#but like if Caterina dies and he's free from her expectations?

[midnightwind]

I have a morbid curiosity to know just how many Crows are part of House Dellamorte at the end of the game

[niriaveil]

i truly can't fathom a world in which lucanis does not try to quit being first talon. like for the first few months (or a year), it's all nice and fine living in treviso with inés and his family and doing what his grandmother wants but then. it's like. this sucks. i never wanted this. and part of it is just inés being like, "why don't you just quit? why don't you just leave?" because the idea of being trapped in a place/job that makes you miserable and yearn for freedom is something she's quite familiar with and doesn't want to see him slowly rot away because he's so burdened by expectations and then it turns into this whole thing where it's like. yeah. illario sucks but at least he wanted to be first talon and or maybe caterina can raise a new talon or just dellamorte gets absorbed by the de riva house when she dies but like.

inés and spite sending malicious thoughts at caterina at every point because lucanis would kill himself to make her happy and both inés and spite would love for lucanis to find freedom and be himself and do what he wants, rather than be stuck as first talon just to appease his grandmother. he can still be a crow if he wants! they'll take that! but he's lacking his enrichment by being stuck in treviso and having to handle all this.

(spite and inés planning theoretical murders and how to get lucanis out of his job so he can be happy again because he truly shined when he was working on the contract to kill the gods and be free and away from his home (but still having a home to go back to) and that he deserves to know what real freedom and love and affection is. lucanis wakes up and inés is still dead tired and he's like, "oh no, what happened, did spite do something?" and she's like no we're fine don't worry about it :) < planning many things to see him happy)

[silverloreleysfanfics]

WIP part 9

Merry Christmas @26ja! This my present to you this jolly season (well, it’s supposed to be a jolly season, but this year is what it is...). I hope you’ll like it.

It’s two snippets. The first is with Tarabas and Romualdo, the second is about Smeralda.

1)

It wasn't the first time Tarabas and Romualdo ended up prisoners in a new place they visited. It wasn't new that it happened only because they carried weapons either - the High Prophethess of Diltani was every bit of a scaredy cat and there was an accident with the Pharsian itinerant court too... - so they weren't overly worried about that. Time wasn't on their side, though. With the anxiety for the kids's fate and not knowing to which point they could trust their travelling companions, saying the duo was a little antsy was an understatement. «Any idea how to get out of here?» Romualdo asked from his suspended cage up on the ceiling of a sturdy-looking building. The king estimated the place they were in had to be more ancient than the rest of the town, the architecture didn't match after all, except for the ceiling, and had it been another moment he might have mentioned that too, but in the current predicament... «I'm trying» was the reply from the other, who had his eyes closed and a hand outstretched towards the keys, several meters under them. «What happened to "no more magic"?» «With the children involved, this is not my top priority» Tarabas muttered. Romualdo rose a brow «You don't have to. We'll find a way out of it even without that» «Not like I have any choice. This strange land's metal doesn't obey me» the former wizard slumped to the bottom of the cell «Either that, or those cages are magic inhibitors» The two stood in silence for a few moments, thinking what they could to. «This brings back memories» Tarabas tilted his head «The expedition in Ozmandya?» Romuald shrugged «I was thinking of Maideur, but that too» «Right. How did we come out of that again?» «Parsel. Maideur is one of the isles of his kingdom and he vouched for us» Romualdo recalled. «What about how we escaped in Ozmandya?» «We're not repeating that, Tarabas. I almost broke my legs to do that» «Almost» the other precised, as if breaking a leg was nothing noteworthy. Maybe it wasn't for him, since he benefited of the accelerated healing of his fae blood, which wasn't the case for Romualdo and his human frailty, not to mention the number age and prolonged efforts did to his body. «And we don't have Silurus here» he added, mindful of how in that specific case it had been thanks to the huge magical catfish the White Witch had sent thir way, that they got out that situation unscathed. «So what? We wait for those people to free us? We don't even know them» «I do. Didn't I tell you I lived for some time in the Auburn Lands? It was before my father died and I had to come back to take his place» Romualdo recalled. «And?» «Greer is the younger sister of the duke of the Auburn Lands, who was my friend back then. When I lived there she was ten or so and was already a spitfire with the fame of never leaving any of her playmates behind, no matter what mess they put themselves in. If she's still anything like that, and from the stories I heard of her she is, she won't leave us here» After a moment of silence, Tarabas switched position to get a better look at the room underneath. «I'm still going to look for a way out on our own» «So am I. But I believe you're looking the wrong way» At Tarabas' interrogative side-eye, Romualdo pointed at the ceiling. «Oh» «My thoughts exactly» They both grinned.

2)

Two years had passed already since Fantaghirò disappeared. I braved my pain in silence, everybody was suffering, I couldn't give them more worries. But... Caterina and Carolina were busy, with Evaldo and Sabina and Rinaldo, other than with the kingdom. I took care of him too, of my adoptive brother, while the adults were out, looking for her. I studied, learned to read and perfect my aim with my slingshot, then learned how to use a bow and even started to practice with knives. I always had a good aim. For the first year, Romualdo barely spoke with me, always so hurt, always so desperate and despairing in his search, but he looked almost happy... that's a stretch, more like almost proud when he was told of my results. He needed more time to become more like a father to me. Tarabas showed up only to help, then he had to leave too, to try more or to reach others he loved. Sometimes they came with him, a few times he took me with him to them. The only bits of solace, moving to a place sadness had not contaminated for good. At the castle I was alone. So alone. It was as if I wasn't even there, at times. «Everyone I love disappears» I sobbed, hiding away in a secluded corner of the forest. What forest? I don't remember. My pain I ignored so long for the sake of others, to look strong when the adults who took me in expected me too, now it was too much, I felt like I was exploding, especially so after the last failed attempt. «Why? It's me? I bring misfortune? Maybe I should be the one to disappear...» And I did. I did, at last. «Shh, Smeralda, no, don't say such things» Cold but soft arms wrapped around me, a gentle hand carded through my hair. I knew this voice, knew those hands. «It's not your fault» My still small hands grabbed back, tightened on pale fabric, tears still stinging in my eyes. I couldn't see, but I knew who was there. «She never came back. She never will. My parents too...» «I understand what you're feeling» «No, you can't» I rebelled, but I didn't pull away. She didn't have the same warmth as Fantaghirò, but her embrace was just as reassuring and I missed that so much. The embrace of a mother. «My parents died too, Smeralda, when I wasn't much older than you. They were looking for a way to help me. And I felt it was my fault for the longest time» I sniffled and looked up at her crystal blue eyes. «But you see, what happened to me had a meaning we didn't understand at the time. Everything happens for a reason, the roads we take lead us to where and who we're supposed to be. Cry, if you need it, but then get up again. We'll figure it out. You're not alone» Smeralda woke up abruptly. She knew well why she relived that memory. "Cry, if you need it, but then get up again. We'll figure it out. You're not alone" She curled more on herself, face hidden in white feathers. No, she wasn't alone, and even if she was, she was going to find a way out.

Soo, I hope you liked those little snippets, the last one I wrote very recently as a part more enigmatic on what’s going on for the kidnapped people. I am also thinking of starting to post the fic as a proper long in my Ao3 account since I finalized the first two or three chapters and I’ll send you the link when I do.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas and... just tell me whatever you think of it! xxx

[black-emporium-exchange]

2020 Pinch Hit #7, dawnstone - CLAIMED

This pinch hit will be due at 12 PM EDT on Friday, September  4th. Please leave a comment on this Dreamwidth post (comments are screened), send a message to one of the mods, or send an email to blackemporiumexchange@gmail.com to claim.

Requested relationships:

Lucanis Dellamorte/Zevran Arainai - Fanfiction

Caterina Dellamorte/Zevran Arainai - Fanfiction

Viago De Riva/Andarateia Cantori - Fanfiction

Sky Watcher/Female Trevelyan - Fanfiction

Frederic of Serault & Rylen - Fanfiction

Brother Ferdinand Genitivi/Philliam Trevelyan/Laudine - Fanfiction

Female Amell/Sten - Fanfiction

Female Cousland/Sten - Fanfiction

Female Aeducan/Sten - Fanfiction

Felassan/Solas - Fanfiction

Desire Demon(s)/Solas - Fanfiction

Solas/Wisdom - Fanfiction

Audric & Myrna - Fanfiction

Cole & Justice - Fanfiction

Jowan/Lily/Female Surana - Fanfiction

Hollix/Original Female Human Lord of Fortune - Fanfiction

Hollix/Original Male Human Lord of Fortune - Fanfiction

Hollix/Original Nonbinary Human Lord of Fortune - Fanfiction

Loghain Mac Tir/Female Surana - Fanfiction

Female Hawke/Loghain Mac Tir - Fanfiction

Loghain Mac Tir/Female Trevelyan - Fanfiction

PH 7 - dawnstone

Request #1:

Lucanis Dellamorte/Zevran Arainai

Caterina Dellamorte/Zevran Arainai

Viago De Riva/Andarateia Cantori

Fanfiction

The Antivan Crows have a big spotlight in the recent story collection Tevinter Nights, and I'd love to see what would happen if either Lucanis or Caterina interacted with Zevran, or if they have any history together.

