#fictober calendar

[lady-ashfade]

I will hopefully post the calendar today!

[captainsophiestark]

Just The Two Of Us

Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Masterlist - Join My Taglist!

Written for Fictober 2024!

Requested by @ghostofskywalker! Hope you like it bestie! This was very fun to write :)

Fandom: Marvel

Day Nineteen Prompt: "This is getting ridiculous."

Summary: Wanda and her SO have put in a TON of work to finally get a date night off, alone, without interruption. But, like most things, it doesn't work out exactly according to plan.

Word Count: 1,828

Category: Fluff, Humor, little bit of Angst?

Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.

"Alright. This is going to be the pefrect, quiet romantic evening the two of us have been needing. No Avengers, chaotic family members, or world-ending threats to interrupt us."

I made the promise to reassure myself as much as my girlfriend, Wanda Maximoff, as I squeezed her hand and led the way into the gorgeous (and very private) restaurant I'd picked for our date night. We'd barely seen each other lately with various Avengers/SHIELD/adjacent responsibilities, so we'd both found a way to clear our calendars for an extended date night tonight. I'd volunteered to plan it, and Wanda had ensured nobody scheduled anything for us that would overlap on timing.

"Sounds perfect," Wanda said, leaning in to speak quietly in my ear as we reached the hostess stand. I gave her hand another squeeze and shot a little smile back over my shoulder, which was exactly the moment everything went to shit.

"No way," I hissed, scowling as my eyes locked onto a couple chatting at one of the tables overlooking the city. Wanda frowned, and then her gaze followed mine.

Goddamn Tony Stark. He was here on a date with Pepper. While I normally liked both of them, tonight was specifically designed for Wanda and I to take a break from the Avengers and all the challenges that came with them.

"It might not matter," Wanda whispered to me. "We can just ask for a table on the opposite end of the restaurant."

As if she'd conjured it, Tony chose that moment to glance in our direction. I groaned internally as he pointed us out to Pepper, and she turned around, giving Wanda and I a bright smile when she saw us. I did my best to return it, although it probably looked more like a grimace.

Tony waved us over, and I resisted the urge to scowl. I could swear I heard Wanda huff a laugh behind me as she pulled me towards the pair.

"Come on," she said, a grin on her face. "No way out of it now."

I hummed, but didn't resist. Really, how could I?

"Fancy meeting you two here!" Tony called as we reached his table. To my horror, he then turned and tried to wave for a waitress. "Let's pull up a pair of chairs, you two can join us."

"Oh, we wouldn't want to interrupt you guys..." I started, but Tony immediately waved me off.

"You're not, don't worry."

I turned to Pepper, and she'd just started to speak with a smile on her face when Wanda broke in with a gasp. I turned to find her staring at her phone with wide-eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she said, looking up at the two of us. "I just got a message from Pietro. We have to go."

My heart sank. Figures, we couldn't get a second alone either way. Run into people we know and get roped into joining them, or have something come up no matter how hard Wanda worked to prevent it.

We quickly said our goodbyes, Tony and Pepper insisting we plan something for the four of us to do together to make up for the interruption, then quickly headed out of the restaurant. I sighed as we made it to the parking lot.

"Alright, so is Pietro at the Tower or is he somewhere else?"

"I don't know."

I stopped short, turning back to Wanda. She just stared back at me after giving a little shrug. I frowned.

"What do you mean you don't know? Did he not tell you where he is? What was he messaging you for?"

"He didn't text me."

I frowned, not sure at first what she was trying to tell me, then my jaw dropped once an idea clicked. Wanda finally gave me a grin.

"When you say he didn't text you..."

"I mean I made up an excuse so we could leave and keep our date night interrupted. That was my job for this whole night, remember?"

I laughed, all the disappointment fading away as bright sparks of joy burst in my chest. I stepped forward and pulled Wanda into a kiss.

"You are amazing. Do you know that?"

"I do. But I don't mind hearing it."

We shared another laugh, and then I took Wanda's hand.

"Alright, let's get out of here. I've got a lot more than just dinner planned for us tonight, and even better, we can also get food at date location number two."

"Sounds perfect to me."

****************

After a brief walk, Wanda and I found ourselves in the middle of the most perfect, movie-level boardwalk I could find. We'd immediately gotten fair food, since we'd missed dinner at the restaurant, and now we were strolling down the alley of carnival games arm in arm.

"Well, we had a rocky start, but I think we managed to save our night," I said, absolutely beaming as Wanda and I took in the bright lights.

"I agree. This is absolutely perfect."

I turned to share a smile with her, and almost perfectly on cue, I heard familiar voices shouting from just a few booths down. I grimaced, but I didn't really have a choice but to turn and look over her shoulder.

I thought it was a hallucination at first, or maybe Loki was messing with us just for fun. But no. They were really here.

At the look on my face, Wanda turned slowly, too, to find Steve Rogers bowling pitches at carnival pins. Standing next to him and cheering him on were Bucky, Peter, and Shuri. She sighed at the same time I groaned.

"Did everyone choose tonight to go out?" she asked with a laugh. I threw my hands up and huffed.

"Apparently they did! This is ridiculous."

Wanda had a grin on her face, but apparently my exclamation had drawn some attention. The mini Avengers group started to turn in our direction, but I didn't let them finish the move before dragging Wanda after me and behind the row of carvinal booths. We slammed our backs against it, keeping quiet and still, and after a few moments I felt fairly confident we'd avoided our friends.

I felt a little bad, but not bad enough to go back out there and say hello.

"What's the plan?" Wanda whispered to me. I shot her a look, since we both knew whispering was excessive, but she just grinned at me.

"The plan is to get the hell out of here, get some ice cream, and go for a nice, peaceful walk on the beach without any of our friends interrupting us."

Wanda laughed again, the sound easing my nerves and loosening the frustration knotting in my chest. She slipped her hand into mine with a smile, and my heart did a backflip.

"Sounds great to me."

****************

Wanda and I had to duck and dodge a little bit to leave the boardwalk without being spotted, but our friends weren't looking for us, and we were both trained enough to manage just fine. We swung by the cute ice cream place I'd been looking forward to visiting, then took off our shoes and strolled through the surf together. We talked, laughed, and relaxed exactly like we'd been trying to all night.

At least, we did for about ten minutes. After ten minutes, we noticed another couple walking in our direction from further down the beach. I didn't recognize the woman headed our way, but I'd recognize the shock of light blond hair anywhere after dating its owner's sister for so long.

