#it’s actually him who ties the ribbon on the spear

[reidrum]

hit me baby one more time | s.r

pairing: spencer reid x fem!bau!reader

a/n: i have no explanation for this i just really want spencer to fuck me in a mini skirt. this was also fueled by me listening to baby one more time on repeat for the last week so enjoy my horny thoughts hehe

cw: 18+ minors dni, smut, p in v sex, munch!spencer, blowjobs, soft!dom!spence the loml, praise kink, spanking, suggestive dancing, kissing, afab reader, reader wears the outfit from the baby one more time mv (skirt and bra), i picture s11 spence so don’t mind the inconsistencies, idk if kirk actually wears a tie i am a star wars girlie not star trek, lowkey perv spence at the end but i would do the same tbh

summary: halloween brings spencer joy in many ways, this year he finds a new, and super fucking hot, reason to love the holiday more

wc: 3.3k

___________

spencer loved halloween. this was a known fact by many, he loved the lore behind the holiday, loved dressing up as his favorite characters, and loved playing tricks on morgan and jj around the office.

spencer also loved halloween because he gets to see you. not that he didn’t see you on a daily basis in the office or on the field catching killers, but in a state where you were carefree and didn’t have to worry about the behavior patterns of a psychopath.

in past years spencer has dressed up as different versions of the doctor (still claiming his tenth doctor costume was the best, because it was your favorite), the hobbit from lord of the rings, and nosferatu (to the dismay of morgan’s very scared reaction). you would go a more pop culture route, dressing up as characters from recent movies and shows including barbie, the scarlet witch, and wednesday adams.

he loved being able to tell you the lore of the different characters he was and he loved listening to you explaining the cultural significance and impact that barbie had on society. he could listen to you talk about literal garbage, actually, and still be hanging onto your every word.

what he loved the most, however, was your choice of costume tonight at the karaoke bar the team was out at.

for halloween this year you decided to go with a more nostalgic costume. clad in a black mini skirt, tied up white button up showing your tummy and just the right amount of cleavage to have your hot pink bra pop out, gray cardigan, knee high socks and mary janes, you were the spitting image of britney spears in the baby one more time music video. complete with the ribbon entwined pigtails.

the moment you walked in the bar, spencer knew he was utterly and absolutely fucked.

morgan knew about spencer’s infatuation with you, because, he’s morgan and spencer’s not subtle. so when he watched spencer’s mouth hang open like a beckoning for flies to land in, all he could do was pat him firmly on the back and say, “good luck, kid.”

he watched you walk over to the table the team had claimed, making your rounds at saying hi and hugging everyone. he was last, and when you reached up on your toes to wrap your arms around his neck he had no choice (lie) but to rest his hands at your hips while his thumbs brushed the bare skin of your stomach. he also had no choice (still, a lie) but to be deathly intoxicated by the smell of your shampoo and perfume as you placed your head in the crook of his neck.

“hi spence! your costume looks so cool, i love how it turned out. were you able to find what you needed at that store i told you about?” you bubbled happily.

it took spencer about ten whole seconds of staring at you (and definitely not at your chest) to realize that you were asking him something and tried to quickly (embarrassingly) recover, “um, yeah no i was! she knew so much about star trek and was super helpful, she told me how much she loves seeing you in the store.” 

you giggle, “i’m glad admiral kirk, she’s a sweet old thing.”

he should be ashamed at how you calling him that went straight to his crotch.

“y- you also look great, who are you supposed to be?”

“i’m britney spears! in the baby one more time music video?”, you’re met with a blank stare, “spence, we have to educate you better on the true icons of our time.” you playfully grab his forearm.

he laughs nervously at your joke and the contact and proceeds to down half his beer in one gulp. thank god garcia comes out of nowhere to gush over your outfit, “oh my god girl, you look so hot. you have to get up there and sing it, it’s only right!”

“let me get a few shots in first and then i’ll see, penny” you chuckle back.

after about two shots you were already feeling loose, whatever anxiety you had about tonight dissipated as the alcohol overtook your bloodstream. truth be told, you had a super secret mission up your sleeve. 

you would be a terrible profiler if you didn’t notice the way spencer changed whenever he was in your company, and it never made you feel uncomfortable. you only craved his attention even more, and it made your crush on him run even deeper. he was kind and smart and caring. and undeniably sexy. you knew for a fact he wanted you too, and you were determined to make him do something about it tonight.

knowing spencer hasn’t seen the music video therefore not knowing why the schoolgirl outfit, it turned you on even more knowing he was going to lose his goddamn mind after you were done. the plan was already rolling in your brain as you sauntered up to the karaoke stage and got ready to put on a show.

the beginning beats of the song play and you get a couple of cheers and “let’s go, baby!” from the crowd and your team— sans spencer, who was hanging on your every move as you started swaying your hips.

“my loneliness, is killing me. and i-i-i. i must confess, i still believe, still believe.” you sing and dance the choreography to the song you know so well.

“when i’m not with you, i lose my mind.” you make direct eye contact with spencer, and are more than excited to see him locked in on you too.

you decide to kick your plan up a notch, and walk off the stage mic in hand towards the bau’s table, earning many cheers and phones capturing the moment. you play up the theatrics a little by getting emily and jj to sing along with you, morgan and rossi leaning into you as you wrapped your arms around their shoulders.

“give me a si-i-i-ign,” you’ve reached spencer, and the last step in your plan.

your finger leaves featherlight touches around his shoulders and across his collarbone as you stand behind his chair. a flat hand trails down his chest closer to the bulge in his pants, spencer’s eyes widening at the gesture. your hand reaches the final destination at the base of tie, and you pull it so he’s looking up at you directly.

