#and the longer the gap between the proposal and my announcement the more awkward

[exuberantoctopus]

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[swervingkpoptrashcan]

I Wanna Be Your Favourite Boy - Felix (best friends to lovers fluff)

Summary: No one expected that acting for your friend’s film project would force you and your best friend, Felix, to act on your feelings. (lol)

Genre: Female reader, fluff, best friends to lovers AU, college AU, ft. Hyunjin

Word count: 1.4K

Note: The longer and more edited version of this blurb, the title and story is loosely based on the Rex Orange County song, Best Friend. I’m also a scriptwriting student and I LOVE dialogue so… I love Felix and also Hyunjin, tell me what you think and if there should be a part 2!

“Sorry, she can’t.”

You tear your eyes away from the cute boy in front of you, quickly glaring at your best friend who had just said the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard.

“Haha, you’re so funny Felix.” You replied in a (very obviously) forced joking tone, aggressively mouthing for Felix to cut it out.

You focus back on the boy in front of you, who’s fidgeting as he waits for your reply.

“Sure Hyunjin, just drop me a text and let me know when you need me.”

A smile grows on the boy’s face before he excitedly nods and bids you and Felix goodbye. You turn to face Felix who has a frown on his face as Hyunjin bumbles away.

“Why are you being mean to the poor kid, he just needs help for an assignment. Plus, aren’t you guys like friends?” You questioned.

A pout forms on Felix’s face, as he clings onto your arm and mutters, “Yeah, he’s in my dance team, but… He obviously likes you and I don’t like that.”

You couldn’t control your heart that picked up speed — it was difficult to not crush on Felix when he always pulled things like this, but you knew a relationship wouldn’t ever work out between the two of you. Felix just never seemed interested.

Although everyone thought you guys were dating, Felix would always deny any possibility of a relationship forming, replying with a firm, “We’re just friends”.

So you crack a smile at what he said, thinking that he was just protective over you since you had a terrible track record of relationships. You gave Felix’s head a pat before shoving him off your shoulder, him pouting and rubbing his head. 

“Anyway, why couldn’t Hyunjin ask me? I’m totally actor material. Psh, what a dumb excuse. He’s just too scared to ask you out on a date.” Felix grumbled, taking a sip of his tea. 

You tutted and shook your head, offering a bite of your cake to Felix so he would stop grumbling. Hyunjin was a film major, and needed a main lead for one of his class assignments. Though you didn’t know much about the film, he was a cute nice boy, and Felix’s friend, so you didn’t see any problems helping him out. 

“Just come with me if you’re so worried, I’m sure Hyunjin won’t mind.”

— 

Felix looked on in pure rage as Hyunjin talked to you. All Hyunjin was doing was rehearsing with you, demonstrating the actions the male lead — who was nowhere to be seen — was supposed to do. 

Stood by the camera equipment and the rest of the crew, Felix was far enough that he couldn’t hear the conversation happening. He could, however, see Hyunjin cozying up to you, stepping close and leaning down to look you in the eye as you struggled to hold back a laugh. When the pair of you look over, Felix quickly returns his gaze to check his empty phone lockscreen.

Unbeknownst to you, Felix was struggling to keep his feelings under wraps. Though it seemed so easy to just confess and call you his, he always saw the look you gave him whenever people asked, “Oh, why aren’t you guys dating”. Thinking you were uncomfortable, he came up with the bright idea to just deny any of these suggestions. The last thing he wanted to do would be to force his feelings on you and lose years of friendship.

Felix peeked and saw Hyunjin leave to talk to one of his crew members, leaving you standing in the shade under a tree, muttering to yourself. He walked over with your favorite drink, seeing your flushed face. 

“Tell me again how Hyunjin isn’t doing this to flirt with you?” He questioned, watching you slurp away at the ice cold beverage.

“Hyunjin’s just making sure I don’t mess up his project, that’s not flirting, dummy.” 

Felix shook his head at your lack of awareness, knowing full well what Hyunjin was up to. 

Except, he really didn’t. 

— 

“Felix probably wants to rip my head off right now.” Hyunjin states as he leaned towards you. 

You held back a laugh, shaking your head, “No, he’s like my biggest fan but it’s not like we’re dating or anything.” 

Both of you glance over to Felix who was looking at his phone, unbothered, just like you thought.

Hyunjin tuts and moves away from you. “No one buys that, by the way. As much as both of you say no way, we all know you guys like each other.” 

You blushed at his words but couldn’t deny anything. Hyunjin shot you a knowing look before he got called away by his producer. 

—

“No way dude, are you out of your mind! I’m not actor material!” Felix argued. 

By a stroke of luck (or well, misfortune), the male lead was down with a terrible case of stomach flu. Hyunjin had literally gotten on his knees to beg Felix to save his project, but the boy was stubborn and rejected him. With only a few hours left of sunlight, Hyunjin just needed a new lead to do some lines and Felix was the only choice.

“Please! I know you helped with her lines, why not just act with her then? Isn’t that just perfect?” Hyunjin pleaded, even going as far as to give you his puppy dog eyes.

You tugged at Felix’s arm and he leans down to hear you whisper, “Just do it and I’ll owe you a favour.” 

His eyebrows raise at that proposal, and he instantly agrees.

“Hyunjin, you owe me big time.” You smirked.

— 

Hyunjin watches the camera monitor as you and Felix complete yet another scene without any issue. Not surprising anyone, the chemistry between the two of you was perfect. 

“Okay, last scene, let’s move!” Hyunjin announced.

As the crew packs up, Felix reviews the script for the last scene. You bumble over and the both of you make your way to the next location, a classroom on the other side of campus. 

“I can’t believe I have to be all couple-y with you.” You joked, reading through the script.

Felix stopped walking, staring at you. “What does that mean?”

“I mean, if it was with some stranger it would be easier. But you’re like my best friend and I have to ‘almost’ kiss you? That’s so awkward.” You explained, tugging him along the hallway.

While what you said made sense, Felix couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart, but he could only let out a sigh and get dragged along. 

Upon reaching the empty classroom and deciding to rehearse the ‘difficult scene’ before everyone else got there, the pair of you sit criss-cross applesauce on some tables, facing one another. 

“You’re still my favourite girl. But...” Felix said.

His gaze was piercing and you had to force yourself to remember that it was just the script. It wasn’t real.   

“What?” You asked.

“I wanna be the one that makes your day.” He replied, scooting nearer to you.

His knees bump yours.

“The one you think about as you lie awake.” He leans in.

His hands are on either side of you.

“I wanna be your favourite boy.” He gently places his forehead on yours.

His breath fans across your face.

Your heart is absolutely pumping at this point and you’re sure Felix could feel your heartbeat through your forehead. You blink hard, trying to remember your next line but with Felix literally breathing on your face, it escapes you.

