key" he replied. I tried to argue but he continued to refuse and used his large stature to his advantage knowing I'd have no chance in a physical altercation. He turned and walked away heading back toward his workplace, June and I talked a little more before she handed me my hummingbird necklace and left. I stood there alone staring at nothing trying to wrap my head around what had just transpired and then I cried... oh how I cried.
With nowhere else to turn I had only one call to make... to my mom. The moment she answered I unleashed this deluge of words at her that were half sobs and half rant. "Stay right there, I'm coming" she said. God Bless my mother! Soon enough both of my parents pull up in my dad's truck and my mom gets out to comfort me and give me hugs. I look at the driver's seat and see my father with his jaw is clenched and a death grip on the steering wheel while staring strait ahead... OH Crap! They take me to the pawn shop and my parents write a check for more than $500 to get the TV out, we then drive strait over to Bob's workplace and return the TV to the manager. As the manager finishes up the cancellation paperwork my dad spots Bob pacing around the back of the parking lot talking frantically on the phone. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear the ensuing conversation but my dad returns within a few minutes holding my house key and looking victorious.
"I believe this is yours" he says as he hands me the key and then pulls me into a hug and I cried a little into his shoulder. My dad gave me a squeeze, kissed my temple and whispered into my ear "They're firing him." I leaned back to look at my dad and he just smirked and said "Now he's jobless and homeless." I thought about it for a second before I said in my most sarcastic tone "Ohhh I'm sooo soorrryyy to hear that" We laughed about it a little and my parents gave me some words of wisdom before leaving me to drive myself home where my best friend was already waiting to keep me company.
Bob and his sister showed up a few days later for his pitiful boxes of stuff, he tried to talk to me, to explain... but my best friend descended on him like a harpy if he muttered more than a few syllables in my direction so he was shut down almost immediately. He left that night and I have never heard from him since, I blocked him on social media but there was really no need as he made no effort to contact me on any level. That's Bob... ever lazy, ever deluded and always an a**hole.
So here I am many years later happily married to my high school sweetheart and the mother of two beautiful little boys and grateful to have moved on when I did. The experience with Bob certainly took its toll I lost a lot of weight due to lack of appetite but had a myriad of trust issues moving forward but the point is I moved forward. I have grown leaps and bounds as a person since this experience and am truly content with where my life is now but every now and then when I'm drifting off to sleep I can't help but wonder... what ever happened to good ol' Bob? Is he out there somewhere... in the woods with a stick and his wits as his only gear... waiting for a martian government to make its move.
Ah well, a girl can dream ;)
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to message me with any questions or comments :)
TL;DR: I discovered my boyfriend was cheating so I organized a sting operation with the other woman. Boyfriend ended up chickless, jobless and homeless within a matter of hours.
(source) story by (/u/Jenabear7897)
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crackspinewornpages · 4 years ago
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The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 5/10 -Robert Louis Stevenson
1
Mr. Utterson was a lawyer and the type of man whose face never showed much emotion but was still lovable. During meetings something would come to his eyes and he spoke loudly with life. He drank gin when alone and hadn’t gone to the theatre in twenty years. “But he had an approved tolerance for others; sometimes wondering, almost with envy, at the high pressure of spirits involved in their misdeeds; and in any extremity inclined to help rather than to reprove.” p.1  (alright establish early that he’s a decent guy) Usually he was the last good influence in the lives of down going men and as they came, he never changed is demeanor. (he’s the designated driver of life) Mr. Utterson was undemonstrative, and his friends were similar in nature and those he knew the longest, “his affections, like ivy, were the growth of time, they implied no aptness in the object.” p.1 Like Mr. Richard Enfield. It was a nut to crack for people who saw them on their walks, they said nothing, looked dull and put aside business to enjoy the day. (there is something nice about just enjoying another’s company)
A paragraph describing the residents of the street readying their shops and another describing a neglected building, no windows and people loitered on the stoop with no one chasing them off. As they walked Enfield pointed it out to Utterson because of something that happened in winter. He was walking at three in the morning the streets were empty, and a man would begin to look for a policeman. Then he saw two people a man and an eight-year-old girl running, (who lets their child out in the middle of the night) they collided, and the man just trampled over her leaving her on the ground screaming. “It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see. It wasn’t like a man; it was like some damned Juggernaut.” p.3 (I’m The Juggernaut bitch!) He grabbed the man by the collar and brough him back to where people gathered around the girl, he didn’t resist but his look gave him chills.
The people were the girl’s family and a doctor came that said she was alright but that wasn’t the end. He had taken to loathe the man that ran over the girl and so did her family of course and surprisingly the doctor was outraged, looking like he wanted to kill him. (whoa there doc) Of course, that was out of the question so the next best thing, settlement money, (of course) so his name won’t be a scandal and hated in London and lose friends. (hate to be that guy but there’s a lot of worse things going on than stepping on a child) The whole time they kept the women back who wanted at him. (like my high school science teacher said boys go for bruises girls go for blood) The man tells them to name the amount they settle on a hundred pounds (about £13,083 today) then to get it; he went into the house and came back out with gold and a check in someone else’s name, a prominent member of society. Enfield pointed out it was suspicious considering the circumstances and the man says he’ll stay till the bank opens and cash it. So, the stayed at Enfield’s until after breakfast and he handed over the check himself and it was genuine. (this is a whole paragraph over a whole page)
Enfield sees Utterson feels the same as the man was someone nobody wanted anything to do with and the check was signed by a celebrated figure. “Blackmail, I suppose; an honest man paying through the nose for some of the copers of his youth.” p.4 That’s a Black Mail House but that doesn’t explain everything. Utterson asks if the check writer lives there, Enfield says he lives in another square and never asked about the house since he feels strongly about it, too much style of judgement. Like sitting on a hill asking a question rolls a stone and others follow next then a family has to change their name, the more it looks like Queer Street (queer used to mean strange) the less he asks, Utterson says it’s a good rule. Enfield did investigate, there’s no other door, nobody comes or leaves but that man. Three windows overlook the court no others, the chimney smokes so someone must live there but the buildings are so close it’s hard to be sure.
They walk, Utterson says it’s a good rule but he wants to know the name of the man that trampled the girl, it was Hyde. What does he look like, Enfield can’t describe him but there was something wrong with him, never seen someone so disliked but doesn’t know why. “He must be deformed somewhere; he gives a strong feeling of deformity, although I couldn’t specify the point.” p.5  (the mind he’s deformed in the mind) He can’t name it, he remembers him clearly, but he can’t describe him. They walk more and Utterson asks if he was sure Hyde used a key, he knows it’s strange, but he already knows the name of the check writer and if Enfield was wrong about anything in his story, he better correct it. Enfield has been exact, Hyde used a key not a week ago, Utterson sighs and says they shouldn’t speak of it again.
2
That evening Utterson went to his house and ate dinner, usually he would read by a fire till midnight (my kind of night) but instead went to his office and took out the Will of Dr. Jekyll. He looked it over in the case of Henry Jekyll’s death or disappearance everything would go to Edward Hyde. It was an eyesore to Utterson his former ignorance of Hyde was now indignation with evidence he was afraid. He put away the document and went to Cavendish Square to his friend Dr. Lanyon to see what he knows. He was directed right to him and was welcomed, they were old friends from school that enjoyed each other’s company. Utterson says they must be the only two friends Jekyll has, Lanyon supposes it’s true, what about it. They had a falling out, “But it is more than ten years since Henry Jekyll became too fanciful for me. He began to go wrong, wrong in mind;” p.7 He still takes an interest for old times but has seen little of him.
Utterson believes they only differed in science but knew little of the subject himself, agreed there’s nothing worse and gave Lanyon time to calm down. He asks if he ever came across his protégé, Hyde, Lanyon’s never heard of him and Utterson took that information and it kept him up with questions. He could see it happening as Enfield described, Hyde trampling the child, then his friend woken and forced to do his bidding, it haunted him, child screaming, labyrinth of streetlamps, (what drugs are you on) but no face to the figure, if only he could see his face. If he saw it he would have reason for his friend’s strange preference of bondage (those are the exact words from the book) and the Will’s clauses. A face of a man without mercy, a spirit that haunted his mind. It was then Utterson began to watch the house until the shops closed and the streets were silent until footfalls drew him from the court.
The footfalls got closer and Utterson saw the small plainly dressed man (I find it utterly hilarious that culturally Hyde is a giant green deformed monster but actually he’s just a short guy with a bad attitude) draw a key and approach the house. Utterson came out and asked if he was Hyde, who hisses and shrinks back when touched asking what he wants. (I’d have the same reaction if a stranger grabbed me at night) Utterson introduces himself as an old friend of Jekyll’s, he saw he was going in and was wondering if he’d allow him inside. Hyde tells him Jekyll isn’t home and how does he know him, only if Hyde would turn so he could see his face and after hesitating turns. Now that they met Hyde gives him his address in Soho and Utterson wonders if he knows of the Will.
Hyde again asks how he knows him and Utterson says from a friend’s description, whose, Jekyll’s. Hyde gets angry as Jekyll wouldn’t have told and didn’t think Utterson would have lied. Hyde snarls out a laugh and quickly unlocks the door and disappears inside. Utterson stood there a while and slowly made his way up the street, Hyde was unpleasant, “but not all of these together could explain the hitherto unknown disgust, loathing and fear with which Mr. Utterson regarded him.”p.10 (it’s your instincts telling you this like if you met Dahmer you just know he’s fucked up) There must be something else, he seemed hardly human it must be his soul. “O my poor old Henry Jekyll if ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of your new friend.” p.10
Around the corner stood houses for all sorts of men, one house was occupied and Mr. Utterson knocked on the door asking if Dr. Jekyll was home. (can Jekyll come out to play) The servant, Poole, invites him in and Utterson waits in the hall. The memory of Hyde made him nauseous until Poole came back to say Jekyll was out. Utterson says he saw Hyde come in by the door, Poole says he has a key and they have orders to obey him, they see little of him and usually he goes to the laboratory. Utterson says goodnight and leaves, then remembers Jekyll being wild when young, this must be from some old sin forgotten. He thought back in his own memory, everything he did and avoided, it must be Hyde with the secrets worse than Jekyll’s. He was in danger if Hyde knows of the Will, he’ll intervene if Jekyll lets him and remembers the clauses.
3
Two weeks later Jekyll invited his friends to diner and Utterson stayed while the others left. Not unusual as people liked him and his company and Jekyll was one of them. Utterson said he’s been wanting to talk to him about his Will. Jekyll remembers how distressed Utterson was (aren’t lawyers supposed to be detached from their work and only discourage outlandish clauses like taxidermy my body) unless you count Lanyon and his opinion on his science heresy’s. He knows he’s good and means to see more of him but was never more disappointed in anyone. Utterson cuts in that he never approved it, Jekyll knows and Utterson says he’s learning things about Hyde. Jekyll grows pale and doesn’t want to hear more and thought they’d dropped it.
Utterson says what he heard is abominable, Jekyll says he doesn’t know his position, he won’t make a change and his affairs are strange and can’t be fixed by talking about them. Utterson implores to him that he can be trusted to be quiet and get him out of it. Jekyll says it’s good of him and thanks him but it’s not so bad, “I will tell you one thing: the moment I choose, I can be rid of Mr. Hyde.”p.13 (not suspicious at all) It’s a private matter and Hyde told him he saw him, he’s rude but he has a great interest in him and has Utterson promise that he will get his rights for him. He doesn’t ask that he like him only for justice help him for his sake hen he’s no longer here, (this wording sort of makes it sound like Hyde is an illegitimate son he’s trying to do right by) Utterson promises.
4
Almost a year later on October 18th London was rocked by a murder and its high-class victim, (they way they treat this it’s like it’s the crime of the century) only a few details. A maid alone in a house went to bed at eleven and looked out her window to see an old man walking to meet a small gentleman to ask directions. The maid recognized him as Hyde and disliked him, he grew impatient and in a fit of anger beat the old man to death with a cane. (that went from 0 to 100 real quick) The maid fainted and when she came to called the police, the murderer was long gone but his victim was still there and half of the cane that had broken. The old man still had valuables and no identification but a letter to Utterson.
