#had to be v calculated to rescue myself from you

[katnissmellarkkk]

Okayyyy chappy seven 🤩 Here we goooo 🥳

Lord, Katniss always had nightmares 😭 even before the games, between her father’s death, her mother’s abandonment and the other traumatizing things she saw in her life, my girl never slept peacefully a day in her life 🥺.

She even indicates that she sometimes has nightmares about past hunger games 😭😭😭. Someone protect my smol child. Please. Someone.... Someone? Anyone? No? Okay 🥺

“I bolt up screaming for my father to run as the mine explodes into a million deadly bits of light.” This is such a powerful image and it really does show that Katniss has literally envisioned all the gory details of her father’s death for the last four years. This is so sad 😞

Also though. Katniss really doesn’t talk much about her father’s death after the first book and definitely doesn’t describe nightmares about it. So .... like basically, the games traumatized her so badly that, her father failing to escape the mines as the collapsed in on him, crushing him into the pits of despair, the possibility of rescuing his corpse deemed unimaginable, pales in comparison? Yes I just tried and failed to phrase that long run on sentence the way Katniss phrases her nightmares about her dad dying, yes that was over the top but you know what? So. Is. Katniss.

“Dawn is breaking through the windows” Twilight reference 😬😬😬. I couldn’t stop myself, y’all. Forgive for please.

“The Capitol has a misty, haunted air.” Katniss, you’re from the butthole of Kentucky, the air you’re used to is probably humid as all get out 😓😓💦😅😅

“I must have bitten into the side of my cheek in the night. My tongue probes the ragged flesh and I taste blood.” 😒😒😒😒 this feeling ..... is .... v v v .... distinct .... and .... familiar 😕🙁☹️

“I end up hopping from foot to foot as alternating jets of icy cold and steaming hot water assault me.” Why is this so funny omg 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😂😅😅😅😅😅 Katniss is just like pressing buttons like, “Ah! Too cold! 🥶 Ah! Too hot! 🥵 Ah!!!!!” All while jumping like a .... cat 🐱🥁

Lemon foam? 🍋 Whatever. I guess there’s weirder flavors of soap we have today but like where’s the Philosophy flavors that give recipes on the bottles??? Surely they’d survive an apocalypse??? Everyone uses those???

I’m so glad Katniss didn’t forget to moisturize, even as she prepares for a death match 😅😅😅😅 even if it’s just as simple as pressing a single button, why is she even taking the time to press it?

I know, I know. She just wants to make sure her skin is so smooth for the arena that the knives and arrows just slide right off 🤣🤣🤣🤣

“This is the first time since the morning of the reaping that I resemble myself.” Lolololol which means Mr. Romantic is gonna be even more turned on by the sight of ya, since he’s crushed on you looking like this for the last decade of his life 🥳😎🤗💁🏼‍♀️. Peeta ain’t even here yet and I’m already making the shipper comments Samantha calm down 🙄😶😑🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐🤐

Seriously there where is Peeta? Did he also have to figure out the temperature controls in the shower? Did he also moisturize? I miss him I wanna know about his morning too 😔. Katty, is it too much to ask for you to go take a lil ... sneak peek into his room for me? 😏😏😏

Twenty dishes seems like a lot for like four people eating? Eh, maybe six people, if we count the stylists who magically pick and choose when they’re coming to a meal... Hmm, I’ll calculate just so no one else has to. 🤓😬🤗 No one else cares, Samantha. 🤐🥱😴😶 Twenty dishes amounts out to about five plates without the stylists and three and a half-ish with so.... idk it’s not that much food I guess but it seems like a lot for one meal, esp if people in the Capitol intend to keep their trim figures. This is why that one prep team girl is chubby. 🤐🤐🤐

Awww Katniss copying Peeta’s weird lil eating quirks 🤗😎🥳. She’s already taking interest in him, she just don’t realize it yet 💁🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ shipper comment alert 🚨🚨

But also has anyone actually tried dipping bread on hot chocolate and was it good or does it taste as repulsive as it sounds to me? I hate it when my food even so much as dares to touch though 🤢😡😤😓

Oooo I always forget Prim has to be utilizing her goat, milking the thing every day until it’s dry I’m not a farmer idk how milking animals works ... so she contributes more than I give her credit I suppose.... I’m making an effort for you, Primmers. You seem useless and immature but I’m trying. 😪😶 Taylor Swift voice 🎶 *this is me trying* 🎶

Oh wow it was only two mornings ago? Man. The first book is slow moving. 😅😭 six chapters in and we’ve gotten through one point five days 🤣

“It makes me irritated that Peeta is wearing exactly the same outfit I am.” “Listen, Peeta, one of us has to change, this is getting embarrassing, you have to stop borrowing my clothes!”

“This twins act is going to blow up in out faces once the Games begin.” Ahhaahahahaha blow up 💥 💣 🔥. Get it, get it. 🥁 Because she represents fire. And she also blows things up in Every. Single. Book.

But seriously, did Cinna and Portia and Haymitch all plan on presenting Katniss and Peeta are like, tight friends or whatever, and then Peeta is like “oh b-tee-dubs, I have a massive crush on K-dog” and they just decided it perfectly fit into their plans?

I’m so jealous that their breakfast has bread baskets 😩😩😩 I know they’re headed to the slaughter but still. Bread.

if you like, I'll coach you separately. Decide now." "Why would you coach us separately?" In case one of you ... not naming names .... Peeta .... wants to reveal your lifelong crush on live television 😎😎😎

Also Haymitch is like “make an important decision but take zero time to consider it, I’m tired and hungover, kids, idc for your drama 😒”

Which as an auntie to a wonderful little two year old ... is v relatable 😅🥲🙃🤭

“And I already know what yours is, right? I mean, I've eaten enough of your squirrels." I wanna make a dirty joke here so badly but the lord himself is saying no.

“Town families usually eat expensive butcher meat. Beef and chicken and horse.” Ohhh this is interesting. Katniss believing Peeta and the other merchants live high on the hog while Peeta is later is like “I eat expired bread for every meal, Katniss” I mean, better than starving like her, but also not how she’s painting the picture in her mind. 😶😭

Also Katniss never mentions horses in Twelve, where’s the butcher getting horses from to slaughter and sell? That’s why Katniss never sees them, Samantha, duh 🙄

“I can't do anything. Unless you count baking bread.” "Sorry, I don't.” This was such a quick and matter of fact brush off, poor Peeta 😭😭😭 my baby I’m still rooting for you don’t worry you got this

Also. Lowkey, highkey, that tiny exchange triggered me. 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭. Those awkward moments where people brush me off or glance over me live in my head. Rent free. For life.

I wonder sometimes often times if Katniss’ father and Gale’s father knew each other? Both hunted and worked in the mines. Just a random sidebar 😅🤭🤐🙃

“She’s excellent” He’s so proud of his wife 🤧🤧🤧🤧🤧

So uh.... is it safe to say Mr. Mellark is an Everlark fan? If he likes and admires Katniss and Peeta and him apparently have some kind of close-ish bond (okay, maybe not but maybe) then perhaps he is carrying the shipper banner back in Twelve for them 🥳🥳😎😎

Katniss, you dingaling, of course he noticed you 🙄🙄🙄

Peeta compliments her and her instant reaction is “what are you doing, weirdo?” 😅😭

“Don’t underrate yourself” Peeta, love of my life, take your own advise. Stupid. 😪😪😪

“I've seen you in the market. You can lift hundred-pound bags of flour” Katniss in the market, staring across the way at Peeta, 👁👄👁, watching him lift flour over his shoulder.

“He came in second in our school competition last year, only after his brother." This is criminally undiscussed. Peeta being a wrestler alone is undiscussed but also.... did you go to his matches, Katniss? Miss Anti-Social, Hunting-First-Everything-Else-Later? 😏😏😏 If this ain’t proof of her lil crush idk what is

“All you need is to come up with a knife, and you'll at least stand a chance.” “You'll be living up in some tree eating raw squirrels and picking off people with arrows.” Does no one else realize that Katniss and Peeta literally took the other’s advise for the first part of the games? How did Peeta get in with the Careers? The way she just said. Where is Katniss when Peeta and the Careers discover her? High up in a tree. Okay, this maybe didn’t compute right but I had a thought here so I said it

Peeta’s mother is just a monster. Who says that crap? 😔😔😔 don’t worry, baby, I’m rooting for you

“She said, 'She's a survivor, that one.' She is” Yeah, she is, no thanks to you, Mrs. Mellark 😤. Stingy ho.

Peeta’s got pain in his eyes 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Awww, Katniss accrediting her survival to Peeta’s help 😭😭😭😭. This is so pure. Also kiss now, you little freaks.

“She has no idea. The effect she can have.” This is such an iconic line... but the can has always had me laughing. She can have an effect, if she really wants to. Or not, depending on the day.

Katniss is so stupid, how did she construe that as an insult??? 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️ y’all ever just wanna smack her into a wall?

“In public, I want you by each other's side every minute” If Peeta didn’t have a long life crush, what was the ultimate plan with all this friendship act they’re being forced into? 🤔🤔🤔

Even Peeta’s trying to object to it 😭😭😭😭

“You will be together, you will appear amiable to each other.” You will fall in love. 🤩🥳😎

“I bite my lip and stalk back to my room, making sure Peeta can hear the door slam.” Okay, now imagine how much she’s hurting his feelings right now 😖😣 what a little brat

“But that didn't mean I wanted to do everything with Peeta. Who, by the way, clearly doesn't want to be partnering up with me, either.” Lolololololololol this is so funny in hindsight 🤣🤣🤣. Also if you showed a little enthusiasm, Peeta would probably be happy to partner with you.

“But a tiny part of me wonders if this was a compliment. That he meant I was appealing in some way.” No, really, Katniss? A compliment? Who’d give you one of those? 🙄🙄🙄

“It's weird, how much he's noticed me. Like the attention he's paid to my hunting.” A normal person at this point would put together a crush 😅

“And apparently, I have not been as oblivious to him as I imagined, either. [...] I have kept track of the boy with the bread.” Anddd a normal person would figure out their own crush at this point 😅😅.

“I do a quick assessment. Peeta and I are the only two dressed alike.” We stan a matching couple in this house 😎😏

“Almost all of the boys and at least half of the girls are bigger than I am” That means 18 out of 24 tributes tower over my girl here. Smol Katniss. The movies did such erasure on this front I’m still bitter 🤐😒😤😩

“I may be smaller naturally, but overall my family's resourcefulness has given me an edge in that area.” Just a tiny muscular thing standing next to a bunch of tall, lanky kids. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Awww “Each [Career tribute] must have fifty to a hundred pounds on me.” I mean ... let’s calculate. A muscular girl would probably weigh like 150 pounds... so basically Katniss is at most, 100 pounds. Tiny Katty.

“I'm thinking that it's lucky I'm a fast runner when Peeta nudges my arm and I jump.” This is a random, cute interaction 😍😍😍. Shipper blinders are on and tight.

“Suppose we tie some knots.” “Right you are.” I legitimately just scratched my face, who says right you are? An 87 year old man, that’s who 😅😅😅. Not turning your girl on very well, Peeta baby.

Although it does sound a bit like a backwoods southern thing soooo.... hillbilly Everlark nation rise. 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️

“We concentrate on this one skill for an hour until both of us have mastered it.” Awww, so Peeta knows how to tie a snare? He’s not as clueless as half the fandom acts.

How exactly is frosting cakes equating to amazing camouflager in a death match? Books crack me up with these connections. “I’m an amazing artist because I write birthday cards!”

Lolololol Prim admiring her future brother-in-law’s handiwork 🥰🥰🥰🥰 too bad she dies before they can get together for real for real.

“Somehow the whole thing - his skill, those inaccessible cakes, the praise of the camouflage expert - annoys me.” Dude, you get praised by everyone and their brother while Peeta gets overlooked, give him a moment to shine. 😑🙄 jealous wife much?

Also she’s already picking up on Peeta’s eye for beauty 😅😅😅

“It's lovely. If only you could frost someone to death.” "Don't be so superior. You can never tell what you'll find in the arena. Say it's actually a gigantic cake-“ "Say we move on.” She’s such a little snot. 😒😒😒

But also I love that already in this point of their relationship, Peeta is noticing when she’s being a brat 😭😂😅. “Don’t be so superior.”

“Despite Haymitch's order to appear mediocre, Peeta excels in hand-to-hand combat, and I sweep the edible plants test without blinking an eye.” Lolololol their mentor’s advise went into one ear and right out the other 😂😅🤣.

But also why did the movie make a point in adding an extra scene of Peeta looking weak and the Careers staring at him? That literally took up time and served no purpose at all. 😤😤😤 I’m coming for you, Gary Ross

Awww, everyone but the careers eat alone. But Katniss and Peeta eat together 🥺🥺🥺. It’s like a forced first date 🥳🥳🥳

I like how Katniss says they include bread from every district but she then proceeds to only mention the two districts that later have relevant tributes. 😅😅😅

Lolololol their fake friendship “laugh ... now! Okay, I’ll smile, try to say something interesting”

“Ever since I slammed my door, there's been a chill in the air between us.” Well yeah, you probably hurt his feelings 🥺🥺🥺

Umm, Katniss just casually drops that she was chased by a bear.... how did homegirl live? 😬😳

Peeta knowing Rue’s name and being the one to take notice of her first 🥺🥺🥺. If the games had come down to Katniss, Peeta and Rue, y’all know Everlark would have swallowed the berries and gotten Rue home. 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

“Don't. Don't let's pretend when there's no one around.” "All right, Katniss.” He made a single comment to you, ding dong. He didn’t ask for a goodnight kiss 🙄🙄🙄.

Also anyone ever think of how lonely Peeta’s life must be? He’s not close to his family that we can see, Delly’s his only real friend, after he wins he lives in that huge house all alone... I feel sad now. I did this to myself. 😬😭🥺

Katniss’ “Oh! The weapons!” When she sees the bows and arrows is so cute 🥰🥰🥰

Katniss has such a rage built up inside of her. Let it out, girlfriend

See, I’d have done this too but in my rage, I’d probably have shot a real person and not the pig ... goodbye, Plutarch 👋🏻

Andddd I think that’s all for this chapter! Sorry my comments weren’t as interesting as usual 😬.

[orionares]

Semper Fidelis, Part 20

A/N: Last one! Thank you for reading!

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Hollywood- Burbank Airport, Los Angeles

“I think we need to have a talk with Nell about the difference between a ‘surprise’ and…..this.”

Kensi slowly nods in agreement at Deeks’ comment at the unexpected sight in front of them in one of Burbank’s private hangars.

Minutes ago, the private jet had pulled into the hangar to reveal a small makeshift wedding chapel in the center. Candles line a red aisle runner to a wooden flowered wedding arch with two white floor vases containing lilies. Roberta and Julia talk excitedly over a small round table draped in a cream and lilac colored tablecloth. Sam, donning a black suit, stands behind the arch, reviewing a small folded sheet of paper while the rest of the team set up a row of chairs in front of the arch. Callen is the first to look up to Kensi and Deeks.

“Welcome back!” Callen calls out. “What do you think?”

“Wha- what is this?” Kensi stammers. She feels a gentle nudge from Deeks to continue down the airstairs. “This is more than a surprise.”

“It’s a wedding, sweetheart!” Julia exclaims. “Your amazing friends here came up with the idea to make up the wedding today and in an airplane hangar, no less. What do you think?”

“This makes no sense,” Kensi quickly turns to Deeks and narrows her eyes at him. “Did you do this? Did you get them to do this?”

Deeks glances between the chairs and back to his fiancée. “Nope…no, no, no, this isn’t me.”

“Because it’s private,” Callen explains, placing the last chair near the aisle. He gestures to the hangar and adds, “And it’s time. We’re going to keep doing our jobs and living our lives but you guys gave up your wedding weeks ago and…it’s time. Everything’s taken care of.”

“Deeks,” Kensi calls out breathlessly and pulls him around the airstairs and out of earshot of the team. Deeks maintains a calmness that eases the panic rising in her chest as he asks quietly, “What do you think? I know it’s not what we planned- actually, everything in the last…forever hasn’t gone to plan-“

Kensi ‘s mind jumps back to their conversation in the parking lot before she had been sent off to Afghanistan. “It seems to be our thing, if you think about it.”

“That is true, Fern, that is true. It’s insane but I’m all in,” Deeks states, “ And I’m ready if you are.”

Kensi takes both of his hands in hers and enlaces her fingers between his. She smiles at the butterflies she can feel dancing in her stomach. “All in….let’s get married.”

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“Sweetheart, are you ready?”

Fifteen minutes later, Kensi runs her hands down a white flutter v-dress once more before turning to face her mother. Julia leans around the divider and motions to the group waiting at the other end of the hangar. “You look absolutely perfect. Are you ready?”

“I’m scared.” The words tumble out of Kensi before she realizes- between leaving the hospital, deciding the impromptu wedding and then searching for Hetty, the fear of being married, truly married, had suddenly become dormant. She bites down on her lip and repeats, “I’m scared.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it’s actually real,” she inhales sharply, “I think with our jobs, planning the wedding and coming back from this case, it’s never sank in.  Now, I’m going to walk down the aisle in minutes and I’m panicking, Mom.”

Julia chuckles and pulls her daughter into a warm hug. She rubs her back, replying, “You save the world daily and face things most people wouldn’t even fathom. You have found a wonderful man who loves you for you and will love and protect you for life. You have nothing to be afraid of. Your fears are normal for every bride about to walk down the aisle. You’ve got this.”

Kensi nods slowly and steps out from the changing divider. With her mother behind her, she approaches the end of the aisle where an ecstatic Nell holds out a small white and purple flower bouquet. Roberta and Julia take an arm and begin to walk Kensi down the aisle towards Sam, Callen and Deeks.

Deeks, fidgeting in a navy blue suit, looks up from his hands and smiles delightedly at Kensi’s arrival. “Hi, Fern.”

“You clean up nice, Max,” Kensi replies as she takes a kiss on the cheek from Callen.

Sam clasps his hands together at the pair and states, “Let’s do this- however, before I begin, I’ve got something to say to the both of you before we begin. Kens, my sister- I’ve watched you grown from a young junior agent to a badass, powerful agent that’s a force to be reckon with. You have dealt with loss and come back from a deliberating injury and somehow manage to put up with a chatter box without an off switch with grace. And to you Deeks. I’ve watched you grow from a young detective who’s carefree attitude made me want to strangle you to a capable, phenomenal agent that I’ve only wanted to slightly strangle during one of your long, enduring rants.

Your strength, bravery and love makes me one hundred percent sure that Kensi will always be loved and taken care of. Marines always say “Semper Fi,” which means always faithful. I don’t think there’s anything else that best describes you both. Between you both being injured severely and this job, you two haven’t wavered in your love. And that is everything.”

Deeks’ blues eyes glisten with tears as Kensi wipes away a tear from her cheek. Amongst the happy chuckles and soft sniffs, both hear a low cough from behind Deeks. Callen, standing with arms crossed, coughs and blinks furiously while looking to the ceiling.

“You alright there, G?” Sam calls out.

“Mmmhmm. I’m good. Keep going.”

Sam shoots a look to Callen that screams I’m going to give you so much shit for this later look before stating, “As we bombarded you both with this, you don’t have vows prepared-“

“I actually have something to say,” Kensi interrupts. She brushes away a bang and continues, “ Deeks, we have gone through life and death and everything in between. Your patience, your love and your understanding is something that I never thought I’d get. You are everything to me and I can’t wait to start this next steps of our lives. I love you.”

Deeks’ eyes sparkle at Kensi’s vows. “Guess, it’s my turn,” he chuckles. “Kensi Marie, I honestly didn’t seem myself finding someone with your love, grace and patience. I don’t ever want to lose you and I love you. So damn much.”

Sam nods in approval. “Do you Kensi Marie Blye take Martin Andrew Deeks to be your husband?”

Everything slows for Kensi- her mind drifts back to ten years earlier, stepping into the MMA gym and eyeing the shaggy blonde haired man in a grey shirt and red shorts. She remembers playing husband and wife, rescuing him from Sidarov to him holding her in Afghanistan. They’ve gone through hell and back, taking the first steps of being all in to him holding her crying and frustrated in the hospital. Her heart skips at the argument before leaving for Mexico to the hours upon hours hoping and praying that his heart wouldn’t stop like it had before. So much heartbreak and love to get to this moment.

Kensi grins widely. “I’m all in. I do.”

“And do you, Martin Andrew Deeks, take Kensi Marie Blye to be your wife?”

Deeks, being Deeks, looks upwards and begins muttering as if calculating numbers in his head. He quickly nods as if happy with his calculation and replies, “I mean…I guess…”

“Deeks!”

His face softens and he replies, “I do. I’m all in too, Fern.”

