#i'm so excited for you guys to meet Trixi!

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Skira - Part Two

Author's Note: This is part two of my submission for @beefrobeefcal's Glandalorian Writing Challenge. Was it supposed to be finished in November? Yes, yes it was. Is it now December 11th? Also yes. But here we are. This part has two of the three required prompts - the line "I saw what you did. This is not the way." as well as a reference to Dieter Bravo - and it was a lot of fun for me to figure out how to include both. There is still a lot more to come in this story, so I hope no one minds that it's fully trailing into the holiday season. Thank you to everyone who read the first part, I truly hope you enjoy this next bit!

Part One

Word Count: 6,625

Warnings: canon-typical violence and underworld unpleasantness

Summary: Skira is Mando'a for revenge - with a personal edge.

RTK111 

Hyperspace travel had never seemed so slow. 

The N1’s landing gear had barely skimmed the top layer of grime covering the unnamed planet’s surface when Din released the airlock, the cockpit dome swinging open with a sharp hiss. Finally. He hoisted himself up and out of the ship in one swift movement, striding straight for the dilapidated buildings and abandoned warehouses of the former shipping port. Those structures now served as black market trade hubs, crime dens and cantinas, the whole place crawling with bail jumpers and gangsters. 

And you were being held hostage by one of the most notorious among them. 

Not for long. 

Pressing a button on his vambrace, Din sealed the cockpit without looking back. As he made his way through the graffitied maze, following the same path he took the last time he was there, he replayed the conversation he had with Bo-Katan moments after dropping out of hyperspace. 

“The Shale twins told me everything,” she stated, forgoing a greeting in the interest of saving what little time they’d have to speak. “I’ll look after the kid for you, you have my word on that.” 

“Thank you.” Though Din had no doubt that she would agree to help when he asked Leera to pass the message, a wave of relief passed through him with the confirmation that Grogu would be taken care of until he returned. “I shouldn’t be long,” he added, beginning the navigational sequence to guide him through the meteor field that surrounded his destination. “I’ve had dealings with the Karesh gang before.” He glanced down at his wrist, where a full round of whistling birds were loaded in the launching device. “They were brief.” 

“You’ve dealt with Gor Karesh in the past,” Bo countered, vitriol filling her voice as she continued. “I’ve heard that his brother Kol is twice as smart and far more ruthless. He’s obsessed with acquiring beskar to sell on the black market.” She paused, letting out a sigh. “Look, I know you’re going to do whatever you have to do to get your riduur back, and I support that. I just wanted you to know what you’re up against.” She narrowed her eyes then, the sharpness in them piercing through the grainy holo image. “Make him pay for this.” 

Din moved his head in a single nod. Oh, I plan to. “This is the Way.” 

Music pulsed from doorways as patrons stumbled in and out of them, but they all gave a wide berth to the Mandalorian stalking assertively down the street. Chances were high that several of them had outstanding bounties on their heads. As such, his presence on the underworld planet spooked them into less rowdy behavior. I’m not here for them, but they don’t need to know that. No one said a word to him until he was right outside the warehouse that the Karesh brothers had turned into a cantina, when a pair of Gamorrean guards blocked the door with their axes. 

A Nikto acting as a bouncer held up his hand and gestured to the guards to lower their weapons, a grin spreading over his horned face as he realized who had just arrived. “Easy, boys,” he said, eyes traveling over Din’s armor and landing on the Mudhorn signet. “This here is the boss’ special guest. Go on and let ‘im pass.” 

The Gamoreans grunted but acquiesced, stepping back and allowing Din to enter the building. Good choice. They wouldn’t have stopped him if it came to it, but avoiding conflict until it was necessary was the best way to get you out of there safely. And that’s all that matters. 

“I’m here to see Kol Karesh,” he stated to the bouncer. “You can either take me to him, or you can get out of my way.” 

Chuckling, the Nikto reached out to drop his hand on Din’s shoulder. “Relax, Mandalorian.” He did the opposite, shucking away the contact with a quick shrug. That only drew another laugh from the bouncer. “The boss has been looking forward to meeting you. No need for- ” 

“Then take me to him,” Din growled, cutting him off and taking a menacing step forward that forced the smaller being to take an involuntary one back. “Wouldn’t want to keep him waiting any longer.” He tilted his chin down, one hand resting on his holstered blaster. “And you don’t want to test my patience, either.” 

Letting out a huff of air that sounded more nervous than he likely meant to let on, the bouncer nodded. “Noted.” He swallowed, then cleared his throat. “Right then. Follow me.” With that, he turned, Din following him as he made his way through the crowded cantina. 

Weaving through the throngs of patrons gathered around the bar, the two headed toward the back of the open space, where a fighting arena stood. In it, a Devoronian and Twi’lek were locked in an armed battle, both warriors bearing cuts, burns and bruises, but neither showing signs of surrender. Dozens of spectators were gathered around, cheering encouragement and yelling swears alike, and it was clear that many - if not all - of them had placed bets on the outcome of the fight. 

As he walked deeper inside, Din scanned the room for any sign of you - or of where you might be being held - but nothing immediately stood out to him. I’ll find her. He followed the bouncer beyond the arena and through a back door, the crowd noise dampening as it shut behind them. And when I do, they’ll wish they’d never touched her. 

“Boss is in his office.” 

The Nikto’s voice broke through thoughts of what he would do to the man who had taken you captive, Din’s concealed eyes snapping to the door at the end of the short hallway. Pointing at it, the bouncer jerked his head over his shoulder. “Just, uh… Right through there.” Alone in the small space with him, the Nikto lost what little nerve he had, shifting from foot to foot and keeping his eyes anywhere but on the dark slit of Din’s visor. “Alright. Well.” He clapped his hands together in front of him and let out a tense chuckle. “I should be getting back to my post. Can’t trust those pig brutes to decide who gets in and who doesn’t, you know what I mean? You can certainly take it from here. Door’s unlocked. Don’t need me to open it for you, right? Right.” 

By the time he answered his own question, the Nikto had already slipped back out and into the arena, leaving Din standing in front of Karesh’s office. Without wasting another moment, he reached for the panel next to the door and used the side of his balled fist to hit the activator switch. With a hitch and a grinding whir, the door slid open diagonally. 

“Ah, Mandalorian. I see you got my invitation.” Kol Karesh let out a barking laugh, a thick cloud of smoke bursting from his mouth as he did. Another, thinner column emanated from the lit cigar he held. “Please, come in.” The Abyssin gestured with his occupied hand, wisps of smoke dancing as he moved. As soon as Din stepped into the room, the door slammed shut with much more ease and force than it opened with. “We have business to discuss, you and I.” 

“Karesh.” Din’s own voice sounded almost foreign to his ears, anger deepening the tone of it in a way that he hadn’t experienced since Moff Gideon had taken Grogu captive. “The only business I have here is getting my riduur back.” And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. “Where is she?” 

Karesh clicked his tongue and leaned forward in his chair, setting his cigar down on the rim of a carved stone ashtray. “Your woman is fine.” He gave Din a dismissive wave of his hand. “You think I don’t know how collateral works?” He laughed darkly. “I never wanted to do her any actual harm. I just needed to get you here. And here you are, alone, like I asked, so she’s safe.” Using both hands, he indicated the chair opposite his own. “Now, why don’t you take a seat so we can discuss-” 

In a blur of motion, Din grabbed the back of the chair he was offered and threw it against the wall. Two of the legs splintered as it clattered to the floor, Kol’s single eye following the stray pieces. 

“I’m not sitting down with you. There’s nothing to discuss.” He felt his nostrils flare and his top lip curl. White hot rage flooded his bloodstream at the audacity shown by the scum seated across from him. The only reason he’s still alive right now is because I don’t know where he’s keeping her. “These are my terms - You let her go, and I let you live.” 

Karesh hummed, making a show of pretending to mull the offer over. Reaching for the ashtray, he picked up his cigar, taking a slow puff before blowing smoke out of the side of his mouth. 

“Counter offer,” he said through a self-satisfied smirk. “You agree to fight in my next tournament, the details of which…” He paused, circling his hand and causing the red-hot end of his smoke to shed a few embers. “Well, we can work those out later, but you fighting in a tournament would sell a lot of tickets. The bottom line is that you need to make me whole, here, Mandalorian. See, you cut into the Karesh family profits when you… dispatched my brother. The cantina had to close for a time, fights were cancelled.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Not to mention the outstanding debts that Gor owed, which now fall to me to cover.” The Abyssin stamped the cigar out in the tray, sliding it away from himself before crossing his arms over the desktop. “You cost me an awful lot when you strung that idiot up in the street, and it’s high time you paid me back.” 

It was already clear to Din that Kol Karesh was a man of extremely low morals. But hearing the way that he spoke of the death of his own kin as though it were nothing but a bad business deal made him seem even lower, even more despicable.

“What makes you think I’m interested in playing by your rules?” His head tilted slightly, but he kept the horizontal slit of his visor trained on Kol’s large eye. “Your brother chose his own fate, and your profits aren’t my concern. My terms were clear. This isn’t a negotiation.”  

At that, the Abyssin chuckled. “No, It isn’t. I’ve made sure of that.” 

Pulling open a drawer, Karesh produced a holopad and held it up. Din felt his blood go cold as he saw what was being displayed on the screen. No. 

It was you, but you weren’t alone. 

You were joined by two of Kol Karesh’s thugs - one with the point of his vibroblade resting against the small of your back, the other standing a few paces in front of you and holding a short leather leash. At the end of the leash was a snarling beast, and Din recognized the species immediately. 

“You see,” Kol leaned forward so he could glance at the screen without turning it away from Din, just in time to watch you squirm away from the beast’s jaws. “She’s safe. For now. But I can change that.” 

Heart pounding furiously beneath his armor and behind his ribs, Din drew his blaster with lightning speed. “I’ll say it one more time.” His growl rumbled through the modulator in his helmet. “You let her go, and I let you live.” I won’t, but he doesn’t need to know that. 

The gangster just scoffed. “Put that away before you do something you’ll regret.” Before Din could express that he was a man with very few regrets - and that blasting a crater through the belly of the scum who was holding his future riduur hostage would certainly not be one of them - Karesh tapped the upper right corner of the screen, bringing his attention to a ticking timer. “You’ll agree to my terms before that countdown expires, or Shyrr-” He brought his finger down to point out the Quarren who was handling the animal. “-Will drop the leash.” 

Din’s eyes flicked to the timer. Dank farrik. He hadn’t noticed it at first, focused solely on you. He swore under his breath as he realized that because he didn’t know where in the compound you were being held, he didn’t have time to kill Karesh and find you before the clock zeroed out. And I won’t risk her. Seething, he lowered his blaster and returned it to its holster.  

“Ah, a wise decision. I haven’t fed that thing in days,” Kol stated. “It's hungry. Just like the ones you let rip my brother apart in that alley.”

On screen, the hulking thug at your back urged you to take a step forward with a jab of his weapon. Rage bloomed in Din’s chest at the sound you made; at the wince on your face, a mixture of fear, pain and defiance. The mongrel snapped its jagged jaws close to your ankles, Kol’s men laughing at your expense. 

From his office, the Abyssin joined them. “It would make quick work of your lovely betrothed. Tell me, Mandalorian, do you think it would go for her throat first? Or maybe the gut?” He shrugged. “So many soft, fleshy places to choose from.”

The anger burned through him like acid as Karesh barked out another laugh.  “If anything happens to her, I won’t stop until I’ve killed every single one of your men.” Din placed his palms on the desktop and leaned over them menacingly. “And then I’ll kill you.” 

Much to the Mandalorian’s surprise, his threat only made Karesh laugh harder. “Ho Ho! You see?” He slapped his knee. “Such fire! I knew you would make for an excellent gladiator, even if it took some motivation to get you here.” 

From the holopad, Din heard you let out another pained whimper, the sound hitting him like a blaster bolt straight through his chest. He glanced at the countdown in the corner, then back at you. There was still some time left, but he didn’t need any more of it to run before he spoke. “Call off your men.” 

“Is this you agreeing? Before even hearing the details?” Kol blinked. “You really aren’t here to negotiate.” He cackled to himself, then used a wrist comm to call Shyrr. “Show’s over, boys, you can bring her back to her cell now.”  

“You got it, boss.” A gruff voice responded through the comm, and then Din watched as the heavily muscled man at your back dragged you out of frame. 

“Where are they taking her?” He demanded, balling his hands into fists. “I’m only agreeing to your terms if you let her go.”

“Ah,” Karesh closed his eye and sat back in his chair, the base creaking as it rocked with his weight. “You see now you didn’t hear the full details of my terms.” He opened his eye again, fixing it directly on Din’s visor. “You’ll fight in my tournament, that part we’re clear on. What I didn’t tell you about is the entry fee.” 

“Entry fee?” Din repeated, the modulator doing nothing to hide the contempt in his voice. “What are you talking about?” He shook his head slowly. “I’m not paying you anyth-”  

“Yes,” Karesh interrupted, standing for the first time since Din arrived, his abrupt motion causing both his desk and chair to move. “You will.” He sneered. “Or I’ll contact Shyrr and Drace again, and they’ll happily dispose of your precious little down payment.” Cocking his head to the side, he took two steps around the desk. “Did you think that trick with the dog is the only one I have up my sleeves?” The Abyssin blew air through his lips and reached into his shirt pocket. “There’s more than one way to skin a loth-cat,” he mused, revealing your Mudhorn pendant, the beskar gleaming in the dim light of the gangster’s office. “If you catch my drift.” 

His drift was crystal clear. 

He outplayed me. Bo-Katan had warned him that Kol was more clever, more cunning, and more brutal than his brother. And the scum was proving her right, leaving Din with no choice but to follow Karesh’s script. At least until I find her. 

Rage blurred his vision, but Din kept his eyes locked on the necklace. “What do you want?” 

“I want what my brother failed to gain,” he responded, a sick grin twisting his features. “I want your armor.” 

Despite the rest of Bo’s warning, regarding Karesh’s hobby of stripping Mandalorians of their beskar, the demand caught him off guard. He thought back to what he had said when Gor - or the countless others who had tried to challenge him for his armor throughout the years - had made the same demand. You’d have to take it from my corpse. 

That was before he had you to lose. And though his armor was as much a part of him as was his flesh and bone, especially the pieces that were imbued with beskar from his father’s armor, you were his life. You and Grogu. Just like the decision he faced on Morak that led to the removal of his helmet, this was another impossible choice to make, because either way he would lose something. But there’s only one right answer. 

Before he could reluctantly agree, Karesh spoke again. “I can tell this is a sensitive topic for you. Or, at least it was for the last Mandalorian I did business with.” He laughed, the sound turning Din’s stomach. “But you’re a… special case. See, with you, the thrill of making you remove your armor is worth more to me than what I would get for it on the market. With you, it’s about control. Gor thought he could control you, but he failed. I won’t.” 

So it’s not really about the credits. This is about his pride. 

Karesh waved his hand as he went on. “So how about this for a compromise. You forfeit your armor today, helmet and all, to buy your precious poppet’s freedom. I’ll hold onto her, of course, for safekeeping, while you earn your armor back piece by piece. You win a fight, you get to choose a piece. Lose a fight, lose a piece. Die?” A smug grin inched its way across Kol’s face. “And I keep the beskar, and the poppet.” 