“I want to claim that favour now.” Felix mumbles.

Felix’s eyes flicker down to your lips, then up to your now open eyes.

“Can I kiss you?” He asks.

You could have sworn your jaw dropped to the floor. Were you dreaming? Did you forget some lines? Was this in the script? It didn’t matter what breakdown your brain was going through because you ended up nodding. 

A soft smile spreads across Felix’s face, as he closes the gap between you two. His soft lips land on yours and you feel the warmth of his lips for a split second before he pulls away. 

Felix sees the dazed look on your face and chuckles, hopping off the table. Right on cue, Hyunjin comes crashing into the room with his trolley full of equipment.

“What did I miss?” 

[omgjasminesimone]

Love The One You’re With

Colt x MC x Teppei

Some NSFW

Author’s Note: Not gonna lie, I’m kind of nervous about this one. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea. It’s ultimately Colt x MC, but there’s also some Teppei x MC. And in real life I’d be against a relationship with that big of an age gap/power dynamic (looking at you Sam Taylor-Johnson), but this is pixel fanfiction and I’m not romanticizing it or anything so I’m going to go with it. 

Word Count: 6,250

When Ellie Wheeler first met Teppei Kaneko, she was desperate.

Her father, renown Detective Christian Wheeler, had died in the line of duty. It had been a domestic abuse incident. He had rushed in without backup. The wife and young daughter were saved, at the expense of his own life.

He was a hero, but the LAPD didn’t see it that way. They said he was reckless, he should have followed orders and waited for back up. They refused to pay out his life insurance policy, and Ellie was left orphaned and destitute.

She should have started her senior year at Langston that Fall, but she couldn’t afford it on her own. She was forced to withdraw.

She couldn’t make the monthly mortgage payments on the house. She was going to lose the house. She was going to lose everything.

Ellie was desperate. Desperate enough to call Logan, who she hadn’t spoken to in years. It took her several weeks to find his new number through his good friend Vaughn.  Her old flame was involved in some shady underground dealings back in the day, and Ellie assumed he would still be running in the same circles now.

When she found out about Logan’s criminal background when they were hooking up her senior year of high school, she had cut ties with him. At the time, she had a great deal of respect for law and order. But after how the LAPD handled her father’s death, that lawful admiration had waned considerably. Now, Ellie would do what she had to do in order to survive.

Logan had been reluctant at first, telling her she didn’t know what she was getting herself into, that she wasn’t meant for the criminal lifestyle. But she begged and pleaded. Eventually, Logan agreed to put her in touch with his boss.

She met Teppei Kaneko at a drag show. He’d taken one look at her, and then looked at Logan like he was crazy.

“I promise you she can drive. I taught her everything she knows personally.” Logan vouches for her.

Ellie sticks her hand out to Logan’s boss for a handshake. “Ellie Wheeler. Nice to meet you.” She greets.

Teppei doesn’t take the offered hand, continuing to look at her skeptically. “This isn’t some undercover sting operation, is it? I’m familiar with your late father.”

Ellie’s fist clenches as she allows her hand to fall to her side. “Then you should also be familiar with my hatred of the LAPD. I’m no snitch. I just need a well-paying job that doesn’t require a college degree.”

There’s several moments of silence as Teppei seemingly mulls it over. “If anything, you’ll be unassuming. That could be an asset.” Teppei finally offers his hand. “Welcome to the Mercy Park Crew Ellie.”

…

..

After a big score, the crew celebrates with a party. There’s beer, and music, and what looks like the entirety of LA’s criminal underbelly gathered in the Kaneko Autobody Shop.

Ellie maneuvers past drunk Mona playing pool with a tall beautiful roller derby type, past Ximena and Toby trying to outdo each other with the most ridiculous dance move, and past Logan making out with some girl that Ellie has seen at the drag show a couple of times when the crew is there on business.

She raises the two glasses of beer over her head as she tries to make her way through the makeshift dance floor to where Kaneko leans against the door frame of his office, looking aloft.

“Thirsty?” Ellie asks, offering him one of the beers.

Teppei smiles softly and takes the offered cup, thanking her with a nod.

“Why do you throw these victory parties when you clearly hate them?” Ellie questions, leaning against the wall beside him and joining him in wall flowering.

“I don’t hate them, I’m indifferent.” Teppei insists.

“Fine, why bother if you’re indifferent?” Ellie rephrases.

“It’s about appearances. Letting other crews know how well things are going, how happy my crew seems to be under me. Networking. It’s ultimately business.” Teppei answers.

“I can respect a hardworking business man. It’s a turn on.” Ellie’s usually not this forward, but she’s a little bit drunk. And there’s so much adrenaline from the successful job she needs to get out, preferably through a sexual outlet. She glances over at Kaneko, definitely an attractive older man.

“Are you flirting with me? I’m old enough to be your father.” Kaneko chides.

Ellie downs the rest of her beer before looping her arms around Kaneko’s neck. “I no longer have a father.” She responds before capturing his lips.

When the party has died down hours later, Ellie lies in Kaneko’s bed wondering what she’s done.

He snores softly, back to her. There was no snuggling or kissing afterwards. It was clearly just sex, for both of them. A way to relieve the tension between them had been building up in the months since Ellie rented out her father’s house to cover the mortgage and moved into a spare bedroom in the garage.

Ellie isn’t the kind of girl who just sleeps around, or she wasn’t. She’s only been with one man besides Kaneko, her college boyfriend who she was with for three years. When her father died, he couldn’t handle her grief and had broken up with her. Ellie squeezes her eyes shut to keep herself from crying. Who is she now? She can barely recognize herself.

She slips out of Kaneko’s bed to return to her own. She lies awake wondering what the crew is going to think of the new development between her and their boss, if it even means anything. Maybe no one noticed them slipping away. Maybe no one will even care.

…

The crew finds out there’s something going on between Ellie and Kaneko gradually. A lingering look there, Ellie not being in her room when someone goes to look for her late at night, a hand that rests on the small of her back for just a moment too long to be friendly.

They never announce it exactly, but at some point, it just becomes clear that everyone knows. Logan is the only one who ever directly says anything about it to her. Months after she and Kaneko start hooking up, Logan pulls Ellie aside on a lazy day in the garage, asks her if she’s okay, if she’s happy. Ellie assures him she’s fine, but she doesn’t say anything about whether or not she’s happy.

She and Teppei fall into a routine. She sleeps in his room most nights, he’ll kiss her in front of the crew, and his associates. Gradually, everyone just comes to accept that they’re together, that she’s his. Once, at a drag show, Salazar threatens her, but his goonies quickly try to silence him, with a whispered warning of “She’s Kaneko’s man, he’ll have you murdered.” He apologizes and slinks away.