“Then by the power invested in me and the state of California do pronounce you husband and wife. You may now-“ Sam stops short when Deeks pulls Kensi into a strong, passionate kiss. Kensi takes in the cheers, the warmth and love amongst her now husband, family and team. Nearly a month ago, she had been holding her husband’s hand, praying for another chance and hating the argument they had before leaving for Mexico.

And now, even with a mentor still in the wind, Kensi takes in the beauty and the new life in front of her and finally feels peace.

 “The meaning of Semper Fidelis: Latin for always faithful,” Semper Fidelis has been the Marine Corps motto since 1883. It embodies the promise to always remain faithful, no matter what.”- United States Marines

[tsarisfanfiction]

Melt V

Fandom: Thunderbirds Rating: Teen Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Angst Characters: Brains, Virgil Tracy, John Tracy, Alan Tracy, MAX

Part 5 of my entry for @gumnut-logic‘s SensorySunday: Smell. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Nope, this fic is not back on track at all.  Thanks to Nutty for helping me with Virgil... although Virgil is also the reason we’re back off the rails again, so there’s that.  This is my first time writing TAG!Brains (I have some TOS!Brains in a wip but his stutter is different, and there’s no MAX).  It’s also always awkward writing the pov of someone smarter than me...

“I-It doesn’t make sense!” Brains declared to MAX, who whistled back at him sadly.  His hands were shaking, and he curled them into balls.  John’s call, interrupting some Thunderbird Three maintenance and potential upgrades, had been full of nothing but bad news.  Scott hospitalised, Gordon heading home with broken bones, and all because one of their pods – a pod Brains had designed – had exploded on them.

Calculations whizzed past in front of him, all the variables and what-ifs of a HeliPod’s construction. Had he made a mistake?  Was he sending the boys out with a ticking time bomb? Mr Tracy would never forgive him for such an error.

MAX whistled at him again, insisting that he hadn’t made a mistake, but he just shook his head at his creation.

“N-no, MAX.  There m-must be an explanation.  Thunderbird Five d-didn’t detect anyone e-else in the vicinity, s-so it must be an issue with the HeliPod.”  But what?  The schematics didn’t highlight anything out of the ordinary.  Information streamed from Thunderbird Two on the exact makeup of that particular pod showed nothing odd, either.

He started again, back from the top.  What was he missing?  Nothing was coming up, all the calculations were perfect, assembly had gone without issue, no issues with any of the parts used.  Nothing, nothing, nothing.

In the corner of the display, Scott’s suit telemetry taunted him.  Another failure.  He needed to look into that as well, find a way to improve its heat resistance.  What if Virgil hadn’t been so close?  HeliPods could go a long way from Thunderbird Two. Their suits were supposed to protect them.  It had failed.

Was there a way to get neoprene to resist higher temperatures?  Would he need to argue with Scott about replacing the fingerless gloves with full-cover like his brothers’?  Scott had said he didn’t need them, that the extra dexterity made piloting easier, and Brains preferred not to clash horns with the eldest Tracy brother if he could, but he couldn’t let this happen again.

MAX whistled at him again, turning around in a circle before heading out of the room.  His concentration broken by the sudden departure, Brains heard the unmistakable sound of Thunderbird Two returning to her hangar.  He hadn’t heard Thunderbird One, but that wasn’t overly unusual when he was distracted by his work.

Thunderbird Two. Virgil.

He hurried to the hangar, arriving just as a stretcher bearing a bundled-up Gordon was offloaded.  Alan was already there, bouncing up and down nervously at his brother’s side, but it was Virgil Brains needed.

“V-Virgil!” he called, running across the hangar and almost falling flat on his face.

“Can it wait, Brains?” the larger man asked, frowning down at his brother.  “I have to get Gordon settled.”

“Do you have the H-heliPod?” he asked.  Virgil’s face went dark.

“Buried under an avalanche,” he said.

“O-oh.”  Brains needed that HeliPod.  Calculations didn’t tell him what had gone wrong; he needed to see the actual remains and analyse them.

“Brains, I have to get Gordon sorted, then get back to the hospital.  The HeliPod is not important right now,” Virgil said firmly, but Brains shook his head.

“N-no, Virgil.  I n-need to see that HeliPod a-as soon as possible. U-until I can determine w-what happened to make it e-explode, I c-cannot allow any of y-you to use a-any of the p-pods.” Brains didn’t like arguing, let alone with Virgil, who was usually the calmest and most reasonable of the on-Earth Tracys, but this was important.  Too important to wait.  “I-I can take Thunderbird Two myself.”

“No!” Virgil snapped. “The site’s too dangerous.”

“Uh, hey, Virg?” Gordon interjected, making Brains jump.  He hadn’t even realised the aquanaut was conscious.  “You know you’ve got to go back anyway?  Thunderbird One?”

“Thunderbird One can wait,” Virgil said stubbornly.  “Sorry, Brains.  You’ll have to do your assessments another way.  We can’t retrieve the HeliPod.”  He stalked away, towing the stretcher with him.

MAX whistled mournfully.

“I know, MAX,” he replied. “I n-need to see the remains t-to see what happened.”

“I’ll take you!”  Alan appeared at his shoulder.  “Come on, let’s find out what happened to my brothers!”

“ALAN!” Virgil roared.  There was the sound of heavy boots pounding across the hangar floor, and Virgil was back in front of them, every inch the angry bear he could be when provoked.  “Absolutely not.  You are staying right here on Tracy Island with Gordon.”

“But… Scott will be happier if Thunderbird One’s back home,” Alan protested, poking the bear in a way Brains could never gather the courage to do.  “And Brains is right!  We have to know what happened to Scott and Gordon.  What if it was the Hood?”

“Then we leave Kayo and the GDF to deal with it,” Virgil growled.  “John is already in contact with them.  Once Scott’s out of surgery, Kayo’s going to the site to see what she can find.”

“She’s going alone?” Alan gasped.  “But- isn’t that dangerous?”

“Kayo’s trained for that sort of thing,” Virgil pointed out.  “You are not.”

“But… but…” Alan started. “But if Thunderbird Two needs to go back to retrieve Thunderbird One anyway, why not go at the same time as Kayo?”

“Alan-”

“It’s in an avalanche zone, right?  So if we wait too long, there might be another one and then Thunderbird One will be even harder to get!”

Brains refrained from mentioning that it was possible, if time-consuming, to construct a brand new, upgraded, Thunderbird One, and that the boys got unhealthily attached to their machines despite his warnings to the contrary.  While it was true, it would do nothing except give Virgil another reason to not go back, and while Thunderbird One was replaceable, the information from the damaged HeliPod was not.

Virgil looked unimpressed, arms crossed and unmoving in the face of his youngest brother’s arguments. Brains feared that he’d need to hijack Thunderbird Two himself the moment Virgil was out of the hangar, but he was no pilot and certainly had no head for heights nor speed.

“Virgil,” he started, determined to argue his case one more time, but was interrupted by John appearing.

“Kayo thinks it’s a good idea,” the ginger said.  “She says she’ll meet you there.”

“John-”

“It’s too dangerous for one of you to go alone to a live avalanche site,” John steamrollered. Brains didn’t often get to see John overriding any of his brothers, but even through the hologram and his limited understanding of fellow humans, he could tell that John was angry.  “Brains is right.  There is absolutely no sign of anyone else there on the ridge that EOS or Thunderbird Five can detect, but the HeliPod didn’t explode until they were out of your sight, which means that something is not right.  None of the theoretical calculations Brains or I have run so far explain that, so we need to at least get detailed scans of the HeliPod, if not the physical remains.”

“I-”

“We’re looking at best case scenario, Thunderbird Two’s pods have a potentially fatal flaw, and worst case scenario, someone is actively trying to kill us – and came far too close to succeeding today.  We need answers, Virgil, and we can’t wait for them.  If you can’t leave Gordon, I’ll be down in fifteen minutes to take Thunderbird Two and Brains out myself.”

“John-”

“Thunderbird Two is going back there no matter what, Virgil,” John told him firmly.  “The only say you get is who’s on board.”

Virgil looked furious, glaring at his brother’s hologram.  Brains waited with baited breath, Alan alongside him, as a silent battle of wills took place between the second and third Tracy sons.

“I don’t like it,” Virgil said finally, his tone leaving Brains in no doubt that Virgil absolutely hated it.  “But no-one’s piloting my ‘bird into an avalanche zone except me.  And none of you are coming with me.”

“But Virgil-”

“Alan, you are going to stay right here with Gordon.”  The blond pouted but nodded.

“T-take MAX,” Brains insisted, quietly relieved that he was banned from the flight.  Thunderbird Two was magnificent, but like the other Thunderbirds had a tendency to make him sick.  His robot whistled eagerly, bouncing on his wheels to show his enthusiasm for the idea.

Virgil surveyed him for a moment, brown eyes severe and obviously unhappy with the situation.

“Fine,” he caved, clearly realising that there was no additional risk to including a robot in the flight.  “But I’m getting Gordon settled first.  Alan, come on.  And John?”

“Yes, Virgil?”

“If you’re not down here by the time I get back from the medical bay, I’ll drag you down myself.”

Brains strongly disagreed with that demand.  Thunderbird Five had the most sophisticated computers in International Rescue, and would be crucial to the investigation.

“I’ll be there,” John promised.  Virgil nodded and stalked back across the hangar with Alan in tow.  Brains didn’t watch him go.

“But John!” he protested. “Thunderbird Five’s c-computers will be crucial in the investigation.”

“It’s fine, Brains. EOS can give us all the information we need,” John assured him.  “If I don’t come down, Virgil isn’t going to go at all.”

“I-if you say so.” Brains was dubious, but there was nothing more he could do.  “C-come on, MAX, let’s get you r-ready for the mountains.”

MAX gave an enthusiastic whistle and eagerly led the way back to the lab.  

Refitting him didn’t take long, and soon he had MAX ready and waiting for Virgil in Thunderbird Two. Brains himself settled in his lab chair, his goggles settled comfortably over his eyes to show him everything MAX’s optical sensors transmitted.

Virgil took rather longer to appear, presumably awaiting John’s descent from Thunderbird Five before entering his launch chute, but he finally did so, greeting MAX cordially enough. Brains thought he seemed a little more settled with the idea and part of him wondered if his brothers had continued the conversation out of his earshot.

“Okay then, MAX, let’s go get Thunderbird One, and find out what happened to that HeliPod.  Brains, you ready?”

“R.A.D.”

“Alright then.”  The cargo transporter moved, trundling forwards onto the runway.  Brains didn’t need MAX to look out of the window to imagine the launch ramp engaging itself; nor did he need the audio sensors to hear the rumble of the main engines igniting.  “Thunderbird Two is go!”

Part 6

[aethelflaedladyofmercia]

What Might Have Been - 8

My ongoing fic for @goodomenscelebration. Crowley has arrived in the post-Apocalypse wasteland, searching for Aziraphale. Angst and destruction ahead.

Parts 1-6 here.

Part 7 here (despite what the lying title might say)

Family

Crowley couldn’t sense Aziraphale.

Or rather, he could sense Aziraphale, knew he was somewhere in the world, but that was as far as he knew. Not the direction, nor the distance, nor anything else.

He circled over the V-cut valley of Devil’s Dyke, looking for anything familiar. Looking for anything alive.

Those cliffs to the left looked like the ones they had chosen for their home, but there was no cottage, no garden, no little copse of trees sheltering it from view. The landscape had been scraped clean to the bright-white stone underneath.

He circled again, over a lake of fire, another frozen but sublimating, like dry ice. A river of sludge that seemed to run uphill. White bones of animals that never lived in this part of the world, looking far too large to be allowed.

Another circle, further out. Over there – the village of Ditchling. Aziraphale dragged him down there for tea at that little café twice a week. He liked to walk down the main street and wave to the humans as if he’d lived among them for decades.

No one lived there now.

With a flutter of black wings, Crowley came to rest at the traffic circle in the center of the village. To one side, that bakery where Aziraphale liked to browse cakes and bottles of wine, windows smashed, shelves bare; to the other, the old Post Office building, which looked as if it had been torn apart from the inside out. What little remained of the brick walls were black with soot.

One whole side of the village was just gone, foundations still smoldering: the little shop where they bought vegetables whenever Aziraphale got it in his mind to try cooking dinner, the jewelers where they would look at rings, had been looking for months, still hadn’t made a decision because Aziraphale needed Crowley’s to be perfect.

Just past the bakery was a little plant shop, which had fared no better. Little pots and planters – once brightly colored, now chipped and faded – held the brown, withered remains of plants. He touched one, and it fell to dust between his fingers. Nothing could survive here.

Except, in the back, he thought he saw a bit of green. Stepping carefully through the shattered window, Crowley moved through the shop to a corner that got little light, but also shielded its plants from whatever happened on the street. And there it was: a tall succulent, most of its green waxy leaves already turned yellow and fallen off, but a few still clinging to life. He tugged at one, and it was still springy, still a little soft.

“Well. I don’t know how you survived this long, but a little water and you might make it.” He picked up the pot. “Doubt we’ll find any. But let’s see what we can do.”

He was easing back through the window and happened to glance back towards the traffic circle –

Something – someone – darted across the street.

Crowley hunched, pulling his wings out again, clutching his plant close, ready to flee. Aziraphale? Probably not; if the angel were that close, no chance his sense would be so confused. Someone else.

He could run, of course, fly away. He was here to find Aziraphale, and nothing else. He would find his angel, take him home, rescue their lovely home from the Archangels, and never think of this place again.

Except…

Except he was here now, and he didn’t know what was going on.

Crowley hated not knowing what was going on.

And the best way to find out was to ask someone.

With one last brimstone-scented breath, Crowley started towards the figure.

By the time he’d rounded to corner, it was empty again – just a long stretch of road, past the little café with the garden in the back, the inn, the church. It was too silent. Wind whistled over broken glass, but that was all. No rustle of paper, no skitter of feet, no birds, no insects. With the sky dark and scabbed over, he couldn’t even tell what time of day or night it was. The world seemed paused, frozen, holding its breath.

A foot scuffed.

Crowley pressed himself to the side of the inn, wings hidden. Something was just around the corner, perhaps in the parking lot. He set the plant down in the window box, among the decaying remains of its kin, and pressed himself to the wall, trying to look without being seen. It didn’t work, though, not only because his glasses got in the way.

“Right,” he whispered to himself. Could be a demon. Or an angel. Or…anything. Be ready to look and run. He had enough energy for one more form shift today, and a rat could very easily get lost in the ruins.

Snapping around the corner, Crowley found the other being was also pressed tight to the wall, trying to peer without being seen. Almost as tall as Crowley, dressed all in black, with short blond hair, just a hint of curl. The boy looked at him with wide – and very familiar – eyes.

“Adam?” Crowley took a step forward.

Mistake. Crowley was, immediately and without passing through any intermediate space, on the roof of the church across the street. He skittered for a second, trying to keep his balance on the impossibly steep pitch, but the building was in ruins, the consecration weakened to the point that he could barely feel it at all.

“Go away! Leave me alone!” The boy shouted, already backing up the street. “I won’t do it any longer, you hear me? I mean it this time! I want – I want to be left alone!”

“Adam, wait!” He shook out his wings again, jumping after the boy. There was no mistaking him, of course – the powers were a giveaway, but he looked almost exactly like the young boy he and Aziraphale had visited in Tadfield only a month ago. Except that Adam had been full of smirks and slouches and bad jokes, trying to convince Crowley to let him drive the Bentley just once around town, no one’ll know but me and Dog. Explaining his idea for a new ice cream flavor even the Americans hadn’t thought of yet. Laughing when Aziraphale asked him if it was possible to get a rotary smartphone.

This Adam stood ramrod straight, body shifting back to attention every time he stopped moving. Older, he seemed, stronger for certain, with a calculating look that took in everything. His eyes darted now, as he frowned, hiding a fear Crowley had never seen in him, not even at the Airbase three years ago.

But it was still him. Still his godson.

“Adam,” he tried again, softening his voice, holding his hands to the sides. “Do you know who I am?”

“Yeah,” he bunched his fists. “A demon. Think I don’t know? You might not be dressed for battle, but it’s obvious. Well, back off, or I’ll put you inside the church next time. I can, you know.” His lip trembled. “And I’m – I’m not going to fight again. I don’t – don’t care what you lot do to me, I’m not –”

“No.” Crowley took another step forward. “I’m not going to hurt you, Adam. You should be able to see that. In my mind.”

“Not looking in a demon’s mind,” Adam snapped. “Not after last time. You keep your nasty – everything to yourself.” He glanced over his shoulder, as if planning to run. But it was a long way to the next town, with bugger-all in between. “Why d’you keep calling me that, anyway?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Crowley adjusted his glasses, almost pulling them off. Would it make the kid more comfortable, or less? “Isn’t that your name?”

The sullen shrug was almost something the real Adam would have done, except without the little smile that always followed it. “I guess. No one’s called me that since…” he waved a hand, taking in everything.

“What happened, Adam?” A Tudor house had stood nearby, white plaster and ornate stickwork, with a brick section said to date back a thousand years. All gone now, except a set of brick steps, rising ten feet to open out onto empty air. Crowley sprawled against the side of it. “To England? To you?”

“Armageddon,” he snapped. Well. That was fairly obvious.

“You didn’t stop it?”

“Stop it? I started it!” He clenched his jaw, face twisting in pain. Both hands pressed to his forehead. “I didn’t mean to. The voices…they get so loud. Until I can’t think. Until I don’t want to think.” He looked up again, tears in his eyes. “I know – we both know they’ll make me go back. Just. Let me have until then. Just a few days.” Genuine pleading, the kind that only comes from real fear.

“Go back where? Tell me what’s going on.”

“Go back to your – your stupid war! I don’t want to fight, I don’t want to destroy angels, I don’t want to kill two billion humans, and I don’t want to declare myself God! I just…I want…” He bit his lip, stepping back, as if expecting to be hit.

“What?” Crowley slid down the wall to crouch just above the ground. That all sounded familiar, something from the books of prophecy Aziraphale had never stopped reading. But all that could wait. “What is it you want, Adam?”

The boy leaned against the brick stairs, and arm length away, and slid slowly down until he was in a crouch of his own. “I want…I want to go home. I miss my mum and dad. Your lot made me send them away, at the first battle.” He shrugged. “Not that they cared about me.”

“Ugh,” Crowley cracked his head against the wall. He did not come out here planning to deal with teenaged self-esteem issues. “Adam. Look. We both know the only reason your parents went away is because you compelled them. For Someone’s sake, I’ve met them. There’s no way they don’t care about you.”

Adam frowned in confusion. “How do you know my parents?”

“Ehhhhh…long story.” Crowley smirked. “You could save us both a lot of time, just read it from my head? No?” He shrugged. “Then you’re just going to have to trust me. I’ve met your parents. And I can tell you, it’s absolutely disgusting how attached to you they are.”

Adam snorted. “I think you’ve got the wrong parents, mate. Mine didn’t need to be brainwashed to take off back to America without me.”

Crowley stared ahead.

Then he turned to Adam, ripping his glasses off. “Did you say America? Did you – back to America?”

“Yeah.” Adam shrugged. “Thought you said you knew.”

Crowley wrestled with a sudden feeling of unease. Somehow, in an Apocalypse-torn wasteland version of the home he’d built, he’d found something that could make it worse. “What’s…tell me your full name. Full human name. What your parents called you.”

“Well, my mum called me Adam,” he said slowly, “but my full name was Warlock Adam Thaddeus Dowling.”

--

(Note for clarity: This is Adam. In this universe, the switch didn’t go wrong, he was raised by the Dowlings, and I compromised a bit on the name to what I hoped would be least confusing. I also tried to make his personality partway between Adam and Warlock, thanks to those Dowling influences. He’s 14 here.)

[stardust-writer]

‘cause all i want is you [Mystic Messenger Week Day 1]

For @mysmeweek2020 ‘s Day 1 prompt: Anniversary! The moment I saw the prompt list, I couldn’t help myself. I just started binge writing and here we are! You can also find this on my ao3, where I have an extra/bonus scene it you want to check it out!

‘cause all i want is you [AO3 LINK]

Summary: It’s an even bigger RFA party this year, and as proud as Areum feels for the accomplishment, she’s feeling a little lonely without Jihyun at her side. Not to mention it was their anniversary tomorrow, and from the looks of things, Jihyun’s forgotten. But like the true friend he is, Jumin notices and comes to the rescue.