“That’s not going to happen.” Din’s chest heaved with the way his anger changed his breathing. I’m not going to lose, Karesh. You are. “You can count on that.” 

“Then you have nothing to worry about, Mando.” The Abyssin tossed your pendant to him, Din catching it carefully in one gloved hand. “Here, as a show of good faith, I’ll let you keep her little trinket. It can help remind you what you’re fighting for.”  

The absolute last thing in the galaxy that he would need was a reminder. Though the ceremony had yet to happen, your name had already been written on his heart as far as Din was concerned. He stared down at your necklace in his palm as he spoke. “I’ll need continued proof that she’s safe.” Slowly, he closed his fingers around the sculpted pendant and lowered that arm to his side. “And I’ll need to see her. Not just on the holo screen.” 

Karesh rolled his eye. “I know better than to dangle a bruised cachu fruit if I want to get my fathier to run, so to speak.” He perched his hands on his hips and blinked. “You know, I’m in a generous mood, so I’ll cut you another deal. I’ll let you see your little missus tonight. In fact -” He clapped his palms together. “She can be the one to relieve you of your beskar.” 

Din’s eyes fell shut as the weight of what that would mean washed over him. Since redeeming himself in the Living Waters, he hadn’t shown his face to anyone aside from Grogu, and only when the two were alone. You had yet to see him without his helmet. That moment was supposed to be reserved for your wedding night, when you officially bound your hearts and souls together. That was when you were supposed to look into his eyes for the first time, behind closed doors and with a soft, warm bed to fall into. Not here on this scudhole planet, in the bowels of a derelict warehouse with Kol Karesh and his goons watching. 

His heart sank, knowing that keeping that moment sacred was just as important to you as it was to him. I’m sorry, mesh’la.  

“Uh oh,” Karesh filled the silence that Din had let hang between them. “Not getting cold feet are you? This offer won’t last forever, so if you’re not going to take it then let me know. Because a freighter headed for Nal Hutta comes in tomorrow morning, and if you’re backing out now I can still sell that pretty poppet of yours to the Hutt Cartel and-” 

Something snapped in Din at the threat of you being sold to anyone, let alone one of the most nefarious crime syndicates in the Outer Rim. Reaching for Karesh’s collar, he grabbed it with one hand and yanked the Abyssin off the ground. 

“If you even think about doing that, there will be nowhere in this galaxy where you’ll be safe from me.” His tone was ice cold, but measured and steady. 

Struggling to speak with Din’s grip tightening close to the point of strangulation, Kol choked and sputtered out a response. “So…at’s a… a yes, then?” He coughed aggressively as Din dropped him back on his feet. “You’re in?” 

With a single nod that splintered his heart and stoked the fury in his gut, Din confirmed. “I’m in.” For her. 

“Perfect!” Karesh’s throat still sounded hoarse even as he gleefully used his wrist comm to contact his men again. “Shyrr, have Trixi bring our special guest to the gladiator’s barracks.” There was a muffled answer, and then Karesh was speaking to Din again. “Eight fights. Tournament starts in two days, you get two fights a day. Then, if everything goes the way you’re oh, so sure it will -” his laugh turned into a cough. “- you and your lady will be gone by next week.” 

Din just stared at him. And you’ll be dead. 

“Now.” Kol stepped over to a clunky storage locker in the corner of his crowded office, pulling one of the doors open. But instead of shelves of data disks or credit ledgers, the entire facade of the locker opened as a door to a hidden passage. “Let’s reunite you with your sweetheart.” 

– – – 

You hadn’t even been back in your cell long enough for your hands to stop shaking, the bloodthirsty mongrel’s breath still hot on your ankles, when the door at the end of the corridor slid open, the sound of light but distinctly metallic footsteps reaching your ears. 

What now? 

You stood from the hard bench Shyrr had dropped you onto after Karesh had called off the intimidation tactic. Letting out an uneven breath, you reached for the bars with your bound hands and peeked through them. Though you were unsure what to expect at that point, after being ambushed, abducted, imprisoned and threatened by an underworld gang, you certainly weren’t expecting to see what you did. 

What the kr-

“Greetings, human guest!” 

A gleaming, silver protocol droid appeared, speaking in a tone that was far too cheerful for your surroundings and situation. You heard the quiet whir of mechanical joints as it took a few more steps to stand before you. Unlike most class-three protocol droids you’d previously encountered, this one had been built with more feminine features, including a stylized shaped head to give the impression of a bob haircut, and curled strands of metal embellished its eye-bulbs to look like long lashes. Before you could insist that you were definitely not a guest, your new visitor spoke again. 

“I am TR-1X, Talent Relations Liaison, but you may call me Trixi.” 

“Um.” You swallowed, watching as the droid’s faux lashes moved with the programmed blinking of its eyes. This is… bizarre. “H-hello, Trixi. Can you tell me what’s-” 

“It is nice to meet you, doll.” The droid cut you off, sounding even cheerier than before as her eye-bulbs glowed happily. “But we will have to save the girl-talk for later. The boss sent me here with a high priority task, and unfortunately I am not permitted to override it in favor of pleasantries. Now, please direct your attention to the far wall and save all questions and comments until the holo has ended.” 

With that, Trixi’s eye-bulbs spun in their sockets like casino slots, switching from white to blue as they projected a holo-recording onto the grimey wall of your cell. You turned to have a better view, and as soon as you did, you sucked in a gasp. 

Din. Your feet took you a few steps closer to the projection, a quick swell of hope filling your chest. He’s here. 

But the relief you felt when you recognized his broad frame dissipated with the realization that if Karesh had sent this droid to show you something, it likely wasn’t something you would want to see. He’s playing with us. The binders around your wrists clattered as you clenched your fists. He wants to hurt Din and he wants me to see it. When it became clear exactly how Karesh intended to do that, you felt the air leave your lungs. Heart pounding, you watched as the man you loved struck a gut-wrenching deal for your freedom. Oh, no. Fresh tears slipped down your cheeks as you noticed the slight change in Din’s posture as he agreed to Karesh’s terms. 

“Oh, Din,” you whispered, as the holo ended and Trixi’s eyes spun back to their original state. “I’m sorry.” 

None of it was your fault, and you knew that. You did nothing to draw the attention of the Karesh gang. It wasn’t your past leaping into the present. It was Din’s, there was no denying that. But you didn’t blame him. How could you, when it had been you who talked him out of his fears that something like this would happen? You, who had been the one to insist that there would be nothing that the two of you couldn’t face together? There was no blame to be doled out as far as you were concerned, not between the two of you. 

But that didn’t change the fact that you were sorry about what was being demanded of him. 

“Alright, doll,” Trixi’s sunny voice from behind you made you turn back to face her. “I know I said we’d have time for chit-chat after the holo, but I just received a new directive which means that it will have to wait a bit longer. But don’t worry!” Her head titled at a slight angle as she leaned forward. “We will have plenty of time to get to know one another after this next directive is fulfilled.” 

With that, Trixi stepped up to the panel on the wall that controlled the bars of your cell. Batting her metallic eye lashes, she set the bulbs spinning again until they settled on a greenish light. As soon as the sensor on the panel registered the frequency that Trixi was projecting, the bars of your cell slid up into the wall above them, and you were free. For half a beat, your adrenaline fueled brain tripped over itself as you considered your options. 

I could run. Should I run? How would I find Din? What would I- You stopped yourself. I don’t have options right now. Not if you wanted both of you to survive this encounter. 

With another blink, Trixi’s eye-bulbs returned to normal, and the droid faced you again. “Right this way,” she said, brightly coaxing you to follow her.  “I am to bring you to the barracks. There is a new gladiator who requires your attention.” 

“Din?” You asked the droid as you stepped over the threshold of your cell. “The new gladiator, is he a Mandalorian?” 

Trixi had already begun walking down the corridor, and you hurried to catch up. She swiveled her head so that she was facing you when she responded. “Sure is, doll. Pretty exciting, don’t you think?” 

You assumed that the droid would lead you through the same door she had used when she entered the prison wing, but you were wrong. Instead, she paused by a wall panel that looked misplaced, as though it had been installed in error, her eyes emitting the same green light that had worked on the panel of your cell. To your shock, a slice of the wall opened up in front of you, revealing a hidden passage. 

Exciting? You shook your head, eyebrows pinched together, and followed your guide through the wall. “No, Trixi, that’s my fiance. And your boss is keeping me prisoner to force him into his tournament.” And to force him out of his beskar. 

“Oh, that’s nonsense, doll!” Trixi waved a hand at you, the joints whirring audibly. “Mr. Karesh runs an entertainment enterprise. All of the contracts he draws up for the talent are on the up and up. I know because I review them myself.” She let out a bubbly sound that you were possibly supposed to take as a chuckle. “And you are not a prisoner, silly! You are a guest! That is why I have been assigned to make sure that you are comfortable during your stay here.” Her head swiveled again so that she was facing forward, another of her trilling chuckles accompanying the movement. “Prisoners are not assigned Talent Relation Liaison droids.” 

On the up and up? You narrowed your eyes at the back of Trixi’s sculpted bob. Her programming has clearly been… adjusted. Though she was just a droid, you felt bad for her. In a way, TR-1X was just as much a prisoner as you and Din were. You doubted that working for a crime boss was what she had been originally built for, especially with the way that you saw her eye-bulbs function. That’s not standard in other human relation models. And it doesn’t look like she’s got any weapons. Class three droids typically didn’t. What the kriff is a TR droid even supposed to do? 

You decided that the best way to find out was to ask. “I know you said we’ll have time to talk later, Trix,” you said, following her around a corner. “But I’m curious. What is the primary function of a TR unit?” 

Trixi slowed for a step or two before resuming her pace. “My primary function?” Her eyes glowed a warm gold, almost giving off a nostalgic feeling. “TR units were created to assist in the production of holodramas. My main functions were procuring talent to cast in films and ensuring that things ran smoothly during production. Before I was sold to the Karesh brothers, I worked as a directorial assistant droid on countless holodrama sets,” Trixi stated. “I worked with Wynessa Starflare, Jeffa Day, Dieter Bravo -” 

You shook your head. “Sorry, who?” 

Trixi’s eye sockets shone brightly with surprise. “You don’t know Dieter Bravo? Wynessa Starflare? But, they were in some of the biggest theatrical epics filmed since the days of the Old Republic! ” When you only shrugged, she made a disapproving noise, her eyes dimming as her shoulder joints drooped. “Oh, I miss Coruscant. No one in the Outer Rim knows their holodramas. It’s depressing.” 

“Not much need for that sort of entertainment in the Outer Rim, I guess.” You grimaced, realizing that the kind of entertainment that was in demand in the Outer Rim, was the kind that had landed you where you were - illegal gambling, fighting, and other, even less palatable pastimes. 

“No matter! I can still be of use to Mr. Karesh as he builds his gladiatorial business. Ticket sales are ticket sales, afterall!” She was back to her overly perky tone. “Okay, doll.” She turned another corner and a door came into view. “Here we are. The boss said to give you a moment, so…” 

You swallowed, mouth suddenly dry, and hurried up to the door, turning to wait for Trixi to open it. As soon as you heard the click of the mechanism, you spun towards the opening, eyes skipping over the various beings scattered throughout the large space and landing immediately on the familiar, tattered and darned material of Din’s cape. As though he could feel your gaze, he turned, taking in the sight of you. It was impossible, then, to tell who moved first, both of you striding to meet the other. 

He spoke your name as you reached him, his arms winding around you to corral your body close to his chest. You folded yourself into his embrace, laying your cheek to the cold plate of his armor, tears once again flowing freely as he held you. “Mesh’la,” he murmured, one hand coming up to curve around the back of your head. “Are you hurt?”

You shook your head, knowing that he felt your response. “No, but I…” I don’t want you to have to do this. You pulled back to look at him, his hold loosening enough to allow you to do so. You noted that he had already been relieved of his weapons. Of course. “Din.” You took a shaky breath, tears rolling down your cheeks and giving your voice a watery sound. “I saw what-” You shook your head. “On the holo. They had me watch when you-  I saw what you did. What you agreed to.” You shook your head as his hands fell to your waist. “This is not the Way.” 

He said your name again, then, bringing one hand up to lift your chin so that you could look nowhere but at the visor concealing his eyes. “The Creed is very important to me. But walking the Way of the Mandalore will always come second to keeping my family safe.” 

You knew that to be true. You knew what he had gone through to keep Grogu safe, and you knew when you’d been taken that he would stop at nothing to do the same for you. But you also knew how important his redemption had been to him, and you hated the idea that this stunt of Karesh’s was tarnishing what he had earned in the eyes of his tribe. By the same token, you knew how important it had been for him not to remove his helmet around you until after your marriage ceremony. 

“I know, Din.” You placed your palms on his chest. “I just… I wish…” You lowered your head. “This isn’t right. He’s making you take off your helmet. So many people will see you, and-.” 

Leaning in, Din rested the front of his helmet against your forehead, one hand curling around the base of your neck. “I have earned the right to wear my helmet after exposing my face before, and I will do it again. That’s not… I care less about that than I do about…” Your heart twisted as he struggled to get his words out. Because I know what he’s trying to say. Oh, Din. “It’s not how I…” He sighed, his thumb slowly swiping up and down the back of your neck. “This isn’t how I imagined it would be, showing you my face for the first time. I… It should be when-” 

When his voice broke, so did your heart. 

“Then let’s keep it that way.” You swallowed, reaching up with both hands to grip his wrist. 

Straightening up, he moved his head side to side in confusion. “But, if you saw the holo, you know the terms. Karesh made it clear that he wanted you to be the one to remove my armor.” 

You nodded. “He did.” Moving your hands to the collar of his flight suit, your fingers found the purple scarf you’d given him, and tugged it free. “But he didn’t say I had to see anything.” You handed him the fabric. “Blindfold me before I take your helmet off. I’ll keep it on until you have it back.” 

It meant that you wouldn’t be able to watch him in the arena - if that was even allowed as the “guest” of Trixi’s Mr. Karesh. But if it meant that you could protect just a small piece of his Creed, you would do it without question.  

You heard the sound of hefty footsteps coming closer, followed by the bright sound of Trixi’s voice as she greeted her boss, and knew that your time alone was coming to an end. “Din?” You looked up at him as he closed his fingers around the scarf in his hand. “I love you. I know we’ll get through this. Please, just… Just don’t get hurt.” 

“We will get through this,” he responded firmly. “And I won’t be the one who gets hurt.” Reaching up with his empty hand, he swiped at your tears. “I love you, cyare.” 

With that, you turned around to let him tie the deep purple scarf around your eyes, his touch gentle as he knotted the material. It smelled like him, and for a few seconds, you allowed that to comfort you. But as you turned again, one of Din’s large hands taking hold of both of yours, the door that you had come through opened, and Kol Karesh stepped through with Shyrr, Drace and Trixi on his heels. 

“Isn’t this sweet,” Kol teased as he took in the blindfold that you wore. “I wouldn’t wanna watch him in that arena either, poppet.” He laughed, Shyrr and Drace slowly joining him. “Okay!” He clapped his hands together, the goons falling silent again. “Go on, poppet. Show us that he’s just a man under there.”��

You felt Din squeeze your hand, the gesture small but the comfort behind it 

Immense. Returning it, you let out a long, slow breath, and then you released his hand, and began undoing the fasteners that held his armor in place, removing it piece by piece. 