“hit me baby one more time.” you finish with the biggest smirk, never breaking eye contact with spencer. the cheers and claps became louder but all you could focus on were the deep breaths he was taking to compose himself. you give him a wink as you hand the mic back to the stage guy and walk back to him to sit on his lap.

“you don’t mind, do you? all the seats are taken,” you smirk as you feel his hard on through your lace panties, “plus i really want to hear what you thought about my performance.” you finish whispering in his ear. he shudders in your hold, but the feeling of your ass weighing on the place he needs you the most, his primal instincts take over and suddenly he has a boost of confidence.

he lifts your head so his mouth is right on the crest of your ear, “how about i show you what your performance did to me?” he shifts a little and lightly thrusts up into your clothed core and you let out a small gasp. luckily the team had all but dispersed throughout the bar, getting drinks or dancing, so no one has to be privy to your conversation.

the glint in your eyes was all the confirmation he needed. you stood up slowly with his tie still wrapped around your fingers, and you pull it over your shoulder so he would trail behind you as you walked. spencer followed you like a dog getting tugged by a leash, literally, and stumbles at first when you pull him but he quickly regains his composure as you navigate through the crowds, placing his hands on your waist protectively.

you end up in front of the women’s bathroom and spencer doesn’t hesitate to push the doors open and lead you inside. it was one of those single person bathroom with no other stalls, but it was definitely one of the more nicer bathrooms you’d been in. the maroon pattern of the wall adding to the sultry vibe you’re setting, not to mention a spacious countertop for the sink and amenities.

the possibilities of what was going to happen run wild in your brain, only being pulled out of it by the sharp lock of the door and the feeling of strong hands snaking around your waist again.

you look up to meet his eyes in the mirror and watch spencer fiddle with the edge of your button up, “i don’t think i told you how much i really like your costume.”

“yeah?” you lean back in his touch, “what do you like about it?”

he moves his hands to the middle of your chest, “well, i like how soft the blouse is,” he deftly undoes the knot, “and i really like the color you got on underneath.” he lets the ends of the shirt fall to your side and slides his hands up to cup your breasts through your lace bra, massaging them gently.

you let out a half gasp-moan, “what else?”

“this skirt is really cute, fits you well.” he hums while he smooths over the front close to your core, leaning down to press love bites into your neck.

you turn around in his embrace to face him, lay your hands flat on his chest, and look up at him with the biggest doe eyes you could muster, “want to see what’s underneath it?”

the ghost of a smirk lies on his face and he leans down to capture your lips in a heated kiss. his hand cups your cheek closer to him while his other one grips your ass and lower back.

his tongue slots between yours as he deepens the kiss, and he reaches down to the backs of your thighs to lift you up onto the counter. your legs open up instinctively and he steps in between them letting his hand run up the plush of your thigh to the band of your panties. he toys with the lace pattern of it before he detaches his lips and pulls the skirt all the way up.

he slowly sinks to his knees, never breaking eye contact with you as he whispers, “this is definitely my favorite costume on you.” he’s face to face with your pink panty covered pussy and he lets out a groan when he notices the wet spot in the center. he tentatively traces a finger up and down your slit, gauging your reactions.

soft whimpers fall from your mouth as you let out a whiny, “spencer…”

“don’t worry baby, i’m gonna take care of you.” he coos, “lift your hips.” you oblige as he gently pulls your panties down and stuffs them in his back pocket. his large hands push your legs apart, giving him better access as he tugs you closer to the edge and leans in to draw a long stripe up your core with his tongue.

you let out a high pitched moan at the contact, bracing yourself on the counter with your palms flat down. his tongue draws shapes on you and you feel his finger prodding around your hole before plunging in, driving you straight to delirium.

the sensations begin to overwhelm you and you feel the peak rising in your gut. you tangle your hands in his curls, “pl- please don’t stop.” you whimper.

he groans into your pussy and you feel the vibration sent throughout your entire body, enough to push you over the edge and let the white hot overtake you. he doesn’t stop pumping his fingers or his tongue as he drags out your orgasm for as long as you’ll take it, before you’re yanking him by his hair off of your core and up to your face to kiss him dumb.

the salty taste of you lingers on his lips as you grab his face with both hands and keep him close to you. he lets out a whimper when you tug his hair again, and you smirk as you break the kiss to slide off the counter and drop to your knees. you quickly undo the clasp of his belt, the sound of his zipper going down making spencer’s heartbeat go faster.

the size of his bulge through his boxers was intimidating but it only spurred your desire to please him more. you look up at him and offer an innocent smile as you lean forward to pull back the fabric of his boxers with your teeth and let it fall back into place with a snap.

the impact caused spencer to moan out loud, and he watched with bated breath while you slowly tugged his boxers down to let his cock spring free. you let out a tiny gasp, “spencer…i never knew you were so pretty.” 

his preening turns into a sharp moan as you take in the head of his length into your mouth. swirling your tongue around like a lollipop. you lay your tongue flat on the underside of his cock and slowly let it enter your throat until your nose is flush with his tummy and you’re gagging to keep him inside.

“ho-o-ly shit, fuck.” spencer groans when he looks down to see his whole length down your throat and your eyes bulging with tears at the fullness in your mouth. he wishes he had a photographic memory so he could engrave the vision of you on your knees for him in his brain forever.

you retract back and start bobbing your head on his cock, using your hand to pump whatever you couldn’t easily fit in your mouth. expletives and moans fall from him every millisecond, the feeling being so irrepressible that after a minute spencer had to pry you off him so he didn’t finish in your mouth.

“what, too much?” you grin mischievously, dragging your thumb across your bottom lip to wipe the spit.

his heavy breathing is the only answer you got as he turns your body around to face the mirror, and bends you down at the waist to lean your upper body on the counter. he flips your skirt up so your ass is on display for him and draws his hand back to give your right ass cheek a big smack.

you moan out languishly and he lets out a small chuckle, “kinky, are we?”

