#i will however point out a few things: spinel tried to destroy ALL LIFE ON EARTH in her debut

[rhys-ravenfeather]

I have more digital art stuff I’m hoping to work on soon, but until then, have a doodle I did of Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond. Because yeah...I still find her an absolutely fascinating character, sorry not sorry.

[marshmallowprotection]

How would the choi household (your ocs and the twins, maybe Vanderwood if you hc that) react if they watched the Steven universe movie without knowing ahead of time what was going to happen? Some of them had gotten into the show so they were all watching it, but then they saw there was a movie and they jumped in. Specifically wondering how Saeran would handle Spinels situation, and what everyone else would do to help (or try)?

Lila is really the only one in that house that consistently watches cartoons no matter what they are and she sort of roped Seven into doing that because he was the most willing to sit around and watch with her for the most part, literally no matter what it is because that’s their friendship. 

That’s just one of those things that they use to bond, but eventually, she wraps Saeran into it as well because he can’t say no to those big puppy dog eyes and honestly, he is curious why she’s invested, and if she’s wrapped his brother into it then it must be interesting. 

Minji mainly watches a lot of cheesy rom-coms but she’s not going to not join in when people are sprawled on the couch like that and not find out what the hub-bub s about. Judas isn’t going to not to cram himself into a cuddle party when he sees one. Vanderwood pops by every now and again so it isn’t really a stretch to think that they’re there sometimes. 

I think if it’s something that Lila puts merit in, Saeran would want to know more from the start. She paints a pretty picture of a story about learning to grow and move beyond past trauma as well as continuing to try and find your place in the world when you were given a purpose only to find freedom instead along the way. I sort of feel like he would enjoy the arcs of Lapis and Jasper the most as they spend a good chunk of the story learning from things that they couldn’t control and finding a sense of purpose. 

Spinel would be another thing entirely because he would be reminded of how he was always looking towards V and towards Rika and mainly towards Saeyoung for that matter. It’s mostly a reminder of his brother and how he left one day and made a new life for himself seemingly and never looked back. He’s come a long way from hating his brother but this would bring back those old memories and sit uncomfortably with him. 

I think towards the end of the film, Drift Away would probably break him in more ways than one. The tipping point and climax for Spinel are what really shakes him up a lot. Spinel was left behind, and however, a complicated figure that Pink Diamond is, she had her reasons for doing that but... Saeran can’t help but really relate to Spinel’s grief. He was there... waiting for his brother to come back and he never did. 

Years and years of it. 

He wouldn’t say anything, but Lila would notice the way that he became tense and more and more pulled into the story itself, noting that his hands were just a bit tighter in her grasps. It wouldn’t click until the end, and Saeran wouldn’t have even noticed it, but a few tears might have escaped him. Seeing an arc play out that more or less paralleled his own circumstances? 

Seeing it work out? 

Not perfect, not fixed, but... on the path to healing? Because someone had faith in Spinel and continued to reach out and get her a chance to grow and become a better person not for the sake of others but for herself and her wounded heart on the inside. How can he not think about his own life? How can he not think of Lila and how she helped him get a damn grip on himself? 

She would frown, “Saeran, are you okay?” 

“...S’nothing,” he muttered. 

It would likely put him into a bittersweet headspace. I think Saeyoung would understand what was up just because he’s always in tune and watching his brother. It would likely turn into one of those nights where both of them really need to talk again. They don’t really talk about it anymore, it’s more or less, water in the wind. But, it’s not like they can do that to heal fully or anything. 

Saeran tries to wall himself off when he gets like this but Lila would not let him get out of that room when she knows he’s upset. But, she’s not going to force him to stay if he’s going to have an episode. It would linger for a few days and everyone would take turns trying to cheer him up. 

Lila is always by his side so she makes sure that he’s doing what he needs to do. Minji spends time baking with Saeran and they try out a few new recipes together and it’s just nice to settle into that. Judas is always there to insist that Saeran practice some self-care, this man begrudgingly letting Judas paw at his nails to make him shut up. Vanderwood doesn’t bother Saeran, but if he wants to go and destroy some stuff, Vandy has him covered. 

Saeyoung would give his brother some space but after everyone spent some time with him, he would find his brother sitting outside underneath the afternoon sun, only to sit down next to him and offer him some ice cream like they used to do when they were kids. 

