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mianmiansimp · 3 years ago

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mdzs au: the one with wen xu (pt 1)

>>wwx has his bisexual epiphany much sooner in life bc Reasons

>>so when he starts crushing on lwj Immediately at cr, he knows it too

>>anyway: sometime pre-cloud recesses, wx and wwx cross paths and wwx is being his usual mischievous self

>>he's very dramatic and flirty and running around on roofs

>>wx is like Hey You're Cute but doesn't catch his name

>>wwx is oblivious so he didn't know who wx was lol

>>they cross paths a few more times

>>wwx just knows wx as 'that one gongzi i see sometimes'

>>then cr happens and they meet again when wwx is heading back to cr with his alcohol

>>wx is like my how charming

>>the next morning the wens show up and wc pisses everyone off

>>and then wwx is telling him off and wc gets pissed and tries to fight wwx while also insulting his status

>>and jc is like EXCUSE YOU and draws his sword bc i'm a sucker for protective jc and will throw in as much yunmeng shuangjie as i want

>>but then wx shows up and tells off wc (bc of wwx) and tells everyone to calm down

>>wx learns wwx's name, wwx learns who 'that one gongzi i see sometimes' is, only one of them is happy with the revelation

>>wx is being weird and oily to everyone and the lans begrudgingly accept the 'apology'

>>wx is publicly weird to wwx, wwx is publicly uncomfy, jc is publicly offended and pissed and defensive and also has an inkling of where wx's head is at

>>cue jc aggressively glaring at wens and shielding wwx from them

>>nhs, who's more aware of what's happening than anyone else bc nhs, helps

>>doesn't stop wwx from adopting wn as a bestie but wn is a kitten so it's ok

>>cr arc is largely the same, wangxian shenanigans, yunmeng shuangjie shenanigans, alcohol shenanigans, you know the drill

>>except for two major things

>>one - wwx has been crushing on lwj since day one but he Knows it

>>and he gets sad sometimes when lwj rejects him

>>so jc is not only angry at the wens but he's angry at lwj's audacity too

>>lwj, who hasn't a clue about anything:

>>two - wx sometimes shows up randomly to 'check up'

>>he isn't, he just drops by to make wwx uncomfy via unsolicited gifts and flirting

>>jc usually passive aggressively intervenes

>>or nhs makes some excuse that is usually 'jc wants to see you'

>>there's an incident during a wx visit where wwx panics bc he really doesn't want to deal with him

>>and essentially bolts from the vicinity and runs right into lwj

>>lwj almost starts telling off wwx but he sees quite clearly that wwx is Not Ok

>>and then they hear wx approaching and wwx basically begs lwj to Get Him Out

>>lwj dislikes wx far more than he dislikes acknowledging his affections for wwx

>>so they quickly run into and hide in a room

>>cue bonding moment where lwj and wwx have a Talk and lwj says they're friends for the first time

>>and then immediately goes silent bc wwx is looking at him with complete adoration and he has to force himself not to kiss him lol

>>this is also the point where lwj has it confirmed that wwx very much does not like wx's presence

>>which is how lwj joins the defend wwx against wx's advances club

>>jc isn't happy about it bc wwx is mooning for lwj still but he lets it slide

>>wn actually joined the club accidentally and discretely

>>jc's like why couldn't wwx get This wen to crush on him i like him so much better???

>>lwj vinegar moment + flustered wn who just thinks wwx is really cool and nice

>>wq catches wind of what's going on and is worried about wn's involvement

>>but also greatly dislikes wx and doesn't want some random innocent boy to suffer

>>which is how she too accidentally joins the club

>>mianmian joins too but loudly bc she's friends with wwx and lwj and also wx sucks

>>jzx is friends with mianmian so he gets dragged in

>>and he might be an arrogant prat atm but he's not a bad guy and wx's behavior is very despicable

>>jzx has some um Revelations about himself and his family

>>and accidentally becomes an honorary member of the club

>>they're all kinda friends now, it truly sucks, thinks jzx with a small smile

>>xuanli engagement is not broken/salvaged much earlier on bc of this whole

thing

>>anyway that's how all the major sects' youth became so closely entwined

>>lqr was very proud that his lectures enacted firm inter sect relationships

>>lxc is just egging on wangxian while also becoming an honorary member of the club

>>waterborne abyss and stuff still happens

>>jc is even angrier at the wens and straight up completely hides wwx the next time wx comes around so he doesn't even catch a glimpse

>>wx is not happy, especially when lwj is silently passive aggressive the whole time

>>cr study ends, there's this whole lingering wangxian moment when they say their goodbyes

>>wwx and lwj are close now but also lwj can sort of admit it instead of shoving it under years of repression and gay panic

>>lwj agrees to visit at lotus pier and wwx looks so enamored that jc gags and drags him away

>>mianmian snickers and pokes lwj in jest, who actually pokes her back

>>lxc is so proud, his brother has Friends

>>wx is a bit more careful around lotus pier, but he does visit once

>>jfm greets him and is very polite but yzy is very blunt and pissed

>>jc upon getting home had immediately spilled all the info on the wx thing

>>yzy doesn't like wwx but she hates the main wen and wx was being vv disrespectful

>>so she kinda tells wx that wwx isn't here (not a lie, he's on a nighthunt) and that he can go jump a cliff now thanks

>>wx is rather irritated when he leaves

>>comes back again on a later date, but this is the day that the cr friends are all hanging out

>>which isn't really an issue bc wwx is a social butterfly, it's part of what wx likes about him, obviously he has friends

>>but he sees the way wwx looks at lwj, and happens upon a moment where they're alone

>>he is Not Happy

>>in the meanwhile the cr friends are all chilling together and making fun of jzx flustering around jyl and eating lotus pods and whatever

>>yzy for once is like not overcome with irrational rage at wwx's presence bc he did something right for once in her eyes

>>so wwx gets some peace of mind at lotus pier

>>madam jin is also very delighted at the xuanli progress and approves wwx for enacting it

>>no one outside of jiangs + cr know why exactly xuanli are doing so well

>>so madam jin assumes wwx just kinda did some wingman stuff and doesn't know about the wx thing

>>anyway, wangxian is progressing quite nicely, and jc is all the more miserable for it

>>jzx kinda doesn't care lol, the rest of the club are delighted by the entertainment, yzy is further not angry at wwx bc wangxian engagement = lan-jiang alliance = advantageous

>>fast forward and we're at the discussion conference

>>jc is scowlier than usual and is literally holding wwx's hand the whole time

>>and wwx is like bro ty and ily but also this is a bit much

>>jc eventually lets go of his hand but he is never more than a few inches away from wwx's side

>>the state of wangxian at this time means we have wangxian blatantly and publicly mooning and everyone's like :eyes:

>>wx is not happy, shows up and immediately starts seeking out wwx, everyone is uncomfy

>>jc at one point grabs wwx and shoves him into the middle of all the jiang disciples

>>kinda doing that zebra camouflage thing but with jiang disciples lol

>>whenever it looks like wx is gonna ask him about wwx he crosses his arms and scowls severely

>>wx takes his seat very unhappily and the discussion conference proceeds as normal ig

>>but the friends are all taking part in the hunt together

>>wwx and lwj have a lil competition for who snags the most shots

>>lots of flirting during the competition, much to jzx and jc's chagrin

>>wn is just :pleading_face: the whole time but he does excellently and gives everyone a run for their money

>>the wc thing goes a lil differently in that wc is more incensed about wwx's existence bc he knows wx likes wwx

>>targets wwx, it backfired bc of lwj, wc leaves in a huff

>>lwj closely attaches himself to wwx after that, jc is pissed bc that's 2 wens who are making problems about wwx

>>the ribbon incident goes a lil differently

>>it happens after the competition, in front of all the sects

>>wx basically

goes oh your ribbon is crooked and fixes it gently and smiles at lwj and lwj says nothing, just quietly nods and thanks him

>>lqr approaches qi deviation, the sects are shocked, wwx is oblivious, lwj is smug, lxc and the friends are all metaphorically eating popcorn, wx is mad, wrh doesn't care, wq is worried bc wx

>>wx actually corners wwx at one point during a banquet when wwx's alone

>>interestingly, it's jzx who steps in to save the day

>>wwx doesn't need saving tbh but there's sociopolitics to consider + he's a lil scared of wx's persistence tbh

>>and he has a crisis bc on the one hand wwx can just run his mouth and hope for the best except he realizes that wx Likes when he runs his mouth

>>so yea jzx steps in and says something about jyl and wwx is like ahaha duty calls again and yeets

>>jzx just says compliments about jyl as they walk back to the jiang under the pretense of wanting to discuss the engagement

>>wwx reluctantly decides he's ok

>>the jiang keep a firm grip on wwx for the rest of the conference after that

>>jyl uses the shijie card to her advantage to get away with dragging wwx with her everywhere

>>the conference ends and wwx is relieved

>>oh btw wwx placed first by a small margin, lwj and wn following, then jc and jzx tied

>>so the sects are leaving and ofc wwx has to say goodbye to lwj

>>and lwj is like what is your request bc you won

>>and wwx is almost like kiss me but then he Doesn't ok

>>so instead wwx is like lemme think of something interesting :wink: to cover his pining

>>and lwj says mn and Smiles at him and wwx melts on the spot

>>wx catches the interaction and is very unhappy

>>fast forward to the burning of cr

>>there's a reason why wx did it personally, and targeted lwj especially

>>fast forward a bit again, wwx is a lil mopey bc his letter from lwj should've come a few days ago

>>they're pining pen pals bc ofc they are smh :rolling_eyes:

>>at this point, news of cr's destruction hasn't spread to lotus pier yet

>>jc is annoyed and yeets him into the lake and makes him swim off the pining

>>cue yunmeng jiang lake shenanigans

>>and then mf wx shows up to personally deliver the invitation to the wen indoctrination

>>jfm and yzy simply Do Not acknowledge wwx's existence at lotus pier in front of him

>>it's a very tense but quick conversation

>>and then wx leaves and hears wwx and heads in the direction of the latter's voice

>>he gets to the lake to see the jiang disciple swimming in the lake, but no wwx

>>bc jyl knew he had come and quickly run over to the lake to warn and hide wwx

>>jc perched himself on a roof to watch wx and let them know when he was gone

>>that meal they had in cql? yea it goes differently this time around

>>it's mostly yzy hissing at the wens and also having a conundrum over whether or not wwx should go

>>jc votes no, wwx votes shut up jc i'm coming with you

>>jfm concedes, jc is irate, wwx and jc go to the indoctrination

>>but jc makes wwx promise to not ever leave his side

>>and wwx is like that's kinda the whole point?? but ok

>>and then ofc that whole opening scene at nightless city happens

>>what with them standing around and then bam an injured lwj

>>ft the cr friends being all fhkjhkjsghk (/neg) internally

>>except wwx, he's very open about his concern

>>wc shows up, spends half the time glaring at wwx

>>he was supposed to be make it hell for lwj

>>but quite frankly he'd be happy if lwj snatched wwx

>>he very much dislikes his brother's infatuation with wwx

>>so yea it's roughly the same, those first few days

>>except wn secretly visits the disciples

>>slips snacks, gives info, exchanges messages between them, and treats lwj

>>wq finds out, scolds him, and then does the same, mostly treatment

>>and then the dungeon day comes

>>by which i mean that day wwx ended up in the dungeons with the dog thing

>>it goes the same as usual, except wc is particularly harsh, and is focused on wwx

>>so it happens sooner, and only wwx is involved

>>spends the night with the wolf thing, wn comes, yk the drill

>>except he knocks out at one point and wx gets him

>>and he wakes up

in a room and wq and wn are treating him

>>he's quickly given a coded warning

>>and then wx comes

>>wc had been forced out of leading the indoctrination and someone relatively competent is in his place

>>wx doesn't really let wwx go back tho

>>just makes wwx stay with him and basically invades his privacy and harasses him

>>for like. quite some time.

>>wwx also meets wrh a few times and it is. not fun.

>>wrh makes thinly veiled threats about war and attacking lotus pier and stuff

>>and wx reveals he was the one who requested and took charge of cr burning

>>and wwx is angry at wx but then wx gets angry and snaps threats

>>and wwx quiets and realizes wx is relentless

>>and that his connections are putting ppl he cares about at risk

>>it all kinda piles up and wx's insistence gets to his head

>>and then the bell scene (which started all this) happens

>>it might seem kinda ooc this whole thing but like

>>sexual trauma is very different from standard child abuse/classic asian toxicity

>>and you have to consider wwx's position as he has to put up with wx's everything

>>am i projecting? probably, but my au my choices

>>so the bell scene begins with all the heirs and their entourages gathered at that. place

>>idk what it's called but that place from cql where wc was lecturing

>>wc's substitute indoctrinator is like so. y'all can go home now. here's your swords.

>>and everyone's like omg????? but also cr friends are like ok where's wwx :upside_down:

>>and it's a very complicated moment

>>and then they give suibian to jc

>>and he almost kills someone bc he thinks they killed wwx

>>and then they're like no he's alive he just won't need that :upside_down:

>>jc is like WHAT does that even MEAN

>>and it's about to be a whole thing but then wwx shows up

>>and it's all ok for half a second

>>bc yes he's here but he is very obviously not ok

>>and it Shows, wwx is doing such a bad job hiding how not ok he is

>>cr friends are like. what did they do. who am i killing.

>>so now we enter - The Bell Exchange

>>wwx comes forward and (very poorly) tries to lighten the mood and tease jc and is like aw did you miss me

>>jc who was very much terrified is just like yes ofc come here Now let's go home

>>and wwx has this look on his face that's summed up as love and affection but also deep apology and secrecy

>>he slowly goes to jc and his hands are shaky as he takes off his bell and grabs jc's hands to give it to him

>>and wwx is very vague about it he's just like i won't be going back it's ok you're all free to go now i'm making sure of it go back home be safe

>>and jc is having the nth meltdown rn bc wwx what did you do

>>nhs has an idea of the gist, and all the c friends are very concerned

>>and then wen xu shows up and wwx does this silent flinch but in his bones and straightens up

>>and wx is mocking the others and stuff and then wraps an arm around a very uncomfortable wwx and is like

>>"you should be grateful to my fiance for his generous nature"

>>wwx is very obviously not having a good time and is not ok with this

>>he looks like he's going to launch himself from a cliff (hehehe) to avoid this

>>everyone is silent for a minute as they realize what happened

>>a lot of the disciples here were at cr indoctrination

>>so they know at least somewhat of wx's pursual of wwx and the unrequited feelings

>>and it becomes obvious that wwx exchanged something - his freedom, hand in marriage, etc - to set all the disciples free

>>jc draws sandu and is about to go for wx's head bc how Dare he

>>but wwx stops him and tells him very firmly but desperately to not try anything, just go, tell shijie i'm sorry, it'll be ok

>>lwj does that death grip on his sword, 2 seconds away from taking wx's head himself

>>jzx is having lots of feelings about this and a lot aren't nice

>>especially with the weird sort of parallels as far as betrothals

>>also he kinda likes wwx?? they're kinda friends?? and they're brother-in-laws to be anyway

>>and even despite all that, the whole situation just Sucks and jzx is kinda an airhead but he's actually pretty noble

>>mianmian is

like So offended and enraged on behalf of everyone she's ready to throw hands

>>nhs is half horrified for his friend and half cold rage and plotting

>>what really worsens the situations is just how bad wwx is taking it

>>bc he always covers up his pain and worries, and very well at that

>>the fact that he can barely even fake a smile now, and has resolved to outright desperate pleading, not even teasing anyone, says a Lot about how bad things were while he was gone

>>they have suspicions about what wx might have done to wwx while they were alone

>>tl;dr: cr friends kinda have an idea of what wx has done and really want him dead

>>but wwx is forcing them out, and eventually they all do leave, miserably

>>they don't know what had happened for them to be let go with their swords and without consequences

>>and they don't want wwx suffering for their (not really helpful atm) stubbornness

>>jc is stiff and clenching his jaw the entire way home, trying to figure out ways to get wwx out

>>lwj is drowning in his emotions as he goes back to the burnt cr

>>mianmian, jzx, nhs are having very complicated thought processes about everything

>>nhs actually goes with lwj to cr first, to make sure he doesn't do anything dumb and to be a friend

>>drops him off, and eventually heads out after a few days (lqr is appraised of the situation)

>>and lo and behold, he happens to find lxc on his way home, and brings big bro lan back to cr

[ main . ao3 ]

#this got out of hand #yunmeng shuangjie #wangxian #wen xu x wei wuxian #mdzs #mdzs au #mo dao zu shi #mo dao zu shi au #cql #cql au #the untamed #the untamed au #not!fics

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megatontiddies · 3 years ago

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Your fallout OC as a companion taken from @goovat ask meme except I'm using it as a writing prompt/ oc development? I guess? because I think it's cool and I'm bored and want to write it all anyways

Anywhompst this is for Alwine and since it's pretty long (like really long you've been warned) I'll throw 'er under the cut

What perk would they give the player?