“you’re the one who spanked me.”

he bends down to whisper in your ear, “yeah, but you liked it. i can feel you getting wetter.” his fingers return to your core to spread the new wetness onto his cock before aligning it at your entrance. he slowly pushes in, stretching you out bewitchingly. he breaks his gaze from where you connect to look back into the mirror, and god, is he so fucking glad he did.

your face is beautifully fucked out, eyes glistening with tears about to fall over, cheeks flushed, eyebrows furrowed, your arms pressed so perfectly against the sides of your chest your breasts are threatening to spill out of your bra.

“god, you look like a dream,” spencer whispers from behind as he begins thrusting into you. you moan back in response and push back on his cock to meet his thrusts. the noise of your hips meeting and him sliding in and out of you filled the bathroom. 

“i’m so close, fuck, oh my god.” you whine pathetically. spencer can’t help but smugly grin in response, “already? it can’t be over that fast, hold it.”

you gasp out, “i can’t, please, i need to come.”

he wraps one arm around the front of stomach to hoist you up and uses the other hand to tug on your pigtails to lean your head back towards him, “you’ll come when i say you can. you’re my good girl, right? gonna show me how good you can be for me?” he whispers hotly in your ear.

a loud moan escapes your throat as you try to keep your composure and hold your orgasm at bay. his precise and timed thrusts doing nothing to help you, you feel yourself starting to float away, becoming so cockdrunk off of spencer you can barely keep yourself conscious.

“almost there, pretty girl. you’re doing so well, ‘m so proud of you.”

you make the mistake of looking back up at the mirror, becoming grossly entrapped by the image of spencer pounding into you from behind and his equally fucked out face tucked into your neck, “spence…baby, please.”

he whines at the pet name and finally gives in, “okay princess, you can come now.” your second orgasm of the night ravages through you, leaving nothing behind but thoughts of spencer. he continues fucking you through your peak, chasing his own release to come shortly after.

“fuck, i’m close. where d- do you want me to..?” he stutters.

“in my mouth.” you breath out.

he groans out loud, “on your knees.”

he pulls out of you and you immediately drop to your knees, not hesitating to take his length into your mouth and using both hands to pump the remaining. spencer puts a hand on the back of your head and guides you to thrust onto his cock until he lets out another stuttered groan, spurts of his release coating the inside of your mouth.

you make sure to get every last drop of him down your throat, seductively sliding your mouth off his cock with a resounding pop. you’re breathing heavily and you remain on your knees as you try to remember what fucking world you’re even in. spencer grabs you by the forearms to pull you back up to him, and gently perches you back on the counter noting you probably wouldn’t be able to stand on your own anyway.

spencer breathes hotly into your face, his hand coming up to caress your cheek and brush a few loose strands of hair behind your ear. his other hand remains on your waist, drawing soothing circles. you grin widely, and spencer notices and matches your smile without hesitation.

“what?” he laughs lightly.

“nothing, it’s just it looks like my plan worked.” you replied.

“and what was this plan of yours?” he grins.

“well, i just wanted you hot and bothered. i did not expect you to fuck me in a bar bathroom,” he blushes at your admission, “plus, you don’t even shake people’s hands. i definitely thought having sex in a public place, let alone the bathroom of a bar, would be so not your style.”

“i think if you keep wearing outfits like this around me,” he gestures to your disarrayed button up and bra, “you’ll be surprised at what i’d be willing to do.”

“so, is this a good time to tell you that britney has other music video outfits that are just as iconic as this one?” you gleam up at him.

his eyebrows raise in curiosity, “it certainly would be. on a totally unrelated note, i’m parked right out front.” he half jokes as he pulls you off the counter towards the door. you giggle and follow blindly behind him, when your eyes draw to the back pocket of his trousers and you notice a flash of hot pink.

“spencer! my panties, oh my god. give them back.”

he looks over his shoulder at you, “i have no idea what you’re talking about.” he feigns. you roll your eyes and let him have it, totally ignoring the way he shoves the panties further down his pocket out of sight.

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

The meta text of Vaggie hating when people don't use her name or try calling her by another one THEY think she should use, bc they think her name is too vulgar or demeaning or too silly not to joke about -> and then parts of the fandom doing the same thing, is honestly really hitting home in a queer way

here's a character who we know wants people to use her chosen name.

we know she does because she corrects Adam to his face "Actually, it's pronounced Vaggie" drawing a hard line of NO between the old name he gave her with that soft G and the one her girlfriend uses for her now

her exasperation even during the battle, answering Pentious's call out of Vaggatha but still also tiredly pointing out "Not my name", and

ironically. The second miss-naming hurts me more than the first

the Adam thing makes me hate the guy on a personal level, with his stupid smug little "Hmmmmmm- no. Anyway-" saying Vaggie isn't ALLOWED to name herself something new as if he has any claim over her, as if her name has anything to do with him after he abandoned her

But the Pentious thing almost hurts worse for how well meant and casual it is. How familiar that is.

Here it's coming from a friend and the misnaming is a sign of affection from him, a show of respect. He's not calling her the purple female anymore. This is Pentious and his tick of getting polite and formal when addressing people he likes, him snapping his earnest salutes, him as we saw earlier that episode with his shy "Miss Bomb" towards Cherri.

And the way Vaggie just kinda rolls her eye and takes it from him while still clearly not liking it...