When you had finished, and there was a small stack of beskar by your feet, Karesh clapped his hands again. “Very good, poppet. See? Just a man.” His gravelly laugh turned your stomach. “That’s all I need you for right now. Trixi!” He barked for the droid and then you heard the metallic sound of her footsteps. “Bring our guest to her new quarters.” 

Trixi appeared at your elbow then, the cool metal of her animatronic fingers a shock to your skin, the difference between her touch and the feel of Din’s armor enormous. “Alright, doll. Time for that girl talk I promised!” 

Before she could steer you away, though, you felt something else - something warm and soft and full of promise. You felt the press of Din’s lips to your tear-stained cheek. “I’ll get us out of here, mesh’la.” 

Though his Creed had been broken in a catastrophic way, your response felt right as you whispered back to him. “This is the Way.” 

It was the last thing you said to him before Trixi pulled you away, the door to the barracks slamming shut behind you with Din - and a room full of beings he would have to fight to win his freedom - trapped on the other side. 

-- -- --

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[lostonehero]

What remains after eternity

Homage

They were close to their destination it would have taken a few more days to get there. However, Aurora demanded that they stop while Jonny's kids recover, the backward aging has started, and none of them are doing well. Jonny has been crawling up a wall, and neither Tim nor Bertie could get him to relax.

Brian blinks as they are being hailed as they enter the planets atmosphere. "Guys?"

Marius was resting in the bay watching this next to Lyf. Raphaella was on the other side talking to Ivy about the eggs hatching and revisiting to see what would happen. Ashes had just dragged Jonny into the area to get him to stop hovering around his kids' rooms. Tim and Bertie were in the shooting range with Valerie going head to head. Nastya was sitting right next to Brian, sharing a same look of confusion.

Brian accepts the hail. "Hello?"

A woman appears on the other side of the screen. She didn't look like anything species Brian could recognize. She was speaking broken common. "What brings you to Thanos? This solar system is avoided."

"We are merely looking for a place to land and do repairs as we head to Xeonia. We won't stay long if that is what you're worried about." Brian raised a brow as the woman scowls.

"What business do you have with Xeonia?" The woman's voice turns to anger and mistrust.

Brian motions to Marius, who wasn't paying attention. "Our crew member is from there, and we wish to know more about his planet and let him return home before we go on our next adventure."

The woman's expression flips. "You have Xeon on your ship! You have Xeon equal to you?"

Brian grimaced. He knew of the extreme racism Marius got on planets that knew of his species even though he insisted that he was the last left. He knew that wasn't true. "Of course we do!"

The woman seemed excited getting the attention of everyone. "Entry Granted! Enjoy your stay, and we will have people to help you off board and give you a place to stay. Welcome to the planet of the forgotten!"

"Forgotten?" Nastya raised a brow.

"What species was she? Wait, was that a she?" Ashes raised a brow. "Also, I've never seen anyone excited to know we have Marius, no offense."

Marius shrugs.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Lyf raised a brow. "Sure, his violin can get annoying, but that doesn't make any sense."

"That is something I won't be touching with a ten foot pole." Nastya swallows. "Sorry again, Marius."

Marius shakes his head. "You've apologized enough it's ok. I've already forgiven you." He rubs the back of his neck. "My species, Xeon, aren't excatly liked."

"Why?" Lyf still held a look of confusion as Aurora took over landing.

Jonny sighs, sitting between Marius and Lyf. "Specieism, or space racism. Marius's species isn't excatly safe, and it isn't entirely their fault. However, those who do know of their species tend to avoid or try to kill them outright."

"So what if he's poisonous and venomous? Did they cause wars or something?" Lyf crossed his arms.

Ashes continues where Jonny left. "No. However, when they look for sanctuary welllll... look, there's a reason why Janet told us most live on their ships."

"I really don't want to talk about this." Marius covers his face. "It's not really important right now. Besides look we landed, and didn't she mention people waiting for us."

"Marius I..." Lyf stops when Jonny glares at him.

"Alright, come on, memory boy." Jonny grabs Marius's hand. "Let's meet the welcoming committee."

Marius snickers. "That's the best you can come up with?"

Jonny sputters. "How about hopelessly a dumbass? You fucked doctor."

"Fine, fine." Marius holds up his robotic hand. "Let's just go."

......

"Hello!" The same woman waves from the docking station. "I am Trixie, and I welcome you."

Marius is taken aback by seeing two of his species behind her. He can't recall the last time he saw another one of his kind. He decided to speak in his native language. "Hello, I'm Marius Von Raum, and this is Jonny D"ville he's a New Texan. Can you um tell me what species you are if that isn't rude."

Trixie lights up speaking Xeon. "Of course! Oh my gosh, have you been vaccinated yet? It doesn't affect New Texans, so your friend is fine. Here here take this so you don't get sick by accident." She hands over a respirator. "Gosh, it must have been ages. You guys were traveling. Feel free to stay and explore. We only just started to slow down on getting refugees." She grabs Marius's hand and pulls him along after he puts the respirator on.

Jonny blinks. "Fucking shit." He runs after the two. "Wait what the fuck are you doing?"

Marius pauses. "Getting vaccinated?" He responds in common. "Wait, please, I would like to bring my mate with me. Our bond is still new, and I really don't want to be that far from him."

Trixie stops in her tracks. "Mate? Why didn't you say so? Is it the New Texan?"

"No." Marius crossed his arms. "He isn't a Xeon, so I really don't want him to be alone if anything happens."

The two Xeon looked like Marius hung the moon for them. "A rarity." One speaks up.

"Amazing, Trixie is a halfling, so don't worry about children." The other laughs softly.

Marius blinks as the words click. "What?"

"Guys! That's enough! Gosh, they love to brag about the others who manage to have a successful heat with a different species. Anyway, of course, but that isn't important." Trixie smiles. "Come on, this planet is a mess of species. We probably have one of whatever he is. But seriously, you will need to get vaccinated if you want to go anywhere father than here."

Marius nods. "I understand, but can I get him first."

"Of course, where are my manners? Um, " Trixie switches back to common. "Jonny, or do you prefer D'ville?"

"Jonny is fine, but what is going on?" Jonny pulled Marius closer to him.

"Oh, there was a pretty nasty bioweapon virus. It only affects Xeon, so Marius has to just get vaccinated to be safe. However, he requested we get his mate first, so that will be done first." Trixie smiles. "Sorry it's been a long while since we have had such a mixed crew of just different species. We're right by a little ripple of the universe, so we get a lot of refugees, and oh a few hundred years back a nice odd group came by and created a vaccine for the Xeon so they weren't wiped out. A lot of so-called sacrifices get thrown into what they think is a black hole, which is really our ripple and end up by here, so yeah."

"Huh." Jonny looks at Marius, who shrugs. "I will have to ask about that later, but sure, we'll bite. Come on, I'll introduce you guys to the crew of the Aurora."

........

Raphealla watched Marius get injected with a syringe. "So?"

Marius rubs his arm. "So?" He looks away, not really feeling any different. "You don't have to stare at me like that, Lyf."

Lyf quickly looks away, sipping on a drink that was handed to him. "Well, I'm allowed to worry."

Trixie pops in between startling the group. "I will have to warn you guys that there is major time dilation that comes from the ripple, so please be careful of the other species you come across. There's even a few Xeon from the original civil war around here, so please be careful."

Marius removed the respirator. "I don't like that."

"Why?" Lyf handed him his own drink.

"I could see others from before this." Marius holds up his metal arm.

Lyf pauses. "You said there were Asguardians here too."

"Oh yes, we have many different species. We even have a few humans. They are quite odd." Trixie hums.

Bertie rolls his eyes. "Rude."

"What about mine?" Brian wagged his tail excited.

"Oh, I don't actually know every species, but we do have a directory if you want to go to a certain territory." Trixie tilted her head. "Is your human with the plants ok?"

Bertie was quickly grabbed by Tim. "I will let you know?"

Jonny was following behind. "Tell me if my kids need me and I'll be over."

Ashes hums and grows a smirk. "Do you have anyone from Camelot?"

Brian shoots them a glare. "Don't you dare!"

Nastya snickers. "Can you show me the best place to get supplies for repairs?"

Trixie nods. "Now that is something I'm able to do."

Ivy grabbed Raphaella. "You are coming with me, and I am getting every book I can grab. You will fly me everywhere."

"Ooo sounds like a date." Raphaella winks as she grabs Ivy and they set off.

"I have a bad feeling about this." Laz frowns, he was kicked out of Thomas's room and now had to socialize.

Valerie grabs Laz by his ear. "Come on, we are heading to the desert part. I've got a map and I haven't been here in ages."

"You've been here?" Laz blinks.

"Darling, I've been places you could only have nightmares about." Valerie laughs and picks up Laz and heads out.

Marius finishes his drink and looks over to TS. "Aren't you going to join the others?"

TS pauses. "I Wish To Wait For Jonny's Children. They Called Me Their Favorite!"

Lyf chuckles remembering the incident where Scratch tried to help turn all of them back into children, and they attached to TS. "I'm sure they would love to hear stories you can bring back for them."

"I Also Have To Make Sure Carmillia Doesn't Bother Them." TS salutes and heads back to Aurora.

"Someone has to put a leash on that woman." Lyf sighs. "I guess it's just us to explore."

Marius smiles. "I suppose it is. And if this causes my memory to unravel again. I know my mate can keep me safe."

Lyf's face erupts in a deep blush. "I want to try some Xeon food. It will stop my cravings." He lets Marius tug him along.

.......

Jonny raised a brow at the odd town they came across, which is where Tim stopped and put Bertie down. "So where are we?"

"Oh, I didn't think they were sending anymore of yous down to help out." An older human man approached Jonny. He looked to be pulled straight from the 1930s detective comics. He snubs out his cigarette. "Anyway, I'm Charlie, and I'm helping out these folks."

Jonny raised a brow. "What do you mean to help?" He looked the man up and down. "We just landed. We ain't staying."

Charlie waves his hand. "Nah, that's my fault. There's a bunch of you New Texans here." He removes his hat to reveal golden and black mismatched eyes. "Sorry to assume."

Jonny looked away, clearly not expecting an apology. "What is this place? I don't recognize the architecture."

"Then you've never been on earth." Charlie sighs, looking over at Bertie and Tim. "Ah, not to assume time travel is weird. About three years ago, a few military vessels from Earth came over, something about a moon war. Again, the ripple in space and time doesn't work right, and you'll go mad trying to figure it out. Anyway, this area is mostly occupied by humans, so it's been a bit helping them settle." He raised a brow. "You friends ok?"

Moon War? Jonny's tail puffed out as worry seeped into his features. "I will let you know." He spins to look at Bertie and Tim.

Tim had his hands in the dirt, making an apple tree. Bertie was trying to ask what he was doing and why here, but Tim seemed happy to keep at what he was doing.

Jonny walked over to the two, and Charlie followed out of curiosity. "What the fuck are you doing?"

"Apple tree!" Tim stares up at the massive apple tree with ripe, ready to pick apples. "Good dirt."

Bertie shrugs. "Don't look at me." He pauses as Tim grabs an apple and starts to eat. "Tim carried me here."

Jonny sighs. "Tim, why did you lead us here?"

Tim points to a few military uniforms hanging on a wire drying in the breeze. "Uniforms." He swallows his bite. "Familiar."

"Well, yeah, they're from the war." Jonny rolled his eyes.

Bertie stepped closer to the uniforms. "No, not just that...."

"OH BLOODY FUCK ME! BERTIE?!" A voice interrupted as a tall man in a tank top and uniform pants ran up to Bertie. His hair was short and shaggy, and he had bright blue eyes and dog tags around his neck. "When the fuck did you get here? Is little Timmy with you? You both had to enlist together."

Bertie thins his lips. "Hey Oliver, it's been ages."

Jonny raised a brow and huffs when Tim puts an apple in his mouth. He rolls his eyes as Tim smiles and begins to eat a second apple.

"Did you guys make it to the moon? Did we win? Where's your uniform?" Oliver smiles wide, and it falls just as fast as he spots Tim quietly eating an apple. "Tim?"

Tim's eyes whirl as he tilts his head. He swallows his bite. "Yes?"

Jonny hums. "Who the fuck are you?" He moves in front of Tim which doesn't do much because Tim is much taller than he is. "The fuck do you want with Tim?"

"Jonny, that's Oliver." Bertie had a strained smile. "That's Tim's brother."

Tim hands Oliver an apple as he continues forward into down.

"Fuck." Jonny pinched his brow. "For one, how was I supposed to know that? Two Tim doesn't even recognize him."

Oliver was stunned for a mere moment before he dropped the apple. "What the fuck did you do to my brother?"

Bertie looks to Jonny for help.

"For one, I didn't do shit." Jonny scowls. "Two, do you have any idea how long we've been around for? We didn't come through the ripple. Our uniforms are dust at this point."

Bertie sighs. "It's complicated. However, this does explain where the armada went."

"You two play catch up. I'm going to make sure Tim doesn't cause a panic." Jonny rushed forward.

Charlie pinched his brow. "Is that Jonny D'ville?"

"How'd you know?" Bertie raised a brow.

"The mechanisms are quite infamous before they vanished. Oliver and Bertie, how about we find a nice spot to talk, and Oliver calls your siblings." Charlie sighs.

........

Lyf started at the bright, nearly neon purple meat in front of them. Marius was already eating and purring loudly. He really didn't want to ruin the moment, but he didn't think he could stomach this.

Marius smiles. "Lyf, try it while it's still cold. I can't remember when I had this simple luxury. We didn't really have anything to keep it cold, so we had to eat it hot, which I mean is fine but less filling as it becomes sludge. Granted, it was good in soups, but well..." He rubbed his temple. "You should eat."

Lyf cannot name in his immortal life so far meat that would melt when made warm. He takes a deep breath and takes a bite. It was sweet with bitter after notes, but it did not taste like meat at all. He really didn't like it, but he finally felt not queasy. "It's different." He noticed new eyes all on him and the whispers.

Marius took a long sip of his green drink. "I can take it if you don't want it."

"I didn't say that." Lyf huffs. "Just because I don't like this doesn't mean I don't want it. I finally stopped feeling nauseous. What kind of creature has this meat anyhow?"

Marius hums, scratching his beard. "I don't think I can think of a similar creature you would know to compare to it."

"Marius...." Lyf sighs and pinches his brow. He then smacks Marius's hand away. "Fuck you I told you I'm going to finish it."

Marius laughs. "I was just going to give you some vegetables."

Lyf blushes a static. "I can get them myself." He motions to the boiling stock pot. "Just because you have a metal arm doesn't mean you have to handle the hot substances."

"I think it does." Marius smiles. "Especially to protect my mate."

Lyf groans and stuffs his face before he could stick his foot in his mouth with a response.

"Um, I'm sorry to impose, but I do have to ask. Are you a part of the Mechanisms?" A woman approached Marius, who just cleaned off his plate.

"Yes, I am." Marius raised a brow. There was probably a bounty on them here. It's not surprising, after all, since this planet is a mix of different times and species.

The woman smiles. "Fucking I told you! There is a Xeon in the crew." She shouts at the table down the way, and a different woman scoffs.

Marius blinks. "Honestly, I expect to be shot when people ask."

Lyf snickers. "To be fair, you are an awful criminal."

"And what does that make you?" Marius smirks.

"A space cop according to everyone on the crew." Lyf takes another bite. He pauses as he swallows. "Wait, why aren't you being arrested?"