Ellie feels that things are going fine, although she still feels lonely, adrift. She doesn’t think Kaneko loves her, she thinks he’s just lonely too. But maybe that’s enough? Two lonely people rolling around in bed together, so they don’t feel so alone for a few fleeting moments. But everything changes, when Ellie meets Colt and realizes maybe she can feel more than not lonely, maybe she can feel whole.

…

Before Ellie knows it, it’s been almost a year with the crew. She sees photos of her classmates graduating on pictagram, she stalks their LinkedIn pages to see what incredible jobs they’re getting. It feels very unfair.

Teppei doesn’t say anything about his son returning after finishing up his bachelor’s degree after five years at UC Davis. But then again, Teppei and Ellie don’t really talk much in general. It’s not the type of subject that would have come up as they lie in bed together afterwards, making awkward small talk since they don’t really know how to talk to each other. So, when she and Ximena return one day from a job, and she sees Teppei and a younger version of Teppei standing in the garage, she’s surprised.

Teppei waves Ellie over, and Ximena makes her way to her room after tossing a cheery wave to Kaneko’s offspring. “You’re back. How did it go? Did the cobras give you guys any trouble?” Kaneko asks, business coming first.

“It was fine. They didn’t want to pay the agreed price at first, but after Ximena took a crowbar to the car’s hood, they reconsidered and came around. Who’s this?” Ellie replies.

“This is my son Colt. Colt, this is my girlfriend.” Teppei introduces. Ellie’s heart fills a little at being referred to as his girlfriend, he’s never called her that before.

Ellie extends her hand to Kaneko’s scowling son. “Hey, I’m Ellie.”

Colt doesn’t take her extended hand. “Jesus Christ Dad, how old is she?!” He complains, glaring at his subtly smirking father.

Ellie’s eyes narrow, crossing her arms over her chest. “She isn’t deaf or mute.” She spits out.

 Colt’s eyes narrow as well. “Too bad, I think I would have liked you more if you didn’t talk.” He retorts.

The two early 20-somethings glare at each other.

‘What’s this gold digger up to?’ Colt thinks, looking Ellie up and down.

‘Who does this asshole think he is?’ Ellie wonders, taking in Colt’s sullen displeased expression.

“Well, I see you two are getting along famously. Oh, by the way Ellie, you’ve been staying in Colt’s room, but now that he’s back, why don’t you officially move in with me?” Teppei proposes.

Ellie’s eyes widen. First the girlfriend comment, and now officially sharing a room? Is there actually potential here for a real relationship? For an actual future? She doesn’t bother to question if that’s something she actually wants.

Ellie smiles. “That works for me. I’ll bring my stuff up.”

“Do it quick. I want to get settled.” Colt adds harshly, hoisting a duffle bag onto his shoulder and heading off to his room.

Ellie rolls her eyes as she follows behind him. If she and Teppei end up becoming a real thing, is she going to be expected to act like this brat’s stepmother? She doesn’t think she can do it, and she doesn’t think Colt would let her for one second.

…

..

Ellie watches with angry crossed arms as Teppei and the rest of the crew leave for a job. A job Teppei said she wasn’t ready for, that she couldn’t handle it. She hates when he underestimates her. He has no idea what she’s capable of. She wonders if the crew is doing something really bad, really evil, and that’s why he doesn’t want her to know.

Ellie expels an irritated huff, stomping over to the kitchen to make herself some lunch.

“Stop throwing a temper tantrum, if you think you’re old enough to date a grown man you should stop acting like a toddler.” Colt taunts from the front desk.

Ellie doesn’t bother responding with words, flipping Colt her middle finger. He’s been here a month now, and their relationship has not improved at all from the bad impression they both got of each other at their initial meeting. Teppei doesn’t seem to care that they don’t get along, never attempting to get in the middle or forge some kind of bonding between them.

Colt abandons the front desk, coming into the kitchen to make his own snack. He doesn’t return to his post even as the phone starts ringing, continuing to make his sandwich.

“Aren’t you gonna get that?” Ellie asks, irritated when the phone starts to ring again after Colt lets the first call go to voicemail.

“Why don’t you get it?” Colt counters.

“It’s not my job.”

“What is your job? It sure as hell doesn’t seem to be being an actual member of the crew.”

“I’m more in the crew than you are. You just get to answer phones. Is that what you studied for in college? Or did you get such bad grades that now Daddy is the only one who would give you a job?” Ellie retorts angrily.

“At least I finished college.” Colt hisses back, knowing it will hurt her. He knows the circumstances of why she had to drop out, what drew her to the crew instead of the professional career she had been working towards.

“Fuck you Colt.” She angrily finishes adding toppings to her salad, storming out of the kitchen and to her and Teppei’s room with her meal.

…

..

The crew starts going on more and more jobs without Ellie. Eventually, Teppei reveals it’s because he doesn’t fully trust her yet. He says she’ll need to prove her loyalty with time before he can bring her in on everything.

This lack of trust enrages Ellie. She’s been nothing but loyal to the crew, to Teppei, and he has the gall to tell her to her face that he just doesn’t trust her? She storms away before the tears welling up in her eyes begin to fall. She won’t give that man the satisfaction of her tears.

She goes up to the roof to cry, thinking she’ll be alone there, but Colt comes up a few minutes later, smoking a joint. He seems alarmed at her tears; no doubt consoling crying women is not part of his repertoire of skills. So, he silently hands over the joint, which she takes gratefully. And they don’t talk as they pass it back and forth, but they both feel a subtle shift in their dynamic.  

A gulf starts to grow between Teppei and Ellie. They lay in the same bed every night, but when Teppei reaches for her Ellie complains that she has a headache, or that she’s just not in the mood.

“Ellie, we’re leaving.” Teppei informs her weeks later as the crew heads out to another job she’s not involved in. She’s not involved in very much now-a-days, besides with the mess with the Brotherhood. Teppei needed all hands on deck for that one so he was forced to bring both her and Colt in.

“Teppei, when are you going to trust me? What do I have to do to show you that I’m 100% in?” Ellie asks as he turns around.

He turns back to face her, running a hand through his long dark hair. “There’s nothing you can do. It just takes time. The rest of the crew have been with me for years, they’ve shown their dedication.”

“And I haven’t? The fact that I’m here and not enrolled trying to finish my degree now that I’ve saved up some money doesn’t show you that I’m in?” Ellie counters.

Teppei lets out an impatient sigh. “I have to go. We can talk about this when I get back.” Teppei pulls her into a brief kiss before turning away and following the rest of the crew out of the garage.

Ellie sighs, she’s so sick of this. Maybe she should just leave if she’s not even a full-fledged member of the crew. But can she go back to college, and studying, and exams, when now she knows the thrill of running from the police? Pulling off a great heist? Coming up with a fool proof plan to get away with it time and time again?