-Lucanis is willing to go outside the bounds of his orders to help people, which is a big no-no in the Crows. I'd love to see what would happen if he and Zevran either had to work together, or became rivals somehow sexy rivals ;D.

-Caterina Dellamorte is the elderly matriarch of her house, First Talon of the Crows, and also a woman known for beating people to death with her cane. How does Zevran regard her (considering his appreciation for older women), and does she have any weakness to his wiles?

-I wonder if Zevran is actively trying to kill either of them or vice versa.

-As for Viago and Teia, how are they faring after the tumultuous events of Eight Little Talons, and have they come in contact with a certain former Crow?

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

Request #2:

Sky Watcher/Female Trevelyan

Frederic of Serault & Rylen

Brother Ferdinand Genitivi/Philliam Trevelyan/Laudine

Fanfiction

Genitivi/Philliam/Laudine - they're currently on the lam, running from the Qunari and potentially still sending back intelligence to the Inquisition. How does being in constant close quarters, bar-hopping across Thedas affect these literary luminaries? Philliam and Laudine are previous lovers, how does putting Genitivi (who has a very notoriously saucy pen name) into the mix change things?

Frederic of Serault & Rylen - being stuck out in the Western Approach with few opportunities for entertainment and the constant threat of death by monsters and bandits is an excellent reason to stay in a fortified position like Griffon Wing Keep. Frederic stubbornly continues on with his research even after all of his staff have perished, and Rylen decides to keep an eye on him (Heroes of Dragon Age has Frederic as a mage, but you are free to ignore that since it's not shown in Inquisition).

Sky Watcher/Female Trevelyan - F!Trevelyan is very curious about the Avvar and their traditions; after he's recruited, Sky Watcher (you find out his name is Amund in the Multiplayer) is more than happy to teach her. Feel free to use your own Trevelyan or the default.

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

Request #3:

Female Amell/Sten

Female Cousland/Sten

Female Aeducan/Sten

Fanfiction

(The Wardens are obviously not completely interchangeable, but for the purposes of fic what I want from the pairings is the same. I do think F!Aeducan would probably "get" Sten the best, but the conflict in him falling for a mage is also delightful, and Cousland treading carefully while subverting his expectations would be lovely too)

After a Warden gets his approval high enough, Sten starts to call them kadan, which denotes caring about someone deeply. I'd love to read a story where Sten is head over heels with the Warden, and is extremely confused by it. She is the antithesis of everything he believes about women and bas from what he was raised believing in the Qun. His admiration of her is related most to her control of her abilities and/or battle prowess, but also he loves how practical and dutiful she is. She might find his alien point of view fascinating, enjoy carefully drawing out of him more about himself and his people, and learning to understand him better... she's also just generally into how tall and muscular he is.

Sex in Qunari society is supposed to be divorced from love, and when the topic comes up (with Morrigan) Sten seems disenchanted with the act, as well as certain he would harm a non-Qunari partner. It's not important to me if the relationship is sexual (if you can make it work, of course, I would not complain), I'm more interested in displays of mutual caring and affection with these pairings, whether it be defending each other in battle, or sharing some cookies.

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

Request #4:

Felassan/Solas

Desire Demon(s)/Solas

Solas/Wisdom

Fanfiction

Desire Demon(s)/Solas - Solas might say he's not tempted easily, but we all know he crumpled like wet paper the first time he was shown affection. Lacking a friendly/romanced Inquisitor, perhaps he has friends in the Fade who don't mind keeping him company. Or maybe one of them is perfectly happy to help him work out an unrequited crush on someone in the Inquisition. If this is the case, I'd prefer they weren't named or described so that the person is kept ambiguous, and keep it about how he knows it's the spirit/demon feeding on his emotions but it also happily helps him deal. Also, what would happen if the Desire Demon took on a physical form just to pursue him in the Waking World? Would he get angry or feel like he has to guide them like he did with Cole?

Felassan/Solas - Yeah, so I don't mind if the story takes place before or after the events of Masked Empire, but if it's after, there has to be some mention of how Felassan survived (he'd have to have been Tranquil for at least a little while), and how he manages to forgive Solas. If it's before, something set right after Solas wakes from uthenera would be nice, or if you want to delve into their relationship during the time of Ancient Elvhenan and the Evanuris, and potentially their days as servants to Mythal or during Fen'Harel's rebellion, that would be cool.

Solas/Wisdom - Wisdom cared deeply for Solas, but the greatest thing keeping them apart romantically would have been their natures in that he was a physical man and she a spirit whom he wouldn't want to twist against her nature (likely into a Desire demon instead of Pride). They are both ancient, so it can be assumed that they found their roles satisfying enough, though it's suspected that Solas was once a Wisdom spirit as well, and perhaps wishes he could go back to being one. I'm generally just curious about how they would spend their time together. Just how long did they know each other? After she dies, Solas looks for her in the Void and finds stirrings of her remains - would he try to put her back together from memories?

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

Request #5:

Audric & Myrna

Cole & Justice

Jowan/Lily/Female Surana

Fanfiction

Audric & Myrna - I am still a bit confused about Audric's nature, and just how much of him is still him but I suppose so is Audric - Myrna seems to believe his mortal soul is still remarkably intact. Down Among the Dead Men is Audric & Myrna's origin story, so I guess tell me more about how he adjusts to his "afterlife" working with her and the Mourn Watch, and how she helps give him purpose.

Cole & Justice - Two spirits who had very different experiences once pulled into the Waking World. What would Justice think of Compassion, and vice versa, how would they interact and what would happen if they had to work together. What would Justice pick up on that Cole wouldn't, what would Justice think of Cole creating his own form instead of possessing something? I'm very curious about how they would bounce off of each other.

Jowan/Lily/Female Surana - Perhaps they came together while apprentices, or they were always close friends, but it became something more after the Fifth Blight and Surana tracked them both down again. Maybe she and Jowan have to rescue Lily from Aeonar and things develop from there. If she's not a blood mage, how does Surana come to terms with the dark power Lily and Jowan are willing to use?

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

Request #6:

Hollix/Original Female Human Lord of Fortune

Hollix/Original Male Human Lord of Fortune

Hollix/Original Nonbinary Human Lord of Fortune

Fanfiction

So who are the Lords of Fortune, you might want to know?

Well, without recapping Tevinter Nights too much, they're a faction of mercenary adventurers, treasure hunters thieves and seekers of wealth and fame based out of Rivain, who can be of any race or background. They take odd and dangerous jobs from anyone who can pay the fee and have standards, so no working with slavers or punching down against the common folk. A lot of fans believe that our next protagonist in DA4 will be a member of this faction. And well, Hollix is a Lord of Fortune, though don't be deceived by the "Lord" bit, their gender is fluid and they are confirmed as nonbinary by their writer.

Hollix gained their name from Dorian after Hollix crashed a card party he was holding while attempting to spy on him - read "Luck in the Gardens" from Tevinter Nights if you want their whole story.

Writing for one of these pairings is going to require an OC and you can make them however you like, as long as the OC is from Thedas and becomes romantically entangled with Hollix. Hollix is already taking jobs from Dorian and has met Maevaris, so it's not a stretch that the new character would meet via their patrons through another such job - or perhaps they simply met in a tavern much like the one where Hollix tell their story. Go crazy, do worldbuilding, make predictions about the next game, have them do a heist, I'm all ears. :D

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

Request #7:

Loghain Mac Tir/Female Surana

Female Hawke/Loghain Mac Tir

Loghain Mac Tir/Female Trevelyan

Fanfiction

F!Hawke/Loghain - In the very unusual instance that Loghain survives to see Inquisition, he can be Hawke's Warden contact. I'd love something about how they met and Hawke's feelings about this man who did so much damage to the country she grew up in, but also who has worked to make restitution in the Wardens. They're both a bit adrift and away from home, heroes whose stars have diminished or fallen. How do they come together, and who ends up staying in the Fade?

Loghain/F!Surana - What made Warden Surana spare Loghain, and when do they realize they're in love? Does she convince him to do the Dark Ritual, or does one of them die against the Archdemon? Do they fall for each other in Vigil's Keep, after she's Warden Commander, or do they end up travelling to Weisshaupt together after the events at Adamant (and having survived yet again against all odds, Loghain tells Neria he's in love with her)? I'm open to any of these scenarios or anything else you might come up with.

Loghain/F!Trevelyan - The Inquisitor's work is nonstop and Loghain has a small window where he's at Skyhold and then he's either lost to the Fade or on his way to Weisshaupt. When and where do they manage to squeeze in a relationship, and what happens to make them realize their attraction? I'd love to see the reactions of the other followers, and if they are apart maybe them teasing Trevelyan a bit about her DILF paramour.

Likes:

-mission fic/case fic where they solve a problem

-loyalty kink, kneeling

-ust, resolved ust, friends to lovers, enemies/rivals to lovers

-pwp smut, dubcon

-angst and hurt/comfort

-friendship, fondness, matured relationships

-slice-of-life, humor & general shenanigans

-wild escapes, daring rescues

-making camp together, cuddling up for warmth

-exploring or expanding on existing canon and lore; worldbuilding

-anything post-canon

DNWs: Rape/Noncon, Modern AU, Character Death, A/B/O Dynamics, Character Bashing, Unrequested Backround Pairings, Crossovers

[calzona-ga]

Grey's Anatomy looked to its writers' room for real-life inspiration behind Catherine Avery's (Debbie Allen) harrowing cancer journey. In a November episode, Catherine learned she had been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, and on Thursday's episode, she went under the knife for a risky procedure to remove the large tumor on her spine. While Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) and Koracick (Greg Germann) weren't successful in removing the entire tumor, like they had promised -- only 95 percent of it -- Catherine persevered through the surgery, grateful to be alive and adopting a new perspective on life.