She used to wear a uniform that made her almost identical to the other Exorcists around her, she was given her old name by the man in charge of her, a name based on how useful to him she was, she's still got all that soldier stuff marching through her head making her grab for her spear and leaving her with no idea how to get people to bond other than throwing them bodily into a warzone

It just makes sense that the woman she's in a long term happy relationship with be so normal about her chosen 'vulgar' and 'inappropriate' name

Being together that long means Charlie probably knows this specific frustration her girlfriend has and cares enough about her to just say "Vaggie" like its nothing. Or maybe she just thinks, duh, of course she'll use the name Vaggie tells her to use

Maybe Charlie being that kinda person is part of what Vaggie loves about her in the first place. The amount of trust Charlie places in people, just by default

Because there could be good and bad reasons Vaggie's using a version of her old name after leaving that life behind

She could be doing it to remind herself of the shit person she was and feels she has to still make up for being, it could be tied to her self imposed new life purpose of helping make Charlie's dreams come true, it could be Vaggie keeping part of something she hates (herself) so she can feel a bit of "deserved" pain over it even when she was too scared to admit her past to anyone else- a sneaky way to always be reminded of it by the new people in her new life anyway

but that's her choice. People are allowed to make bad decisions for themselves

there's that ethos of the whole hotel and redemption plan again, Charlie's dreams and ideals swinging back into action even when Charlie maybe doesn't know it

what's the idea of redemption or personal change other than accepting that people CAN make choices for themselves? They can even make shitty ones, and that's not a reason to drop them forever or take the choice away like they don't deserve it anymore

What's the permanent extermination of souls other than saying they forever lost the right to say what happens to themselves?

a gay woman is calling herself after vag while switching out her soldier gear to wear miniskirts and giant as fuck hair bow ribbons while kissing and cuddling her girlfriend. Maybe it's cringe. Maybe it's camp. Even if Vaggie obviously isn't meant to be literally trans, it's that deliberate choice thing again, a kinda switcheroo from Adam naming her Vagina just bc it's something that he likes for how it makes him feel good, to Vaggie saying no this is MY thing now.

The Vagina to Vaggie thing is the difference between putting a name on someone else verses taking it for your own.

and Charlie affirms that choice, that right of Vaggie to be called the name she choses, no matter WHAT it sounds like or how awkward it makes some people feel

like, if someone in real life told you their name was Vaggie, would you use their name for them?

Would you accept feeling a bit weird for their sake?

Or would you do what happens so much in real life, when people who care still think they know better or feel like someone being who they are infringes too much on their own sense of comfort or even on that person's own safety, and with all the good intentions and love in the world, someone hurts someone else without understanding that they're evening doing it.

Like Pentious

Who is really and truly Vaggie's friend. The guy she got off to a rough start with but ends up rooting for, shoving her gf out of the room so he can talk to his own crush in peace. He dies to try protecting his friends, including her, and she misses him when he's gone

and he still thought he was doing a nice thing by calling her the more 'normal' sounding "Vagatha". Either because he assumed Vaggie couldn't really be her full name, or thought she deserved better

Charlie doesn't think Vaggie needs a better name

Charlie says her name all the time like it's her favorite word ever, if only because it belongs to the woman she loves

i feel a lot of things about that.

[tllgrrl]

Grimes 68 by @tllgrrl aka nefertiri jones

Summary: After almost 8 years apart, Michonne finds Rick Grimes, the love of her life and father of their children, and he brings her into the Civic Republic Military. For the time being: 1) She has to pretend to be someone else to avoid being seen as a threat; 2) He has to figure out a plan for the two of them to get out; and 3) They have to try and act like they’re strangers to each other instead of reunited lovers.

(The key word is “try”.)

* * * * *

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

The steel kill sticks striking against the brick wall rang in the parking lot of what was left of a post office.

A former postal service semi that now had protective grills over the windows led the next herd of the dead, or what the CRM called “deltas”— “delts” for short—into the large space on the one side of the harvest wall.

The shuffling hoard was drawn by the noise and flashing lights mounted on the truck.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

The consignees readied themselves on the other side, and as the delts shambled to open spaces in the wall, each one was met with a blow that drove a sharp, prong-ended spear (“kill stick”) into its skull, followed by a twist of the wrist that destroyed its brain, effectively and finally killing it.

It was a repetitive, bloody, mind-numbing grind, and some said that it was brutal for the workers because it wasn’t easy to completely forget that the delts were once living human beings too.

Grimes had done his time at The Wall. He’d even become a legend with the number of kills he could rack up in a shift.

It was painted in big letters on the side of a nearby building, for all to see:

GRIMES 68.

He was also well-known for the number of attempts he’d made to do something no one else in the City wanted to do: Escape. Wanting to leave the safety and security of the CR so badly that he actually cut off his own shackled hand at the wrist, only to fail again and be brought back to the Wall.

Time and time again an officer in the Civic Republic Military gave him a chance to join up, and he refused each offer, preferring to be at the culling facility, killing the dead and planning his next escape attempt.

Then one day, he accepted the offer. He traded his Consignee jacket for a CRM uniform. Instead of using a kill stick, he got a fancy, deadly prosthetic hand with a retractable blade. He got all kinds of specialized training, all the perks as he rose through the ranks, and he never had to cull delts again.

But now, after having been gone for years, there he was. Back at the Wall. Watching.

Watching her.

The new consignee.

The dark-skinned Black woman with her hair cut short on one side of her head, exposing a beautiful profile; and locs cascading down just past her shoulder in the back and on the other side of her face .

The woman who, after her on-boarding interview, was designated a Type “B”, seeking safety, willing to work, and keeping to herself, but had the carriage and demeanour of an “A” who was always observing, was more than capable of defending herself, and being a provider of safety. A leader.

Word soon got around among the Consignees that the ex-consignee/now military officer known as “the famous Rick Grimes” had not only survived a chopper crash, but he’d started showing up at the harvest wall. Coming back to a place he’d gotten away from years earlier, only to return when a mysterious new consignee was brought into the CRM.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“Hey. Look who just pulled up,” said a consignee who had her red hair tied back with, of all things, a bright pink ribbon that was tied in a bow.