“...I never wanted to leave you behind,” Saeyoung says, quietly. “I know that’s what you’re upset about.”

“I know,” Saeran says, simply. “I just... I can’t turn off the way that I feel even if I know it’s not right.” 

“I... yeah, I get it, that’s why I wanted to give you some space in case it was bad this time,” he replied, looking down at his lap. “I hope you know that I love you, Saeran, you’re my brother and I’m never going to leave you behind. Not again. Not anymore.”

Saeran would be quiet, and they would take some more about it but he doesn’t like to get sappy for long periods of time. He would scowl and shake his worry of but deep down when nobody’s looking, he would have a small smile because he remembers that he has a family that cares about him, and his life isn’t in that bad space anymore. 

This reminder was a good thing, even if it hurt. 

“Tch... shut up, you don’t have to get all emotional. I’m fine.” 

“I know, Saeran. I know.” 

[monsterdoodles]

Thoughts on Steven Universe Future 3/28/2020

I wanted to write this last night, but there was just so much information to go through.

Spoilers Ahead

Homeworld Bound: I watched the episode when it came out on Cartoon Network’s website. I had planned to go see it in theaters, but that was canceled.

The gems in this episode are very concerned for Steven right now, because he has been missing for days. It must have be a surprise to see him with Jasper walking out of that bathroom. She continues to address him as “My Diamond”.

Steven seems to have run out of people to turn to in this crisis. He feels like he can’t talk to the gems anymore, talking to Connie would dredged up too many feelings, he’s lost his connection with his dad, and now he’s even hurt/killed Jasper. With no more connections, he turns to the Diamonds.

Homeworld is now more colorful than ever. All kinds of gems run around the throne room and there’s even tours of the palace. There is an upcoming election between the two Zircons we met during the trial.

Spinel is on this tour (has she done this before and does she do it all the time? Or is this the first time she’s decided to do this?). There seems to be no ill will towards Steven, and most of what plagued her during the movie seems to be gone (I’m not actually sure how “fine” she is. When Steven asks “What’s wrong with you?” she responds “The usual”. So I would possibly say that not all of her issues are resolved but at least she has the diamonds to support her). After explaining his gem troubles to her, Spinel takes Steven to see the diamonds.

This whole sequence of events felt very fairy-tale-esque. Something about visiting three people to solve a problem, with three very different approaches, except in a fairy-tale the third approach is what usually works.

Yellow can fix any gem and change their form, but the root of Steven’s problem isn’t physical. Blue can make any one happy, but Steven’s problem isn’t exactly emotional either. It’s deeper than surface level emotions, it’s trauma and a lack of a support system. White’s new ability is to let others control her and in a way this amplifies the voice of the voiceless and this can allow gems to talk to themselves. Steven, while controlling White, tries to shatter her, or at least has an intrusive thought about this. This sequence could be interpreted in many ways however, he might have been trying to hurt himself, or White, or Pink, or even all three.

Disturbed by what he did, he leaves. He asks Spinel how she got rid of her “vengeful thoughts” (because that’s how he felt about White, himself, and Pink in that moment). She tells him that she met him and that he told her that she could change. Steven does not want to hear his own advice anymore.

With no more answers or solutions than he started with, Steven leaves homeworld, leaving his sandal behind. Many have pointed out that Steven usually has lost a sandal (in bubbled and bismuth) when he is mistaken for Rose. Here, I’m not sure he’s mistaken for anyone.

So the diamond’s powers are all the opposite of what they used to be. I’m not sure why I didn’t put this together until Tumblr user its-a-gemfact pointed this out, but Pink’s powers were destructive, but she chose to be a healer instead. I think it’s the backwards reveal of all this that had me not thinking about this in its chronological order.

When this episode ended, I was unsure of where he could go. Would he run away all together? Where could he possibly go?

Everything’s Fine: Steven takes the route of denial to try and move on.

Connie calls him and he continues to deflect. He doesn’t want to admit that he’s struggling or that he has hurt anyone. His thoughts about this broadcast on the tv. When he turns it off, he sees his diamond eyes in the reflection for the first time.

So he decides to act like nothing happened. That he is the old Steven and he can just go on with his life without confronting any of this. He looks to the old painting of himself and Garnet in Poolhopping. There he is depicted as an angel. That’s what he want to be. He (unintentionally) yells “I’m fine”, this shatters the glass of his window.