She leans against a car propped up on a jack.

“Whoa! Hey!” A voice calls out from under the car.

“Huh?” Ellie looks down as Colt rolls himself out from under the car.

“You trying to drop this hunk of junk on me? I know you don’t like me, but are you seriously trying to kill me?” He complains, glaring at her. His eyes soften somewhat at the sad look in her eyes.  

“Can I lend a hand?” Ellie asks. It’ll be good to keep busy, make herself at least feel useful around the garage. She can tell Colt is thinking it over, so she adds, “I just…really need to keep my mind occupied right now.”

“Fine, lie down on that creeper.” Colt instructs, and Ellie follows his instructions, joining him under the car.

Colt meddles with the undercarriage. “We’re trying to get this driveshaft out. So, what’s got you all mopey?”

Ellie reaches into the undercarriage, loosening the wires around the driveshaft. “Why? So you can make fun of me?”

“I don’t make fun of you that much now-a-days.” Colt reminds her. They have been getting along better lately, mostly bonding over how they’re both irritated with how Teppei won’t let them really be in the crew.

“I really wanted to go on this job. I feel like I’ve proven myself time and time again and it’s never enough.” Ellie reveals.

“He’s never going to trust you. I think you remind him of my mom, who he thought was all in, but then she took me and left when he wouldn’t give up crime. For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re like my mom. I trust you.” Colt refuses to make eye contact, fighting the blush rising to his cheeks when he can feel her turn to look at him as he finally gets the driveshaft out.

They both wheel themselves out from under the car, wiping the grease on their hands off on towels.

“Really? You trust me?”

“Sure, you really bailed us out with the Grapevine job.” Colt tries to play it off. “You’re smart, and I could really use your help if you have any ideas for how to deal with the Brotherhood. I feel like this is my big chance, my Dad finally bringing me into the fold, and I can’t fuck this up. Want to go for a ride? Out to the shore. It always…clears my mind.”

He steps to his motorcycle and tentatively holds out a helmet for her.

Ellie takes the offered helmet, buckling it on as Colt sits on his motorcycle. She gets on behind him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and trying to ignore the well-defined abs she can feel as he revs the engine.

…

..

“I can’t believe your dad made you jump from here as a small child.” Ellie mutters with disbelief after Colt tells her the story.

Colt chuckles, watching the sun set the sky on fire over the cliff’s edge. “What? That doesn’t jive with the warm cuddly image you have of your crime lord boyfriend?”

“My dad would have tried to stop me from jumping, worried about me getting hurt. Teppei doesn’t seem to have a paternal bone in his body.”

“Don’t let him get you pregnant.” Colt taunts, but there’s an underlying edge to his tone.

“You have to have sex to get pregnant.” Ellie mutters, looking away when he turns to look at her curiously.

“You’ve never-“

She interrupts. “We have. But not lately. We’re basically just roommates at this point.”

Colt seems to absorb that silently. Ellie is a little embarrassed that she’s revealed so much to Colt, so she changes the subject. “So, are we gonna jump?” Ellie asks.

“Seriously? You want to jump?”

Ellie is already stripping down into her underwear. “Seriously!”

Colt quickly strips down to just his boxers. Ellie can’t help but admire his fit physique. He’s hot, and young, and she’s definitely thinking things she should not be about her boyfriend’s son. But there’s definitely a hunger in his eyes as he takes her in practically naked that shows there are feelings on both sides. Feelings they should ignore.

Ellie shakes her head to try to clear it of any impure thoughts. “On the count of three.”

“One, two, three!” Colt calls out, and the pair run towards the edge together. Ellie can’t help but grip Colt’s hand just before they jump, and suddenly she’s not afraid.

They hit the water several moments later, and Ellie swims up to the surface. She spits out water and looks for Colt, who surfaces a few seconds later to her right. She swims over to him, drawn to him like a magnet.

He pushes his wet hair out of his face, grinning at her. “I almost forgot what that felt like.”

“See? Are you done downplaying everything?”

Colt looks at her with an intensity she’s not used to, and it stirs the fire that she’s felt building between them for months now. “Maybe I am.” He says, just before reaching out to cup her neck and bring her lips to his.

They fall into each other, like they’ve been waiting forever to do this. Colt’s fingers thread through her hair as he pulls her closer, treading water with just his legs as his free hand grips her hip. He bites her bottom lip gently, and then slips his tongue in her mouth when she lets out a little gasp of surprise.

Ellie’s arms grip his shoulders, trying to bring him even closer. She can’t get enough of him as her mouth moves hungrily over his. The electricity she feels as their tongues tangle is much more intense than any tingles she’s ever felt with Teppei, or any other man for that matter.

“Colt.” She murmurs as she rolls her hips against the bulge she can feel growing in his wet boxers.

Suddenly, he pulls away. “You’re with my dad. I can’t do this to him, or the crew.” He laments. Before Ellie can respond, he’s pulled her back in and is kissing her furiously once again, and she forgets what she even wanted to say.

He pulls away again, this time putting some distance between them. “Damn it, what’s wrong with me?!” Colt shouts, slamming his fist into the water.

“Colt, look, things are complicated with me and Teppei. I don’t think we were ever really together, and I feel like we’re certainly not together now.”

“Does he know that?” Colt challenges.

Ellie raises a brow. “Do you want to be the one to tell him?”

“That’s not my place. You have to be the one to do it.”

“And I will. When the timing is right, and it doesn’t leave me homeless and unemployed.” Ellie retorts.

Colt looks like he wants to say something else, but Ellie cuts him off with a gentle kiss that he eagerly deepens. “I want to be with you, but we have to be smart about this.” Ellie says softly.

Because they both know Teppei isn’t going to just give them his blessing and be happy for them.

Minutes later, the pair has climbed back up the cliff and put their clothes back on.

Ellie re-braids her hair, turning to look at Colt as they walk toward his motorcycle. “So, I was thinking about our problem with the Brotherhood…”

“You mean, how do we free ourselves from a violent gang without a full-on-turf war we’d definitely lose?”

“We need to offer them more than cars and money, we need to offer them the thing they want more than anything.” Ellie explains.

“Like what? They control the city, they have everything they could possibly want.”

“Then we make them think they don’t.” Ellie presses.

Colt pauses as he puts on his helmet, mulling it over. “…. huh.”

…

..

The only sound in the dark room is their labored breathing as they catch their breath. Ellie starts to climb off Colt’s lap, but he tightens his grip on her bare hips, keeping her in place.

“Again.” He murmurs, running a hand through her sweat dampened hair as he starts rocking up into her once again.

Ellie lets out a moan, digging her nails into his shoulders as she fights her urge to move with him. “I can’t. If I’m gone too long, he’ll be suspicious.”