Song While Writing: That Kind Of Love - MAX 

A/N: Basically, this was meant to be centered on Jihyun and my OC. But then once I got to Jumin’s parts, I couldn’t help myself and I just wrote Jumin being his sweet self. Anyone who says Jumin wouldn’t be like a good big brother to MC when not in his route can come and FIGHT ME. Anyway, just a little info. I have a different OC for each route. Areum Song is the OC I use for Jihyun/V’s route. Other OCs may appear, but for this work, Areum takes on the MC’s role. Also, I have no idea how to write a decent summary, please forgive me;;

——————————————————————————————————

It was bright in the ballroom, in more ways than one. An upbeat tune echoes through the halls as people, dressed to the nines, dance across the ballroom floor. Areum feels her heart swell with happiness. It’s been six years, but it never fails to make her smile to see people of different backgrounds, all smiling and laughing, gathered together for a good cause.

It feels like a celebration of life.

Despite the happiness in her heart, she felt a sense of loneliness. It was thirty minutes to midnight now, which means in a couple of minutes, it will have been six years since she and Jihyun truly got together. Six years since they began their journey of loving each other as they loved themselves, since the beginning of the happiest days of her life.

But Jihyun wasn’t beside her today.

The thing about the RFA parties, as fun as it is to plan and attend them, is that they tend to make each member too busy to stop and have a chat with each other. Everyone is either attending to a guest, or off with someone from the staff to ensure that the party is going accordingly. From where she’s standing, Areum can see Jihyun talking with Chairman Han.

A tiny voice in her head wonders if perhaps Jihyun had forgotten that tomorrow was their anniversary. She tries to dismiss the thought. Jihyun was the type of guy to remember all their milestones. He takes note of them all. Usually he made preparations for their anniversary and would give Areum a rundown of the plans the day before in case she wanted to do something different. She never does. All she wants is to spend the day with Jihyun, after all.

But today, he went on as though it was a regular day. Areum shouldn’t mind. She really shouldn’t, but the thought keeps crossing her mind. This RFA party turned out bigger than all their previous ones, so everyone has been extra busy. Even the messenger was rarely visited. It was only natural that they would forget some things due to all the extra things they had to deal with.

“You look deep in thought.”

Areum nearly drops the champagne flute in her hand. She turns to find Jumin trying to suppress a smile.

“Geez, you scared me.” Areum breathes, placing her free hand on her chest.

“Sorry,” Jumin says, though he looks too amused to seem like he really means it. “You were here all by yourself and you looked like you could use some company.”

Areum smiles. For all the jokes the other members made about Jumin being weird, he was actually very sweet and caring. Next to Jihyun, she found his presence to be the most comfortable.

“I’m fine. Just thinking about how busy this party in particular is.”

Jumin hums. They remain quiet for a bit, watching the people at the party laugh and enjoy themselves. Areum thought she saw Luciel sneaking around with something that looks suspiciously like Elizabeth the 3rd hidden in his coat, but she dismisses the idea. Elizabeth the 3rd wasn’t even at the party, so it was impossible for Luciel to have her in his coat.

“How are things between you and Jihyun?” Jumin asks, breaking their peaceful silence. “It’ll be six years for you two tomorrow, if I remember correctly.”

“That’s right,” Areum chirps. The thought of Jihyun makes her heart feel at ease, but remembering that he was too busy at the moment wiped that feeling away quickly. Remembering that Jumin was still waiting for an answer, she clears her throat. “We’re doing alright. We have nothing big planned for tomorrow, but I don’t really mind.”

She meant that last part. Just spending the day with Jihyun makes it special enough for her.

“I...I don’t want to sound presumptuous, but you don’t seem so excited.”

Sharp as always, Jumin, Areum thinks. Or maybe I’m just really obvious.

Either way, Jumin has picked up on her lack of enthusiasm. She thinks it might be okay to tell Jumin. After all, he’s Jihyun’s closest friend and someone that Areum trusts and has become fond of. But even she thinks that her behavior is irrational, what good would telling Jumin do? Besides, he might tell Jihyun, and the last thing Areum wants is to add her feeling clingy to his already busy night.

“It’s nothing,” she lies. It wasn’t that big a deal, she could handle feeling a little lonely and keep it to herself. Except that Jumin was looking at her with that calculating gaze, and sooner or later he’ll figure it out. It would be better if she just told him, rather than make him feel bad with her lying.

“Actually,” she sighs. “Well...you have to promise you won’t tell Jihyun, first.”

Jumin raises a brow. “I’m sorry, but that’ll have to depend on the gravity of what you’re about to tell me. I can’t keep that promise if it risks you and Jihyun.”

“Don’t worry,” Areum says with a smile. Jumin really is a sweet and loyal friend, and she truly can’t help but be grateful to have someone like him in her life. “It’s really nothing like that. I just…”

Jumin offers her his arm, which she takes almost immediately. About two years ago, Jumin had taken on the habit of offering her his arm when he knew she needed comfort. He would then lead her somewhere to sit down and let her take a deep breath or two before consoling her or hearing her out. Jihyun had said that Jumin didn’t just allow anyone physical touch, and Areum felt so honored that Jumin allowed her such a thing.

Once he had her seated at an empty table, he sat across from her and waited until she was ready to talk.

“I feel a little embarrassed to say this but...I’m feeling...lonely.”

Jumin nods, assuring her that he’s listening. Areum takes this as a sign to elaborate.

“Jihyun and I usually have a plan for our anniversary. It’s not always something big, but he likes to make a to-do list, of sorts, and he usually lets me in on what he has in mind a day before. But with how busy we’ve all been with this party, I feel like he’s forgotten about tomorrow. And I know it sounds sad and even a little pathetic, but I’m a little upset that he’s forgotten.”

Areum fiddles with her fingers. It’s not like it’s the first time she’s confided in Jumin, but she didn’t like feeling like this. She knows Jihyun cares, but all her thoughts just twist that around.

“It’s such a small thing,” she says, a weak laugh leaving her lips. “I’m worried over something so small, and the more I think about it the more it makes me crazy but I just can’t get past the thought. I love Jihyun with all my heart, and if he asked, I’d be ready to spend the rest of my life with him! But I don’t want him to see me as clingy and always in need of his attention—”

“Alright,” Jumin interrupts. He looks at her with calculating eyes once more, and Areum quiets down. If anything, Jumin was like an older brother to her, being someone who could calm and silence her with a single look. She actually does tell him pretty often that she thought of him as such, but Jumin always thinks it’s a joke. “You’re overthinking again.”

“I know,” Areum sighs, closing her eyes.

“Just take a deep breath, first. Do the Four-Seven-Eight technique.”

Areum does as she’s instructed. Closing her eyes, she takes a deep breath for four seconds, holds it for seven, and breathes out for eight. She repeats it four more times before she feels her head clear. Her negative thoughts were still there, but they no longer sounded as loud as before.

“Feeling better?”

Areum smiles and opens her eyes. She nods at Jumin.

“Good.” A small smile on his lips, Jumin stands up and offers her his hand once more. “Now, how about a little distraction? Would you care to dance?”

Areum hadn’t even noticed the music shift in the room. They were now slow and sweet, and more couples seemed to have made their way to the ballroom floor. She thinks she even spots Jaehee dancing with Zen.

“Sure,” she says, taking his hand and getting up. “But I must warn you now, I’m not very good at dancing.”

“Nonsense.” Jumin leads her to the dance floor. He has her place her free hand on his shoulder, but keeps the other in his hand. “Jihyun has told me you’re very light on your feet when he dances with you.”

Areum feels her face heat up. Technically, they did dance at social events, but it was all slow dancing. The kind where you had each other's arms wrapped around the other’s body and you swayed to the slow rhythm of the music, like in high school dances in the movies. But when they were home alone and Jihyun played the sweet music he loved to listen to late at night, they would perform a more elaborate dance.

Jihyun would take her by the hand, leading her to the clearest area of whatever room they started in. Then he’d pull her into his arms, position them as though they were a couple of ballroom dancers, and move. They would attempt to dance like professionals, with lifts and swings and the very light step sequences, but they always ended up improvising and laughing. All the same, they would dance around the house, flitting from room to room.

It always ended the same way. With Jihyun twirling Areum and then dipping her as far as he can without them both crashing to the floor. They’d be breathless and alone, smiling at each other with pure love and adoration, then their lips would meet for a sweet kiss. She didn’t mind Jihyun telling Jumin, but it was such an intimate thing they shared that she hadn’t realized she never really let anyone in on it.

“Of course, he’d say that,” Areum laughs, trying to lose the heat in her face. “But you’ll be sorry for believing him when I end up stepping on your Verragamo shoes.”

Jumin huffs a laugh at that, but pulls her into a slow dance anyway. You’re both quiet for the most part, just listening to the music.

“It’s not pathetic, you know,” Jumin says, breaking the silence. “Wanting him to remember your anniversary. It’s meant to be a day of celebration.”

Jumin is always serious, or rather, always appears as such. But there’s a certain gleam in his eye as he’s speaking to Areum that she just can’t seem to place. It makes her want to hear all that he has to say.

“Six years ago, V came home as Kim Jihyun, a man that finally felt comfortable enough to love himself and thus confident enough to love another person as they are. Six years ago, you two took each other’s hands and became a couple, one that built each other up and would support each other’s growth in a way that inspired others to do the same. Six years ago, the RFA was changed from a simple charity association with secrets, to a family that vowed to spread good in the world through lawful means.

“But most of all, six years ago today, you and Jihyun embraced each other and started a life full of love. And that alone is a cause for celebration.” The song changes and Jumin gives Areum an experimental twirl. It’s angled a little awkwardly and it’s slow, so she doesn’t end up tripping all over herself in her surprise, but it makes her smile. “You’re not pathetic for wanting your beloved to remember the day on which you celebrate your love.”

There’s a reason Jumin was the one that Areum came to for advice. Sure, he was blunt half the time, and he couldn’t always relate to her problems, but he always did have her best interests at heart. He was always willing to listen and ready to give her his honest thoughts.

“Thanks, Jumin.” She smiles. His words didn’t make the negative energy she had disappear completely, but Areum felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“Of course,” Jumin is quick to reply. He opens his mouth to say something more, but appears to hesitate, a very un-Jumin like move. Areum was going to say as much, but it seems that he had already decided to speak. “Anything for my little sister.”

Areum lights up and a wide smile spreads across her face.

“Aw, Jumin you think of me as your little sister?”

“Can’t I do that?” he asks, but she sees the tips of his ears darken with a blush. “You’ve become such a big part of my life, and you’re always calling me your older brother. So I figured I can treat you as one.”

“No, you can. You absolutely can,” Areum laughs and leans her head on his shoulder for a moment. Lifting her head up, she smiles brightly at him. “Thanks, big brother. I’m really glad.”

Jumin sends her one of his rare, genuine smiles. The ones he reserves for his most precious friends.

“You’re welcome, always.” They dance in silence for a bit, but Jumin has more to say. “Also, don’t worry too much about him forgetting.”

It’s Areum’s turn to raise a brow. She asks what he means, but all she sees is a telltale gleam in his eyes. She tries to question him some more, but his head snaps away from her gaze and turns irritated.

“Luciel, what do you think you are doing with Elizabeth the 3rd?”

Areum glances behind her to see Luciel on the dance floor with Elizabeth in his arms. He was holding her tight to his chest and spinning around, as though he were dancing with her. Luciel hears Jumin and laughs a little before running off with the persian cat.

“Areum, I apologize, but I need to go—”

“No, it’s alright,” Areum laughs. She lets go of his hand and shoulder, and gestures to his cat. “Go get ‘em.”

Jumin throws her a quick smile before dashing after Luciel. Areum laughs some more. She should have known better than to doubt Luciel. Of course he’d find a way to sneak Elizabeth in. Oh, she felt bad for Jumin, but it was always funny to watch him chase Luciel off because of Elizabeth the 3rd.

“There you are.”

Upon hearing the voice, Areum immediately feels at ease. She allows Jihyun to wrap his arms around her waist from behind her and relishes in being held by his strong arms.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“You have?” Areum twists around to face him. She wraps her arms around his torso, and places her chin on his chest to look up into his eyes—his beautiful, mint eyes that just seemed bright with all the lights.

“Of course. I got a little busy talking to Jumin’s father about sponsors, but I had to get to you before midnight.”

“Midnight?”

Jihyun smiles.

“What, did you forget? Tomorrow’s our anniversary.”

[kimnamjooonz]

Blank Space - Episode 9

PBlank Space 

Showing up in this episode:

Karlie Kloss

Tom Holland:

Taylor Swift:

Chris Evans:

Basically everyone is here. 

Songs that inspired this chapter:

Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I’m bored - Ariana Grande. (Morgan’s song)

I’m a Mess - Bebe Rexha (Also Morgan’s song)

Don’t Hurt Yourself - Beyonce

I Did Something Bad - Taylor Swift

Hands To Myself - Selena Gomez

Mambo N. 5 - Lou Bega

Dancing Queen - Abba

Africa - Toto

Hey Ya - Outkast

Blank Space - Taylor Swift.

Okay, this is a hot mess but I had a lot of fun writing it.

''Oh my God, who is she, I get drunk on jealousy, when you come back is time you leave, cause darling I'm a nightmare dressed like daydream.''

After the Madison Square Garden outing, the two weirdest weeks followed. Morgan and Sebastian had rescued a cat and almost kissed but after that, Sebastian came back to his senses and Morgan went into a spiral of anger without any precedent. The thing was that for a moment she had thought that she had achieved something after the moment they had shared while rescuing Thirteen so, it was a disappointment of the size of the Empire State when on the next day pictures of Sebastian and his girlfriend splashed the Internet. Morgan was as livid as the majority of Sebastian's fans. But, just like in the old times, she kept her emotions to herself and went on with her life. Only Taylor noticed that something was off and that Morgan was ready to snap. Not of stress or pressure but of anger. But Morgan was taking revenge in the best way she could: by landing her first Vogue cover, being invited to every show at the New York fashion week and hanging out with the most popular models afterwards. And being loved by apparently everyone on the Internet. On set, everything was as normal as it ever was. Morgan and Sebastian kept their outstanding chemistry but when the cameras stopped rolling, they went back to their brooding selves, hardly sharing a word. At least they weren't shouting at each other anymore even though Sebastian could see a shadow of anger in Morgan's eyes every time she looked at him. There were only two people that knew the reason why Morgan had been like a chained monster the last couple of weeks: her assistant Lucas and her new friend Karlie Kloss. She had met Karlie at the New York Fashion Week and they had immediately clicked. They were often pictured together leaving events or hanging out around the city. Morgan hadn't had any other option but to tell Lucas as he had found her smashing a glass of water to the floor after a new set of pictures of Sebastian and his girlfriend had surfaced the Internet, this time kissing. Lucas was a bit alarmed by Morgan's attack of jealousy and decided to call Karlie to help him handle her. He decided to not tell Taylor who was going to give Morgan an earful, without any doubt. Together decided to distract Morgan with an sleepover and a Harry Potter marathon. Taylor joined them, even though she found the situation curious. Morgan just lied and told her that she had had a bad day at set and they were helping her to relax. But Morgan needed help to release that anger. The best solution was to get over Sebastian but everyone knew that this was not going to happen any time soon. Morgan's solution was to run him over with her Porsche but Lucas had pointed out that this was probably getting Morgan to prison and would end her career in a heartbeat. Luckily Karlie proposed Morgan to do kickboxing with her and she had liked the idea. She already knew how to do rugby tackles and now she was learning to punch and kick. Lucas and Taylor were a bit reluctant. The were starting to fear for Sebastian Stan's well being. Taylor still remember the words that Clint had told Morgan at the airport: 'If they break your heart, you break their necks.'. She prayed that Morgan didn't took that piece of advice to heart. But after a week doing kickboxing, she could feel the difference. Anger wasn't clouding her thoughts anymore and she could feel her wits getting sharper and more calculating. Or that was what she thought. Many others had noticed too. Taylor, Lucas and Karlie were proud of her as she was in a much better mood. Even Sebastian had noticed. There was no anger in her eyes anymore but sometimes she caught her staring at him in a way that made him wonder if she knew something he didn't or if she was planning to give him an slow and painful death. That Friday evening Morgan was with Lucas and Karlie at the gym. Don't Hurt Yourself by Beyoncé was blasting and Morgan was punching a punching bag with all the force in  the world, and the song was motivating.  They were even singing some lyrics. ''I am the dragon breathing fire, beautiful mane I'm the lion, beautiful man I know you're lying...'' Punch. Karlie was impressed. In a week Morgan's workout was noticeable. She looked even more stunning, if that was possible. ''Morgan, sing the next part because it's absolutely epic.'' said Lucas, laughing.

''We just got to let it be, let it be, let it be, baby'.. HEY BABY'' Punch. ''WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK ARE YOU?'' Punch. ''I SMELL THAT FRAGANCE ON YOUR LOUIS V BOY'' Punch.  'JUST GIVE MY FAT ASS A BIG KISS BOY'' Punch. ''TONIGHT I'M FUCKING UP ALL YOUR SHIT BOY'' Punch. Punch. Punch. Punch. Morgan was punching that bag as it had personally offended her.

''This is so cathartic'' said Lucas, who was lying on a mat, tired. ''It is'' the song had stopped and Morgan was on a little break to drink water and rest. ''Brilliant, Morgan, brilliant'' said Peter, Morgan and Karlie's personal trainer. He was a lovable big guy, who was always flirting with Lucas. And Lucas shamelessly flirted back. Morgan always thought that he was the reason why Lucas kept going to the gym with her and Karlie. ''I wouldn't like to be the person you're angry at.'' ''You're right. You wouldn't like to.'' Morgan looked at her reflection on the big mirror and she loved what she saw. Her back was more muscular and her arms more defined. ''Are you sure you're not training for an action movie?'' he asked. ''Something Marvel related? After all, you work with Sebastian Stan and he's from Marvel.'' Thinking of the DEVIL, there he was, mentioned again. ''Not at all. Maybe I take on the mantle of Captain America now that Chris Evans is leaving.'' she said with sarcasm. ''It seems that you're enjoying being Stan's partner way too much that you want to do it again.'' Karlie teased her again and Lucas laughed out loud. Peter was the only one that didn't understand. ''Keep teasing, you two'' Morgan rolled her eyes at him. ''Let's do something else.'' ''Let's try to combine your kicks with your punches, okay?'' Karlie was searching for another song to motivate Morgan. Taylor Swift's I did Something Bad was the chosen one. Morgan was thinking exactly the same. Peter was guiding Morgan in everything that she needed to do, and of course that the song lyrics were helping her. They say I did something bad, why does it feel so good? Punch. They say I did something bad why does it feel so... Punch. ...good? Kick. Most fun I ever had and I'll do it over and over and over again...'' Punch. If I could... Kick. It just felt so... Punch. Kick. ...good. Punch. Kick. Karlie and Lucas were having a lot of fun, watching Morgan kick and punch, totally possessed with the song. ''LIGHT ME UP! LIGHT ME UP! GO AHEAD AND LIGHT ME UP!'' they sang, trying not to laugh.   She finished basically submissing Peter. ''Okay, okay, you were good Morgan. Anger motivates you.'' he ruffled her hair. ''See you newt week and don't punch anyone, okay?'' She just nodded. She was so tired that she was lying in a mat, breathing heavily and trying to get some energy and get up. ''So... ready for tonight?'' Karlie asked. That night there was going to be a cast party but everyone knew it was more than that. Many people was going to go, and they weren't related to the movie at all but Damien had invited them for publicity. Morgan herself had invited Taylor, Lucas and Karlie. Everyone knew that Sebastian was going to bring his girlfriend and everyone was asking if Joe Alwyn was going to bring Taylor Swift. For all of these reasons, Morgan was excited. ''More than ever'' she was still lying on the mat, moving her hands sensually at the rhythm of Selena Gomez's Hands To Myself. Lucas jumped from the mat with Morgan's phone in his hands. ''Can I film this for your Instagram? This is too priceless. Post workout Morgan Llewellyn lip synching and looking devastatingly sexy. Perfect.'' ''Perfect to PornHub'' commented Karlie. ''Shut up, Kloss. Now, do what you were doing, Morgan. Remember, you can't keep your hands to yourself. Taylor is going to kill you but not before you kill a certain someone of a heart attack. Now, action.'' At the other side of Manhattan, Sebastian was opening the new Instagram notification from Morgan only to end up weak on the knees with his eyes almost bulging out of his skull. He had to sit down to call himself a little and watch the video again. ''Damn'' was the only thing he could mumble.