He literally runs away when the gems try to talk him about this. He decides to go to little homeschool again, because it’s the place that he has felt the most needed before.

He crashes Peridot’s horticulture class. Volleyball is there and we don’t get to see whether or not her eye healed. Steven inserts himself into the lesson and offers to perk up some of the plants. Him doing so causes many Plant Stevens to grow and they just run around little homeschool telling people that they are there to help.

It looks like Garnet is some kind of marriage counselor now, so that’s interesting.

Steven then decides to “help” Bismuth at the forge. Blue and Yellow Pearl are there as well as the Crystal Gem Pearl. They are forging “wedding armor”. Is it Yellow Pearl that is getting married or is she merely a model for the armor? When doing the detail work on the armor, Steven splits the anvil in half. He can no longer do delicate things. This is because his stress management is not going well and his body just thinks he is always in danger.

He leaves to find some gems and Onion playing baseball. He joins and catches a ball that almost hits the Heaven and Earth Geodes. For once, one of his plans almost goes right. He lets out a cry of relief and joy, but this destroys the buildings around him. He says he can fix it. He and the plant Stevens begin to move the debris.

When he returns home, the Crystal Gems, Greg and Connie are all there. They confront him about how he’s been acting like he’s okay when he clearly isn’t. He’s even been subconsciously broadcasting a cry for help to Connie’s phone.

Steven has a great monologue here. He talks about the mistakes he’s made these last few episodes, the fight he had with his dad (normal he says), breaking the anvil, the vengeful thoughts towards White, and shattering Jasper. He calls himself a fraud. “How did I keep getting away with this?” He says that he will just continue to make mistakes and fix them forever and ever. He concludes that he is a monster and from within him a monster bursts.

I have felt (and sometimes still feel) like Steven here. As someone with ADHD, my days can just feel like one big series of mistakes.

I Am My Monster: Steven feels like a monster, so he is one now. He doesn’t rampage through the city though. He seems more or less confused and afraid of this new form.

The Crystal Gems, Connie and Greg do not want to hurt him. A plan of attack is never formed. They know that he could potentially damage beach city, so they need to restrain him or return him to his human form.

The B team and the Diamonds (plus Spinel) show up as well. All of these people have had their lives very much effected by Steven in a very positive way. Even the Cluster shows up.

Everyone tries a multitude of ways to restrain and help Steven. Nothing seems to be working and they all try to blame themselves, but as Connie points out, that made the situation about themselves, not Steven. She tells them that they need to show that they are there for him now.

They all give him a tearful hug and tell him all the ways he has helped and now they are there to help him.

“Steven, you must have been so afraid to show us this side of yourself, but we’re not going anywhere. We are all going to take care of you the same way you take care of us. You know what? I don’t have your powers but” and in true fairy-tale fashion, he is transformed by a kiss.

I quoted Connie here, because she said it the most succinctly. This is what Steven needed to hear. This has been a lonely season for him. His family has always been there physically, but him hiding away his problems and feelings distanced them from him emotionally. She didn’t tell him he was or good or that his mistakes are without consequence, she just told him that they would be there for him.

When he becomes human again I think he’s afraid that he has hurt someone. He cries into Lion’s mane. That crying was realistic. I’ve heard people cry like that and I’ve cried like that. It is a great way to end an episode like this.

The Future: Steven has a therapist, finally.

Steven has decided to leave and tour all 39 (apparently) states. He wants to know where to live now.

I’ve seen some have qualms with this. I do too in a way. But in the defense of the show, he does still have his support system back home, he has solid plans to continue to see his friends as well as Connie and there’s always warp pad and Lion to bring him back.

He gives the gems some homemade cookie cats to explain his leaving. They all pretend to take it well. This makes him feel like they don’t care. He goes to the B team and they give him a tearful goodbye. Peridot finally gets to wear an appearance modifier that doesn’t meld to her body.

Jasper, who seems to be living in Little Homeworld now, tries to go with Steven. For a moment, I thought he was going to say yes. She is still addressing him as Diamond, but she does ultimately decide to stay.

Greg helps Steven pack up and Steven gives Greg his room. Steven is leaving like his dad once did and Greg has finally settled back into a home. Steven, however, plans to visit again. The gems and his dad are still his family.