Catherine's cancer storyline is inspired by co-executive producer Elisabeth R. Finch, who wrote Thursday's emotional hour, and her experience. Finch was diagnosed in her 30s with a rare bone cancer, like Catherine on the show, and continues to live with it. Having a character who wasn't miraculously "cured" of cancer through surgery was an important reality of life Grey's showrunner Krista Vernoff and Finch wanted to convey because it has rarely been portrayed on television.

"Because my illness is chronic, I'm considered a person with a disability, but every time we see cancer stories, they're either life or death, there is very little in-between. I was very interested in telling a story where someone is living with it day to day and still having a full healthy friend life, work life, love life," Finch told ET, adding that Catherine's story is only beginning. "We get to watch Catherine move forward and move through recovery and see what that's like and see how she feels a month from now, six months from now, a year from now, both emotionally and physically. We get to watch a person who is living with cancer on television."

In the same episode, Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) paid a visit to her estranged father, Thatcher (Jeff Perry), who was dying of terminal cancer. Their charged reunion was a monumental moment for Grey's, as it had been eight seasons since Thatcher was last seen in the universe. (His last episode had come in season seven.) And though their time together was brief, they managed to air out some of their baggage, connect on a meaningful level (see: the revelation about Thatcher attending Derek's funeral) and a heartbreaking, bittersweet final moment between father and daughter as Thatcher says his final farewell.

Here, Finch spoke with ET about channeling her real-life cancer journey through Catherine, why it was important for her not to be completely cancer-free by the end of the episode, how Thatcher's death impacts Meredith moving forward and a potential new Grey Sloan pairing.

ET: Why did you want to incorporate your own real-life experience with cancer and write it into Catherine's story? Elisabeth R. Finch: I was reluctant to talk about my own cancer, to write a story about my personal experience. I've always been very open in the room; I've been here for five years and they've seen me through every phase of my illness. But when it came to filtering that into an episode of Grey's, I wasn't quite certain what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it until there was one moment in the writers' room where I was having a casual conversation about how much I hated the language surrounding cancer, how much we hear the words "winning," "losing," "she lost her battle," "we have to fight," "we have to beat this." It didn't look anything like my life.

Krista approached me and said, "Why don't we write a story about that? Why don't we write a story about someone whose experience mirrors yours, someone who is living with cancer, and more or less a chronic condition?" It was something that we haven't seen on TV before. Because my illness is chronic, I'm considered a person with a disability, but every time we see cancer stories, they're either life or death, there is very little in-between. I was very interested in telling a story where someone is living with it day to day and still having a full healthy friend life, work life, love life, and so Catherine became the person who took on that storyline.

And Meredith even says that at the end of the episode -- that there's no winning, no battling or losing when it comes to this experience. Was there a specific moment or scene that was the toughest for you to get down on paper? Writing it was really easy for me because I tend to separate or not recognize how much of myself I'm putting in stories. It's only when it's reflected back to me that I really take it in, and this was no different. But towards the end of the shoot, when Catherine wakes up and is grateful, when everyone's anticipating her disappointment, her fear, her anger or her devastation, and she looks at them and they're all devastated, and she says, "No, this is a cause for celebration! I get to live!" And Catherine starts to list all of the good things in her life she'll get to experience. I sat there and heard it over and over and over again, and that was the first time I took it in because it was the first time I'd seen a version of myself reflected back at me. I'd never seen anything that talked about cancer the way I had lived it, not in any movie, not in any television episode, or book. That was the most difficult day to take in.

In that same scene, Catherine says "miracles aren't always punctuation marks, but they're worth celebrating too." That line really struck a chord because it illuminated the realities of the real world, where not everything is wrapped up in a bow. Although, on TV sometimes, it's presented that way a lot. It is and it can be frustrating. What's nice about having Catherine not be a patient is we can have someone who's lived in our world, we don't have to wrap it up in a pretty bow at the end of the episode. We get to watch Catherine move forward and move through recovery and see what that's like and see how she feels a month from now, six months from now, a year from now, both emotionally and physically. We get to watch a person who is living with cancer on television. I get thrown in a scanner every couple months here and there, I have to go to doctors appointments every once in a while, and in between, I have a full-time job, a family I love, friends I love and a big full life. And so does Catherine. It isn't finite.

What are you looking forward to exploring on the show in relation to Catherine's progress? When we started planning this story, it was always of interest of me to show Catherine make it through the worst of the surgery, and then walk around in the normal world. I am not always at a crisis point. Every once in a while, something pops up, a scan looks abnormal, and I'm curious about it, and I get more tests, and sometimes I go through six months of boring, I go through one month of interesting in the cancer world, where all of a sudden everyone's looking at things closely. I think normalizing what it is to be a person with chronic illness is something we don't often get to see on TV, and Catherine gets to be the face of that and the voice of that, where it's not always about that. It's about her big, wonderful, brilliant life. And every once in a while, there's maintenance and things to take care of.

Switching gears to the other storyline of the episode: Meredith visiting her dad, Thatcher, which is such a big moment for the show. Since it's been a while since we've seen Thatcher, did you have a checklist for what you wanted them to talk out or go through? Meredith and Thatcher have been through so much and not a lot of it together. They've experienced huge losses and they haven't really partnered through it together. They've been separated, either by his choice or by her lack of awareness that he tried and reached out, but the end result is these two people, who clearly care for one another and there's a lot of love there, haven't spent much of their lives together. It could have been different and there's a bittersweet, devastating undertone to that, that they've run out of time, that they have this day and she walks in there with one foot out the door. I don't think she knows what to expect or how she's gonna feel, but she's not going in thinking there's going to be big, lovely, warm moments.

What did you want to convey in the brief time Meredith and Thatcher attempt to reconnect? What happens often in those situations is you try your best to connect to the person in front of you, to try and put aside some of those differences or to work through them as much as you can. There wasn't enough time for them to have real, true closure. I think there is understanding. I think there are moments of grace and they get to laugh a bit, and they get to reminisce about their experiences with Ellis. I love that Meredith learns something new, a side of Ellis that she had never seen, about the day she was born -- something she had never heard about. I wanted these two people to be in a room and do the very best that they can with the time that they have left. It's not perfect and there's no time for perfect, but there's a little bit of time to connect.

Thatcher reveals he was there at Derek's funeral and recounts what happened. Why was it important for that to be a point made in this episode, that he was there in the back and that he was there for his daughter? Thatcher has been someone who didn't fight for Meredith, or she felt he didn't fight for her, that Ellis took her away and he just kind of stayed away and didn't try too hard. Krista Vernoff and I talked a lot about what Thatcher has been up to all these years. Where has he been? Big things have happened; Lexie died, Derek died and it was interesting to both of us to imagine a Thatcher who, as Meredith said, got his head out of his own a**, and stopped behaving like a perpetual victim -- that saw himself as a man with agency and who would get up and do something good for the world, or would hear about his daughter in Greece and would do everything he can to go be there. It's heartbreaking that she never knew it, that he never really pushed more than showing up to make her aware of his presence.

But, that happens sometimes in those moments of grief that you don't quite know what to do, but it was important for us to show that Thatcher had changed, had wanted to change and had made an effort to try and connect and it fell short. There's something really heartbreaking about that because maybe that would have changed things, maybe that would have given them more time together, maybe [he] would have know the grandchildren more. We're not gonna know. But Meredith at least goes there and finds out that her dad did try for her, did try in his own way [to] fight for her and try and go and be there for her when she needed him.

Meredith has suffered so much loss. You mentioned Lexie, Derek, Ellis and now Thatcher. How does Thatcher's death affect Meredith differently than those of her husband and her other family members? She's known about Thatcher dying for a really long time, so she's had some time to process it. She had one complicated, beautiful, big-hearted, strange, heartbreaking day with him, and she had a chance to have a little bit of closure, a little bit of grace. When she goes home to her children and has gifts for them and says that she's going to be OK, I think that that's something that we can feel, because she had an opportunity to know what was happening before it happened. She didn't have that experience with Derek, she didn't have that experience with Lexie, she didn't really have the time to process that grief and to say the things she wanted to say beforehand. This time she does, so that does a lot for a person, to be able to say the things they wanted to when they have the chance.

It seemed like the seeds were being planted for a potential pairing between Teddy and Koracick. Is that something that was intentionally placed in this episode? I can say right now they have a really fun energy. He is so unpredictable and unexpected, and I love how that confounds Teddy and delights Teddy, and I can't wait to see more of that.

[caterinaprimrose]

Metamorphosis (pt 2)

(WAIT if you haven’t yet, go read PART 1!!)

Caterina felt a tight wrenching sensation in her gut as Cazneaux spilled his thoughts upon the midnight air. Her face twitched with little subtle reactions and jolts. Eyes linger here then there until they rapidly flick about. Finally she shudders in a breath and weaves her blues between his browns. "Are you going to think less of me if I'm completely honest with you?"