Occam's Laser

While Alwine is an active companion the player gets +40% damage with laser weapons and +25% headshot accuracy in VATS with scoped laser weapons. One shot kills produce 2X the XP.

How do you recruit them? are there multiple methods?

After the player levels past level 10, or alternatively, upon finding Paladin Danses Recon team Alwine will be found as a new recruit for the BOS. Once the player does the first two repeat quests by Haylen and Rhys and The Lost Patrol quest begins she is available to assist the player in the mission. After the mission is complete she may offer to follow the player as a companion if the player has chosen the more diplomatic speech options with Brandis and Danse. If the player chose the more aggressive/ rude options while speaking with the two then it will require a small speech check in order to be a companion.

What raises and lowers their affinity?

Raises: Minutemen/ Helping Settlement quests, Stealing from wealthy NPCs, BOS quests up until BB, Helping Anyone, Honorable Actions, Amicable Dialogue Choices (for the most part)

Lowers: Murdering innocents, Stealing From Settlers/ Not Well Off NPCs, Unnecessarily Rude Dialogue Options

How do they react to certain things? what do they say? (eg. lockpicking, grabbing junk, killing?)

Lockpicking:

(nostalgic/ thinking to self out loud/ amused) " Really coulda used a trick like that when I got locked outta my house that one time..."

(humorous/ surprised) " And here I was ready to blow 'er open"

(thinking to self out loud/ amused) " Hell o' a lot quieter than kickn' er open"

Grabbing Junk:

(blanket statement/ flatly) "it's amazing what you can build outta junk"

(enthusiastic/ bubbly) "It might be radioactive but if ya render it down with a bit ah castor oil it makes a great paint for glow sights"

(humorous/ matter of factly) "I'd rather carry 40 pounds ah junk than fork up an arm and a leg to buy the same shit later from Crazy Myrna"

Player Overencumbered:

(genuine concern) "If ya keep pickin' shit up you'll slip a disc"

(teasing/ amused/ worried) "Jeeesus look at yah! You look like a pack brahmin!"

(teasing/ amused) "With yer pack so stuffed if ya fall on yer face you'll never get up again"

Murder:

[Alwine Hated That]

(angry/ surprised) "What the fuck is wrong with you!?"

(angry/ confrontationally) "You better spit out a good reason for that and fast"

(angry/ bewildered) "Are you for real?"

notes: Alwines reaction to murder is exclusive to people she genuinely feels are innocent. She's comfortable with deaths she deems necessary (or if the person made themselves known as a pretty awful person).

Cannibalism:

[Alwine Disliked That]

(disgusted/ shocked) "oh? OH. Great, like there wasn't enough nightmare fuel out here"

(disgusted/ worried) "In't there, like, a brainworm or sumn' you can get from doin that?"

(disgusted but still attempting to be light hearted/ humorous) "Like it blue eh? I prefer mine rare... a lil less peopley too..."

Stealing in general:

[Alwine Disliked That]

(irritated) "Hope that wasn't somethin important"

(irritated) "Should I be sleeping with one eye open round you?"

(irritated) "Like people don't have enough shit to worry 'bout out here..."

Stealing/Pick Pocketing (but from wealthy/etc NPCs):

[Alwine Liked That]

(approving) "Lord knows they have more than nuff' to share"

(approving) "Doubt they'll even notice it's missing"

(approving/ musing aloud) "The unyielding greed and ignorance of the wealthy was the catalyst of Armageddon"

Pick Pocketing:

[Alwine Disliked That]

(surprised/irritated) "Why don't you spit in his eye while you're at it"

(irritated/ humorous) "I feel like I should put a cat bell on ya"

(irritated) ~audible scoff~ The player is likely being glowered at

Enemies Found:

(Shocked/ Excitably) "Y' ello!"

(loudly/ warning) "On yer flank!"

(loudly/ shocked) [weirdish sound presumably before lashing out a punch of hit of some form] " GWEHHK!"

Enemies Lost:

(quietly/ nervous) " shit... where'd you go you bastard"

(quietly/ nervous) " Lost 'em"

(quietly/ to self/ nervous) " I swear to lord if ya jump out at me..."

Enemies Killed:

(satisfied/ calmly) "good riddance to bad rubbish"

(loudly/ excitable) "Bingo!"

(quietly/ almost a whisper/ to self) [only if player is sneaking] "...bingo bango bongo..."

Player stops talking mid conversation:

(sympathetic/ lighthearted) "Sometimes I loose track of my thoughts too"

(genuine worry) "Ya good? Take yer time."

(humorous/ teasing) "Not a thought between those eyes is there?"

Player removes all garb:

(shocked but also amused/ between light laughs) "oh?"

(mindless banter/ avoidance) " This would probably be a good stun tactic if y'aint fraid of gettin yer tidbits shot"

(humorous/ almost scolding) "Y'aint invisible... just so ya know"

Player loots a corpse:

(plainly) "Any ammo?"

(joking/ light hearted) "Guess they won't be needing that anymore"

(statement/ plainly) "Grim business but you can find some good stuff sometimes."

Player starts swimming:

(plainly/ matter o factly) "Ain't no way I'm going in there"

(humorous but fear is present in voice) "If a big fish decides you look like lunch I ain't gonna be able to help ya"

(almost nostalgic/ sarcastic) "Yeah me and the brick tied for the swimming contest back in 63... I'll just stay on the shore"

Player jumps from high place:

(genuine concern) "ouch! you good?"

(soft yell/ concerned/ as if watching player fall) "aaAAaaa!?"

(oblivious to the player falling) "Where'd ya go?"

Do they periodically give the player items? what kind of items?

Bowls of various soups if player interacts between 5 and 9 PM. Every other time she'll give the player Fusion Cells.

Would they be able to do specialized task? (eg. repairs, hacking)

Not necessarily a task but if the player was to put various junk/ weapons in her inventory then she will periodically/ randomly mod them.

Would they be romancable?

Yeah probably? I think? In my AU she romances Paladin Danse but that would probably not be something that could happen as an NPC in Fallout 4 so??

If it were something like Mass Effect it would probably be like a Garrus/ Tali situation where if the player never romanced either characters then they would form a romance.

Do they have a unique outfit or weapon?

Alwine wears a black BOS jumpsuit for the first half of the game up until BB. After that she'll wear military fatigues. She'll wear the same over armor (BOS heavy armor) for both but after BB the BOS symbols are sanded off. It would be a unique unremovable armor set.

What would be their personal quest, if they have one?

This one is a bit weird since the player would be taking the role of the Sole Survivor. That being said I've always found that one empty cryo-chamber at the end of the vault hall interesting. There probably is a reason for that (like it just wasn't occupied or the occupant died before vault scientists had their spit) but for the sake of this AU/ prompt we'll say that she had a similar entrance to the vault as the sosu, bringing her babe into the vault and getting frozen with Kellogg snatchin both their children (this is lazy writing I know but I don't know how to write this without fundamentally changing her character). The only difference is that somehow maybe Alwine was released/ thawed earlier and got a bit of a head start. Because Alwine is no longer the sosu she wouldn't of encountered Preston at Concord and Codsworth likely either wouldn't of recognized her or simply acted like it was prewar and spoke to her only as if that was the same narrative giving her no sense to what was happening or how much time has elapsed. Alwine would of wandered out on her own and then stumbled onto Paladin Danses recon team and eventually got inducted in hopes of finding her child.

For her personal quest it would likely be trying to find evidence on what happened to her child. The quest would start with the player character going into the institute, and since companions can't follow the player there (minus X6), she would request that they find out what happened. After some digging the player will discover that Alwines child was killed in experimentation over 60 years ago in trials to make experimentation safer for 'father'. The player can bring this information back and Alwine will be devastated but grateful for the player finding this out for her. Despite being fairly amicable with the player she insists she needs time to grieve and that following the player is a cold reminder of the pain. Regardless of what the player says she parts ways with the player and goes back to the Prydwen and will idle there until the Liberty Reprimed quest where she will disappear from the map. Alwine will remain missing from the map until Blind Betrayal where she will be standing outside the bunker blocking Elder Maxon, as well as arguing with him, from entering the building. The player's choices will affect how Alwine responds.

- If the player executed Paladin Danse within the bunker then Alwine will become immediately hostile to the player. She will be forced to be killed by either the player or Maxon.

- If the player spares Danse then chooses to execute him when confronted by Maxon then Alwine will make it clear that she will not hesitate to become hostile to defend her friend. With a red speech check the player can convince her to stand down but she will be remorseful and refuse to follow the player afterwards and disappear off the map. Her body surrounded by a myriad of dead raiders will then be a random encounter while wandering the commonwealth. If the speech check is failed she will become hostile forcing the player, or Maxon, to execute her.

- If the player spares Danse then convinces Maxon to spare him then Alwine will express gratitude and her perk will become available. Unfortunately for Alwine her disobedience and willingness to become hostile towards the elder causes him to kick her out of the brotherhood. She will remain at the bunker with Danse until the player completes the quest and then upon the player returning Danse will disclose that she has gone to the Castle in order to join the Minutemen where she can be reobtained as a companion.

What are their opinions on certain factions? (eg. brotherhood, NCR)

Minutemen:

Genuinely believes that they have the best interests for the Commonwealth. Worries that they lack the men and firepower to take on the Institute or any other large faction that could pose a threat. This Worry is dissuaded after The Nuclear Option and her affirmation towards them only increases. With time, resources, and good leadership, Alwine believes they could become a major player even outside of the Commonwealth.

BOS:

At first is amazed by their technological advancements and firepower especially compared to the rest of the Commonwealth. The comradery is nostalgic and comforting for Alwine as it reminds her of her days in the US Military as a Power Armor Mechanic. After some time she realizes that they're a bit lost for direction grasping at straws for purpose and that their idea of "freeing the Commonwealth" might be misinformed well intention fueled by fear and dogma. When she was new to the commonwealth and didn't understand much about anything really the fearmongering and racism towards ghouls and synths were more tolerable (but still uncomfortable) it eventually become almost intolerable the longer she stayed and the more informed she became about the natures of both.

Railroad:

At first is weary of them. Alwine is careful around people who keep secrets and after spending so much time in the Brotherhood interacting with the Railroad pushes her hackles up. She does like how they work to help the synths, especially after BB, despite being mostly associated with the BOS. She becomes more comfortable after becoming more educated about synths, between the Railroad themselves informing her and the data collected by the player at the Institute itself, and eventually embraces the Railroad as a necessity after BB.

Gunners:

Heavily dislikes them. To her they're essentially just militarized raiders.

Institute:

Has a hate towards them that just strengthens over time. Their ignorance and misuse of technology is both a tragedy and crime. For the most part she pities them but strongly believes that their destruction is absolutely necessary.

Nuka World:

They're raiders so Alwine is pretty hostile towards them. Despite this their organization and brutality makes Alwine careful about making them enemies. If possible she would work to keep them out of the Commonwealth as much as possible or at the very least work to create some kind of truce of sorts to prevent a major confrontation (which would likely be devastating to both sides).

Atom Cats:

They remind her a lot of her friends prewar with the way they talk and their fondness for power armor. She likes them.

Children of Atom:

Alwine believes in freedom of belief as long as said belief does not infringe on the beliefs and freedoms of others. As long as they are respectful of herself and others she will act the same. Alwine is also a bit curious about them she would likely ask a bunch of questions if they allowed it. Other than that she would keep her distance, mostly due to the rads.

General voice lines? (in reaction to companion wheel selections)

Talk:

(friendly/ bubbly) "What's crackalacin"

(friendly/ inquisitive) "You okay?"

(spacy/ broken out of thought) "Hmm?"

Trade:

(friendly/ bubbly) "What's mine is yours"

(joking/ teasing) "finally got tired of carrying that junk eh?"

(joking within a genuine question) "Hey maybe I can carry the big guns instead of the junk for once....no? maybe?"

Follow:

(plain/ firm statement) "Got it"

(bubbly) "Comin!"

(bubbly/ softly) "Oke Doke"

Wait:

(plainly) "alrighty"

(plainly/ softly) "I'll just sit tight"

(masking nervousness through humor) "Don't leave me here too long... might forget what I'm waitin' for and wander off"

Where would you find them in the world?

She would be located at the Cambridge Police Station. Then later at the Castle.

Which game would they be from?

Fallout 4

Miscellaneous facts?

If the player puts alcohol in her inventory and the player gets 'drunk' she will match the player for drinks and her basic dialogue will be slurred for a short time after

Alwine will loot the entirety of corpses, clothes and all, when asked to loot bodies.

Alwine will periodically build weapon and armor mods which can be taken out of her inventory by the player

Alwine refuses to go in water and a hit box specifically for her prevents her from entering. This results in a glitch that has Alwine swimming in the air several feet above the water while the player is swimming.

If the player uses console commands to force Alwine into the water she will sink to the bottom similar to if she were wearing power armor. Note: This does not affect her health she will just idle at the waterbed.

#alwine #good lord this took forever #read at your own risk #might post the perk on it's own I'm proud of that one lol #fallout #fallout 4 #fallout oc #my oc

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nevervalentines · 4 years ago

Note

(From the fluff/general list)

“Any RWBY ship! 12 or 13 :)”

#12 “how did you get in here?”

#13 “for starters, that’s impossible.”

hi!!! thank u!!! I wrote u a lil baby bumbleby high school au, I hope that’s ok!! they’re girlfriends and they are SO annoying

*******

Taiyang has never been very good at dolling out punishments, but when Yang comes home from school dragging her feet for the second week in a row, he really doesn’t have a choice.