"This is getting ridiculous," I sighed, coming to a stop. Wanda gave me a concerned look, then followed my gaze and found her brother headed in our direction. Because of course he was.

"What is he doing here?" Wanda huffed, her voice showing irritation for the first time tonight. I just sighed again.

"Who knows? Maybe there's some big conspiracy to ruin our date night tonight."

"Well, whatever it is... do you mind if I suggest a plan alternative?"

I deflated a little as Pietro got closer to us. I'd been so determined to plan the perfect date night for the two of us, and my plans had been foiled at nearly every step. Although, to be fair, I guess Wanda's had too. She'd worked so hard to get everyone to do something else for the night so they wouldn't bother us, and it definitely hadn't worked out how she'd been planning.

I took a deep breath and shook off my irritation. I turned away from Pietro, who'd apparently noticed us and was now heading in our direction with a smile, and met Wanda's eyes. I smiled.

"I think a plan alternative is exactly what we need right now."

Wanda gave me a smirk that made my heart race, then wrapped an arm around me and pulled me towards her. She raised her free hand, since she'd finished her ice cream before we'd seen Pietro, and with a little chaos magic we lifted gently into the air.

"Hey!"

Wanda ignored Pietro's shout, and I almost did the same, until Pietro appeared below us in an instant thanks to his super speed.

"Where do you two think you're going? You don't want to say hi to your bro-"

He stopped short as I hurled the remainder of my ice cream cone at him. My aim was dead on, and he clearly wasn't expecting it, to the point that even his superspeed couldn't save him. It landed dead center on his shirt, and his outraged shout was enough to make both me and Wanda laugh.

Wanda and I went up, up, and up, until we were into the clouds. Thanks to a little help from her magic, we didn't get too cold, and even better, nobody that we knew would be able to see us up here. When we finally dropped back down again, it was at the top of one of the tallest peaks in a closed park at the edge of the city, giving us a perfect view and perfect privacy. We touched down gently, but Wanda didn't take her arm away from my waist.

"So... what do you think of this?"

"Perfect," I said with a grin, bringing my arms up to rest on her shoulders. I leaned in, giving Wanda a soft kiss, then resting my forehead against hers. The night was beautiful and peaceful around us, exactly what we'd been working so hard to find.

The two of us found a nice spot at the base of one of the trees to settle in, leaning against each other and looking out at the sparkling lights of the city. Wanda's arm rested across my shoulder while I wrapped one of mine around her waist. I'm not sure how long we sat like that, just enjoying our space alone, together. By all rights, we both should've been exhausted at some point, but the privacy was so rare and refreshing that we stayed up there to watch the sunrise. Our night may not have started exactly the way we'd planned it, but it had ended absolutely perfectly.

****************

Everything Taglist: @rosecentury @kmc1989 @space-helen @misshale21

Marvel Taglist: @valkyriepirate @infinetlyforgotten @sagesmelts @gaychaosgremlin

[richonneevents]

Richonne Fictober 2024 Rules, Guidelines, & Calendar

Richonne Fictober 2024 is a 31 day challenge for fanfiction writers/creators to write/create and publish a Richonne-centric story or related content everyday for the month of October.

Fics should be between 100 and 5,000 words. Rick and Michonne must be the main pairing. Richonne is an interracial pairing, so be mindful of tropes and language that perpetuates racism and misogynoir. Rick is a canonically disabled character, so be mindful of using tropes and language that is ableist. Fanartists should be mindful of not whitewashing Michonne, Andre, and RJ in their pieces.

Please tag @richonneevents and use the tag: #richonnefictober24

Be sure to tag your prompt and which day you are filling.

In addition to Richonne-centric fanfiction, creators are encouraged to make fanart; playlists; edits; moodboards; rec lists; graphics; podfics; gifsets; photo sets; fanvids etc.

WEEK 1

Day 1: Making Caramel / Candy Apples

Day 2: Seasonal Shopping (Clothes, decor, etc.)

Day 3: “The leaves are changing!”

Day 4: “Pumpkin spice...what?!”

Day 5: Autumn Breeze

WEEK 2

Day 6: Overcast Morning

Day 7: Bobbing for Apples

Day 8: Pumpkin Patch Visit

Day 9: Rainy Day

Day 10: Scarecrow

Day 11: Haunted Hayride / Haunted House

Day 12: Horror Movie Marathon

WEEK 3

Day 13: Jumping in A Leaf Pile

Day 14: Warm Apple Cider / Hot Chocolate etc

Day 15: Corn Maze

Day 16: By The Fire(place)

Day 17: Candles 

Day 18: Flannel

Day 19: Nestled Under Blankets

WEEK 4

Day 20: Festival 

Day 21: First Frost

Day 22: Kissing In The Rain

Day 23: Baking Pies

Day 24: Cemetery Stakeout 

Day 25: Black Cat

Day 26: Dead-End

WEEK 5

Day 27: Underneath The Sky

Day 28: Full Moon

Day 29: Carving Jack o’ Lanterns

Day 30: Costume Party

Day 31: Trick or Treat

[cfv-week]

We're back for the third time! Here are the how to, rules and prompts for Cardfight Vanguard Prompt Week 2024! Mark October 7th - 13th in your calendars!

How it works:

Chose a prompt that speaks to you and create something related to that theme. You can also combine several prompts if you so chose.

Post your creation on the day the prompt is assigned to, right here on tumblr.

Tag the post with #cfvweek2024

We will reblog all contributions in the tag onto this blog. Make sure to follow us so you can see them all!

If you post fanfiction to AO3, add them to the collection "CFV Prompt Week 2024".

Any and all sorts of contributions are welcome. Fanart, fanfictions, edits, moodboards, memes, playlists, headcanon posts, gifs etc.

If you end up missing the date of the prompt, don’t worry! We accept late entries as well.

Rules:

Please note that this week is specifically for the original CFV, CFV G and the V series reboot (which includes Shinemon and IF). This means no Overdress. Apologies to Overdress lovers, but it’s the former series that we want to keep alive in the present age.

We don't accept AI-generated content.

NSFW (violence, gore, M or E rated fics and such) content is allowed, but only if tagged appropriately.

You're welcome to combine your entries for this event with any other prompt events, writing or art challenges you want to participate in, such as Whumptober, Fictober, Flufftober, Omnious October etc.