Her various twitches were caught by his deadened gaze, though he mostly looks into her eyes as he speaks. Upon her inquiry, he shakes his head with earnest in his voice. "I'd respect you more."

 Dark lashes bat a few times, her bottom lip caught between her teeth just barely, like she was preparing to say something for the first time. "I think that I  don't see what you see in myself in relation to him because I've spent -so- long feeling.. -small- next to him." Her nose curls in disgust, eyes narrowing like she'd just seen something foul. "I've been broken into this sick and twisted cloud of being secondary. Not just from him but all of them. -He's- protected first. -He- is the priority. -He- is the one they'd die for. And, surely, I've wormed my way into the hearts of some of them but even then I feel a chilling knowledge that if he  gave the command I'd be dead within the hour.” A pause lingers. “I’m frightened because If I step away from this I have no clue what will happen to me. I won't have those suits protecting me as they did. I won't have that security of my well being and in doing so my social -image- drops. I became what I am with his help. How much of that can I do on my own? If I change my environment so drastically - the foundations, won't I just crumble?"

 If he could make his gaze soften, he would. If he could invoke some sort of emotion within his eyes, he would. But alas, he could not. Instead, he resorts to his face, not desiring to interrupt vocally, sporting a frown. Not one of disappointment, but  one to express sympathy. He slightly steps forward and removes his left glove, exposing his tattooed, worn fingers. And with said calloused, slightly crooked digits, he rests them on her naked shoulder, gently rubbing his thumb against her much softer skin. "I'm quite proud of you for speaking so openly to me about your dealings. About how uncomfortable and trapped you are. About your self doubt and insecurity. I -will- be honest with you, just as you have been with me. As long as you truly think so poorly of yourself, if you believe yourself to be so weak and small and little compared to him, which he has designed your life to end up being, you will ultimately be his slave for the rest of  your life. You'll never reach your potential, you'll never reach your peak, and yes, you've a fantastic reputation for yourself and you're highly esteemed, and he may have aided you with that, but is -he- acting? Is -he- the star? Is -he- the talent that everybody looks up to and loves and beats off to in their shack? I don't fuckin' think so. And nobody else does, either. But the longer you stay with him, the more you depend on him, the more you cling to his arm, the more people will see you  as his 'pretty lil' bitch' and once you're gone, he'll nab a new one. One that's younger, one with more bravado, one that will look better on his arm than you as time goes on." 

He gently pats her shoulder, "Now, are you going to settle for that life? Having his kid, no longer acting, staying in your big ol' manor by yourself with a kid of a guy that you don't love, he doesn't love you, and everybody in your circle knows it? Or are you going to grab life by the balls, scream 'who's your  bitch', spit in its face and make it squeal your name? Are you going to show Azeroth that you can be successful, powerful, innovative and not a force to be motherfuckin' fucked with for decades to come? Or..." He trails his hand down her bicep  before dropping it at his side like it was dead weight, "Are you going to end up a housewife that had fun while she was young, but sold out to her insecurities? Where people would see you taking your lil' ten year old to the bookstore and maybe one  or two parents might recognize you and their kid won't give two and a half shits about? Where when you're done signing their autographs and walking back home, they gossip how disappointing finally meeting you was."

 She felt sick. Like she might throw up or pass out. A light headedness came upon her, his hand the only thing steadying her. Like he was laying her whole life out ahead of her. And she really thought about it. About how she would like for things to go and how, even if she tried to convince herself, she knew that Braxton would never allow those things. That he'd be free to continue expansion of his life, goals, business. But she would be expected to stay home with the baby. To educate and teach it.

She reflects back on Quellys. That's what this felt a lot like. Like the same conversation she'd had with her best friend the night she died. 'But you could have a life, you could be Caterina, have children that will grow up to adore you and ones that you could safely teach to sing to dance, you could go to bed and actually be held by a man that loves you instead of a man who will likely have a separate room in his home for you…Caterina you are so much more than you give yourself credit for, you’ve made a cage for yourself out of this life and you’re walking yourself to the hangman’s noose like you’ll be given the courtesy of a long drop!' She'd remembered it word for -fucking- word. Against her will, her eyes stung. She was flooding with anxiety and the only way her body knew how to expel all of the tension were tears. But she fucking hated crying. She didn't do it very often, not without command. So her feminine fingers rise, both of them - lightly cupping  over her face. Barely touching it as not to smudge her makeup. She was just gathering herself. A hitched breath came out but a more controlled one was deeply sucked in. He could see a flick of her thumb move and wetness on its nail. She stayed like that for several moments.

Spotting the tears begin to form within Caterina’s eyes, Cazneaux slowly lowers his head and raises his ungloved left hand to brush the top of his index finger along her cheekbone before retracting and moving his whole hand against her upper-back. Noticing her aiming to disallow her tears to fall too far, he begins to nudge her into his warm mass, keeping her there, allowing her to wet his leather and mail mixed armor. All the while, he continued his slow, calm, calculated breaths to combat the tension within her body. A sensual, circular rub against her back. "There, there, love." he eventually states, his rumbling voice causing a slight vibrate if her head was to rest against his chest.  

"I don't know why I'm crying, it's so -stupid-." the actress nearly hisses the word. "I -know- you're right, you all are. All of you that have told me this same exact thing - so why am I so fucking startled!"

“Because he -molded- you to be that way. Think about it, Caterina. You weren't scared of any other man before him, were you? You dominated them all the while making them think you were just a pretty lil' thing. But he was smarter than the rest of them. He broke you down, and brought you back up to fit the mold he wanted you to fit, and you went along with it because you're an actress and playing parts is what you do. Just like any other time. But -this- time was different, because you ended up believing that character -is- you. You -are- that character. You stopped acting, in that sense. You ended up -living- somebody else's life, and now their life is yours. All the while, your -true- life. The person you -truly are- is suffocating, and if you marry that man..." He shakes his head, speaking with a stern tone. "If you marry that man and have his child, the -real- you dies. They are buried under a nameless grave, because nobody knows who she is. Only who you -act- to be. And you've acted so well that you've even tricked  yourself. Now if -that- doesn't show your skill, I'm truly at a loss for words."

 'Be safe…be smart…and for whatever you’re worth, don’t marry that man.' Echos off along diamond dripping ears. -Those- were Quellys last words to her. Caterina inhales once, her breathing had slowed slightly, a trembling hand pushing her hair back from her face as she looks up and backs away. Exposed to him, her eyes are big, red along the corners and leaking. She's leaking. Her nose and cheeks are cherry and her lips fuller. Her lashes look darker, wet, longer.

What a sight. From 'stumbling into' one another, and around two months later, she's crying in his arms about an abusive man and not knowing who she really is. A widely renown actress of whom he had watched when they were so, so young. Eyes wet, runny  nose, and flushed cheeks in his grip. If he was a poet, he'd write down many thoughts. But he was not. He is instead an ex-military man, ex-felon, arms dealing, smuggling murderer who has taking more lives, innocent or not, than he'd expect his accountant to be able to take. Far more than his mind and heart could handle, that's something he knew for certainty. And yet here she was, using him as someone she's depending on and trusting with so much personal information. His mind continues to think and re-evaluate as she describes her story, in what he believes her attempting to calm herself down and think out loud about her situation of which she seems to finally admit the truth about. "There's a saying in the streets,” Cazneaux started again, 'Be your own best friend, 'cause your -other- best friend'll sell you out the moment they can gain from it'. Apply that here. You've allowed the drainage of your true character, your -true- personality and soul. And now that you know this, are you going to watch her wither away and die alone, or are you going to be your own best goddamn friend, and invigorate her and bring  her to life with color and bravado that I know you can?"

She blinks soft, the back of her hand gently skimming over her tear-stained cheek. She inhales soft, taking a moment. But when she opened them? A darkened tone had over taken her eyes. Something much more calm and serious, residue of her tears still dot her visage. She tilts her head in that way she does, eyes flooding over his expression. His hand that was curled around the back of a slender neck felt warm. She brought her fingers up in front of her stomach, twisting her rings so the gems were all  facing up to the stars. 

"How would you like a powerful addition to building your empire?"

 An open-mouthed grin. That was his first physical response to her inquiry, matched with his moral-less eyes may be a haunting sight for most. An immoral man, happy? Surely no good could come from that. His fat tongue runs along the edges of his teeth before he closes his mouth and releases a low chuckle. "You already know the answer to that, babe. But, you absolutely deserve a firm answer. I'd love one. Especially if they've the eyes that you hold, and the wits that you store and use like an expert."

She didn’t smile back, no, she was far too severe. "And Cazneaux?” Caterina inquires, eliciting a “Aye?” in response from him.

“If something happens to me, if -he- does something to me?" She exhales a single breath, her eyes turning cold and vicious. "Burn him to the ground."

 And there it was. The smile that best fit his graveyard gaze. The vengeful, machiavellian, toothy grin of which rivaled a Devil's. "With pleasure." 