Steven hugs everyone goodbye, for the first time. He and Connie seem to officially be an item after all this time. She plans to meet him at one of his first stops. (Also among his earlier stated plans were college tours with her). He starts to drive away, but he’s still bothered by the fact that the gems did not give him a tearful farewell. He puts the car in reverse and lets them know this. They were afraid of holding him back. Of course they are sad and upset, but they are still his family and this isn’t goodbye forever, it’s just a change.

He finally leaves and it seems that the whole town is out with a farewell banner too. He listens to Being Human as he drives off.

While there is a part of me that wishes some other characters could have gotten more screen time or that some other things could have been wrapped up, the other part knows that this is Steven’s story. Rebecca Sugar has talked about the theory of the sublime before. That when you have a story that goes on without showing it, when the audience takes that story and makes it their own, it becomes sublime. So when the fans inevitably write their fanfiction about Steven’s travels, Jasper’s time at little homeschool, and about the myriad of other character and things they could possibly do, this becomes sublime.

I’m glad I got the watch this show from the very beginning. I’ve met some great people online and irl because of it and it has inspired me and will continue to do so.

[psychosistr]

FOWL Facets- Chapter 3

Summary: Left alone with nothing else to talk about, Gandra gets Loony to tell her how exactly she and the rest of the team know Blue Diamond’s strongest and most prized lapis lazuli so well.

Notes: Okay, getting into some backstory finally with this one!

-First Chapter-

Once Domino’s gone, Gandra looks at Loony from her spot against the wall. “So, what’s the deal with you three and this Liquidator guy? I heard he’s Blue Diamond’s favorite lapis lazuli, but I’ve never heard anything about him working for F.O.W.L.”

Loony has a confused look on her face before the realization seems to dawn on her. “Oh riiiiiiiight, that was before you joined.” Her body returns to its usual proportions so that she’s standing by Gandra properly again. “Before the war, Liqui used to go on missions with us all the time!”

Gandra raises an eyebrow curiously at the statement. “So he is a F.O.W.L. agent?”

“Nope.” Lonny shakes her head. “He never joined F.O.W.L., but he does know about it.”

“Wait,” Gandra just looks even more confused by the spinel’s explanation. “If he’s not an agent, then why did he go on missions with you and the guys?”

“Because we were friends!” Loony answers matter-of-factly with a smile. “The four of us used to have so much fun…”

A planet lay in ruins, looking as if it were the scene of a horrible, destructive war. Buildings had been leveled. Bodies lined the streets and fields- all filled with bullet holes or lying with crushed limbs and necks. A good portion of the planet was on fire while the rest had been flooded under their planet’s own sea water.

On the planet’s surface, though, there were only two groups fighting: One was a large army of organic creatures with orange skin, multiple limbs, and three eyes- although their army was huge and their weapons fairly advanced, the bodies strewn across the planet all seemed to be that of their own kind. The other was a small group of four gems venturing further into the enemy’s territory, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.

At the front of the pack, Loony leapt and stretched all over the battlefield, drawing the enemy’s fire. “Bet you can’t catch me!” She teased, sticking her tongue out at them.

The soldiers tried to fire their weapons at her, but the glowing red shots just bounced off of her skin harmlessly. While they were distracted by Loony, however, the other gems were able to take out the soldiers from behind.

“Incoming!!” One of the soldiers shouted in fear as a blinking red egg-shaped crystal was thrown at them.

The soldiers tried to scatter, but, before they could get far, a large white barrier began to close around them, forming a dome that trapped many of them inside with the crystal. They tried desperately to break through the barrier, both from the inside and the outside, but it was no use. The shield held strong, not even cracking when the crystal turned completely red before detonating in a blinding red light, destroying everything within the dome in a controlled explosion.

“A warning would be appreciated next time.” Domino snapped his fingers, finally letting the barrier drop to reveal the smoking crater within. “I could have made it bigger- then we would have gotten more than half of them.”

“Dom, Dom, Dom,” Steelbeak shook his head from where he stood next to Domino on a floating diamond-shaped platform made of black energy. The melanite’s beak was shorter with a smoother look to it back then. He also sported a yellow bowtie instead of a black one and his eyebrows were a bit less defined. “You’re thinkin’ too small, snowflake. Killin’ ‘em all at once is too easy.” He lobbed another glowing crystal at the scattered soldiers, watching as Domino once again formed a white dome-barrier around the organic creatures to ensure their death. “Where’s the style? Where’s the pizzazz? Where’s the FUN?” He pointed down towards the fourth member of their group on the ground below them, leaning closer to his partner to speak in a conspiratorial whisper. “Besides- we gotta keep someone entertained, right?”