Transcription of prompts under the cut:

Day 1: Favorite Minor Character | Sick Fic | Pets

Favorite Minor Character:

We Vanguard fans are SERIOUS about our side characters! Let's show some love to the fantastic characters that were given a jarring lack of content in the series! Maybe your favorite character overall is a member of the main cast, but now it's time to pick somebody from the sidelines to appreciate just as much!

Sick Fic:

What a classic we've got here today, folks. You don't necessarily have to write a fic for this (though it's totally encouraged)! Just create anything you want involving those down days. Characters getting sick in fiction can help show off so many neat and hidden traits, so be creative and make whatever you see fit (or not fit, because somebody is sick)!

Pets:

PETS! What more could you even ask for? We've got only a few pets to thrive off of in the show, so lets show some love to them… or maybe think up some original ones! Maybe somebody has a secret pet, or maybe there was a random line of dialogue about a pet at some point? Who knows what could happen, but it ought to be great.

Day 2: Favorite Team | PSYqualia | Memories

Favorite Team:

We've got SO many to choose from! And not even just the main teams like Q4 and TRY3; how about silly little teams like the iconic Miwa-Morikawa-Izaki-Emi squad? Go wild! Whether it be a competitive Vanguard playing team, or just characters that work well together, there's bound to be some really great teams to make stuff for!

PSYqualia:

Now here's something real intriguing… PSYQualia was the fictional power used to communicate with the Planet Cray and the illustrated cards that came from it, but it had drawbacks. Will you represent it in its corruptive origins, or its positive future? Go for it!

Memories:

I'm sure everyone has some kind of fond memories that came from Vanguard, or maybe you'll want to represent how memories are presented by the characters! A large amount of the series revolves around memories, surprisingly enough- Misaki's whole life is pretty much centered around them, and Seasons 2 and 4 seriously threw us for a doozy. Let's make this a day to remember!

Day 3: Favorite Outfit | Fluff | Magic AU

Favorite Outfit:

YIPPEE!!! Maybe that's a little exaggerated, but c'mon- who doesn't love a good outfit. Vanguard's got some seriously cool fits, if not just for the characters, then on the card art! Look around and find your inspiration, or maybe even create an outfit you'd think would be a fan favorite!

Fluff:

No one could ever lie and say they don't like fluff. Sweetness, love, care, and everything in-between. It can be soft, tooth-rotting, comforting! Do as you please and pick out your favorite fantasies for this one, we're sure it'll be more than appreciated.

Magic AU

Vanguard has its fair share of magical elements! But what if they got taken in slightly different way, a step to the left? Or maybe even a leap! Are they all wizardly figures? Magical girls? Maybe there's just something 'magical' in the air? Go wild, throw out a magic-based alternate universe!

Day 4: Favorite Relationship | Betrayal | Cray & Lore

Favorite Relationship:

Besties, lovers, enemies, and everything in-between, everyone loves a compelling relationship. But which one is your favorite? Are you enamored with the way some characters hate each other? Or maybe you just really want to show off your favorite ship! Pick your favorite Vanguard relationship, and if you have multiple? The more the merrier!

Betrayal:

Uh oh… There's no shortage of evil in Vanguard, and betrayal can come from anywhere. Does it coincide with the Reverse, PSYqualia, or maybe just human nature? Pick an act of betrayal or make up your own, because - no matter what, it's gonna hurt real good.

Cray and Lore:

The planet Cray is SO COOL and SO UNEXPLORED! Delve deep into the lore of the planet, or think up something fresh and cool for it! Blaster Blade and Dragonic Overlord are only the tip of this awesome iceberg, and there's endless things to explore!

Day 5: Favorite Episode | Family | Birthday

Favorite Episode:

Can you even believe there's 196 episodes JUST in the original run, and hundreds more after that? With all that Vanguard, you're bound to have some favorite episodes! Let's all skim through the runs and pick a favorite to represent, there's so so so many to enjoy!

Family:

Family comes in all shapes and sizes, and the Vanguard characters became a family over and over again, without a doubt. Choose a family in Vanguard, by blood or not, to create for, and enjoy!

Birthday:

We've got TWO BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK! Today is Mamoru Anjou's birthday, and Kourin Tatsunagi's is on the 13th of October! Show them some extra love, or maybe pick another birthday to celebrate! We love our characters, and their birthdays, whether fictional or not, are always fun.

Day 6: Favorite Clan | Crossover | Secret Identity

Favorite Clan:

I know, I know… This might be an impossible task. But we have to try! Pick a Vanguard clan that you can call your favorite, and show it some appreciation! This can extend out to newer or old standards of clan systems, in any way you like!

Crossover:

Vanguard has endless opportunities to pair up with other series, it's all pretty open! Crossovers are ALWAYS FUN, and it's refreshing to play with other media that we also love! Maybe one of your favorite shows has Vanguard cards in it now, or maybe Vanguard characters are in the book you're reading or new anime you're watching! Who knows, have fun!

Secret Identity:

Oooh… A secret! There's already representation of this trope in Vanguard plenty of times! Remember Ninja Master M, and the Team Unknown debacle? The time Kyou was the Abominable Snowman? Maybe even make up your own, go wild! Whether it's online or behind a mask, there's plenty of ways to hide your identity. But remember- it's a secret!

Day 7: Favorite Parallel | Endings & New Beginnings | FREE

Favorite Parallel:

Contrasting motives in media is probably one of the most exciting things I could ever think of. What contrasts and parallels do you see in Vanguard? Blaster Dark and Blaster Blade, perhaps? Character arcs, episode structures, the lore of the cards and the journey of our protagonists... There's parallels everywhere. Delve deep for this one, and find something really interesting to analyze!

Endings and New Beginnings:

Vanguard has some of our absolute favorite endings and beginnings ever, so why not go ahead and show them off? The transition of each arc, each era, each generation, is something to be celebrated. May it be the end of a big tournament, or the beginning of a new season altogether, or something totally different and unexpected!

FREE!

YOU'RE FREE! Do literally anything you want for this last day of CFV Week! Doodle assisticat, make a cool edit, take a picture of your CFV merch, throw out a moodboard, write a 200k word fic (okay, maybe don't try to do that in just one day). But, whatever you choose to do, let's end this week with a bang!

We cannot wait to see what you guys come up with!

Lots of Love, the mod team

PS: Don't forget to use #cfvweek2024 so we can easily find your contributions!

Additionally, you can tag us if you’d like, to make sure we see your posts!