The next morning Utterson was told but can’t confirm anything until he sees the body. When he does, he identifies him as Sir Danvers Carew, it will make a lot of noise when it gets out. (why who was this guy) The officer has him look at the other evidence and tells him the maid’s story. Utterson already knew but when he saw the broken cane that he gave Jekyll years ago he couldn’t doubt it. Hyde matches the maid’s description and Utterson has them follow him to Hyde’s house.
A paragraph describing the fog dissipating and the sun coming out and how Soho looked nightmarish in it. The cab came up to the address, “This was the home of Jekyll’s favorite; of a man who was heir to a quarter of a million sterling.”p.16 (about £3,270,814 today) A woman answered saying this is Hyde’s house but he’s not home, he comes and leaves irregularly and besides yesterday last saw him two months ago.
Utterson introduces Inspector Newcomen and they want to search Hyde’s room and the woman is happy to know he’s in trouble wanting to know details, Utterson just wants to look. The old woman was the only occupant, but Hyde had luxury goods in the house which looked ransacked, clothes thrown about, drawers open, papers burned and the other half of the cane, (didn’t even get rid of the incriminating evidence smh) at the bank Hyde had several thousand pounds. Utterson says he must have gone mad, but he needs money, so they’ll wait. But they found nothing, no family, friends or pictures, no matching description, “Only on one point where they agreed; and that was the haunting sense of unexpressed deformity with which the fugitive impressed his beholders.” p.17
5
In the afternoon Utterson went to Jekyll’s house, straight to his laboratory, the first time he’s been there and a paragraph describing how cluttered it is. Jekyll was sitting by the fire looking sick but welcomed Utterson in and guesses he’s heard the news; he heard the crying from his dinning room. Utterson says Carew and he are his clients, he hasn’t been hiding him, Jekyll swears to god he won’t see him again, he’s done with him. “And indeed he does not want my help; you do not know him as I do; he is safe, he is quite safe; mark my words, he will never more be heard of.”p.19 (hmmm) Utterson hopes he’s right because if there’s a trial his name will come up, Jekyll is certain and gives him a letter. He doesn’t fear he will be traced and doesn’t care, he’s done with him and is thinking of his own character. The letter is to Jekyll whom he unworthily repaid a thousand generosities, doesn’t need to worry of his safety, he can escape and Utterson accepts it, better knowing the relationship and blames himself on the past suspicions.
Jekyll says he burned the envelope but there was a note he was given it directly, Utterson can judge him since he lost all confidence in himself. Utterson asks if Hyde was the one who dictated the Will’s terms about his disappearance, Jekyll seizes then nods. Utterson says he knew Hyde meant to murder him and was lucky to escape, Jekyll says he had a lesson and covers his face. (apparently the lesson doesn’t stick because were only halfway through the book) When Utterson leaves he asks Poole about the letter but is told none came today, and this renews his fears and looks at the letter with caution.
He passed newsboys shouting out the paper that reported the murder and worried another name would be brought down in the scandal and thought he could get advice on what to do. Soon after he had Mr. Guest (really that’s his name) over, a paragraph describing the evening and how Mr. Guest was in Jekyll’s house a lot and was a handwriting expert. (convenient) Guest says the news is sad and the perpetrator was mad and Utterson says he has a document from him he wants examined, he’s not mad (how can you tell just by looking t a letter you’re not a psychologist) but it’s an odd hand. A servant then comes in with a dinner invitation from Jekyll and Guest wants to see it too. He looked at both letters, the hands are identical only sloped different, (like what is Hyde a lefty) but he won’t speak of it. When Utterson was alone he locked away the notes thinking Jekyll is covering for a murderer.
NEXT
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sareyen · 4 years ago
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A Machine Without Feelings: A Jane Eyre AU (Part 6/11)
Read on ao3
Chapter 6
“It is so very odd.”
Charles looked as Moira as the woman drummed her fingers on the table. Moira crinkled her nose, taking a bite of the sweet cake on her plate and washing it down with a sip of fresh tea. She then pursed her lips thoughtfully before looking at Charles.
“What is your opinion on the topic, Charles?”
“On what?” Charles asked, marking some of Peter’s English work with a pencil with one hand, taking a sip of his tea with the other.
“On Mr Lehnsherr and Miss Frost,” Moira supplied, Charles coughing and choking on his tea, spitting a little onto Peter’s work book. Moira clicked her tongue, throwing him a napkin, which he used to dab at the book and along his chin.
“What about them?” Charles asked, voice squeaky and not because he almost choked on Darjeeling.
“Well, it has been almost a month since Miss Frost and her party returned home, but Mr Lehnsherr hasn’t gone to visit her at all in that time. It is only natural after courting for him to propose, but he has not even seen her since! It is not a long trip by horseback, and the master is a skilled rider. So, as I said, it is very, very odd.”
“Is it for sure that Erik intends to propose to Miss Frost?” Charles asked, pain twanging in his seemingly hollow chest cavity. Moira, as always, looked a little startled every time Charles called the master by his first name, but she was slowly getting used to it. The first time, Charles thought he had to go and mount a horse and ride to fetch Dr Hank McCoy. Now, Moira just gave him a funny look every time he did it, but otherwise pretended she didn’t hear anything.
It was not like people didn’t know that Erik and Charles got along well, even if they sometimes heard what sounded like a heated argument coming from the drawing room over a chess game, the two men often drinking whisky as they played and debating politics. They were used to Erik’s occasional bouts of rage, but Charles was usually such a serene being, that hearing him deliver a biting retort against someone like Erik with equal vitriol was startling, and potentially even more terrifying. Hearing Charles raise his voice was scarier than the shark-like grin Erik would shoot at Charles whenever the tutor said something amusing.
Erik did not treat Charles like he treated other subordinates, and it was obvious that their master favoured the young tutor quite a bit. Everyone that worked at Ironfield thought that Charles was extremely charming, and he was always apt at making conversation, but they didn’t think that the Charles Xavier charm would have worked on the seemingly impervious Mr Erik Lehnsherr.
It clearly had, though, and people were all the happier for it. Charles seemed to temper Mr Lehnsherr’s sour moods, and Alex had even taken to calling upon Charles to appease Erik whenever he noticed the master’s mood declining. Charles was always able to divert Erik’s mood over a game of chess or with a walk around the estate, sometimes even making the master forget his anger by playing a horrible rendition of a Liszt piece on the piano.
Even if Charles was not able to soothe Lehnsherr’s fury every time, he was the only one that could withstand the brunt of it without crumbling into tears. Alex had asked him how someone so small and soft like him could brave it, and Charles would just give him a lopsided smile, saying either “I’m tougher than I look” or “Erik is just impassioned, but not scary”.
So, Moira often asked Charles about their master now, knowing that if anyone knew what was going on in Lehnsherr’s labyrinth of a mind, it would be him. Unfortunately, Charles looked as stumped as Moira, the older woman sighing.
“I understand that you are young, and don’t really know the ways of courting,” Moira said, stuffing another morsel of cake into her mouth. “But a man does not pay attention to a woman like that without having the intention to propose. They looked quite taken with each other during their last few days here, and Miss Frost was even spending time with the staff, like Scott. If a woman of high birth like her takes the time to ingratiate themselves with the help, then it is obvious that they are planning to take over the household.”
“I see,” Charles said, voice tight. Charles had begun to indulge himself too much in his feelings for Erik, beginning to read too fancifully into the lingering touches and heated gazes the older man showered him with. From Erik’s tale about Magda, and how he had taken numerous other lovers on his travels, and now with Miss Frost, Charles knew that Erik’s tastes were not… like his own. Erik was not unnatural, and what Charles hoped were touches meaning something more were likely just how Erik treated a close friend.
Charles knew Erik did not have many friends, if any at all. He did seem taken with Miss Frost, but apart from her, Charles was really the only one Erik seemed to let his neck tie down for. Charles treasured that, but now with Erik’s engagement drawing nearer, Charles realised that he couldn’t go on like this any longer.
Charles had to find a new situation, which meant that he had to leave Ironfield Hall and everything contained within it. The thought filled Charles with a heavy feeling of emptiness, but he knew it was what he should do; once Erik was married, he and his wife would need to send Peter to school, and Charles’s presence would be rendered useless. Charles would rather leave on his own two feet before he was forced out by Erik and his new, beautiful and rich wife.
“I need to find a new situation, then,” Charles said, Moira’s eyes growing downcast. The woman reached across the table to rest her hand atop Charles’s, patting it tenderly.
“It saddens me to hear you say that, but I understand. I’m sure the master will find you a good situation. We will all miss you when you leave, though. Especially little Peter, he’s grown quite attached. Hopefully you can find something close by, it would be a shame if you were sent away to somwhere distant, like Ireland.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Charles sighed, getting up from his chair. “Is Erik in his study? I should discuss these things with him ahead of time.”
“Yes, he was there last I checked,” Moira replied, Charles kissing her cheek before heading upstairs to look for Erik. Charles knocked on his door twice, but the movement garnered no response from within, and when Charles opened the door it was confirmed to be devoid of human presence.
Charles searched the drawing room, and came up empty as well. The tutor walked the now-familiar halls, until he looked out the window and saw Erik strolling through the back gardens.
Charles quickly headed down that way, legs moving swiftly in case Erik decided to disappear to another corner of the large estate, and was relieved to find him still there, observing some bloomed pink flowers.
“Erik,” Charles called out breathily, the older man turning with a smile on his face, one that was growing more permanent by the day.
“Charles,” Erik returned, turning to face him fully. “Did you run here from town? Your cheeks are bright red and you’re struggling to catch your breath.” Erik’s tone was slightly teasing, knowing full well that Charles was not nearly as physically fit as Erik, the scholar just rolling his eyes as he slapped his chest to get some more air in.
“I need to discuss some things with you,” Charles said, Erik raising a brow, a movement that endeared Charles more every time. ‘Christ, stop, Charles. Do not fall for him more now that you are exerting your independent will to leave him.’
“About what?” Erik asked, gesturing towards the large open field speckled with a few grand trees a little further off Erik’s property, an invitation to venture there. Charles and Erik walked, Erik standing close to Charles like always, arms brushing. Charles coughed, side-stepping a little, causing Erik’s brow to crinkle.
“You are to be engaged soon, so I need to seek a new situation,” Charles explained, Erik’s head snapping to look at him as they walked, the grass soft and rustling under their boots. Charles pointedly kept his eyes trained ahead of him, noticing how the clouds were beginning to drift in, the late afternoon air growing a little muggy.
“And where did you hear that from?” Erik asked, Charles exhaling loudly.
“Everyone, and it is obvious that you intend to propose soon,” Charles countered calmly, shrugging. “Moira says that it will happen any day now.”
“And you trust Moira to know about my intentions? About my heart?” Erik asked, Charles giving the taller man a slightly frustrated look.
“I don’t need Moira to tell me, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen the way you and Miss Frost look at each other, and even if I was blind, I would still be able to see that you two are an excellent match,” Charles said hotly, Erik regarding him silently. Charles filled the silence quickly. “Look. I have very much enjoyed my time here, and very much love Ironfield. I love the friendships I have with Moira and the others, and I love teaching Peter. And I love-”
“And?” Erik pressed, the two of them stopping to stand beneath a large oak tree, whose trunk was circled by an old and worn wooden bench.
“And, since you are to be married, I need to find employment elsewhere. You will send Peter off to school, and with no pupil there is no reason for me to stay here,” Charles said, Erik scoffing.
“I can think of plenty of reasons for you to remain here,” Erik said, Charles rolling his eyes.
“Erik, I thought you knew me. I… I love being here, but I cannot sit idle with nothing to do. I want to teach children, to educate them so that they can go forth in the world on their own two feet. So, I cannot stay here once you marry. I will not. If you are unwilling to help me find a new situation, then I will advertise myself.”
Charles turned his nose up and spun around, aiming to head back to the mansion. Charles was only able to take two steps before his arm was seized by Erik, who whirled him around forcefully. Charles opened his mouth to utter a slew of rude words at his soon-to-be-ex-employer, but any noise building in his throat was cut off when Erik sealed his mouth over Charles’s.
Charles gasped into the touch, hard and possessive, Erik’s lips rough and all-consuming. His hands tightened around Charles’s biceps, the tutor’s hands flying out to grip the front of Erik’s waistcoat in a bid to not fall to his knees.