Domino glanced down, watching as the water along the battlefield began to recede in preparation for what was to come. “You do have a point there.” He brought his fingers to his beak and whistled, gaining the attention of the spinel still playing around with the soldiers and their futile attempts to shoot her. “Loony, time to go!”

Loony stretched her head up above where her body was grabbing and throwing the organics aside with ease, making it easier for her to shout over to Domino and Steelbeak. “Awww, already?”

“ ‘fraid so, Loons.” Steelbeak nodded behind her poignantly. “It’s drippy’s turn t’ play.”

Loony turned her head to see behind her, her earlier pout quickly turning into an excited smile. “Oooh, that’s gonna be a BIG one!”

With a flick of his fingers, Steelbeak summoned a series of slightly smaller black diamond-shaped platforms between them and Loony. The stretchy spinel was able to stretch and flip up the panels with the ease of ascending a staircase, joining the other gems on the bigger platform high above the battlefield. She got up there just in time, it seemed, as no more than a minute later a roaring tidal wave washed over the ground below them.

Standing on top of the wave was the Liquidator- a tall, buff, intimidating being that looked like a dog made completely out of water with a tear-drop cut royal blue lapis lazuli gemstone visible in his right hand. His outfit consisted mainly of a long royal blue colored robe similar to a yukata with midnight blue trim and a subtle rippling wave-pattern in sapphire blue throughout the garment that culminated around a shining blue diamond-shaped insignia on his chest, the outfit tied shut with a dark oxford blue sash at his waist. The whole outfit appeared to be made of the same water as his body, constantly moving and rippling at the same rate as the rest of his form with the bottom of the robe just being part of the puddle connecting him to the massive wave below him.

The battlefield became part of the ocean that had claimed the planet in virtually no time at all. With a smirk on his face, Liquidator made the water beneath him rise up so that he was level with the other gems. “Feeling drained? Stressed out from the daily grind of grinding down planets for your diamonds and/or shadowy organizations? Then relieve your stress with the fun new game literally sweeping the nation: ‘Skarwal Shooter’!” He did a grand gesture to the drowning soldiers in the water below them. “Grab a gun, line ‘em up, and take a shot at these realistic moving targets! Fun for the whole crew- guaranteed or your money back!” He controlled the water and the bodies in it, juggling them in the air and spinning them around in whirlpools.

“I wanna play!” Loony watched the flipping and flying targets with a look of pure glee and excitement on her face.

Steelbeak chuckled and touched the gem on his chest with both hands. One hand pulled out a gleaming silver tommy-gun with a jet black grip and matching stocks, while the other pulled out a matching long-barreled .38 revolver. He tossed the revolver to Loony so she’d have a weapon of her own, keeping the tommy-gun hoisted up on his shoulder. “Ya know, Liq’s, it’s a good thing we DON’T get paid, or you’d end up with half our money!”

“More than that with the games he talks you two into.” Domino shook his head with a roll of his eyes, pretending to sound annoyed but the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes was undeniably fond.

“Ah, the downsides of being a convincing salesman in a society with nothing to sell.” Liquidator chuckled, forming a chair out of the water under him so he could watch the other gems have their fun shooting at the struggling soldiers before joining in as well- shooting bullets made of ice from the tip of his finger while pointing it like a gun. “Still, there are a few things in life we can enjoy- even if I can’t take your paychecks!”

They all smiled and grinned in their own ways while picking off the last of the soldiers, enjoying their sadistic version of “shooting fish in a barrel”.

Hours later, after double and triple checking that the last of the organics had been wiped out, Loony led Liquidator through the ship with her hands covering his eyes. “Alrighty, Liqui, just a liiiiittle further..and remember, no peeking!”

Liquidator chuckled at the spinel’s antics, but obliged and kept his eyes in place behind her grey-gloved hands. “You have the Liquidator-brand 100% peek-free guarantee…but that guarantee is good for a limited time only, so act now.”

“Okaaaaayyy, now!” She removed her hands from in front of his eyes, finally allowing him to see again.

“??” When he opened his eyes and looked in front of him, Liquidator saw the hall holding the other gems’ rooms. His eyes widened when he saw that the door at the end of the hall, which had previously been left blank, now had an image of his own gemstone embedded in it. “Is..Is that…?”