Marius shrugs. "Dunno fans aren't exactly our thing."

"Don't sell yourself short. I'm your fan." Lyf hums as he cleans his plate. "I'm still conflicted, but it kind of grows on you. What about dessert?"

Marius shrugs.

"Well, we have a chance to figure it out." Lyf smiles.

"Wait!" The same woman now with her companion stops the two as they get up. "I uh.... are the others here, too? Are you guys planning a concert?"

"A show?" Marius looks to Lyf, who shrugs. "We dont have any plans, but that's normally Jonny's department."

The two women look at each other, then back to Marius.

"I could play something if you like." Marius pulls out his violin.

Lyf pinched his brow. "Show off."

The women looked excited.

Marius smiles. "What can I say it's rare I meet any kind of fan."

"Are you doing the Dr. Pilchard one?" Lyf smirks as the tune begins.

A small crowd has gathered when Marius finished. "Uh, thank you." He shifts at the applause, and Lyf grabs him, and they run out laughing.

........

Jonny found Tim in an orchard. "Tim, what are you doing? Look, I didn't expect to see anyone from back then even again."

Tim didn't seem bothered as he sat in the mud. "I don't remember them." He pats the ground next to him where Jonny sits next to him. "I am not me yet."

Jonny sighs, leaning on Tim. "Just because you aren't you doesn't mean you're not related to them."

"I suppose." Tim frowns. "I'm not me. I don't know how to be me. I don't know how I feel about this!" He tugs at the plants. "You call me Tim, but I'm not him. I don't know who I am right now."

"Well, what do you know?" Jonny laced his voice with sarcasm.

Tim paused. "You are my husband. Bertie is not dead anymore. I am a mechanism part of the starship Aurora. I was the youngest of six." He rubbed his temples. "I love you. I used to love Bertie like I love you. TS and I have tea parties. Valerie likes to test me in the range. I know I'm broken. I know the tapes don't know everything. I know I hate cake."

Jonny stops Tim. "Wait, what do you mean about the tapes?"

Tim tilted his head. "They only recorded what they thought was important, or the aftermath." He smiles. "I was there so much longer."

Jonny pushes Tim away. "Don't make that face. Also, do you want a hug?"

"Can you purr for me?" Tim pulls Jonny to his lap.

"I'm not a damn octokitten." Jonny huffs. "Don't change the subject!"

"I know I can do this." Tim grabs Jonny by the scruff, and he stops moving. "I may not know myself, but I know you are mine for eternity."

Jonny swallows, and he can feel a blush spread along his cheeks. "Are you jealous you didn't give me my kids?" He starts to purr as Tim's grip gets tighter. "Maybe one day. If you heal properly."

Tim gives a low growl a human shouldn't be able to make. "Jonny."

"Hmmm." Jonny takes the sudden loss of grip on his scruff to pin Tim to the ground, straddling his chest. "Listen here just because you're mine doesn't mean -"

"Seriously?" Ivy is dropped down gently. "You have this entire planet filled with the past and future and you're fucking around?"

Tim waves. "Hi Ivy."

"Cockblock." Jonny rolls his eyes getting up dusting his pants off. "No, I'm playing distraction."

Raphealla raised a brow. "Distraction from what?"

"My siblings are here!" Tim smiles, getting up holding onto Jonny's tail.

Raphealla makes a face of pure worry that Ivy matches. "Is... are you ok?"

"I do not remember them." Tim hums. "I know I had them, but I feel nothing."

Ivy looks at Jonny. "We will let you two get back to it." She stops. "Wait, did you encounter any weird people?"

"The fuck do you mean by weird?" Jonny raised a brow. "We aren't the definition of normal."

"Well, Lyf has put in our chat that apparently the news is spreading like wildfire that the Mechanisms are here and the people want a concert. Marius keeps getting asked to play his violin on purpose." Raphealla frowns. "We're infamous not famous."

Jonny was speechless as he stared at the two. "Excuse me?"

"It is true, apparently we are well liked here. I did not have any possible probability that could happen." Ivy rubs the back of her neck. "It is quite odd, I must admit."

"Do you know why?" Jonny crossed his arms. "We really never left a living audience, and sure, we sent out albums, but really?"

"Well, Ashes put in the chat that rumor has it. A few gods have a home here, and they adore our antics, but nothing really concrete to why." Raphaella puffs out her wings. "I'm not opposed to an impromptu concert, but I would actually feel bad not having your kids to witness. Yeah I'm not letting those fuckers leave. Fuck me Jonny why the fuck are your kids so great?"

"Because they're mine." Jonny smirks.

"You walked into that one, Raph." Ivy chuckles.

"Babies?" Tim tugs on Jonny's tail.

"No, they are healing." Jonny puffed out his cheeks. "That does sound like it could be fun. I ain't promising shit."

"Sounds like you already decided." Raphaella smirks.

"Fuck off." Jonny sighs heavily as Tim picks him up.

"Perform my song! Gonna get my guitar!" Tim runs off carrying Jonny.

Raphealla and Ivy giggle.

.......

"Jolly Good. Welcome Back!" TS salutes at Jonny and Tim. Thankfully, Tim put Jonny down as soon as they arrived back on Aurora.

Jonny sighs. "Hello TS, any updates on my kids?"

"Oh, Yes, Janet Has Snuck Out, And Mae is MIA." TS smiles. "Carmillia Has Refused To Leave The Ship. Thomas Is Drinking Coffee."

"That seems too fast." Jonny frowns.

"Oh Yes! There Was A Lot Of Screaming." TS follows Jonny to the kitchen.

Thomas was half awake, sipping on coffee, and Trevor was next to him asleep in his own mug of coffee.

"Are you two ok?" Jonny raised a brow not entirely concerned yet.

Thomas blinks. "Mmh, I can move." He sips his coffee. "Aurora won't let me get anything stronger."

"That's because you corrupted my camera feed, and I'm still trying to fix it." Auroua huffs but sounded incredibly fond and happy that they were young again.

"Right, do you guys know anything about this planet?" Jonny sat between his boys.

"Thanos?" Thomas stretches. "A bit, but we didn't really get to explore before we were wisked off to New Texas." He yawns and sips more coffee.

Trevor gasps and sits up straight. "I'm up. I'm up!" He got coffee up his nose.

"Idiot." Thomas sighs.

"Trevor, don't fall asleep in your coffee." Jonny has a small smile on his lips. "So what are your thoughts on Thanos?"

"Mmh?" Trevor chugs the rest of his coffee and wipes his face. "It's a weird place, and I think I can recall Laz refusing to leave the ship. Speaking of that, we should be close enough if they are still on Xeonia to send a message out to Hal."

"Are you guys planning on returning to your crew?" Jonny crossed his arms.

Thomas snorts. "You wish old man."

Aurora chirps. "Alex has left their room and is being carried by Tim. Shall I tell him to bring them to the mess hall?"

"Please. Alex is the worst of your brats, just waking up." Jonny smiles softly. "TS, how do you feel about a show?"

TS broke in a smile larger and creepier than Jonny thought was possible. "I Shall Get Everyone's Instruments!" It marches out with a skip in its step.

"Aurora, I'm gonna send you details, and when you're able, send a message out to Hal." Trevor gets up and types into a wall screen. "Fuck I need a bath."

"Yeah, it smells like you do." Thomas gets hit in the face with the mug Trevor was holding.

Jonny chuckles. "And what did I teach you?"

"Don't insult Trevor when he has something to throw." Thomas huffs barely bruised, and his skin wasn't even cut. Only his pride is hurt.

Tim ran in, holding Alex up and had his guitar case on his back. He gasps. "More babies!"

"Tim let them wake up." Jonny warns.

"Bury me." Alex groans.

Jonny pauses and smirks. He knew excatly how to get his kids up and ready to go. "The first one to find both of your sisters, you'll have one day to choose my activities."

Alex jolts and jumps out of Tim's arms. "Anything?"

Jonny already realized this was a bad idea. "Yes, anything."

Trevor, Thomas, and Alex exchanged glances.

"You know Ashes did mention something about a casino planet." Alex smirks.

Thomas taps the table. "I heard rumors of an entire sector called the Vegas quadrant."

Trevor is ready to bolt to his room to get dressed. "I'm sure Ashes cam tell us the perfect place."

Jonny rubs his temples. "Gambling seriously?"

"NO TAKE BACKS!" The three shout as they run to their rooms.

"Jonny, you don't gamble." Aurora sounded curious.

Jonny groans. "Just because I don't doesn't mean I don't know how to. Unfortunately, my brats know that I can."

"I can be lady luck." Tim smiles.

"Go fuck yourself Tim." Jonny huffs.

........

"Oho. Hey there, Charlie." Mae pops out from the new apple tree.

Bertie jumps, and Charlie bites back a scream.

"You're going to kill me, doll." Charlie pinched his brow.

"Wait, you know him?" Bertie furrows his brow.

"The lady and I go way back." Charlie winks.

Mae chuckled. "He's Hastur's acolyte. Laz has made it a point to avoid him along with the fledgling God and the fledgling God's acolyte. Never told us why."

"Now I don't believe that this Lazarus is even real." Charlie chuckles. "What brings you to this part of the universe? Your crew is still at Xeonia from what I hear. You've stopped short."

"Well, I wouldn't say that I can see you, golden boy." Mae smirks. "Eh, I guess Aurora demanded they stopped while we yaknow do our thing and get young again. Anyhow, traveling with the Mechs now and of course, you know that means found our dad. I was actually looking for him."

"Well, little lady, you just missed him. He was being carried off by his husband. Tim is his husband, right? I'm not misreading that." Charlie hums.

"Yeah, you're right. I wonder where they went. Care to help me detective?" Mae bats her lashes.

Charlie smirks. "For you doll, of course. Maybe we will even see this mythical Laz the acolyte of this Scratch."

Bertie sighs. "Dont set Tim off. I'm going to talk to his siblings more."

Mae rolls her eyes. "They both are real, you know."

"I'll believe it when I see it." Charlie hums. "So only talked to him briefly, but that is Jonny D'ville."

Mae nods. "Yeah, a lot of shit has happened. He's a bit more scary than I can recall, but he's still my dad."

"That's to be expected. So, really, how have ya been." Charlie grabs Mae's hand.

"Better for the most part. How's Hastur?" Mae doesn't let go.

"Oh, the same as always, but he is finally intermingling around here. He even has a proper human shell now." Charlie smiles softly. "So how about it thought about my offer?"

"One day, cassanova. I ain't the settling down type." Mae pulls Charlie closer. "That doesn't mean I ain't open to a break." A distinct golden right is on her tail. "Tell me found anyone as good as me?"

"Oh, you know I haven't." Charlie kisses Mae's cheek. "You kept my ring."

"We are married. I see it only fit to keep it. Besides, I like our open nature. I always have someone to return to. Although are you sure humans do the ring thing? It's very impractical. I still say we should if done it New Texas style." Mae chuckles as Charlie pouts.

"You wanted the shiniest ring I could find." Charlie gasps as Mae picks him up.

"Oh, but my dad is back, and we must do something proper." Mae hums softly.

"You just want me in a dress."

"You do have the legs for it."

........

Brian smiles softly. "Sorry, Ashes, no Camelot." He holds a bucket of what looks to be some sort of fried meat skins. It looked rotten, and it smelled foul, but he was eating happily. "I haven't had this stuff since I was back on my home planet."

"I get why they call your planet a nightmare...." Ashes pauses, spotting Marius and Lyf. "So what are the lovebirds up to? Enjoying fame?"

Marius waves, revealing Janet clinging to his back, who also waves. "Jonny's children have returned to young adulthood!"

Lyf sighs. "He stopped her from trying to take blood samples from halflings, who then realized what she was doing, and we were dragged into a three hour conversation. Please tell me you have done something less biology related."

"Pshhh, Marius and I had a great time." Janet hops off Marius's back. "We even wrote a bunch of notes."

"It has eased my concerns for the future, but it's normal that this will take a while, but I'm ok right now." Marius smiles softly, and it does look like a weight has been taken off his shoulders. "I'm glad to know I'm not an anomaly and that cross species mating has happened and hasn't killed the partner." He shifts, and both Brian and Ashes realize why Lyf didn't pull him away.

Ashes pats Marius's back. "Alright, well, did you at least find something editable? I'm not touching what Brian is eating with a ten foot pole."

Lyf has already headed over and is sharing the food with Brian. "I like this better than the cold meat slab."

"Raphaella must be having a field day." Brian smiles. "Uh, I do have to ask. Are you guys alright, Janet? Didn't this happen too fast?"

Janet rubs the back of her neck. "I don't really want to talk about that. It's not exactly pleasant, but you both really shouldn't eat anything a Xeon offers you here. Not because it's bad, but it will most likely kill you, and not in a fun way."

Marius nods. "She's right."

Lyf groans. "I don't want to hear another word." He sighs. "Before you even say it, just because I'm in love with Marius does not mean I have to like the changes to my body that come from being with him because of his species. Although it's more pleasant than what Yog Sogoth did."

"Disgusting." Ashes shakes their head. "Anyway, have you seen Jonny? I want to see how much weird meats I can get him to try before he vomits and or dies."

"Dunno where dad is, but I would also like to see that." Janet snickers. "Thomas is just like that. Granted, Mae likes to kill the beast. Thomas figures out how to eat." She climbs back onto Marius. "Onward to more weird shit."

Marius laughs. "Would you want to join us in our travels? We're going to head to the desert because that's where Valerie and Laz went."

"Oh, I can always do with seeing more of Miss Valerie." Ashes winks.

Brian rolls his eyes. "I guess there should be a New Texan population there as well. I've been looking over the directory, and it's quite impressive."m I am not a fan of the heat, however."

"Too bad." Ashes snickers.

"I wonder what time period they're from or how long they've been here." Janet hums.

Lyf grabs Marius's metal hand. "Well, no use in just talking about it. Let's go."

Marius nods and, with a slight blush, begins forward.

........

"Val- Will you fuck off you obnoxious brat!" A man pulls Mae off his back. He's tall, skin dark like oak. Eyes yellow with black pupils. His hair was draped across his shoulders like silk, and he was in a large yellow robe. "I told you to keep your fucking stray away from me."

Mae giggles. "Nice to see you again, Hastur!" She lands on her feet in the sand. Charlie appeared next to her.

"Why are you even here? Your crew is on Xeonia, and last I checked, annoying me wasn't a part of your schedule." Hastur has a small quirk of a smile on his lips.

"Oh, you know I'm flexible, big boy." Mae gasps pushing Hastur aside. "Grams! How did you drag Laz out here? He refused to set foot here when we originally came to Thanos."

Hastur looked to Charlie, who shrugs. He then looks back to Mae, hugging Valerie, who was chuckling. "You're a grandmother?"

"I am." Valerie ruffles Mae's hair. "And I see you've been busy. When did you sneak out of Aurora?"

"I have my secrets." Mae chuckles. "Meet my husband. It's an open marriage, so we both have fun, but I always will have him to come back to. His name is Charlie, and he's Hastur's acolyte."

"Doll, we've been acquainted. That's the god killer." Charlie had a grin in his lips like he was proud.

"Well, duh, I know that." Mae hums. "Honesty, I would expect you to freak out more." She points to Hastur while grabbing Laz in a death grip, preventing him from escaping.

"We have a civil relationship." Hastur responds dryly.