@mister-reigns

@braxtonhudson

@quellys

[solartranslations]

Pace 5/1: Caterina

The truth about Pace that she saw at the Lord’s mansion. Meanwhile, a letter arrives

~*Scene: Lord's Mansion*~

Alberto: To Felicita-sama

Alberto: Thank you very much for attending the banquet held at our mansion the other day

Alberto: Again, I do sincerely apologize for not showing you the proper hospitality at the time

Alberto: My family hopes to continue maintaining kind and friendly relations with those of Arcana Famiglia

Alberto: Now…as for why I am writing to you on this occasion, Ojou-sama

Alberto: There is a matter regarding my brother, Pace, that I would like to consult with you in private

Alberto: I understand that you are busy, but I would appreciate it if you would spare a bit of your time

Alberto: Again, I greatly appreciate your understanding, and ask that you keep this matter confidential

Felicita: ?

~*Scene: Cemetery*~

Alberto: Hey…I thought you would come

Alberto: As an Executive of Arcana Famiglia, you wouldn’t be able to ignore that

Alberto: Oh…don’t make such a scary face. It spoils your beauty, you know?

Felicita: …

Alberto: Oh, right, I did call you out here. I’ll get right to the point

Alberto: This grave…do you know whose it is?

>I don’t know

>Someone I know?

Alberto: I guess you wouldn’t

Alberto: You wouldn’t know her, but you may have heard about her

Alberto: The one resting in this grave is Pace’s mother

Felicita: !?

Alberto: My mother is in good health though. In other words…Pace and I are half-brothers with different mothers

Alberto: And Pace ended up being born before me

Alberto: That was the beginning of all this misfortune…

~*Flashback*~

(*creaking) Pace: Mother, why do we have to leave this place?

Caterina: Pace…

Caterina: You want to stay here forever?

Pace: No…I don’t mind where we go as long as I’m with you

Pace: My home is wherever you are, mother

Caterina: Pace…

Pace: But, I finally have a little brother…, so I’m kind of sad

Caterina: Yes…. It’s because Alberto was born…

Pace: I like Alberto

Pace: But, I don’t like Alberto’s mother

Pace: She used to be really nice…but all she does is say mean things now

Pace: And, she says bad things about you a lot…

Pace: Father also said “if only you weren’t here”…

Caterina: Pace…you haven’t done anything wrong

Caterina: You’re a really good kid. To me, you’re more precious than anyone…

Caterina: But, if we stay here, it will just be hard on both of us

Caterina: So, the two of us are going to leave

Pace: It’s alright, I don’t feel bad about it at all

Pace: Mother…, you’re warm…

Caterina: Pace…I love you

~*End Flashback*~

Alberto: My father’s second wife, Pace’s mother…Caterina gave birth to the eldest son

Alberto: But, my mother, his first wife, who had a hard time conceiving a child, gave birth to me afterwards

Alberto: Caterina knew that her son would get caught up in an inheritance battle in the future…

Alberto: So she left with Pace on her own

Alberto: After that, it seems that they were taken care of by the church…

Alberto: I heard later that…they were living in poverty, and that it was quite difficult

Alberto: There’s no way a mother and child with no relatives could live easily

Alberto: My father didn’t care since they left of their own accord, and abandoned them

Alberto: From my mother’s position, there was no way for her to help…

~*Flashback*~

Caterina: Pace! Time for dinner!

Pace: Okay~!

Pace: Wow…! It’s lasagna

Pace: The lasagna you make is the best in the world

Pace: I love this lasagna the most!

Caterina: Pace, say lasagna correctly (TN: Uh, so Pace says it as “la-sagna”, I just never type it like that….)

Pace: Yup, I love this lasagna!

Caterina: That’s not how you say lasagna…

Pace: Oh, whatever. Anyway, let’s eat!

Pace: Agh! Hot!

Caterina: Come on…eat more calmly

Pace: Huh…? You’re not going to eat, mother?

Caterina: Oh, um…, I’m just, not hungry

Pace: Come on, you have to eat!

Pace: Here, I’ll give you some

Caterina: It’s okay…. That’s for you to eat, Pace

Caterina: You love lasagna, right?

Pace: Yeah…

Caterina: It’s fine, I’ll eat in a little bit…

Pace: Really…? Okay, I’ll eat it all then!

~*End Flashback*~

Alberto: Caterina passed away not long afterwards

Alberto: Nobody from my family attended her funeral

Felicita: …

Alberto: Caterina…quietly passed away here, alone…

Alberto: To me, Pace was more of a rival than an older brother

Alberto: Although Pace never thought that…

Alberto: My mother raised me like that since I was young, so I never thought anything different

Alberto: But…now that I’m grown up, I decided to think back on it objectively…

Alberto: What my parents did to Pace and his mother can’t be forgiven

Alberto: I…want Pace to return home if possible

Alberto: And, I want Pace to be the next Lord. …And not as an atonement

Alberto: Of course, Pace can be a bit flighty. And compared to me, it’s true that he isn’t as educated

Alberto: But, my brother has something that I don’t

Alberto: He has the charm and popularity to draw people in. That’s a skill that a Lord needs more than anything

Alberto: I can supply the knowledge and refinement that he lacks

Alberto: He’s popular, loved by the people, and cares about this island more than anyone. And that’s exactly why Pace is suited for being the Lord

Alberto: Don’t you think so too?

>You just have to work harder

(+10 Amore Pace)

>Pace really is suited for being the Lord

(-10 Amore Pace)

>Pace is my family

(+20 Amore)

Alberto: A harsh opinion, but I guess you still have to say it

Alberto: People all have their strong and weak points

(*phew) Alberto: So you do think so

Alberto: It was worth it to come and tell you

Alberto: I understand that you feel that way, but that’s not the reality

Alberto: There’s no bond stronger than those by blood

Alberto: In any case, Pace probably won’t listen to anything I have to say

Alberto: So, could you convince Pace to return home for me?

Alberto: Just like this

Pace: What kind of selfish things are you saying!

❤≪Pace≫ Seems irritated

Person: What is he talking to Ojou about!

Pain: My feelings haven’t changed

Link: ???

Felicita: !?

Alberto: Pace…

Pace: Alberto, you’ve got completely the wrong idea

Pace: I’ve never thought of myself as unfortunate

Pace: And, I’m a part of Arcana Famiglia of my own will

Pace: Don’t try to assume how I feel!

Alberto: But, it’s an unchangeable fact that you’re the Lord’s son!

Pace: No, I’m not! I’m the Deputy Chief Executive of Arcana Famiglia, Pace

Pace: The Pace who was the Lord’s son, died a long time ago!

❤≪Pace≫ Can't seem to handle it

Person: I don’t want to hear this anymore!

Pain: My decision hasn’t changed

Link: ???

Alberto: Pace…

Pace: I don’t know how you were planning on trying to bring me back,…but I won’t be going back!

Pace: If you understand, then leave now!

Pace: Ojou, let’s go!

Alberto: Wait! I…!

Alberto: ! Damn it! No! What I wanted to say was…

~*Scene: Back Alley*~

(*running)

Pace: Huh…

❤≪Pace≫ Seems concerned

Person: How much did Alberto say?

Pain: Things got weird again

Link: ???

Pace: Sorry, Ojou…it looks like you ended up hearing about something strange

Pace: And…, I guess I’ve been different today

Pace: Ojou…, forget about what happened today

Pace: You don’t need to worry about anything Alberto said to you

>I’m pretty worried

(+10 Amore)

>I’m not worried

(+20 Amore)

>How did you know where we were?

(No Amore)

Pace: Yeah, I guess you would be…

Pace: Then, I’ll tell you all about it someday

Pace: Someday, definitely…

Pace: As expected Ojou, you’re so nice

Pace: But, it’s written all over your face that you’re worried

Pace: Sorry, I’ll make sure to tell you someday

Pace: Actually…I had business with you and went looking but, I couldn’t find you

Pace: Luca didn’t give a clear answer when I asked him

Pace: I kept asking, and he said you were here…

Felicita: !

Pace: Ah, don’t get mad at Luca, okay. I made him tell me

❤≪Pace≫ Seems to be hiding something ❤≪Pace≫ Ojou ❤≪Pace≫ Seems concerned

Pain: …I’ll make sure to tell her

Link: Of course she’d be worried

Person: Ojou is honest

Link: …I’ll make sure to tell her

Pain: I was kind of scary…

Person: I don’t want to make her sad

Person: Good thing I asked Luca

Daily: He was worried too

Pain: ???

Pace: Oh, this is off topic but, we danced together at the Lord’s banquet the other day, right?

❤≪Pace≫ Seems concerned

Pleasure: This is what I really wanted to talk about!!

Person: I’m worried about Alberto, but let’s forget it for now!

Pace: So, if you want, maybe we could go for dance practice

Pace: Learning might be useful someday

>That’s really all you wanted to talk about?

>That’s fine

Pace: Huh? Umm, yeah

Pace: I’m not good at talking about this stuff

Pace: Really? Thanks, Ojou!

Pace: Then, tell me what day you’re free and stuff next time!

❤≪Pace≫ Seems as usual ❤≪Pace≫ Seems as usual

Pleasure: Huh? Something else??

Pleasure: Yay!

(*smile) Pace: Okay, let’s head back then

❤≪Pace≫ Seems as usual

Arcana: There should be more balls soon

Daily: Now that I’m relieved, I’m hungry

Arcana: ???

Pace: Oh, but before that, do you want to go eat some lasagna?