Charles was frozen into place, Erik groaning as he tilted his head a little more to slot their mouths together more tightly, and Charles whimpered. Erik’s tongue ran along Charles’s plump and berry-red lower lip, before sliding in and tangling with Charles’s, tasting him.
“Ngh- Erik- What are you-” Charles gasped, growing a mind to gently push at Erik’s chest, their mouths pulling apart with a slick smack. Erik’s chest was rising and falling heavily, but nowhere near as much as Charles’s, whose breaths shook as his cheeks were painted red with heat.
“Stay here. If you don’t find any other reason to stay, I will give you one,” Erik murmured, nudging Charles’s nose with his.
“But… You’re marrying Emma. You- We can’t do this, Erik. This is wrong. We’re both men, and- Oh, God help me. What do I-” Charles stammered, blue eyes growing impossibly wide, frantic. Erik just growled, moving his hands from Charles’s arms to cup his face, pressing his forehead against the younger man’s.
“No, Charles. Do not tell me that this is wrong. You are my equal and my likeness, I’ve known it from the moment I first beheld you. It’s you that I want, you infuriating, intelligent, singular man,” Erik said, voice rough and dripping with passion, Charles’s legs wilting as he whimpered, leaning into Erik’s embrace.
“You… You can’t. You’re not like me, Erik. You can’t… mock me like this. You love women, you’ve told me so yourself. I’m not… I’m not going to be some mistress that you lock away in a tower while you have dinner with your wife! Do you think, because I am poor and little, that because I am a man, I am soulless and heartless? I am not a machine without feelings! I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart, and just because I am unnatural it does not mean that I don't deserve to be loved, fully and completely. I deserve that, just as much as any one!” Charles cried out.
Erik groaned and clunked his forehead against Charles’s again, thumbs stroking Charles’s cheeks, which grew damp with desperate tears.
“Charles, I offer you my heart, my soul. I love you, fully and completely. Please grant me the honour of having you by my side,” Erik said, kissing Charles again, softer this time, but no less passionate. Charles sobbed as he slid his arms from Erik’s chest to wind them around the man’s neck, rising up onto his toes to kiss Erik back with abandon. Erik seemed to sigh into Charles’s returned embrace, wrapping his own arms around the younger man’s soft waist, drawing him closer.
“You love me?” Charles asked against Erik’s mouth, the older man chuckling, pulling back to look into Charles’s eyes, which shone with tears and glimmered like the ocean at dawn. Erik thought he was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and Charles gazed up at his Erik with overflowing adoration.
“Fully and completely,” Erik repeated, Charles letting out a choked laugh and pulling Erik back down to kiss him again, giving in to the blissful feeling of Erik’s lips against his.
“I love you,” Charles whispered to Erik when they finally pulled apart, burying his head into the crook of Erik’s neck, breathing him in deeply.
As they held each other, there was a crackle of thunder, rain beginning to pour down from the heavens. Charles and Erik looked up at the sky, rain pattering against their faces, before looking back at each other and laughing, sharing another kiss under the rain.
“Let’s go back inside, liebling,” Erik murmured, Charles’s heart stuttering at the endearment. They kissed for a moment longer, before linking their hands and running back through the field. Charles didn’t care that the rain was soaking through his threadbare coat, nor that the mud from the field was caking his fraying boots. Charles didn’t care about anything apart from the man beside him, the heat radiating from their joined hands overcoming the chill of the rain.
The two men were giggling like schoolboys by the time they made it back to Ironfield Hall, stepping under the outer covering and shaking their wet clothes uselessly, soaked to the bone. Charles laughed as Erik ran his fingers through his hair, and he was sure his own was plastered unattractively across his forehead, but Erik looked at him like he was the most radiant being he had ever laid eyes upon, and Charles had to kiss him again.
Erik leaned hungrily into Charles’s touch, their mouths moving in synchronisation like their lips were made to slot together. Charles groaned when Erik’s hands gripped at his back and his hips, digging through his soaked layers and warming him up.
Erik crowded Charles against the heavy wooden door to the mansion, Charles laughing as Erik grudgingly fumbled behind Charles to unlock the door but unwilling to pull his lips off Charles. Erik kissed Charles like a drowning man and Charles was air, while Charles kissed Erik with equal need in return, a man in a desert while Erik was his oasis.
The two of them stumbled inside once Erik finally unlatched the door, the tutor and the master trying to stifle their giggles as the ran upstairs, tracking a trail of rainwater and mud behind them. They passed by Charles’s room first, and when Charles turned to open it, Erik murmured a brief ‘no, bed is too small,’ before tugging Charles’s arm further down the hall.
Erik took Charles to his own chambers, which had been relocated after the fire incident, and closed the door behind the two of them. They were both breathing heavily, Charles standing in the centre of the room, water droplets dangling on the fringes of his wet hair and already looking dishevelled.
Erik made his way towards his lover from his position by the door, leaning down now to kiss him slowly, and a little chastely.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for so long,” Erik said gently, cupping Charles’s shoulders, before sliding his hands down until they held Charles’s wrists. “I looked everywhere for you abroad. I went to Germany, to France, to the Americas, but never found you. And then, when I thought I was truly alone, I found you here, waiting for me.”
“You’re not alone,” Charles said, letting Erik guide his hands so they rested on his chest, over his beating heart. “Not anymore.”
The two kissed again, for what seemed like both the first time and the millionth time. As they kissed, Erik untied Charles’s neck tie, discarding it onto the ground as Charles did the same for him.
Hands fumbled between them, not wanting to move apart but needing space to undo the buttons of their waistcoats, which soon fell to the floor beside their ties. Trousers pooled at their feet, and when Charles was only in his shirt he walked backwards until the backs of his thighs hit Erik’s tall bed. The older man reached down to grasp him under his legs, hoisting him up effortlessly, Charles’s shirt rucking up to reveal pale, untouched thighs.
Erik hovered above Charles, kissing his lips, his cheeks, his chin, his neck, before removing the last piece of clothing from the beautiful man beneath him. Erik touched Charles like he was the most precious thing he has ever held before, and so gently that Charles might as well have been made of glass.
They held each other for the first time that night, and when Charles fell asleep curled up in Erik’s arms, the older man leant down and pressed a kiss to the crown of his hair, praying to God to let him keep Charles by his side for the rest of his life.
***
Charles and Erik did not part from each other’s side from that moment on. They woke in Erik’s bed every morning, bodies satisfyingly sore while rolling around naked under the sheets until either one of their stomachs rumbled, and even then, they would lay there tangled in each other’s arms until both of them grew unbearably famished.
Charles began taking all of his meals with Erik, much to Moira’s surprise. Charles felt awkward asking her to serve them their meals, and began to take it upon himself to carry two dishes on a silver tray to share with Erik wherever they wanted. Sometimes they dined in the drawing room while finishing up a game of chess, other times they ate at the table in the back gardens. Most of the time, though, they ate in Erik’s grand dining room. Erik usually ate there alone, and being the lone diner at a table fitting 15 was a solitary and lonely affair. Once Charles joined him, however, all of Erik’s meals were filled with talk and laughter, and the occasional rub of an ankle discreetly beneath the table.
Moira had pulled Charles aside a week after the sudden change in their dynamic. The woman hand frantically asked Charles about what was wrong with Mr Lehnsherr, and had somehow deduced in her confused mind that Erik and Miss Frost’s engagement had fallen through, and now he was trying to diminish his loneliness by spending time with his only friend. Charles had fallen into hysterics and assured Moira that that was not the case, but the woman had not relented.
Charles and Erik were not particularly discreet, though they refrained from kissing each other or touching too intimately in front of others. But when you live amongst people for so long, they are bound to notice things, like how Charles’s room never had a fire going any more, or that there was the sound of chatter emanating from Mr Lehnsherr’s chambers long into the night after the candlelight has darkened.
The person who found out first was Scott, though that was understandable, for a reason Charles was still trying to wrap his head around.
“You lied to me,” Charles seethed, tears collecting in his eyes. It had been a week since Charles and Erik had consummated their secret relationship, and it was far too soon for it to all come crashing down.
“What are you talking about, Charles?” Erik asked, shoulders stiff as Charles thrust a finger out the window.
“You told me that you weren’t marrying Emma Frost! You promised me that you… that you loved me, and now you’re inviting her to our home? Without telling me?”
Erik looked at Charles, blinking twice, before he burst out laughing. Erik slapped the surface of his desk as he laughed wildly, the sudden noise startling even Charles.
“You’ve misunderstood, Charles. Emma is not here for me,” Erik said, smirking a little as he got up from his chair. “Come, let me show you.”
Erik joined Charles by the large window behind his desk, pressing a large hand to the small of Charles’s back. Emma sat on a brilliant white steed in her matching white riding uniform, somehow devoid of dirt specks despite having ridden from her neighbouring estate. Charles had not seen her since before he left for Westchester, but she was still as radiant as ever.
“I don’t understand what you are showing me, Erik,” Charles grumbled, turning to his lover with downcast eyes.
“Just watch, Charles,” Erik said, smiling down at the younger man, who narrowed his eyes at him but turned back to the scene below. Erik’s hand rubbed gentle circles at Charles’s back, a deep swell of affection building inside him as he looked at his intelligent but sometimes short-sighted lover.
Charles continued to look down as Scott appeared from behind a pillar, Emma lightly hopping down from her horse when she saw him. Scott grabbed onto the horse’s reins as always, Emma saying something to him, Scott smiling in response. And then, in a movement that was far too practised to have been novel, Scott leaned forward to kiss Emma square on the mouth, the woman returning the touch by cupping Scott’s cheek with a white-gloved hand.
“What in the dickens?!” Charles exclaimed, eyes wide as Erik started laughing again. Apparently, the noise could be heard from outside, because both Emma and Scott looked up. Scott looked embarrassed, but Emma just smiled, waving up at the two men.
The other couple soon joined Charles and Erik in the study, Scott more scandalised about being caught smooching by his employer and friend than the fact that those same two individuals were also smooching in their spare time.
Of course, once Scott knew, his brother Alex was also informed. He, too, did not care – apparently, he once had a relationship with a man called Armando in the past, but that was tragically cut short when the man passed from consumption years ago.
Unfortunately, word spreads like wildfire amongst servants; once the Summers knew, Angel too found out and was overly supportive of Charles and Erik, just glad that someone could now permanently temper Erik’s foul moods. Lorna was also unbothered, because Peter was always easier to look after when he was in a good mood, and being chastised by Erik when he was angry always dulled Peter’s own temperament. Charles did not know how Anna-Marie felt about it, but on the rare occasion that he saw her, she would give him a small smile that looked like it held a secret, one that made the hairs on Charles’s neck stand up.
Moira was the last to find out, and only realised it when she had walked in on Erik leaning down to peck Charles on the lips one evening. She had screamed, and the rest of the help and run in frantically, only to find Moira a blushing mess and Charles burying his face into Erik’s chest, mortified. Erik just grinned at them all smugly with his shark-like smile, sending them all scuttling off.
Moira didn’t mention it to Charles again, but she would give him worried looks when she thought he wasn’t looking. Charles, for the most part, ignored it – the response from the household was, for the most part, overwhelmingly positive, and that was more than Charles could ever ask for. Amongst these people that he considered family, he never felt like an ‘unnatural child’ or wrong. He just felt like Charles, a man who happened to love Erik.
Charles still felt giddy when he remembered that Erik loved him back.
Now, Charles and Erik sat in the undercover stone pavilion in a corner of the estate, shadowed from the sun and view of the servants. Charles sat on a stone bench, Erik lying across its remaining length with his head resting on Charles’s rounded thighs.
Charles held a small book in his hands, reading it out to Erik in his dulcet voice, the older man’s eyes closed while his mouth was sloped upwards in a relaxed smile.
“Misery and degradation and death and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you of your own will did it,” Charles read, holding the book with one hand while the other carded through Erik’s hair. “I have not broken your heart – you have broken it, and in breaking it you have broken mine.”
“Heathcliff is an idiot,” Erik huffed, Charles closing the book with an amused grin. They had been working their way through Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, and Erik often piped up with grievances about the characters, which Charles found amusing yet annoying at alternating times.
“Why? I find it rather romantic for him to believe that their love is so strong that they would only be parted if one of them willed it, that there is no power in the universe that could break them apart unless they wished it,” Charles said, placing the book down on the bench beside him, now focusing on the man reclining on his lap. Erik just snorted, rolling his eyes.