"I've fucked him." Valerie smirks.

"Nice." Mae chuckles.

Laz groans. "I don't need to hear that." He huffs. "Let me go. I have to get back to Thomas."

Charlie raised a brow. "I recognize your voice."

"No." Laz vanishes taking Mae with him.

[daryfromthefuture]

today i decided to comment on some popular bttf theories or questions asked. just to add my 2 cents.

why are doc and marty friends?? how the hell did they meet?!

SHUT UUPP why shouldn't they be friends? i don't see the issue and never have seen one. why can't a 17 year old boy be friends with a disgraced nuclear physicist? you don't have to question how they met. the movie establishes them as friENDS in the first five goddamn minutes, marty enters the lab without even knocking and obviously has access to a key. i like to think that the whole POINT of strickland telling marty that doc is a nutcase is to show the audience that he ISN'T a nutcase and, in fact, a nice guy and willing to do anything to help marty get home. sure, the whole plutonium and having the car drive towards them is. a bit questionable BUT it's also obvious that marty trusts doc. doc is willing to lay down his life for marty and marty is willing to do anything to save him. if that isn't true friendship, i don't know what is. there, are you happy now, you doubters?

marty dies multiple times in bttf 2

i'm kinda split on this one tbh. i quite enjoy the idea of doc being the one who has to save marty after marty saves him in part 1 & 3, with the same attitude of "i don't care what happens to the universe i just want to keep my bff alive". it makes sense, too. on the other hand, i also like the thought of doc either being there by coincidence or instinctively knowing marty was in danger. because he has dad instincts ok

marty's parents/george knew he was a time traveler

hmmm. i don't know about lorraine, but i can see that being the case for george. not only was george the first one to meet marty in 1955, him telling him his name without george having introduced himself and so on, there also was this whole darth vader scene, the "i didn't know you did anything creative", the way marty clearly called him "dad" lmao and overall marty's insistence to get george to ask lorraine out. george might not know for sure, but i can see him having developed a theory like that. also because he basically based his first novel on the whole darth vader thing.

the idea of the secret eventually being revealed at a later point and lorraine being like "????" while george goes "ah yes, i suspected that" is also funny so

doc brown kills lone pine marty

guys please why can't we keep these movies as lighthearted as possible. why can't this just be a normal time loop.

personally, i have always thought that normal marty and lone pine marty just switched timelines. tp marty went to 1955, set up his parents after ruining their first meeting, and got back to 1985. lp marty went back to 1955, didn't fuck around with his family history because he assumed that it was the whole calvin klein thing, thus his parents met the normal way and boom, twin pines timeline. or something like that.

i'm NOT liking the idea of doc ever harming any kind of marty thank you

doc brown is suicidal

no.

in all seriousness, i see where people are coming from. but doc is such an excited, enthusiastic character and i don't. no. just no. he wants to be a good person, to accomplish something in this world. he wouldn't just give up like this.

this theory just makes me sad

the delorean is sentient and stalls in just the right moments to prevent paradoxes

what a funny way to explain that deloreans were, in tom wilson's words, a piece of garbage

why does maggie mcfly look like lorraine when that's george's side of family?

bob gale explained that by saying that mcfly men are naturally attracted to women who look like lea thompson.

trixie and jennifer: *offended*

seriously? i don't fucking know. she just looks like her. coincidence. maybe she was from lorraine's family line, then one of her kids or siblings if she had any married someone else, and the families split up until george and lorraine met, meaning that stella and sam are maggie's descendants/from her family line. doesn't that make more sense

THATS IT FOR NOW i may reblog and add some more but for now enjoy my opinion

[mdverse]

9, 12, 13 for the end of year asks? :)

9. Best month for you this year?

bold of u to assume i remember anything that happened during the first half of the year lmao

i'm gonna say december tho? as stressful as finals were, i had some good things going on, i got through finals without feeling like i completely failed any of my classes, and i'm proud of the art i made once i got home

12. Talk about a new friend you made this year

ooh ok so there was this girl in three out of my four classes this past semester and we didn't really see each other much outside of classes for the most part but she was so sweet and fun to talk to and really pretty too and idk it's so fun to make art friends! she has 2 cats and sends me photos of them once in a while (they are absolutely adorable, i hope to meet them in person soon), i'm trying to convince her to watch drag race because she's already a trixie & katya fan, and we went to an art museum together during finals week and just wandered around and talked. i'm just rambling now but my point is she's a fun person to be around and i'm glad i decided to talk to her regularly :)

13. How was your birthday this year?

it was fine? i don't think it was particularly exciting since i didn't do much to celebrate but i was at home so i was around family and we went out for dinner and that was really nice. and ofc some of u lovely people on tumblr made some gifsets/art/edits for me that i greatly cherish <3 it all made me feel really loved and i appreciate u guys a lot for doing that

end of year ask game

[phenomenalcosmicpowers]

In a recent post on I Dream of Twilight Sparkle I said that I noticed asks that were not in my inbox the last time I decided to read through my entire ask box. So I did the same for my mod blog. And while there were some also that I didn't see before. Most are questions I feel either I feel like I may have already sufficiently answered enough with my thoughts on an episode and/or it'd be weird at this point to answer something that's obviously years after the fact.

But there is two I found that I feel like I may want to respond to. The person who sent it was someone who used to discuss the show with me almost all the time, though obviously they must no longer be on Tumblr as all their blogs are deactivated. But I still want to answer since it is sort of relevant to recent stuff. Particularly in their 2nd ask.

By the way, I'm always open to questions on the show or even non-pony topics here on my modblog. I still do love talking about G4 ponies and I wouldn't mind some questions if any of you would like to know my opinion on anything. Now that the show has been over for nearly 2 years , I can have a perspective on many topics about Friendship is Magic that I wouldn't mind sharing. Maybe some things have changed here and there, though I think I still generally have a positive attitude towards most things for certain. I stuck with the show until the very end, and was satisfied with how it ended. And I still have interest in doing more in G4's world even as G5 approaches. (Though I'm sure perhaps once that movie has aired that may be the focus of any questions sent here)

((My answer and more after the break))

For the most part, I think I still generally agree with what I said in my initial thoughts about the Season 6 finale. It's a solid episode with some great interactions between Starlight, Trixie, Discord, and Thorax. Though the way the ending is executed is a bit of a headscratcher. Maybe somewhat less so since thinking about it now, like even if Chrysalis did keep some things loyal. What would stop them from eventually seeing what Thorax's changelings did shortly after.

But I suppose I wanted to answer this mostly about Starlight. Since while the Season 6 finale made HomerJ get over some remaining feelings about Starlight. I'll admit it took literally until writing Secrets of the Dragon's Tear (A year after the show was over) to realize the sort of potential that Starlight had. The baggage from the Season 5 finale always felt like a cloud above her for the entire rest of the show's run. And I consider Season 6's largest mistake is not trying harder to endear us to Starlight. That's what that season's entire job was, to try to make us feel a little better of how rather rushed Starlight's redemption was by giving us a more expanded look into Starlight's character. And unfortunately, I feel like it failed at that in my opinion. Thus I basically disagree (Though respect the opinion of) with those who would say the Season 6 finale was when Starlight finally won them over.

Don't get me wrong, I like how Starlight is portrayed in the episode. But it would of been stronger if say the season had explained more about Starlight's past. How did Starlight get her cutie mark, and given her opinion on Cutie Marks how did she feel at the time?

Instead, we mostly just got Starlight reuniting with Sunburst that didn't exactly give any more details to her rather vague reasons for turning to darkness from him moving away other then finding out Sunburst's personality and how his side of the story went. And from there we had Starlight befriend Trixie... in an episode I still don't really like to this day.

Ironically, the character in the Hearth's Warming episode that casts Starlight as the story's version of Scrooge (Snowfall Frost) is given more reason to sympathize with then Starlight herself.

Starlight then just about disappears up until the episode that introduces Thorax. Where she doesn't do much other then be among the crowd that Spike has to convince that Thorax is not evil.

The next time we see her is Every Little Thing She Does. Which is something of a controversial ep from what I hear, though ironically despite my skepticism of Starlight at the time. I actually sort of liked that episode since it was basically Starlight's own Lesson Zero. Though I get why Starlight deciding to hypnotize all the Mane 6 besides Twilight against their will would not be approved of. Though it does feel like at the very least Twilight and the rest give her enough of a piece of their mind at the end.

And that's how things stood before the Season 6 finale happened. Even though I do think Starlight has good moments in said finale, nothing earlier in the season really dispelled many of my feelings about the Season 5 finale's ending. So despite a good showing, I could hardly care for it. I wasn't convinced yet we were given a satisfactory answer about the many questions that Starlight's sudden redemption prompted.

Another part of my thoughts I feel still applies is when I mentioned that Starlight's a "Diet Sunset Shimmer" (Which considering what I did to link the two for SOTDT, is a bit funny in hindsight). It took just one movie (Rainbow Rocks) for the fanbase to turn a 180 on Sunset. While an entire season with Starlight as one of the good guys goes by and she remained just as divisive as before if not more so by the end of Season 6.

Come Season 7, and Starlight appears quite a bit more often though under the assumption that the Season 6 finale was enough to warm you up to her. There were many complaints during the first half of Season 7 that she was appearing more then she should (Even in an Equestria Girls special where she got to meet the character she was so often compared to). Though another thing about Starlight in Season 7 in hindsight is besides from her meeting a few more friends like Maud. Starlight isn't actually given much to actually work towards. They dropped the whole student aspect so it's not like she was doing friendship lessons under Twilight anymore (Though I suppose on the bright side for the detractors, it lessened worries about her becoming an Alicorn). Season 8 and 9 does somewhat fix that by having Starlight employed at the school, first as a counselor and ultimately ending with her as the school's Principal as Twilight herself got promoted to sole ruler. Which I'm still unsure about if fans of her character feel that was a proper ending for her. Though probably the best that could of been done in context of not much having been done with her over time.

Still, at least for me personally it felt there was alot missing about Starlight and as time went on it became obvious I wasn't going to get the satisfactory answers about her that I wanted. So as a result, I only had lukewarm reactions when a new Starlight episode was coming up. It also didn't help that there were two episodes that raised my hopes of at least one interesting aspect that would of been cool to see. The first being the episode "All Bottled Up" which I had hoped would mean it would be an episode that's somewhat genie related. And then there was Road to Friendship where Starlight and Trixie try to travel to Saddle Arabia (which is an important location in I Dream of Twilight Sparkle)... and yet never actually get there. So even on the few times that I was hoping to be excited about a Starlight episode, it dropped the ball. Partly my fault for getting so hyped about something that wasn't promised, but I would of loved to at least SEEN canon Saddle Arabia.

I'd never say that I hated Starlight back during the show's run. But she was a frustrating character for certain back then. I couldn't hate Starlight as much as some others did, but at the same time I couldn't like her as much as others. She was in likability limbo. For every fun and or good moment that included her, it's brought right back by either lingering problems that arised from the Season 5 finale or otherwise dropping the ball in some way.

In some ways, she's still a frustrating character. Though that's just how it'll always be with the canon Starlight. It's up entirely now to fanon to give their approach on Starlight that was never done in Canon. With SOTDT, I obviously did a bit of a "Fine, I'll do it myself" when it comes to making Starlight a more satisfactory character for me. Though I'm sure there are many interpretations that are vastly different from how I approached it that can satisfy others and probably be more popular and better written then mine. (My interpretation might be understandably controversial just for Starlight being put back on a path where she'll likely become an Alicorn eventually. Something Starlight detractors feared the most. Though I think I at least try to explain as best I could that makes sense with the story, her cutie mark moment being similar to Twilight's, and the identity of her mother. And I myself sort of feared Starlight becoming an Alicorn might happen, so for me to actually write it so that it might be inevitable. That's just how much of a 180 I've taken on Starlight because of writing SOTDT)

I think I mentioned this before, but I can pretty much say that in a way that I can actually say I like Starlight now. But sort of in a "FiM's biggest missed opportunity" sort of way that it becomes sort of sad to look at how canon Starlight was done. Rather then me simply shrugging her off back when I didn't care so much about her. I also understand it's a bit cheating to say I like Starlight now after doing my own sort of fanfic that had her in a major role since that might be me tooting my own horn a bit.

Though I will say as much as necessary that I am very aware alot of what happens in SOTDT would have been impossible to do in canon and I don't plan on pushing what I did to expand on Starlight's backstory as gospel. It only applies to what I'm doing on the blog, I will not be making a case that my interpretation is the only correct one. I'd actually welcome seeing some different interpretations on things such as who Starlight's mother is, what they feel her past was like outside of the Sunburst leaving incident, and/or especially how Starlight originally got her cutie mark. (I've even said my personal guess is different then how I did it in SOTDT, as my guess is she got it the first time she discovered the cutie mark removal spell). Cause if nothing else, I've realized Starlight is a very interesting character that I think would be fun to explore all the possibilities with. It certainly could be something for those still on the G4 train to talk with one another about.

[thewollfgang]

for the 2 tropes, if you are so inclined (for deckerstar of course) - 57+ 58, forgotten first meeting and accidental eavesdropping. I'm so curious what can be done!

Chloe's got the last of her paperwork done, the last form signed with a flourish and tucked away. However, when she looks up, her partner is is no where to be found. She swivels her view and there's no sign of tall, dark, and devilish. Diaz catches her eye and nods towards Ella's lab then process to ignore her.

She gets to her feet with a spring in her step. They have dinner plans and Trixie is with Dan for the weekend. Chloe pauses when she hears Ella's excited exclamation, easily audible through the glass. "Oh my God, she's going to love it."

"You think so?" Lucifer sounds uncharacteristically uncertain. Chloe's heart twists in her chest. She just loves this ridiculous man so much. "It isn't too...underwhelming?"

"Not at all! You know Chloe doesn't like to make a big deal out of things. Even if it is a big deal, I mean, the anniversary of first time you guys met!"

"Well, actually, technically, it isn't."

"What?" Ella is clearly confused, as is Chloe. She presses her ear to the door and pretends she doesn't see Jones' judging look.

"Chloe and I met before. Sort of. The day I arrived in Los Angeles. I didn't realize until much later, but she was following a lead on a case that led her to the establishment I later took over and branded Lux."

Chloe is a bit flummoxed. She thinks she vaguely remembers the night in question, but the building hadn't really held much of an importance to her until it was Lux.

"Wow, so you guys crossed paths right when you came to LA? It's like it was meant to be."

"More likely divine intervention," Lucifer replies dryly. Chloe snorts.

"Maybe the big guy is looking out for you."

There's a pause. "Perhaps," Lucifer replies, sounding a bit surprised at the idea.

"And Chloe doesn't know you were there?"

"I doubt it. The place was packed and she wouldn't have recognized me, I'm sure. I was half naked and covered in blood."

"...Do I want to know?"

"A simple cage match, my dear, don't be so uncouth."

Oh. Oh now that Chloe does remember. An impression of blood and brutality and the ripple of muscle.

To think that they'd been separated by a mere crowd and a chain link fence.

"Chloe doesn't recollect the incident, so it didn't seem like it ought to be commemorated. Is it- should I have?"

"No, no, Lucifer I think it's totally fine. Chance interaction at a cage match isn't necessarily an observed anniversary."

"Oh. Good then. Excellent."

Chloe can't help but smile. She knocks on the glass and opens the door. The two of them look at her slightly startled. "Hey, you ready to go?" she asks.