“Holy shit! ‘zat Grimes?” another consignee added, tying a bandana on his head, cholo style, then slipping on his face shield. “He doesn’t have to be here any more. What’s up with that?”

“Bethune’s not-so-secret admirer,” snickered the worker to pink bow’s left, stabbing his kill stick into a delt that sagged and dropped. “She doesn’t see him yet. But she knows he’s there. Watch. In 3..2..1.”

Michonne—known to the other consignees as “Dana Bethune” —stationed at the far end of the wall, continued to methodically dispatch delts.

Then she stopped, looked over her shoulder, found the tall, CRM officer. Standing there, at ease, even with his helmet and face guard on, she knew he was watching her.

It seemed like they stood there like that. The only people at the wall. 5…10…15 minutes. Watching each other. Breathing the same air. At last…

3 seconds later, she turned her head back to the oncoming delts, and went back to work.

Behind her mask, the other consignees couldn’t see the small smile that graced her lips, or hear her whisper “I found you.”

Behind his mask, no one could see the CRM officer smile as he whispered “You found me.”

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“You see that?” drawled the consignee to pink bow’s right, continuing to spear oncoming delts. “Somethin’s up with those two.”

“I know, right? For the past two weeks, he’s here. Same time every day she’s on shift, just before third break. Look at him lookin’. Even wearin’ the consignee jacket, the mask, an’ her hair all tucked in, it only takes him a second to find her. And a second for her to know he’s here. Like they’re—”

“Might could be that ass is imprinted on his brain!” laughed a big man nearby with a bushy black beard.

“Maybe it’s because she saved his life out there.”

“Peterson said somethin’ about that. It’s true?”

“‘parently so. His chopper went down. Got blown right outta the sky and crashed.”

“You serious?!”

“Word is it was a scrub with some kinda RPG an’ shit,” a consignee added to the story while wiping a splatter of brains and blood off of his face guard.

“Stop lyin’! How’d they even get that? After the Fall, CRM took over most of the bases out there with a quickness.”

“There was military stuff out in the wild even before everything went to shit. All kinds o’ stuff is still out there,” bushy beard opined. “Shouldn’t be a surprise all these years later somebody has a bazooka or some ordinance hidden away. There’s jeeps, even tanks here and there. I lived in one for a couple o’ months before I got found and brought here. CRM scoops ‘em up quick as they can, but—”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. So anyway, the scuttlebut is that Sargent Major Loverboy there, an’ the other troopers jumped out of the wrecked chopper an’ the scrub starts firein’ on ‘em. The ones he could catch, he slit their throats…with a sword.”

“A what?” bandana scoffed, stabbing into what was left of the next delt’s face. “Get outta here with that BS, man!”

“I’m just tellin’ you what I heard! Grimes was about ta get got, when Bethune comes runnin’ outta the woods, grabs one of the dead trooper’s weapons and shoots the scrub!”

“Wow. Maybe that’s why he’s here all the time,” pink bow chuckled. “Hell, I’d be in love with her too.”

“Get in line,” beard snarked. “You really think those two know each other?”

“Know each other?” the woman laughed, stabbed a delt and shook its eyeball off of her kill stick. “I think they’re fuckin’.”

“No way!” bandana exclaimed. “She just got here!”

<<<Good work, Section 5 and 6 Consignees. Bethune and Clifton, please report to post-shift health check before boarding transport.>>>

“Think about it,” pink bow explained. “Grimes is an officer on the inside now and doesn’t need to be at the Harvest Wall any more. Who’d come back to this shit after their 6 years of consignment is up? Now, all of a sudden, he’s back. Out here almost every day. Why?”

She tipped her head toward the driveway and they watched Grimes remove his helmet and turn completely around to watch “why” aka “Dana Bethune” walk past, avoiding his eyes.

*CLANK…CLANK…CLANK…*

“Oh, yeah…” pink bow grinned. “They’re fuckin’.”

* * * * *

This bit of nonsense was inspired by The Walking Dead spin-off, The Ones Who Live - Episode 3: “Bye”.

Click HERE for the AO3 version.

Thank you for reading!

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

HASO, “A little Race.”

So this is a little story setting up for some stuff in the future.

A few of you on the discord server mentioned an interest in learning more about the criminal element within my universe as well as a couple other ideas which I would love to incorporate, so I hope you like where this is going :)

Adam turned heads as he walked through the station. Glowing, grungy neon lights lit him up from either side though the forest of bodies parted before him like a sea. Everyone here looked more than a little unnerved at his presence, and hurriedly scampered away into the dark allies upon the station.

It wasn’t a big place, A trading hub  not so far from the metallic belt, so many of these people probably weren't here for illegal reasons, but based on his time getting to know the criminal underbelly of the universe, he also knew the station’s real reputation. And he knew the man he was looking for was likely to be here. 

He would have disguised himself as Kell, but thought better of it. He wanted to keep that disguise in his arsenal if he ever had to go undercover again, and this wasn’t a moment  he needed to be undercover.

Behind him Sunny walked at his shoulder, holding her pearlescent spear in one hand.

She really made an impression on people these days, and he found it more than useful to have a saint on his side.

He walked down the hallway through a set of doors and then into a wide cargo bay. Someone was playing rap music somewhere, and he could hear it echoing  off the rough metal. Graffiti tagged the walls on almost every surface, including the floor, and the rattle of metal on metal drowned out whatever lyrics there might have been. He stepped further into the room as out of place as he had ever been.