Pace: Of course, I’ll actually pay instead of putting it on my tab

Pace: It’ll be fine, I won’t do anything to make you angry anymore

Pace: You’re kind of scary when you’re mad, Ojou~

Pace: But, you’re angry face is cute too

Felicita: …!

Pace: Ahaha…

~*End of Scene*~

(Continue to Pace May 2)

(Back to Directory)

[romanoartsless]

Welp. I fell so bad for not posting an update in like a.... month. Take this update as a peace offering. I promise the next one won’t take as long to get up.

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Chapter 26

    Edith’s dainty hands examined the green gem on Silvertongue’s finger. “You see,” she said, pointing towards it, “this is what you get when you are with me. What did you ever get with Caterina? Rejection? Abandonment? Neglect?”

    Silvertongue slowly nodded, a single tear falling from one of her midnight blue eyes. Edith used her other hand wipe it away, then caressed the side of her face. The Crow gently leaned into the hand with a meek smile on her face.

    “I understand,” Edith continued. “I understand what you’re feeling. My father neglected me since the day I was born, all for that witch. Look at what that got him; it got him killed. Imagine what could’ve happened to you if you hadn’t come to me sooner. You likely would’ve suffered greatly and died an awful, horrible, painful death.”

     Just imagining the situations gave Silvertongue an ounce of pain. She ran her thumb along the band of the ring and took in a large breath to halt the falling of more tears. Silvertongue Crow didn’t want her legacy to be another body under a witch’s belt, no, she wanted to be more than that. She wanted to be a figure loved and adored by the masses; one people wanted to be or be with. Caterina wouldn’t let her be this. Edith would.

    “How do we kill her?”

* * *

    “Gideon!”

    As he closed the door and entered the house, Serephina bolted from her seat, slammed herself into him, and brought him into a tight embrace. She’d always been a good amount taller than Gideon, so his head was now in the nook between her neck and shoulder. “Where were you, my darling Gideon? I missed you.”

    He let out a small grunt. “Just doing the king’s business. I saw Amber Lynn on my way home, too.”

    She pulled him away and behind his glasses his blue eyes met her Petrov green ones. “You saw Amber Lynn?”

    He hadn’t even given the encounter a second thought before he’d briefly mentioned it. “Mhmm.”

    “You didn’t… do anything with her, did you?”

    He laughed her question off. “No, Sere.”

    She pulled him back in and whispered into his ear, “I don’t want you being around her, she’s not good for you.”

    Another breathy laugh came out of him. “She’s fine Sere, she’s not hurting me, she just needs a little guidance sometimes.”

    “I just don’t like you hanging around her.”

    “I’ll cut it down for you- my time with her.”

    “Thank you, Gideon.”

    She kissed his dark brown hair and began to walk back to their room. Her long black hair swooshed behind her as she walked. “Wait, Sere!”

    Her head whipped around to look at him over her shoulder. “Yes, my love?”

    “Could you get me the files on your dad and March Ranez?”

    “Why?”

    “Uh- Sorry- I need it for the competition.”

    “Alright.” She paused. “I love you, Gideon.”

    “I love you, too, Sere.”

 * * *

    “We can’t kill her right now, Silvertongue. We have to wait until you’re married and our throne is secure.”

    Silvertongue scowled at Edith’s remark, as true as it was. She was sick of her feelings for the witch flooding her mind. She wanted to rid the world of her and hopefully the way she made the Crow feel. “I just-.”

    “Shh.” Edith hushed. “Trust me, dear. I know best, so listen to me. We must be patient, we must wait. If we rush into things- gods know what would happen.”

    The lady pulled her companion into another embrace. Her fingers ran through her raven black hair then yanked it back until her ear was at the same level as her mouth. “Our prey is not at its most vulnerable moment,” Edith whispered. “We have to wait until it is.”

Chapter 27

     Gideon had told Thomas it’d be a few days before he could get the files, but even though he said that a few days ago, Thomas still didn’t have his hands on them. Hopefully Caterina would understand, although he did have some files to give her.

    He knocked on the door to the cabin, but received no reply. “Caterina?” he asked, knocking a second time. “Caterina?”

    The door opened, not with Caterina on the other side, but instead Jackie. “Yes?”

    She leaned against the doorframe, a sharp glare on her face. Her short, choppy, black hair was a mess, almost as if she was doing chores before he came. “I brought some files for Caterina.”

     Her glare grew into a smirk at Thomas’s reply. “Perfect timing,” she said, her voice full of sarcasm.

    “Jackie!” another voice shouted at her from inside the cabin.

    “What, Blackwing? I just find it amusing that out of all the weeks in the month, he came on this one.”

     “Stop yelling!” The magic user’s voice suddenly came into the picture. “You’re giving me a fucking headache!”

    Concern and confusion boiled up in Thomas. “Is she okay?”

    Jackie pointed into the cabin, her other hand on her hip. She leaned in closer to the captain before whispering, “It’s that time of the month… if you know what I mean.”

    “Oh.”

     “Oh yeah.”

    “Is that Dubroin?!” Caterina cut back in from the other room.

    “Is that Thomas at the door?” Blackwing repeated in a much calmer manner than the elemental.

    “Yes it is.”

    “It’s him, Caterina.”

    “Everyone get the fuck out of here so I can talk to Dubroin!”

    “Caterina!” the brown eyed Crow disciplined. “Be kinder, gentler.”

“Ugh. Would you all be so generous as to get the fuck out of the cabin so Thomas and I can speak in private. Please. It would be greatly appreciated.”

A sigh escaped from Blackwing. “I must give you credit where credit is due. At least you tried.”

Jackie grabbed her satchel off the floor, pushed Thomas out of the way, and walked out into the abyss of woods. Her sister picked up her pace and skipped along behind her. Once they faded into the horizon, he walked into the cabin.

He turned to go into Caterina’s room, but she now stood in the middle of the hall, clutching her stomach. “Woah, are you okay?” he asked, running to comfort her.

“I’m fine!” she exclaimed, pushing him away.

Her free hand curled up into a fist, causing the candles scattered around the room to flicker. Thomas stepped away, not wanting her to lose control of her magic because of her emotions. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

All he received was a mumble from the magic user.

“Huh?”

“Can you carry me to my room?”

“Wait wait wait.” The words that had come out of her mouth had surprised him. “So you came out of your room to come and ask me to carry you to your room?”

Caterina gave him an obscene gesture which made Thomas laugh before he grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. To an unknowing onlooker it might seem like Thomas was carrying a dead body because of how limp she went in his arms. “Did you just have to stick my face in your fucking ass?” she groaned.

“Well, are you enjoying the view while you’re there?”

“Fuck. You.”

“I’m just carrying you like you asked.”

He threw her down onto the bed and now got a look at the scowl on her face. “What?”

Caterina took the blankets on her bed and fluffed them to cover her body. “If you ever start bleeding out of your dick don’t come crawling to me, looking for a shoulder to cry on because all you’ll get from me are sassy remarks.”

Apparently he didn’t need to be bleeding to get sassy remarks. He grabbed a chair from her desk and sat down next to her in the bed. His bag was now on his lap and he spread out the files next to Caterina. She ran her fingers along each of them, silently counting how many there were. “There are some missing.”

 “Oh yeah, I have someone getting those for me.”

Worry flooded her eyes when he said that. “You didn’t tell them about me, did you?”

“No. They didn’t really ask me why I wanted them actually.”

“Who was it?”

 “Gideon Warren.”

“Samantha Delikov’s boy?”

“Yeah. How’d you know that?”

“Samantha’s Victor’s sister. I heard about his nephew a lot.”

Time passed as Caterina skimmed through each individual file. He could tell she was jotting down notes mentally. “What did you find?”

“None of your business, at the moment.��

“Wow, I’m sorry, Scilia.”

“As you should be. Now, what files is Warren getting?”

 “March Ranez and Shaw Petrov.”

“Petrov? Like the high family?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Nothing, it's just that the Petrov and the Scilia families were rivals. I mean, a witch hunting family and the highest ranking magic using family, you think they’re going to be all buddy buddy?”

“Probably not.”

“My point exactly. Now, when can I expect those files?”

“A few days, maybe a week.”

“Alright, thank you.”

Thomas rose out of his chair and dug into his pocket for something. He threw whatever it was onto the sheets that covered Caterina. “What’s this?” she asked, picking up the small bars.

“Chocolate.”

She opened the wrapper and sniffed the candy before shoving it into her mouth. Joy flooded her body when it hit her tongue. She wasn’t as graceful when she ripped open the second one. “I haven’t had chocolate since Victor was alive,” she said with her face still full.

 The true happiness on her face made him chuckle. “You want me to bring you more?”

She nodded vigorously to answer him. It made him smile when he thought about how the happiest he’d seen the magic user was when she was eating sweets. She looked innocent, like the world hadn’t burdened her with trauma and loss. The world was a brighter place when Caterina Scilia was happy.

[ask-a-badass]

Bounded in a Nutshell, answered by Caterina Sforza

Dear Badass,

How do I stop selling myself short? When I was growing up, I felt like other kids didn’t like me because I was smart. I thought I learned to be more social and that’s why I had more friends in college and when I started working. Now, though, I wonder if it’s because I learned to play dumb, even with myself. I feel like I shrunk myself into this mold and I can’t break out of it. I find myself assuming I can’t do things or learn things. There are a couple of guys I work with - who aren’t even that bright - that just charge into projects they’re not really qualified for and everything seems to work out. Why don’t I do that? Why do I assume that everything I haven’t done before will be out of my reach?