“It is not romantic, it is foolish. He just won’t get it through his thick skull that Cathy may have had a legitimate reason for leaving him,” Erik explained, Charles raising a brow.
“What do you think is a legitimate reason for someone to leave the one they love?” Charles asked, Erik pondering for a moment, turning his gaze away from Charles.
“Opposing ideals, maybe. Or having the same ideals, but not being able to agree on how to achieve them,” Erik said, Charles chuckling.
“Then maybe I should leave you. We hardly agree about politics, Erik.”
“Don’t joke about that,” Erik said, Charles smiling as he leaned down to press his mouth to Erik’s, the angle awkward with how they’re sitting but the touch pleasant nonetheless. When Charles was about to pull back, Erik let out a disgruntled noise and hooked his arm over Charles’s neck, tugging him back down.
Their lip lock was broken when Charles could no longer contain his giggles, Erik huffing and rolling over so his cheek pressed against Charles’s thigh now.
“What’s another valid reason for someone to leave?” Charles asked again, stroking his fingers through Erik’s hair, his lover exhaling a long breath.
“Maybe if they found out the person they loved withheld something from them, something damning,” Erik said, his voice still and quiet.
“But if they love each other, they wouldn’t withhold anything important from each other, would they? The deceiver must not love the other person very much,” Charles said, Erik shaking his head before turning it to lean into Charles’s thigh, hand squeezing his knee tightly.
“That doesn’t mean they don’t love them. Maybe they just don’t know how to say something. But they love them. They really do love them,” Erik repeated, and Charles felt him press a kiss to his thigh, sighing warmly.
“Mm, if you say so. Do you want me to read more to you now?”
“No,” Erik murmured quietly, eyes closing. “I just want to stay like this, for a while.”
***
“Charles, really?” Erik said, glaring at the shorter man, who only smiled back at him sweetly.
“Peter needs new clothes too. It is only practical for him to accompany us,” Charles responded, holding Peter’s hand as the little boy clambered into the carriage. Charles stood on one side of the door, and Erik on the other, the two of them staring at each other. While Charles just smiled languidly, Erik’s eyes were hot and his mouth was set into a hard line, an expression intimidating to everyone but Charles.
“You are my torturer, Charles,” Erik eventually muttered, deflating as Charles just laughed, climbing into the carriage to sit beside Peter, making Erik glare at him again. Erik stomped his way into the carriage, sitting on the side opposite to Charles and the little beast. Once Scott kicked the carriage into motion, Erik grinned and reached forward to pull on Charles’s arm, the young man yelping as he matched the lurch in the carriage to fall onto the seat beside Erik.
“Erik! Peter is right there,” Charles hissed as Erik held him close to his side in the confines of the carriage. Erik looked at Peter, who was too busy staring out the window at the fields and buildings whizzing past them to even care.
“Peter,” Erik called, the boy turning to him quickly. “If you count the number of buildings that we pass correctly from here until town, I will buy you two new suits instead of one.”
Peter’s eyes gleamed, the boy nodding enthusiastically before turning his eyes back outside with newfound focus, his fingers tapping on the carriage walls as he counted.
“You are impossible,” Charles huffed, but the smile on his face tempered the frustration in his voice.
“You love that about me, especially now that I can just lean down and…” Erik said, leaning down to kiss Charles’s mouth, not too passionately since Peter was in the carriage, but daring enough.
Charles rolled his eyes but gave in to the feel of Erik’s kisses, hungry for them even after indulging in them for the past three weeks.
The rest of the carriage ride went quickly, Peter eventually blurting out a number that Charles and Erik were sure wasn’t correct, but said it was fine any way. Peter beamed, skipping into the tailor’s and beginning to run his fingers through the soft display fabrics and making awed sounds at all the different colours.
The tailor saw Erik, immediately recognising him as the wealthy but stony Mr Lehnsherr from Ironfield Hall, and quickly coming to service him. The man was shocked when Mr Lehnsherr wanted to order five whole new suits for the man that accompanied him.
When the tailor looked at Charles, he was surprised to see that the boyishly attractive man was wearing a terribly old and ill-fitting suit. The tailor wondered why someone of Mr Lehnsherr’s station and reputation was buying so many expensive suits for someone that looked every inch a servant, but did not dwell on it too much when Mr Lehnsherr was paying him such a weighty sum for his work.
Erik ended up ordering six suits for Charles; three day suits and three evening suits, all of varying colours. He even bought Charles three more neck ties, leather gloves and a soft scarf, knowing Charles got cold easily.
Charles thought that would be it, but Erik then dragged him and Peter into a shoemaker’s store, order three pairs of dress shoes and boots.
Mr Lehnsherr paid an extra sum to have the items made up as quickly as possible, the tailor and shoemaker pushing aside other orders to get Mr Lehnsherr’s done. It was not very often that the man bought so many things, and it was even more surprising that it was for someone else. Clearly, that meant this was an important job, and the workers used it as an opportunity to advertise their services to such upper-class gentleman.
It was two weeks later that a carriage laden with boxes of new clothes and shoes arrived at Ironfield Hall, and Charles’s barely-used chambers was converted into a wardrobe. His new clothes covered the untouched bedding, and was draped over the armchair and desk in the corner.
“This is too much, Erik,” Charles complained, Erik watching him fondly as he sat in the middle of a pile of clothes that Erik had forced him to try on, thoroughly enjoying seeing Charles dress up in fine things that were worthy of him. He also thoroughly enjoyed seeing Charles take those fine things off, eventually growing tired of watching him dress and undress and ravaging him amongst the pile of new clothes instead.
That was the first time the two of them slept in Charles’s bed, much smaller than the one in Erik’s chambers, but allowing them a convenient excuse to press tightly together as they slumbered.
***
It was a few days later, after Moira had helped Charles reorganise the mess of clothes that required a new closet to fit into, that Charles retired to bed alone. Erik had been caught up with business, and sent Charles to retire first, the young man having dozed off multiple times as he curled up in the armchair in Erik’s office while the master worked.
Charles did not mind sleeping alone, though he did prefer it when Erik was beside him. Blowing out the candle on the bedside table, Charles lay on his side of the bed, back facing the centre. He had already been half asleep by the time he crawled upstairs and into bed since it was late into the evening now, and drifted off into sleep easily.
Charles’s dream that night was oddly dark, however. It began with Charles standing outside the gate of Ironfield, which was closed and barred with twisted metal, like a goliath had gripped it in his hands and bent it around and around the metal slats.
Behind the gate stood Erik and Emma, hands clasped together. Emma was dressed in white like always, but what was different was that her face was obscured by a gaudy lace veil that sparkled with diamonds.
‘No!’ Charles tried to cry out, but for some reason no sound came out. Charles clawed at his throat and screamed and screamed, but Erik and Emma could not hear him. Charles watched in horror when Erik smiled at the woman in the wedding gown, lifting her veil before closing his pale eyes, then leaning in to kiss his wife on her plush lips.
The scene of the dream changed suddenly, Charles’s body pulled backwards with a phantom force from where he gripped the bars of the Ironfield gate. Charles was plunged into a room full of red, his body small and the faces of Cain and Kurt Marko grinning down at him. Charles screamed again, and like before, no sound fell from his lips as Kurt took off his belt and looped it in his hand, while Cain held a book dripping with blood in his meaty fingers.
Kurt and Cain raised their arms at the same time. When Charles expected the blow to collide with him, an orange light flashed behind his shut eyes, and Charles gasped in surprise.
At the sound of his voice, Charles opened his eyes and found that his vision was blurry, having teared up during his fitful nightmare. He blinked, the strange orange glow of his dream carrying into reality as a candle’s flame flickered dangerously close to his eyes. Charles froze, eyes widening as the candle floated close to him, and he raised his hand instinctively to shield himself from the bright glow.
A candle did not float on its own, though, and Charles visualised a ghost-like figure swathed in a tattered white night gown. The ghost had long, matted blonde hair that cascaded down its back in clumps, and it hunched over itself like its bones were made of liquid. It was a woman, the shape beneath the gown curvaceous in a way a man could not be, but before Charles’s eyes could adjust to the flame’s light it disappeared in a flash, plunging Charles into darkness.
The change in lighting disoriented Charles, and he blinked and rubbed at his face before he heard the sound of cloth tearing, punctuated by the feral noise of growls and grunts. Charles’s heart thumped erratically in his chest as the ghost-like figure tore up the new clothes Charles had worn that day, which he had left hanging on the back of Erik’s desk chair before he went to bed.
‘The Ghost of Ironfield Hall,’ Charles thought to himself, afraid. He kept still, the ghost not seeming to be bothered with him and just angry at the brand-new clothes, which were mere tatters on the floor. The ghost held a knife that looked sharp yet worn, the metal glinting under the moonlight as it slashed through the fabric. Charles observed in still terror as the ghost looked at him again, wearing a face that was not Angels, nor Moira’s, nor Lorna’s, and not even Anna-Marie’s. The ghost wore an unfamiliar face that would have been beautiful if it did not twist in a way that was inhuman.
The human and the ghost stared at each other, the phantom-like woman smiling with deranged abandon, before scuttling out of the bedroom with a terrifying cackle. It was the same laugh that Charles heard the night of the fire, and it struck him in his core.
Charles was too afraid to get out of bed immediately, in case the ghost was still there, lingering in the halls. When he was sure that the laughter had tapered off a long while ago, Charles leapt out of bed and wrapped a thick blanket around his shoulders, the only thing that could cover him that had not been torn to shreds.
Charles did not care that he only wore his night shirt an d a blanketas he raced downstairs, almost tripping on the cloth wrapped around him.
Light still flickered from beneath the door to Erik’s study, and Charles did not knock as he barged in. Erik jumped slightly, looking like he was about to bark out an angered yell at whoever disturbed him so rudely, but when he saw Charles in such frantic, panicked state, the master jumped up with concern.
“Liebling, what happened?” Erik asked hurriedly, Charles throwing himself against Erik, shaking like a leaf. Erik swore under his breath, wrapping his arms around his Charles, kissing his head as he murmured “Du bist sicher, Liebling. You are safe. Tell me what scared you. I’m here, you’re not alone.”
“The ghost,” Charles shuddered out as he buried his face into Erik’s chest. “I saw the ghost.”
Next chapter (7/11) →
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ferylcheryl · 4 years ago
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Cathedral
Chapter 1
CW Infant Death
Private Heather’s exposed brain glistens oxblood and rose in the dim light.
“It’s a pudding, basically,” explains Stanley.
“I would have said ‘cathedral’,” McDonald retorts mildly. “I suppose it depends on the man.” He glances at Stanley, that ineradicable teasing glint in his eye.
And how much he has endured, Stanley thinks to himself. After all, there had been a time that he, too, might have likened man’s brain to a cathedral. Actually, he would have reserved that particular metaphor for the body, for it was more apt: the ribcage curved over heart and lung like the kerfed ribs of St. Paul’s vaulting up over the nave. A lavish miracle of engineering, man and cathedral alike; the one’s form echoing the other. The brain, he might’ve likened more to a clock. No less intricate, far less ostentatious of a metaphor. Or a lightning storm. A nebula of tree roots. Not a pudding, at any rate—but now, that’s what he sees, and that’s how he calls it.
Anyway, he grudgingly likes McDonald. He comports himself with a cheery equanimity more befitting a cook or a seaman than a doctor, and Stanley’s own effort to model a mien more befitting go largely disregarded by both him and Goodsir (who is such a soft, scuttling thing he hardly warrants notice). But McDonald: there’s something of steel in the man, a kind of grit; perhaps the ability to face up to the horror of the brain exposed and scry in it a holiness—and to speak of it with gladness. There was a time they might have been fast friends.
He casts a sidewise glance at Goodsir, who is busy with flame and sealing wax. He’d asked to stay and watch McDonald cauterize the edges, asserted his will in that cringing way of his: how timid he is, yet he seems always in the way, somehow. His mere presence grates. Now, the eyes having been sealed—at Stanley’s request, Goodsir notes—and the cauters heated, Goodsir takes a moment to inspect the brain closely. It is the first living brain he’s seen, the skull shorn away with unnervingly surgical precision, and it is enough in itself. What he means is, man’s engine needs no metaphor to claim divinity: it is out of this labyrinth of pink hillocks and blood vessels as finely-forked and intricate as lightning that the whole of human history is sprung. Yet removed from the context of its vast scope of accomplishment, one might think of it as so much meat. Both men are correct, but neither grasps the full complexity of it.