He settles and smiles. "Yes, of course. Lead the way."

She reaches out for his hand and tugs him along.

[artificialqueens]

Do you know what I'm seeing? (Trixya) - Pichitinha

A/N: ok hello guys! i am back after a few months of silence and i’ve a… humorous fit for you, maybe? it’s told through violet’s poverties to changes things a bit, i do hope you’ll like it! if you’re interested my tumblr is @pichitinha and this fit can be found in AO3.

Summary: So Violet’s always aware of anything that’s happening in school, always knows when a rule is about to be created or when a student will have their parents called in or when a teacher is in trouble. Nothing escapes Violet’s radar. Needless to say, then, she’s extremely affronted when Mrs. Zamo is introduced to them on a Wednesday afternoon as the new gymnastics instructor and takes everyone by surprise. - Or the one where Violet does not like not knowing things.

Violet Chachki is not one for gossip - or so she’d say to everyone, as she gossips. She thinks it’s important that as a select group of teachers at a high prestige school they all keep informed about what’s been going on with the faculty. Any slips could cause issues for their reputation - it has before - and Violet likes earning more money than she should because the school is fancy and has lots of friendly parents, as she likes to call them.

So Violet’s always aware of anything that’s happening in school, always knows when a rule is about to be created or when a student will have their parents called in or when a teacher is in trouble. Nothing escapes Violet’s radar.

Needless to say, then, she’s extremely affronted when Mrs. Zamo is introduced to them on a Wednesday afternoon as the new gymnastics instructor and takes everyone by surprise.

She’s a short caucasian woman with light blonde hair that falls in straight locks but curves a little bit at the end, framing her face in a really flattering way that highlights her sharp cheekbones and the bright red lipstick she’s wearing. She’s lean and has an amazing posture, but that’s the least that Violet would expect from a gymnastics teacher.

Violet’s wary.

She doesn’t like the mysterious vibe the woman gives off, doesn’t understand why no one knew she was coming to work there until the exact moment she walked into the door. Something’s up and Violet can smell it.

The last person to join the team before Mrs. Zamo had been Mrs. Mattel, the music teacher. That had been a proper hiring at the beginning of the school year and she had started work on a Monday morning like one should and Violet had been aware of her coming two weeks prior, enough time for her to manage gathering a few facts about her from the school director: that she’d been a music teacher before, had a theatre degree from a fancy school and that she was married but had no children.

Albeit not a lot to know about a person, but more than she currently does about Zamo which is really pissing her off.

She tunes back to reality when she realizes that the Dean Mrs. Charles is walking towards her with Mrs. Zamo close behind. “Oh, and Miss Chachki- Violet! This is Katya, Katya this is Violet.” She introduces them briefly, but leaves no time for them to shake hands or properly meet. “Violet, please give Katya a tour? Show her how the three main rooms she’ll be using for her classes work, please. Alyssa is late again and I can’t afford to wait.” And with that she leaves, doesn’t say goodbye or even acknowledge them, but raises her head in a dignified way that’s supposed to leave them impressed - and usually they make fun of.

“Katya, is it? Weird name.”

People tend to tell Violet she can be rude sometimes, what they don’t know is that it’s on purpose.

Katya smiles though, doesn’t seem to mind. “Yeah, it’s Russian.”

“Are you Russian?!” That’s the type of thing Violet should have already known!She’s entirely too uncomfortable at the moment, knowing as much about the woman as she does about her.

“Born and raised. Until the age of five, that is.” She laughs a little at that but Violet just blinks. “Then I moved to Boston, as you can probably tell.”

She does have a Bostonian accent and she seems pretty keen on sharing details of her life, so maybe Violet won’t have such a hard time - Trixie, for example, is a problem, Violet’s barely learned anything about her in the two months she’s been working there.

“Well, Katya from Russia, follow me.”

Violet really hopes she manages to learn more about the new teacher as she gives her a tour. She is, after all, the informal information resource of the faculty.

*

“Have you met her yet? She’s super weird,” Violet tells Fame as they’re walking into the teacher’s lounge after the morning classes. “Morning, Trixie.” She greets nonchalantly and sits down at the nearest table, far from where Trixie’s eating at the other side of the room - right under the air-conditioning which is why Violet avoids it at all times.

“Morning,” Trixie greets back, eyebrows a little raised but Violet brings her attention back to Fame. Reading Trixie is too hard and Violet’s given up not long after she first started trying.

“No, I just saw her in the morning when Mrs. Charles was introducing her. She looks nice though,” Fame replies as she sits down next to Violet, nods quickly at Trixie as well.

“I mean, I guess.” She does look nice, but Violet is more interested in whether or not she’ll act nice at school. “And she’s really pretty,” she adds because it’s true and because as bad as it is the board prouds themselves on the appearance of the faculty.

Trixie sits up straighter and Violet sees it from the corner of her eyes but ignores it. Truth be told she finds Trixie a bit weird.

“She’s married though,” Fame reminds Violet as if that’s what Violet was going for.

“Aren’t they all?” she jokes back, knows Fame knows her better than that.

Trixie’s fork clatters on the table. “Sorry!” she exclaims when both of them look at her.

Fame looks back to Violet and then raises her eyebrows, “Wait, you are engaged, actually.”

Violet scoffs, now annoyed. “I’m not because-” she looks around and when she does so Trixie averts her gaze, previously clearly paying attention to them. She lowers her voice just in case, “I’m not because Pearl’s a fucking chicken, I’ve seen her take the damn ring box to our dates three times and she never asks!”

Violet is not in any hurry to get married, but if Pearl is going to ask then she could just ask already, pretending not to know is killing her.

“Did you know chickens are actually really brave?” Fame asks instead of offering any advice on Violet’s relationship. She has that look on her face she gets when she’s talking about something she finds exciting and Violet sighs even if she smiles a bit.

Fame is also a bit weird.

“I do - in fact I know way more about chickens than I ever thought I would or find necessary. Thank you for that.”

“Well-” Fame is interrupted midway when the door opens and in come Katya and Alyssa, now finally together, as it is common in the school that the dance and the gymnastics teachers follow each other’s class plan. Katya looks comfortable already, maybe a bit tired, but that’s just what spending time with Alyssa does.

“Hey, girls! Any seat for me?” Alyssa asks loudly already pulling up the last chair on their small table and sitting down by Violet’s side. Katya just stands there, food in hand, her gaze moving from their table with no extra seats to Trixie, who is sitting by herself and has two spots available.

“Do you want to sit here?” Trixie eventually asks, offers her a warm smile, and Katya smiles right back before nodding to them and moving over there.

Something is… off. Katya seems like a very extroverted and friendly person, it doesn’t really fit with that image to want to sit alone with the quiet girl on the other side of the room instead of sitting with the majority of the girls. And yet she goes with a smile and seems happy about it. She sits down in the chair nearest to Trixie as opposed to the one in front of her and they soon start talking.

Violet doesn’t think she’s ever seen Trixie chat so freely with anyone who isn’t Kim - and Kim had been her friend before she joined the team, she recommended her to the position. Between everyone else she’s probably closest to Bob, but she didn’t warm up to her this fast.

What is going on?

“Maybe we should all sit together,” she says out loud and Trixie and Katya look at her. “We all want to get to know Katya and it wouldn’t hurt to know a bit more about Trixie, right?”

Katya and Trixie exchange a brief look that Violet can’t decipher from where she is, but she’s determined to learn more and she won’t back down.

“Yeah, come on, let’s move to the bigger table,” Alyssa decides for them, loud and decisive as usual. They all join her at the communal table in the middle of the room, Katya and Trixie still side by side, opposite Violet and Fame.

Perfect. Now Violet just needs to figure what and how to ask things that will give her the most information.

“So, Katya-” she directs her gaze at her and Katya just raises her eyebrows. People usually shy away from Violet’s scrutinizing gaze, but not her. It feels like a challenge, almost. “Are you married?”

Katya just raises her left hand and wriggles her fingers, showcasing the wedding band. “Yep.”

Usually when she asks that people say a little bit more than yes or no. She asked Trixie when she started working there and she’d said yes, about two years now. She waits for Katya to elaborate or say anything else but she just starts eating again.

“Has it been long?” Violet tries to never seem like she’s prying, the questions have to be perfectly crafted so that she can receive more than what she’s asking and so it doesn’t look like she was too curious.

Especially because it isn’t curiosity. It’s caution.

“We’ve been together for several years, yes.” That’s not what Violet asked, but it is a piece of information nonetheless. “How about you? Married?”

It takes Violet by surprise, people don’t usually ask her stuff back. Trixie coughs by Katya’s side.

“I- no. Not married.”

“Weren’t you engaged?” Alyssa asks then and they all look at her with raised eyebrows, even Fame who’d just asked this.

How is she the center of this, now? “Uh, nope. Just dating.”

“And you, Fame? Married?” Katya asks shifting her attention before Violet has a chance to think of what else to ask and Violet is not sure how but she completely lost control of the conversation. Suddenly Fame is talking about her wife and her dogs and then Alyssa is talking about the last date she went on and Katya hasn’t said anything else about herself - and neither has Trixie, for that matter.

They do chime in in whatever everyone else is saying and the good side of it all is that they don’t bat an eye at Fame having a wife instead of a husband - not homophobic, or at least not blatantly so, - but Violet doesn’t find a breach to ask anything about them that wouldn’t make her look nosy so she just accepts it. It’s not a wasted lunch because she finds them funny and pleasant and Katya fits right in with the rest of them, but still she hasn’t learned enough.

She’s gonna have to keep trying.

*

Thing is, Violet does what she does because she cares. They’d had not one but two incidents in the past regarding personal scandals on the faculty and they’d lost several of the important parents’ donations in both. One had been an affair between a teacher and a (married) parent, the other had been an affair between two (married) teachers which would have been less bad except they later learned that the two were also stealing money from the school.

Violet has been working there for years - she studied at one of the siblings schools, prides herself on the place more than she cares to admit. Yes, it is a bit posh and considerably overpriced, but they do the best they can with the children, teach them the most, give them attention, affection, discipline. There are five schools in the group in a range of three cities and maybe Violet didn’t study at that particular one because it’s new, but she was there when it opened, had been one of their first hirings and she’s so proud of herself for it. She wants this school to be the best. She wants to give to those children what she felt as a kid - her teachers were much more than that, and that’s what she wants to be.

So when she pries on the new staff, it’s for their own protection. People who are too secretive usually have something to hide and it churns Violet’s stomach to imagine that. What could they be hiding? A murder? Maybe that’s a stretch but Violet can’t absolutely say they aren’t.

Plus all the nagging usually leads to them all being friends and that’s a good thing. Making friends as an adult is hard, so when you get along with your colleagues enough that it migrates to that - that’s lucky, right? Fame is easily one of her closest friends and that had happened by Violet asking so much about her life that one day they just were good friends.

Violet spends the entirety of Katya’s first week there observing and trying to steal quick conversations here and there so that it doesn’t look like much. She doesn’t learn a lot, but she gathers a few facts - most of them a lot less useful than expected.

Katya wears a silver wedding band because it turns out she’s allergic to gold - which, by the way, is a very rare allergy.

Katya does speak Russian fluently but she’s actually much better in French - which she used to teach before deciding that she liked teaching gymnastics more and switched completely.

Katya does not have any kids and doesn’t know if she ever will, she has a niece and a nephew and she’s content with them.

That’s pretty much all she’s actually said about herself, other than comments on books she’s read or movies she’s watched.

Violet learns a few things by observation, though.

Katya most likely used to smoke and quit recently because sometimes her fingers itch just like Pearl’s did when she quit.

Katya really likes coffee.

Katya gets to school on foot.

Obviously the last one is the one that nags at Violet’s mind. Katya arrives at school ten minutes before the first class every day and she always does so walking. She’s always well dressed and wearing heels and Violet could even be willing to accept that she might take the bus because “it’s better for the environment” or whatever some people would say, except she always walks in from the left side of the school and the only bus stop near them is on the right side.

When Violet asks Katya if she lives nearby, Katya denies.

Violet doesn’t like this. She likes Katya, she’s a fun new addition and all the teachers seem to find her funny and pleasant, but once Violet realizes the walking thing… there’s just no logical explanation to it and it’s not like walking in heels to school from not nearby means she’s a serial killer, but it means something.

“Good morning,” Violet greets everyone when she enters the teacher’s lounge the following Monday and they all say it back in their own time. To her surprise Katya is already there, even though it’s still twenty minutes until the first bell. That’s a change of events and Violet is even more curious now.

Katya is sitting with Bob and Trixie and the three seem very engrossed in the conversation. She grabs a cup of coffee and joins them without a second thought.

“Good morning, ladies. What are we discussing?” She finds that bluntness usually works well with her personality and people tend to find it charming.

“How the three of us hate the California weather.” Trixie replies and Violet is delighted by that. Trixie is still someone Violet needs to learn a lot about and she seems to be more present recently so Violet is eager to do that too.

“Where are you guys from, again?”

“Wisconsin-”

“Boston!”

“Good old New York City.”

They reply all at once.

“Oh, right. You guys probably like snow.” She wrinkles her nose, she hates the cold weather. But if they do hate California then that’s just another thing to add to her list - why do they live there?

“Where are you from, Violet?” Trixie asks genuinely interested.

“Atlanta.”

“Oof,” they all exclaim.

She laughs. “Hey, it’s a great place okay!” Or at least twelve-year-old Violet thought so before they moved to LA where she’s been living ever since.

Bob laughs, “If you say so, girl.”

For the remaining of their time before class they just discuss their childhood and Violet doesn’t ask anymore important questions about the girls - not Bob, she’s known her for two years and she’s solid.

She forgets to ask why Katya got there so early.

*

Katya is there early every day after that and Violet almost forgets her suspicions, except now she’s already there when Violet arrives so she doesn’t know if she’s still walking. When she recounts this to Pearl one night after work, Pearl tells her that she’s crazy and should stop worrying so much about other people’s lives - sometimes they’re just private and that’s okay.

When Violet tries to argue, Pearl asks how many people at work know that the person she’s dating is a woman. She claims that it’s different, she has no obligation to come out, and Pearl just points out that she’s right and maybe the teachers that won’t share much just feel the same way about whatever it is they’re not telling.

Violet hates that she’s right.

That Friday instead of leaving early as she often does since she doesn’t have the last class, Violet decides to stay and finish some grading in the teacher’s lounge where it’ll be empty and quiet and she can probably finish it faster. She doesn’t really notice when the last bell rings, so absorbed into the paper she’s reading, and she’s surprised when the door opens and in come Trixie and Katya, laughing loudly at each other. They stop in their tracks when they notice Violet inside, laughter dying down awkwardly as they move to their lockers. Violet can see that Trixie has a faint blush on her cheeks and it’s definitely not her makeup.

Huh.

“Hey, Vi,” Trixie calls out as she picks up her stuff. “Working late today?”

“Yeah…” she replies, eyebrows raised. “Had to catch up on a few assignments and since I don’t have this class I just figured it was the best time to do so.”

“Right,” Trixie agrees, clearly uncomfortable. Just then Kim and Bob walk in and greet them and Trixie takes the cue to wish them a good weekend before leaving, Katya not far behind with similar words.

Violet isn’t saying there’s something there.

But there’s something there.

“Don’t you think Trixie is a little weird?” she asks out loud once Trixie has left.