“He’ll be in his office all night going over blueprints for tomorrow.” Colt insists. One hand leaves her hip to cup her cheek, bringing her lips to his for a tender kiss. “Stay with me tonight.”

Teppei trusts her now, after the success of her and Colt’s plan to take down the Brotherhood. They’re finally both all the way in with the crew. The fact that Teppei finally trusts her makes her feel worse about these trysts with Colt, but not bad enough to stop.

Ever since the night they went cliff diving, she sneaks out of Teppei’s bed in the middle of the night, tiptoeing down the stairs to his son’s room where they fall into his bed, mouths fused and hands eagerly shedding clothing. She continues to reject Teppei’s advances, saying she’s just not in the mood. She can tell he’s getting frustrated with her, but not frustrated enough to break up with her.

She wishes he would. Ellie doesn’t know how to end it, how to tell Teppei that she’s leaving him for his son. She knows it wouldn’t go over well. She’s not sure what Teppei is capable of in the face of such a betrayal.

Despite her fear of Teppei, her love of Colt makes her continue to risk getting caught in order to be with him. Colt loves her too, he’s told her so. Something his father has never said even though they’ve been together for over a year.

Colt has stopped urging her to tell Teppei. Now with time to think about it, he says they need a plan first. Their own money, their own criminal operation. Their own base. Colt has promised that he’s working on it, but these things take time. He can’t use any of his father’s contacts, he has to act secretly, and know who to trust, which is notoriously difficult in their circles.

But they’re in love, and some how they’re going to make it work.

…

..

“Shhh…. don’t cry baby. I promise you it’s going to be ok.” Colt soothes, kissing her forehead as he hugs her to him.

Despite his comforting words, Ellie doesn’t feel any better. There’s no way this is going to be ok. They should have been more careful. Ellie continues to cry into his shirt, clinging to his leather jacket desperately to keep him close.

“What are we going to do? I can’t get an abortion Colt, I went to Catholic school.”

Colt gently runs a hand through her hair before cupping her cheek. “No one is asking you to do that Ellie. This baby was conceived in love, of course we’re keeping it.”

“Then what are we going to do?!” Ellie asks again, looking up at him.

“Look, I hate to even suggest this, but if you sleep with my dad again could you convince him it’s his? Just to buy us a few months while I get the money we’ll need to start over.” Colt says weakly, hating the words as they come out of his mouth, but not seeing what else to do in this situation.

Ellie shakes her head. “I can’t. I’m already three months along. I’m going to start showing soon and the dates wouldn’t add up. He’s not stupid. Oh my god, what are we going to do?!”

“Shh.” He tries to soothe again. “Try to breathe sweetheart. Getting this riled up isn’t good for our baby.”

Ellie takes several deep breaths as Colt rubs circles into her back, trying to help her relax the tight muscles.

“We have to tell him the truth.” Colt finally acknowledges.

“He’ll kill us.” Ellie replies. “Like he killed the Brotherhood.”

“He won’t, he cares too much about appearances, legacy.” Colt rests his hand on Ellie’s stomach. “This right here? It’s the future of the Kaneko family, heir to the empire.”

Ellie squeezes her eyes shut, feeling like she’s going to be sick. She’s not as confident as Colt in the power of legacy and appearances.

…

..

“I need to tell you something.” Colt announces a week later, Ellie at his side as they stand in Teppei’s office.

Teppei looks over some documents. “Can it wait?” He asks, circling something in red.

“No, it’s important.” Colt responds.

“Then hurry up and tell me, I don’t have all day.” Teppei mutters, scratching something out and rewriting a number in black ink.

Colt looks to Ellie, slipping his hand into her’s. Teppei doesn’t even notice.  

Colt takes a deep breath before he speaks. “Ellie is pregnant with my baby. We’re in love and once I have enough money together, we’ll leave and set up out East, we’ll be out of your hair.” Colt says, voice strong and clear. But there’s an underlying nervousness that he can’t hide, a slight waver at the end when Teppei finally looks up, eyes narrowed.

The older Kaneko drops his pen, leaning back in his chair with eyes closed. He’s counting. Colt gulps. Teppei only counts when he’s so angry he’s afraid he’ll do something he regrets. “How long have you two been messing around behind my back?” He asks, thinly concealed rage evident in his tone.

“Six months.” Ellie admits softly.

Teppei glares at her. Ellie’s never felt Teppei’s rage directed at her, and if not for Colt’s grip on her hand she would have taken a step back. “Six months? For six months, you’ve been sleeping with my son? Lying to my face? After everything I’ve done for you? You ungrateful bitch.”

“You’re not going to talk to her like that.” Colt retorts, eyes narrowed.

Teppei’s enraged glare moves from Ellie to Colt. “And you. My own son? My only child? I offer you everything and this is what you do? Try to publicly humiliate me and drag the Kaneko name through the mud? Do you know how weak this would make me look? You’re trying to destroy everything my father, and his father, and his father before him worked for, you fucking traitor.”

“Fine, if you’re so worried about your precious reputation we can leave now. I’ll figure out the money.” Colt replies, starting to walk towards the door.

Kaneko moves quicker than either Ellie or Colt knew he could, gripping Colt’s arm roughly and turning him to face him. “You’re not going anywhere. There’s nowhere you can go where this won’t get out, where it won’t humiliate me.”

“Then we’ll leave the country.” Colt insists.

“I said no! You’ll stay in the country and do what you’re fucking told boy.” Teppei spits out. He rubs at his temples, formulating a plan. “I’ll tell everyone the baby is mine. It’s going to look like me after all.” Teppei decides.

“No.” Colt immediately responds.

“You’re in no position to try to tell me anything. I’ll blacklist your name all over the country, all over the world. You’ll never be able to get set up anywhere. I’ll ruin you Colt. Love won’t pay the bills. Love won’t feed your baby.”

Ellie’s eyes water as she takes in Teppei’s words. He’s trapping her in some type of loveless prison out of spite, and pride.

“Dad-“ Colt tries again to reason with his father, but Teppei puts up a hand to silence him.

“I’m not done. You’ll be going to Florida Colt. I’ve been in the process of setting up an operation there. You seem like the perfect man for the job.”

“I’m not leaving Ellie, or my baby.” Colt replies, hand squeezing her hand to the point where it almost hurts, but he seems so desperate to hang on to her that she says nothing.

“My girlfriend. And as far as anyone will know my baby.” Teppei replies darkly. “They’ll be fine, assuming you do as you’re told. Otherwise, I’m not so sure what will happen to them.”

“You sick motherfu-“ Colt starts, but Ellie interrupts him, pulling him down for a too brief kiss. He can taste her salty tears when she pulls away.