“Yep!” Loony grinned as she grabbed his hand, guiding it over to the panel by the door.

When his hand touched the panel, the door slid open, allowing them to walk in together. He saw Domino and Steelbeak waiting inside, both looking pleased at his reaction.

“Told ya we’d get ‘im good with this one!” Steelbeak grinned smugly, his arms folded in front of his chest. “He didn’t see it comin’ at all!”

Domino sighed and shook his head with an exasperated smile at his partner’s attitude. “That IS the point of a surprise..” He looked back over to Liquidator. “So, what do you think?”

Liquidator looked around the room, fully taking in all the little details. As with most of the rooms, there wasn’t a lot of furniture, but there was still a table carved from light blue crystals with matching chairs that were made to look as if they were carved from ice. The left half of the room had been converted into a small pool filled with crystal clear water, the bottom of it lined with glowing blue crystals that bathed the entire room in a soft, ethereal glow. What made him smile the most, though, was that on the right side of the room on the wall above the table and chairs was a holo-disk displaying an image of the four of them after their first mission together: Liquidator standing in the middle of the image with his arms crossed, Domino on his right, Steelbeak on his left, and Loony stretched up behind him with her hands making shapes behind Domino and Steelbeak’s heads so they looked like they had mammalian ears.

He looked at the trio of darker gems with a grin that was even brighter (and far more genuine) than the one he’d had earlier on the battlefield. “Nine out of ten royal blue lapis lazuli’s agree: This room is perfect.”

“You’d better not be that tenth one, Liq,” Steelbeak teased the lapis lazuli with an equally bright grin. “ ‘cause we ain’t redecoratin’! You’d better appreciate this- we don’t go around givin’ just ANYONE a spot on the crew, ya know?”

“I know.” Liquidator’s grin softened into a smile. “And I appreciate it.”

They all shared a smile over the blue gem’s words. He only dropped the salesman-talk when he was being genuine, something they’d come to understand after many missions together.

“We need to celebrate!” Loony jumped up, wrapping her arms around Liquidator and leaping at the pool. “Pool party!”

They landed with a big splash (a bit too big for Liquidator NOT to have been a part of it). The resulting wave went far enough to wash over both Steelbeak and Domino.

“Hey!” Steelbeak scowled when he got soaked from head to toe, trying to shake the water out of his comb. A mild glare was added to his expression when he looked at his partner and saw that the snowflake obsidian was completely dry thanks to a thin, translucent white shield encasing his entire body. “Really? Ya couldn’t’ve got me, too?”

“I could..” Domino side-eyed his partner with a teasing smirk when his barrier dissipated. “But where’s the FUN in that?” He paraphrased the taller gem’s words with a quiet chuckle.

“Oh, so you actually LIKE havin’ fun, huh?” Steelbeak’s eyes briefly flicked to the pair in the pool, the two gems grinning as they returned the unspoken sentiment in full.

“Well it IS a party, after all.” The loon missed the conspiratorial glances around him. “And what better place to have fun than a party?”

“Yeah, you’re right, it IS a party.” Steelbeak grinned down at the other gem, subtly moving one hand behind his back. With a flick of his fingers, a small black diamond appeared under Domino’s feet. “A POOL party.”

Before the obsidian had time to react, the diamond shaped platform tilted upwards at an angle, sending him off balance. When he tried to regain his footing, he ended up stepping on one of Loony’s outstretched arms and falling backwards into a small wave generated by Liquidator- the wave quickly drawing him back so that he ended up in the pool alongside the other two occupants.

“……” Domino had ended up at the bottom of the pool before slowly floating back to the top, lying on his back on the water’s surface as he calmly spit a small stream of the liquid from his beak. “Alright…” He closed his eyes for a moment, his expression neutral and unreadable as he stood and retrieved his hat from where it was floating nearby. Once it was back in its proper place, he opened his eyes and looked at the rest of the ship’s small crew with a smirk. “If that’s how we’re going to play...” He withdrew one of his pistols from his gem, the barrel inside turning an icy blue color.

“Ice bullets!” Loony shouted while jumping out of the pool. “Run!”

They all ran away from the pool, laughing at the impromptu game of (literal) freeze-tag that had begun. It was a fun and fitting way to welcome their newest official member to the crew…

<-Previous Chapter Next Chapter->

End Notes: This part was a lot of fun to write ^^ The battle scene from the past put all of their skills to good use while the scene with Liquidator’s room got to show a more relaxed side of the team- a good work-life balance, at the end of the day.