Thank you,

Bounded in a Nutshell

Dear Bounded in a Nutshell,

Stop thinking and start doing. Now. Whatever Rubicon it is you are trying to force yourself to cross, go do it. Without a moment’s more thought. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Good. Now, as to how you got here. The world you live in only works if some people make themselves smaller. There are all sorts of messaging and pressure passed along in media and movies and songs and in “everybody knows”. Your mistake was to listen to any of it unquestioning. All you know for certain is your own experience. Everything else you hear, you must evaluate before taking to heart. Yes, even this.

In some ways, the world I lived in was easier. We didn’t pretend to be equal. We told our children that God ordained a place for everyone. As a woman, my place was to be mild and meek. As a bastard, my place was to be grateful for what I could get. For all my stepmother’s education, it wasn’t until I married that I truly questioned that idea.

My husband was a nice man, wealthy enough and noble enough for any bastard to be grateful. And he was an idiot. Without me, we never would’ve gotten Forli. If he’d listened to me, we would’ve gotten so much more. And he couldn’t even hold the lordship of Forli. He left himself open to the most inconveniently-timed assassination.

His assassins held me captive while they attempted to secure the Forli fortress that was resisting them. They, like everyone else who had dismissed and underestimated me, expected me to be a silent prisoner. I used their mistaken belief against them. I got them to send me as ambassador, then sent my defiance once my hold was secure.

I encourage you to try the same approach. You do not have to change the mind of the entire world, nor limit your dealings only to those who realize that women are their equals. You do not need to narrow your ambitions or prospects based on what others think of you. You do, however, need to fight vigilantly against all attempts to narrow your vision of yourself.

You need to build an impregnable fortress in your mind. Guard there your knowledge of who you are, of the value and worth that is intrinsic to you and given to you by no one else. Pace the ramparts daily. Mend every chink, every slight defect. The world will try constantly to besiege you, to make you surrender into becoming something lesser. Keep your own image of your strength intact.

Once you have that feel free to take full advantage of anyone who underestimates you. Their limited vision is not yours to fix or manage. I wore the name “Tiger of Forli” with pride. So too should you take any sign of those around you feeling threatened and wear it as a badge of pride.

The world will not reward you for being small. Your only option is to make your reach as vast as your ambition.

Caterina Sforza

Born in Milan in 1463 to the Duke of Milan and his mistress, Lucrezia Landriani. Died of pneumonia on May 28, 1509, in Florence. Though born an illegitimate daughter in a society that valued neither, Caterina went on to wield significant political and military power through sheer force of will. She ruled Imola and Forli, which she had gotten possession of by navigating the treacherous and militaristic papal politics. Her life swung her from triumphant ruler to prisoner more than once; near the end of her life she said, “If I could write everything that happened, I would shock the world.”

[calzona-ga]

In Thursday’s Grey’s Anatomy, Nathan, taking Meredith’s suggestion that he make a “grand gesture” to prove his love to Megan, reunited her with son Farouk; Jackson inherited a quarter of a billion dollars from his grandfather and inched closer to a romance with Maggie — till Catherine referred to her as his sister; Arizona had no sooner gotten finished reassuring April that she’d get used to nights away from Harriet than she got a text saying that Sofia wanted to move back to Seattle; Jo asked that Mer exclude her name from an article on Megan’s operation, lest an accompanying photo tip off Paul to her whereabouts; Ben kept Bailey in the dark about what we all know is his firefighter training; and Richard and the chief interviewed a slew of potential interns, among them Glasses Levi, cocky Vik, Iraq vet Casey, Stephanie fan Sam and sweet Dahlia.

But, of course, the “A” story in “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head” was the surgery that removed from Amelia’s head the brain tumor that had been causing so much of her erratic behavior. Not only was the operation a success and her recovery, speedy — albeit also painful (she momentarily forgot that Derek was dead) and weird (at one point, she only spoke French) — but at the end of the hour, the patient went home with her long-estranged husband, Owen. Here, Caterina Scorsone, who plays Amelia, reflects on the game-changer and its potential for giving the embattled couple a second chance.

TVLINE | Did it resonate with you, DeLuca’s suggestion that the thing Amelia was “missing” after surgery was the sense of dread that she seemed to carry around? Absolutely. Since she was a small child, the initial trauma of witnessing her father murdered in front of her really kind of laid in a lot of her neuro pathways as far as how she thought the world was going to treat her. She thought disaster was waiting for her around every corner. And as it happened, there were a lot of disasters waiting for her. Who knows, if she’d had a different perspective, would her life have followed different lines? But she’s been in this constant sort of low-level expectation of devastation and despair sneaking up on her. I think it’s essential to her. [Her father’s murder] happened so early [that it programmed in her head,] “You’re in danger. The people you love are in danger!” So for that feedback loop to suddenly stop — potentially because of the tumor, she’s still sorting through that — that would be a huge shake-up in how she could potentially move forward in her life.

TVLINE | Already, we’re seeing some changes. Even as Amelia tried to set Owen free toward the end of the episode, the anger that she’d so often directed at him seemed to be gone. I think so much anger and blame is a reaction to fear, and in really facing her mortality in such a direct and stark way, Amelia has had a chance to cross over a threshold of fear that all of us ignore. This fear of one’s mortality is so central to all of the other little fears, and she has had this really incredible opportunity to step over that threshold and get to the other side. There’s a major reduction in her fear of anything after that. That’s going to make her a less blame-y, less angry person, tumor or not, after that. She’s definitely seeing things in a new light. And again, we’ll never know, was it because of the tumor coming out? Was it just the experience of going through this and coming out the other side? She’ll never know. We’ll never know. But she’s changed forever.

TVLINE | Will this new, fearless Amelia be less adamant about the issue of kids that made such a disaster of her marriage to Owen? We’ll have to see. That’s so far ahead of where we’re at right now. I have certain feelings about it, but that doesn’t mean that I can pull the whole writing staff with me! [Laughs] Right now we’re still in the trenches of getting Amelia back on her feet and into scrubs. This has been a major life event, so she’s still picking up the pieces and dusting herself off.

TVLINE | When the dust settles, might Meredith view Amelia a little more sympathetically? I hope so. As silly and sarcastic as Amelia can be, she loves Meredith and loved Derek with everything she has. And Meredith [and the kids are] that Derek connection. Amelia wants to be family with her, so my heart kind of bleeds for Amelia every time she gets rejected by Meredith, because I know that, as much as Meredith might find her off-putting, there’s a real vulnerable earnestness with which Amelia wants to be in a sister relationship with Meredith. She moved all the way from L.A. to help her take care of her kids, and she stayed [after Derek died]… She loves Meredith and wants Meredith to love her. So I hope this leads to kind of a softening for both of them.

TVLINE | Lastly, did you really cut your hair for the opening scene? No, I did not. We have fantastic special-effects people, and they created like a rubber cap that my hair was in, then a hand-punched half-hairpiece. So half of the hair was mine, and half of the hair was this piece that an artist painstakingly punched every single hair through so that it would be natural enough that when I used the razor on it, I was actually shaving hair, strand by strand, off of basically a latex scalp. They did a great job!

[romanoartsless]

You guys sadly don't get two chapters this time (this is a long chapter though) but at least it didn't take me too long to get this up.

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Chapter 20

    The night had ended and morning was now upon her. Days had passed since Edith came and Thomas was now set to appear. Caterina didn’t even try to hide the bruises and cuts. She knew they were healing. They were nowhere near as they were the day after.

     As she waited for the captain, Caterina sketched in her room. She hadn’t drawn in a while so satisfaction filled her when the pencil finally hit the paper. All she ever drew in the past few years was bird. She’d always admired the creatures. They were so free. They could simply fly whenever and wherever they pleased. It made her jealous.

 She was so in the zone of the sketch that she didn’t notice the hand on her shoulder. “I didn’t know you drew.”

“Thomas!” she hollered at the sound and touch. “What the hell are you doing?”

 “Oh shit! I didn’t mean to scare you, I just-.”

“No no no. You’re fine, it’s just- I just wasn't you expecting you right now.”

“So you… draw?”

“Well, when you’re raised by an artist by an artist, you kinda get a pencil in your hand at a young age.”

 He snarked at the remark. Before the room could fall silent, Thomas threw the files down onto the table. “What files did you bring?” she asked.

“They’re the files of the men in the competition.”

Her mind had almost blanked on the subject of the competition. It was out of sight and therefore out of mind. She looked through each of the files but recognized nothing; not names and not faces. The pictures provided were monochromatic so Caterina was unable to identify if any of the competitors shared the same eyes as the figure. She sighed aloud and leaned back in her chair when she finished reading.

Caterina seemingly became lost in a thought. Her hands went over her mouth and her legs kicked up onto the table. Another sigh came out. “You find anything useful?” he asked.

“No.”

 “Then what are you thinking about?”

“I think I’m ready to tell you about my soul partner.”

* * *

    Another day, another visit to the market. It didn’t bother Blackwing to be there again as much as it did Jackie. “Oh come on Jackie!” she pestered towards her sister. “We always go to the market, quit acting like it’s some hell hole.”