She looks miserable, flannel tied loosely around her waist, ponytail messy, sporting a shiner that’s reddened the skin around her right eye, along her cheekbone. Already inflamed, it promises to bruise, and he thinks that should be punishment enough. But.

“They already called, huh?” Yang slumps up the front porch steps. “Would it help if I told you he started it?”

Taiyang rubs at the back of his neck. “Your principal said otherwise.” He cringes, trying to soften the delivery. “Apparently there were witnesses. Something like – your entire gym class?”

“Mercury had it coming.” Yang stops on the top step. Her backpack dangles from one arm, dragging the ground. “Can’t the fact that he clocked me back be enough?” She waves a hand. “I learned my lesson, and all that.”

“Afraid not, baby girl. This is the second time in as many weeks.” He corrals her gently into the house and roots through the freezer, tossing her an icepack while he deliberates. “A grounding is fair, right?” More to himself than anybody. “A week, maybe?”

“Can I still see –”

“No visitors. That means no Blake, too.”

“An entire week!” Yang slams the icepack onto the kitchen counter. The blue liquid sloshes, the plastic pouch threatening to pop. “That’s bullshit.”

“Okay,” he says, exasperated, now. “Room. Now. Don’t let Ruby hear you talking like that.”

The muscles in Yang’s jaw tick, heat rolling off her in waves, but she pinches her mouth tight. If her eyes flash, he doesn’t mention it, just watches her stomp toward the staircase. Hears fading footsteps, the slam of her bedroom door.

When music starts blaring, he allows it, riot grrrl punk pop spitting from around the door frame. He can picture her pouting, touting loud music and bruised knuckles like armor. Figures he’ll let it slide, just until after dinner. A week without Blake might be consequence enough.

Yang reclines on rumpled sheets, too pissed to change out of her day clothes, shoes kicked up on her bed, arms behind her head.

A five-day suspension, a week without seeing Blake. It’s a promise of purgatory and, worse, boredom. Her eye throbs, the skin around the socket already softening into a bone deep hum of pain.

Time passes in blurry pigments; she swims in and out of a doze while the day fades into a sticky-blue dusk. She ignores her dad’s calls for dinner, ignores Ruby’s hesitant knock on the door, lets the room darken around her – watches the sky outside ripen and split.

It’s almost summer now, and the box fan churns uselessly at her bedside, the skin of her back is sticky with sweat, the sheets below her cloying and damp. Outside, the streetlights wink on, one by one, and the blurry white noise of the fan is almost enough to mask the scrabbling outside her window. Almost.

When Blake’s head pops over the windowsill, Yang about pisses her pants. Blake grins, her teeth a flash of white in the darkness, ears on a swivel, pressing her face close to the wire mesh of the window screen.

Bleary and half-asleep, with Blake only a silhouette against a rapidly darkening sky, it’s like Yang has conjured her directly out of a dream.

Blake’s voice is strained, leveraging herself up on her forearms. “Why are you sitting in the dark?” Then. “Let me in, edgelord.”

Yang scrambles out of bed, heart in her throat, fumbles the screen’s latch open, helps Blake haul herself over the sill. Two hands under her arms, she pulls, Blake’s sneakers scraping against the paneled siding of the house.

Blake tumbles inside the bedroom, landing on top of Yang with an oof. She ushers in the sharp smell of fresh cut grass, cool nighttime air, summer-sweet.

“How did you get in here?” Yang sounds a little breathless, even to her own ears, and Blake settles more comfortably on top of her, so pleased with herself that Yang has to actively stop herself from kissing her smug smile away.

“Your window is right above the garage,” Blake says. She shifts her weight, forcing Yang to bow into the close weave of her room’s carpet. “I just had to get up there and,” a vertical shrug, a grin, “it was easy.”

“I’m grounded for a week,” Yang says, a little despairing, mouth tilting into a pout. “My dad says I can’t see you.”

“It’s dark, you can, like, hardly see me anyway,” Blake says. She wriggles on top of her, curls her fingers into the fabric of Yang’s tank top. “You’re kind of sweaty.”

“Did you climb up the side of my house just to insult me?” Yang asks. She feels a surge of affection so strong, she wonders if it might break something inside her, like there’s no more room left in her chest for anything but this: Blake smiling, nuzzling close. Blake’s slight frame settled in the sling of her hips, the too-warm press of the bare skin of her legs against Yang’s, one ankle hooked around her own.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” Blake says. She ducks her head, rests her chin on Yang’s chest, looking up at her through her lashes. “And seeing as I found you crying in the dark, I made the right call.”

Yang struggles up onto her arms, dislodging Blake who sits back on her calves, amused.

“I wasn’t crying.” This, almost a yell, before she remembers herself and lowers her voice to a harsh whisper. “I was just upset.”

Sobering, Blake rocks to her feet, reaching down to tangle her hand with Yang’s and pull her to a stand. She pushes her onto the edge of her mattress, touches her cheek, gentle, careful to avoid the bruise.

Yang’s eyes are adjusting now, and she can just make out the soft-round of Blake’s face, the flat glint of her eyes in the dark.

“I know, baby.” Blake’s voice is throaty, a little sweet.

She kneels, unlacing Yang’s converse one by one, tugging them off before kissing her knees, her ankles. Yang says nothing, just watches Blake in a daze, breath hitched high in her throat, a rosy blush mottling the long line of her throat.

“I’m sorry you’re grounded,” Blake says. She pushes Yang to her back and follows, climbing back on top of her. This time, Yang has enough sense to wrap her arms around Blake’s back, tugging her securely against her until they press close, chest to chest.

“I don’t even get why,” Yang says. A pout. “He was talking shit about you, everybody heard it.”

She tilts her face up, hoping for a kiss. Blake retreats, just barely, nudging her nose with her own, instead. When she talks, Yang can feel her breath against her mouth.

“You did punch Mercury in the face, Yang.”

“It was gym class, it was an accident.”

“You guys were – you guys were playing badminton.”

“Mistakes happen.”

“You were opposite sides of the net.”

Yang looks at her sideways, sly. “Like I said.”

“For starters, that’s impossible.” Blake tucks her lips into her mouth, suddenly shy. “But also – thank you.” She leans in, brushes a kiss against Yang’s jaw. “You know I don’t need you to fight my battles –”

She quiets Yang’s immediate noise of agreement with another kiss, this time at the corner of her mouth.

“— but it was really sweet.”

“I missed you,” Yang says, a hint of a whine. She traces a hand down Blake’s back, slips it under the edge of her shirt, strokes a finger along her hip.

“It’s only been five hours, Yang.” Blake’s voice is soft with laughter, almost adoring, and she leans down, offers another kiss, this time to the apple of her cheek. “But maybe the week apart can start tomorrow.”

“Or maybe the day after that,” Yang says. She tilts her head up, splays the flat of her hand against Blake’s back, urging her closer. “He didn’t really specify when.”

“You’re so smart,” Blake whispers.

She eases against her, t-shirts rucking up, pressed breasts-to-belly-to-hip, the oscillation of the fan drowning Blake’s whimper as Yang slips a thigh between her legs and grins, all teeth and flush.

Blake kisses her, full, nudges carefully, lip to lip, until Yang opens her mouth, hands tightening at her back.

“Stay a while,” she says, rolls her tongue into Blake’s mouth, feels Blake’s hand come up to pet, soft, at the skin underneath her eye.

“Just for a minute,” Blake says, then presses back in, a breeze stirring warm air through the open window.

It’s mid-morning when Ruby shoves open the bedroom door, Yang and Blake curled close under the sheets, asleep. They jar awake at the noise, Yang’s arm tightening around Blake’s back.

Ruby sticks her face inside, hair tousled with sleep, rubbing her eyes with a fist. Her words crack with a yawn, and she blinks at them slowly.

“Hi, Blake. By the way, Yang, dad says you’re double grounded, but also to let you both know breakfast is ready.”

She closes the door behind her and Blake’s laugh follows her all the way down the stairs.

#my writing #rwby #bumbleby #i tried to speed write so i didnt overthink it!#blake WOULD and WILL terrorize all of her gf's parental figures thx 4 ur time #hearticho

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is0gild · 4 years ago

Text

Ice Cream and Fire Oven Pizza - Chapter 24

Pairing: Elsa x Lea/Axel || Side Pairing: Riku x OC

Summary: Modern AU. She's an introvert ball of nerves who works at Ice Palace, a mall food court ice cream shop. He's the outgoing, sassy goofball who works at the Pizza Planet across the way. Hilarity, snark, and fluffy romcom hijinks ensue.

Word Count: 7,564

FIRST CHAPTER || PREVIOUS CHAPTER || NEXT CHAPTER

Credit for super friggin’ cute and super friggin’ amazing cover art goes to the super friggin’ talented ky-jane here on tumblr!

When I awoke, Mother was gone. It made sense, seeing as how daylight was streaming in through the bedroom window now and I could hardly have expected her to stay all night with me. She'd probably left not too long after I'd nodded off.

Part of me wondered if she had ever really been there in the first place or if I had simply dreamed the whole thing up. It'd all just been so weird. Mother hadn't been that… well, motherly towards me in over a decade. It was a long lost part of our relationship that I'd dearly missed, so I wouldn't have put it past my subconscious mind to cook something like that up while I was dreaming especially now that I was back in my childhood bedroom where such old memories could be sparked. But no, I was still in my dress I'd worn for dinner yesterday evening and I wouldn't have gone to bed without changing first, not unless Mother had actually been here.

But that still begged the question: why her sudden and unexpected change in behavior after all this time?

Maybe… it had something to do with the wedding? Maybe me running out on it and disappearing for weeks without a word had taken its toll on her even more so than I'd ever realized? If so, then her little visit last night had probably just been a… a moment of weakness, and a fleeting one at that. Why else would she have waited until we were away from Father's and Grandfather's prying eyes? Once we were back around them, not to mention the rest of the family, her usual mask would probably be firmly back in place again. She would be prim and proper, cold and reserved, just like she'd been for years now and it would be like those precious few moments last night had never happened.

...or maybe I was being overly pessimistic. Maybe now I had an ally in Mother where I'd previously thought to have had none. Maybe The Talk™ tomorrow wouldn't be as bad as I feared, not if I had her and Anna on my side.

But honestly, who knew? Who ever knew anything really when it came to my family? I certainly didn't. Not anymore. Not for a long time.

All I could do was wait and see and hope the anxiety didn't murder me in the meantime.

I climbed out of bed, grimacing at my reflection in the vanity mirror, at what a rumpled mess my dress had become overnight. This was the second time this week I'd slept in a garment that wasn't meant to be slept in. This was dangerously on the verge of forming into a habit. I really needed to stop. Sighing, I started walking towards my luggage so I could dig out something fresh to wear. However, I was halted in my tracks by a knock at my door.

I hesitated in answering it, giving my appearance another once over in the mirror.

This time, my reflection responded with a wrinkle of her nose.

Ugh, everyone's a critic.

Ah well, there was nothing for it. No amount of hand smoothing would make this dress fit to be seen and I wasn't about to make whoever it was wait for me to change. Tossing my frazzled braid back over my shoulder, I moved towards the door and opened it just wide enough for me to poke a head out.

"Mornin', El!" Lea beamed down at me, looking far more presentable than I on day two of his whole rebel-without-a-cause aesthetic he had going on.

I smiled back with a soft, "Good morning."

Dipping into a bow, he swept a hand out to one side, "I've come to escort thee to breakfast forthwith, m'lady."

"My my, we'll make a gentleman out of you yet," I hummed a chuckle.

He scoffed with a big theatrical sniff. "My word, I say, perish the fucking thought!"

"Shoot, you were this close," I snorted with a shake of my head. "Just give me a quick minute to change."

Before I could shut the door however, he stopped me with his hand lightly snagging mine. "But why? You already look as gorgeous as ever this morning."

I stubbornly ignored the tiny flutter I felt inside my ribcage. Didn't he realize it was a bit silly to be pulling the whole googly-eyed boyfriend routine when it was just the two of us? Maybe he was just getting into character early before we went down into the dining room. I rolled my eyes, "Oh yeah, gorgeous enough to make Mother pale, Father choke, and Grandfather faint."

Smirking, Lea said, "All I'm hearing are a ton of pros and a whole lotta nada for the cons column."

My eyelids drooped but before I could reply, there was a sudden shout from down the hall, "Ah-ha! There you are!" A blur zoomed towards us, attaching itself to Lea's arm.

Or rather, herself, seeing as how it was Anna.

So… the prodigal sister had at last graced me with her presence.

"I thought I might find you here," she grinned up at Lea, who just blinked down at her in response. Then she directed that grin my way, "Hi, Sis! Bye, Sis! Alright, big guy, let's go!" She charged off once more, dragging Lea with her. Or rather… she tried to anyway. But I imagine Lea could be quite the anchor when he didn't want to move, so instead the hold she had on his elbow ended up snapping her back like a rubberband.

I quirked an eyebrow at her. "What's the rush, Anna?"

"Yeah, short stuff, where's the fire?" Lea asked.

"We gotta get you ready!" Again, she gave another tug of his arm.

Again, he didn't budge. "For…?"

"For a beautiful day out on the water," she stated as if it were obvious. We both stared at her blankly and she huffed. "We're going yachting!"

Both eyebrows shot up Lea's forehead. "We? As in you and me?"

"And Elsa," she added, stomping over to Lea's other side and pressing her shoulder into his arm, trying to shove him into moving. It was kind of like watching a chihuahua attempt to out muscle a great dane. Just as effective too. Panting from the exertion, she tacked on, "And Maren and Ryder too."

"Oh, okay," Lea nodded, then frowned. "...and Maren and Ryder would be?"

"Our cousins," I said before furrowing my brow at Anna. "Wait, they're here? Since when?"

"Since an hour ago," she grunted, still pushing all her weight against Lea and getting nowhere, her feet sliding and scraping against the carpet. "Auntie Yelena showed up early with them. Now Mom and Dad want to shoo us young'uns out of the house so we won't be in the way while this whole place is turned upside down by party prep chaos. So," she paused, red-faced and puffing for breath before brightening, "figured we could take Daddy's yacht out for a lil spin!"

Lea cocked his head, "Still don't get why you're trying t- oof, hey now!" David (aka Anna) had managed to catch Goliath (aka Lea) off guard by ramming her shoulder into his side, forcing him to stagger a step. "-why you're trynta kidnap me," he finished in a grumble.

Stepping back from him, she crossed her arms and fixed him with a dull stare. "...did you pack swim shorts?"

"Well no, but I didn't know we were gonna-"

"Exactly!" she cried triumphantly, latching onto his elbow once more. "So we're gonna go borrow you some from Ryder!"

"You coulda just said that in the firs-" his words were swallowed in a yelp as she suddenly bolted, this time managing to haul Lea tripping and stumbling behind her.

"Be ready to go in fifteen minutes, Sis! Meet us in the driveway! See ya there!" Anna's voice echoed down the corridor back towards me in their wake.

I called after her, "But breakfast-"

"We'll pick something up on the way!"

...she was still acting so very strange.

Sure, she was always a ball of energy, but normally she'd let me talk more than that before making a break for it. It'd almost felt like she couldn't get away from me fast enough. I knew she'd been in a hurry, but getting Lea seaworthy hardly called for the state of emergency she was making it out to be.