[musicforastylesrestaurant]

Welcome to Fictober!

Get ready for a series of enjoyable stories leading up to Halloween.

Every Saturday, a new story will be released, offering you a dose of Halloween spirit. With a special story posted on Tuesday 31st October.

From nostalgic trick-or-treating to the joy of pumpkin carving and the thrill of watching classic horror films, and even a few different things that you totally won’t be expecting. These fics will capture the essence of the season, offering a few tricks as well as a few treats.

So, mark your calendar and join us on this journey to make your Saturdays a little more special in the run-up to Halloween.

Forever At The Pumpkin Patch. [ 7th October, 2023. ]

in which, your boyfriend knew that halloween was your favourite holiday of the year, you went all out, dressed up in extravagant costumes, decorated your shared house more than you did at christmas and made little goody bags to give out to the children that knocked on your door. after being together for a total of four years, you lover boy organises a candle lit picnic at your favourite spot, the pumpkin patch where he asks you a very important question.

The Masquerade. [ 14th October, 2023. ]

in which, your friend drags you along to a high school reunion halloween party, which you one hundred percent do not feel in the mood to attend, but his nagging doesn't hold off, so being the good friend you are, you give into his nagging. a shocking revelation occurs when your ex walks through the door who you as well as everyone else didn’t expect to turn up leading to a confrontation that's nothing but emotional.

Halloween Movie Marathon. [ 21st October, 202. ]

in which, of your first halloween where all of your children finally understand the concept, after having taken them out trick or treating, the four of you all cuddle up on the sofa, hot coco in one hand whilst your other dips in and out of there sweet bucket, a movie marathon where the films are child friendly halloween films which both you and your husband can’t wait to show your children, creating not only a family tradition but memories to last a lifetime.

The Impossible Miracle. [ 28th October, 2023. ]

in which, what you thought would turn out as a fun filled halloween evening with your fiancé turns out to be anything of the sorts, you collapse in pain, coughing up blood as your body convulses where your rushed to the hospital via your fiancés car where the a trip to the witches inform you of something you never thought would be possible given your lover is a creature of the night.

A Love Beyond Time. [31st October, 2023. ]

in which, in 1864, a serene town was the canvas for your budding love story, as you joyfully prepared for a life together with your beloved fiancé. However, the tranquility shattered in one heart-wrenching moment during an unexpected town assault. Witnessing your fiancé's lifeless body crumple to the ground, your world came crashing down, forever altering the course of your existence. You were left haunted by that fateful day, struggling to piece together a life in the aftermath of the tragedy, while whispers of a supernatural twist and the possibility of a reunion with your once-lost love lingered on the edges of your consciousness, marking the passage of years and bringing an enigmatic undercurrent to your existence.

If you would like to be added to the taglist, let me know, either in through my asks, messages or comments.

Whose ready…?

[captainderyn]

So...hi

I have been MIA for *peeks at calendar* way too fricken' long. And I'm quite sorry about that.

The tl;dr version is that life lifed a little too close to the sun. Eloping, a family member passing, starting a new job, adjusting to life with a high energy dog (I love you Saber, happy 6 months since gotcha buddy <3), buckling down and doing more and more training with the mustang.

Aka, a lot of things. I've also been really focusing on writing that novel that I started with the WIP Project back in 2022 right before I graduated college. But I miss y'all :')

That being said, with DA:V releasing in October, I am anticipating that I will very much be dragged back into the house kicking and screaming lol. And more importantly:

Expect another year of Wulfwryn and Raenor Fictober for 2024 baybee. I have been playing a lot of lotro recently and keeping a running tab of ideas. I have full intentions of doing a finished and successful Fictober run this year.

I hope y'all have been doing well, and that you'll humor me again after an unintentional and rather long hiatus (by my standards).

Much love (and apology)

-Deryn <3

[randomfoggytiger]

"Life's Just a Path"

(Fictober, Day 22)

*****

If Melissa were alive, she'd never let her live it down.

"Bees, Dana?" And she'd laugh right over Scully's corrective "Bee, singular." And then she'd remind her sister of the time both of them were dragged into a Halloween party dressed unwillingly as puffy bees-- and that she'd watched little Dana shove some local little pest off his feet for jeering at their costumes.

And, of course, would come the inevitable: "You haven't tried since?"

"Well--" Mulder hasn't. "I...."

Melissa would have scolded and fussed while reflexing Scully's ice-block feet. "What'll it take, Dana, the world to end for you two to finally admit what's between you?"

Scully looked at the calendar-- January 1-- awash in the sun of a new millennium; and whispered, "Maybe something like it."

*****

Thank you for reading~

Enjoy!

Tagging @today-in-fic and @xffictober2023 and @fictober-event

[atths--twice]

Lost and Found

A lost and needed report leads to remembrance of where it is and what was happening to lose it in the first place.

Fictober Day 15

Prompt: You lost it. Well, we both lost it.

Hope you all enjoy this one. ❤️

March 2000

“It’s not here,” Scully called from the annex of the office. 

“And I don’t see it on the desk here either,” Mulder called back, shaking his head. 

“It was there last night before we left. I know that I saw it,” she said, walking back into his view. 

“I did too.” 

“So…” 

“I don’t know,” he said, sighing loudly. 

“Well, Skinner’s not going to be happy.” 

“If you tell him, he’ll take it better,” he said, raising his eyebrows at her. 

“What? Why would you say that? Because I’m a woman? That’s very sexist of you.” She crossed her arms and frowned at him. 

“What? No. That’s not how I meant it.” 

“Explain what you meant then.” 

“Well… I just meant that he likes you. He cares about you.” She narrowed her eyebrows, her expression hardening and he shook his head. “Not… not like that. Not in any way that’s inappropriate. Just… he respects and admires you. That’s all.” 

“And you don’t think he feels the same for you? That he doesn’t admire you? Doesn’t appreciate and respect your tenacity?” 

“My stubborn bullheadedness you mean?” he asked with a grin and he watched her fighting back a smile of her own. “I cause him stress and anxiety. Hell, I’d add hair loss to the list if he wasn’t nearly bald when we first met.” 

“Mulder,” she said with a quiet laugh, shaking her head. 

“It’s true and you know it.” 

“You could try to have that not be the way he sees you.” 

“I don’t think it would matter at this point,” he said, looking on the desk again for the folder they needed. “I think when he sees my name on his calendar, his blood pressure increases.” 