''You are absolutely out of control.'' Taylor reprimanded Morgan once they were at home getting ready for the party. ''I told you not to post sexy stuff.'' ''It was good.'' Morgan was ready and she was sitting on the table, looking bored. ''Did you see how many likes it got?'' ''Yeah, including one from your co-star.'' Taylor kept curling her hair. Lucas giggled. He was straightening the front of his shirt. He and Morgan knew that they had achieved their purpose. And it was just he beginning. Lucas couldn't wait to see what else Morgan had in store. She looked spectacular, with a metallic short, loose dress, that had a star in the middle with an inscription in Welsh. It highlighted her long legs to perfection. She accompanied the look with high heels, snake themed jewellery and her signature red lip. ''Beth bynnag y mae'n ei gymryd, rwyf bob amser yn ennill.'' Taylor read the inscription in Morgan's dress. ''Isn't that a bit threatening?'' ''It depends how you take it. And no one except you understands Welsh.'' ''What does it say?'' asked Lucas. ''Whatever it takes, I'm always going to win.''  Taylor translated the sentence. ''Childish.'' however, Taylor was a bit weary of Morgan, who was not going to give up in whatever she was planning. Taylor didn't want to know. So, Morgan was going to go there making statements and no one was going to understand. ''Let's go, remember we're picking up Karlie on our way there.''

Sebastian was already in the place accompanied by his girlfriend and his friends. Damien Chazelle was around as well as some of the cast, pop music was on the background and the place was peaceful only because Morgan Llewellyn hadn't arrived yet. ''Are you sure she's not here yet?'' Florence asked. ''Yes. If she were here you'd notice that. She's chaotic and this place too peaceful.'' Florence wanted to meet the infamous Morgan Llewellyn once and for all to see if she was as bad as Sebastian said she was. Sebastian glanced at the windows. A horde of paparazzi were outside that didn't pay much attention to him when he got in. They most asked questions that were asked went like: ''Are you and Morgan dating? Because you should, you look gorgeous together'' (and they had asked that IN FRONT of his girlfriend), ''What do think about Morgan's latest Instagram video?'' or ''What do you think about the rumour of Morgan Llewellyn leading the live action Wicked movie?''. They just wanted to ask stuff about Morgan. Suddenly there was a commotion outside and there were flashes everywhere. ''What the hell...'' Florence mumbled. ''There she is. I told you she was chaotic.'' Florence suddenly wanted to leave. She hadn't even seen Morgan yet and she knew that she was whatever but good news. She was too overwhelming and she hadn't entered the building yet. And her feelings were justified when Morgan entered the place. Immediately, Sebastian's group knew that he had been right: pictures didn't do her justice. Morgan in person was ten times more gorgeous and with that metallic dress that exposed her long legs she looked like an exotic flamingo. In Florence's opinion she looked like a beautiful snake. ''I think I lost my ability to breath'' Chace mumbled. ''If you don't want her for you, set me up!'' ''Shut up, Chace!'' Sebastian desperately hissed. But he was with his eyes fixed on Morgan in a not so subtle manner. But Florence was staring at Morgan too. She was built like a Victoria's Secret Angel and she walked like one. She was pacing the room with feline steps, like she owned the place. She was vibrant, magnetic, full of life and absolutely chaotic. Morgan wasn't looking at them but Karlie Kloss was and Florence didn't like her expression. When Florence finally took her glance off of Morgan she saw Sebastian, Toby, Will and Chace staring at her with their mouths hanging open. ''Snap out of it!'' Florence reprimanded them but none only Will took notice. Morgan walked straight to Damien who was waiting for her. ''My dear Morgan! I was waiting for you! Finally the star of the show is here! I want you to meet a couple of people...'' In five minutes she was surrounded by a circle of influential people. From Greta Gerwig, Patty Jenkins, Kevin Feige (that no one knew what was he doing there) and many more. Only after half an hour she was free. ''I think I'm meeting my cast mates'' she said to Karlie and Lucas (Taylor was still talking to Greta Gerwig). Firstly she went to greet Michael and Alicia and then Emily and her husband John Krasinski. They talked for some minutes until Morgan decided that she couldn't keep avoiding the inevitable and approached Sebastian's table before she had any chance of chickening out and running away. Florence felt a pit in her stomach when she saw Morgan approaching. But there was no way to avoid her. But Morgan wasn't looking at her, she had her impressive blue eyes fixed on Sebastian. ''Nice co-star you make. You're here hiding while I have to deal with everyone.'' Florence was surprised. She was expecting Morgan Llewellyn to hiss or to speak Parseltongue. Instead, she had a silky voice that combined with a standard British accent that made it sound completely irresistible. ''What's the deal with you, mate? You always act like you don't even want to be here.'' Florence absolutely detested her. She just needed a couple of seconds next to Morgan to see that she was even worse than what Sebastian said she was. ''You have the whole stage to yourself, Llewellyn. Go and shine.'' Florence wondered if that was banter or if they really were used to say snarky things at each other. ''It tears me apart to say this, doll, but you may be right. With that sour face you won't charm anyone. Why don't you leave? TacoBell is having discount night. You can have a nice dinner there.'' Wait a second... since when Morgan Llewellyn called Sebastian 'doll'? ''I told you two weeks ago, princess. I'm not leaving, I'm staying.'' Florence was about to blow up. He was shamelessly calling Morgan 'princess'. He didn't even called her like that. What was the game they were playing at? ''That's on you, Stan. Have fun if you like or do whatever the hell you want, I don't care. Remember we're on the public eye and we're supposed to be friends so at least smile when you're talking to me. I don't want a Madison Square Garden 2.0, believe me, doll'' Florence couldn't stand it anymore. ''Hello, I'm Florence. I'm Sebastian's girlfriend.'' she had to intervene before Morgan tore Sebastian apart with her words. And she couldn't stand her calling him 'doll'. ''Oh, hi'' Morgan looked at her with a sweet expression. Nothing on her beautiful face revealed a drop of animosity but her eyes told a complete different story. They were cold as ice. ''Sebastian talks a lot about you.'' Sebastian couldn't believe that Florence was saying that. But his girlfriend was still angry because he had called Morgan 'princess'. ''How nice'' Morgan said with an unemotional voice. ''Can't say the same, but we almost never talk, so don't worry.'' Florence was reading the words on Morgan's dress. They were in some strange language that she didn't know. It wouldn't surprise her if it was a curse. Nothing would surprise her about Morgan. ''What does it say?'' she asked with a fake smile, pointing at the dress. ''To be or not to be, that is the question'' she lied without wincing. The message was to Sebastian, not to Florence. ''Shakespeare's Hamlet in Welsh. Balmain customised this dress for me with this quote.'' ''So you are Welsh. I thought you were British.'' Florence meant to say 'English' but she couldn't think clearly with Morgan in front of her. Morgan blinked a couple of times in confusion. ''Wales is part of Britain.. but maybe I'm not the best person to explain this... you can always go to the Wikipedia. It's pretty clearly explained.'' she turned around, making it clear that the conversation was over. Then she noticed Chace. ''You're Chace Crawford! Oh darlin'! I love you since Gossip Girl!'' Sebastian almost dropped his glass to the floor. He could see that Chace had got numb. ''Thank you. That is... a wonderful compliment.'' ''I have to go now, see you later.'' she smiled at him in a nice way, not flirty or anything of the sort. They all watched Morgan leave and take a seat in a table with Lucas and Karlie. ''She hates me'' Florence said, out of nowhere. ''She doesn't'' Toby showed up out of nowhere after he and Will had vanished when Morgan appeared to the scene. But they had been listening to everything. ''She hates Sebastian, you're just collateral damage. And she was pretty nice to you.'' Will laughed out loud. ''She literally said 'Can't say the same' and sent her to look up stuff in the Wikipedia. In which world that counts as being nice? Sebastian was right, she's a snake.'' ''She's not!'' apparently Chace was caught in the Morgan spell. ''I don't know what did you see. But she's really nice. She's just angry at you because you got two hours late to the first read through and invented she was on a date with you, Florence'' Sebastian wanted to punch Chace on the face. That was one of the things he wasn't supposed to tell anyone. But apparently justifying Morgan was more important to him. ''But you weren't! Sebastian!'' Florence looked at him with anger. ''Thank you very much! She was right after all! Where were you by the way?'' Sebastian couldn't think of an explanation that made sense. He had had a mental breakdown that fateful morning but he was not telling that to Florence. ''It doesn't matter'' ''Yes, it matters because thanks to your stupid lies now Morgan Llewellyn loathes me and wants me out of the picture'' Sebastian, Chace and Toby looked at her with their eyebrows raise. ''C'mon! You can see it all over her fake sweet face.'' ''You're just paranoid'' Sebastian kept his eyes glued to Morgan's back, who was with her friends and some other people. ''If she hates someone here, she hates me.'' ''The thing is...'' Will looked at him, straight in the eyes. ''...she doesn't hate you, Sebastian. And you know it.'' Many more people had arrived and some of them had joined Morgan and her friends who were just talking about harmless stuff like pets or what was going to happen in the next season of Game of Thrones. Between Morgan's new company were Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon and Harrison Osterfield. No one knew why they were there but their funny personalities gave life to the group. Tom Holland started to tell anecdotes that had everyone in tears. Sebastian couldn't kept his eyes away from her for a second. And she hadn't looked at him once. He got distracted only when Chace stood up. ''Where are you going?'' he asked. ''With them.'' he pointed at Morgan's group. ''They're a young and lively bunch.'' ''So you're on her side, now. Wow, thank you, Chace.'' ''I'm in nobody's side, stop being so immature. They look like they're having a great time and we're here in silence watching them have fun. I'd rather be there.'' And without any more words he left and second later he was installing himself between Zendaya and Karlie Kloss, being all smiles. The only thing Sebastian wanted was to follow him. After a while Toby's loyalty to him was over and he followed on Chace's footsteps. Morgan received him with a huge smile. Only Will and Florence were still with him. ''I'm getting a drink'' he almost ran to the bar. Michael Fassbender was there and Morgan was near, mysteriously talking with Karlie and Tom. Maybe they were talking about him or maybe he was as paranoid as Florence. He asked for a beer and was going to get back to his table when Michael approached him. ''Finally I get you alone... I'm going to be direct with you because you look painfully unhappy... just, once and for all, make up your mind'' ''What?'' he knew that what Michael had just said made perfect sense but he was not going to admit it. ''Don't try to deny it. I've been watching you and you could take your eyes off of her for a second.'' it was pretty clear who 'her' was. ''Just...clear that head of yours. Once you do that, you'll be a happier person, trust me.'' Michael went back to his table, in which his wife was talking to Morgan's agent. He was still processing Michael's words and looking at Morgan, who was talking only with Karlie, who after getting a drink was going back to the table. It was now or never. Without overthinking too much he approached her. He knew that what he was doing was wrong but he didn't care. Suddenly he was feeling reckless. ''So, you've been working out, Llewellyn?'' Morgan looked at him with suspicion. ''Glad you watched my Instagram video. I guess you enjoyed it.'' ''Yeah, half the world enjoyed it.'' he got one step closer to her. ''But that's not how I noticed. You look different. Stronger.'' Morgan had a side smirk on her face. ''Thanks for the compliment. There's nothing better than strength in this world. Physical strength and strength of character get you ahead in this universe. You feel powerful.'' He got even closer to her. ''What the hell are you playing at?'' Morgan looked at him with a side smile, without no hint of shame. ''My own game, Stan. It's not my fault you're bitter because you're not involved in it.'' He looked at her with the same smile. ''Are you sure of that? I'm pretty much sure I'm well into your game.'' ''Why don't you... prove it?'' she said the last words very slowly. She knew he couldn't. She was never evident about her feelings in front of anyone, let alone, him. He got so close to her that they were almost touching. Morgan needed all her self control to keep herself level headed. ''I thought something had changed between us after MSG. But no. You went back to being the insufferable person you were before.'' ''Look who's talking! I didn't see much of a difference in your behaviour, Stan.'' He had his eyes glued to her. Even though the room was full, this moment was just theirs. ''We shared a moment, Morgan.'' ''And? You come here talking about moments, when your girlfriend is right there looking at you. You have no shame, Sebastian. You thought we shared a moment but, I'm sorry to tell you that nothing of what I told you was of much importance''. But he didn't give up. He closed the space between them, placing her hand softly on her shoulder and leaned in order to whisper something on her ear. ''Keep lying to yourself, Morgan.'' his lips were almost brushing her skin. ''It meant something for you and it meant a lot to me.'' he placed a short and soft kiss just below her ear, leaving Morgan absolutely disarmed. He left with a smile and winking. The bastard knew that her had won this round. At least Morgan had the consolation that his girlfriend was going to give him hell and erase that winning smile from his face. But she was needing all her self control because her insides were screaming.  She was obviously very shaken. ''What did he tell you?'' asked Karlie when she was back at the table. ''Nothing of importance.'' she said with all the calm in the world. ''Some crap about my Instagram video. Idiot.'' she didn't know why she was lying to Karlie. Maybe because there were many things that she liked to keep to herself. Like the sensation of Sebastian Stan's lips brushing against her skin for less than a second. Sebastian kept the winning smile for a good while. The magic lasted until Florence spoke. ''Are you going to explain what happened with your co-star? You two were pretty close.'' ''I was just telling her something about Tom Holland. Nothing serious'' he wasn't very focused on giving a strong excuse. The only thing that ran around his head was the softness of Morgan's skin and how good it'd feel to place more kisses in that neck of hers... Will, who had spent the night basically in silence, noticed Sebastian's absent minded and dreamy expression. ''Sebastian!'' Florence said in a loud voice that scared him a little. ''I was talking to you.'' ''Yeah, I know and I wasn't hexed by Morgan, we were just talking.'' once again, he was talking before thinking. '' She's a person by the way, not a creature from Mordor...'' then he noticed Florence's expression. ''Do you think I'm having an affair with her? Trust me, I'm not.'' ''I don't trust you'' she blatantly said. ''But I trust Morgan's ego. She'd never accept to be anyone's side chick. She has to be in the spotlight, she demands full attention, she has to be the one and only. I kind of pity the poor guy that ends up with her.'' Sebastian didn't share that view. ''She's not that bad, you know.'' ''Sebastian!'' he got yelled for the second time in ten minutes, this time by Will. ''You were the one that told us that she was a snake and we believed you. We're on your side, not like Chace and Toby, who are there laughing and having fun.'' But they couldn't finish what they were talking about because someone was making his way into the place: the one and only Chris Evans. Before Sebastian could even wave at him, Damien had already caught him and a second later he was introducing him to Morgan Llewellyn. ''What the hell Damien!'' he hissed. The only thought he had on his head was 'Not Chris, not Chris, not Chris, anyone but Chris.' He had to control himself for ten minutes while watching them talk. Thankfully someone had got the idea of dancing and Morgan had grabbed Jacob's arm and jumped to the dancefloor. Sebastian was starting to hate the Mambo Number Five only because he just wanted to be in Jacob Batalon's place so hard it hurt. Some minutes later she was dancing to Dancing Queen with Chace. But the worst was yet to come. It seemed that the world was testing how much jealousy he could bear before snapping. The first notes of Africa by Toto started to sound and he was absolutely scandalised when he saw Chris inviting Morgan to dance this particular song. And she accepted. Of course she was going to accept. Who on earth would reject dancing with Chris Evans? ''I can't believe it!'' he hissed. ''This is our song!'' ''What? Do you have a song with Morgan Llewellyn?!'' Florence just couldn't deal with this situation. She was discovering a side of Sebastian she had never seen before. The side that was very similar to Morgan's chaotic personality. And she didn't like it one bit. ''Just ignore him'' Will answered for him because Sebastian was too concentrated looking a Morgan and Chris. ''He's bewitched. It seems like that woman's exclusive fragance was poisonous after all.'' ''Well...'' Florence said bitterly. ''I don't see Toby, Tom Holland and his friends or Chris Evans bewitched. Not even Chace looks like a dreamy idiot anymore. Only Sebastian is acting like a fool. What does she have anyway?'' ''What she doesn't have'' it seemed like Sebastian was listening after all. The song ended and Morgan and Chris stayed a bit further apart from the rest of the group, sitting alone in a table. Sebastian was fuming. ''I have to stop this.'' he stood up and went towards Chris and Morgan. ''Sebastian, don't!'' Florence was getting desperate. ''Just don't do it!'' but he didn't listen. Chris and Morgan were having a normal conversation. None of them was flirting, that was absolutely out of the question. They were just talking about their pets. Chris was telling Morgan all about his dog, Dodger. ''...I love him. He's like my son. He's so unique... do you have dogs?'' There was nothing that Morgan liked more than talking about her animals. ''I have two corgis. Well, one is actually my brother's. We named them after Doctor Who characters. Mine's Doctor River Song and Clint's Captain Jack Harkness. I also have cats.'' ''Oh, I like cats too, no more than dogs but they can be nice. Are yours named after fictional characters too?'' ''No. I named them after Elizabethan people. I have Sir Francis Drake, William Shakespeare and Lady Elizabeth Tudor, who was Queen Elizabeth's name when she was Henry VIII's bastard daughter. It's impressive the amount of history you can learn through Shakespeare plays. Oh, and I rescued a cat here in New York. I named him Thirteen because of the thirteenth Doctor, who's finally a female, and I was born on a thirteen.'' She didn't mention Sebastian in the story. He had been the one that had actually found Thirteen after all. But Chris, or anyone else, didn't needed to know that. ''I was also born on a thirteenth. But of June.'' And also Sebastian, Morgan thought. But of August. Great. The triumvirate of the Thirteens. ''And I also have a sheep'' she added before making the mistake of blurting stuff about Sebastian in front of Chris Evans. ''Lady Macbeth....'' she was about to explain why she had chosen that name when she was interrupted by Sebastian. ''And here comes the Grinch.'' ''Chris, we need to talk.'' Chris was as surprised as Morgan by his attitude. ''Well, hello Sebastian. I had no idea that you were here. I haven't seen you yet.'' ''Yeah, yeah, we need to talk'' he basically dragged Chris away from Morgan, who wondered if he was jealous of her as she was talking with his beloved Chris Evans. ''Seb, are you okay?'' Chris was a bit concerned. ''What are you doing talking to her?'' he asked with bothering to answer Chris' question. ''Sebastian, are you drunk?'' Chris grabbed Sebastian's face and looked at his eyes. ''You're not. Not on alcohol at least. On jealousy, maybe. What the hell is wrong with you, Sebastian? You have a girlfriend and you're being a jerk to me because I was talking to Morgan about pets! Be honest, do you like her?'' Sebastian was a bit ashamed. He had gone there with the intention of call out Chris but the tables had turned in a second and Chris had got him straight in the wound. ''She's my co-star'' ''And? Do you think you're entitled to control her life just because she's your co-star?'' Chris laughed. ''Please, do me a favour and calm yourself down. I know you like her and you're conflicted so I'm letting this one pass as it never happened but... make up your mind.'' Sebastian found it weird that he was told the same by two different people, Michael and Chris. ''Do it sooner rather than later because you'll lose your girlfriend, Morgan Llewellyn and who knows who else, okay?'' Chris patted his shoulder with tenderness and a bit of pity. ''Chris, one more thing...'' he looked as if he was fearing the answer. ''Do you like her?'' ''I met her half an hour ago. She's a nice woman. Interesting to talk to, very charismatic. Now I know why the general public likes her so much.'' Defeated, he went back to his table. Chris went back to Morgan who was very intrigued to know what the hell Sebastian wanted. ''He was jealous'' said Chris before Morgan asked anything. ''What an idiot. Does he fear me to be a bad influence on you?'' ''He wasn't jealous of you. He was jealous of me talking to you.'' Morgan looked at him with her eyebrows raised. Her face remained unemotional. ''That is even worse. The guy has a girlfriend.'' Chris didn't believe her for a second. Maybe her unemotional voice, relaxed body language and the expression of her eyes were pretty convincing but Chris was absolutely sure that there was something else between these two. ''Whatever Sebastian feels for you, is mutual, isn't it?'' There was no need to keep lying. Chris had caught her. ''How do you know? Nevermind... look, it's weird. We hardly ever talk let alone touch if it's not strictly scripted. So, I have no idea what the hell is going on.'' She was being honest, there were days that she was really confused about what the hell was going on. ''There's something implicit between you two and you'll never admit it to each other because you're too proud for that. And he also has a girlfriend, which complicates things even more. And he's scared to leave her because what if everything backfires and he ends up staying alone. And he's probably very confused. Nice situation he got himself in.'' ''Wow, you're good in this. Anyway, I won't do anything as long as he has a girlfriend. Cheating is always wrong and he should know it. And I'm no one's second choice. Well, maybe the second woman to play the Doctor after Jodie Whittaker who's amazing. Anyway, I won't ever be 'the other woman'. That's simple humiliating.'' and she wasn't counting on the fact that she had been his fan for years. Embarrassing stuff to the limit. ''Of course it is. You deserve...'' He was about to say 'better' but Morgan wasn't listening anymore. She was looking at the door, where Joe Alwyn was making his entrance (late, by the way) accompanied by a woman that everyone in this room knew. Taylor Swift. ''Oh my God.'' she mumbled, looking at Joe talking to Damien and introducing Taylor to him. ''I've loved this woman since 2009, and I can't believe she's in front of me.'' ''I saw her live once'' Chris commented. ''She's really good.'' She was going to tell something to Chris but it was too late because Joe was already there. ''Hey, Morgan!'' he cheerfully exclaimed. ''And... Oh My God, Chris Evans. Captain America. Wow.'' he was a bit dumfounded for a minute and he wasn't the only one. He was fangirling with Chris just like Morgan was fangirling with Taylor. The difference was that Morgan didn't let it show and Joe's eyes basically shouted 'I LOVE CHRIS EVANS'. ''Hi, I'm Taylor!'' Morgan was surprised that bloody Taylor Swift was introducing herself in such a simple manner. ''Joe told me a lot about you. Believe it or not I've seen you before! I saw Lady Macbeth with Joe in 2016. I had to put on a wig just to pass as a normal person. But you were fantastic, really moving and wonderful. When Joe told me who you were I basically clapped like a seal.'' Morgan was sure that she was looking as starstruck as Joe. And she had performed in front of Taylor Swift in 2016 and she was learning about it in 2018. Nice. ''I've admired you since 2009. I know all of your lyrics, they've helped me out so many times to count.'' They were praising each other for a while and then went on talking about whatever that crossed their minds. Acting, cast mates, Hollywood, childhood stories. Anything. On his table Sebastian was with a wide smile. She had never loved Taylor Swift as much as at that moment. He wanted to stick a poster of her in his room. Thanks to her, Morgan had moved away from Chris. ''Someone should call Lord Voldemort to come and pick up his people.'' said Will, pointing at Morgan and Taylor with his head. ''They kind of look alike except from the hair colour.'' Sebastian disagreed with everything he had said. ''No. They don't look similar at all.'' once again he was making the stupid mistake of talking before thinking, ''Morgan has no comparison. She's the most beautiful woman in the world, hands down.'' He knew immediately that he shouldn't have said that. At least not in front of his girlfriend. ''You know what?'' she asked with coldness in her voice. ''Enjoy the rest of your night.'' Without saying a thing more, she stood up and left. ''Florence, wait, I'm sorry!'' ''Just, stay here, okay?'' Will was taking the situation under control before Sebastian made more of a mess causing a public scandal. ''I'll drive her home and make sure she's okay. You screwed this up.'' On the way out Florence didn't want to look at Morgan Llewellyn because she was sure that she had her signature sarcastic side smile, buy she did it anyway. And she had been wrong because Morgan was immersed into a conversation with Taylor Swift and hadn't noticed anything at all. Florence hated that harpy more than anyone she had ever met. Sebastian was looking around, making sure no one had noticed that fight with his girlfriend. But there was only Harrison Osterfield on a near table, typing something on his phone, not aware of anything. Morgan only noticed that something had happened when she had got a text from Harrison  with all the gossip. And Taylor had also noticed something. ''I think your co-star is in trouble'' she said. Of course that Joe had told Taylor all about Sebastian and Morgan's constant bickering on set. ''I think he is'' Morgan was still looking at her phone. ''Are you two still fighting?'' she asked and Morgan wanted to laugh. Not even in her wildest dreams she could have imagined that someday she was going to be a topic of conversation for Taylor Swift and her boyfriend. ''Sort of.'' she simply said. She glanced at Sebastian who was looking a bit miserable and lonely. And she felt pity for him. Curse the fangirl feelings. ''I don't know why I'm doing this but... do you want to meet him?'' she asked Taylor who simply nodded. She made her way towards Sebastian's table with Taylor closely following. When they got there, they sat at Sebastian's side. ''I don't know what's happening to me, Stan but... I feel sorry for you.'' ''I didn't know you were capable of feeling, Llewellyn. This is a nice surprise.'' ''Oh, and... Sebastian, this is Taylor Swift. Taylor, this is Sebastian Stan.'' For some reason Sebastian wasn't very excited at meeting one of the most famous persons in the world. He was more busy guessing why Morgan had decided to talk to him at all. ''Nice to meet you. I really like your songs.'' it was the most stupid thing he had ever said but luckily for him, Taylor didn't seem to mind. ''And I saw you in I, Tonya. You were absolutely fantastic. It was outrageous that the Academy snubbed you. As outrageous as Morgan not getting nominated to the Lawrence Olivier.'' ''And Red deserved a Grammy'' Morgan and Sebastian said at the same time. It was the first time in his life that he admitted to liking that particular album. Morgan kept her intense gaze fixed on Sebastian. ''Look, I'm going to be honest here'' she suddenly said. ''I mean it when I said that I was sorry for you. You look so unhappy and lonely here that it makes me feel bad. You should be with us, dancing, talking and having fun. Make up your mind, Sebastian.'' this was the third time he was told of this in just one night. And somehow Morgan Llewellyn was more convincing than Michael or Chris. ''It's time for you to do what you want, not what you need. Just like I do.'' He looked at her with raised eyebrows. But what Morgan had just said made perfect sense. ''And does it work?'' he asked with genuine curiosity. He couldn't believe he was planning to follow Morgan's life advice. ''Just look at me! I've always done whatever the hell I wanted and look where I am!'' she got closer to him. ''I think it's worth a try.'' she whispered on his ear. ''Let's take a picture together! For sure it'd get attention! Can we kiss you on the cheeks?'' ''Go ahead'' he tried to keep calm. Morgan placed her head on his shoulder and he almost got dizzy with her fragance. She smelled like diamonds, fun, excitement, the city after dark and passionate nights. Before he knew she was 'kissing' him on the cheek, but barely touching him. Taylor had just wrapped an arm around his shoulder and making a face. And that was the picture. Just in this moment, Hey Ya by Outkast started to blast throughout the place. Even Damien was dancing. ''This song!'' Taylor exclaimed with a big grin. ''We have to dance!'' ''This song is my childhood'' Morgan and Taylor stood up at the same time. Sebastian thought that Morgan was exaggerating when she had said that this song was her childhood as he had been in his early twenties when that song came out. Then he remembered that Morgan was just twenty five and she was like ten or eleven when she was listening to Outkast. Yeah, that song was her childhood. He saw Morgan making her way to the dancefloor but she stopped in the middle of the way and came back to where he was. ''Come'' she suddenly said. He was expecting anything from Morgan but not this. ''What?'' he blinked a couple of times, confused. ''Come with us and have fun''. She extended her perfectly manicured hand and without thinking it twice he took it in his, with a smile on his face.