“Colt, I love you, but I can’t.” Ellie thinks back to the days after her father died, when she was desperate, and destitute, and scared. She can’t live like that, their baby shouldn’t have to live like that, struggling constantly and fearful of when Teppei will strike.

“Ellie, no. We’ll figure this out. I love you, and I’m not going to lose you.”

“You lose her either way. But I’m offering you a way where she and your baby are comfortable. What is it going to be?” Teppei asks.

…

..

3 years later

“Ellie, look up.” Teppei instructs as Ellie carries a tray of food over to the table. She’s trying to be a good hostess for this Christmas party, which would be easier if Teppei wasn’t constantly doing performative couple things like trapping her under the mistletoe for their audience of LA’s biggest criminals.

Ellie plasters on a fake smile, leaning up to give Teppei a chaste kiss.

Teppei returns a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, patting her bottom as she walks away.

“When are you going to marry that girl Kaneko? Hasn’t it been like 5 years? And you guys have a kid.” Salazar yells drunkenly, swaying unsteadily from too much eggnog.

Teppei shrugs. “I didn’t marry the mother of my other kid.”

Salazar laughs, clapping Kaneko heartily on the back. He’s clearly really drunk, thinking he can be so friendly with LA’s deadliest car criminal.

“Daddy!” A little girl clad in snowflake decorated pajama yells, running into Kaneko’s arms.

Teppei smiles, a real one this time. He loves his granddaughter dearly, despite the circumstances of her conception. He tickles her before throwing her onto his shoulders. “You’re supposed to be asleep Noelle.” He chides.

“How is anyone supposed to sleep through this?” Mona asks, chewing on a gingerbread cookie.

Noelle giggles as Logan makes silly faces at her. “I would also love to be asleep. Can we start clearing this party out soon?” Logan asks.

“All the guests haven’t arrived yet, so the party can’t end.” Kaneko insists.

“Who’s not here? They’re three hours late!” Toby complains.

“Yeah, yeah, you try getting in on time coming from the East Coast during winter.” Colt replies, dropping his duffle back to the floor.

“You live in Miami Colt, I assume you’re not getting delayed by too many winter storms.” Logan retorts, rolling his eyes.

“But my connection went through DC, asshole.” Colt fires back, glaring at his old nemesis.

“Colt.” Teppei greets warmly, for appearances of course. He can’t have people noticing splinters in the Kaneko family. That’s why he has to invite Colt to these gatherings, lest people get suspicious.

“Dad.” Colt returns, less warm, but nothing that would raise alarms to the deep-seated troubled relationship between father and son.

“Daddy, I want cake.” Noelle says when she spots her mother coming towards the group, a plate with a sliver of cake in her hands.

Colt winces when Noelle calls Teppei ‘Daddy’. That always hurts.

“Say hi to your brother first.” Teppei insists, taking Noelle off his shoulders and handing her to Colt.

“Hi Colt!” Noelle says happily, squeezing his neck in a hug.

“Hi Noelle. I can’t believe how big you are. I missed you!” Colt returns, hugging her tightly. He sets his daughter on the ground, turning to face Ellie. She looks beautiful in her red Christmas dress, and he physically aches from his desire to pull her into his arms and kiss her in greeting. But they don’t do stuff like that anymore, so instead he nods at her respectfully. “Ellie.”

“Colt. How was your flight?” Ellie returns.

“Delayed, but it was fine.” Colt answers, and that’s that. They have nothing else to say to each other.

“Mommy, I want cake.” Noelle says again.

“No Noelle, we already brushed your teeth.” Ellie replies.

“But I want cake!” The little girl complains, starting to throw a fit.

“Come on Ellie, it’s Christmas. I’ll re-brush her teeth.” Colt offers.

“Well aren’t you the sweetest big brother?” Ximena teases, squeezing Colt’s cheek.

Colt waves her off, taking the rest of the cake from Ellie and handing it to Noelle, who grins at him. “Thank you Colt! I love you!”

“I love you too peanut.” Colt replies.

After re-brushing her teeth, Colt tucks Noelle into bed. The music from downstairs is loud, so he sets his phone onto her nightstand and plays lullaby music as his daughter drifts off to sleep. He smiles when her sleepy brown eyes drift shut, placing a kiss to her forehead.

“She’s going to be so confused when we tell her the truth.” Ellie mutters from the doorway as she watches Colt put their daughter to sleep.

“Kids are resilient. She’ll adapt.” Colt insists.  

“How much longer?” Ellie whispers after she closes Noelle’s door, walking closer to Colt.

Colt draws Ellie into his arms, like he’s wanted to do all night, kissing her slowly and thoroughly. “Three more months.” He whispers against her lips, before he kisses her again.

“And you’re sure he’s not going to be able to find us?” Ellie asks, still dubious that their long nightmare could be ending.

“Not in Cuba. Thanks to the embargo he’s never had any business there, no contacts. And then we go from Cuba to London with new identities. It’s fool proof Ellie, I promise you. You just have to trust me.”

“I do trust you. I love you Colt.”

“And I love you Ellie.”

…

..

.  

taglist:  @brightpinkpeppercorn @choicesarehard @lovehugsandcandy@desiree-0816 @regina-and-happiness @iplaydrake @choicesgremlin​ @maxwellsquidsuit​ @eileendannie @liamzigmichael4ever​ @ohsnapitzlovehacker​ @client-327​ @cora-nova​ @umiumichan​ @angrypainterfarmopera @badchoicesposts​ @i-only-signed-up-for-fanfiction @sparklinglilac​ @pixel-thirsty @mrskaneko @lovemychoices​ @akrenich​ @crispycrunchyleaves​

[raendown]

Day 22 Pairing: Tobirama/Kagami Word count: 1535 Word: Whelve - to bury something deep, to hide

Follow the link or read it under the cut!

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Whelve - Tobirama/Kagami

Kagami had every intention of staying at the party until dawn. It wasn’t every day you got to celebrate the unexpected yet peaceful retirement of a man who’d never wanted the job anyway. After his brother’s death Tobirama had only accepted the mantle of Hokage because it was the Shodaime’s dying wish that he watch over the hard-won dream of a lifetime but it only took a handful of years for Tobirama to find someone better and more willing. Mito was going to make a wonderful Hokage, they all agreed. And with her Uzumaki bloodline she was likely to outlive them all anyway.

Unfortunately for Kagami’s plans of being smashed before the sun had set he was roped in to walking a drunken Hiruzen home instead. Evidently his friend had been pre-drinking since noon and barely lasted all the way through the admittedly unsteady speech Tobirama gave after consuming more sake than any of them had ever seen him throw back in one sitting. Among the many mysteries of the second Senju it appeared he was a man of refined tastes when it came to liquor and had his brother’s constitution for it. Which was to say that he was swaying after half a bottle. Two bottles in and Kagami cursed every god he knew for making him the responsible, caring type. He could have been back at the party watching Tobirama loosen up for once but instead he was frog-marching Hiruzen up the front steps of his home in the Sarutobi compound.