Nor does Goodsir, in terms he could explain. But for a moment its full complexity is unfurled before him—like Bernini’s St. Theresa, this vision of the brain’s thousand manifestations, transfigurations, iterations pours down around him like shafts of gold: a cathedral, a pudding, a geode hatched open. A chorale of light, of impulse, of blueprints and ecstasies. The holy symmetry of the lobes, their earthen ugliness; by the will of the great animator a thousand cathedrals erected and puddings confected—metaphor is inconsequential in the blinding light of this revelation. Metaphor is language: this transcends.
But it only lasts a moment. He is used to it by now, these—what else can he call them but visions? It is like his mind’s eye is momentarily deluged with a sight not his own, and his intellect (which he recognizes with conditioned humility is not insubstantial) is left to sort it out. When he was a child he tried to share it with others, he discovered that he not only lacked the language but that others did not experience the same. *A capital imagination*, his mother had beamed to a friend once. *Unnatural,* the woman had retorted darkly. He was eight then and never spoke of it again. Not even when it took the form of instructive presentiment. At ten, idly plucking blackberries on a country ramble, he fancied he could taste—for all of him was given to these visions, brain and ear, touch and tongue—within each black-shining drupelet smaller ones, an infinitude of — what might he call them? The matter of all things parsed into smaller, invisible things. And the next week he learned of cells, discovering their name only after tasting them.
He raises his eyes and glances from Dr. Stanley to Dr. McDonald to Stanley again. And again he sees the darkness around Stanley’s head, a scrambled etch-work of black lines, like a child’s drawing of cloud. He drops his gaze. This he is accustomed to as well: a crown donned by the miserable. A few other men aboard wear it—Captain Crozier, for one; Lt. Irving for another. One learns to disregard it.
The room warms incrementally as Stanley leaves it. McDonald crosses behind him in the small space, grazing his hand along the small of Goodsir’s back as he does so. This he does often, and it is such a natural gesture for a man of such bonhomie that Goodsir has only recently begun sensing something more in so many seemingly incidental touches: a brush of fingertips as they exchange an instrument, the older man’s gaze lingering—kindly, but lingering nevertheless—a few seconds longer than necessary.
Perhaps he is imagining it. He hopes he is. Not just because he dreads disappointing McDonald with his eventual rebuff, but because he senses—again, it is nothing he can explain, nor does he see it the way he sees the naked brain before him, the low wooden beams of the sick bay, the anatomical drawings pinned to the wall—a weak, fluttering light, like the beat of moth wings, emanating from Stanley’s heart when McDonald is near. In close proximity, it flickers nearly steadily; it gutters and fades as McDonald moves away. Goodsir knows what it is, though he’s never experienced it firsthand: longing, affection. When shared between two lovers, it buoys him—an aimless sunniness, like one felt as a boy the morning of one’s birthday. But suppressed, as with Stanley’s feeling for McDonald (not even, Goodsir guesses, acknowledged by the sour-tempered veteran to himself) it is an agitation; one’s hands shake and all things, even breath, taste of ash and iron.
———
Stanley sits up in the dark, willing his breath to quiet. He can almost still feel her scant weight in his palms. A skeletal pink thing she was, grotesquely proportioned. All skull and looming eye, like an unfeathered chick. In the dream he bears her before him like an offering, walking down a sun-blown lane of cypresses, birds darting back and forth overhead. She’d come too early, and with her characteristic stoniness Mary had declared it useless to name her. But in his heart he called her Mercy. In the dream he knows without seeing—in that way that dreams manufacture context with no care whatsoever for waking reality—her face, luminous eyes and a prim mouth belying an adamant will. Not here but somewhere else she grows to be willowy and tart-tongued; she marries and bears children of her own. Not in this life but in another will she make him proud and glad. In this life, he wakes tasting ash and iron, his palms open as in supplication to a weight too phantom to quantify.
Goodsir, too, wakes. He does not sit bolt upright in bed but rather lies bleary-eyed, assembling the disparate elements of the dream. Not being his dream, per se, he is detached enough to hold it before his mind’s eye like an anatomical model, turn it this way and that. He does not know whose dream it is. He does know, however, that the dream lives of most of his fellows are dreadfully tedious, and so he’s grateful for this startling departure. Generally, men’s dreams are panting, damp, carnal messes: curves of flesh, gliding hands, blurts of soaked heat. He wakes embarrassed, his own body inert but exhausted. Or he’s seen the million fears any man can have transcribed into just a handful of symbols: the dream of the teeth falling out. The dream where you can neither scream nor run nor speak nor hear; you may as well be a girl’s doll. The childhood home distorted: these, at least, interest him vaguely, for it is a bit like travel. His own dreams? He doesn’t dream them. He sometimes wonders if someone else, someone like himself, does.
But in this dream he is standing at the end of an avenue of cypresses. At his feet, a neat dirt path, impeccably clean edged. A warm day but the breeze bears a chill and the smell of blood, and at the far horizon clouds curdle into smoke. Someone far away, arms held out before them, bearing something small in their cupped hands. The figure shimmers and twitches and he can make out nothing about it: male, female, what. He only knows that the clouds have turned to smoke, conflagration not far behind. It keeps coming and coming, never drawing closer—then it is there before him—first a shuddering dark slit in the horizon and then standing as close to him as only lovers stand. His face is a mass of scarlet and char, but he knows him, he knows him like he’d know his own face in a mirror, but now, upon waking cannot recall who it was.
Peculiar, that he should remember the rest so clearly, but not that crucial detail. Equally peculiar, he realizes, is that he is uncertain of the time; doesn’t know how long he’s slept. Now he’s wired awake in that way his body has of feeling tense and angry if he lies about, so up he gets, dresses in the weak light, and steps out into the dark. Most but the watch are sleeping: late, then, rather than early. He climbs stealthily onto the deck, startling Mr. Hickey, who by his crumpled posture and crabbish, ruddy expression—what Goodsir can see of it between his cap and his scarf, mostly those glittering inscrutable eyes and that outsized nose—was probably woken.
“Warn a man,” he grumbles.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hickey, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he says tartly, hunching his shoulders as he passes him.
“What are you doing up, eh? I’d give my left stone to be abed—“
“I thought you were,” Goodsir says, a bit unkindly perhaps—for he’s never done anything wrong that Goodsir’s aware of, but how he slouches about, the hungry way he is always listening, like a dog watching for a morsel from his master’s table. His proportions all out of sync: that round mouth big nose, all that muscle on a dwarfish little frame. Goodsir chastises himself: <i>he’s an inch on you</>, he reminds himself. <I>And the ladies probably fancy him a yard more for it.</I> Not that Goodsir cares for ladies. He’s simply rather put out that they don’t seem to care for him.
“You’re a funny kind of man,” Hickey tells him.
“I beg your pardon?”
Hickey grins. “You know things.”
“Oh? And what kinds of things do I know?” He turns too quickly and looks Hickey too hard into the eye, sure the witchy vagaries of his brain are writ plain as ABC across his brow. (<I>not that he can read,</I> says Goodsir’s bitter half.)
But then Hickey cocks his head. “As the ship’s doctor, I mean. You must learn a great deal.”
“I’m not the ship’s doctor. Dr. Stanley is. I merely... assist,” he finishes lamely. The ladies must love that knowing grin of his.
At that moment, there’s a creak as Lt. Irving climbs onto deck. His eyes are hard. “Is Mr. Hickey ill, Mr. Goodsir?”
Hickey beams at him. “I’m right as rain, lieutenant. The doctor was having trouble sleeping, I expect, and thought a turn in the brisk air might do him good. Isn’t that so?”
Goodsir nods vaguely and makes to go back down. How funny it is to constantly receive these vague little pricks and pops of energy—like static electricity or near lightning. Like, he intuits now what he could not quite make clear before: first, that the collective fancies of all of London’s fairest would do Hickey not a whit of good, and second, that Irving knows it. By the time he settles back into his own bed, Goodsir’s fretful near unto tears. It’s much too much for one man, to bear scraps and fragments of all other men. He reads until the words blur and drift on the page, falls asleep, and blessedly does not dream.
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the-irish-mayhem · 5 years ago
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One of the mods shows up 15 minutes late with Starbucks. This week has been insane, BUT never fear! The stuff WILL get posed. This is for Fosterson Week Day 5: Throwback Thorsday. We’re fudging the timeline a little bit--imagine that the Thor movie took place around the same time/a bit after the first Iron Man movie in 2008. More of a sketch, a collection of moments than a true fic. (but there is something resembling plot here)
Loki never sends the Destroyer to Midgard.
Read on AO3.
destiny, disrupted
Here is a truth: Loki loves Thor.
Here is another truth: Loki also hates Thor.
Here is the most relevant truth: Loki loves his mother and respects her counsel above all others.
At the end of the day, this is what matters most. Odin sleeps on, Frigga advises her son how to rule, and Loki (mostly) listens.
Thor remains on Midgard. Mjolnir lays dormant in the desert, the magic patient and steadfast. The Destroyer remains in the Vault where it belongs, and the Warriors Three grudgingly accept Thor’s banishment; after all, Loki seems to be (mostly) listening to Frigga, and they are loyal to the throne. Heimdall watches carefully.
The realms continue to turn, Yggdrasil’s branches trembling in the galactic ballet.
Something is drawing near--but not yet.
Years later, he marries Jane in the desert where they met. The marks of the Bifrost have long since blown away by the sharp winds, but it still feels as close to his first home as he can get. It’s a small wedding, made up of the few friends they have plus Jane’s mom and officiated by a local Native American minister.
She throws her arms around his neck when they are proclaimed man and wife, she kisses him like he is her anchor, and he wonders how he ever thought he’d been in love before. He dips her dramatically, and she giggles against his lips. Their small audience applauds, Darcy wolf whistles, and Thor would never have thought he could ever be satisfied, could be happy, with something so small and humble, but it’s perfect, it’s wonderful, and he gets to call Jane Foster his wife.
He takes her last name--she never asked him to, but it seems apt, to Thor, to do it. He is no longer Thor Odinson. The name no longer fits him. His father is gone; his last action had been to cast his son out. It seemed almost appropriate, honorable even, to respect that last ruling by giving up his name. On Midgard, he is someone new. He isn’t the crown prince, he is simply a man. (A man who loves a woman more than life itself.) A new identity, a new life, a new beginning.
And so they begin life as Mr. and Dr. Thor and Jane Foster.
(Distantly, Thor hopes Heimdall has told his mother that her son has happily wed.)
(Distantly, Thor hopes his father would’ve been proud of the small life he is building.)
(And a small life--)
(It doesn’t seem so bad now.)
THEN
SHIELD had left several months after Thor’s arrival. Packed up the facility after it became clear nothing was going to move Mjolnir, and no new data would be gathered from it. Coulson left them a business card, which Thor talked Jane out of throwing away outright. (He knows that having SHIELD on their side might prove useful in the future, even if Jane continues to grumble about jack-booted stormtroopers stealing her life’s work.)
After almost a year, the agent following them finally left too.
Jane rebuilt, Thor helping where he was able, happy to simply be around her. Her energy was unlike anyone he’s ever known, vibrant and frenetic and with an unbridled intelligence that he thought his brother would’ve liked.
Their first kiss was on the roof, late at night with a fire in front of them, Thor pointing out where his planet would be.
“The light from my sun hasn’t reached us yet,” he had said.
“It might in about two thousand more years, if my estimates were right about distance,” Jane had replied.
She’d been looking up, using her hand like a galactic wayfinder of old to measure the stars. The fire glowed orange on her skin, illuminating her eyes like coals. She’s a supernova of her own making, and he’d always known there was something special about her, but in that moment, he’d been struck not just by her beauty in the gentle slope of her nose and cheekbones, but the effortless way she’d folded him into her life, the way she accepted his story--she’d run an estimate on distance because he’d asked her to in a fierce bout of homesickness. (And even if the answer wasn’t great, it was an answer, and then she’d reached out and held his hand and asked him to tell her about Asgard.)
When he kissed her on the rooftop, she didn’t seem surprised--she just leaned into him and let the embers between them spark into flames.
NOW
“It’s a letter from SHIELD.”
“Oh?”