Adam had never been involved in criminal affairs. Beside his brief stint as Kell and his  accidental time in the Turma Prison, he had been a straight arrow all his life. He had never done drugs, never stolen anything, never been arrested. And it certainly didn’t help that he had to run here from an appointment with Admiral kelly, and so was still wearing his UNSC uniform, which was pristinely pressed, light grey  and caused him to stand out like a drop of white paint against a black background.

The music crew louder as he stepped inside.

The room was full of shuttles, or some of them were shuttles and others were more accurately jets. Some of them were old, held together by paint and duct tape, while others glowed sleek with outlandish new paint jobs that included skulls and flames and chains. A group of men and women sat off to one side. The women wore very little, just string bikini tops and cut off jean shorts. One of the women, with long dark hair tied back in a ponytail was wearing jeans and a spoked leather jacket.

A lot of the men wore baggy pants tank tops, with lines of tattoos crawling up their arms and necks.

Similar looking people loitered around the ships tinkering with the engines and polishing surfaces already too shiny to need polishing.

The  woman was the first to see him, sitting up straight with the rattle of leather and spikes, “You don’t have any business here, Get out.”

That caused the others to turn and look, and the group of people bristled like an angry dog, forming into a tight group shoulders wide, arms out chests puffed up.

Adam stopped a few feet away.

“I want to speak with the man called Donovan Red.”

“Ol Donni ain’t here.” One of the men said, spitting onto the floor, “New git!”

“I know he’s here. His ship is parked in the hanger on deck E.”

A couple more men had wandered up to join, and he spotted the tell tale sign of weapons shoved hastily into their pants.

He held his hands out to the sides, “Listen, I just want to talk.”

“Then come  back with a warrant, pig.” ONe of them snapped. The guy was an ugly looking thug with a completely shaved head and bare chest. He had a pot belly from drinking, but he still had one of the girls hanging off his arm shying behind him from for protection.:

He sighed, “I’m not here to talk with him about any of his activities as legal or illegal as they may be. I’m not interested in what he does or who he does it with. I am here to ask him a favor.”

There was a shift about the room, and the woman from before stood up resting a hand on her hip, “The golden boy of the UNSC wants a favor from old Donni.” She barked a laugh and the men and women behind her laughed too.

“”In your dreams, boy.”

The group turned laughing and he felt his insides churn a bit with rage. He went to take a step forward but took a deep breath and stopped, “He will want to reconsider.” they ignored him, “If he does me a favor that means I owe him, Think about that, one of the most powerful men in the GA or the UNSC and I will owe him a favor.” he raised his voice, “Your boss would have to be pretty stupid to avoid an offer like that.”

There was a pause around the room, and then Adam felt something cold press up against his temple, “And you have to be pretty stupid to call him stupid.”

Adam turned his head just slightly feeling the barrel of the gun pressed below his ear.

As he moved the gun moved. Sunny hadn’t bothered to deal with the guy, and he knew why almost immediately.

WIth one lightning fast move he reached up and slapped the gun out of the man's sloppy grip. It clattered to the floor and went spinning away under one of the shuttles. Adam then stepped back and elbowed the man in the face. The man staggered back and Adam finished him off with a kick to the sternum that sent him flying back into  a barrel, which tipped over with an echoing thud and rolled slowly away.

He turned back to the others who were hastily reaching for their weapons, “The next person who points a gun at me is getting a spear through the throat.” Sunny stepped forward with a hungry look on her face.

The group paused, “You’re UNSC, you can’t do that.”

HE crossed his arms, “I won't be doing anything, but I can’t guarantee that my partner here won’t.” 

There was a pause in  the room as everyone nervously looked between each other.

“Why don’t we all just calm down.” The voice echoed in from the back, and the entire group turned to see a man walk up through the isel.

Donovan Red was shorter than Adam had expected, but still fit. He wore a tight black T shirt that bulged around his biceps, and when he walked he walked with the confidence of a man not used to being out of control.

The man walked right up to him, unperturbed by their height difference  slowly looking him up and then down. 

“You shouldn’t have come here, Cinderella.”

Adam raised an eyebrow, “Cinderella/”

The man shrugged, “Yeah, you got that vibe, all dressed up like a princess.” He nodded to Sunny, “And hanging out with woodland creatures.”

Sunny did not look amused, 

“Actually that would be snow white, or sleeping beauty, as I recall Cinderella only talked to mice.”

The man snorted, “My apologies for now knowing my princesses better, Cinder-ellla.”

Adam didn’t respond, didn’t back up. Instead he inched forward so he was towering over the man, “Look I’m not here to bother you or your men-”

“Too late for that don’t you think, princess.”

The men and women behind him laughed.

Adam sighed, “If you will let me finish. I assume that you got off your ass and came over here because you heard what I was saying to your cronies?”

Adam stood his ground as the entire group inched in. It was partly out of show, and partly because he knew sunny and him together could take this crowd easy.

Red looked up at him with his head tilted to one side, “Tell you what.”

He stepped back and turned to look at his men, “I’ll talk to you about your little favor, but-” He held up a finger, “Only if you prove yourself worthy of my time.”

Adam sighed. This was going to be good.

“And how, exactly do I do that.”

“Simple,” The man said with a smirk, “You just have to win a little race.”

***

Eris looked up at the pictures on the wall. There were a lot of them to choose from, and she spent some time wandering around the living room looking up at all the images. She knew these people, or at least it felt like she did.. Through Adam’s memories she knew Martha: intelligent and protective, Jim: strong and loyal, Maya: sweet and adventurous, Jeremy: friendly and changeable, Davide: perfect and charming, Thomas: a general hot mess, but someone who cared deeply about things.

She remembered all of them, but at the same time that felt like invading their privacy. 

They didn’t know her, so it wasn’t fair of her to claim to know them.

She sensed someone behind her and turned to find Martha looking up at the pictures with her. She pointed up at one and Eris followed, “that was last christmas together before Adam went to space.” She sighed and shook her head, “A lot has changed since then.”