Now more than ever, I was determined to get to the bottom of her odd behavior. Luckily for me, Anna had slipped up and made the error of trapping us on a boat together for the next several hours. And even if said boat was a yacht, there still weren't exactly a lot of places for her to hide from me on it.

She couldn't possibly keep avoiding me there.

My mistake.

Anna very well could keep avoiding me here and in fact had been doing so successfully for the past hour. It was not a matter of whether or not she had places to hide so much as she just never seemed to stay still for more than ten seconds. She'd always kind of been the cartoon Tasmanian Devil given human form, but now she was that on friggin' steroids. Just a constant whirl of chaos that was always on the move.

"I'm flying, Jack!"

Then, of course, there was the fact that I had to put up with this dork.

I hung my head with a sigh from my position behind Lea, my hands gingerly holding his hips as he stood proudly at the bow of the yacht with his arms spread out wide to either side of him. "You know, this wasn't exactly what I had pictured when you said you wanted to reenact that one scene from Titanic."

He glanced over his shoulder at me with a toothy grin. "You wanna swapsies? I can let you be Rose for a bit!"

"...I'm good, thanks."

"Suit yourself! You're seriously missing out though," he shrugged, stepping down off the raised rim of the boat and onto the cushioned bench seating, using it like a staircase to get himself to the floor. The salty breeze played with his shirt on his way down - a very loose short-sleeved button-up that only had one button fastened in the middle, so peeks at his muscled torso were not uncommon and could be rather, hrm… distracting. The swim trunks he'd borrowed from my cousin were just shy of his knees and were a deep red with black silhouettes like palm trees at sunset.

His flip-flops hit the deck and he spun around, offering me a hand to help me down as well. Smiling my thanks, I gripped the wide brim of my beach hat with one hand while the other took his. My strappy sandals landed on the hardwood beside him, careful not to step on the hem of my long, strapless cover-up dress made of a thin, billowy white fabric that barely hinted at the blue two-piece I wore underneath it. It was a beachwear ensemble I'd left behind at my parents' home years ago. A good thing too since like Lea, I hadn't exactly planned for a yacht outing when packing my bags for this weekend.

"So," Lea chirped as he released my hand, "now that we've gotten that important and thoroughly pressing bit o' business outta the way, what's next on our lil agenda?"

My lips pursed to one side before I decided, "Let's try and find Anna."

Though there was really no try about it. Finding her wasn't the hard part. Getting her to stay and actually��talk to me was. Still, I was on a mission!

Mission Make Anna Open Up About Whatever The Heck Her Problem With Me Is.

...I really needed to get better at naming these things.

As I turned to give a quick glance around the yacht, first person I spotted was Maren - short for Honeymaren, but she hated the name with a bloody passion and did her best to bury that info in the hopes that it would never again see the light of day. She stood not far off next to the ship's mini bar under the shade of the awning. Her dark hair was pulled back into a braid and she was sporting a purple swimsuit with a matching sarong.

The thing that stood out most however were the cheap, plastic star-shaped sunglasses currently perched on the bridge of her nose. They were particularly eye catching given that, one, she hadn't had them on a moment ago and, two, they were probably just about the last things one would expect to see her wearing. She seemed just as surprised to discover them on her face as I was, given the way she removed and squinted at them with a bemused smirk.

I could hear Lea's flip-flopping footsteps following behind me as I walked towards her. Arching an eyebrow, I pointed at the things, "Where'd those come from?"

"Ask Lil Miss Sunglasses Fairy over there," she laughed, popping them back on before jerking a thumb over her shoulder towards the helm. There Ryder stood manning the steering wheel in his yellow, turtle-print trunks, the sunlight gleaming off his short black hair. It looked like he too had recently received a visit from this so-called Sunglasses Fairy, for he was now (quite bewilderedly) modeling a pair of shades with big, cartoony red lips for frames.

Ah, and here the Sunglasses Fairy herself came now, her auburn pigtail braids flapping wildly about as she skipped towards us in her bright green bikini and boyshorts. Not to be left out of the latest fashion trend of her own making, Anna had on a pair herself shaped like flowers. And in her hands were-

"For you, oh dearest Sis of mine, I've saved the best for last!" she happily declared, sliding the shades with neon pink heart lenses onto my nose.

Joy.

Lea looked down at me and snerked, biting back a grin.

Boy didn't know how close he was to getting his arm pinched for such impudence.

Anna gave a small pout, "Sorry, Lea, but I only have four."

"No problemo. El and I can just share," he chuckled, stealing mine and donning them himself, waggling his eyebrows at me as he leaned back and propped his elbows against the boat railing.

Ugh, I wasn't sure what was more annoying: that he actually looked pretty good in them or the fact that he knew it and was being smug about it.

"Charming," I deadpanned before looking back at Anna. "Where'd you even get these silly things from?"

"Oh, I bought them all ages ago from one of those shack shops by the dock," she tossed a hand back towards the shoreline. "I've been keeping them hidden away for a special occasion."

My head tipped to one side. "...and that special occasion would be?"

She tapped a finger to her chin, "Hmm… Ah! National Fun In The Sun Day, of course!"

I gave her a flat look. "That is neither national nor an actual holiday."

"Is too!" Her chest puffed up as she planted her fists on her hips, "I'm the captain of this here dinghy and what the captain says, goes!"

"You can't just make up holidays, that's not how captains work," I crossed my arms.

"Yeah-huh! I'm the captain and I say so!"

"But-" I stopped myself, pinching the bridge of my nose. Just let it go, Elsa, otherwise we'll just keep going around in circles like this all day. "Nevermind. I was hoping, Captain, that maybe you and I could have a minute to-"

"Move over, Ryder! It's my turn to steer!"

Annnnd off she zipped again.

I had half a mind to chase after her but with the way things were going, I feared she might swan dive off the side of the yacht just to get away from me.

"What's wrong, El?" Lea frowned before taking off the heart shades and offering them to me. "Want these back? I hear rose-colored glasses make everything better."

I mustered a weak smile at that, arms hugging myself as I leaned back against the metal rail beside him and muttered, "Thanks but no thanks."

Perching the sunglasses atop his head now, he asked, "Seriously, why the long face?"

"...it's Anna," I grimaced, reaching for a tendril of my ponytail to twist between my fingers as I watched Ryder join his sister at the mini bar. They were just barely out of earshot so I couldn't hear whatever they were laughing and shaking their heads over. "She's mad at me or… something, I don't know. All I know is she won't talk to me, not really. Every time I try, something always comes up and she runs off."

Lea glanced towards where Anna stood valiantly at the helm, one hand holding the steering wheel steady while the other shielded her eyes against the sun. "Huh… now that ya mention it, it does seem like she's been avoiding you, doesn't it?"

"You've noticed it too?" So it wasn't all just in my head. Not sure if that made me feel better or worse.

"Maybe a lil," he nodded. Pushing himself off the rail, he turned to stand in front of me now. "But mad? Nah, I don't think so. She seems far too chipper for that." Lea rubbed a curled finger to his chin, "Maybe she's actually sad about something but doesn't wanna worry you so is just… trying to put on a brave front? Or she could have something important she wants to talk to you about but is too scared?"

"But that's ridiculous, Anna knows she can always talk to me about anyth-"

"Hard to starboard!" came a sudden shout from my sister before she jerked the wheel into a spin.

The yacht whipped around in a sharp turn, throwing Lea into a stumble towards me. I gasped, bringing up a hand to stop him while turning my head away and squeezing my eyes shut, waiting for impact.

But it never came.

Cracking open one eyelid then the other, I discovered he'd managed to catch himself by grabbing the railing to either side of me.

"Whew!" he grinned, looming mere inches over me, "That was close!"

...wait… my hand was still raised… and touching… something…

I slowly, reluctantly lowered my gaze towards it.

Only to have my face all but burst into flames and practically blast steam out of my ears.

For behold! There, my hand, in all its brazen glory, had found its way into Lea's unbuttoned shirt and that was without a doubt a big, heaping helping of man boob it was groping right now.

...very nice, delightfully sculpted man boob. Firm yet… soft, somehow? No, soft wasn't the right word… ah, supple! Yes, that was what I-

Now was not the time to be debating word choice!

Not while my friggin' hand was still on his bare friggin' chest.

Gah, what was wrong with me?! I really needed to stop sexually harassing the guy who had zero interest in dating at the moment!

Okay, remain calm, Elsa. Maybe he hasn't even noticed it yet. Maybe if I just discreetly removed it, he'd never even have to know it'd been there in the first place. Alright, easy does it… careful now, just take it one small step at a time… first lift the palm off… okay, good! Now the thumb… perfect. And up goes the pinky… then the next one… and the next… just the index finger to go-

Oh. My. God. Did I just goddamn trail my fingertip down his skin?! Pretty sure I'd trailed it. No, not trailed, I'd caressed! Caressed! Great. Just dandy! If he hadn't realized where my hand was before, he sure as hell knew now!

My eyes shifted about desperately.

Oh, this was uncomfortable. Quick! Do something to make it less awkward!

I looked him dead in the eye, brought up my hand and poked him in the nose with a tiny, "Boop!"

Nailed it.

Lea blinked. Then he gave a little snort, one corner of his lips curling up. "What was that?"

A clever and artful distraction, duh. One that was clearly working too, so ha!

"What do you mean, what was that?" I mumbled, hitching my chin and averting my gaze. "It was a nose boop, what else?"

His grin twitched wider. "Well, yeah, I could see that. What I meant was why?"

I couldn't help but notice he was still really close. That he still hadn't let go of the railing yet, keeping me trapped between his body and it. Clearing my throat, I said defensively, "You just have a very… boopable nose, is all."

"...is that so?" he murmured, eyes crinkling as he pressed his forehead to mine.

Dear lord, his rent-a-boyfriend act would be the death of me.

"Yo! Elsa!"

Thank goodness! Cousins to the rescue!

Closing his eyes, Lea exhaled softly before spinning around and shifting over to rest back against the steel rails beside me once more just as the two of them approached us. "Is it true?" Ryder asked excitedly, eyes bright behind the lip-glasses he'd yet to take off as he stirred his mimosa. "Do you really sell mall ice cream now?"

I winced slightly. "Oh… you know about that?"

"Avast ye landlubbers!" Anna's voice rang out again as she continued to pilot the yacht. "Weigh anchor and hoist the mizzen!"

"You kidding?" Maren snerked, taking a sip of her bloody mary and ignoring my sister. "Once the Duke found out, the whole family found out. You know how that old coot loves to run his mouth to anyone who'll listen."

"So it is true!" Ryder beamed. "At an Ice Palace, right? The place with that kickass reindeer mascot?"

"Um…" I furrowed my brow. He seemed oddly enthusiastic about this. "...yes?"

He pumped a fist, "Awesome! Love the place! Their ice cream is so good and all their commercials are hilarious! Have you seen their new one with all the reindeer singing a frigging rock ballad?"

Even with the star-shades, Maren's eye roll was plain as day. "You and your strange obsession with reindeer."

"What? They're cute!"

"Whatever, I just can't with you right now," she held up a hand in his face as she took a sip from her drink, looking at me again. "Seriously though, you ran out on your wedding, on your whole sweet cushy life… just so you could sell ice cream?"

"Land ho! Thar she blows!" Anna again.

Holding onto my hat so it wouldn't blow away as the wind picked up, I frowned. "Well… that wasn't exactly why I left…"

"But that's what you did," she insisted, eyebrows lifting with her tiny grin. "Do you even know about all the chaos that erupted after you turned up missing?"

I swallowed hard. I could feel Lea's fingers fiddling with a lock of my ponytail, but I hardly noticed it as I bit down on my bottom lip and shook my head. "Was it bad?"

"Aw man, the whole place went nuts after you pulled your vanishing act! You shoulda been there!" Ryder laughed before squinting skyward. "Although… I guess if you had been there, none of it would have happened." He shrugged, taking a big swig of his mimosa. "Anyway, it was wild! Our family was yelling, his family was yelling, a flower girl was bawling, the giant ice swan sculpture got knocked over and shattered into a bajillion pieces, a bridesmaid punched a groomsman, the-"

"Wait," I interrupted him, my eyebrows knit together as my gaze shifted over to Maren. Besides Anna, who'd been my maid of honor… "Weren't you my only bridesmaid?"

She smirked, lazily lifting a shoulder before letting it fall. "What can I say? I live for anarchy."

"Batten down the hatches! Swab the deck or it's straight to Davy Jones' locker with the lot of you!" It seemed Anna was really getting into character now.

"The butterflies," Ryder eagerly jumped back into the conversation right where he'd left off, "were released on accident at the same time the doves somehow got free as well and, oh man, the carnage! It was epic!"

My hands were fidgeting with each other. I had no idea when they'd started. My chest was beginning to burn and constrict.

"I still can't believe it," Maren wrinkled her nose in glee, chewing on her straw. "You ditching a guy at the altar. You, of all people. You've always been such a goody-goody. So well-behaved, so polite, so disgustingly perfect. Just goes to show you, I guess… it's always the sweet, innocent, quiet ones who'll surprise you."

Fidget, fidget, fidget.

It was getting harder to breathe.

"A total bloodbath!" Ryder was still going. "I mean, did you even know doves ate butterflies? Cuz I didn't! But those poor little guys never even stood a chance! Tiny insect guts were flying everywhere! Seriously... Best. Wedding. Ever."

"Heh-hey!" Lea suddenly piped up. "Are all these swimsuits just for show or we gonna," he clicked his tongue, jerking a thumb towards the water, "dive on in?"

He was taking the attention off me. I shot him a grateful if somewhat shaky smile. His arm slipped around my shoulders, giving them a small, reassuring squeeze as he rested his cheek against my hair.

"Please," Maren sniggered, "like we'd actually swim in the lake."

"Watch and learn, dude," Ryder grinned as he moved over to the plush seating that circled the edge of the ship's bow and pushed a button on a panel behind its backrest. The massive, seemingly decorative circle that was etched into the center of the foredeck began to hum and slide under the rest of the floor, revealing the hot tub underneath. Striking up a finger, Ryder then pushed a second button, this one turning on the jets.

"Ooo," Lea nodded in appreciation, "a jacuzzi that appears as if by magic. My my, how the other half lives." Then he huffed out a snort through his nose, "Leave it to the rich to find a way to take a soak in the middle of a lake without actually having to get in the lake."

Ryder scrunched up his face, "Lake water's gross."

Pointing at the hot tub, Lea said, "You do realize the more people get in that thing, the more it's just a boiling vat of human juices, right?"

"Thanks for that," Maren gave a mock gag before tossing her chin towards the edge of the boat. "What're you waiting for then? Lake's right there and all yours, Stretch."

"No thanks," leaving my side, Lea walked over to the ledge of the jacuzzi to dip a toe in. "Bring on the person stew! 'Sides, not every day I get to hop into a yacht hot tub. Wouldn't wanna miss out."

Setting his now empty glass down, Ryder said, "Not every day you get to steer the yacht either. Whaddya say, my man, want to give it a go?" He pointed towards the helm.

As if on cue, Anna bellowed, "Ready the cannons, ye scallywags, lest we be dead in the water!"

Lea gave me a quick glance and I shrugged. He scratched the back of his head, "Uh… sure! Why not? Be right back, boo!" He planted a swift peck to my forehead before transferring his pink sunglasses back to my nose. "If ya need me, just shoot me the heart-eyes with these and me n' my boopable nose'll come running."