“Well, that I don’t doubt,” she agreed and he looked up at her, sticking out his lower lip in a mock pout. “Aw, poor baby.” She walked across the room, stopping just in front of him and smiling. “Would a kiss make you feel better?” 

“I thought you were very firm in your belief that we refrain from that while at work?” he asked and she licked her lips, biting down gently on the bottom one. 

“I am. But…” She fiddled with his tie, the backs of her fingers trailing down his chest and bumping against each button. “You’re so adorable when you pout.”

“Am I?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her. 

“Yeah. And I think you know it.” 

“How to get to you?” he asked, one hand moving to the back of her neck and he watched as her eyes slid shut and her mouth opened slightly. “Of that I am very aware.” 

He bent his head and kissed her, a soft moan escaping her throat as he did. She grabbed handfuls of his shirt, pressing as close to him as she could, as their kiss deepened. He gripped her hair and tugged it gently, eliciting another moan from her. 

The desk phone rang and she pushed against his chest to make him move, their kiss halting. 

“Scully,” she said, baring her neck to him as she answered it, letting her desires be known. He grinned and began to lavish her neck with soft, silent kisses. “Mmm… No, I’m sorry, sir. I was just… reading the results of a blood test.” She pushed at him again and shook her head. “Yes, we’ll be right up.” 

Sighing, she hung up the phone and looked at him. 

“Time to face the music,” she said, raising on tiptoes to kiss him once more. 

“You mean to lay on that Scully charm,” he corrected her as he took his suit jacket from the coat rack and they walked out the door. 

“He did sound extra perturbed given the early hour,” she admitted, closing and locking the office door as he struggled with the sleeve of his jacket. “Oh, for god's sake, Mulder. You’re a menace to yourself.” She helped him with his jacket, smoothing the lapels and brushing at nonexistent pieces of lint. 

“Thanks,” he said, staring at her lips, desperately wanting to kiss her again. 

“You’re welcome,” she said, shaking her head and walking to the elevator.

He followed her, smiling as he watched the sway of her hips. Not for the first time of course, but now with the knowledge of what those hips, and the rest of her, looked like naked. 

Leaving his bed, or even better yet, walking towards it, those hips were mesmerizing. 

She pushed the button to call the elevator as he caught up to her. Smiling at her, his hand at the small of her back as though it was a magnet calling for its mate, they stepped inside as the doors opened. 

“He’s gonna be so pissed,” she said and he hummed, his fingers scratching her back in gentle reassurance. 

The elevator stopped and his hand dropped as they exited. 

In the waiting area of Skinner’s office, instead of his assistant, they found him. He sighed as he looked down at their empty hands. 

“Did you forget that we needed to have your report for the meeting currently taking place? Did something happen to it between the time I called you mere minutes ago and right this moment?” he asked, his voice low but firm, staring at each of them. 

“Sir,” Scully began, but he put up a hand to stop her. 

“This is an important meeting,” he said and Mulder shifted slightly. “I know they can be tedious, but they are necessary.”

“And I agree,” Scully stated. “We had the report in the office yesterday, but-”

“But what? You lost it? It grew legs and walked away? What?” 

“Well, I didn’t lose it. We lost it,” she admitted, glancing quickly at Mulder. “I don’t know how we could have, but it’s-”

“Coffee table,” Mulder interrupted, his fingers tapping repeatedly against Scully’s hip. 

“Excuse me, Agent Mulder,” Skinner said, his eyes narrowing. “How is what you just said helpful?” 

“It’s on your coffee table,” Mulder said, looking at Scully and ignoring Skinner. “I must have grabbed it with the other files when we left here last night. I remember now that I saw it. It’s with the Beckman case notes.” 

She stared at him in confusion, then her eyes widened. 

“It’s there,” he repeated with a nod. 

“Sir,” she said, looking at Skinner. “Agent Mulder is correct. It is there. I remember seeing it now as well. If I could have… an hour, I can have that report here. It’s-”

“Go,” Skinner said, shaking his head. They both began to leave and he stopped them. “Not you, Mulder. It’s a task that only requires one person. You can join us in the meeting now and Agent Scully will do the same in an hour. One hour, Scully.” He held her gaze and she nodded, her eyes flicking to Mulder’s before she left the room. 

Mulder sighed and turned his attention to Skinner who was looking at him questioningly. 

“Sir?” 

“You saw it on her coffee table last night,” Skinner said in a quiet voice. 

“When we were reviewing the Beckman case, yeah,” Mulder replied with a nod. “We brought food back to her apartment and went over that case and did paperwork for a couple of others as we ate. The report for the meeting was on my desk, but I must have picked it up by mistake when I grabbed the other files.” 

“Must have,” Skinner said, his expression unreadable, though Mulder suspected he was thinking that their evening had been more than dinner and work discussions. 

Of which he would be absolutely correct, Mulder thought, remembering kissing Scully as she had sat astride his lap, moaning into his mouth as he had unhooked her bra. 

“Yeah, it was just a mix up,” Mulder said, clearing his throat. “We’d better join that meeting, huh? Or we’ll be here all day. After you.” Mulder smiled and gestured towards the office and Skinner scoffed as he led the way. 

Please hurry, Scully, he thought, as he took a seat at the world's most boring meeting, his eyes constantly flicking to the door, awaiting her arrival. 

[slusheeduck]

Fictober 2023 Day 30 - Prompt: "Come with me, hurry." Fandom: Baldur's Gate 3

“Shadowheart. Shadowheart.”

Shadowheart tossed and turned in her tent, but finally rolled over to see who was waking her. Oh, Falerin. That…was his name, right? In the rush of getting out of the ship and suddenly being saddled with…six? new people in camp—including that damned githyanki—there hadn’t been much time for proper introductions. She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

“What? Is there trouble?”

Falerin gave her an odd little smile, two-toned eyes bright. “No. Just…come with me, hurry.”

She let out a sigh, but got up to her feet and followed him out with a yawn. “You’re really not going to tell me?”

“Use your tadpole if you’re so curious,” Falerin shot back over his shoulder.

Shadowheart shuddered. “No, thank you.”

They paused as they passed Gale’s tent, the wizard on his way out with his telescope under his arm. He brightened as he saw Fal.

“You know what tonight is, then?” he asked, then pointed at him with a knowing smile. “I knew we were kindred spirits, you and I. It should be spectacular.”

“Something spectacular?” From beside Gale’s tent, Karlach—who’d gotten surprisingly comfortable with them since joining the day before, all things considered—poked her head out. “Is something happening?”