Morgan Llewellyn during this whole chapter:

P.S. my Morgan is painful to deal with but I love her. 

[agustdtoaspringday]

Beautiful Embers Pt. 3/?

Warnings: Blood, Violence, Kidnapping, Plague, Gangs, Illness, I love EXO I just needed someone to be that bad guys so please no hate, Probably a bunch of other stuff that I'm forgetting or will add in later.

Eventual JiminxReader

Jungkook is the youngest member of BANGTAN the larges gang in the region. In a world still recovering from the plague eight years ago, this is a big deal. Everyone wants a piece of that power. He had no idea, however, just what lengths they’re willing to go to.

Word Count:2234

AN: Ahh sorry you guys, back to school has me in a frenzy. Hopefully the wait for chapter four will be smaller. Also what do you guys think of Epiphany and twice’s new song? Jin is killing me with those visuals and  his voice. I’ve probably watched the video a hundred times, no joke. I definitely haven’t listened to BDZ ten times, nope. Also, I don't’ know why people are upset over the new comeback photos. Our boys are slaying those outfits and photos, just my thoughts. 

The days spent in my little cell blended together as time wore on.  My only way of telling time were the boys bringing two small meals a day, which were by no means enough to sustain a human being. As nine days bled into ten I could feel my muscle slowly being eaten away by my own body.  My cell neighbor hadn’t spoken a word to me since the first morning, not that I hadn’t tried. Any form of conversation I tried to begin was met by nothing but the steady sound of his breathing and the water slowly dripping from some corner in this basement that both drove me insane and kept me mentally stable.  

It was the tenth day when I saw my captors again. They slammed open my cell door, jarring me from sleep. There were two of them. One had the sides of his head shaved, and the other was sporting hair darker than ink. Both of them were dressed from nose to toe in black, including black boots, gloves, and scarves to conceal their faces.

The one with the shaved head marched over to where I sat in a daze on the floor. He used a gloved hand to grip my throat and pull me to my feet.  I was met with dark eyes as my lungs screamed for air before a harsh punch was delivered to my face.

“Now you’re gonna listen to us, little princeling,  and no one gets hurt,” the one still standing in at the cell door spoke calmly, as if he was explaining the rules to some game to a petulant child.

“The first question is easy,” He continued stalking closer as my eyes followed his every movement. Noticing this, he made sure I caught a glimpse of the wicked blade he held loosely in his hand.

“Who are the main members of BANGTAN?  Not all of them are as dumb as you and instead use code names, we can’t find their records or any information on them,” He demanded as though he was just asking what the weather was like.

I hadn’t thought of that. Although I had wondered why the hyungs used code names such as RM, V, Suga, and J-Hope, it had never occurred to me that it was yet another form of protection. It made sense.  Many of the major groups, including BANGTAN, would hack into files and find information on their enemies.  They would try and find weaknesses, what type of education they had, if they had any family still alive, ext.  If they couldn’t find the hyungs in the system, then they couldn’t find any information on them.

“What makes you think there is anything to tell?” I growled back at him with the little air allowed into my lungs.  His partner didn’t seem too happy with my answer. His hand around my throat tightened while he used his free one to deliver a punishing blow to my nose. I felt the hot liquid pour from my nose and down my face.  The telltale metallic taste of blood coated my tongue as he and I continued to glare at each other. I refused to struggle or let him see just how much strain the lack of oxygen was putting on my body.

“I’m gonna give you one more chance kid,” The man by the door said, fixing me with a look that chilled the blood still running through my veins.

“Give us the names, or my friend here will make you wish you had.”

A pregnant pause filled the cell as I held his gaze.

“Go fuck yourself,” I growled.  

The next moment I was being thrown to the ground. I tried to scramble to my feet only to be met with a steel toed boot to my ribcage. The next thing I knew my head was slamming into the cement floor and the man who had been holding me to the wall was on top of me.

I was barely to register as he pinned me beneath him with his weight. Once again he placed one hand around my throat and squeezed while the other battered my face. Sometime during my oxygen-deprived haze I felt him get off of me, only to be met with an onslaught of kicks thrown at my limp body. I tried to shield myself but my head was pounding too much from the collision with the ground and my lungs were still trying to take in air correctly. Eventually my body gave in and everything went black.

 ***

 I woke up with my eyes still closed. All I could feel was pain, I was in so much pain. Everything hurt from my head to my toes, but my neck, head, and abdomen were particularly sore. I hadn’t even moved yet. Slowly I peeled my eyes open wincing as the sensitive skin stretched and crinkled. Judging by the light in the makeshift prison area, it was sometime in the late afternoon or early evening. Had I been out that long?

I slowly sat up, groaning as pain burst through my protesting stomach.  There was a small tray of food sitting near the corner of the straw mattress I was on. For a moment I wondered how I had ended up on it when I had passed out on the other side of the cell. That thought was quickly extinguished by the hunger roaring through my entire being. I didn’t even look at the food as I devoured it, and stared longingly at the tray when it was empty.

“I was wondering when you’d wake up,” The mystery man from next door said, surprising me.

“Why,” I groaned.

“You didn’t wake up when they brought dinner yesterday or breakfast this morning, I thought maybe they’d killed you by accident, wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Wait,” I said my brain swirling, dinner, breakfast, “How long was I out?”

“They knocked you out yesterday morning before they brought me breakfast; it’s almost time for dinner today. Do the math yourself.” He sounded tired, but he always did.  I wondered if it was from being locked in this dungeon for five years

“What did you mean it wouldn’t be the first time they killed someone,” I asked, trying to hide my labored breathing. My whole body was screaming for relief I couldn’t provide.

“The brutes don’t know their own strength,” He replied sounding more and more exhausted with each word.

“They interrogate some poor kid who won’t talk, or maybe doesn’t even have the answers they’re looking for. They go too far, and the kid doesn’t wake up. The body usually has to start smelling before they clear it out.”

“God,” I gasped, unable to even imagine being trapped in a cell next to a dead body, “I’m… I’m sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing to me, I’m not the one they killed,” He snapped.  I would have responded but the door suddenly opened.   I heard footsteps walk down the hallway and near the cell next to mine.  I  held my breath in anticipation, but a wave of relief came over me when I saw Junsu sliding the tray into my cell. I had begun to worry when another boy had delivered my meals for the past few days. My only reassurance was that his older brother had not seemed worried.

“Thank you,” I whispered when he purposely pushed the tray with more force than usual into the cell, causing it to slide further in, lessening the distance I would have to move to reach it. He nodded before running off.

Six days later…

“So how long until you’re brilliant plan works,” I huffed out into the humid air during the freezing afternoon of my seventeenth day in the small cell. I had mentally calculated how long it should take to get a message to BANGTAN and then how long it would take for them to find their way here. By my estimate it was about a week.

“Soon,” My neighbor sighed, not caring about my mental dilemma. He had seemingly become quieter over the last six days. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was as if I could hear the strength leaving his body.

“When is soon?”  I asked unable to keep the bite out of my voice. I was getting sick of sitting in the same cell day after day, getting woken up by those thugs demanding information only to be knocked out when I refused to give any. I would wake up later in the afternoon and force as much as the increasingly disgusting ‘breakfast’ down my throat before staring at the wall and watching the shadows move. Then dinner would come, I would ask how long until my neighbor’s plan should be fulfilled. Every day I would get the same answer he gave me yet again.

“Soon, you’ll see.”

I huffed, more than annoyed. I should have known better than to trust the shady kid in the cell next to mine. He probably was just enjoying my suffering and was using the promise of rescue to keep me from submitting. The anger and betrayal I had felt building in my chest burst out when I snapped.

“You can’t actually do anything to help me, can you?” I accused him, annoyance and venom slipping into my voice no matter how much I tried to control it.

“You’re probably just using me as some sick form of entertainment. He isn’t your brother, is he? You’ve probably just been here a few weeks more than me and got bored, so you decided to mess with the new guy. I give up. I’m done playing you’re game. You don’t get to mess with people’s lives anymore.”  

All of the anger I had built up during the last few weeks poured out. Some of it, most of it, should have been directed at my captors, but without them to lash out at he was the next best thing.   He angered me more when he just sighed and said,

“You’ll see.”  

“No,” I said raising my voice, “I’m sick of empty promises that I knew better than to trust. I trusted you. Do you realize that? I gave you my trust and you shattered it. You can’t help me; otherwise you would have helped yourself long ago.”

“Be quiet,” He barked back, surprising me.  

“No I’m sick of you, and you’re all-knowing attitude,” I continued only to be interrupted again.

“I’m serious Jungkook-ssi, shut up right not.”

“No, get it through you’re thick skull…” I started to yet again be cut off, this time by the door banging open.

“What are you two doing down here,” A man I had never seen bellowed as he stomped down the short stone hallway. I couldn’t clearly see his face, but merely from the sound of his voice I could tell he wasn’t someone I had met yet.  Judging by the small whimper from the cell next to me, however, my neighbor had.

“Are you causing trouble again little fox?” I heard him sneer at the boy in the neighboring cell. I could smell alcohol on his breath even from this distance.

“You know what happens when you cause trouble,” He continued and I heard the cell door creak open.

“Leave him alone. He’s just a little kid,” I heard the boy yell; voice surprisingly higher than it had been not even a minute ago. I heard the sounds of a scuffle and what sounded like a punch being thrown.  The next thing I knew the pair was walking past my cell. The guard was holding my neighbor by the back of his neck, nearly dragging him towards the door.  

For the first time in the two weeks I had been here I saw my neighbor. He was smaller than I had even expected and his clothes hung on him like wet towels on a drying line. Dirt smeared every inch of his body and clothes. His hair was covered by an equally dirty beanie that could have been any color but had since faded to a dull brown. His small feet were bare and callused and he was drug trough the small dungeon. I caught his line of sight just as the door was about to close. He was still struggling against the guard’s hold, hurling insults left and right, attempting to loosen his grip by clawing and flailing about.

“Get the runt,” The guard yelled just as the door closed.

Runt, that’s what I’d heard them refer to Junsu as multiple times. ‘Come on runt, quickly.’ ‘What are you waiting for runt?’  ‘Get movin’ runt.’

My heart sunk in my chest and my throat closed up when I realized what was about to happen. Junsu would be punished because I couldn’t keep my damn mouth shut.

Neither of them reappeared that night, and a different boy brought dinner. Only one the tray, I noticed and realized that I would be alone in the dungeon tonight.

***

It was the middle of the night, it must have been.  So why were people yelling?  I couldn’t make out voices, but there was obviously some type of serious verbal altercation happening just outside of the door.

For the second time that day, or was it now the next day now, the door slammed open and a yelling man walked into the dungeon…

[coolandspice]

Affirmation

Saeran Choi Week 2018 7th Day : Birthday || Reunion

Summary:  On the morning after Mint Eye’s arrest, Saeran is unexpectedly reunited with MC when he saves her from danger, again. 

AO3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/15328704

Setting:  Ray Route Bad Relationship End 2

A/N: Here’s the long overdue Part 2 to my fic, It All Comes Back - MC’s side of the story. This one is both a parallel and a sequel to the first fic. Tagging @saeranchoiweek again as this is still an entry to Saeran Week 2018.

A real-time footage of the façade of an apartment complex is currently playing on the computer screen. There’s nothing to show except for a lady tenant entering her unit. Saeran watches the feed a minute more before deciding to get back to his work on consolidating evidences against Mint Eye.

“Go talk to her.”                                                                        

Saeran sighs as he turns away from the computer to face his older twin who enters the computer room with a pack of Honey Butter chips on hand. “You know I can’t.”

“Sure you can.” Saeyoung insists. “You just don’t want to, despite stalking her for months already.”

The younger twin pouts at the insinuation. “I’m just checking on her occasionally.”

Saeyoung stops stuffing his face with this favorite chips. He slowly licks his lips and flashes a shit-eating grin on Saeran. “If ‘occasionally’ means having hacked and reprogrammed the street CCTV camera positioned across her apartment building to send real-time footages to your computer every 8AM and 6PM, then sure, you only check on her,” he makes air-quotation marks with his fingers, “occasionally.”

“I-wha-how did you know that?” Saeran sputters, a raging blush creeps up on his cheeks. His skin is almost as red as their natural hair color now.

Saeyoung laughs out loud, thoroughly amused at Saeran’s indignation. “Well, this is my house and that,” he points at Saeran’s computer, “is my old computer. You can’t keep secrets from me when you’re using my old gadgets, Bro.”

The younger twin narrows his eyes at his brother. “You’re unbelievable.”

Saeyoung laughs again then ends it with a sigh, his face turning serious. “Go back to her, Saeran. I only got to talk to her in the chatroom but I know she’s a good girl. You shouldn’t make her worry for this long.”

“She’s an angel.” Saeran whispers wistfully. “But she’s better off without me. I…” he sighs, “I did despicable things to her. I don’t deserve to see her anymore.”

“Funny, that’s also how I used to think before I got kidnapped and thought I was gonna die without seeing my twin again.” Saeyoung smiles as he looks directly at his brother. “Thank God I was rescued by the exact person I wanted to see the most.”

Saeran shakes his head. “It’s not the same. You left because you thought it’s what’s good for us back then. You entered the Agency so Father can’t trace you and you trusted V and Rika that they will take care of me.” He says. “I left her behind because I can’t take the guilt anymore. I’ve hurt her, Hyung.”

“I think you’ve more than made up to her by getting her out of Mint Eye.” says Saeyoung.

“I got her out because I brought her there in the first place.” Saeran counters.

“Why are you so stubborn about this?” Saeyoung sighs again. “From what I remember from the chats, she likes you a lot – No, she loves you.  She purposely hid the fact that she was with you, the hacker back then, to protect you.”

“That was before I hurt her.” Saeran sighs. “She must hate me now.”

“Well, you would know.” Saeyoung lifts his glasses and massages the bridge of his nose. “You hated me when you thought I abandoned you. So now you think she hates you because you left her without an explanation.”

“That’s not true!” Saeran protests but Saeyoung looks at him sternly.

The younger twin averts his eyes. “Well, yeah, I did. I let Mint Eye make me hate you for leaving me behind.”

Saeyoung takes in a deep breath, readying himself for a long talk. “Saeran, don’t be like me. I left you without telling you why. I never checked how you were. I deluded myself that you’re doing okay with Rika because of the pictures she showed me. I know I should have at least checked on you personally, even just once. I kept telling myself that secret agents can’t have ties so I’m not allowed to see you. But in fact, I was afraid that if I see you, I’ll never be able to leave you again. I was a coward, Saeran.”