Jim followed behind and held out a cup, “Can you eat human food? Sorry if you can’t I just assumed.”

She took the cup, “No its ok, myst of my  insides are human.” She had taken off her hoodie and now let it rest on the back of Martha’s rocking chair.

Jim went to stand next to his wife and looked Eris over with his head slightly tilted.

Eris hid behind her long dark hair, hair that reached past her butt. She wore it long, not only to hid behind, but because she thought it might help to cover the starborn ribbons which trailed from her back.

“You know what Martha, she looks a lot like Maya doesn’t she.”

Martha turned to look and Eris shuffled her feet, “You know what, I didn’t see it before but she does. She elbowed him, definitely has the Vir family nose.”

He grunted, “Be glad she got the nose and not the ears.”

Martha motioned her to take a seat, “Why don’t you sit down and tel lus what brings you all across the galaxy.”

Eris sat shyly on the edge of her seat nervously running her hands through her hair.

“Well….. um , nothing really it’s jus that. I had been taking care of the other hybrids and…. And well I kind of got burnt out and couldn’t do it anymore, so I…. wanted to start living for myself you know?”

The two humans nodded sagely

“But I didn’t know where to start. So I thought I would get to know my roots a bit better. I am half human….. Well DNA says a little bit more than half human, so I thought I might start with you.  Iwanted ;to see Adam, but he seems to be gone, and I can’t reach him.”

Martha nodded, “It has been harder and harder lately especially after.”

Eris’s eyes widened as she read the thoughts forming in the woman’s mind, “Someone is trying to kill him!”

The two paused, but then got back into stride without so much as a look between each other. Eris kicked herself. People always hated being around her when they knew she could read minds. 

Here she was driving people away again.

“Yes…. someone has attempted to kill him in the past. We aren’t sure if it will happen again, but we dor worry about him.”

Eris felt her insides go cold, she could feel it through the mental link to his parents, and she could feel it inside herself as well.

Adam Vir couldn’t die, not before she got to know him better, and certainly not if it was going to hurt his parents, who were some f the nicest people she had ever met.

She had to do something.

[themonotonysyndrome]

The Holy Quintet in Twisted Wonderland! (Dorm sorting)

Here’s the second piece of TW x PMMM crossovers! I had so much fun writing the first one and has been looking forward to writing this part. Oh, and since Homura was the first one to woke up, she gets sorted first. I apologise for the word vomit underneath. You have been warned.  

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy it! (I didn’t actually expect the amazing response from you guys! To the new followers, welcome!) 

-

Akemi Homura is sorted in... 

Standing in front of the mirror with a determined expression, Homura refused to show any weakness. She subtly caress her ring, where her purple Soul Gem gleams. 

For her unyielding conviction, resourcefulness against every timeline thrown at her and long, careful planning, the Mirror of Darkness deems that she will do well in SCARABIA!

(in the background, Kalim cheer loudly for having a new and fun student in his dorm while Jamil mentally prepare himself for contingency plans in case Homura decide to aim her strange weapon against Kalim or disrupt his future goals...)

While still confused (Homura has already put away her Shield), she helps a teacher with white and black hair wake up the rest of her friends so they could be sorted as well. She can deal with the whole dorm sorting issue once this ceremony-thing is over. 

The sand and hot weather of Scarabia made her uncomfortable in the beginning and the dorm’s uniform is a bit strange looking but nonetheless, Homura adapts. It’s become a second nature to her already. 

The first thing she did after Kalim and Jamil showed her room where she will be living until the headmaster finds a way to send them back home, is to use her magic to change her standard school and dorm uniforms and hairstyle. The red ribbon now tied her long black hair into a high ponytail to combat with the heat and her dorm and school uniforms are now fitted for a female student of her size. 

(Hey, the headmaster didn’t say anything against altering the uniforms!)

Afterwards, Homura set to work immediately. She did her best to studied everything she can about Scarabia, Night Raven College, magic crystals and the world of Twisted Wonderland. She’ll be using time magic to learns as much and as quickly as possible so no one would pull a fast on her and her friends.  

To make her life a bit easier, she transforms her room to look similar to the interior of her apartment back at Mitakihara City. Foreign maps are neatly documented and shelved, important encounters and memories that she experiences at NRC are framed on white walls instead of her past battles against Witches and the shadow of the swinging, bladed pendulums serve Homura the constant reminder that she’s always running for more time. 

As a student, studying at a magical school doesn’t faze Homura for too long once she started wondering if she could use the magic in Twisted Wonderland not only to return home, but for herself as well (what she needed to get used to is living in a school wholly for boys. Once she adjusted to Kalim’s energetic and chaotic personalities - when to hide away from him - it gets easier) 

Homura has a knack for Humanities classes. History, Ancient Curses and etc. I see her as someone who often learn from trial-and-error since by the time the anime begin, she’s already breezing through her classes because she’s been repeating them all over and over again. Sometimes if her grades are unacceptable, she can be petty enough and rewind time so she could retake them. Students quickly sees her as a diligent and hard-working girl.    

As for Kalim and Jamil, now these two have different impression about Akemi Homura. 

Kalim is ecstatic. There’s a girl in his dorm! A pretty and quiet girl! Kalim wants to help Homura fully enjoy her stay in Scarabia. Her lack of response when he throws her a welcoming banquet along for the other first year students didn’t dampen his spirit, even when she vanishes in the middle of the feast. If anything, Kalim made a personal mission of his to make Homura smile. He firmly believes that Homura has a pretty smile! 

Kalim would ask a lot of questions, too. What is her world like? What was she doing before coming here? What’s the strange device she pointed at the headmaster? What kind of magic she has? As expected, Homura is pretty tight lip about herself but that’s alright. Once they become good friends, Kalim is sure that Homura would be more open up to them all.