“Indeed, the…” Gale glanced at Falerin, and they shared a smile. “It’s been a while since you’ve been out above ground, hasn’t it, Karlach? Let’s keep it a surprise, then.”

“Follow us,” Falerin added, then looked over across camp. “And…maybe bring Wyll. I think he needs this.”

“On it, soldier.” Karlach saluted before going to grab Wyll.

Falerin nodded for Shadowheart and Gale to keep going, only to be met with a spear right at his neck. He stumbled backwards, letting out a sigh of relief at the familiar “T’chk” that accompanied the spear’s retreat.

“I thought we were under attack,” Lae’zel grumbled.

“We’re not, don’t worry,” Falerin assured. “Come with us.”

Lae’zel frowned, then suddenly stood up straight. “We’re launching an attack,” she said, eyes brightening. “So we will catch our enemies unaware in their beds.”

“No, no, we’re not…no attacking,” Falerin assured.

“Oh. How disappointing.”

Shadowheart rolled her eyes. “You would find it that way, wouldn’t you?”

“Gods, not now.” Falerin sent a warning look to Shadowheart, then looked back to Lae’zel. “Leave the spear and come with us.” He gave an awkward little smile. “Safety in numbers, yeah?”

Lae’zel’s eyes narrowed, but she glanced over at Karlach and Wyll as they joined the group. She seemed to weigh her options, then nodded to herself before she set the spear aside. “Very well.”

Falerin grinned, then continued leading the way outside of camp. Just as they reached the edge of the site, a very pale elf stopped in front of them. Astarion went very still, looking every bit like a deer that had been spotted.

“What are…you doing out?” Gale asked, squinting suspiciously at him.

Astarion unstuck himself, and he gave a flouncy toss of his head as he smiled. “I could ask all of you the same question. Clearly I’m not the only one who fancies the thought of a late night stroll.” His eyes landed on Falerin, and he sidled up to him, sliding his arm through the half-drow’s. His arm was very cold, likely due to the chill of the night. “Fal…erin, yes? You simply must tell me what you’re up to, darling. There’s a dastardly little gleam in your eyes that I think I quite like.”

Falerin rolled his eyes with a laugh, pulling his arm away. “It’s not dastardly.” He continued walking out—the canopy of trees above them was thinning, showing the sky above. “She…my, er, my patron, timed things so it’d be a week after she turned me loose. It’s been that long, I think.”

“Well, what’s ‘it’?” Wyll asked.

“It happens the same time every year,” Gale said with a sage nod of his head. “For all our misadventures, I never miss an astrological event.” He tapped his head as he looked over at Lae’zel. “Perfect calendar, all in here.”

“I didn’t realize the ghaik experimented so much on you. They must have found plenty of empty space to fit a whole calendar,” she quipped.

“No, it’s…”

“Gale, she’s taking the piss,” Karlach said.

“I most assuredly am not taking any piss.”

Falerin suddenly shushed everyone. As the group went quiet, he ushered them out from the last of the trees.

The sky was clear, with thousands of stars sparkling down at them. The moon was hidden away, leaving a perfect view as a star streaked across the sky. A soft, collective gasp went through the party, with another following as another star fell.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen this,” Falerin said softly, eyes wide as he watched more streaks of light cross the sky. He settled down on the ground, legs crossed and gaze on the sky.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen actual falling stars,” Karlach said, equally quiet as she settled beside him—she gave off a pleasant warmth against the chill of the night. “Certainly not down in Avernus—gods, how lucky are we?”

“Not sure I would call what we have luck,” Astarion quipped, though his eyes were skyward as well.

“Sure it is. We’re all alive, aren’t we?” she said, shooting him a big grin. “And we get the chance to see this.”

Astarion’s mouth twitched. “Mm. I suppose it’s better than my alternative.”

“It…does make me grateful that things didn’t go worse with Mizora,” Wyll said quietly. He gave a weak little laugh. “When I was younger, I heard stories of wishing on fallen stars. Seemed the only way to make a wish that didn’t blow up in one’s face.”

“Wishes are useless,” Lae’zel said. “Action is what truly matters.” She let out a breath, though, and her tone was softer as she continued, “This is what the Astral Plane looks like. It’s…comforting, in a way. Not close to the true majesty of my people’s home, but…”

“But it makes you a little less homesick, I’d wager,” Gale said gently. He hadn’t set up his telescope, too entranced by the streaks of light in the night sky. “I’d watch this shower every year, back in Waterdeep. It’s a great time for magic, always made me feel even more in-tune with the Weave. But…” He let out a sigh, then eased onto a nearby rock. “Maybe there’s something in just enjoying it this year.”

Shadowheart had stayed quiet through the exchange, but she silently went to kneel beside Falerin. She didn’t say a word to the others, eyes instead fixed overhead. After a long moment of silence, she looked to Falerin.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For bringing me out to see this. I…I needed this.”

Falerin tore his eyes away from the night sky’s show, and he gave her a smile. “I think we all did,” he said, equally quiet, then looked up overhead. “A nice reminder that there are things worth living for.”

Silence fell over the party, all seven wrapped up in their own thoughts as they watched stars fall through the sky. A multitude of wishes made with every streak of light in the dark. Hope against hope for freedom, for renewal, for glory and redemption…for the chance to make it through one more day in spite of what laid ahead.

And, above all, a strange sort of certainty that, for all the others’ faults, for all their own shortcomings, for all the fear they shared and goals they harbored…being here, staring at falling stars with these people, was exactly where they were meant to be.

For this moment, at least, they were all among friends, sharing in something beautiful. And that was certainly worth living for.

Fictober 2023 Drabble Master Post

[tw-anchor-down]

3 days...