[ffxiv-ariavitali]

Or: 'dealing with difficult emotions’

Another writing commission requested on my ko-fi below the cut!

When Noire imagined married life, she had expected ... well, anything but this, really.

Valeria had gotten busier. Much busier than she had been before they tied the knot. At first, Noire pushed the thought aside as her simply noticing the fact that her lover was simply managing the same amount of work and that she was beginning to nitpick on it. However, as time went on, her suspicions had been growing all the darker and it was confirmed when Aria had approached her about it.

"I hope that I am not prying, Noire," Aria began when she invited her for tea at the Borel manor one day.

Noire raised a brow. "What d'you mean?"

"Well...simply the matter that Sister seems to be working herself overmuch," she answered. "Is there something going on between the two of you?"

"Not that I'm aware of," Noire frowned. "Did she-"

Aria shook her head. "Nay. If there is something occurring, I am unawares of it. I simply wish for the both of you to be happy."

Thinking back on it, Noire should have asked Aria to pry. While she knew that she had matters of the heart well and tethered between the two of them, it was often Aria that had the lead when it came to getting her Miqo'te lover to confess any troubles that she may have.

But, to do that would be to undermine their vows at the altar, not to mention it would create a dependence on problems they should be discussing themselves rather than have an intermediary. So, Noire did what she did the best amongst their Free Company.

She brooded. Brooded and took her anger out on Garleans wandering too close to Alliance lines. Noire knew they didn't deserve the full brunt of her anger. Yet, where else is she to vent? The Warrior of Light was busy on work so it's not like she had an unstoppable force to expend her energy wailing on and both Zeke and Tito were on call.

So, magitek after magitek, vanguard after vanguard. The Viera began with her dual knives only to exchange them in favor of her gunblade. After all, it was rather satisfying getting up close to pull a trigger at the machination's weak point and have the thrice-damned thing explode in front of her very eyes. She relished in the ringing in her ears, the heat on her skin and, best yet, the sounds of screams of the lesser beings.

How dare they attack her home? How dare they come close to putting Valeria in danger? How *dare* they threaten the semblance of peace they have created for themselves?

Damn you, trash. Damn you. Damn you. DAMN YOU.

By the end of it all, Noire was panting, trying her best to breathe in the clean air amidst the smoke and ash. The fighter's blood in her sang sweet melodies that craved more. Yet, the more rational side of her wished to turn back. To go back home.

Then, a ringing chimed against her ear, the sound of her linkpearl. When she answered it, she wasn't at all surprised to hear the voice on the other end.

"Noire?" Valeria's voice rang on the other end. "Noire, where have you been?"

Noire scowled as she kicked a chunk of metal. "Around."

An explosion went off in the distance and while Noire hoped Valeria wouldn't hear it, fate didn't seem to want to play her cards.

"Noire, what was that?" Valeria asked. "Are you- Are you at another castrum?!"

"No," she answered. "Maybe? I don't know. I took a job. For the Grand Company. Asked for help."

There was some hesitation in Valeria's voice when she next spoke, enough to have concern build up in Noire's chest.

"Well, when you're done, come home," she pleaded. "I tried making some casserole today! I want you to try it."

Noire couldn't help, but smile at this. "Alright. I'm just finishing up. I'll be home before it gets dark."

The Viera pressed the button to her linkpearl and allowed herself to bask in the simple sound of fire coming from the destroyed magitek, of the velvet sensation of the breeze brushing against her bare skin, of the way the sun was beginning to descend on the western horizon. While all these things managed to soothe her stormy heart for but a moment, there was still an anchor that continued weighing her down. With a sigh, Noire replaced the cartridge on her gunblade.

Time to end this, she thought. Someone's waiting for me back home.

---

Valeria tapped her fingers against the surface of the table. She laid out plates for her and for her lover, as well as their dinner. There was nothing but the sound of the analog clock against the wall and the crackling of the hearth for the entirety of a bell following her call. Following her plea to urge Noire back home.

Then, she heard the familiar click of the front door opening.