I huffed and shoved his shoulder, "Just try not to crash us into anything." Fighting the upward tug I felt at one side of my mouth, I added more quietly, "Have fun."

"Always do," he winked before turning to follow Ryder towards the stairs that lead to the upper deck.

"Shall we?" Maren then asked, tossing her sarong to the bench as she stepped down into the hot tub.

I hesitated, glancing over my shoulder. Normally, I wasn't self-conscious about being seen in my swimsuit. But then, normally only people who were related to me ever saw me in it. The one exception there of course being my ex, but I'd never been awkward about it in front of him either. I'd never really been… anything about it. But now, oddly the idea of Lea seeing me in my swimsuit, it just… well, I don't know… did weird things to my pulse and made my skin tingle. It wasn't a bad feeling, per se… I wasn't quite sure what it was really.

In any case, the boys looked to be engrossed in a heated debate with Anna currently. It seemed the self-proclaimed captain wasn't quite ready to give up her post at the wheel yet. None of those three were even looking this way.

"...alright," I said at last, slipping out of my cover-up and letting it fall to the deck. Putting my hat down on top of the small pile of fabric as well, I lowered one foot in into the water, followed by the other before hastily taking a seat, letting the bubbling warmth engulf me up to my shoulders.

Stretching and luxuriating in the jacuzzi, Maren's glass dangled between her fingertips as she idly swirled about what was left of her bloody mary inside it. "I can see why you did it."

A crease formed between my eyebrows as I gave her a sideward glance. "Did what?"

"Got the hell outta Dodge before the first note of Here Comes the Bride could even chime out the organ," she smirked, sticking the straw into the corner of her mouth.

My lips pinched. "I thought you'd already established it was to sell ice cream," I grumbled, lifting the sunglasses to sit atop my hair now since the absurd heart lenses were already fogging over from all the steam.

She gave an amused scoff, setting her empty glass down on the rim of the hot tub. "I said that's what you did, but we both know that wasn't why. Not unless ice cream is roughly six foot seven, has green eyes to die for, and is rocking a smokin' hot bod."

"Oh…" I cleared my throat. Was my face turning red? Psh, that was just the jacuzzi. I think heat was cranked up a little too high in here, in fact. Yeah, that had to be it. I laughed nervously, "What can say I? He just, er… stole my heart."

Atta girl, way to sell the lie.

...that... was a lie… right?

What am I saying, of course it was! All I had was a crush. A simple, meaningless crush, nothing more.

Anna had finally retreated to the mini bar where she was sulking as she mixed herself a drink, so Ryder had set Lea up at the wheel, who was nodding at everything he was told. Maren removed her star-shades, gently biting down on one of the earpieces as her eyes drifted towards the helm. I wasn't particularly a fan of that sly little curve to her lips as she watched him. "Mmm, I bet that's not all he stole."

A small, incredulous splutter escaped me. "Maren," I scolded, splashing some water at her.

She snerked. "All I'm saying is I don't blame you. I myself would've given up a Prince Charming fiancé worth his weight in gold and risked any claim to my family fortune, all for one steamy summer fling with that hunky pizza boy over there."

Okay fine, no use denying it anymore. This thing my face was doing? Definitely a blush. "Don't you have a girlfriend?" I muttered, eyes darting about.

"Sure do and she is my world, my moon and my stars, my everything!" she beamed. Then her eyebrows bounced, "Still… doesn't mean I can't admire the view every once and awhile."

"Well stop admiring," I harrumphed, narrowing my gaze down at the frothy water.

"That's adorable! You really do like this one, don't you," she cooed, pinching my cheek. I just rolled my eyes and swat her hand away. "Hope you weren't too attached to your hat, by the way."

"My…?" I blinked. "Why?"

She pointed, "Cuz there it goes."

Sure enough, a gust of wind had come along to scoop it up and carry it off, only to let it plummet once it'd escaped the confines of the yacht.

"Cap overboard!" Ryder called out, cupping a hand to his mouth.

"I'll get it!" Lea grinned, already kicking off his flip-flops. Before any of us could react, he took off running, launching himself up onto the guard rail and diving into the waters below.

I inhaled sharply as I shot up to my feet. "Your boy is crazy!" Ryder was cackling as he steadied the abandoned steering wheel and shut off the ship engine. Maren whooped and clapped while a giggling Anna rushed to the edge, leaning over the metal bars to look for him.

I just hoped that big dummy didn't get knocked unconscious by the rudder cracking his skull open or something! All over a stupid sun hat, no less!

Thankfully, it wasn't long before Anna was throwing up her hands and cheering, which I took to be a good sign as I released the breath I'd been holding. Next thing I knew, Lea came rising up the ladder attached to the side of the boat, wet hair slicked back and the brim of my cap between his teeth so his hands were free for climbing. Clearing the last few rungs, he hopped onto the deck and grabbed the hat out of his mouth, hissing, "Shit, that water's cold! Brr, nearly froze my ass off!"

...or at least, I think he'd said something like that.

It was hard to be sure really. My eardrums seemed to be on the fritz while all my focus now directed itself towards his shirt. His sopping, soaking wet shirt. It was clinging to the chiseled contours of his abs in a way that was rather, ah… fascinating. Not to mention see-through. Yes, very, very much so. It was actually kind of beautiful, in a way. Majestic, really. Quite the sight to behold and-

-and fudge, I was staring.

Staring at him, who was staring at me.

Me, who was still standing in the jacuzzi and flaunting my two-piece like I was the friggin' star of Baywatch.

I sat back down so fast, water splashed over onto the deck behind me. Yes, oh blessed jacuzzi bubbles, cloak me in your warm, protective embrace. Face heated and eyes not quite able to meet his, I stammered out a quick, "Th-thank you."

"Of… of course! Happy to!" Lea said brightly. Huh… was he getting a bit of a sunburn? He started to walk forward with a goofy, lopsided grin, holding the hat out towards me, "Here ya g-"

Apparently misjudging where the ledge of the hot tub was, he stumbled head first into it with us. I jolted in my seat and Maren half shrieked, half laughed as water exploded everywhere. As soon as he resurfaced and was coughing up water, I asked, "Are you okay?!"

"Fine! Nothing bruised 'cept my pride. Wanna smooch it all better?" he snickered, leaning in close and making loud kissy noises. Eyelids drooping, I just put my hand on his face and shoved him away. Still chuckling, he once more offered me my now thoroughly drenched hat. "Believe this is yours, m'lady?"

I hid a smile behind my fingers. "My hero," I said dryly, taking it from him and setting it aside on the hardwood once more. Surely it was too waterlogged at this point to fly off again.

"Yoink," he plucked the heart-shades off me so he could wear them himself once more. "Mind if I join you gals?" he chirped, standing up in the jacuzzi to remove his soggy shirt. I did my best not to ogle him this time.

The same couldn't be said for Maren as she smirked up at him. "Would seem you already have, Slim."

He cocked an eyebrow at her as he took a seat at my side. Then he was bending towards me, muttering in a low voice, "Uh… should I be nervous about the way your cousin is looking at me?"

I snorted, turning and leaning in close so I could return the whisper into his ear, "Ignore her." Lea seemed to give a small shiver, but that wouldn't make sense. It was very hot in this jacuzzi, so I must have been mistaken. "She has a girlfriend."

"Did, uh…" he cleared his throat, "did anyone tell her that?"

"Don't worry. Apparently she's just admiring the view," I said, one corner of my mouth twitching up.

His eyes crinkled behind those pink lenses. "Good. Woulda hated to break her heart otherwise, seeing as how I'm already deliriously happy in a loving, committed relationship with the bewitching creature sitting next to me," he slipped one arm to rest along the edge of the hot tub behind me while taking my hand in his other one so he could bring it up out of the water and press his lips to my knuckles.

Click!

I glanced up at the sound to see Anna crouching down next to the jacuzzi, holding her phone up with the camera pointed towards us. "D'aww, what a great picture! You two are such cuties!" she squealed, looking down at her screen as her fingers swiped across it.

Lea had lowered our hands back down to rest underwater once more, his fingers interweaved with mine now. Which was a little silly, come to think of it, as no one could possibly be seeing us holding hands through all these bubbles. Perhaps he didn't realize that. Then again, I wasn't exactly rushing to take my hand back either.

Anna was still gushing, "Seriously, I'm becoming diabetic from sweetness overload h-"

"Cannonball!"

Maren's head shot up and she snarled, "Ryder, no! This is a hot tub, not a-"

Suddenly a big blur was hitting the water, sending a huge blast of water in all directions for the second time. Anna yelped, shielding her mobile with her body while the rest of us just did our best to block the mini tidal wave with our hands. It was amazing that there was any liquid still left in here with us by now.

"Wahoo!" Ryder cried out as he popped back up, bouncing with his hands high over his head in triumph. It was short lived however as his sister punched him in the gut and he doubled over with a grunt.

"Bonehead!" she scowled at him as she relaxed back into her seat. "You could've broken your dumb neck."

"And my phone!" Anna added as she gave said device a careful lookover.

"Whatever, you're all just jelly cuz you didn't think to do it yourselves first." He fished around in the water for his lip-shades that had fallen off before perching them on his head and taking a seat as he looked to Lea, "Hella cool, am I right? Up top!" He held up his hand. Lea just shrugged and obliged him with a high-five.

Maren sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Boys. Ugh."

Seemingly satisfied that no damage had come to her phone, Anna plopped down onto the ledge of the jacuzzi now and let her feet dangle in the water. "Pic of my fave cousin," she singsonged, snapping a shot of Maren tipping her sunglasses down and holding two fingers up in the peace sign. "And one of my idiot cousin," she deadpanned, pointing it at Ryder now who just crossed his eyes and razzed his tongue at her. Giggling, she then turned the phone camera back towards Lea and me. "I want a couple more of you guys! Go on, smoosh in, you two!"

...who me?

Awkward penguin, nervous wreck, ball of raw friggin' nerves me? "Smoosh" in with a guy? While we were both only in swimsuits and thus at least a good seventy-five percent naked? Smoosh?! I didn't even know how to smoosh! I'd never smooshed a day in my life!

Did my sister know me but at all?

She did remember Lea and I were only pretend dating, right?

I narrowed my gaze one her. "...excuse me?"

"You heard me," she said sweetly, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she tipped her head forward, smirking over those flower-glasses. "Snuggle in, Sis."

Oh-ho, that evil brat knew exactly what she was doing.

Fine. If I gave her this and let her have her fun, maybe she'd finally open up to me about whatever it was that'd been bothering her.

So I scooched an inch over towards Lea.

"Closer," Anna said, staring at her phone screen as she pointed the camera at us again and waved me over with her free hand.

A tiny huff in my throat and another inch over. My knee was brushing against his now.

Anna groaned, "Come on, closer! You two like each other, right?!"

Lea gave a sheepish laugh, scratching his cheek and whispering, "El, forget it, you don't hafta-"

"It's fine," I muttered under my breath, hard eyes still on Anna as I reached over my shoulder and closed my fingers around Lea's wrist resting behind my head there. Hesitating briefly as my face began to warm uncomfortably and the thudding in my ears grew louder, I finally tugged the arm down to wrap around my bare shoulders and leaned into his chest slightly.

"Ugh, closer!"

One of my eyes ticked. "Anna, any closer and I'll be sitting in his lap. Is that what you want?"

She smiled impishly, "I mean, if you think it'll help…"

Lea's hushed voice came to me again, "El, really, this isn't-"

"Lea, really, it's fine," I insisted through grit teeth.

Alright, Anna, you want closer? I'll give you closer, you little...

I twisted in my seat, hugged my arms around his neck and yanked him down, pressing our cheeks together. Not to mention our chests. Our very wet, scantily-to-not-at-all clad chests. But I tried not to think about that part. My cheeks were frying enough as it was already. His whole body went rigid against mine before slowly relaxing as I felt his arms tighten around me. "Here, Anna," I snapped, "take the stupid picture!"

Hold this pose any longer and my heart might just shatter a rib with the way it was thundering.

Still there was no click. She frowned, "Aw, c'mon, Sis, give us a smile! You're in wub, after all!"

...that's it, I was going to throttle her.

"Gotcha covered!" Lea announced. I'd barely even had a chance to register his words before he'd removed his cheek from mine only to replace it with his lips and blow a loud raspberry. All my tension immediately banished and a surprised laugh erupted out of me as I tried to wriggle free, but not before-

Click!

"Perfect!" Anna bit back a grin as she eyed the photo on her phone.

Lea had a cheeky grin of his own that he was shooting my way. Though my eyes glared, my lips smiled as I gave his arm a shove, which did nothing to erase his smug look. Before I could retract my hand however, he'd snatched it up in his so he could lace our fingers together once more. At least this time it was above the water for everyone to see.

Now that that bit of nonsense was over and done with, perhaps Anna would give me a minute to talk to her while she was still distracted by riding her photography high. I saw Maren poking a finger into her brother's cheek as she teased him about something, so our cousins probably wouldn't miss us if we slipped away for a second or two. Sitting up straighter and taking a deep breath, I began, "Anna, perhaps now you and I could have a-"

"Oopsie, looks like I need a refill!" she trilled, swiping up her glass from where it sat on the deck beside her.

I squinted at it. "...it's still mostly full."

"Check again." She downed the whole thing in one big gulp before puffing out a satisfied, "Ha! Be right back!"

Whoosh!

Gone again.

With a long, drawn out sigh, I slouched so low into the jacuzzi now, the foamy surface brushed against my chin. I could see Lea frowning at me out of my peripheral, but he remained quiet, probably just as much at a loss with this whole mystery situation with my sister as I was.

My eyes gradually drifted over to the mini bar where I could see her mixing up some new concoction. However, instead of the upbeat glow she usually had about her, I noticed her shoulders sagging a little. She was worrying her lower lip between her teeth, the corners of her mouth turned down. I couldn't see her eyes behind the sunglasses, but her brow was wrinkled, seemingly lost in thought as she hung her head.

Huh… that didn't look like someone who was mad.

Maybe Lea was right. Maybe there really was something that had her sad or scared.

But what could it possibly be?

And why wouldn't she just tell me?

Author's Note: Yay for some yacht fun! Cuz that's just what rich people do I suppose xD Again, since I'm not sure if all of ya'll have seen Frozen 2, the new characters introduced this chapter (including the briefly mentioned Yelena) were all from that movie as a buncha people called the Northuldra who live in an enchanted forest. Since in F2 it was revealed Elsa's mom was Northuldra, there is a VERY real possibility that Honeymaren and Ryder really are all canonically related to Elsa and Anna in some way, so I figured hey, why not turn them into her cousins in this? Now if only Ryder had gotten to see Kristoff's talking reindeer Sven plushie routine, I think Ryder would have positively exploded with happiness xD Real talk tho, boys and girls... don't pull a Ryder: do NOT cannonball into a jacuzzi.

Alright, we now have Saturday morning out of the way, but still have plenty of The Weekend to go yet! Next chapter, what will the rest of the day hold for Elsa? Will she ever find out what seems to have her baby sis so down? Not to mention Gramps' bday palooza is looming ever nearer on the horizon, what potential new "fun" could that lil party bring? And seriously, how WAS there any water left in that lil hot tub after those couple o' knuckleheads (intentionally or not) crashed hard into that thing? Stay tuned!