Until another round of TW Anchor Down begins! If you need some creative inspo, you can always combine TWAD prompts with other challenges or events from this handy events directory. Feel free to also use any previous round prompts from the prompt card filing cabinet if you’re running behind and/or still need to catch up. Here are some challenges and events that are happening between October, November and December of 2024:

>> Sceo Weekend (October 19-21) >> Sterek Week (October 25-31) >> Kira Appreciation Week (Oct. 28 - Nov. 2) >> Scisaac Week (November 18-24) >> Teen Wolf Rare Pair Events- Character of the Month (on-going) >> Full Moon Ficlet (ongoing) >> Sterek Drabbles (ongoing) >> Sterek Bingo (ongoing) >> Sterek Weekly (ongoing) >> Sterek Prompt Meme (ongoing) >> Steter-Stackson Bingo (ongoing) >> Teen Wolf Bingo (ongoing) >> Teen Wolf Poly Bingo (ongoing) >> 31 Days of Horror (daily horror themed writing prompts for October) >> Angstober (daily angst prompts for October) >> Fictober (daily fic prompts for October) >> Flufftober (daily fluff prompts for October) >> Whumptober (daily whumpy prompts for October) >> Polyship Week (November 17-23; 1 week of prompts for poly ships in any fandom) >> Art Prompt Calendar (daily prompts posted every month, multi-ship and multi-fandom) >> Horrific Bingo (ongoing and multi-fandom) >> Hurt and Comfort Bingo (ongoing and multi-fandom) >> LGBTQA+ Bingo (ongoing and multi-fandom) >> Sweet and Spicy Bingo (ongoing and multi-fandom) >> Slash Multiverse (ongoing and multi-fandom) >> The Reverse Prompt Challenge (multi-fandom; updated quarterly) >> Warm and Fluffy Bingo (ongoing and multi-fandom) >> Whump Challenges Galore (ongoing and multi-fandom) 

If you know about other challenges that should be added to this list, send an ask. Let's make the best out of the remaining months of this year! Melissa is psyched to get going!

[hekate1308]

Fictober #1, That Was Good Work

Prompt: That was good work

Fandom: Inspector Morse

Morse, Robbie had heard that long before he met the man himself, was… difficult. Which was not the word his colleagues had used precisely, but still, it came close enough, and he felt that one should have respect for a superior officer, especially one who had his success rate, Even if he never seemed to have found a sergeant who worked well with him. But that, too, didn’t have to mean anything – some people just preferred working alone, and Morse certainly brought the results that they needed, so that no one had ever complained, apart from, if he remembered correctly, Superintendent Strange, but there were a few strange rumours going on about him and the lodge, too, so he thought their boss probably didn’t have a leg to stand on when it came to this.

Still  morse had a reputation, so when he had happened across him on a case, he hadn’t expected much. He’d probably have the whole thing solved in a day or two, and Robbie would be left to do the paperwork, which was usually the case anyway. He supposed it was something to have met the big man, anyway.

Apart from –

Well, it was something else to actually see him work. If it had not been for DCI Morse’s well-known… opinions eh would call them he would have assumed that the man should have been even above Superintendent Strange in rank at this point, but instead, here he was, solving one of the most complicated murders Robbie had ever seen like it was nothing.

Afterwards, they went their separate ways, naturally.

Until the next case where Morse needed a sergeant and Robbie was available. He thought so at the time, at least – later much alter he would learn that morse had actually requested him and that strange, utterly relieved that he would finally ask for someone by name, had immediately handed Robbie over like a parcel even though he would never have said it like that in front of either of them.

And so, here they were, with another case under their belt, doing the paperwork in Morse’s office, or perhaps, rather, Robbie doing most of it while Morse was busy listening to some classics LP or another, but that too, he had known before..

If he had ever imagined something like that, he would perhaps have thought that Morse would just go and not keep him company, so he supposed that was something, and he knew through the grapevine that hr controlled every piece of paperwork that passed his desk anyway even if he didn’t want anyone to know. 

When eh was done, he stood up and handed Morse the files, feeling ever so slightly down. He actually enjoyed working with him, much as yes, he could be a difficult, miserable sod, but that was neither here nor there anyway…

"That was good work" Morse then sad as if it was nothing.

It actually rendered him speechless for a second – had Morse just – he really had to mark this date in his calendar. This was undoubtedly the pinnacle of his career, unless he actually managed to do the bloody course and become an inspector, as Val aways said he would, but Robbie always figured she was a bit biased when it came to him and what he was capable of.

“I – I – “ he cleared his throat. “Thank you, sir.”

Morse looked at him and nodded, once, twice, seemingly thinking about something, then saying, “You’re without a governor at the moment, aren’t you?”

He shrugged. “There are only so many inspectors who need a bagman, and currently they all have one.” He always told himself not to be too disappointed when yet another one of his colleagues was picked. True, he usually prided himself on getting along with pretty much everyone, so why he of all people should not yet have been asked to be someone’s bagman, but anyway, that was neither here nor there, and –

“I could use someone. If you want to work with me, that is.”

He needed a moment or two to understand what Morse was saying, just because he would never have thought it possible. Yes, he had enjoyed working with him on that aces, notwithstanding the fact that a woman had lost her life, but still, this was DCI Morse, and he would never –

“Of course it’s not mandatory. There is no –“

“Yes, sir I would like that very much” he interrupted him before he could let that chance pass him by even though he still hadn’t quite grasped what was happening.

“Alright then”. He raised an eyebrow. “Time for a drink at the pub, le-wis.”

And even though it was just the beginning of him leaving way too large of a portion of his wages at public houses, he would never regret it.  

[lady-ashfade]

Fictober is almost here…Oh yeah, it’s all coming together!!

(Stressing to get my remanding fics out in time)

[Ps. Two fics are planned to appear on my @ms-fade account which is Nsfw, my two series of mha are planned to come out in October 🤭]

[richonneevents]

Richonne Fictober 2024 is a 31 day challenge for fanfiction writers/creators to write/create and publish a Richonne-centric story or related content everyday for the month of October.

In addition to Richonne-centric fanfiction, creators are encouraged to make fanart; playlists; edits; moodboards; rec lists; and graphics; podfics; gifsets; photo sets etc.

You can find the prompt list here.

You can find the Richonne Fictober Calendar and Guidelines here.

Please tag @richonneevents and use the tag: #richonnefictober24

Happy creating!

[dramioneasks]

Christmas Fics 2022 (Part 1)

(un)seasonably numb by sodamnrad - M, one-shot - Every day of winter break was just another day with Malfoy, away from the rest of the world, from calendar dates or appointed festivities. Simply a cold, winter day spent on top of the world.

Good Cheer by lyrawinter - T, WIP - A feel-good Draco/Hermione fic. Each chapter will use a Christmas prompt.

Auld Lang Syne by wit_beyondmeasure - E, WIP - Five years after the war, everything and everyone in Hermione Granger's seemed focused on who she had yet to become, leaving very little space for her to just…be. When she spontaneously ditches her holiday plans in favor of spending Christmas alone in an enchanted bookshop, she unexpectedly finds herself reconnecting with someone from her past...and questioning everything she thought she wanted for her future.