“They want you to advise on a quote ‘top secret project of high scientific importance’ unquote.”
Jane snorts. “They can eat my shorts. It set my research back months to rebuild all my equipment they stole.”
“Maybe you should read the letter,” Thor offers.
Jane waves him off, returning to the small piece of equipment she’s slowly soldering together. “Don’t need to.”
“Shouldn’t you be wearing a mask?” he asks, concerned. “Those fumes can’t be good for the baby.”
She sits up a bit. “It’s only a bit of copper. But I’ll wear one if it makes you feel better.”
“It will.”
Jane gives him a small smirk and a wink as she stands from her station. She’s not showing much yet--she’s just barely out of the first trimester, but Thor can’t help but glance at her belly, at their little miracle.
He looks back to the letter. When Jane returns, mask in place, he says, “How much did you say the university was paying you for your research position?”
Her snort is even more incredulous than before. “Not enough.”
Thor glances down at the letter in his hand, and counts out the zeros after SHIELD’s base salary for the offered ‘long term advisory and research position.’
“I do think you should read this.”
She sighs, and holds out her free hand without looking up.
He can tell exactly when she reaches the “we hope this to be fair and adequate compensation for the services you will provide” portion of the letter based on her eyebrows jumping straight up and the soft “Holy shit,” falling out of her mouth.
“We did need to get out of the one bedroom before the little one makes an appearance,” Thor offers.
“Shit,” Jane says again. “We could forget that shitty two bedroom place we were looking at in Santa Fe.” It’s a soft comment, more of an idle observation than a commitment.
“So you’ll call them?”
“I’ll think about it.”
(She calls them that night, and is on a plane for an interview within 36 hours.)
THEN
In the early days of their courtship, he’d tried every job available to him. He’d worked construction, waited tables at Izzy’s, bartended, answered phones at the sheriff’s office, and sold secondhand furniture. In truth, he did not particularly hate any of these jobs--they just hardly seemed worthwhile to do for the rest of his life.
He’d been used to being significant in a way that being a human man couldn’t quite match. Going from galactically known prince and military leader of a planetary superpower to a small town bartender was a jarring transition, to say the least.
The only place he’d found where that feeling of insignificance faded was at Jane’s side. He’d never had an eye for the technicalities of magic, but he remembered enough from his schooling to be able to help her interpret some of what she was looking at; she was certainly clever enough to fill any gaps in his own knowledge.
“I could use another intern,” Jane had mused one day. Darcy had gone back to Culver after her semester with Jane had finished with six college credits under her belt and a promise to stay in touch.
(“How do you feel about student-teacher relationships?” he’d asked cheekily later on.)
(She’d slapped his shoulder, but given her lips on his not a moment later, he supposed that was his answer.)
NOW
Their new home is lovely. Jane had been added to SHIELD’s payroll two months ago, and they’d collected enough savings to put down a sizable down payment on a nice three bedroom house about a twenty minute drive from SHIELD’s base.
She still hasn’t managed to talk SHIELD into letting her bring him with her.
“They’re fishing for information about you, I know they are. They keep saying shit like ‘oh, your research assistant hasn’t cleared our background checks, but if you help us fill in the gaps, we can do something for you.’ Pffft. Like I’m going to fall for that.”
“And I’m only the research assistant?” he asks from his place by the stove, tossing his chopped bell peppers into the frying pan with the onions.
Jane rolls her eyes and plops down at the kitchen table. “Right? It’s not like they don’t know we’re married.”
“They literally helped me get my driver’s license that lists my name.”
She gives him a helpless shrug. “They have a lot of questions about where you come from.”
“Perhaps we tell them everything. Phil Coulson isn’t so bad, despite what you think.”
Jane growls. “Why you insist on being friends with him I’ll never understand.”
Thor shrugs and bends to check his roast in the oven. “He is a nice fellow.”
“A nice fellow who stole all my research.”
Their doorbell rings. Thor moves to answer it, but Jane flaps a hand at him. “No, no, I’ve got it. You’ve got dinner going.” She slides up behind him and hugs him around the waist, kissing his shoulder blade before stepping away. “Love you. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he answers as she leaves the kitchen. He takes two plates from the cupboard and wonders who could be at their door. He has invited Coulson for dinner in the past (hoping that his wife would bury the hatchet once she got to know him), but he hardly seems like the type to show up if he hasn’t informed the hosts of his arrival.
He’s in the midst of carrying the plates to the table when Fandral, Sif, Hogun and Volstagg walk into his kitchen.
The plates slip right out of his fingers and smash against the tile floor.
(Once the fragments are cleaned up, his friends tell him what has transpired on Asgard in his years of absence. Loki lied, his father was never dead, and a few months ago emerged from the Odinsleep. Loki disappeared soon after, and they’ve heard disturbing rumblings about Loki partnering with the Mad Titan.)
(“We have reliable sources saying he’s hunting for something called the Tesseract,” Sif says.)
(“This Tesseract,” Jane says, “wouldn’t happen to be like… a small-ish, blue, glowing cube would it?”)
(“Yes, that exactly,” Sif says, surprised.)
(Jane winces. “I think I know where you can find it.”)
THEN
Jane liked to cuddle. Especially when she was sated and sleepy, her limbs would tangle around him like an affectionate octopus. It was one of those nights when she asked him, “Would you go back?”
“Hm?” he asked, mind addled by sex and the late hour.
“If you got the chance to go back to Asgard, be who you used to be. Would you take it?”
“I doubt I’ll ever get that chance.”
“Humor me,” she said, insistent in a way that tells him this is far more important to her than she’s willing to explicitly vocalize.
He stared at the ceiling in silence for a long moment, considering his answer, because she deserves a fully honest one.
“I don’t know,” he finally said. “I don’t think I could ever be who I used to be. I haven’t used magic in so many years, I feel like I can’t properly imagine it anymore.” He shifted to look at her. Her head was on his chest, and she steadily met his gaze, brown eyes wide and accepting. “The only way I can imagine going back is if I go back with you,” he said.
(Not long after that, they said I love you for the first time.)
(A half a year after that, Thor asked her to become his wife.)
(Inscribed on the inside of their wedding bands is the phrase Home is wherever you are.)
BREAK
When Jane shows up to the SHIELD base with her husband plus four honest-to-goodness Viking warriors at her back and requests to speak with Agent Coulson the agent on gate duty scrambles to fulfill her request.
While Jane handles the particulars of getting several guests in past security, his friends encircle him, staring at him like he’s a headless banshee. “What?” he asks.
“You’re married,” Hogan states, as though it’s obvious.
“I am.”
“And you’re expecting a child,” Sif says.
“Is there a point to stating the obvious?”
They all look at each other, and then back at him as though he is missing the obvious.
“The only one who was less likely to settle down was me,” Fandral says, an emphatic hand placed over his chest.
Thor shrugs. “I’ve changed.” He looks past them, to where Jane is emphatically gesturing at the agent who is clearly not moving fast enough in getting her what she wants and smiles. “She is everything I never knew I needed in a package I never expected.”
“I think it’s a good change,” Volstagg says proudly. “Becoming a father does tend to mature someone quite rapidly.” He steps forward to give Thor a hearty slap on the shoulder. Forgetting that his friend is no longer Aesir, the gesture nearly dislocates the joint and Thor struggles to stay on his feet.
“This new Thor, I like him!” Volstagg crows.
(The other three don’t look entirely convinced yet, but seem more or less willing to accept him as he is now.)
(Thor loves his friends--he knows them as well as anyone, and thinks that they will come to understand his new life.)
(He knows they want to ask if he will come home.)
(He knows what he will answer.)
THEN
“You don’t have any strong feeling about flower arrangements for the wedding, do you?” Thor asked.
Jane looked up from the book she was reading with a quizzical look on her face. “Uh, no? We’re getting married out in the middle of the desert.” She pauses. “Why? Do you?”
Thor had been idly browsing online and-- “This flower,” he had turned the screen to Jane and she leaned forward. “What is it called?”
“I think it’s a calla lily?” She squinted a little. “Definitely calla lily. They’re a pretty popular wedding flower.”
Thor hummed softly in contemplation. “Do you like them?” he asked.
“They’re pretty and they smell nice, so I guess.”
Thor went quiet for a moment, his eyes unseeing, and Jane bookmarked her book and set it aside. She scooted into his side on the couch and seemed to wake him from whatever spell he’d been under.
“Where did you go?” she asked.
“Just remembering,” he answered. “My mother liked to raise flowers. The palace gardens were almost entirely her handiwork. She was a talented sorceress, so she could’ve easily used her magic to make her garden as beautiful as it was, but she never did. She told me that sometimes the easiest thing isn’t the right thing.” He chuckled a bit at that. “She had lots of gardening life wisdom for us.
“Anyway, her favorite flower was the Queth Blossom. They look almost just like these,” he said.
“Then let’s get them for the wedding--I changed my mind, I have a very strong opinion about flower arrangements and I think they should be calla lilies.” Jane had said; he still remembers the way his heart leapt, and then melted, at her simple declaration. The way she simply said of course to something to remember his mother by. The way she could make him happy by just existing, by just being who she is.
(Jane would eventually tell everyone at the wedding who would listen that the flower arrangements were done in memory of his mother.)
(He loves her.)
NOW
The Tesseract is underwhelming at first, a shiny bauble like millions of others across the universe. Then it opens a portal and Loki emerges from the other side.
Underwhelmed is suddenly the least of Thor’s emotions.
Before Loki can stand and take in the room, Thor shoves Jane under a desk, praying to any deity that will listen that he doesn’t notice her. He can’t bring himself to hide with her. He has to speak to his brother, he has to know what--
“Loki!” Sif shouts.
Loki looks surprised, his attention pulled towards where the Warriors stand in formation with the SHIELD agents who approached the portal.
“Sir, please put down the spear,” calls out Fury.
A blast from the weapon takes down three agents before Thor can say anything.
“Loki! Stop!” Thor shouts, running from his meager cover behind the desk.
Loki knocks back the last of his opponents, downing even Sif and the Warriors with a power that is absolutely beyond anything he knew Loki possessed.
Loki’s eyes find Thor, and Thor barely recognizes the unhinged look in his eye.
“What happened to you?” Thor asks, a soft and genuine query because his brother looks unwell; gaunt, tired, and plain rabid.
Loki doesn’t answer immediately, just stalks forward like a predator.
“I started to see clearly for the first time in my life.”
There are other words, calmly spoken about a world made free from freedom, then Loki drops the visage Thor knows, his skin goes blue and his eyes go red and oh.
(Oh, Loki.)
Thor refuses to falter under the weight of this new truth that he can feel in his bones. He is not mine in blood, but he is my brother. “We were raised together, we played together, we fought together. Do you remember none of that?” Thor asks.
“I remember a shadow,” Loki says softly, stepping closer, skin still blue. “Living in the shade of your greatness.” He laughs. “And who could blame anyone for treating the Frost Giant like an invader who does not belong in his own home?
“And now you are but a man.” He snorts. “A pathetic, human man who can be killed just as easily as everyone else in this room.”
“Spare them,” Thor says. “If you want to take my life as recompense, then--”
(Just his small life. Just his small life with his wife, who he loves, and his unborn child, who he would do anything for. Just his one small life as Thor Foster seems--it seems too big to give up. His heart screams at the unfairness of it all.)
(It is too much to give, it is too much to lose.)
(But if he doesn’t offer to lose it, then everyone will die. He knows that.)
(There’s no such thing as just a small life, Thor knows in that moment. No life in this room is any smaller or bigger than his.)
(He feels like he wants to cry, but he will do it.)
Loki says, “Oh, but I could do that anyway. Besides,” a poisonous grin seeps over his face as he glances over Thor’s shoulder. “It looks like your wife is trying to make trouble for me.”
The floor drops out from under Thor as he looks back to see Jane typing furiously on the control unit that directly affects the Tesseract’s behavior. It’s sparking, just like it did when it opened to bring Loki here, and his brilliant wife is this close to being able to send him away--
Loki sends Thor into a wall with a flick of his fingers. Dazed, possibly concussed, but otherwise unhurt, Thor tries to stand, feels a scream inching out of his throat as he watches Loki magically drag Jane from behind the station.
Thor has never understood what made him worthy of Mjolnir in the first place.