Thanks for reading, I super duper appreciate it! And an extra BIG thank you to those of you who’ve liked, reblogged, and followed so far, seeing those lil notifications always brings the biggest, goofiest smile to my face!

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safyresky · 7 years ago

Text

Fusion AU Part II: When Elle Met Berline

Part I: The History | Part II: When Elle Met Berline | Part III: The Bernelle Bit | Part IV: The Triumphant Return of Jackie Frost

(IT’S FINALLY HERE!!! Picks up during TEC, and goes from there! It will end just before Crystal Springs would pick up, I had to split it in half tbh). Side note: It was very hard to write this part and not write the entirety of the Jacqueline and Elle reunion post-TEC blowout, heh).

(also biggest thanks ever to @lovelypidge who let me throw parts at her inbox to make sure Elle was in character and also for writing some of the Elle dialogue for me when I got stuck u r the best :*)

Things had gone from bad, to worse, to horrible, to hopeful, and then right back to bad again, Bernard thought. He leaned on the wall, his head feeling like it was going to explode, as the love of his life exploded on her best friend.

“What else was I suppose to do?”

“Be my friend!” Elle shouted, choked up. “All you had to do was be my friend, Jacqueline. But I’m sure even that was a chore for you. Just like it was for Jack.”

There was a brief moment of silence. Bernard wanted to speak out but his head was throbbing; he couldn’t find his voice. The cold silence spoke for itself; the temperature dropped and Bernard could tell that Jacqueline had been rendered speechless.

“You know what? Just go. You did your job, and now you can be done with me too,” Elle said.

“I bet there’s no point to convince you other wise, is there? Once Elle makes up her mind about something, nobody is changing it.”

“Glad you have me down to a science.”

“You know what, fine. If that’s what you want then I’ll go,” Jacqueline said quietly, voice heavy. “I’m dead tired of this drama anyway. If the two of you had just fused this whole thing could have been avoided!”

Bernard’s vision was swimming a bit, but he could see the look of confusion on Elle’s face.

“Good luck with this one Bernard,” Jacqueline said, her dress swishing, her voice heavy now as well. “I get the feeling you’ll need it.” And with that, the sprite disappeared.

“Ugh. She’s so! I hate--! What does that even mean?!” Elle stomped her foot, tears falling down her face. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Good riddance, I’ll bet.”

Bernard needed to tell her...he needed to go...somewhere? He really, really wasn’t doing well.

“Elle, I don’t think--” he slid down the wall, groaning.

Elle rushed over, concern all over her face. She would have to put Jacqueline’s comment on the back burner now. Bernard needed her help.

"Have you thought about talking to Jacqueline yet?” Bernard asked her one day, a few weeks after what had become known as The Pocket Watch Incident had been resolved.

“Have you thought about talking to Jacqueline yet?” Elle mocked.

Bernard rolled his eyes. “I’m serious, Elle. Have you?”

Elle bit her lip in thought. She had been thinking of it, especially after Bernard had told her a bit about what had happened between Jacqueline and her brother, and pointed out how Jacqueline had never actually betrayed Elle in any way. She had just been doing her job. She let out a long sigh. “I have been. Of course I have, B.”

“I’m just checking in,” he said, shrugging and doing that goofy lil smile that Elle really, really loved.

“I know, and I appreciate it. I really do. It's just..." she sighed, resting her cheek on her fist. "I dunno. I came away from that last discussion with Jack with more questions than answers about Jacqueline, but one thing I do understand is that what happened wasn't Jacqueline's fault--and that the things that I said to her? Yeah, they were really messed up.”

“It is a bit of a slushy spot for her,” B said, sitting down beside Elle.

She fell silent for a few moments. "I really upset her then, didn’t I? I can't tell if she was offended, or angry, and honestly? I'm kind of scared to find out.” Elle sighed. “B, I'm the one who owes her an apology, and I don't know where to start." She pulled her knees up to her chest. "What if now that she doesn't have to be my friend anymore, and...and with everything I said...she doesn't want to be?"

“Elle,” Bernard began, putting his arm around her shoulders and holding her close. “I’ve known Jacqueline for a very long time. I betcha she’s having the same struggle you are! Or something similar at the very least. I can tell you with certainty that Jacqueline still wants to be your friend.”

“Are you sure?”

“As sure as Santa will ride the sleigh on Christmas Day.”

“Well...” Elle began, lifting her head and grinning.

Bernard laughed. “Good point. But seriously Elle, it really will be okay.”

She scratched the back of her neck, frowning. “I just have so many questions to ask her. I want to know what happened between her and Jack. I’m kinda tired of not knowing that. I want to know what she meant with that fusion comment...”

“The fusion thing is just an advance magical technique we fae can do that’s used for emergencies only. Don’t worry about it too much. As for the history between the two Frost siblings...you won't know until you ask Jacqueline."

“Then I guess we should talk to Santa about taking a Day off to go visit,” Elle said, deciding to press her friend about the fusion thing since B seemed pretty unconcerned by it.

“Already taken care of,” Bernard said, standing up and offering a hand. “Santa’s cleared us for the day and I’ve already talked to Quentin. Shall we go visit my Aunt and Uncle?”

Elle laughed. “Stop it, you guys aren’t related. Cousins my behind.”

Bernard grinned. “Doesn’t mean I don’t see them as such. So, wanna go? My arm is getting tired.”

Elle laughed, grabbing his outstretched hand and pulling herself up. “Yes, let’s.”

Jacqueline stood in the kitchen, drinking a carton of chocolate milk, still in her pyjamas. Her hair wasn’t even frozen, and was up in a very messy ponytail.

“I don’t like seeing you so upset,” Winter said, eyes trained on the crossword in front of her.

“That makes two of us.” Jacqueline sighed, taking a sip from her carton. “I dunno Mom. I know I should talk to her but she probably doesn’t wanna see me at all, less so how I usually like to appear.”

“Is that why you haven’t been freeze drying lately? It’s very unlike you.”

“No. Yes. I don’t know. I just...she thinks I’m just like him, Mom.”

“Jacqueline dear, come here,” Winter said, standing up and walking towards her daughter, arms open. Jacqueline smiled, happily accepting her Mother’s hug. “You are not like him. You’re nothing like him. And I’m sure Elle will realize that soon if she hasn’t already. I bet she’ll come marching through that door to see you any day now.”

Jacqueline laughed, about to reply when the doorbell rang. Both women stopped and stared at each other, equally confused.

“I didn’t think she’d appear today.”

“That’s not funny, Mom.”

“I wasn’t being funny.”

“I’ve got it!” Blaise shouted from the foyer, answering the door. The sprites waited. “Bernard! And Elle, I presume? What a surprise, come in!”

“Oh my goddess it is Elle,” Jacqueline said, panic setting in.

“Jacqueline, it’s okay. It’s fine. Just breath.”

“It is super not fine Mom, holy snowballs.”

“You won’t feel better until you talk to her.”

“I know, but I’m...I can’t do this Mom.”

“Yes you can--”

“No, I can’t!” Jacqueline whisper shouted, disappearing in a panic, leaving a shower of snowflakes and blue sparks in her wake.

Jacqueline knew her Mother was right, and she knew that Elle’s arrival meant that they would have to talk. But she was not going to talk while in her jammies with her hair uncombed and unfrozen, nope. She was just going to get changed and then muster up the courage to go downstairs.

Or at least, she was, until there had been a knock at the bedroom door.

Thankfully Jacqueline has been dressed, her hair in its usual white, curly mess; but she hadn’t mustered the confidence to go down and talk to her friend just yet. All because she was afraid she would scare Elle; after all, Jacqueline and her brother did look alike. They were siblings, as much as she wished they weren’t. Winter was right, they were very different.

But that didn’t stop her own insecurities from hitting her like a sentient storm, nor did it stop Elle’s words from their fight from repeating over and over in her head. So naturally, Jacqueline did what anyone else in her situation would have done.

She hid under her bed.

“Jacqueline? Are you hiding from me?”

“No?”

“Then where are you?”

The sprite was silent for a moment. “...hiding.”

“Can I sit?”

“Yeah sure, make yourself at home. Mi casa e tu casa, and such,” Jacqueline said, cringing because that sounded very Jack.

“Listen. It’s okay if you wanna hide,” Elle began, sitting on the bed. “I don’t blame you. After you left I...I talked to Jack and...what I said was really, really messed up and I...god, I have no idea where to start.”

Jacqueline frowned, her heart going out to her friend. If they still were friends, that is. She wanted to get out and comfort her but...goddess, I should have stayed defrosted, she thought.

“We still are friends. At least, I’d like to be. But honestly, after everything I said...I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to be friends anymore. I’m sorry Jacqueline. I really, really am. I was so angry about everything and I took it out on you and I’m just, I’m really, really sorry.”

Jacqueline laughed.

“Hey! I just poured out my feelings and you’re laughing at me?”

“Not because of your apology! I just...I was afraid you would be different but you’re the same old Elle, even knowing me like this. It’s...comforting.”

“I’m not sure what this is referring to since you’re still hiding. Same old Jacqueline, I see.”

“Mostly,” Jacqueline said. “Just a little frosty, I guess.”

“After I talked to Jack...I got an idea of what happened between the two of you. I’m not sure if I offended you, or made you angry, or both--”

“It was none of those,” Jacqueline said, her voice cracking. “I’ve...got a lot of complicated feelings towards the brother. I’ve grown up all my life being compared to him; people automatically assuming we’re exactly the same just because I’m his sister, and his Legate. When you said what you said...I was thrown off completely. I wasn’t expecting it. And...honestly, one of my worst fears is becoming just like him. So when you said--”

“Oh man I seriously messed up, I knew it! I’m so sorry Jacqueline I really, really am--”

“Elle! Stop it. Stop apologizing,” Jacqueline said. Elle felt a pair of familiar cold arms around her. “It’s okay! I messed up too, you know.”

Elle looked back at her friend, blinking briefly in shock. “Oh geez, a little frosty indeed. Is this why you were hiding?”

Jacqueline shrugged, grinning sheepishly. “Yeah. I was thawed before you arrived but when you guys came in, I decided that if I was gonna talk to you I’d do it with my most comfortable appearance. I freeze dry all the time and I tend to go towards the bluer shades which I know is a lot like Jack and I was super afraid that you’d be afraid of how I looked--”

“Calm down snow buddy! You don’t look that alike.”

“Really?”

“Really! Your face is a bit rounder, your eyes are a bit of a darker blue, your noses are similar but I think yours is smaller. I was expecting a lot more ice on that face to be honest. You’re surprisingly warm.”

“I’ve never had a frozen heart. It’s my claim to fame,” Jacqueline said, winking.

“Nice,” Elle replied.

“Yeah. I promise, everything is all good. I’m happy you still want to see me and that you still want to be my friend, cause I still want to be yours. It was never a chore for me, Elle. You’re the first real friend I’ve ever really had, aside from B-Man, I guess. And I’m sorry, too.”

“You didn’t do anything! You were just doing your job. You were trying to protect me and your home. I understand that.”

“See, that’s the thing. I was doing my job. I shouldn’t have been so flippant when you mentioned magic existing, I should have been more supportive...I was a little harsh too, after all. The good luck thing was kinda a low blow.”

“So was me comparing you to Jack. I think B said it was a bit of a slushy spot?”

“Y-yeah. A bit.”

“What happened between the two of you?”

“The Day of Darkness happened.”

“That’s loaded.”

“It lives up to the name, I promise.”

“Do tell,” Elle said, settling in.

Jacqueline paused for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face before she began to talk. “Growing up, Jack had always been trouble. He had a penchant for evil. Dad was always hounding him which he never really appreciated. Then I came along. Apparently having someone to mentor put a curb on Jack’s evil streak. It didn’t last, though. Once Santa entered the scene, Jack was back to his old ways, trying very hard to take his season back. It got really bad, to the point where Dad confronted him one night.”

Jacqueline paused, lost in thought, her hand clutching the material of her dress covering her belly. “They fought. Like, with their powers. I heard them from upstairs. I was scared. I knew Jack did bad things, and my biggest fear was coming true: Jack was doing a “very bad”, I called it, and my parents sounded like they were hurt. I ran downstairs and Jack was leaving. He wouldn’t go back to help them. I had no idea that he had hurt them...just a feeling. I...I followed him outside.”

“Oh no.”

“Oh yes. A huge ice storm had begun, the likes of which I had never seen. I asked him why he was leaving. If he’d come back. He got really upset when I said he was doing a very big bad and that he would be on the naughty list forever. I begged him to stay; he was my only friend, my mentor...what would happen when he left? Who would teach me? He got really upset and yelled for me to leave him alone, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground, with three very sharp pains in my abdomen. And he was gone.”

“Three icicles. To the stomach,” Elle murmured.

“How did you know that?” Jacqueline looked perplexed.

“The stabber himself. And Father Time, admittedly. He’s sassy.”

“I think it’s his bald spot. He’s touchy about that.”

Elle snorted. “Sorry you got stabbed, dude.”

Jacqueline laughed. “Thanks, Elle. I lived, so y’know, there’s that.”

“Did he do it on purpose?” Elle asked suddenly.

“I don’t know. And knowing all the sleet he’s pulled...well, it’s hard to decide. Part of me hopes it was an accident. Because as horrible as it is, after everything he’s done...I miss him, Elle. How awful is that?”

“It’s...it’s not. He misses you too, you know.”

“Ha.”

“I’m serious! It’s one of the reasons why he did the pocket watch thing.”

Jacqueline looked...perplexed. Maybe a bit concerned? Elle couldn’t tell, and she was being careful mentally. She didn’t want to violate Jacqueline’s privacy by prying into what seemed to be her deepest thoughts and fears.

“That’s hard to believe.”

“I know. But take my word for it, he really does want to make amends. It shocked me, too.”

“Elle, it’s...really hard to believe. When we were younger, we’d often find ourselves fused and...his thoughts, that up close and personal? Terrifying.”

“I feel like that’s a loaded statement as well, but I have no idea how deep it is because I have no idea what fused means. Does it have to do with that fusion thing you mentioned?”

“It is the fusion thing I mentioned. Didn’t Bernard tell you about it?” Jacqueline asked, genuinely shocked.

“I asked. He said it was “just an advance magical technique we fae can do that’s used for emergencies only”, and then he said not to worry about it.”

“What a typical Elvin attitude towards fusion, honestly that Bernard--”

“If it’s not an emergency technique then what is it?”

“It is a magical technique and some fae do view it as an emergency thing. The Elves before the Christmas Elves you know--and are, nice ears there kid--saw it as a battle tactic; a very important, very special one. With the Christmas Elves that became “something we can do for emergencies only”. Faeries think themselves above it and would never fuse with any of their cousins, just with other faeries. Pixies were neutral? I think? I can’t remember what Mom told Jackie, I was very young. It’s not like we could ask pixies either, they’re...gone.”

“Who’s Jackie?”

“They are--or rather, were--the fusion of me and...Jack. Jackie Frost was their name. The Ultimate Jackie Frost, but it’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it?”

“Fusion of...so fusion means what it means, doesn’t it? Two people combined into one person?”

“In principle, yes. Fusion is a magical technique that only fae--so sprites, elves, faeries and pixies--can perform. At it’s base, it’s the combination of two fae to form one. But that’s just at it’s base, Elle. It’s so much more than that.”