“Hyung, stop.” Saeran pleads. “We’ve talked about this before. We’ve decided to move on from that. No more blaming.”

“Then stop blaming yourself as well, Saeran.” Saeyoung follows up. “I’m thankful that you have forgiven me, but you have to forgive yourself too. You were not in total control when you were in Mint Eye. You know that, right?”

Saeran raises his hands in surrender. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”

The look on Saeyoung’s face is skeptical but he decides to drop the subject for now. He simply nods at his brother and leaves the room, probably to get a can of Doctor Pepper.

Saeran returns to his work, pulling up multiple media websites in search of more news that may relate to Magenta and Mint Eye.

Days passed in the Choi Bunker quietly, both twins working on the Mint Eye plan as per instructed by V and Jumin. The other RFA members are doing their best to help out too, with the exception of Yoosung who still has to come into terms with the truth about Rika. It was a hard pill to swallow so it was implicitly agreed on that they will give him the time and space he needs to sort his feelings.

V keeps in touch with the twins this time, making sure that they are both safe. He does not fail to remind them that he’d already lost them at two separate occasions. He and Saeran worked hard to recover Saeyoung from their father’s clutches and get the twins to reunite. V will be damned if it they get separated again. That’s why the guy calls the twins alternately every night. V never misses, not even on the day RFA exposed Mint Eye to the media.

It was a hectic day, with the RFA on the forefront, naming politicians, businessmen and other influential people involved in Mint Eye’s activities. The invited Media personnel at the press conference had a field day, asking questions left and right. Thankfully, ZEN, RFA’s elected spokesperson, did a wonderful job of delivering RFA’s stance on the issue. Given that he’s an actor, he will also be benefitting from the exposure. This is, of course, included in Saeyoung’s calculations. As it was immediately decided that the Choi twins will not be involved in RFA’s press con due to their family situation, Saeyoung and Saeran worked hard on the preparation aspect, crunching data that would benefit RFA’s cause before and during the conference. They also prepared multiple contingencies for several scenarios as requested by Jumin and Jaehee.

As the day comes to a close, Saeran’s phone rings right on cue. It was time for V’s call. Saeran shows the caller id to Saeyoung and signals that he will be going out of the computer room for a while to answer V.

Saeran sits on the couch as he picks up the call. “Hello, V.”

“I’d like to thank you again, Saeran.” V says on the phone. “We wouldn’t get this far without you and Saeyoung. By now, all of Korea already knows about Mint Eye and the evil it brought to its believers.”

“Are you sure about this, V?” Saeran asks him. “The Savior – I mean, Rika will be arrested too.”

V doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he sighs over the mic.

“I know it’s my ego talking, but I feel it’s my responsibility to stop Rika as her ex-lover. At first, I thought I can save her but when I learned of what she’s done to you and the other believers… what she’s done to her…” V sighs again, his tone regretful, “I knew it was too late. She needs to be stopped.”

Saeran stiffens, the memory of the night in the dungeons coming back to him. It’s been months since her cleansing but he has never forgotten that moment. He knew he hurt her more than the elixir’s damage to her physical body. When she realized he had forced her to take the sleeping pill through a kiss, she looked so betrayed and disappointed. It broke his heart to see her like that. He only wished she finds happiness outside of Magenta. He still hates himself for making her cry that time.

“Saeran?” V asks when he noticed that Saeran is not replying to him. “Is everything okay?”

Saeran closes his eyes and massages the bridge of his nose. “I’m fine, just tired I think… I need to go.”

“Then I’ll hang up now so you can rest.” V says. “Thank you for your hard work, Saeran.”  

“Yeah.” Saeran says weakly as he hangs up. He closes his eyes again, trying to not be bothered by his headache. He walks slowly walks back to the computer room. He sees Saeyoung talking on the phone. His brother mouths “V” as he points at his phone. Saeran nods. He whispers “I’ll take a break for now.”

Saeyoung gives him a look, silently asking how he’s feeling. “I’m fine.” Saeran assures him as he leaves.

He walks to his room and as he enters it, he feels slightly better already.

His room doesn’t have much: a single bed, a closet and a computer table. The growing potted succulent by his bedside table is the lone décor.  Saeyoung offered to get him more things but he refused, knowing he will be more comfortable to stay and rest in a simple room.

He opens his closet and changes into a loose shirt and shorts. He then settles on his bed and dims the light. The night is still young but the dull throbbing in his head will only be gone with sleep so decides to just sleep early for the night.

Hours passed as the night turns to day. Saeran wakes up with a start, panting from the recurring dream of his last moments with MC before he brought her out of Mint Eye and left her at Rika’s apartment. The betrayed look of MC’s face torments him as he recalls his dream again.

“I’m sorry.” he says as his heart continues to drum against his chest. “I’m so sorry, MC.”

The guilt weighs heavily on his mind until he couldn’t take it anymore. He scrambles out of his bed and heads to the computer. He turns it on and opens the application for the video feed. The still video of the apartment façade helps him calm down until eventually his heart rate returns to normal. Just seeing the building where he knows MC is in comforts him.

He was about to close the video feed when he sees MC coming out of the gates. She looks decent at first glance but he could see the disheveled state she is in. Saeran could tell she isn’t going out for work as she’s only got a small bag with her instead of the usual backpack she brings with her.

Instinct tells Saeran that something is not right. He sees her in the video feed, swiping and tapping anxiously at her phone then looking left and right, as if waiting for something. Then a black taxi arrives and she gets inside.

Saeran can’t shake the feeling she is getting herself into trouble again. He’s reminded of the time she willingly got in a car blindfolded just because a voice on the phone told her to. She’s too trusting and kind for her own good. Granted, it’s one of the things he loves about her, but it’s also the one filling his heart with dread and anxiety now.

As if on autopilot, Saeran’s fingers immediately start typing away on the keyboard. The search begins with the taxi’s plate number. In less than five minutes, he has the car’s destination, the driver’s bio and the car’s ownership history all printed on a letter-sized paper.

He commits all the information to his mind as he strips out of his sleepwear and slips on a black zip-up jacket over a red tank top, pants and boots. He runs out of his room fast and heads straight to the garage. Thankfully, Saeyoung’s garage door is an automatic roll-up so he just flips the switch. It’s fully opened by the time he gets on the gray Maserati and drives out of the house. He almost wants to floor the gas and break the city speed limits just catch up on MC’s cab

Not too long after, Saeyoung calls him. Saeran slips on his Bluetooth headset and answers the call.

“Where are you going?” Saeyoung asks. “Don’t tell me you’re eating take-outs for breakfast now.”

“Police station.” Saeran answers curtly. “It’s important.”

Saeyoung is quiet on his side for a few beats. “Just be careful, okay? Take care of yourself and MC.”

“I am not gonna ask anymore how you know I’m on my way to MC.”

“We’re twins, remember? We are always connected, Saeran.”

Saeran’s lips curl into a semblance of a smile. “Yeah. I’m glad we never lost it, Hyung.”

Saeyoung sputters on the phone then there’s a loud ‘bam’ that sounded like he dropped his phone and the call ended. Saeran couldn’t help chuckling at his twin’s misfortune. He hopes the phone wasn’t cracked or damaged.

He rechecks the GPS on the Maserati as he turns his full attention on the road again. According to his search on the cab’s company files, its destination is the City Police Station investigating the Mint Eye case. He is now terribly worried for MC as the place will be full of media personnel on the lookout for the latest scoop on the scandal. The V, Jumin and Jaehee will be there for questioning regarding the evidences they presented the other day.

“Please, don’t let her get caught up in this again.” He prays in his heart.

As expected, the police station is packed with people. He parks the car far a little bit far away from the crowd, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention onto it.

After making sure that the car is secured, he runs into the police station’s parking area, looking for MC.

He looks around for that familiar figure, hoping that she is safe. His heart almost stops when he sees her by the sidewalk, talking to a man whom he recognizes as one of Mint Eye’s believers. She looks distraught, slowly stepping back from the man. When the man seizes her arm and pulls, Saeran saw red and ran towards them.

“Sir, you’re hurting me. Let me go,” she says as she pulls back her arm.

Saeran’s jaw clenched as he tries to rein the anger inside him. It’s been a while since he felt anger as extreme as this. He could almost hear the dark voice inside him coming back. He slows his breathing to calm himself. He knows there are ways other than anger to handle the situation. When he feels relatively less angry, he calls out to the man.

“Let the lady go.”

Both the man and MC freeze up. He can tell the believer recognizes him as the guy drops MC’s arm and steps backwards. “Mr. Saeran.” he says fearfully. He turns and runs away from MC.

Meanwhile, MC is rooted on her place, her back stiff on her small frame. From their distance, Saeran could already tell that MC has lost some weight since he last saw her. Her arms and waist are slimmer than what he can remember.

“You really need to be more careful, Miss. Your guard is too low.” He tells her.

When MC turns around, it was like a slow-motion video. The way her breath hitches, her hair swaying, up to how she her face lights up when she recognizes him, Saeran saw everything. She is as beautiful as he can remember, if not more.

“Saeran.” she says.

Her voice is as how he remembers it too: as sweet as ice cream.

Suddenly feeling shy, he manages a small, awkward smile at her. “Hello, MC.”

MC crosses the distance between them, almost tackling him when she hugged him. Thankfully, he catches her quick and managed to keep them both standing. MC buries her face on his chest and he’s slightly worried that she will hear how loud his heart is currently beating.

“You’re real.” MC says as she pulls away slightly to face him. She reaches up to him and touches his cheek. “Saeran.”

“How are you?” He asks her. “Did that man hurt you?”

MC shakes her head. “I’m fine now.”

He panics when a tear suddenly drops from MC’s eyes. “MC!? You’re crying?”

She retracts her hand and touches her own cheek. “I-I’m crying. Oh gosh, this is embarrassing.”

Before he knew it, Saeran is already wiping her tears with his finger as he touches her cheek. “I made you cry again.”

MC leans on his hand and closes her eyes. “I missed you a lot.” She says softly. “But you’re here now, that’s what matters.”

Saeran’s heart flutters as she opens her eyes again and looks at him with very loving eyes. His heart is instantly filled with love and affection for her, he’s sure it will burst soon.

Driven by instinct, they both lean in towards the other and finally… finally he’s kissing her again. The memory of her lips from long ago preciously archived in his heart is renewed. Her nose lightly bumping against his and her soft lips making sweet, sweet whimpers as he dives in deeper into their kiss; everything about her in his memories is renewed. Her hands wrap around his neck and pull him even closer. He wraps his arms around her in response, settling them on the curves of her hips. Her body, warm and pliant, fits perfectly against him.

He missed her so much that he that the feelings inside him is overwhelming him. He’s drowning in her presence but he doesn’t want to let go. If time would stop right then and there, he will not have any regrets. They are together again and that’s all that matters to him right now.

Eventually, Saeran breaks their kiss to allow her to breathe. He goes for other places in the meantime: her forehead, her cheeks, her nose and even her neck. When he lightly bites, sucks and licks in a particular spot on the junction between her neck and shoulder, her stifled moan blazed a stronger desire within him to claim her.

“S-Saeran.” she whimpers, hands clutched at his shoulders. “W-wait.”

Saeran stills when he hears her. Guilt crashed on him like a bucket of iced water as he is immediately reminded of that time he acted this way in Magenta.

“I’m sorry.” He feels ashamed for losing control. He kisses her quick on the lips to apologize.

“Don’t apologize. I-I liked it.” She whispers. “Just that ---“

MC’s knees folded under her, unable to take in the stimulation anymore. Thankfully, Saeran was quick to catch her. She looks up to him sheepishly, a raging blush creeping from her cheeks to her chest. “T-thank you.”

“Are you okay? What happened?” he asks her. He helps her stand straight again but she keeps wobbling as her knees refuse to support her.

“The strength left my legs.” she answers, still breathless.

Her embarrassment is so apparent that Saeran feels a little bad for thinking how cute she is at the moment. He also can’t help the little pride blooming in his chest for affecting her so much just by kissing. Still, Saeran tries to maintain a neutral face as he asks her. “Do you want to sit down?”

MC nods, holding tighter on him. “Please.”

He looks around the parking lot for a bench or some place they could use but there isn’t one in sight.

Saeran thinks fast for an alternative. As much as he likes the way MC is holding on to him at the moment, he still wants MC to be able to relax.

“There’s no bench in here.” He tells her. “But I brought a car. Do you want to rest in there?”

MC nods again, her face buried on his chest.

Judging that she’s in no shape to walk, he scoops her up in his arms and carried her to the car, bridal style. As he walks to the Maserati, he sneaks a peak at her form and finds her utterly adorable with the way she’s clinging onto him and muttering about how embarrassed she is.

He sets her down by the passenger seat then placed a kiss on her forehead. “How are you now?”

MC takes a moment to massage her knees to check. “I think they’re fine now.”

The tension he didn’t know was there left his body. “That’s great.”

He gently closed the door and circles around the car. He opens the driver’s seat and got inside. Once settled, he looks at her briefly, taking in her profile view. “Should I take you home?”

“No!” MC blurted, surprising both herself and Saeran. “I mean, “she tries again, “no, don’t take me home yet. I want to stay with you longer, Saeran.” She takes his left hand and laced her fingers with his. “I really missed you. I wanna be with you.”

Saeran’s heart flutters as MC looks at him with loving eyes again. “I missed you too, MC.” He tells her back, immediately feeling the inadequacy of the expression to describe how he felt being away from her all those months. He leans into the passenger seat and shared a quick kiss with her again.

“So where do we go?” he asks her as he pulls away from her.

“Have you eaten? How about we go for a quick breakfast?” MC suggests. “My favorite café has a great breakfast menu plus their coffee is divine.”

By the way she lights up so beautifully in the prospect of having breakfast with him, she could have asked him to bring her to the skies and he will bring her there by all means. He may not have totally forgiven himself yet for what he did to her in the past, but if being with him makes her happy, he will do it. So he returns the sunny smile she gave him and holds her hand tighter.

“Breakfast sounds great.”

[daedriclorde]

Krent Mon Do Akatosh

Homecoming; Chapter 5, “Promise Me”

Final Chapter! 

Aerisif was crouched in the shadows, invisible. She had the perfect opportunity, but hated what she was about to do. Taking a silent, steadying breath, she reached into Brynjolf’s pockets.

The Guild Second was oblivious to his pocket being picked. Aerisif tenuously pulled out a folded piece of parchment, and caught a ring before it could clang on the stone floor. She released the breath she had been holding, and scanned the ink scrawled on the paper. Her eyes widened as she looked at the ring.

“Brynjolf what the fuck is this?”

Brynjolf nearly jumped out of his skin. “Aerisif! What are you doing there?” He saw what she was holding and turned cross. The commotion had drawn the attention of Delvin and Vex, who silently strode over. “That’s personal, lass.” Brynjolf reached and snatched the paper from her, only to have it yanked from his hands by Delvin.

Delvin read the note, whistled low, and handed it to Vex. “Looks like we’re in some deep shit, boss,” Delvin said dryly. Vex read the note and slammed it angrily on the table.

Aerisif fixed Brynjolf with an iron glare. “Explain yourself. The Guild doesn’t take sides in the war.”

Brynjolf shifted uncomfortably. “It’s none of your business—“

“This is my guild. It most certainly is my business. Talk,” She commanded.

The red haired man bowed his head in defeat and sighed. “When we were captured in Falkreath,” he began slowly, “and I was left for dead, I said a priest revived me. That was only a fraction of the truth.”

Aerisif tensed.

“The ‘priest’ was more of one schooled in Restoration, and was one of a group of Thalmor that found me. They had seen that the Imperials had tried to eliminate me, and guessed I might be important in the war and revived me. Only to torture and question me,” Brynjolf shuddered slightly.

Aerisif, Delvin, and Vex all exchanged a glance.

“The Thalmor quickly found out about who I was, about the Guild, our members. Who we protect. Our location. I—I tried not to tell them, but I just couldn’t stand it—you don’t know what they can do, I—“

Aerisif put a comforting hand on Brynjolf’s shoulder, but said nothing. Vex crossed her arms impatiently.

Brynjolf continued. “I had revealed too much. They had a puppet and they knew it. Under threat of decimating the Guild, they’ve been forcing me to steal from Jarls and Thanes and other important citizens, and framing others for the crimes. Just to keep the war going.”

Aerisif felt her stomach turn. The Thalmor were the most despised of all the foes she fought.

Vex spat and swore. Delvin pondered a moment, then spoke. “That’s where you’ve been sneaking off to, innit? To get your fuckin’ orders.”

Brynjolf nodded and pulled out an amulet that gleamed like Elven armor. “They use this to communicate. It…it burns when they want me to come to them.”

“Where,” Vex spoke. It was not a question.

Brynjolf turned to face her. “It doesn’t concern you where.”

Vex growled. “I have a right to know what threatens this guild as much as you do, traitor.”

Aerisif shot Vex a warning look and turned to Brynjolf. “I need to know everything. Where are they, Brynjolf?”

Brynjolf ran his fingers through his hair. “There’s a cave southwest of the city. They’re holed up in there. Not far.”

Aerisif’s expression was stony. “What happens if you refuse?”

Brynjolf’s face turned grave and he aged years at the question. He answered in a strained voice. “They…they strike the Guild. I refused once…that’s when,” his voice broke, “Thats when they took Etienne. He was a warning shot to the Guild.” Brynjolf fought to keep the tears from spilling past his eyes.

“That was your fault?!” Vex lunged, but Brynjolf rolled away. Delvin was shouting.

Aerisif quickly regretted not having this conversation in private as she realized a small gathering of guild members were nearby and eavesdropping.

Etienne’s face turned white, and he sank to the floor. Thrynn grabbed Brynjolf by the collar and tried to shake him, while Brynjolf threw a punch aimed at Thrynn’s face.

The dragon in Aerisif’s chest roared. This will not do.

Aerisif unsheathed her sinister blade, gathered up her stamina, and slammed the blade down on the stone. A crimson streak of energy sliced open the air in front of the strike, making the very Cistern bleed. The resounding clang of metal on stone cut through the din of the scuffle, and everyone froze. All eyes were on her. Delvin eyed Aerisif’s sword.

Blade still in hand, Aerisif stood tall and addressed the thieves around her. “We. Will. NOT. Be rent apart by infighting at a time like this. You would let the Thalmor win? Let them tear apart this Guild like they are trying to do to Skyrim? This is what they want! This is what they do! I will NOT have it.”

The only sound was the shallow water trickling around the Cistern. Thrynn released Brynjolf.

Aerisif continued. “There is only one option here. We will not be the puppets of the Thalmor. And I will not allow anyone else to be harmed by them. Get back to work, all of you.” The gathered thieves dispersed.

Delvin, Vex, and Brynjolf walked over to Aerisif. “What are you going to do?” Vex shot the question like an accusation.

Aerisif turned to Brynjolf. “Draw out a map of this cave.”

He sat down at the table and Aerisif hovered over his shoulder while he drew. “Right. So this is the entrance to the cave, its marked by a rune painted on the stone. Almost impossible to see it if you’re not looking for it, though.”

He drew a narrow, winding path from the mouth of the cave. “This hall is dangerous. There are natural hazards here, here, here, and here,” he circled. “And man made traps here, here, here, here, and here.” He drew x’s.

Aerisif’s eyes followed the dark lines on the page. “How big is the cave? Are there other entrances?”

Brynjolf continued to sketch lines out. “I’ve mostly only been in this area,” he motioned, “But I’ve seen at least three rooms off the main cave. And I suspect that there’s only the one entrance, but there is a small hole in the ceiling where light gets in, not unlike here in the Cistern. Not sure how big the opening is, but there is definitely sunlight there.”

Aerisif sighed. “Shouldn’t be surprising that they’ve got themselves a solidly defensible position.”

“How many of ‘em are there?” Delvin asked.

Brynjolf ran his fingers through his hair. “Maybe six? Couldn’t be more than ten.”

Aerisif nodded, scanning the scrawled map and calculating in her head. Delvin was studying her closely.

“You’re thinkin’ about doin’ what I think you’re thinkin’ about doin’, aren’t you?” He asked.

She looked at him coldly. “That depends greatly on what you think I’m doing.”

“You’re plannin’ on goin’ in there alone.”

Aerisif rolled up the map and stood. “I am going alone.”

Brynjolf, Delvin, and Vex all exploded into argument simultaneously.

“You’re mad!” Brynjolf’s eyes were wide.

“Are you out of your damned mind?” Delvin glared.

“That’s fucking stupid.” Vex crossed her arms.