He’d first picked it up in his youth, when he’d been emotional and his magic had been out of control-- Mjolnir had been a focusing point, something to channel himself through, something that felt like an extension of his connection to a storm. He’d been so busy trying to be the best warrior Asgard had ever seen, he’d never stopped to really think about what being worthy meant.
He learns what worthiness means in the space of a heartbeat.
He learns what it means the instant Loki turns his sight on Jane.
He reaches out, instinct, need, his magic reawakening, he does not know.
Mjolnir answers.
The hammer rips through the domed ceiling above them, and flies straight to his hand. The storm fills him once more and it’s only now that he has it back that he can feel the ache of its absence.
Loki, for the first time since he stepped into the room, looks scared.
Jane just grins.
(Later, when she gets the chance to examine the armor up close, she asks, “Is this how you normally looked?”)
(He answers, “More or less.”)
(She smiles like a woman who is absolutely going to ask him to wear his armor in bed later.)
(“It’s a good look.)
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barbariccia · 4 years ago
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i’ve always thought omega had a really cool design. it’s a gritty place, in keeping with its name - omega ( Ω or ω ), as the last letter of the greek alphabet, tends to symbolize the end of something (typically in a line or list of things that have come previously), especially in christian camps, contrasting alpha ( Α or α ) which refers to the beginning. the alpha and the omega are a title of christ and apt enough, meaning that christ is the beginning and the end of all things.
suitable, then, that omega is in terminus space - the end of civilization - and frequently left abandoned, in the corse of an asteroid.
as you land, you’re approached by a salarian, and then a batarian, who tells the salarian to make himself scarce after a brief meeting. the batarian turns to us.
Moklan: Blasted scavengers. Welcome to Omega... Shepard.
turns out we’re not exactly on the down-low, and they’ve had their eyes on us since the second we stepped into omega space, with the so-called leader aria wanting to know why a dead spectre is in her area. we’re told in no uncertain terms to go make ourselves known to her, and, well, we don’t exactly know where we’re meant to be going to find our scientist yet, so we might as well.
aria t’loak resides in the afterlife club, because just because you’re at the end of all things doesn’t mean there’s nowhere else to go. it’s big and gaudy and in high demand; a vid of three asari strippers dancing plays directly above the entrance, and a line of people is waiting impatiently to get by the elcor bouncer, who’s got no time for these people who aren’t on the list. and boy, it’s gaudy on the inside, too, with the hallway leading to the club proper playing images of flickering fire. oh, and the lighting in here is atrocious, truly suitable for a nightclub.
there’s a little pack of batarians who think you’re looking at them wrong, and you get to tell them to pound dirt before you enter afterlife... which is a wholeass spectacle.
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it’s dark and dingy and there’s asari dancing above the bar, where you can order as many drinks as you like from, courtesy of a well-dressed turian barkeep. after a little dutch courage, you can go up to the next level, to the private lounge where aria keeps her eye on the rest of the club, and as you ascend the stairs, she speaks.
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it’s a whole mexican standoff of sorts, guns pointed in every direction, and me just wanting a nice chat with a new friend. :( her batarian bodyguard scans us with his omnitool - and even if you object, you’ve no choice but to suffer through this.
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Shepard: I was told you’re the person to talk to if I have questions.
Aria: Depends on the questions.
Shepard: You run Omega?
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aria might just be my favourite asari in the franchise; she still suffers from “skin on display even while dressed” disease, but she feels fully autonomous and doesn’t put up with bullshit. sure, the idea of a Tough Woman is a whole trope in and of itself, but in a series where belonging to this particular race throws you firmly into one of three feminine ideals while considering them a magical space-elf race that everyone’s attracted to by rote, it’s real nice to see an example that doesn’t do the same thing as everyone else. hell, even benezia is blown out of the water by aria, who doesn’t come across as evil so much as self-serving, and tough to keep her iron rule going.
Shepard: One scan and we’re straight to business? People are usually more concerned about who I am.
Aria: Your death was downplayed, but hardly what I call a secret. I had to make sure it was really you. You could have been anyone. Anything.
Shepard: Tell me how you got set up here.
Aria: That’s as privileged as information gets. I have many friends and enemies I keep at varying distances. I don’t count you among either. We’ll see how useful you prove. Short answer: mind your own damn business.
Shepard: You must know what’s on Omega.
Aria: Everything that’s worth knowing. I don’t usually give it out freely. Information is power. Mundane things, you can find yourself. Take a walk in a back alley, or buy one of the mercs a drink. Better yet, talk to the entertainers. They give great tours.
there are two dossiers to fulfill on omega, and you can ask aria about both of them.
Archangel is a mercenary commander whose operations are noted for their technical expertise and strategic brilliance. He is responsible for high-profile attacks on gang leaders on Omega and can likely be found there.
Dr. Mordin Solus is a salarian biological weapons expert whose technology may hold the key to countering Collector attacks. He is currently operating a medical clinic in the slums of Omega.
Shepard: I’m trying to track down Archangel.
Aria: You and half of Omega. You want him dead, too?
Shepard: Why’s everyone after him?
Aria: He thinks he’s fighting on the side of good. There is no good side to Omega. Everythign he does pisses someone off. It’s catching up to him.
Shepard: Just the kind of guy I’m looking for.
Aria: Really? Well, aren’t you interesting. You’re going to make some enemies teaming up with Archangel. That’s assuming you can get to him. He’s in a bit of trouble right now. The local merc groups have joined forces to take him down. They have him cornered, but it sounds like they’re having trouble finishing him off, and started hiring anybody with a gun to help them.
Shepard: What can you tell me about him?
Aria: Not as much as I’d like. He showed up here several months ago and started causing all sorts of problems. If you make your own laws -- which everyone her does -- he makes life difficult. He’s reckless and idealistic. But he seems to know enough to stay clear of me.
she tells us that every major merc group is after archangel right now, which is incredible in itself, because they’re never seen together unless they’re warring. archangel has done the impossible.
Shepard: Know where I can find Mordin Solus?
Aria: The salarian doctor? Last I heard he was trying to help plague victimes in the quarantine zone. I always liked Mordin. He’s as likely to heal you as he is to shoot you.
Shepard: What can you tell me about him?
Aria: Used to be part of the Salarian Special Tasks Group. He’s brilliant and dangerous. Just don’t get him talking. He never shuts up. If you really need to find him, take a shuttle to the quarantine zone. No guarantee they’ll let you in, of course.
that’s all aria has to say; we take a trip downstairs to sign up with the blue suns to hunt down and flush out archangel. but not before some sexism!!
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you DO NOT GET THIS LINE or any equivalent if you’re playing as a male shepard. all the recruiter says is “you three look like you could do some damage. looking for a good fight?” and BOY FUCKING HOWDY why would you include this. why would you include this line at all. why would anyone think this was a good idea. why would you not include an equivalent for mshep if you were going to do this. i hate this line and i lose my fucking temper every time i think about it because wow, guess fucking what, we never see any batarian females! we never see any salarian females! we never see any god damn turian female characters! we don’t know SHIT about the women of this universe and oh, it’s so gratifying to know that even in the future, even across the galaxy, even non-humans don’t value women as equal to men. where’s your culture differences? where’s your fucking worldbuilding? you cannot mean to tell me the entire galaxy works on the same sexist paradigm of “man good women weak hurrhurr” because that’s so fucking lazy and weak and i despise it.
you get a choice (renegade, obvs), to pull a pistol on the guy, and then the lines carry on as usual. you buy into the blue suns, making a note to kill every one of the bastards when you’re done picking up archangel, and leave the club to find a transport just outside, where we’ll be carried away to the fight against archangel. as you leave, there’s a human kid that walks in and wants to join the fight as well - you can ask him just how old he is, and do a paragon interrupt to stop him from joining a fight that’s already taken out countless teams trying to get to this merc, but i was angry enough that i let it slide. teach the kid a lesson about trying to be fucking macho and the consequences.
grumbles loudly.
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msephy · 5 years ago
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Upbringing chap 9/13
The story is done! I’ll post the rest of the chapters one by one in the next few days :)
Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8
Cross-posted to AO3
Earth 53 - Jason Todd
They arrived too late. When Batman and Jason did eventually find the cache where the League of Shadows had settled while in Gotham, not too far from Talia’s sighting, it was empty. It would even have been hard to find traces of their passages if not for Batman’s top-notch technology – and a few things Jason had in his gear that came from having a timeline slightly ahead in time.
Bruce didn’t swear, but the set of his shoulders spoke volumes.
“Robin,” he called in the com. “Open up a map with all known League hideouts.”
“Can you send that to the Batmobile?” Jason asked suddenly. “Our worlds aren’t that different. Maybe there are a few I know that you don’t.”
“Too risky.”
“You mean that we have too many places to check as it is,” Jason translated. “Except most of those will be pointless, because Ra’s probably knows you know about them.”
Bruce pursed his lips. Jason shrugged. “It’s worth a try?”
“Fine. Robin, prepare and send the data. ETA, seven minutes.”
He fired his line without any wasted words. Jason followed, heading back to the Batmobile, frowning slightly. Bruce retreated in himself when he was hurt, or worried. That made him look cold, but it was just a defense mechanism. How had Jason not noticed before?
Because this younger Bruce was easier to read? Or because he was less emotionally involved himself.
They didn’t talk, not to slow down, and landed each on a side of the car. Jason slipped in it and absentmindedly glanced at the time. They did take seven minutes to reach it.
“Robin, status.”
“Hang on. Here, did you get it?”
The batmobile’s built-in computer opened into a world map where several dots appeared.
“Yes,” Bruce confirmed while Jason tried to zoom in.
That thing wasn’t up to his standards of technology, but he still managed after a while.
“How do we select a destination?” Jason asked.
“Didn’t you want to add your own?”
“I don’t have a computer in my brain. Talking it out would help.”
Though Jason had a bad feeling about this one. If he was right… Bruce started talking about the closest pits but they both knew Ra’s wouldn’t take Damian there: the ones around Gotham were the ones where the Bat would have the most control. Yet if his body was deteriorating quickly, Bruce thought out loud, he might not have the luxury of a choice.
Then Dick interrupted through the com. “I just received a signal from a plane. Small one, privately owned. It’s already far from the coast, heading East.”
“Can you track it?” Bruce asked.
“No, it only latest thirteen seconds; not long enough for me to use it to hack my way in. Sorry.”
“It’s enough, though,” Jason said. “They’re leaving the continent for sure, and if they are willing to take the time to cross the Atlantic, then I know where they’re going.”
“You’re thinking about their headquarters in Bhutan?”
“No,” Jason shook his head. “The place you’re referring to is their training grounds. They have many more hideouts in the mountains, especially in Tibet.”
Jason could head Bruce frown. “Just drive. We need the plane in any case.”
Thankfully, Bruce didn’t protest, starting the car and accelerating. They’d reached the highway when he talked again. “Tell me more about this place.”
“There is not much to say. The infrastructure is big enough to host Ra’s usually guard of followers and private enough that they won’t be distracted by the League’s internal politics.”
“And you know about it, because…?”
“The League had reasons to trust me the way they don’t trust you. I’m carrying guns, what did you expect?”
Bruce’s disapproval transpired through his every pores. Jason couldn’t care less, especially not when it gave them invaluable intel.
“Are you sure they’re there?”
“Of course no, I’m not sure,” Jason spat. “And you know it. But Talia should find a way to communicate with us again, given the chance. If we’re close enough to act, then we’ll be able to strike. They won’t expect us to know the layout of the place, or even where it is situated at all.”
“Don’t rely on your knowledge of this place in another world too much.”
“Any better ideas?”
Bruce, of course, didn’t answer. The trip continued in silence. Why was Jason even worried? He barely knew the brat. Besides, he’d really brought that on himself, running away like this.
But Damian was a Robin, even if he didn’t bear the name in this world. And a kid, of course.
Then an icon blinked on the monitor, indicating someone was trying to reach Batman – and that that someone was Superman. Bruce took the communication.
“Superman,” Bruce greeted in Batman’s voice. “I’m in the Batmobile with Jason Todd, we’re listening.”
“Hello, Batman, Mr Todd. I have good news. We have found some promising information about the multiverse, from one of Green Lantern’s contacts. We found a Dr Lrvnjrnz who might be able to help us. He’s willing to come on Earth to discuss it further.”
“We don’t have the time for this shit right now,” Jason said without hesitating. “It will have to wait.”