Crash into Christmas by scullymurphy - M, one-shot - ‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Hermione mouthed from behind Roger’s beefy shoulder. But Malfoy just smiled brilliantly and slid off his stool, clapping Roger on the back and gathering their coats. Hermione heard him say something about the airport and a cab ride. Roger turned toward a small corridor, gesturing at them to follow. Malfoy went quickly, but Hermione hung back. What the bloody hell was he playing at? Did he really mean to crash somebody’s Christmas party?

Gruß vom Krampus by Onyx_and_Elm - M, one-shot - Do not, under any circumstances, touch the gooseberry tarts. 

Castle in the Air by dolphin_ring - G, one-shot - Hermione runs into Draco on Christmas Eve. Literally.

Naughty or Nice by morriganmercy - E, one-shot - A potion reveals that Hermione isn't the only one who has made some changes during their first year away from Hogwarts. Draco Malfoy seems to have a very high opinion of himself, and she can't resist finding out why.

Sweeter the Second Time Around by RoseHarperMaxwell - M, one-shot - Draco did not buy Honeydukes for the sole purpose of becoming reacquainted with Hermione Granger. He did not. Written for D/Hr Advent 2022 🎄 

The Holiday by embersofapril - M, 8 chapters - Dearest Hermione,I hope you are well and aren’t working yourself into a tizzy this close to the Holidays. Remember how we joked last month about swapping flats sometime? I think we should do it.I know this is last minute, but I would love to come and stay in London over the Holidays, for a change of pace, you know? Don’t tell anyone, but I do miss England.You can come and stay here, my home is yours. I think you will love Christmas in Paris.You should be on Holiday leave this coming week anyways, but I purposefully left his letter until the last minute, so you wouldn’t have enough time to come up with an excuse. It will be good for you, Mione, to get away for a bit.I can arrive tomorrow morning, I already acquired an International Portkey for you, so you really have no reason not to.Send Gizmo back as soon as possible!Theo xx

The Second Yule Ball by scullyvasan - T, one-shot - Second time's the charm. Maybe. Christmas fluff featuring Draco in glasses, Draco on ice, and a couple other surprises to be unwrapped. A personal favorite from Fictober 2022 that I've been waiting to post for December. Russian translation by Vart_ on the way.

The Dance Card by Astrangefan - not rated, 4 chapters - Ginny is mischievous and jealous of Bill's special friend. She plans a big prank at the Malfoy Christmas Eve Ball. Things don't go as planned and Hermione sacrifices her happiness. Well almost.A typical romantic historical story with a bit of a twist.

One Year & A Mistletoe by MissusB - E, one-shot - It's the most wonderful time of the year... If only Molly Weasley would stop setting her surrogate daughter, Hermione Granger, on everlasting and ever-failing blind dates. It is for this particular reason, she has decided to go solo to this year's large Christmas Gala. Only someone else shows up as well. And Hermione suspects Molley just couldn't help herself.

Draco Malfoy and the Secret Santa Gift Exchange by GreenInk_RedLetters - T, one-shot - "Whatever abominable being invented the secret Santa gift exchange most assuredly deserved the Kiss."AKA, a lighthearted one-shot featuring your favorite snarky blonde forced to be at an office holiday party with -oh joy- a gift exchange. But maybe, just maybe, with the help of one bushy haired golden girl, it might just end a tad bit better. And what was that about the cookies...? Light fluff, maximum cute.

Christmas Past by Katkatkittymeow - E, one-shot - A look at Draco and Hermione's Christmases together.

A Tale of Two Christmases by Meiri - G, one-shot - Christmas 2005 was great, until it wasn't. So far, Christmas 2006 was shaping up to be even more unusual.

The Advent Calendar by DramioneDreaming - G, one-shot - A little bit of Advent calendar themed snarky Dramione banter. Hermione introduces Draco to a muggle tradition; Draco is less than impressed. Written for the Hermione's Nook fest - A Very Potter Advent Calendar

[thebrilliantfanfic]

I know I’m a bit late to post this, but here’s my October update calendar! 😄 My new KagaAo fic is already available to read on Patreon for supporters, general audience opens on Monday! Every month, I’ll be sharing one Patreon-exclusive update! This will either be a one-shot or bonus chapter. October is a one-shot, I’ll be posting it ONLY on Patreon on October 17th! Looking at this calendar, you might be going “what happened to the other stories??” Let me tell you! In order to keep up my motivation, it was time to start something new! And I want to thank the people that support me as an artist, so I will be focusing on my Patreon posts and will largely be posting content there, not on Wattpad. Follow my Patreon for the latest updates! Now, don’t worry! I will finish the other stories, I will likely be working on them during #NaNoWriMo this year and post several chapters at once to finish the fics, but please check out my Patreon for the new content! Because as an artist, getting support here is how I am able to continue making more content for you to read! (Yes, the Patreon funds go directly to my essentials such as rent, food, etc) 💙 ✨ ❤️ #update #fanfic #fanfiction #calendar #october2020 #fictober #kagaao #kagamitaiga #kagamixaomine #aominedaiki #aomine #kagami #aominexkagami #aokaga #aominexkagami #wattpadauthor #wattpadfanfic #fanficauthor #patreon #patreoncreator #patreonauthor #nanowrimo2020 #supportsmallbusiness #supportindieauthors #indieauthor #indieauthorsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CGIu5EhJ42s/?igshid=ppvoguclgmhk

[myevilmouse]

Day 21:  Fictober “I never said that.”

Fandom:  Star Wars (Thrawn)

Words:  100

Note:  This drabble was inspired by the wonderful @arizonapoppy‘s ficlet The First Annual Thunder Wasp Charity Calendar.  Highly recommended! 

Governor Pryce had displayed the Thunder Wasp’s charity calendar prominently, Thrawn noted, his own bulging biceps (featured this month) quite visible from her desk.

“It appears you like the gift.”

“Yes.”  Pryce flushed.   “Sent with your regards, thank you, Captain.”

“I never said that.”

“Pardon?”  

Her eyes narrowed, pink cheeks deepening to red with irritation or embarrassment.

“I ordered it to be sent with my compliments, Governor.  Apologies for the error.”

Pryce recovered quickly.  “And the difference is…?”

“Basic can be a challenge, but I had intended a personal rather than professional sentiment.”

“Well then, thank you Thrawn,” she smiled.