Kim just stares at her for a second before going back to her locker. “I think Trixie is very weird, but also you know she’s my best friend, so I’m allowed to think that, you aren’t.”

This could have turned into a very unpleasant situation, but thankfully Bob laughs and the vibe in the room follows hers.

“She’s just private, you need to get through the shell,” Bob provides as she once again searches her entire closet for something which is most likely not in it. She does this every time.

“I’ve been trying!” And she has, Violet only stopped snooping on Bob six months after she joined, there’s still a long way for Trixie before Violet can fully trust her.

“Not like you’re a PI!” Bob laughs. “Just talk to her like you talk to us.”

Violet scrunches her eyebrows. A PI? Really? “What?”

“Most of the time you’re fine, but sometimes it seems like you’re interrogating people,” Kim tries to explain.

“Sometimes it’s not even that bad, but it definitely feels like an interview at least,” Bob says.

“Yeah,” Kim agrees. “And people like Trixie don’t really like that. I know you worry about the school, but I promise you, Trixie is cool and a good person. Don’t worry so much and try to get to know her. If you got past Max then you can get past anyone.”

Violet chuckles. “God, you’re right, Max was a work of her own.” Max was a shell within a box within a locked chest and Violet managed to get to know her before she moved to the east coast. So yeah, no one can be harder.

“Anyway, I’m not interested in overtime today. Have a good weekend!” Kim says as she leaves and Violet just stays in there as every teacher comes back and exits with a goodbye.

Maybe she should try to worry less - problem is it’s easier said than done.

*

Violet would love not to worry because she trusts Kim and if Kim vouches for Trixie, fine. But no one is vouching for Katya and she and Trixie seem to get along way too well, which is extremely surprising to Violet - how did Katya manage to get close to her so fast and also how did Trixie out of all of them manage to be the first to befriend Katya?

Violet starts to notice how they seem to always exchange words when they bump into each other in the hall, and almost always sit together during lunch, even though usually not by themselves. It’s been a few weeks since Katya arrived and they already act closer than Trixie and Kim and that’s something that puts Violet on alert again.

Sure, she’s managed to learn more about them in the time that’s passed, even if she can’t possibly ask everything she wants - she knows where the caution ends and her own curiosity starts and she never crosses the line. Getting to know your colleagues happens slowly but surely either way, and so far she’s listened to Trixie play guitar and learned that Katya lived in Europe for a while, for example.

They’re all adjusting as a group, even having gone out together for drinks one day. There Violet couldn’t help but notice how Trixie was opening up more and more recently, which is somewhat suspicious, and mainly she noticed that Katya knew what drinks Trixie likes and vice-versa.

She would love to let it go but there’s just something that doesn’t add up.

On the following Wednesday she spends most of her lunch time paying attention to them to see if anything can be learned by observation. At some point someone asks her something and she gets distracted and when she looks up again she can’t find them. Probably back to class early to set things up.

She finishes her food and excuses herself with a few minutes to spare before the bell rings and she has to go to her next class, goes quickly to the bathroom to use the loo and check herself in the mirror one more time before the rest of the day.

When she opens the door the scare on the two people inside is almost palpable. Katya is leaning her back on the sink and Trixie is close to her, her right hand on Katya’s face, her thumb brushing over her upper lip where Violet can see her lipstick is a bit smeared. Their faces are turned towards her, eyes wide like deer caught in headlights, and Violet’s brain can’t come up with an explanation for that on the spot, but it feels like she should.

For seconds none of them move, but then as soon as she takes another step inside the two of them break further apart with Trixie taking a step back.

“Yeah, you were right, this lipstick will definitely need makeup remover to be fixed.” Trixie says with a concentrated face. “Maybe I have makeup wipes in my purse, I’ll go check.” And with that she’s gone, Katya still leaning on the sink and looking at Violet. She blinks twice.

“Uh…” Violet murmurs because she’s not sure what to say. What just happened?

“Forgot I had this stupid lipstick on and cleaned my mouth with my hand. It smeared a bit but now it won’t come off.”

“Oh. Well, I definitely have makeup wipes if Trixie doesn’t have them,” she offers because it’s true and because that’s happened to her many times before, which is precisely why she carries wipes. It could make sense, if not for the way they’d been positioned and how surprised they looked when they saw her, but Violet just feels too stunned to properly deduce things.

“Oh, thanks! She probably has them, but if not I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.” How would she know Trixie has them?

“Okay.”

Violet uses the loo and leaves before Trixie is back, Katya still inside waiting, acting nonchalantly.

This is starting to become too suspicious.

*

Violet tells Pearl about the encounter but Pearl just brushes her off saying that Violet is probably just reading too much into it because she convinced herself that something’s up. That could be true so Violet promises that she will let it go once she figures out if Katya still walks to work from the left side of the street and if so why. That’s the one piece of mystery she wants to solve before giving up, and Pearl thinks she’s crazy but still suggests she get there early the following day anyway just so she can get this out of the way.

Violet arrives way earlier than usual and takes a seat in the teacher’s lounge right by the window above the parking lot. She’s getting ahead on some tests she has to prepare, but she keeps glancing outside as her eyes catch movement and she spots Bob’s car as the first one to arrive.

It doesn’t take long for Trixie’s car to find its way into the space and Violet is almost turning back to her computer when she sees both the driver and the passenger door opening when she parks. Out of the passenger seat comes Katya, and together they both walk towards the building, it looks like they’re laughing.

Oh my god.

Is Violet an idiot? How did she not connect the dots?

Are they having an affair?

No, no, no, no, no, this is the worst possible scenario, the school cannot handle another affair scandal, especially a lesbian one - if Violet has any chance of ever coming out at work this will ruin it, straight people tend to associate the behavior of one bad gay with all of them and this can’t happen. Fame is all of the outed quota they have and that’s because she’d been clear about being married to a woman before she was hired - but with this Violet isn’t sure even Fame wouldn’t see some consequences.

But it’s so obvious now that Violet thinks about it that she feels stupid for not noticing before. The lipstick thing in the bathroom? They were probably kissing right in there where anyone could catch them. Not only are they cheating on their husbands and breaking the school policies, but they’re being dumb about it.

And that explains how they know each other’s coffee style, their drink preference, why they seem to always be together, why Trixie started opening up after Katya joined.

They had hugged very intimately before leaving the bar the other night. Thinking now Violet can’t remember if she ever saw them leaving - did they leave together?

They are jeopardizing Violet’s future here and she will not stand for it.

The two of them enter the room with a cheerful good morning and Violet is the only one that doesn’t reply, but they don’t notice, each heading to their locker to store their purses.

Violet is so mad she can’t even fake a happy face. She forces her eyes away from them and stares at Kim’s back from where she’s sat - she said she could trust Trixie, that she was a good person. Well, Violet is gonna enjoy breaking the news to her.

Alyssa asks her if she’s fine once she notices how Violet is burning holes into the walls, but Violet plays it off as a striking headache. It works because the news spread fast and no one bothers her that day, not even her students who can see she’s in a bad mood and don’t want to be in the line of fire.

Violet has to be smart about this. She needs to have evidence, she can’t just barge into the Dean’s office and tell her that it’s happening without proof.

She needs to catch them in the act. If she’s lucky they’ll continue to be irresponsible and that will happen sooner rather than later.

*

“So, Fame.” Violet does her best so that most girls are sat together for lunch the following day. “Have you ever been cheated on?” Out of the corner of her eyes she observes Trixie and Katya, but they give no reaction at all at the mention of cheating. Violet thought they’d be worse at this.

Fame however reacts properly and just stares at her, eyebrows high on her forehead. “Excuse me?”

“Cheated on? Has someone ever cheated on you?”

Everyone is paying attention now, Violet knows she sounds very blunt, but she doesn’t care.

“Uh, no? At least not that I know of?”

“Cool,” she replies. “And have you ever cheated?”

“What? Of course not.”

“Hm. Anyone has ever been cheated on?” she addresses the table.

Katya seems worried. “Violet, is everything okay in your relationship?”

Violet is outraged at this. She has the audacity to ask Violet about herrelationship. She even looks genuinely worried and for a moment Violet is reminded that she really liked Katya and instead of anger, for a split second, she’s just disappointed. She expected more from her.

She’s back to anger in no time though when Trixie, right by her side, raises her eyebrows in worry as well.

Violet trusted them. Unbelievable. They are putting the jobs of everyone at the table at risk and they act as if everything is fine.

Not on Violet’s watch.

“Everything is wonderful in my relationship, Katya, thank you for asking.”

She just shares a glance with Trixie which just makes Violet fume more. “Okay-”

“How about you, though? Everything fine in yours? Have you ever been cheated on? Or have you ever cheated?”

“Uh…” she seems stunned but to be fair so does everyone else. Now they all look worried about Violet - she’s always composed and assertive, this frenzy is very unlike her. “Yes. I mean, yes, everything is fine, we’re doing great. And no, I don’t think anyone’s ever cheated on me, and I’ve never cheated on anyone.”

Violet actually chuckles because she can’t believe her straight face. “Right,” she comments as she goes back to her food.

“What does that mean?” Katya asks back and Violet doesn’t miss the way her voice is changed. By her side Trixie looks utterly confused.

“Nothing,” Violet replies, almost biting her own tongue. She can’t make a scene without proof, she needs to wait. She’s too stressed about this and isn’t acting properly.

“No, that didn’t sound like nothing.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t do this now-” Bob starts suggesting, but now Katya isn’t having it. She looks offended and Violet wants to know where she learned to act so well.

“No, I’m sorry, Violet was clearly implying something and I want to know what, because I’m not comfortable with this.”

Violet shrugs. “I didn’t mean anything, I just thought it was curious.”

“What was curious exactly?”

Violet really doesn’t want to do this now, but she realizes she’s made the situation and the blood in her veins is too hot to leave it be now.

She can’t outright accuse them, though, that would get her fired.

“I don’t know. Would have figured otherwise.” She keeps it vague - not completely, she does imply that Katya was lying somewhere in there and they all would look back, but she doesn’t outright say I know you’re screwing Trixie. She does give Trixie a quick side glance which she knows they both noticed.

Katya gets the closest to mad that Violet thinks she can. “You don’t know me, Violet.”

“Clearly not.���

Katya moves suddenly, Violet sees the motion as if she’s gonna push away from the table and leave, but Trixie holds her arm.

“I think you’re crossing some boundaries here, Violet.” Trixie says, her hand still resting on Katya’s arm who looks like she’d like to yell a bit. Trixie still looks more confused than anything else.

“Yeah, I’m the one crossing boundaries.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Bob gets up and her height over them casts a sense of authority hard to argue with. “Katya, maybe you should get some fresh air. Violet-”

“I’ll stay here and finish my lunch, thank you.” Violet cuts her off.

There’s tension for a moment, but then Katya gets up and Trixie does so too, right after her, both heading for the exit.

“Off they go,” Violet murmurs and no one says anything, but Kim makes a face and just stares at her for more seconds than it should feel comfortable.

Maybe Violet will have to take the issue to the Dean without proof afterall.

*

Violet muses about it for the rest of her classes. She’s certain of one thing only: the parents of this school will definitely not have it if word of a lesbian affair between two married teachers came out and she knows it could have consequences for the school in general and for the staff - she thinks that maybe Fame would be the first one to feel it, knows some nasty parents who’d request for her to be immediately cut together with Trixie and Katya regardless of the fact that she’s got nothing to do with them.

Therefore she knows she must act and she must do it soon, but she also knows the obstacles. For one she really shouldn’t accuse anyone of anything without proof, as the chances are it would backfire and she would be the one taking the blow for it, so she really should think very carefully about how to do it, if at all, with the knowledge she has now. Secondly, Katya had a point earlier at lunch: Violet doesn’t know her - or Trixie. Not a lot, anyway. Who is she to point fingers when she doesn’t know their private lives, what they’ve got with their husbands? Violet doesn’t believe in cheating in any situation, but she can’t judge and she certainly understands some women are in complicated situations - especially if, as it looks like, they have to pretend to be straight for whatever reason.

So Violet doesn’t want to ruin their careers - or their lives, but she doesn’t think she’d have the power anyway - she just wants them far away from her school. She doesn’t want problems, that’s all.

Maybe she should talk to the Dean, then. With them there. Be friendly. It would be a lesser risk for her as well.

She’ll visit the Dean once the last bell rings, depending on her mood she’ll either tell her right then or else ask for a meeting the next day and invite Trixie and Katya. She has no intentions of maintaining the friendship - maybe she shouldn’t judge but she sure as hell doesn’t want friends that will behave like that - but keeping professional appearances is important and she figures it’ll be better if they’re there to speak for themselves. It’s fair, right?

She doesn’t see them in the teacher’s lounge when the last class is dismissed and she also doesn’t miss the looks that the other teachers give her.

“You ok?” Fame asks quietly, away from everyone else.

“Yeah, I was hot headed. I’m gonna handle it now, calmly.”

“Handle what, exactly?” It’s clear Fame doesn’t want to judge but she’s concerned for Violet.

“Don’t worry about it. Gotta go, I want to catch Dean Charles.”

“Violet!” Kim yells when she’s at the door.

“What?”

“Can I talk to you-”

“I need to talk with the Dean before she leaves, can it wait?”

Kim stops then, her eyebrows raise and Violet may be mistaken but it looks like her lips turn up into a small smile.

“Oh. Go ahead then, not urgent.”

Violet is probably crazy but it sounds like Kim is laughing as she closes the door.

She power walks to the Dean’s office, really wants to catch her today and address this as soon as possible - the more she waits the riskier it’ll be for them. She knocks twice and as per convention after a few seconds she opens it and glances inside.

Trixie and Katya are there, in front of the Dean.

“Oh,” is all she manages to say, confused. Are they turning themselves in? Were they caught?

They can’t be trying to say anything bad about her, can they?

“Oh, Miss Chachki. Please come in, I’m glad you’re here.” Dean Charles points to a third chair by Trixie’s side and she walks in silence to sit down. She has no idea what is happening, but they all seem to be way too calm for any scandal to have been brought up.

“Everything okay, Mrs. Charles?” she feels like she has to ask because things can’t be okay, can they? If they’ve come clean that she should not be as composed as she is - they should have been fired.

“Yes, of course.“ She stops for a few seconds, contemplates what to say next. Then she nods her head ever so lightly in a way they usually find snobbish and funny, but Violet doesn’t react. "I’m afraid I told you a small lie at a point and it’s lead to… some issues.”

“I haven’t done anyth-”

“Don’t worry, Violet, you’ve done nothing and you’re not in trouble. I know you like to know about the school affairs and the staff, and that you take care of everyone and that’s very admirable.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“But, you see, there’s one detail you didn’t pick up on and we failed to tell the staff because it’s a situation we haven’t had so far and we weren’t sure how everyone would react.”

“Okay,” she agrees with a questioning tone, not sure what exactly to ask. Why are Trixie and Katya there? What is everyone hiding? Why is Violet not aware of what’s going on- when did she lose her unofficial post of information holder? She looks at Trixie and Katya and they both look way too calm for Violet to be comfortable. “Can I be put in the loop, please?”

“We’re married, Violet,” Trixie says holding her gaze.

“I know.” What are they on about? That is the whole problem.

Katya chuckles. “No, you don’t get it. We are married,” she points between her and Trixie. “To each other.”

If there was a bucket of icy water dropping on top of Violet’s head now she would feel exactly as she feels right now.