Jackie grunted. Blackwing shrugged it off and went back to skipping through the carts. She looked through the merchandise available, but something else caught her attention in the corner of her eye. The purple uniform was hard to miss and the striking green eyes that met her chocolate ones would be difficult not to recognize. “Crispin!” she yelled out to him.

He gave her a nod and wink before walking to her. Jackie stood in front of her sister, blocking Crispin. “Blackwing, come with me,” she said as she pulled her into a nearby alley.

 “That is a Petrov, Blackwing!” she projected to her.

“I know.”

 “But do you understand what that means? Those bright green eyes are a giveaway that he is a member of the second highest ranking family in Novak. Second! Second only to the royal Dobrev family! He will manipulate you with his power-.”

“Jackie! I’m not as naive as you want to believe I am. Please understand that I can take care of myself.”

“I’m just worried about your safety.”

 “I get that and I’m not mad at you, just let me be my own person.”

 Jackie went in and brought her sister into a hug. “If he hurts you I swear I’ll bring down the Petrov clan one by one,” she whispered into his ear.

 “And I’ll be fighting right by your side.”

 * * *

     Crispin was still waiting against a wall when the Crows returned. Jackie glared at him one last time before she left to do her own business. Blackwing jabbed him in the side in a friendly manner then laughed out, “So Mr. Petrov, how about our friend date?”

     “Don’t talk to me right now,” he replied, not even making eye contact with her.

        Blackwing didn’t understand the sudden adversity. “Crispin? What’s-.”

     She was interrupted by a girl in a dazzling orange dress with brown flower designs printed on the bust. Her brown locks were pulled back which allowed for a perfect view of her hazel eyes. “Oh no no no. I can not watch mess with another girl’s head like this, Petrov.” She turned to face Blackwing. “Don’t fall for him, honey. Don’t fall for this.”   

     “Ashlyn, please just leave me alone,” Crispin spat out in frustration.

     “No! I cannot watch another girl fall for your tricks, Crispin Petrov!” Back to Blackwing. “If you fall for him he will put on a show then when you want a little something every girl deserves from their boyfriend, he will reject you and backstab you. Don’t you dare fall for Novak’s local heartbreaker.”

    She whipped her body around and went on her own way. Before she was out of sight she turned around and shouted, “I hope you die alone, Petrov!”

    “I probably will!”

    Blackwing was shocked at the interaction. “What- what was that?”

    “Ashlyn Maya.”

    “Who?”

     “Ashlyn Maya. I wouldn’t say she’s an ex, actually we never dated. She just walked up to me at a party, I was nice to her, and she just thought that made her entitled to get to do whatever she wanted with my body.”

     She didn’t know how to reply, so she didn’t. They now were walking along the road, going farther east. Blackwing had brought him to an old, abandoned building. “What the hell did you bring me to?” Crispin snickered.

    “Oh, it’s an abandoned apartment building,” she said. “I think it went out of business after the incident. I’ll sometimes like to just, I don’t know, come here and escape the world.”

    “Hmm. Okay.”

    “Well, I’m sorry Mr. Petrov, but not all of us are oh so lucky to be born members of one of the four high families of Novak.”

    “Damn, that sweet little girl I met at the bar has some spice to her.”

    “Not everyone is what they first want to make you believe they are.”

    “Getting a little deep there aren’t you, birdy?”

    She giggled at the remark and sat down on the floor of the old lobby. “Now Crispin,” she spoke, looking up towards him, “what did that girl-.”

    “Ashlyn.”

    “- Ashlyn call you? What was it? Heartbreaker of- the local-.”

    “Novak’s local heartbreaker?”

    “Yeah yeah! Novak’s local heartbreaker! Why’d Ashlyn call you that? You’d think ‘Novak’s local heartbreaker’ would be someone who maybe slept around a lot, but you’re like me when it comes to that sort of thing.”

    Crispin joined her on the floor and let out a laugh. “You act like I never slept around in my life.”

    “But I thought you weren’t attracted to people in that way.”

     “Oh, I’m not. I just didn’t know that at the time. I was maybe fifteen and all the kids my age were getting all hormonal and I just didn’t feel anything like they did. I told myself that it might just be because I never tried anything, so I found a girl and we- you know. After that, still nothing.

     “Then I thought it was just because I hadn’t found the right girl, so I dated and slept with maybe five or six different girls over the course of a year. None of them made me feel anything. Hell, I even had a boyfriend and I still didn’t feel anything.”

    He looked to his side and saw Blackwing intently staring at him with her big brown eyes. “Is that why they call you Novak’s local heartbreaker?”

    “Oh gods no! That was just the backstory. I’m not even close to being finished.”

    He’d barely known her for two days, yet Crispin trusted Blackwing more than he trusted more than half the people that warmed his bed already. He trusted her enough to share a memory that haunted him for years, but he knew if anyone were to understand him it’d be her.

“I think I was eighteen and I had swore off romance, still waiting for someone to find me from my feelings- or more so lack of them. Then I met this girl and I thought she was going to be the one to change me. Spoiler alert, she wasn’t.

    “We met at a party and I think I fell in love with her the moment I saw her. If we’re being honest, I think she fell in love with my status. Being young, I didn’t realize that. I was so blinded by that love. In all honesty I would’ve died for her back then.

    “And us being teens, we’d make out… a lot. One time when we were making out things got sexual. I was uncomfortable with it so I pushed her off and explained to her how I felt. She interpreted it as I wasn’t ready yet, so she was fine with it the first time, the second time, hell even the third time. The fourth time was different though.

    “The fourth time I pushed her off she was so offended by it. She asked me, ‘Crispin! Do you even find me sexually appealing?!’ I couldn’t lie to her so I told her the truth. I said no. I watched her fall so out of love with me in the blink of an eye. She was so pissed. She slapped me in the face and left me in the dust. I tried to run after her, but she wouldn’t come back. I sometimes wish I had just lied to her; I wish I had just slept with her like she wanted me to.

     “Anyways, I saw her at another party a few weeks later that whole thing happened. I tried to walk near her to catch her attention, and I did, just not the way I was expecting. She didn’t even turn to face me, but she did bring me up in her conversation with her friends. She said something I’ve tried but never been able to forget. She said, ‘Don’t fall for Crispin Petrov. He’ll trick you into thinking he cares about you, but once you want what you’re entitled to he’ll backstab you. Crispin Petrov never has and never will love anyone, therefore he does not deserve love. So don’t fall for him because he’s just Novak’s local heartbreaker.’

    “I tried to kill myself that night, but that has nothing to do with my nickname. So yeah. That’s why I’m known as Novak’s local heartbreaker.”

    “Oh.”

     “Yeah. More depressing than you thought, huh?”

     She put her hand onto his own. Brown eyes met green. “That’s so personal,” she mumbled, holding back tears. “You barely know me, how could you trust me with that story?”

    “Just knowing someone out there was like me I- it- I guess you just made me feel normal in a world that told me I was a freak.”

* * *

    Thomas had heard of the term before she mentioned it. On many occasions he considered asking her about her own soul partner, but the subject was always changed. He’d just assumed it was one of the Crow sisters he’d seen and heard about.

     Every elemental had someone who had the potential to become their soul partner if they dared to achieve every ability. In order for a person to be a soul partner they had to be born to at least one magic using parent but not themselves possess magic, have a physical aspect to them that seemed unnatural, and had some sort of close bond with their element user.

    “What do you want to tell me about them?”

    “Well, it’s complicated.” She turned around to face him and it was clear to see the frustration on her face. “To my knowledge, I don’t have one.”

    “Isn’t that impossible? Shouldn’t you have-.”

     “I know it’s impossible, but everyone I’ve ever known, to my knowledge, does not fit into all three of the categories. I also assume that no one else I will fit into them either.”

     “Maybe it’s you. You have the unnatural physical appearance.”

     “First of all, that’s the only one I fit in. Second of all, the cause of my unnatural appearance is due to a curse, not because I’m a soul partner. And third of all, an elemental cannot be their own soul partner.”

    “It could-.”

    “Thomas! I appreciate you trying to help me with this, but if I haven’t been able to find answers in almost seven years I highly doubt you will be able to.”

The look on the captain’s face was a mixture of confusion and concern. “Why’d you- why’d you tell me then?”

“Oh Thomas, you have to remember that I’m technically blackmailing you. In order for you to be less likely to stab me in the back you have to trust me. Unless your idea of trust is me getting into your pants, this is the only way I know how to build it. And even though I wouldn’t object to the former, this method is preferred by me. Never doubt my intentions because even though I’ve been sheltered from society I can guarantee that I am smarted than half of your brigade, Dubroin.”

Thomas coughed out a laugh. He mumbled something under his breath. Caterina   rose from her seat and stood in front of him. “What were you saying?” she snickered.

 “I said, ‘Now that’s the Caterina I know.’”

She poked his chest and met her black eyes to his brown. “Damn right it is,” she said in a mockingly tough voice. “Now, when you come back next time, bring me the files of these men’s father’s.”

They were now barely inches apart and she shoved the files into his face and he couldn’t help but light up. He tried to keep up his act and proclaimed, “Okay Ms. Scilia.”

“Okay.”

 “Okay.”

“You should get going, shouldn’t you.”

“Okay.”

“You say okay one more time and I’ll cut out your tongue.”

“Okay.”