“The sprite view, I assume?”

Jacqueline chuckled. “Yeah, the sprite view. The right view if you ask me. It's...an experience! You combine your form with another and become someone entirely new. New thoughts, new feelings...at the same time, the fusion knows everything each counterpart knows. All of the thoughts and feelings of each other. Everything.”

Elle was silent for the briefest of moments before a large smile graced her face. “That sounds amazing! Silver bells, Jacquie!”

“It really is,” Jacqueline said, grinning.

“I wonder if Bernard would fuse with me,” Elle mussed.

Jacqueline snorted. “The only times I have ever fused with Bernard have been in emergencies.”

“You’ve fused with B?”

“A few times, yeah. Usually in really dangerous situations. Santas would sometimes send him out on these crazy errands. Like I’m talking several hunters pointing guns at us emergencies. You can see why I’m a tad skeptical.” She paused for a moment, looking thoughtful. “Then again, he really loves you so maybe he will agree to fuse with you.”

“Cuddles count as an emergency, right?”

Jacqueline snorted. “If that doesn’t work, I can show you how to fuse,” she said winking.

Elle grinned back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Elle, it’s for emergencies only! We can’t just fuse because we feel like it.”

“Jacqueline says we can.”

“Well Jacqueline isn’t the authority on fusion!”

“Nor are you!”

Bernard glanced over at Elle, not slowing down. “Fair enough. Had I known you were that curious I would have explained it to you the proper way.”

“I like the sprite view better, to be honest.”

Bernard smiled as they entered Santa’s office. “I can tell.”

“Well I mean if you won’t fuse with me, I’ll just go and ask Jacqueline,” Elle said, turning to the side and crossing her arms, hazarding a glance at Bernard. He looked upset for a moment, maybe even...jealous? Elle grinned.

“I--”

“Ah! There you two are,” Santa said, coming up from under his desk. “I have a very big problem.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t find my snow globe.”

“Excuse me?!” Bernard nearly shouted.

“I was talking to Charlie!”

“Santa, you need to stop taking the snow globe out of the hall. You know how special it is!”

“It’s the only way I can talk to Charlie face to face!”

“Just get a smart phone,” Elle said.

“The screens are too small.”

“We can make you a big one.”

“It’s not the same,” Santa insisted. “If I get a big smart phone it’s going to be so bulky and I may as well just get a tablet.”

“Then get a tablet?” Elle suggested.

“I don’t like the idea. I guess the snow globe is more of my...”

“Aesthetic?”

“Yes! Thank you, Elle.”

“Santa if you really want to stick to your aesthetic, I can make a replica that serves as a communicator. That way the real one stays safe inside of the hall and you don’t. Loose it! How did you misplace it?” Bernard asked, exasperated.

“That’s the thing! I put it down for a second and when I turned, it was gone.”

“So it just disappeared?” Elle asked.

“Yes!”

“That’s impossible,” Elle said, glancing over at Bernard who had paled...considerably. “You okay B?”

“It’s not impossible,” he said, voice cracking. “It happens all the time.”

“What?” Santa and Elle said at the same time.

“Okay, picture this. You’re doing your laundry, and you pull your socks out of the dryer. You start matching them up, only to find that there’s a few matches missing. And they never resurface.”

“I hate when that happens,” Santa said. “I had these really nice pair, that had toe homes, and I lost one of them. Never found it again.”

“Well, they do go somewhere. They end up in the mountains at Crystal Springs. And I think that’s where your snow globe may be.”

“Well that’s great!” Santa said, excited now. “You can get it for me! And bring it back! And we’ll put it back and I’ll stop using it to call Charlie, if you can make a replica.”

“Course I can,” Bernard scoffed. “And in theory, yes, it should be easy to get back.”

“And in practise?”

“It’s more complex. The mountains surrounding the Northern Province, where the Vortex of Lost Items is, just so happens to be in troll territory.”

“Trolls?!” Elle asked.

“Vortex of Lost Items? That’s what it’s called? That’s not very creative.”

“The Mountain Trolls aren’t very creative.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Do you mean to tell me there are mountain trolls? Like in, like in the Hobbit?” Elle asked.

“Almost exactly like that, yes,” Bernard replied. “I’ve faced them before. They’re really stupid, but really great at bludgeoning. They have an excellent sense of smell, too.”

“We need to get that snow globe back,” Santa said. “Bernard, I’m going to request a special errand.”

“Of course,” he replied.

“Special errand?” Elle questioned.

“It’s one of the...well, I wouldn’t say perks, but uh, parts of being Head Elf. Sometimes Santa sends me on special errands that nobody else here could really do.”

“Does Elf Number Two have a cool mission perk?”

“Sometimes,” Bernard said.

“Maybe you should take Elle with you,” Santa said, sitting at his desk. “It may be helpful for a second set of hands when it comes to mountain trolls. And, it’s great practise for future special errands, if the need for her to go on one should arise.”

“I agree, but I don’t think mountain trolls would be the best starter errand.”

“Why not?” Elle asked.

“It could be dangerous. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

“Oh please, I can handle myself, remember?” Elle asked, tapping her head. “Danger is my middle name,” she added, grinning.

“No it’s not,” Bernard said. He looked thoughtful for a moment. “Elle, send a message to Jacqueline and tell her to meet us at the base of the Northern Mountains. This way, if things get hairy we’ll have some backup.”

“Has she dealt with them before?”

“We both have, together. This isn’t the first time a Santa has misplaced something and I’ve had to fetch it. After the Clifton Manor Incident, Jacqueline tended to go with me whenever I had one of these riskier errands. Just in case things got nasty, like they did at Clifton Manor. Though it was really a Lodge--”

“Oh! Was that the incident with the hunters?”

“It-yes, it was. How did you know?”

“Jacqueline mentioned it. You guys fused!” Elle realized.

“It was an emergency,” Bernard said. “If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have been able to get out with what we needed.”

“I suppose if something did happen, it would be best if she was there since you guys have fused before,” Elle said, a little weary for some reason.

“I’m sure it will be fine. The trolls are all over the place and I doubt they’d be by the vortex. Really, it’s a small chance we’ll see the trolls.”

“Right. And I guess it would be better to have someone experienced with fusion there, just in case.”

Bernard smiled. “Right.”

“Sorry to interrupt but, uh, fusion?”

“It’s a thing elves can do. And sprites.”

“Pixies and faeries as well,” Elle added.

“I’ll tell you more about it later, Santa. Right now, we need to get that snow globe back, as soon as possible.” Bernard said. “Shall we, Elle?”

“Yes, let’s,” Elle said, taking his hand and letting him teleport them where they needed to go.

It was dusk when they arrived; the two elves blinked briefly as their eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness, since it was a perpetual daytime back at the Pole.

“Is it just me, or is the darkness up on the mountain ominous?”

“It’s very ominous,” Bernard said. “You told Jacqueline?”

“She said she’d be right over. She lives in this province, doesn’t she?”

“The Frosts are one of the few residents who live up here, yes. Now where is she?”

A snowball came flying right at Elle; sensing it, she ducked, the projectile hitting the side of Bernard’s face and sticking to it in a very comedic fashion. Elle snorted.

“Whoops, sorry B-Man! I was aiming for Elle,” Jacqueline said, ducking out from behind a nearby boulder.

“Nice to see you too, Jacqueline,” Bernard said, wiping the snow off of his face as the two girls giggled.

“I told you you wouldn’t get me!”

“Just you wait, I am the snowball master,” Jacqueline said, grinning. “So, let’s get down to business. What’ve we got?”

“Santa’s lost his snow globe suddenly,” Bernard said, air quotes punctuating the suddenly.

Instantly, Jacqueline groaned, throwing her head (and her torso) back. “Ugh, that means trolls, doesn’t it? They’re so smelly and so, so stupid.”

“It’s a slim chance they’ll be there,” Elle said. “Bernard thinks it will be fairly easy. If anything, this climb is going to be brutal.”

“I’ll just fly us up,” Jacqueline said, a cold north breeze beginning to stir.

“Hold on a second--” Bernard began, but it was too late; the breeze had turned into a heavy wind and Jacqueline grabbed them both, propelling them up the mountain side. The trip was fast, and they landed just at the cusp of the mountaintop, hidden behind a few boulders.

“There we go! First problem solved. And we’re hidden. Just in case,” Jacqueline said, shrugging.

“We needed to be stealthy.”

“It was more stealthy than teleporting, B-Man.”

Elle carefully moved to peer over the boulders as her companions argued, taking in the scene. The peaks lowered down into a plateau; in the far left of the plateau was a deep hole, surrounded by all sorts of items. There were a lot of socks, Elle noted, just like B had said earlier. A few larger objects were there as well.

Suddenly the hole began to glow, an object popping out of it. In the brief light given off by the vortex, Elle recognized it instantly.

“Guys, if you’re done bickering? I can see the snow globe.”

Bernard and Jacqueline joined her on either side, peering over the boulder. Bernard spotted it instantly. “Nice work, Elle.”

“It just popped out.”

“Thank goodness it travelled fast.”

“We have a problem,” Jacqueline spoke up, eyes trained on the right side of the plateau. The two elves followed her line of sight--about seven trolls sat around a large roaring fire, cooking something on the flames.

“Gingersnaps,” Bernard said.

“So much for a slim chance,” Jacqueline added. She turned away and slumped behind the rocks, hidden from view. Bernard and Elle joined her, deep in thought.

“We need a plan,” Bernard said.

“Trolls are really dumb, right?” Elle asked.

“Incredibly dumb,” Jacqueline replied.

“Okay, well here’s what I’m thinking. I’ll sneak down there and just pick up the snow globe. If they notice me, I can redirect them with the good old brain box,” she said.

“That’s risky,” Bernard pointed out. “They can hear really well, you know.”

“I’ll throw a rock on the other side of the plateau, this way they won’t look at me. If I stay on the far side, I should be able to do it.”

“I like it.”

“Jacqueline!”

“What? It’s simple. So are they,” she said, gesturing over the rock.

Bernard got up, glancing at the trolls again, then ducked back down behind the rock. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Elle. Or, y’know, eaten by trolls.”

“It wouldn’t be a fun way to go out,” Jacqueline added. “You sure about this Elle?”

“I wouldn’t have suggested it if I wasn’t sure,” she snapped, crossing her arms. “You guys can watch me from up here and if anything happens you can come and give me backup. However you decide to,” Elle said.

“I’m cool with that. It took me forever to get the stench out of my dress last time I dealt with trolls. Bernard?”

“We’ll give it a try. Just, please be careful Elle,” Bernard said.

Elle blinked, his sincerity warming her chest. “Of course. I’ll be back before you both know it,” she said, and with that, Elle left.

“She seems bothered by something,” Jacqueline noted. “Almost...jealous sounding? Sort of?”

“I was getting that vibe too. I think she’s upset I won’t fuse with her if things get bad today.”

“That would do it. Here’s hoping her plan works then. I don’t think Berline would help her mood much, if that’s the case.”

Bernard nodded, turning his attention to Elle’s retreating form.

Elle had decided to head over to the left side of the clearing and descend there. It was farthest from the trolls and the light from the fire didn’t quite reach. She began her decent, frowning.

She was in a little bit of a mood. The worry Bernard was giving off was a little overwhelming; she would be fine. She could handle this. There was no need for Jacqueline to come "lend a hand” if need be.

Elle knew she really didn’t need to be so upset that Bernard had fused with Jacqueline before and not her. She didn’t need to be upset because B had asked her to call Jacqueline just in case. It made sense--Jacqueline had experience fusing and Elle did not.

Though if B would just fuse with her then she wouldn’t be such a novice!

She lost her footing on the climb down, a few pebbles falling. She inhaled sharply, immediately stopping her climb and plastering herself as flat against the side as she could. She looked over at the trolls; they had heard. Of course.

Quickly she scanned the opposite wall, spotting a loose rock on the side and giving it a little mental tug. It cracked and rolled down the side of the mountain, falling on the floor.

“Eh, wot’s that?” One of the trolls said.

“Someone here? This is our hoard, leave off!”

With their attention all turned to the other cliff side, Elle exhaled and continued her decent, touching down lightly. She breathed a sigh of relief, glancing over at the group. They really did stink, she noted. Like compost, or manure.

Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the rocky wall, slowly sidestepping over to the currently dormant vortex. Her eyes were peeled on the trolls, as they grumbled about, trying to find what had fallen the rock. They were now arguing over what kind of animal it was, and if they could eat it.

“Oh man, you’re all really, really stupid,” she grinned. She glanced above them, giving another rock a bit of a shove. It landed on one of their heads, causing a bit of an uproar.

Careful, Elle. Don’t get too cocky.

I know what I’m doing, B, Elle replied mentally, continuing her slow sidestep against the wall. “If you were so worried, you could have just fused with me. Bet that would’ve kept me safe,” she said out loud, frowning. She sighed, inching closer and closer to the vortex. “I just wanna fuse with my man,” she said out loud, a tad loud. She stopped, glancing at the trolls. They were still preoccupied with the opposite wall.

Everything okay bud? Jacqueline’s voice asked.

You too??

I’m just checking in. You stopped and I missed why.

Oh, Elle replied. She flushed a little, a tad embarrassed for snapping on Jacqueline. Sorry for snapping. It’s all good, pal. Elle said, even though she was decidedly not good right now, what with the whole fusion thing getting her all...worked up (she refused to call it jealousy, even though a part of her knew that’s exactly what it was).

She shook her head, shoving the fusion stuff to the side as she approached the vortex. Or well, hole, as it was currently dormant. She glanced around, trying to find the snow globe. Her eyes scanned over the mess of objects--socks and keys, a few weird nick knacks, some teddy bears, and...some treasure? Sure enough, there were several small chests filled with all sorts of loose change, glimmering every so often. And were those weapons laying about?

There’s a lot of stuff here, she told them both mentally. Swords, even.

Let me know if you see one with a really nice sapphire inlaid hilt, I lost it back in the fifteenth century, Jacqueline replied.

How do you loose a sword?

Your jealous knight of a boyfriend “misplaces” it and then actually can’t find it.

Elle snorted. Is this the one that hated how good you were with a sword?

Yeah, that’s the one. And I really liked that sword, too.

Do you see the snow globe? B asked. Elle scanned the area she thought she had seen it pop off to. Sure enough, it was right where she had watched it fall, in a pile of Canadian pennies.

I got eyes on it. I’m grabbing it and heading over, she replied, inching closer to the globe. It was very close to the hole. She got closer, and closer, when suddenly the hole lit up.

The whole area was bathed in light; she could hear the trolls making a fuss and realized they were looking over at her. But had she been spotted?

“Lookit that, s’another trunk of gold!”

“Wait, what’s that there? Is that a person?”

“It smells like elf!”

“Uh-oh,” Elle said, the light dying down. “I have been spotted.”

She turned to run but was suddenly pulled up by a meaty hand. The trolls were...faster than she thought they would be.

“Shit,” she said.

“Did you come out o’ the vortex?” the one holding her asked.

“Why would she come out o’ the vortex?” another one said, smacking that one upside the head.

“Ow!”

“Looks like she got a little lost.”

“Can we eat her?”

“Elf meat is very good, I hear.”

“You definitely don’t want to eat me,” Elle said. “I’m barely an elf I like just got my ears. I haven’t aged well at all, I doubt you would want fresh meat--”

“Fresh meat is much better than aged meat!”