What?

“What?!”

“As you know it’s against the rules for two employees to engage in a romantic relationship, but we’ve never had precedents of hiring two people already engaged in it. Katya is extremely qualified and we didn’t want to waste this opportunity, but we thought best to not disclose it. Maybe we should have considered that it would be a hard secret to keep.” Mrs. Charles doesn’t seem to notice that Violet is only half listening, still too stunned by what she heard.

“How can you be married? Don’t you have a husband?” Katya’s talked about him a few times - vaguely, but surely.

“I definitely don’t.” Katya says amusedly, eyebrows raised as if the thought is wild and funny. Violet would find it relatable if she weren’t where she is now, confused. “I’m quite sure I never used anything other than “my partner” or “they” when speaking about Trixie as my spouse.”

It’s true, she has. Violet thought it weird at first but reminded herself that not everyone is gay and she shouldn’t just assume everyone she meets was.

“But, Tom…”

“What about him?” Trixie asks now, equally confused.

“I thought Tom was your husband?”

They both laugh but try to stop it quickly.

“Tom is our cat,” Trixie explains trying to maintain a straight face. Then she turns to Katya, “Oh my god, what did you say about Tom that could possibly apply to a cat and a human?”

“I have no idea!”

“She said Tom was waiting for her to have dinner,” Violet explains and against everything she thinks she is, she starts to blush.

They are married. To each other. For one, they aren’t cheaters. And most importantly, they’re gay.

And she assumed the worst and was ready to try and get them fired.

“Very well. Now that things are settled, I must be off. I’ll hold a meeting tomorrow and we’ll tell the rest of the staff so we avoid further issues.”

As they leave Mrs. Charles’ room and stand in the hallway watching her leave, Violet searches for the right word. She’s not usually wrong and she doesn’t care for it.

“I- I don’t know what to say, I’m so sorry. I thought you were having an affair - I thought you were straight, oh my god.”

“I do find the latter much more offensive,” Katya jokes and Violet laughs. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course.” Katya adds as a second thought, her expression changes.

“Oh! I suppose not, though I wouldn’t know. I have a girlfriend.”

“This is the gayest school in the district, then?”

She smiles. “Apparently.”

They stand there for several seconds, almost a perfect triangle, feelings rather awkward - or at least Violet is, for sure.

“Well-” Katya starts as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, possible eager to leave. This is too quick for Violet to properly understand how she feels, but she knows she’s far from where she was that morning.

“I gotta say I’m really relieved. I like you guys, I was worried.”

“We’re glad.” Trixie smiles and then she offers her hand to Katya who takes it without a thought.

Now with clear eyes and knowing the situation, Violet takes a second to look at the image. They’re cute. They look happy.

“See you tomorrow?” Katya says as they start walking.

“See you.” She waves them off.

They walk away laughing, hand in hand, and it dawns on Violet that now she has more reinforcement and allies in the school.

She can’t wait to tell Pearl - although she’s not excited to let her know she was right all along.

*

When Kim greets her the next day, she realizes that she likely already knew. Kim is Trixie’s best friend, has known her for years. She was probably at their wedding.

"You were gonna let me play the fool, huh?” she whispers in lieu of hello, sitting by her side at the table so they’ll be private.

Kim just smirks. “I was gonna tell you, but I knew they were in the Dean’s office. Thought it would be more fun to let you go in there and sort it out.”

“I hate you,” she jokes and Kim just shrugs. “You knew all along.”

“I did. It wasn’t my secret to tell, though.”

Violet admires her loyalty and she thinks she would have done the same in Kim’s place.

“You even knew Katya was gonna start teaching here beforehand, didn’t you? You probably know her patronymic name!”

Kim smiles into her cup of coffee. “I do and it’s hideous. Not telling you, though.”

She huffs as she grabs a cup of coffee, wondering how things are gonna go today, when the door opens and in walk Katya and Trixie.

Their hands are intertwined.

At first she thinks no one is going to notice as they really aren’t paying attention, but then Alyssa stops talking in the middle of her sentence and everyone turns to where she’s looking.

“Oh,” some of them murmur, gasp even.

Violet smirks into her cup. She’s back to knowing more than everyone. She loves this feeling.

“Everyone,” Mrs. Charles calls from the door and everyone sort of gets up quickly as if they should, even though she could not look more uninterested if she tried. “They are married, the school board knows, you should not worry about it being against the rules as it is not.” She announces without caution, doesn’t even step inside. “I hope no one has any issues?” She’s asking but as usual doesn’t leave time for actual responses. “Great. If anyone’s missing, please let them know.”

And with that she’s off, Katya and Trixie standing between the door and the tables they’re all sitting around, all eyes on them.

Violet has to admit that was super awkward and seemingly unnecessary, if not for the fact that people would assume it to be against the rules.

“That makes a whole lot of sense actually-”

“Should’ve seen it coming-”

“Wait, who are they?”

Violet can hear all the comments as the two of them approach their table, visibly looking much more relaxed than usual. Violet figures they must have had a weight on their shoulders every day with that secret and she can’t imagine how good they must be feeling now.

“Good morning,”

“Morning,” Kim says. “Did Violet make an idiot of herself yesterday?”

Violet puffs. “I did not, thank you very much.”

And just as Kim opens her mouth to proceed, the rest of the girls approach them.

Fame has her arms open and she pulls Trixie under one and Katya under the other. “Oh my god, I am so happy about this, you guys.”

Everyone who was out of the loop starts talking and asking questions and Violet just sits back and watches it unfold. She’s happy too, as it turns out. They are good people and they look like they make a good pair.

“Don’t think I don’t see that new ring on your finger,” Kim murmurs to her while people are still focused on Trixie and Katya.

Violet smiles widely and looks down to her left hand. Pearl had been so ecstatic by the turn of events that she’d finally proposed last night.

“I’ll announce it later, I don’t wanna steal the spotlight.”

“That’s a first,” Kim chuckles.

The rest of the day unfolds much like any other, everyone getting used to the idea of them being together really quick, and maybe Violet could consider admitting that there’s more to people than we sometimes assume. She’d been so scared of a scandal just twenty-four hours ago and now everything is just normal as it is every day.

As Trixie and Katya are leaving, now apparently always holding hands, they bid her goodbye.

“Congrats on the engagement!” Katya yells from the other side of the corridor. “Being gay married is amazing, you’re gonna love it!”

Trixie just waves and Violet smiles looking down to her hand again.

If the examples she has are anything to go by, she has no doubt she will.

[theofficialcunt]

If you're down a would LOVE a little something with Adore winning AS3 (yes I know she's not on it LET ME DREAM) and Ru being like "so what are you gonna do with the money?" and Adore responds with "well I'm gonna spend it on the best fucking honeymoon EVER" and everyone's like ?!?!?! and she's like "oh yeah I forgot to mention I totally got married right before going on the show" *cue smug smirk* and Ru's all "OMG what??? anyone we know???" and BAM! cue Bianca.

I really hope I did this prompt justice. It was actually really fun to write! Enjoy ✨💕

The tv blared loudly throughout the club, the top 3 queens gripping each other’s hands in anticipation. It was hot, Adore was sweating profusely - partly from nerves but mostly from the amount of people watching them.

The crowning was in New York, and it was always a star studded event. Alaska would be crowning the winner, whose picture would then be hung next to hers in the imaginary All Star hall of fame.

Katya, Bob The Drag Queen, Kim Chi, and some of the local new york queens watched in anticipation as the reunion echoed throughout the building. Ru Paul himself was also there, standing next to Alaska with a microphone making comments here and there. Fans would scream and shout every now and then when something entertained them. Courtney Act and Bianca Del Rio were also there for support for their season 6 sister. This is Adore’s 3rd time on the show, and second time in the top 3.

“You ready for this mawma?” Trixie asked playfully, elbowing Adore.

“I mean, I guess.” Adore laughed uncomfortably.

She was not ready. Honestly, losing to Bianca the first time was hard. Yes, the win was well deserved - she dominated the fuck out of the competition. But Adore had to put on a smile for hours after the crowning and pretend to be okay with losing. When in reality she was under the impression she was going to be sharing the grand prize with her.

She was so sure of the win, she had already made plans for her prize money.

So, to say she was crushed when she lost was an understatement.

She did well on All Stars 3, won 3 challenges in fact. She never had to lip sync, and she didnt have to send anybody home either. It was a good situation overall.

But she wasn’t confident in who was going to win. It could be her crown. It could be Trixies crown. It could even be Chi Chi’s crown.

“Y’all, I just want some gumbo.” Chi Chi groaned, adjusting her false eyelash.

The three of them were an odd trio, but somehow their chemistry worked well on All Stars. Adore laughed, always finding it fascinating that Chi Chi and Bianca came from the same state but acted so different. Adore guessed it was because Bianca had too much New York in her now.

“And the winner of All Stars 3 is…”

Chi Chi and Trixie gripped Adore’s hands tightly, each digging their fake nails into her palms as they awaited their fate.

Her and Bianca made eye contact, and Adore noticed for the first time Bianca looked nervous. Her eyes kept darting around the room, she had one hand gripped on the side of her modest boat neck black velvet dress. She had Courtney’s hand in a vice grip, holding it so tight she was probably losing circulation in it.

Bianca smiled at Adore encouragingly, letting her eyes scan over the seafoam green sequin dress that hugged her body. She was wearing a blonde wig tonight, with some extra pieces woven in to add more volume. wanted Adore to win so bad. She thought she had deserved it the first time around, especially with the way that they edited it. Adore had stepped her game up for All Stars 3, investing in gowns and nicer hair pieces then usual. She did her best to show versatility on the show, and it worked - landing her a spot in the top 3. She worked very hard for this, and literally put herself out there all over again which had been hard on her after her departure on All Stars 2. She didn’t know how she would react if she would lose a second time.

“Adore Delano!”

The room erupted in screams, and Adore blinked rapidly with shock. She felt dizzy, her ears ringing from all of the excitement. Trixie screamed, pulling her in for a tight hug. Adore let her head rest into her chest as she let out a few tears. She had won drag race. She had won $100,000. She would be able to buy a house, make another album…

She was completely overwhelmed

This was what winning felt like.

Adore pulled away softly, wiping the tears from her eyes so that her makeup didn’t get ruined. She turned and embraced Chi Chi - giving her a longer hug. She had been a big fan of Chi Chi’s on season 8, and was sad that she didn’t win. They had grown close on the show, mostly becauseAdore was the only one familiar with Louisiana cuisine.

Because of Bianca.

Adore searched the crowd for B, and smiled when she saw her. Bianca was ecstatically jumping up and down, holding Courtney’s hand and…was she crying?!

Bianca’s cheeks were shiny from the tears of joy. She never cried in public, but she couldn’t help herself. Courtney grabbed a tissue from her purse and blotted her face gently, trying to move the elaborate makeup back into place.

“God, you’re a mess!” Courtney exclaimed, laughing as she wiped the runny mascara off of her cheeks.

“Shut up bitch, I have every right to be.” Bianca laughed through her tears, her voice still thick with emotion.

Adore walked across the stage to Alaska and Ru, where they stood with the crown and sceptre. Detox stood by with the check, beaming at her as she was handed a mic.

“I guess I’m expected to make a speech now huh?” Adore laughed nervously, eyeing Ru and Alaska.

The crowd laughed, then fell silent in anticipation.

Adore was nervous now, mostly because she just spoke from the heart when she talked to her fans.Now that she was a winner, was she expected to deliver articulate speeches?

“I want to start off by saying I’m so grateful for this oppurtunity man. Thank you Ru.” Adore smiled at Ru, who in return bowed to her.

“Winning drag race doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop keeping it real with you guys. You deserve to know the truth about shit, and you deserve to be called out if you start acting crazy. I’m talking to you Val.” Adore laughed, catching Valentina’s eyes in the far corner of the club.

“Honestly, you motherfuckers can do anything you set your mind to and I just love you all so much.” Adore exclaimed. “Thank you.”

Alaska smiled, bringing the crown over and gesturing for Adore to kneel down. She placed the crown on top of her blonde locks, smiling with pride as she stood up. The crowd went crazy, shouting and cheering as Adore smiled at them and waved.

Ru handed her the sceptre, whispering congratulations in her ear and ushering her over to Detox to receive the check.

“Presenting your new queen, and winner of $100,000 Adore Delano!” Alaska yelled.

Adore grabbed the check and posed for pictures for what felt like forever. First with Alaska and Detox, then with Alaska, Detox, and Ru. Then with Chi Chi and Trixie, and then finally Courtney and Bianca were pulled on stage.

“I thought it would be fitting to have your originalsisters pose with you.” Ru announced,

Adore smiled as Courtney tackled her in a crushing hug.

“I’m so happy for you Adorm!” Courtney exclaimed, pecking Adore on the cheek playfully.

“Okay that’s enough,” Bianca snapped, pulling Courtney off of her. “Congratulations. I knew it was going to be you.” Bianca held her for a solid minute before letting her go.

They took a few pictures together, and then they were ushered back to the front row while Ru began his interview with her on stage.

“So Adore, I have to ask.”  Ru started, as they sat down on two stools that had seemingly materialized out of nowhere.  “What are you going to do with the money?”

Adore bit her lip and made brief eye contact with Bianca before she nodded in agreement.

“Well, I’m gonna spend some of it on the best fucking honeymoon ever!” Adore exclaimed.

The crowd grew louder with confusion and excitement. Ru’s jaw dropped, along with all of the other queen’s on stage.

“Y-you’re married? When did that happen?” Ru asked curiously.

“Well, I got the call for All Stars and that was when we were just getting serious and I was like fuck, we could either do this now or do it when I get back - and he was like let’s just do it now!” Adore exclaimed animatedly, talking vividly with her hands. “So I was like, fuck yeah I’m down we’ll get a tax break if I win. So we jetted off to Vegas and did something super low key. We got married at 3 am so no fans would see, it was wild.”

Trixie was shrieking from backstage, along with the audience who had grown much louder during the course of the conversation. Adore had worked very hard to keep her marriage a secret, and it had definitely paid off.

“Bitch,  why didn’t you tell me?” Alaska shrieked. “I would have brought you guys a pizza.”

“I’m sorry Lasky! My husband isn’t really big on pizza so it’s better that you didn’t.” Adore laughed.

“Oh my god, this is just so shocking Adore.” Ru finally said, as the audience calmed down. “Now I have to ask, is your husband anyone we know?”

Adore smiled coyly, trying not to look in her husband’s general direction.

“Well, he’s here tonight…” Adore teased, smiling wide.

“Can we meet him?” Ru asked excitedly, scanning the crowd looking for the potential partner.

“Sure man!” Adore exclaimed, smiling smugly.

“Mr. Delano, if you are still in the building come on down!” Ru called, looking around the building.

Just then, Bianca stood up from the front row and sauntered up the steps to the stage. Ru’s jaw dropped, and Alaska screamed as the audience roared in approval. Bianca grinned, pecking Adore on the lips softly before grabbing her microphone.

“It’s Mrs. Del Rio thank you very much.” Bianca smiled, before dipping Adore in a passionate embrace.

Adore knew the fans were going to lose their minds, but she really had no clue how crazy they would get until it was all out in the open. The screaming and shrieking hadn’t died down since it was announced she was married, and had only gotten progressively worse as the night went on.

But Adore wouldn’t have it any other way.