Valeria's ears perked up as she stood from her seat. Her eyes, glittering akin to pink spinels, darted towards the entrance to the dining room to find her lover outfitted in the raven-black silken dress that was excavated from the Copied Factory. Patches of red dyed the cloth here and there and her ice blue hair was disheveled. The Viera's lips were set at a soft frown, not so much a scowl but enough that it displayed her displeasure and deep introspection when combined with the wrinkles between her brows.

"N-Noire?" Valeria called out to her.

"Tell me something, my love," Noire responded in a startling monotone. "Am I not enough?"

Valeria's eyes widened. "Of course you are! What is bringing this up?!"

"If that's the case, then why does it feel like you're avoiding me?" Noire demanded, the volume of her voice raising just a tad in controlled anger.

Valeria jolted, taken by surprise at the question. "Avoiding you? Since when have I-"

"Ever since we got married," Noire answered. "For the past few moons since we tied the knot. Even your sister has been worried about you."

Valeria searched her mind, replaying as much of the immediate past as she could in her head. Had she really been *that* inattentive to her lover's needs? She only wanted to do something for her, so she had been working her butt off recently in order to acquire what she needed.

"Wait, Noire, you're misunderstanding-"

"What am I misunderstanding?" Noire bit out with a frown. "You're hardly at home and you've been-"

Unsure of what else to do, Valeria marched right up to Noire and pressed her lips against hers. The kiss was soft and chaste, testing the waters to her mood before deciding whether or not to continue on further or pull back. Noire was stiff at first, unmoving and unfaltering, until she felt a part of her ease up, drop her gunblade to the floor and wrap her arms around the Miqo'te's small figure.

Valeria, in turn, allowed herself to be encompassed in her lover's arms easily, in the terrifying territorial side to her that wanted to mark, keep and claim much like a wyrm living in the Coerthan north. The passion that Noire filled her with swept her away, pulling Valeria down a lake of need that she never knew she wanted to fall in and did more to tell her how her lover had been feeling.

She's mine. No one can have her. No one else can touch her.

In what felt like a veritable eternity, Valeria broke the kiss when the need for air became too great. Though their lips parted but an ilm, the heat of their breaths brushed against their skin and did more to tighten the core of their bellies, a sensation that was far from innocent and pure. In spite of that, there was a need shared between the two of them: the need to be comforted and the desire to comfort.

"Noire, you've got it wrong," Valeria whispered tenderly.

Noire raised a brow as her pupils began blowing up ever so slightly, her irises becoming as slender rings the color of the sky itself. It made Valeria gulp in anticipation, but she managed to pull herself away from the safety of her lover's arms to retreat to the closest wall.

When Noire allowed her gaze to wander apart from her partner's face, her expression became filled with mild surprise at the sight of a newly created gunblade that was being cradled in Valeria's hands. The small figure stepped back towards Noire, then stretched her arms out in offering.

"The reason why I was working so hard ... was because of this," Valeria explained. "Your weapon right now is worn out. So, I wanted to get you a new one. It has materia imbued in it, as well. It just took a while to have ready and it was pricier than average armory, so..."

Without a word, Noire reached out to take the gift from Valeria's hold and she instantly felt the difference from her old weapon. From the lighter weight to the sudden surge of power coursing through her veins, even a veteran soldier from the fields of Carteneau would be able to see the beauty and craftmanship of this single work. Whoever it was that Valeria commissioned the piece from definitely presented the price they demanded - however much it may be.

It was then that tears began streaking down Noire's cheeks, for how could she have doubted the single light and blessing that had crossed her life? How could she have ever doubted the woman that turned her life around when she found it forfeit?

Gingerly placing the gift on the counter, Noire turned and pulled Valeria against her, the embrace gentle and said a thousand words at once. The Viera held her as if her entire world would break apart if she didn't, that if she didn't fulfill this need, all that she had come to bring and bear would become no more.

"I'm sorry," Noire murmured against Valeria's forehead. "I'm so, so sorry..."

Valeria shook her head. "There's nothing to be sorry about. I shouldn't have worried you so much."

Noire grunted and buried her face against Valeria's shoulder. "Promise me you won't overwork yourself so much, alright?"

"Alright," Valeria answered with a nod. "How about we eat now? You must be hungry."

Noire took in a deep breath, satiating her wish to breathe in her scent that reminded her of a sunny meadow in the midst of spring.

"That's a good idea," she responded. "Water under the bridge."

Valeria's giggles chimed throughout the confines of the room and, with this, Noire knew of one thing for sure.

All her sins have finally been forgiven.