Aerisif’s steel eyes were filled with fire. “I don’t give a damn what you all think about it. I have handled far more than a few Thalmor by myself. I haven’t been running across Skyrim these past few years handing out fucking flowers, you know. This is what I do.”

“I’m going with you.” Brynjolf challenged.

“No, you are not. You will wait here.”

“If you’re seriously planning on going in alone, you’ve gotten a lot dumber since you left us.” Vex cut in. “This isn’t a job for one person.”

“She’s right, Aerisif.” Brynjolf crossed his arms. “You can’t do this by yourself.”

“We’re comin’ with you, boss, like it or not.”

Aerisif eyed them all carefully. She considered a moment, then spoke. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. You three agreeing on something.”

Vex shrugged. “It’s not often those two boneheads know what’s best, but yeah. You’ve got back up.”

Aerisif scowled. “Fine. But I need you two to stay here,” she fixed Delvin and Vex with a hard stare. “Hold down the fort. I’ll take Brynjolf and Karliah. We fight well together. Work well as a team.”

Vex shrugged. “Have it your way.” She and Delvin walked away.

She turned to Brynjolf. “Find Karliah and tell her. Ready your equipment, we ride at dawn.”

***

Aerisif slipped out of the mausoleum into a pitch black night, alone. Brynjolf and Karliah remained in the cistern, asleep and unaware.

I’ll be back with Thalmor heads before they even wake up.

Torches dotted Riften’s walkways, but Aerisif kept quietly to the shadows, making her way out of town. Her midnight Nightingale Armor cloaked her in ebony, making Aerisif inseparable from the night.

Shadowmere’s red eyes pierced the black oneness of the surrounding forest. Aerisif softly padded over to her stall. She whispered gentle greetings to the horse while adjusting her tack. In a swift motion, Aerisif slid into the saddle and kicked her steed into motion. Shadowmere charged into the night, eager to stretch her legs.

Six Thalmor were a challenge, but a challenge she could handle. Ten was definitely a risk. She thought back to when she rescued Thorald from a whole keep of Thalmor. She could do this. Her inner dragon was pacing, ready to attack.

The two obsidian figures tore through the forest of the Rift. Aerisif kept her eye on that lone peak, her only guide in the darkness. The thunder of Shadowmere’s hooves reverberated in Aerisif’s chest, matching the rhythm of her racing heart. It seemed she had only just left Riften when they pulled up to the stoic base of the mountain. She jumped off Shadowmere’s back as the horse slowed to a walk, landing silently on the soft grass. Aerisif concentrated hard, and a moment later a small orb of light popped out of her hand and floated above her head.

Approaching the wall in the eerie bluish light of her spell, Aerisif squinted at the rocky face. For a moment she regretted coming in the dark of night now, struggling to find the rune that would point to this cave. Was she even in the right place? Her eyes scrutinized the stone, searching for anything that might seem unnatural in the rock. Suddenly her gaze caught a trace of pigment smeared on the rock. On closer inspection, Aerisif made out an arrow shape. The light floating overhead wore off, and Aerisif traced her fingertips along the rock as she tread westward, as Brynjolf had told her.

She found the slim opening of the cave a few paces later. Aerisif froze, straining her ears to hear any sign of life inside. Nothing.

Aerisif rubbed the soft fuzz on Shadowmere’s nose. “You won’t fit inside, girl,” The horse snorted indignantly. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them flee. Can you take care of them for me?” Shadowmere tossed her head and pawed at the ground.

The stones of the mountain were cold and dewey as Aerisif scrambled up the rocky face of the mount. Boulders were easy enough to manage, but some of the steeper crags were more daunting to scale. The ground flattened out and Aerisif scanned the dirt for any sign of the hole Brynjolf had mention.

She was seething all the while. How could Brynjolf have let this happen? This was a bad situation, every way she looked at it. Now it was up to her to clean up the mess.

This could have been the undoing of the Guild—

Aerisif’s foot caught the hole in the rock and her body slammed into the stone. Aerisif dared not breathe, dared not blink, as she listened to the gravel clink and clatter down into the cavern below. Only when her body screamed for breath, and she had heard no sound of disruption from below, did Aerisif lift herself up from the ground and breathe.

I’ve got to keep my head.

The hole was only slightly wider than she was— Aerisif was glad she did not choose her ebony armor, there was no way it would fit— and the opening peered down into a dark cave. She grabbed a small rock and tossed it down the hole, straining her ears to hear how long it took to hit the floor of the cave. The following clink came only second later. Not a far drop at all.

Aerisif supported herself with her arms and slowly let her legs slide through the crevice into the cave. Trying her hardest to stay relaxed, she released her grip on the stone and dropped into the cave, and immediately rolled out of the lone stream of moonlight.

As her eyes adjusted to the dark cave, Aerisif looked around and found her bearings. She began to make out small openings in the slate that seemed to be smaller channels and rooms off the main cave.

“Las, Yah, Nir,” the whisper slid from Aerisif’s lips. Shimmering red auras became visible in the darkness. Two in the room to her left, three over by the main entrance, two more in a small room to the right, sleeping probably, and one just a few paces away from her. She was lucky her drop into the cave didn’t alert that one.

Sensing that she would be well shrouded, Aerisif drew the dagger from her belt rather than the sword from her back. She crept toward the unaware Thalmor, her footsteps silent.

The Thalmor had not the time to blink before Aerisif’s dagger carved a river of blood across his exposed throat. Aerisif caught the body before the golden armor could clang to the stone and raise the alarm. She slid the body into further shadows and quickly rummaged it for what she could: a couple septims, a healing potion, a garnet she could sell later.

Aerisif turned her attention to the rooms still containing Thalmor. The sleeping pair would be easy kills, and she crept in that direction.

The first was easy: Aerisif slit his throat, the elf never to awake again. As she made the kill, the second stirred. As the mage rose from the bed and cast a ward, Aerisif quickly jammed her dagger into her enemy’s throat.

The dragon within her was alive, circling and spitting fire.

The sound of that skirmish drew the attention of the other two Thalmor on this side of the cave. Aerisif adjusted her stance, drew her sinister greatsword, and waited for them to come, flexing her grip on the blade.

“You never should have come here!” The first one shouted. He wore a golden shield on one arm, matched by a gleaming short sword in the other. Aerisif lunged toward him. He raised his sword to block, but Aerisif’s strength sent him staggering back. A shift in her weight, a quick turn, and Aerisif was ready to strike the second, who had flanked her. He approached with his shield raised, and Aerisif’s blow glanced off it, but knocked his helm off in the process. She pivoted, and faced both Thalmor.

Aerisif bought herself time by taking a few paces backward, gathering her strength while pulling the behemoth blade back. The pair crept closer, unaware of the force swelling in their foe.

The Bloodskal Blade swiped parallel to the floor, slicing both Thalmors’ armor open and releasing the sinister, red energy it was feared for. The flash of red sunk into the weakened elves, knocking them to the ground. Aerisif swung once more, finishing them both off.

Kill. Blood. Blood! The dragon screamed.

Aerisif charged into the main cave, releasing a battle cry from her maw. The remaining three Thalmor were already alert to her presence and approaching. Her yell made them stop for a moment, and the pair in gleaming elven armor sent apprehensive looks to the mage.

“Kill her!” his order brought their nerve back to them. Aerisif rolled and dodged a bolt of lightning, lunged again to miss a second. The armored pair had reached her now. Ducking, Aerisif’s cloaked figure fell from their sight for a moment. The Thalmors’ swords swung over her head and met each other, causing an eruption of vulgarities from each. Aerisif swung at their feet, feeling the metals grind and scrape. She rolled back again, trying to give herself room to swing.

Then she heard the sound she dreaded most. That otherworldly hum of a monster being summoned from Oblivion. A pit of purple and jet opened to her left, and Aerisif clenched her jaw, waiting to see what would emerge.

A frost atronach lumbered out, swinging its icy club.

Fuck, thought Aerisif, as she blocked swings from the armored Thalmor.

Now trying to dodge blows from the Thalmor swordsmen, swings from the icy giant, and blasts of lightning from the mage, Aerisif hardly had time to strike. While wearing her Nightingale armor allowed her to move swiftly and easily, it did not provide as much protection as her heavy armor did. She wondered if she had made the wrong choice.

Her feet were nimble though, and her small frame had often proved to be an advantage in battle. She out maneuvered the Thalmors’ advance and was able to leap away to where she could swing her woeful blade once more. The powerful strike sliced with magical force, rendering one Thalmor to his knees. Her next strike took off his head.

Her dragon snapped its jaws hungrily for more.

As she charged toward the next golden target, she was struck by an icy blast, chilling her to her bones.

No, no, no! Aerisif hated these atronachs the most. She struggled to move her legs, each crusted in ice and numb from the deep freeze. Panic began to choke her. The Thalmor was running toward her, blade raised. Aerisif could not move, and the magic of her blade relied on the strength that was sapped from her.

“Fus Roh Dah!” She shouted. Maybe simplistic, but it was the first shout that came to her mind. The remaining Thalmor was thrown against the far wall, his head taking the brunt of the force. The frost atronach stumbled back a few paces.

Aerisif began to feel some of her strength return, her legs able to move again. She rolled just in time to miss the atronach’s shimmering fist smash the space she had just occupied. She took the chance to strike, swinging wildly at the beast while it worked to pull its massive appendage back from the ground.

Backing away when it had recovered, Aerisif felt the blinding pain of lightning surging through her nerves. She grit her teeth and squinted, trying to ignore the blast, as the armored Thalmor charged toward her again. He ran with a strength he should not after his impact with the wall.

Damn mage healed him, Aerisif realized.

Baring her teeth, Aerisif raised her weapon and met the Thalmor in combat. She swung fiercely, her blade tracing wide arcs in blood red slashes. The elf could not match her strength, or the magnitude of the blade she carried. His golden shell cracked and crumpled, his body fell to the ground.

An icy fist knocked Aerisif off her feet. The cold numbness returned to her legs as she struggled to get up. The glacial beast lumbered toward her.

“Yol Toor Shul!” The inferno ripped from her throat, roasting the atronach. The heat from her flames brought some life back into her legs, and Aerisif rose, lifted her sword, and drove the blade down into the atronach. It shattered and returned to whatever icy void it came from.

Now there’s just that damned mage.

Aerisif had no more thought the words when she was struck by an energy she had not felt before. She had done battle with mages more than she’d like to recount. She was familiar with the jolt of lightning based spells, the searing pain of flame spells, and the icy burn of frost spells. Aerisif knew those pains all too well.

But this, this was something different altogether. Aerisif could not move. She was paralyzed, magically. Agony wrenched her body, and every inch of her wanted to scream and twist from the torment. There was no release from this pain.

A low chuckle echoed on the walls of the cave. The Thalmor mage approached her.

“Well well, what do we have here?” He circled her immobile body like a predator toys with its prey.

Aerisif felt her strength sap.

“Nightingale armor, hmm? I’ve caught another little bird. This one even more vulnerable and fragile than the last, it seems.”

Unable to speak from the mage’s spell, Aerisif glared at the elf. Her vision was getting blurry, she was growing weaker, but she shot as much venom as she could through her stare. Her bones screamed from the pressure exerted on them.

“You have cost me men, little bird,” the elf sneered. “You’ll need to be punished for that.”

This spell was tapping her life force. Aerisif knew she would expire from this twisted, new magic. Spots clouded her vision. She was fading.

He smiled. “But perhaps you can be of use to me, like that other pathetic soul. Or maybe I’ll make him watch, while I—“

An arrow protruded from the mage’s chest. He looked at the arrow in outrage and spun around. His eyes widened in shock when he saw what approached.

Two shadows emerged from the mouth of the cave. Karliah stood, bow drawn tight with a second arrow. Brynjolf bore down from the darkness, ebony sword in hand.

The red headed rogue thief drove his sword through the mage’s chest. Aerisif felt her body release, the spell breaking as its caster perished, but the searing pain lingered.

“You won’t ever touch another one of us again, you fucking coward, Veladar.” Brynjolf hissed through gritted teeth, twisting the sword in the languishing elf. He violently pulled the sword out, letting it and the dead Thalmor mage fall to the ground.

Brynjolf scooped up Aerisif’s limp frame. “What the hell were you thinking, lass! Gods, Aerisif, stay with me. Stay with me lass!”

Aerisif attempted a weak smile. She tried to speak, but only an airy whisper came out.

“Shh, lass, don’t speak. Save your strength. Let’s get you out of here.” He lifted her body easily. Aerisif’s face wrinkled with a silent scream at the pain, before her consciousness lost to the agony wracking her body.

***

Pain. Throbbing, swirling pain engulfed Aerisif entirely. She felt a humming throughout her body, the source unidentifiable.

In her deep sleep, Aerisif floated in and out of visions.

Aerisif was practicing swinging a greatsword, toiling in the Whiterun heat. Fear banged in her chest, screaming that she would never get the hang of it. Her next encounter with a dragon would be her last. She would be known as the weakest Dragonborn to ever exist on Nirn, she would be a joke to the gods.

The humming was growing louder.

She was in the heat of battle, a wild battle cry ripping from her maw. She could move quickly now, the weight of the steel was nothing to her. Her blade was soaring up, and crashing down, unrelenting. There was no stopping, Aerisif didn’t see until her blade met worn armor. A dark haired woman lay crumpled in Aerisif’s arms, a pledge of loyalty whispered on her last breath. Aerisif sobbed over the dead woman’s body.

Aerisif was a dragon. She floated in and out of the clouds, stretching her wings as wide as they could reach. The cold air was nothing to dragonscale. The night cloaked her ebony body.

Were these her memories? There was no telling anymore. The humming was persistent and constant.

She was at High Hrothgar, panting and sweating, learning to shout. She was in Sovngarde, taking a last longing look at Shor’s Hall before being returned to Mundus. Slamming down the damp Bill of Sale for Goldenglow on a rickety table in the Flagon, and seeing the bewilderment and pride in Brynjolf’s eyes. Waking up to find Astrid’s slender frame draped so casually on the shelf in that shack. The strange peace that drifted from Titus Mede’s face, eyes closed, sighing his last breath, accepting. Dungeon and Dwemer ruin alike scrolled past her vision like an endless dream, treasure spilling out of every variety of vessel.

Her parents’ farm was a dot on the landscape. Her mother and father were there, pointing and trembling. She tried to land, but found she had no control of this dragon’s body. She was trapped, a prisoner within it. The troubles of men were nothing to a dragon.

Aerisif, the hum became a voice.

A raven haired child sprinted down the mountainside toward the smoke. Her heart was going to beat out of her chest.

Aerisif, the voice beckoned again.

A silhouette of a dragon appeared in her vision. It was featureless, but Aerisif felt this was the dragon that lived in her. The dragon that was her.

Wake up, my child. Rise from sleep.  

The raven haired girl was frightened, but stepped forward.

You cannot rest now, the gravelly voice said. You are not done here. We have more to do.

A broken woman in rags with matted midnight locks and empty steely eyes was crouched behind a rock outside of Helgen, afraid of anything in the skies. “No,” she shook her head and shouted. “NO!” tears were streaming down her face.

The silhouette of the dragon coiled. Yes, my daughter. There is much more for you here.

The woman in rags sobbed. “Just let me die,” she begged. “Let me die in peace.”

The dragon loomed larger. It drifted slowly from black as night to glowing the warm gold of dawn. Each scale, claw, and spike became clearly defined in the light the dragon radiated. As the dragon lit up, Aerisif felt her body warm. It was like watching the sunrise.

No, my child. The dragon boomed, but the voice was not threatening. You have chased death down every road for too long. You have barely yet to live. I did not give you this gift to have you waste it.

The ragged woman sneered. “Give me this gift? You mean this curse! I am cursed to live alone.”

The dragon that glowed of dawn pondered. Ah, but are you truly alone? Have you not met worthy companions, faithful followers? You have rebuked them.

“To protect them! I must protect the weak. That is my duty, the curse of this gift.”

And have you? Protected them? The voice seemed to purr.

A warrior in ebony armor bowed her head, defeated. “Not as I should have,” she admitted. “But gods, I tried!”

The dragon considered a moment. This is so. But, perhaps you are right, my daughter. Perhaps you need a greater ally, a stronger companion. An equal. The last words were dipped in honey.

A suspicious young woman cloaked midnight leather eyed the golden dragon calculatingly. “Who are you?” She demanded indignantly.

The dragon spread its magnificent wings, and showered golden light through the flecked membranes. You know who I am, the voice was low and comforting.

Silver eyes grew wide with understanding. The warrior fell to her knees, offering up her greatsword. “I am honored, Akatosh.”

Go now. There is much to do.

“What more could I do? I saved Tamriel! I saved all of Nirn! I have done all you asked!”

Darkness returned to the golden dragon. Black crept like spilled ink on parchment over the once glimmering hide, like blood seeping from a wound. Soon the dragon had returned to its sinister obsidian, no more than a silhouette.

There are more trials ahead, my daughter. I will send you an equal.

“Aerisif,” a new, gentle voice broke the silence. Was it silence, or was it just the absence of Akatosh?

She turned her head. A short woman with black hair stood before her.

“Mother?”

The woman nodded.

The raven haired child ran into her mother’s arms and was swept into a hug. “Aerisif,” she cooed. She held the embrace a moment longer before pulling away and holding her child at arms length. Her face turned grave.

“You cannot trust them, daughter.”

The child’s face scrunched up with confusion. “Who?”

“They say they want to protect you. To help you. It’s a lie! They. Are. Liars. Do you hear me, Aerisif? Do you understand?”

“Mother!” But the woman was already beginning to fade.

“Promise me, Aerisif! Promise me!” The woman was all but a vapor now.

***

Aerisif awoke with a start, panting. The room around her dark and shadowy. She looked around in a panic, hardly able to make out shapes.

“Aerisif!” A voice called from the darkness.

“Brynjolf? Bryn, is that you?” She started to push herself from the bed.

“No, Aerisif, don’t move!”

It was too late. Aerisif took one step and crumpled to the floor.  

***

When Aerisif woke for the second time, her first sensations were soft and warm. She felt sunlight on her face. There was a light fragrance in the air. Was that…juniper? The smell transported her back to the mountains of the Reach. Springtimes spent exploring the mountains and wandering through forests came floating back to her.

The light filtered through her eyelids seemed to have a warm hue. Was it…pink? Aerisif cracked her eyes open.

She was back in the room at Riftweald, tucked into the bed, now with finer sheets and blankets than it had seen before.

The shimmering pink light came from the window. All the stones of Barenziah that she had found were laid out in the sun. They reflected and refracted the light into a million glimmering facets across the room. Aerisif felt a pang of panic that they were all laid out there, in the open for anyone to take, until she saw Brynjolf sat slumped in a chair by the window, asleep.

Aerisif continued to scan the room. Bouquets of nightshade were gathered around the bed. In the corner, some juniper sprigs smoldered, sending incensed tendrils into the air.  She noticed that her armor had been removed and she had been clothed in a fine, soft robe made of red cloth. Her armor sat neatly by the table, cleaned and oiled, and the Bloodskal Blade leaned against the wall, polished and gleaming.

They thought I was going to die.

“Bryn,” She called softly.

He bolted upright. “Aer!” Brynjolf nearly jumped to the bed.

“Bryn,” Aerisif tried to move.

“Stay still, lass. Don’t move.” Brynjolf’s green eyes gazed down at her, full of concern.

“Bryn, what happened?” Aerisif’s voice was thick from sleep.

He sighed and stroked her hair. “You passed out almost right when we found you. If we had been even a minute later, I…” his voice trailed off. “Well, we’re lucky we got there when we did. We brought you back here, and the priest has been tending to you.”

“How long have I been sleeping?”

Brynjolf sucked in his breath. “It’s been four days, lass.”

“FOUR DAYS?”

He nodded.

“Fuck.” Aerisif’s eyes glazed over as she scanned the offerings in the room. “No wonder you all thought I was dying.”

Brynjolf shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean for them to be offerings. I just…I thought that your favorite things would bring you back.”

Aerisif smiled up at him and cupped his face with her hand. Fear broke through her happiness. Her smile broke and sadness tinted her eyes. “What’s wrong with me?”

Brynjolf sighed. “Maramal says he’s never seen this kind of magic before.”

“Am I—Bryn, am I paralyzed??” Panic seeped into her voice.

He shook his head. “No, not permanently. I imagine you have more use of your legs now than you did when you woke up in the night. But regaining your strength will be slow. You won’t be battle or job ready for a few weeks. You have to rest. You HAVE TO, okay, lass?”

Before she could respond, the door opened and Karliah, Delvin, and Vex poured in.

“Guess you’re not quite stupid enough to die, huh?” Vex quipped. Delvin elbowed her in the side, hard, and Vex glared at him.

“How ya feelin’, boss?”