“No it’s not! Aged meat has a nice taste to it!”

“Wot do you say, elf? What kind o’ meat is the best?”

“Definitely aged,” Elle said.

“She’s just sayin’ that so we don’t eat her!”

“Let’s get ‘er on the spit, then we’ll discuss seasoning, ‘ow’s that?”

“Oh boy,” Elle said, as one of them began to rustle around for some rope. Craning her neck, she stared at the troll, imagining a large fist punching it out. She felt the mental tug head towards the troll--but nothing happened. He blinked and swatted, as if a bug had just hit him.

“I am in a bit of a pickle,” she voiced.

“Pickles? Oh, that would go great with elf, thank you, dinner!”

“Do we ‘ave pickles?”

“I’m sure someone will loose pickles and a jar will pop right out o’ the vortex ‘ere.”

Elle sighed. This was going to be a long night.

Jacqueline and Bernard watched as the vortex lit up, revealing Elle to the trolls.

“Elle!” Bernard shouted, making to get up. Jacqueline grabbed his shirt, pulling him back down.

“We can’t rush into this,” Jacqueline said. “Those are trolls, B-Man.”

“They have Elle!”

“I know! I’m just as worried as you are!”

“I knew this was a bad idea!”

“She had it handled and would’ve managed if the vortex hadn’t lit up when it did.”

“I-” Bernard paused, and exhaled. “You’re right. She did. What do we do now?”

“We can probably take them,” Jacqueline said. “Berline could definitely take them. I just don’t want them to upset her.”

Bernard hesitated. “They could. If we can get Elle to distract them again, we can untie her, grab the snow globe, and head out with a minor skirmish.”

“And if not, I’m pretty sure Berline could do a number on them.”

“Absolutely,” Bernard agreed. He glanced out at Elle, who was now tied to a long stick. He cleared his throat, offering a hand and sinking into a bow. “Shall we?”

Jacqueline curtsied. “Yes, let’s,” she replied, taking his hand. A flash of light and the elf and the sprite were gone, replaced by a very tall, four-armed fae. “Let’s kick some troll ass,” Berline said, grinning and floating down the cliffside.

Elle, meanwhile, was having a time. Her offensive telepathy had no effect on them. Why didn’t it work?

I know I said I would do this on my own but, uh, I could definitely use a hand. She directed the thought towards Bernard and Jacqueline; she couldn’t see both of their mental links with her, for some reason. They were...foggy. Maybe the trolls had a cloud of stupid that effected herself?

How about four hands? A voice replied. Elle nearly screamed, before the voice spoke again. S’okay! It’s just me. Well, us. Details, really.

There was something familiar about the voice; it calmed Elle down a tad as she was jostled around on the stick, very disgruntled. Had B and Jacquie fused? Elle was getting that vibe. A feeling of relief washed over her, overtaking her anger. Please tell me you’re on your way to help me.

Course. I’m not going to let you get eaten by trolls, that’s an awful way to go out. And smelly. My tunic still smells like them sometimes. I need you to do me a favour, the voice said.

I’m a little tied up at the moment, Elle said. She snorted at the unintentional pun; so did the voice.

It’s fine, it replied, laughingly almost. It’s all mental stuff.

That’s kinda not working right now.

What do you mean?

I tried to knock out the one that tied me up out but he just...brushed it aside, like a bug or something.

Trolls are made of stone. That’s probably why it’s not quite working. I should’ve specified, sorry ‘bout that. It’s mostly vocal stuff.

What were you thinking?

Distract them. Get their eyes off of you so I can grab you.

Can do. The snow globe, we need to bring it to Santa. I dropped it when they grabbed me.

I’ll grab it, don’t worry.

I’m a little worried. I’m on the menu, after all.

They’re picky eaters, the voice replied.

“I can work with that,” Elle said out loud.

“Wot?”

“Stop talking to dinner!”

“I just have a bit of a complaint here,” Elle began, remembering The Hobbit. “This is the absolute wrong way to cook elf.”

“Wot?”

“You can’t roast elves. We won’t cook evenly.”

“She’s just saying that to get out of being eaten!”

“I would never! You caught me, I am definitely trapped and not expecting a rescue anytime soon.”

“Wot?”

“If I’m gonna go out being eaten by trolls, I just want to make sure it’s done...properly,” she said, glancing towards the vortex. She could see the objects moving around; someone was coming...but she couldn’t see who. They reached the globe; it was jostled, as if a foot had nearly kicked it. She saw the globe float up and disappear.

Get them to look away, said the voice.

I’m working on it! Elle snapped.

Sorry. I just want to get you out of here and get you back safe.

“Then wot do you suggest?” The troll holding her slammed the pole she was tied on into the ground, the edge sticking in the ground and putting her right side up.

“You gotta grill us,” Elle said.

“Wot?”

“We cook better if we’re grilled, not roasted. You’ll have to find a wire rack, and get that set up. Go on, I’ll wait here.”

“Well, you all ‘eard dinner.”

“I don’t trust it,” another troll said.

“Well I don’t want to spoil the first good meal we’ve ‘ad in a while!”

“Or was it boil? Maybe we cook better boiled. I can’t quite remember, there’s just so many variations of elf flambé .”

Soon enough, all seven trolls were arguing, looking away from Elle. She breathed a sigh of relief as a warm chill surrounded her (a very strange feeling, to be honest). She could feel the ropes loosening, though she still couldn’t see the person doing the untying.

“Nice job,” the voice said, right in her ear.

“I told you I was working on it,” she whispered back. “Did you get the globe?”

“It’s in my satchel. We should be able to make a clean break unless--”

“Oi! Do you lot smell that?” One of the trolls shouted, disrupting the arguing.

“I smell fae,” another one said. “I thought you said you were alone!”

“Did I say that? I don’t remember saying that.”

“Who’s here?”

“Well since you asked, my boyfriend and best friend are here and they’re going to kick your asses.”

“Tiny elves like you? Ha! We’re trolls!”

“Made of stone!”

“Nothing can take us!”

“Jacqueline and Bernard will! They’ll fuse and kick all seven of your gross, smelly, butts.”

“Fuse?”

“Wot did she say? A Jacquenard?”

“Actually, it’s Berline,” the voice said. The trolls looked around; they couldn’t see the newcomer. There was movement behind one of the trolls beside Elle. Elle could make out a hand, tapping it’s shoulder. The troll whipped around. Berline appeared, grinning. “And I would appreciate it if you didn’t eat my Elle,” they said, two arms winding back and launching forward, punching the troll straight in the face.

He was thrown backwards, hitting the nearby rocks and loosing consciousness. The others bristled, Berline shaking their fists. “That’s gonna bruise.”

“I told you so!” Elle shouted, as Berline lifted one of their arms, a gold light tossing the troll on Elle’s other side right into the vortex.

“Wot’re you doing! You just tossed our cook into a void!”

“I know,” Berline replied dryly, giving the ropes a final tug. Elle hopped down, grinning; her angry mood before all but forgotten now. “And I’m about to steal your dinner too. It would be much appreciated if you all just stepped back and let us leave.”

Elle laughed. Berline was already winning her over; they were about the size of the mountain trolls themselves, and a lot better looking. The four arms would take some getting use to; Elle hadn’t expected a fusion to have extra arms, nor to be as giant as Berline was.

“You’ll have to go through us, first!” one troll shouted, drawing a weapon.

“Yeah!” the rest agreed, gathering their arms.

“‘ow do you plan on doing that?”

Berline glanced down at Elle. They had one brown eye and one blue eye, Elle noted; their nose looked a lot like Bernard’s, though the face shape was more Jacqueline’s, Elle thought. And their hair, holy heck it was massive and crazy curly! It reminded her of River Song, and went down just past their shoulders. Jacqueline hadn’t been joking when she said a fusion was an entirely new person, Elle realized. She gazed back up. Berline winked, before turning back to the trolls. Watch this, they said mentally, rolling their shoulders.

“You really want me to tell you? It’ll spoil the fun,” they said, pouting.

“Well you’re spoiling our dinnah!”

“I have a lot of replies to that but ah, I think I’m in enough hot water already with this one,” they said, head gesturing to Elle. “You do pose an excellent question, though. How ever will I, a very powerful fusion of an elf and a sprite, thank you very much, get past a wall of one two three four...five mountain trolls? Well, here’s how. First, I’m gonna give Elle my satchel to hold. Then I’m gonna come at you with another punch,” they said, pointing to the left end. “Then I will freeze your three companions there in place and proceed to blast that fifth guy right over there with his snoozing pal. Then, once those three inevitably break out of their freeze, I’ll hit them all at the same time with my fists, knocking them out, and blast you over into that wall there. Then I’ll pick up Elle and simply walk out of here with her and what we came to get. I hope you were writing all this down because I’m about to get busy,” Berline finished, taking off their satchel.

“Hold this please, Elle.”

“I got your satchel, you go kick their asses!”

With a grin, Berline cracked their knuckles and shot forward, a cool breeze rustling Elle’s clothes. They rushed over to the troll on the far left, right arms already smacking the troll in the face. He went flying, hitting the wall behind him. Stones fell from the impact, burying him.

“That was unexpected,” Berline said, shaking ice off their fists. They turned around, the other four trolls coming at them fast. All four arms shot out at once, a huge blast of ice and snow hitting the three in the lead and freezing them up to their midsections.

They began hitting the ice, the final troll rushing around them and screaming, running right towards Berline.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you!” Elle shouted.

“She’s right,” Berline said.

“I’ll not let you get away with our dinner!” The troll said, weapon raised. Berline rolled their eyes. With a lazy flick of their wrists, a blast of gold shot him all the way across the space, hitting the rocks and landing right on top of the troll slowly gaining consciousness.

“Take that!” Elle said. She narrowed her eyes and moved her arm, a large group of boulders tumbling down the sides and landing on the two trolls, knocking them both out once more.

“Ha! Nice!” Berline said, grinning.

“I try,” Elle smirked. “Look out, you’ve got company.”

“Oh! Right!” Berline turned around and ran towards the three formerly frozen trolls, who had all broken out of the ice and were rushing towards the fusion. Ice began to form around all four of Berline’s fists, as they finally clashed with the trolls. Berline ducked one swing, punching that troll up and over them, into the wall behind them.

The other two trolls came at Berline at the same time, hoping to catch them unawares. It didn’t quite work that way, of course; Berline turned on their heel and hit one troll, then the second one, tossing them over to the pile of trolls Elle had just covered in boulders. They landed in the pile with a loud thud.

Berline stood up, stretching and dusting the ice off their hands. “I told you so,” they said to the now unconscious trolls, heading towards Elle.

“That was awesome,” Elle said. “You’re a badass Berline, holy heck!”

“I try,” Berline said, joining Elle’s side. “Sorry you almost got eaten by trolls. I really didn’t want your first errand to go like that,” They said, gesturing to the pile of unconscious trolls to their right and plopping down beside Elle. Sitting, they were about as tall as Elle.

“I told you, danger is my middle name.”

“No it’s not.”

“Huh?”

“Your middle name is cutie pie,” Berline said, booping her nose.

Elle giggled, suddenly overcome with shyness, for some reason she couldn’t quite place. “So, uh...do you know me?”

“Of course I do,” Berline grinned. “I also know that cutie pie isn’t your middle name. It’s Sophia. I was trying to be cute.”

“I gathered. It worked, don’t worry,” she said, smiling. “Here’s the satchel back, by the way. Did it get bigger?”

“Well if it stayed Bernard’s size, the strap would’ve broke. I’m twice as tall as he is. Literally,” Berline winked, grabbing the satchel and throwing it over their shoulders again, standing up. “Ready to head out? I hope you don’t think it’s weird if I put you on my shoulder.”

“Fine with me,” Elle said. “Watch out behind you.”

The vortex had spat the cook back up and he was running towards Berline. Berline barely even blinked before their left arms were covered in ice and shot up, the troll slamming right into their fists and falling over, unconscious.

“Literally, so badass,” Elle said again, walking onto the hand Berline offered. “Does the ice function as armour?”

“Thanks,” Berline said, grinning. “And yes. I’m not fond of bruised knuckles.”

“So how come the trolls didn’t see you? Or me, for that matter? Can fusions turn invisible?”

“I can because Jacqueline can.”

“She can? That explains so much,” Elle realized.

“Heh. Yeah. I don’t know why we didn’t just send Jacqueline down, invisible. Not that you weren’t doing a good job, of course. You almost made it were it not for that vortex.”

“Your disappearing act was so cool though, oh man. Those trolls were so confused it was hilarious, the look on their faces! Priceless!”

“Does that mean you aren’t jealous anymore?” Berline asked, eyebrow raised in a very Jacqueline way, Elle noted.

“Jealous? Me? Why would I be jealous?”

“Bernard was getting those vibes. Jacqueline could full on tell. She really didn’t want myself to appear, she was afraid it would upset you more. To be fair, it sounded like my appearance did upset you.”

“Okay fine, I was a bit jealous. Am, I guess.”

“I figured as much. Well, we’ve got a fair ways to go, let’s chat,” Berline said.

“I dunno, it’s just...the way Jacqueline explained fusion made it seem so special.”

“It is,” Berline agreed.

“And I really really want to fuse with Bernard and I guess the fact that he’s fused with Jacqueline before just bothered me a lot. It makes sense she would be here I mean, you have way more experience than I do with fusion. I mean, you are their fusion...I’m rambling,” Elle said, blushing as they cleared the wall they had come down originally in two steps.

“You’re cute is what you are.”

“Stop it, I’m trying to be mad,” Elle semi-joked. “God, it’s just so silly that I’m jealous of you and talking to you about it!”

Berline laughed. “That’s not silly, it’s funny. I made you jealous! That’s hilarious.”

“It’s not funny!”

“Oh man, it really is Elle. See, the thing about fusion is that not only does fusion result in a totally new fae, a fusion is representative of the relationship between the two fae. That’s why it’s so funny to me. I’m a representation of Bernard and Jacqueline's relationship--I’m basically the personification of a real tight sibling relationship, Elle. That’s why it’s so funny!”

“I’m not quite following,”

Berline stopped, offering their hand to Elle, who tentatively stepped on it. Berline brought her in front of their face, so that they were eye to eye. “The relationship you and B have is really special, Elles,” Berline began. “When you two do fuse--and I know you will--your fusion will be very different from me. And a lot more special,” they finished, smiling a very Bernard smile. “Are you crying?”

“I’m not crying, you’re crying,” Elle said, swatting away the tears that had begun to form in the corners of her eyes.

“I think I’d know if I was,” Berline frowned, placing Elle back on their shoulder. “You understand what I was saying now though, right?”

“Yeah,” Elle nodded, smiling. “I do. You really think he’ll come around?”

“Of course I do. I’m part Bernard. And he’ll remember this conversation. As will Jacqueline. If he doesn’t come around, she’ll be sure to remind him. And hey, you could always ask her to fuse with you still,” Berline said, blue eye winking.

Elle laughed.

“Let’s head home,” Berline said, making sure Elle was safe on their shoulder before disappearing in a very large burst of snowflakes and gold sparks.

(This has made me love Berline even more, holy fuck, they’re just so sweet with Elle and I am deceased thank you for reading give me feedback please it only makes me stronger)

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