“Sleep it off,” he ground out. “And drink some water, you slosh. I hope Biwako gets a hold of you tomorrow.”

“No, don’t tell Biwako I was drinking!”

“I don’t have to, she was sitting right next to you. Dumb ass.” Kagami rolled his eyes at the idiot and left.

He headed back to the party with every intention of using his Sharingan to record the once in a lifetime sight of Senju Tobirama drunkenly swaying through his own party – only to be told that Tobirama left shortly after he did and no one knew where he’d gone. Just his luck.

Not nearly as drunk as he wanted to be, denied the thing he’d been looking forward to since the day the Nidaime announced his retirement, Kagami declined the offering for him to rejoin the party and turned for home. What was the point of celebrating if the man they were celebrating for had left? At least this way he would get some sleep so he wouldn’t be so hungover for his shift running patrols the next afternoon. There was that.

The way home was quiet and lonely. Last time he’d gone out with friends they had all stumbled back to the closest apartment and crashed in the living room together. He smiled as he remembered that the closest friendly living room had actually been Tobirama’s and while he had obviously not been pleased to have them disturbing his rest in the wee hours of the morning he had caved fairly quickly when Kagami turned on the puppy eyes. It was almost as though he grew more and more weak to them as the years went by.

Just as he approached his front door and reached for the keys in his pocket Kagami realized that he was not alone. There was enough time to spin around, a split second to identify the other person, and then suddenly he was lurching under Tobirama’s weight as the man tripped over his own feet and pitched forward.

“Right, look, I’ve got something to tell you,” he announced in slurred syllables.

“That’s a little off from your usual greetings but alright. Hello to you too. You know people are looking for you?” Kagami bit his lip as soon as he got Tobirama back on two feet. Plastered was a good look on him. It left his eyes half lidded and a painted a very fetched splash of red across his cheeks.

“I am not the Hokage anymore,” Tobirama declared.

Wincing at his volume, Kagami nodded slowly. “Fancy that. We should have a party for you.”

“And as such I am no longer your superior.”

“How about you come and don’t be my superior inside where I can tuck you in to a nice soft couch?” Door stealthily unlocked while the other man was distracted, Kagami gently tugged him inside. He only made it inside the genkan, just far enough to kick the door shut behind them, when Tobirama spun and pressed him back against the wall.

“But I’m not above you anymore,” he said as though protesting something.

“Not technically, I guess.”

Tobirama groaned and dropped his head on to Kagami’s shoulder. “No, you don’t get it! I’m not…I don’t outrank you! I’ve outranked you for years!”

“Okay…” Maybe if he just let the man ramble he would get to the point.

“Years of pretending it’s not there and pushing it down and now I don’t outrank you and you leave! That’s…you weren’t supposed to leave.” He sounded genuinely offended.

Kagami, however, was only more confused. “Leave where?”

“The party!”

“I was taking Hiruzen home; the idiot could barely stand on his own two feet. Much like you. How exactly did you get here by yourself?”

“As if I’d let a bit of sake stop me from getting to you.”

Tobirama’s words were earnest and Kagami felt something flutter in his chest. Finally the man pulled himself away from the neck he was all but drooling on and used two handfuls of Kagami’s shirt to keep himself upright. Knowing how stiff and proper he always was, it was a good guess that tonight could actually be the first time he’d gotten properly drunk.

Hilarious though it might be to witness, it was also kind of annoying. After dealing with one drunkard and being denied his public entertainment Kagami really just wanted to crawl in to bed and sleep. He’d thought drunken Tobirama would be fun blackmail but instead he was just confusing and toeing some lines that Kagami didn’t appreciate. Watching someone dance and make a fool of themselves was one thing. Having the man in front of him say things that played with his heart was quite another. He knew Tobirama, however, and the man was like a dog with a bone when he wanted something. The quickest way to get this over with would be to just play along.

“Why did you need to get to me?” he asked bluntly.

“Because I’m not the Hokage anymore.”

“Yes, I got that part, but why did you need to come tell me specifically? Everyone knows that.”

Tobirama blinked at him once, twice, then turned his lips up in a sheepish smile so gentle it didn’t even look like his own face anymore. “I am very, very drunk,” he announced.

“Uh-huh.” Kagami gave him the flattest look in his repertoire. “I guessed that.”

“Don’t other people use their drunkenness to give them courage? I thought that was just the thing to do. Once I realized the state I was in I went looking for you but you were gone. How am I supposed to make drunken confessions if you leave?” Again he looked offended.

And again Kagami was nothing but confused.

“Confessions?” he asked carefully. Tobirama’s smile turned sloppy as he leaned closer.

“Yes, about me being in love you.”

“Oh. Well that…that’s not what I was expecting,” Kagami admitted faintly.

What he wanted, yes. He’d been dreaming of hearing those words for such a long time it was hard to remember what it was like to look at Tobirama and not feel a yearning deep in his chest. To ever consider that the man had been hiding the same yearning, had only held himself back because of the gap between their ranks, it seemed almost too good to be true.

But there was Tobirama with his eyebrows up expectantly as though waiting to hear someone’s opinion on his latest budget proposal. What a ridiculous man. At some point Kagami should probably question his own sanity for choosing this particular dumb ass to fall in love with.

“I think,” he began softly, “that I would like to hear that much better if you were sober.”

“Oh. Really? Then I suppose I should sober up…”

“Mhm. Why don’t you lay down on the guest bed and sleep it off? I’ll bring you some water and we can talk in the morning, okay?”

“Excellent idea. The room had begun to spin and I would appreciate if it stopped that.”

Kagami bit his lip and turned to help Tobirama down the hall. Hopefully when the morning came he woke up first so he could prevent any escape attempts before that conversation happened. The man he loved could be a slippery one whenever emotions were involved and Kagami very much intended to pin him down for this particular talk that they had both apparently been waiting a long time for.

And then he very much intended to spend the next decade or so teasing him about being so socially awkward that he deliberately used his drunken state to confess. At least they would have a fun story to tell the grandkids.