Bruce glanced at him briefly, before concentrating on the road again. For the first time since Jason arrived, he saw his shoulder relax, just so slightly.
“Agreed,” Bruce said. “We’re busy with an emergency, Kal, I’ll call you back.”
“I’m not sure Dr Lrvnjrnz will still be available.” Superman’s tone was interrogative.
Surely, Bruce would be able to save Damian without him. And people on his side were likely not looking to bring him back.
Somehow, it was the easiest decision Jason had ever made.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jason said. “We’ll call you back when we have time, Superman.”
And he cut the communication.
###
Earth 1 – Jason Wayne
Was everyone on this Earth old, stern and marked by pain? Jason wondered, when he saw the face of Kal El appear on the Batcomputer’s monitor. Maybe it was just age. Maybe it was just Kal. He’s always been quite apt at putting on the façade of the Man of Steel. Probably a good skill to cultivate, when one faced Lex Luthor regularly.
But still.
“From our readings, it appears an anomaly occurred three days ago. A rift. We couldn’t trace the origin, it might have nothing to do with either of the worlds involved.”
“You mean like that time with Prime.”
“Something like that, though of a much lower order of magnitude. I’ve scanned the area, I see no trace of foreign particles, except in the Cave.”
“That would be me,” Jason mused. Kal looked at him for the first time since the conversation started, and he smiled his most Lutherian smile. “Hello, Kal El, nice meeting another version of you. My apologies if I don’t follow multiverse etiquette, it’s my first encounter with it, I’m afraid.”
Kal nodded. “Nice to meet you too, Mr Wayne.”
Jason grimaced; he even saw Bruce wince. “Jason, please. There is no need to be formal. I’m glad to hear you detected the cause, but does this lack of details mean we won’t be able to reproduce the effects?”
“It won’t be needed,” Kal reassured him. “Inverting the two of you would require a comprehension of the multiverse that we don’t have, but opening a portal to another Earth should be doable.”
Jason let out a breath. He was going to see his little brother again, and his two nephews from hell. He hadn’t intended to stay even if there hadn’t been a way: he would have found one. But still, it was nice to hear that would happen sooner rather than later.
“Thank you, Kal El.  That’s a relief.”
“It’s still a delicate operation, not something we can do every day without causing further instabilities. Especially since we aren’t sure of the cause in the first place.”
“I’m bringing Jason back,” Bruce said, his tone definitive. There was no asking to which Jason he referred. He wasn’t about to leave his adoptive son in another world, however welcoming it might be.
“Two openings should be enough for our system to support. But we can’t make it portable.”
“We can’t leave from the Watchtower, we’d end up in space,” Jason commented.
“No, indeed,” Kal agreed. “We’ll have to move the necessary machinery to our headquarters on Earth. As some of it is delicate, it won’t be ready until tomorrow.”
“That’s a date,” Jason commented absentmindedly, before noticing the absolute shock on Kal’s face. He laughed. “Just an expression, Superman, except if you actually are interested?”
“I’ll have to decline. Batman, Mr… Jason. I’ll keep you updated on the move.”
“Thank you, Kal,” Bruce said, nodding at him.
Kal nodded back then cut the communication. Jason turned to Bruce. “Anything I can help with in the meantime? I’ll need distraction from the wait.”
“You’ve been helping already”, Bruce answered.
“Handling your files is something I can do in my sleep. And it’s probably best if I don’t get too involved in your nightly activities, at least, I shouldn’t go out in person too often. Though accompanying Dick was… interesting.”
“You ran into trouble?”
“You know we didn’t. Nightwing is amazing, as you already know, but it has to be noted.”
Bruce didn’t quite smile, but Jason could see the warmth in the way his shoulders relaxed, his head almost nodding in approbation. His cowl did make it harder to read his expressions, though.
Jason frowned. “You’re not coming in the gear, by the way, are you? We won’t want to Batmen crossing paths, or even just criminal thinking you’re my brother and attack you because of something he did.”
The card which hung above their heads was kind of hard to miss. They also had a Joker around. Maybe he wasn’t as possessive and manipulative in this world than in his? Or maybe this Bruce had been caught in the clown’s parody of a courtship. Either way, he didn’t want them to cross paths.
Bruce’s frown was visible despite his mask.
Jason snorted.
“You can take gear if you insist. But, really, you could just wear jeans and a t-shirt and nobody is going to recognize you. You’re ten years older than Bruce, even if you weren’t a good actor.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“The hell you are. It’s my world we’re going to, and it will be my rules.”
Jason smiled to soften the blow, but his tone was adamant. Bruce grumped, which meant he didn’t want to agree out loud but still would go along.
“Any idea on how to find your Jason Todd when we’re there?” Jason asked. “I mean, if he contacted my brother it will be easy, but otherwise?”
“He’s not the most subtle person,” Bruce sighed. “If he doesn’t actively try to stay hidden, he shouldn’t be hard to pinpoint. There are good chances he went straight to the Cave, though. Despite our differences, he would have known contacting your brother was his best chance of finding his way back.”
That was the most words Jason had heard him say, and he didn’t miss the tension in the last sentence. “You think he might not want to come back?”
Bruce pointedly didn’t answer, removing his cowl to sit at the computer instead. Which was an answer per se. Though, well; a supervillain. Jason would always remember the face of the local Alfred when he’d opened the door to see him standing there.
He shuddered.
Then he pulled through it and joined Bruce, standing at his right hand. “Care to hear about what my Gotham is like? I was up to date with the latest criminal developments when I got here.”
Bruce didn’t answer for a long while, typing in the document he’d opened. Then, finally, he closed it and opened a new, blank page – then nodded, one.
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glass-neo-alchemist · 5 years ago
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if youre still up for it, caaaan i have a fic where hyde is surprisingly apt at something no one wouldve though he'd be good at? theres a sketch of hyde playing the piano for example, that might be weird for the other characters like lanyon to witness, or him being good at alchemy, or anything everyone might know jekyll is good at but dont expect it from hyde
Sorry this took super long!
Sticky Situation
Moments after Edward Hyde had wiped the green substance away from his eyes and mouth, the man had changed his clothes as fast as possible and had his foot out the window in a matter of minutes. He had nearly launched himself onto the roof before he heard a scream.
Surprisingly, it came from below him, and not on the sidewalk a story below him, but it sounded like it came from the room below Jekyll’s office.
“What was that?” Jekyll’s voice came from his sudden appearance in the mirror.
“Umm- something that doesn’t concern me?”
“ Edward! Someone could need help!”
“Not my help, Jekyll, it’s my night, my decisions, remember!” Edward glared at his other in the mirror.
“ Please Hyde, just for a moment, just to make sure everyone’s ok!” Jekyll pleaded, ignoring the glare. “Then you can go right back to what you were doing, I won’t bug you for the rest of the night I promise!”
Edward sighed and seemed to consider the proposition very deeply for a moment before sighing again with a muttered “Fine.” before dropping from the window with a small whoop and catching himself on the sill below, a fading “Thank you. ” from Jekyll was  ignored. He caught his balance on the small ledge and dug his fingers into the small crack in the window, hefting it open.
The room below Henry’s office was actually a lab, one most often used by Miss. Ito, and on the occasion, Henry himself.
The very scientist in question was in the lab as anticipated, however she was joined with two other lodgers, what seemed to be Miss Lavender and Dr Helsby.
The only thing out of the ordinary in the scene was the fact that Dr Helsby was stuck to the ceiling and Miss Lavender was attached to the wall. Miss Ito had her hands covering her face, standing between the two a couple feet from one of the lab tables.
“Oh! Hello there Mr Hyde!” came Miss Lavender’s voice from the wall as she craned her neck to see the intruder that had just entered through the window. From his place on the ceiling, Dr Helsby attempted to get his head to turn enough to face the blond, and upon failing sighed.
“Hello Mr Hyde.”
“ Mr Hyde’s here? Where is he?” the muffled voice of Miss. Ito was barely heard from behind her hands, and was only muffled further as it was covered by the sound of Edward cackling.
The blond fell to the ground from the window as he laughed, nearly doubling over as he landed. The two scientists that could still see him glared and Edard had a feeling the same could go for Miss Virginia Ito should she be able to move her hands from her face.
“What the hell did you lot do?” he said between laughs as he jumped up onto the table in front of the junior neoalchemist, settling into a crouched position as he surveyed the mess on the table. He just make out some clear liquid coating the edge of the table and running up in a pattern of explosion to the three lodgers.
“All I wanted was some polite conversation-” Dr Helsby was cut off by the muffled yell of Miss Ito.
“You two got into a yelling match!”
“I’m so sorry Miss Ito I can’t hear you over the sound of Helsby’s Bullshit!” Miss Lavender yelled over the muffled woman
“ MY bullshit! Quite frankly, Miss Lavender, the fact you won’t even entertain the idea-”
“The Idea that it would be a good idea to revive an Extremofauna, and then let it loose on the streets!-”
“Those were not my exact words!”
“Would the two of you shut up!”
There was silence for a moment as Hyde’s head finally stopped bouncing back and forth as if he was watching a tennis match. A few moments later the two scientists whose feet did not touch the ground said in unison.
“ What?” Miss Ito let out a muffled sigh and shook her head. Edward laughed once more as the argument ceised.
“Damn you guys are a riot, I’ll tell you that.” he said, both Miss Lavender and Dr Helsby frowned at him.
“Do you think you could be of some, ah, assistance to our-ahem- sticky situation? Mr Hyde?” Dr Helsby asked from the ceiling and Miss Ito shook her head.
“He wouldn’t know the formula I was using- he’d have to ignite the solution using the same ingredients I was using and I very much doubt out Mr Hyde here has any experience with chemistry-”
“Excuse me Mr Hyde? You wouldn’t happen to be able to hear Miss Ito better than I? She could probably walk you through how to un-stick us?” Miss Lavender asked across the room, Edward rolled his eyes.
“Apologies Miss Lavender, afraid I can’t hear a word out Miss Ito’s mouth at the moment.”
With that the man hopped up onto his feet and gave a grin.
“Welp! Hope you all have fun hanging out!” the blond man laughed again and was about to jump back out the window before being stopped by a “ahem!” Coming from the window pane, at a glance, Jekyll was glaring at him.
“ I told you to help.” Hyde pouted, causing Henry to glare at him. “ Keep your end of the deal Edward.” The blond rolled his eyes at the red specter and groaned, but still turned back around with a muttered “ fine”
“Oh! Mr Hyde I thought you were going to leave! It’s fine, really, it’s best you not get involved if you can’t hear Miss Ito to give you instructions, really I’d rather you not get stuck too by messing with things you don’t understand-“ Miss Lavender yelled over as Edward stalked back to the table, jumping back on top. He started gathering up the vials and ingredients still left on the table intact from whatever exploded. Halfway through Miss Lavender’s speil, Hyde had started mouthing out her words like a six year old, the scientist stopped to glare at him.
“Although I’m sure whatever lecture you’re about to give me is sure to be absolutely riveting Miss Lavender, I think I’d like to pass this time around.” Mr Hyde have the woman on the wall a sarcastic smile as he took a box of matches from his pocket.
“Now hold on a moment Mr Hyde, you’d have to know complex alchemy in order to get rid of-”
“Mr Hyde if you don’t mind me asking, uh, do you even know much about alchemy, because maybe you should go get Dr Jekyll before lighting that match and potentially burning us alive!” Dr Helsby yelped when he saw what Edward had procured from his coat pocket, speaking over the surprised, but muffled, “Match!” from Miss Ito.
Edward smiled.
“Oh but where’s the fun in that?” Mr Hyde dropped the match on the clear glue substance.
In the whole time it took for the substance to be lit aflame and immediately doused again, Miss Lavender and Mr Helsby both still had their mouths open in a gasp, only to gasp again when the two fell to the floor. Miss Ito ripped her hands from her face and shook off  her stiff joints before looking back at Edward in surprise.
“Mr Hyde! I had no idea you were trained in alchemy!-” Miss ito cut herself off when she was met with thin air. The space where Edward had been standing in was empty, and the window was ajar as the lodgers surveyed the area.
“Aaand he’s off again.” sighed Lavender
“What a percurlar man.’ agreed Dr Helsby
Miss Ito frowned.
“I would love to know what he’s hiding.”
35 notes · View notes