Aerisif raised her chin. “Ready to run some jobs,” she smiled weakly. “Got any work?”

Delvin chuckled and took the chair by the window. Karliah approached.

“Thank Nocturnal you made it. We were so worried about you, you were nearly dead when we found you.”

Aerisif grimaced. “I love hearing about how fragile I am.”

Karliah shrugged her comment off. “I suspect Nocturnal chose you for your spirit. I can’t imagine she’s done with you quite yet. You’ll be back on your feet in no time.”

“Thanks, Karliah. For everything. I would be dead if it hadn’t been for you two.”

“Yeah, let’s talk about that, shall we?” Vex drawled from the corner. “That was a dumb ass move, leaving them behind like that.”

“Vex,” Brynjolf warned.

“What, you’re not mad about this? After all you two have been through, she stalks off in the middle of the night and ALMOST DIES. After promising that she would take you and Karliah.”

Brynjolf crossed his arms and glared, but said nothing.

“I’m sorry.” Aerisif’s apology cut the tension in the room. “I shouldn’t have done it. I knew it was a bad idea. It’s just. I— I wanted to protect you all.”

A vulnerable Aerisif was not one that any of them were used to seeing, outside of Brynjolf, and even then Aerisif tried to hide it from him too. They all shifted uncomfortably.

“Well, you’re alive, that’s what matters.” Delvin said. “Try to stay that way for a bit longer, yeah?” He was leaning forward.

Aerisif smiled. “That’s the plan.” Wait, Delvin wasn’t just leaning forward. He was leaning ON something.

Her sword.

“Hey, get your paws off my blade.”

Delvin admired it. “Bet this would fetch a fine price. Have to ask Tonilia about it…such a unique thing…”

“Damned right it is. I pulled that from Bloodskal Barrow myself, and paid a fine price in blood and sweat to earn it. From a goddamn Dragon Priest. So fuck off my sword, yeah?” Aerisif’s brows furrowed as she glared at Delvin.

Delvin’s eyes were shifty, shiftier than usual. “Did you say Skal?”

Aerisif’s scowl faded into a knowing smile. “Yeah, I sure did. On Solstheim? Ever been there?”

Delvin shook his head.

“But surely you’ve heard of it. Send any letters to Raven Rock recently?” Her tone was mischievous.

The others in the room exchanged confused glances.

Delvin was trying, unsuccessfully, to hide his head behind his hands, as if he could pretend he wasn’t there.

“No? Well, I guess I’ll just have to tell big brother Glover that you say hello next time I’m there.”

“What?” Brynjolf drew back in surprise.

“You have a brother in Morrowind?” Karliah turned to him.

“You have a brother?!” Vex threw her arms out in rage.

Delvin shot a pained look to Aerisif. “Thanks for that, boss.”

Aerisif grinned devilishly. “Sword, please.” Delvin returned the sword to where it had been leaning up against the wall.

The door opened again, this time bringing Maramal. The priest looked shocked. “Out! Too many of you in here, she needs rest! Get out!”

The room of thieves glared. Maramal looked at each occupant in turn, as the leather clad thieves crossed their arms and stood tall. Maramal gulped and began to cower sightly, not daring to release his gaze from Vex, who was menacingly stepping closer.

Aerisif laughed. “Let him be, guys. Go on, get out. I’ll be out of here soon.”

With that, Delvin, Vex, and Karliah strode from the room. Karliah towered over the Redguard on her way out the door.

“No nonsense, priest. We need her whole.”

Maramal nodded anxiously.

Brynjolf took the seat by the window as Maramal approached Aerisif.

“I’m glad to see you are awake, child of Mara.”

“Yeah yeah, save the praising of the Divines till you’re back in the Temple. How soon can I get out of here?”

Maramal handed her the potion he was holding. “Drink this. I’ve been brewing it specially for your case. While I’ve never seen magic that paralyzes before, this tincture should speed up your recovery. As should this.” He knelt by the bed, raised his hands over her legs, and began to work a healing spell.

Aerisif felt the itch of the spell work on her legs. She longed to wriggle free of the spell, the itch was unbearable. She fidgeted and twisted—

She fidgeted and twisted. She could move her legs.

“Maramal, you miracle worker!”

“It is not I who heals you, I am but the tool of the benevolent Mara—“

“Yes, yes, we know.” Aerisif rolled her eyes. Brynjolf chuckled at her impatience.

Maramal tipped his head, holding back his indignation. “Rest more, child. While the use of your legs has been restored, they are weak. This is strange, dark magic that has done this. If you overwork them, I fear your recovery will be even longer.” He turned and left the room.

Brynjolf moved to sit on the edge of the bed, next to Aerisif. “You’ve never been afraid of learning something new. Think you can handle learning how to relax?”

Aerisif grinned. “Only if you’re going to be here the whole time. Promise to take care of me?” The words reminded her of the dream she’d had. Was it a dream? Her mother’s last call echoed in her head.

Promise me, Aerisif! Promise me! Aerisif could still hear the fear in her mother’s voice.

Brynjolf smiled and stroked her hair. “I promise.” He placed a tender kiss on her forehead.

Promise me, Aerisif.

[mzingalwawrites]

Runtime Error CH1

Nuts and Dolts with background Bee’s Schnees. Ruby is trans.

Summary: In an attempt to rescue her favourite artificial intelligence personal assistant from obsolescence, Ruby Rose, a programming and robotics student at Beacon academy, accidentally creates the first truly sentient AI through her poor code! Naturally, things start to spiral out of control pretty quickly...

“Hi! This is Ruby Rose’s weekly video diary, number 176! Or was it 177? No it’s definitely 176. If you're a government spy, a viewer from another dimension, an alien, or an archaeologist watching this in the far future, and you, started watching my diary without first watching the other 175 videos: here’s a little recap for you!”

Ruby moved out of the way of her computer’s camera, allowing it a clear view of her worktable on the other side of the room. On that table lies something a casual onlooker might assume to be a doll, or plush toy, of a red haired girl.

“So I’m a student studying robotics and programming at Beacon academy. My dream has always been to create a robot that is so realistic, that someone might never realise that it’s not a person. I’m a long way off from that right now, but I’m always working hard towards my dream! And this is my latest step towards that dream.”

“So if you're a government worker who is spying on me, you probably know what a APA is, but for the benefit of the aliens and the cross-dimensional viewers, I'll explain. It’s an “Artificial Personal Assistant,” and it’s job is basically to keep track of your schedule, your dietary habits, your financial details, and basically everything about your life. I had one named Penny, and… Well… I’m kind of embarrassed to admit it but she was kind of my best friend for a while. Which is kind of weird because she was about as self aware as a calculator. She was just a program, and anything she said or did was kind of only vaguely meant to imitate a real person. I mean every time I started her up she would say “SALUTATIONS!” which is only a thing that people say in fantasy novels and stuff. It was really cute though.”

Ruby let out a deep sigh. “I would talk to her a lot, about my day and stuff. It’s kind of the same as what I’m doing right now with my video diary. No one was actually listening to me, but at the same time talking to her felt good you know? Especially back before I went to Beacon, since I didn’t really have any friends back then. Well… Besides Yang, but she’s my sister so it doesn’t really count.”

“Anyway, a few years back the company responsible for Penny upgraded to a new system, which meant that all the APA’s were going to get shut down and replaced with new ones. But I didn’t want a new one, I wanted Penny. Even if I made my new APA’s avatar look just like her’s and gave her the same name it still wouldn’t have been the same Penny. I know it probably seems stupid, and that there wasn’t really any difference, but I didn’t want to just let Penny get deleted!”

“So, this was my solution!” Ruby indicates to the toy on her workbench. “I know she kind of looks like a plushie, but she’s actually a robot! I wanted to make her life-sized, but I didn’t have the money. I thought about asking Weiss to pay for the parts, but I’ve teased Yang about Weiss being her ‘sugar mommy’ before, and I really didn’t want to open myself up for retaliation.”

“Anyway, back on subject. I programmed her by extracting all of Penny’s original code from the APA app, although since it wasn’t made for a robot I had to frankenstein it with the code for the robot I used as a base. Weiss would probably have a stroke if she saw the mess that I made with Penny’s code, but I was always better with building the robots than I was with coding them. Today, I’m going to switch her on for the first time! Fingers crossed that everything works!”

Ruby walks over to Penny’s prone figure on the workbench, and presses the on switch on the back of her neck. As soon as she does so, Penny sits up straight.

“Good evening!”

“You work! Great! Although you said ‘good evening’ instead of salutations. That’s kind of a bummer, but I guess I can fix it soon enough. Anyway to make sure you’re working properly let’s run through a few…”

“Good evening! Good evening! Good evening good evening good good good goodgogogogogogogogogogogo....”

“Ah, I should have known it wouldn’t be that easy,” groaned Ruby as Penny’s glitched ramblings faded into silence. “Welp, I’m gonna wrap things up now, since it’s late and I want to try and get at least 3 hours of sleep before school tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll be able to deal with this glitch before next week’s entry. See you next week diary!”

Ruby switched off the recording software and climbed into bed. Within moments, she was asleep. So eager was she to get into bed, that she forgot to switch the little robot off properly…

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 ...V E R B A L   C O M M A N D   D E T E C T E D: “Although you said ‘good evening’ instead of salutations. That’s kind of a bummer.”

 R U N: setGreeting(Salutations!);

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 ......E R R O R S   D E T E C T E D

    R E S O L V I N G

[kayawagner]

We’re Totally Missing the Boat on Math Education

I’m going to change this story slightly because I don’t want to call out a specific person when I have seen the same thing over and over from  “STEM” or “STEAM” or “STREAM” programs. Generally, the more letters they have, the bigger problem it is.

I agree with everything Ms. X says when she starts talking, 

“In our district, less than half of the children graduate high school. Less than half of the graduates go on to college. Of those who attend college, the graduation rate is in the teens, usually 17-19%. Most of them drop out in the first semester. They are just not prepared for college. The area in which they are least prepared is math. So, we decided to have a STEM program for these students. 

– many, many people over the years

I’m all on board with this idea, but when I look at their programs, they are something like this:

*** Students read biographies of famous mathematicians and scientist from their ethnic/ racial group

*** Art projects in which students build a tipi , pyramid or other structure from the history of their racial / ethnic group

Here is the problem. I teach statistics.  Here is the formula for the sample standard deviation. One of the more basic statistics learned in introductory statistics in college. 

Formula for Standard Deviation

I have had students ask me:

“What does N stand for?” 

“What is that 2 next to the parentheses?”

“What is that thing that looks like a weird V with a top?”

Nowhere in these “STEM” activities do students learn what an exponent is

I really, really want students to succeed in my classes.  I make youtube videos of how to conduct analyses with statistical software, like this one on confidence limits for the mean and a lot more extra effort to make statistics understandable. However, if they don’t come in with some basic level of mathematics, it is going to be very difficult for them to succeed. By basic, I mean, what is a radical, what’s a square root, what’s an exponent, the difference between a variable and a constant. 

Because I think the STEM / STEAM / STREAM camps and after-school activities are a good start and I don’t want to be a big jerk by pointing out problems with no solution, the next few posts are going to be examples of DIRECT TEACHING OF MATH. 

Example 1: The campfire

campfire!

I saw a really great activity that began with a story of one tribe stealing horses from another. The other tribe came and kidnapped some children to get even. When the kidnappers stopped to rest, the children slipped away. Since they knew their tribe was coming to rescue them, they built a campfire. 

The challenge activity was to build a campfire circle no more than 18 inches in diameter using “rocks” – actually, balloons the students blew up and then use tissue paper to build a “fire” inside of it.

How you get to the math …

It’s a really interesting story and fun activity but where’s the math? There are a ton of possibilities. Here is just one option: I would conclude this activity by telling the students that I know that if you measure the inside of the campfire circle, no one has a circumference (that is the name for how far it is around a circle) of more than 60 inches. I’d also make sure I had made a campfire myself of 10 inches in diameter. 

Then, I’d have them measure with a tape measure and find out that I am right. I’d have everyone give me their circumference, that is, how far it is around their circle.

How do I know this? Because the circumference of a circle has a formula, that is πd = C  . π is a number that is a constant. A constant means it always stays the same. It is about 3.14  . So, if I multiply 3.14 * 18 the answer is 56.52 That’s your circumference if your diameter – the distance across the circle, is 18. If it is less than 18, your circumference is less. 

Does anyone want to guess the circumference of my circle with diameter of 10?  

Why is this important?

Maybe you want to make pen for your sheep, horses, whatever and it is going to be a circle. Perhaps you have a contract to build a round pool, house, anything . How many feet of material do you need? Any time you know the diameter of a circle, you can compute the circumference.  Maybe you are making a tipi and you want to know how big around it is going to be at the bottom so you can make a rug the exact right circumference. 

I would bet you by the end of this lesson, students would know what a circumference is, what a diameter is, what π is and how to compute the circumference.

My point isn’t that STEM/ STEAM/ STREAM activities aren’t a great start but that often they are just a start and you may need to add a finish.

Forgotten Trail: Calculate percentage of chickens !

REMINDER  – Forgotten Trail is a great place to learn “What is N?” along with more statistics and Ojibwe history.

The post We’re Totally Missing the Boat on Math Education appeared first on 7 Generation Games.

We’re Totally Missing the Boat on Math Education published first on https://supergalaxyrom.tumblr.com

[parachronismx]

You are the Duke of NY, A # 1 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOjC2n2VVtY John Carpenter's Escape From NY 1981 S. D. Bob Snake Plissken: Kurt Russell Duke of NY: Isaac Hayes 💚💜💙💛❤ Oh that Meatwad and Boxy Brown. My favorites. Was in the mood for this clip after I saw a video for Bambi https://youtu.be/K0Eeju2aiGY And someone said Rick Ross on a live stream. My friend says isn't Rick Ross the one that says... And from there, the search began. I knew the references and all, just couldn't remember it was Isaac Hayes 💙💜💚💛❤ In Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Solid Snake names himself "Iroquois Pliskin" upon meeting with Raiden for the first time, Iroquois being a word meaning "Snake." Solid Snake's character was also heavily inspired by Snake Plissken.[10] Kurt Russell was reportedly offered the role of Naked Snake (Solid Snake's genetic progenitor, also known as Big Boss) during the development of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but Russell apparently declined. 👆👆👆👆 From: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_Plissken 💀🐍💀🐍💀🐍💀🐍💀🐍💀🐍💀🐍 http://www.metalgearsolid.net/features/hideo-kojima-at-the-movies-escape-from-new-york Hideo Kojima at the Movies: Escape From New York With the third column of the series, Mr. Kojima transitions from World War II adaptations to a John Carpenter sci-fi classic, and it's lead character which laid the foundation for the antihero, Solid Snake. This article was exclusively written for Official PlayStation 2 Magazine by Mr. Hideo Kojima. We are now entering round 3 of this column. I have talked about The Great Escape and The Guns of Navarone - classics of the 60s. Obviously, I did not see them at real time. I saw them on the small TV in the living room instead of on the big screen at the movies. The process was not really an active effort of "watching" but more of a passive experience of "seeing" what happened to be shown on the TV. This was how I encountered many movies in my childhood. But it was these coincidental encounters that created the foundation within myself. I grew up and then became able to experience film "actively" by going to the movies by myself. This time I would like to talk about a film I saw not on TV but at the movies, based on my own will. And the 3rd film turns out to be the movie that influenced me the most in the birth of MGS hero Solid Snake - Escape from New York (the Japanese title was New York 1997). In Spring 1981, I was a high school student. I went to the movies with my friends. Considering myself an avid film fan, I certainly knew of John Carpenter. Although I did have him in mind, I was not a worshipper yet. The lights were turned down, and the film began. Only text is shown on the black screen. A calm melody with a monotone rhythm, analog electric sounds... a simple and even tasteless opening - but I was drawn to it. My skin could feel the unique atmosphere and what was about to happen. Then came a brief description of the setting (Manhattan Island turned into a prison). There is no room for questions for such a wild setting. A computer voice talks emotionlessly about how the future will be in the next 10-20 years. All this time the audience gets no live footage. All the audience can do is imagine based on the data and wire frame (actually models whose edges are colored with fluorescent paint). Various images of the future flood the minds of the audience and cause a mental panic. The next cut shows a panoramic view of Manhattan the prison. "This is gonna be great!" The next hour and a half, I was glued to the innovative idea and punk atmosphere. "How could such a cool movie exist!" It wasn't simply a fun movie. The movie and I shared similar chemistry. The colors, the smell, and the air were things that the director and I shared in taste. There is no logical explanation. I believe everyone has had this kind of experience with music and film. It might not have been a movie popular among the public, but it was definitely the movie I got into the most. I was especially electrified by the hero, Snake Plissken. Being in the midst of my rebellious period, the antihero "Snake" resonated harmoniously! He was a dark hero that separated himself from the orthodox hero who was either part of some organization, enslaved by the system, or was justice personified. Noire novels and stories and movies with evil heroes are common now, but this was quite rare back then. Although he gets used, he ultimately lives by his own ideology. Although confined as a criminal, he was not truly evil. Instead, he was a new type of hero with "justice not bound by others." Snake's words, actions and every move looked so cool. I'm sure that when people came out of the theatre, they were all dragging their right leg just like Snake (who gets injured by an arrow). My friends and I were no exception. (By the way, I had one eye shut like Mel Gibson after seeing "Mad Max 2.") The line "Call me Snake!" became a fad in school. The name 'Snake' in MGS comes from "creeping up on someone silently like a snake." The adjective 'Solid' expresses Snake's strong and blade-sharp image - paradoxical when combined with a snake's litheness. Normally, 'snake' and 'solid' do not get along. It's like talking about hot ice. I came up with this name to express this lack of balance and equilibrium. But when I decided that the codename would be Snake, the character itself was more Plissken than snake-like at the subconscious level. If I used a different name (animal) for Snake in MGS, he probably would have been a totally different character. This movie is another example that contains the very important synopsis element of "infiltration, rescue, and escape". What adds greatly to the suspense is the 24-hour "time limit". What plays a big role as a direction tool is his very obvious watch. You could ask, "Does it really have to be this big?" but showing this watch instead of an on-screen timer works really well. Snake takes a look at his watch at the very moment the audience wishes to take a look. The time is not spoken. The audience has to read the time just like Snake. Towards the end when it is only minutes away from the limit, the watch is no longer shown. Only Snake's facial expression is shown. It is a mean but calculated means of direction. Carpenter is great with such small touches. The device indicating the president's location, the cassette tape necessary at the summit, the bracelet with the hidden switch, the nanocapsule that dissolves in blood and causes and explosion, the diving glider, the egg-shaped escape pod... the cool use of all these neat gadgets adds to the enjoyment of this film. The reason why New York is the setting of MGS2, I have answered many times in my interviews. "After taking care of business in Alaska, where would Snake go?" When I asked myself this question, I very quickly reached the conclusion that he would be in a common location nearby instead of a remote corner of the world with a hostile climate. The candidate that I came up with no hesitation was New York. New York is the center of the world economy and culture - a melting pot and "mini Earth". It is in the United States of America, but not exactly American - more like an independent nation. That is why I chose New York. At the same time, it is an homage to the film. I said to myself, "If Snake escaped from New York in 1997, it was about time he returned to New York." John Carpenter was our hero in the 80s. He established the new genre of "Sci-fi horror." He did not "sell out" to blockbuster films. He pursued his own style of entertainment. He was never sucked into the current of the times. He ran the dark side. From the late 70s to the early 80s, he was a director completely different from Spielberg and Lucas. His popularity can be compared to that of James Cameron, who emerged later on (coincidentally, Cameron worked on the special effects of this movie). He has not created hits in the 90s, but he keeps on creating films constantly. Carpenter is Carpenter, and he will continue being Carpenter. No creator of our generation has been unaffected by Carpenter. I made sure to see every new film by him. This past summer, his film Ghosts of Mars has finally been shown in Japan. It was a B movie, but it revitalized me. It was the Carpenter film of all Carpenter films. His "rock spirit" was definitely there. Yes, it could be old-fashioned. It might not be a Hollywood mainstream movie. But still, I enjoyed it a lot. Like Escape from New York, it was indeed a Carpenter film. It was shown in a few selected theatres only, but die-hard fans like myself flocked to them and the film stayed in the theatres for a month. This was a sign of how popular and respected he is among men of my generation. In Japan, we released a Premium Package edition of MGS2. In the package was a pamphlet that included a comment from Carpenter himself. I have not met him in person, but he conscientiously played MGS2. I was really happy to hear that. He gave me his praising comment. The comment in the pamphlet is as follows: "Like Snake Plissken, MGS2 can't be stopped! This game rocks!" - John Carpenter -- Article by Hideo Kojima, Official Playstation 2 Magazine, 05.12.2002