[beacon-of-chaos]

Defenders of Aura 2 - A Battle Century G Sequel

Session 8 (Erm, it's been a while since this session and to be honest my memory of it is kinda rough. There will be gaps) We find ourselves back at Quentin Crisp's hideout, without Katari, but with Adrian Jeminko. Things definitely haven't gone according to plan. We take the dropship to Crisp's hidden base. Crisp seems pleased that he will get to kill Adrian himself. Adrian tells him that he wasn't responsible for his son's death, that his son did in fact take his own life because he couldn't deal with the societal pressure to live up to his father. Sinclair does a search online and all the news and police reports he can find coroborate this statement. He and Fauna move to stand between Crisp and Adrian. Crisp raises his gun... Meanwhile, Katari wakes up. He's upside down in a car that is on fire. He notices that his passenger is missing. He unbuckles himself and crawls out of the wreckage, only to receive a few punches from Ceras Jeminko, the woman who attacked him in the security room and Adrian's wife. (Quite how Katari escaped not only with his life but with a hostage in tow is never explained other than the fact that Katari and the GM had a private mini-session online between sessions 7 and 8) Katari is tough enough that he can subdue her easily and throws her over his shoulder. It seems the authorities are hot on his heels so he makes his escape by climbing up a nearby building. Back at the hideout, Crisp is dead (Us: Wait what?), run through by Morgana's sword. Crisp's goons are surrounding us and look like they're about to shoot when there is a frantic knocking at the door. Fauna opens the door and Justin bursts in. Justin: The military! They're attacking the slums! They're burning everything in their way and taking no prisoners! Fauna: *turns to Crisp's goons* You hear that? Maybe we can think about working together to deal with this instead of killing each other!? The goons lower their weapons. They don't seem inclined to help us, but they leave without shooting us, which is nice. We also take our leave, keen to get out of the city before the army catches up with us. Katari is parkouring across buildings when he mis-times a jump and falls badly. His super strength allows him to crash land without injuring himself or Ceras too badly but not completely without damage. Upon getting up again he is greeted by another naul standing in front of him, one of the mage caste. She introduces herself as Ashari and offers to help him. Katari asks why and... I no longer remember what happened after that. Sorry. Meanwhile, Lucis is on a transport heading for the city, his diplomatic mission completed. When he notices the city is literally on fire he gets in contact with us. Lucis: What did you all do!? Sinclair: I should be annoyed that you just assumed it was us, but to be fair, it was us. We agree to meet him at the landing pad he is due to arrive at. We drag Adrian along as we suspect that Jasmine is behind the attacks. When we get there, Katari gets on the communicator with us to let us know he's on his way with Adrian's wife. Lucis decides the best way to resolve this is to make a deal with Jasmine: We give her back her parents, she leaves us alone. Seems fair, right? Jasmine arrives with her guards in tow. Lucis, having the highest charm stat, negociates. While we talk a portal opens up and Katari, Ashari, and Ceras walk through. As we make the handover, time seems to slow down, then stop. Ashari has created a time bubble around us. It's at this point that Fauna recognises her. She's the naul who was banished for combining human and naul technology. Ashari turns to us. Ashari: Have you noticed? There's something not quite right with the Jeminkos. I can detect naul magic on them. Specifically mind magic. Jasmine's parents are under some kind of mind control. This doesn't make a whole lot of sense as they hate the naul but are under naul influence. Ashari drops the time bubble and Lucis appeals to Jasmine, urging her to come with us and bring her parents along so we can help them. Jasmine admits her parents have been acting odd and remarkably she agrees to our terms. Karen arrives in the dropship to pick us up. Back onboard the ship the Jeminkos are taken into custody and we are ushered to the president's room for debriefing. We chew him out for making us work with Crisp and he apologises but also says that we did get some parts for the ship from him already. We also have the experimental mech and Lucis was able to secure the aid of some mercenaries during his diplomatic mission so we'll be able to carry on with the next part of our mission. A royal wedding has been announced between Lucis' brother, Prince Eric (Lucis: I call him Norbert) and Princess Lyra. Most of the royal family will be attending, as will Robert Steel, Chinese ambassidor Sara Wong, and special guest band Breaking the Abyss (Sinclair: *bashing head against a wall*). We're going to crash the party and deal with the coup collaborators in one go. There's one major obstical to this which is the orbital space station defending the planet from attack. Our plan is to perform a sneak attack on the station just before the party, take down the orbital weapons, and rescue some prisoners on board. Which prisoners? The Ebon Order, the ones who tried to kill us in dark space. Oh joy. We have a few days before this happens though, so we get some downtime for personal things. Lucis decides to talk with Jasmine. She's concerned about her parents, who are now in the medbay. Whatever is affecting their minds will take time to undo. In the meantime Lucis has a proposal: It's obvious that whoever is behind the coup is up to some pretty shady things so how would Jasmine like to accompany Lucis to the party as his "date" in order to find out what's really going on. Jasmine just grins, liking Lucis' audacity and agrees. Jasmine: This will be fun. Spectre gets to work on the machine he got from his father's lab. He seems to have a breakthrough, though none of us besides him and the GM know exactly what. We'll find out next session. Sinclair meets with Morgana. She's please that he managed to recover her brother, Merlin. He has not, however, been activated. Morgana seems reluctant to wake him, in case he is still loyal to the company that made him and demands to be released. Sinclair tells her that she is probably making the right decision to wait, considering the upcoming battle. He's willing to be there when she wants to wake Merlin. Fauna is helping out in the medbay when Ashari approahes her. There's some awkward banter between them for a minute or so before Ashari drops a bombshell. Ashari: Before I was banished, I had been working on combining human and naul DNA to create a hybrid with the best of both races. I see now that I was sucessful. Yes Fauna, I am your mother. Ashari goes in for an awkward hug which freaks Fauna out enough that she makes a run for it. Perhaps not the best start, but Ashari is a known naul criminal and "witch" so that was probably justified. As Ashari walks away, apparantly unperterbed by Fauna's reaction, she bumps into Sinclair. Ashari: Well, you're an interesting machine. I've never known a human robot to have such a powerful magical energy. Sinclair: Yeah, I get that a lot. Ashari: May I...? She reaches out a hand to him. Sinclair touches it with his own and Ashari seems to focus on him. As she does so, he also notices that he can focus on her. There's a sudden burst of insight and Sinclair looks directly at Ashari only to see... code? Not exactly computer code, but some kind of readable energy. Sinclair realises just what this is: He's looking into Ashari's mind and reading it, as though it were a program. And he reaslises that... he could easily change that program. He jumps back with a start. Ashari: What is it? Sinclair: I'm... not sure. He's lying, deciding that having the ability to read and control living minds on top of robotic ones is probably something he should keep to himself for now. Finally, Katari does some sleuthing. Something about the mind control on the Jeminkos being naul in origin. Before he was thrown in jail he was investigating his rival who had been spotted with a young naul girl after some shady dealings. After some successful investigation checks he's able to find out that this girl was brought onto the planet illegally due to having very strong mind control powers. She and the rival are likely behind the whole thing. And that's where the session ended. Apologies for vagueness in areas, but it's been a a while. If you are reading this and want more, please say so and maybe give some feedback. It's not much fun writing these and getting no comments at all. Bonus quotes: http://www.giantitp.com/forums/shows...&postcount=644