Jamil, however, has his mistrusts and worries. The moment Homura woke up, she took control of the crowds and atmosphere as soon as she realised she’s not in her world. The way she stood protectively between them and her friends while seconds away from attacking the headmaster told Jamil that she’s dangerous. That she’s an experienced fighter. An enigma that he can’t unravel pose a potential threat to Scarabia and his plans. 

Jamil has a keen eye for observation, so he notices how Homura would glued to her pink haired friend as often as she could, but the moment she meets up with the rest of the girls, Homura would quietly slip away as if she isn’t all that close to them. That intrigues the Vice Dorm Leader. 

Jamil’s suspicion continues to increase when he later realises that Homura has a habit of vanishing in a blink of an eye. One moment she would be standing near the door after History class and in a blink, she disappears into thin air. Not only that, sometimes he would catch a glimpse of her walking at another hallway across the courtyard, but only to appear behind him when he turns around. It unnerved Jamil. Does it have something to do with her magic?

However, as the semesters roll by and Kalim actually managed to have the mysterious raven beauty to hang out with them for more than 10 minutes (“How strange, Al-Asim-san. You remind me of Madoka sometimes”), Jamil understands that there’s more to her that Homura lets on. As if she’s shouldering the whole world on her shoulders. In the end, Jamil will not use Snake Whisper on her since he’s unsure if the girl has the ability to cancel it and lets her be. Perhaps she needs more time for Kalim’s bright charms to tear down the imposing walls she hides behind? Jamil is patient. 

For Homura, she feels relax around Kalim after how well he and Madoka befriended one another. It helps that Kalim doesn’t hold it against her when she slips away from his way too extravagant parties. Jamil is as shady as they come underneath his hard working demeanour, but seeing the amount of trust Kalim puts on him, Homura refrain from antagonising the Vice Dorm Leader. She even helps them out preparing for a feast or banquet if they asked. 

Kalim earns a soft spot in Homura’s heart after a fateful night. Unable to sleep, he caught her strolling through Scarabia looking at the many tapestries hanging on the walls. He kept her company (even when it’s unwarranted), teaching her how to play Mancala and ply her with refreshing mint teas and sweets such as Maamoul and any other he could find from the pantry, until Homura is ready to retire back to her bedroom. Kalim might be the one who does the most talking in their conversation but the Magical Girl actually prefers it. She humours him by answering a few questions and the two understand one another a little better after that night.  

All in all, the Mirror of Darkness was correct. She truly fits in Scarabia and her other dorm mates hardly bats an eye when she asked around for information, books and other materials. Even questioning them about their Unique Magics and magic crystals.

(The only gold she accepts from Kalim is a simple thin necklace to represent her as a student of Scarabia. She can’t understand how students could wear heavy jewellery to school. Especially those chunky gold band around their neck.)     

Sakura Kyouko is sorted in...        

The moment Kyouko woke up with strange people looking at her and an unsettled Homura, she is raring to fight. Her spear is in her hand again and would have thrown it at the first person she sees (coincidentally, a young man with a scar on his face and... is that a tail!? Kitty ears!?) if it weren’t for Homura stopping her, urging her to listen. 

After a brief rundown of their situation, it’s her turn to be called and sorted by the Mirror of Darkness. Despite how weird things are, she goes with the flow. Steps confident and sure of herself. 

For her fiery spirit, stubbornness and love for a good fight yet compassion when needs be, the Mirror of Darkness deems that she will do well in SAVANACLAW! 

(Somewhere in the background, Leona grumbles how he would need to keep an eye on this redhead and that’s not just because she’s a girl. Her reaction when she woke up tells him that she’s gonna be a handful. Ruggie wondered how Kyouko would mingle among the strong beastmen in their dorm. Something tells him that red spear isn’t for show.)

Savanaclaw as a dorm doesn’t really bothered Kyouko at all. After all, she’s used to jumping from one place to another, never really having a permanent home after the deceased of her family. Beside, at least she didn’t have to pay for the uniforms or her new living space! (Kyouko digs the open space design of her room, she can just jump out and in through the window anytime she wants)

Like Homura, she uses her magic to transform her uniforms; from pants to skirts, ignoring Ruggie’s warning about how some guys would try to take advantage of that (she didn’t changed her dorm uniform since she perfers fighting in a pair of pants). Kyouko just laugh and promises that she can beat them up if anyone tries anything. 

Now, as a student, Kyouko struggles a bit. She never really attend school back at Mitakihara City so like Leona, she sometimes skip classes. Only Mami could drag her back if the blonde catches her. Kyouko favourite go-to place to skip classes are the rooftop of the college after raiding the kitchen from the cafeteria. 

Kyouko’s favourite classes are sports. Flying on brooms are wicked cool and now she’s thinking on how to fly on her spears as well!

Leona and Ruggie finds Kyouko to be a pleasant surprise. Her laziness and tendency to skip classes reminded Ruggie of Leona and combined with her tendency to not poke around if it isn’t her business, Leona warms up to her quickly. His previous misgivings already gone. He even offers her a place to nap at the botanical garden if she wants. 

Jack would sometimes keep an eye out for her in case the other students of their dorm become too rowdy, but after seeing how she knocked out a group of second year students with a simple twirl of her spear and she mocks them for being too weak to even landed a hit on her (even with using their magic), Jack and her become sparring buddies. He helps her out with hand-to-hand combat while Kyouko push him to his limit.     

Even though they’re the same age, Jack treats Kyouko like his siblings and despite what happened to her family, she accepts his treatment in good nature. It helps that he didn’t forced her to spill her guts out to him.

When Kyouko hangs out with Jack, Leona and Ruggie, she tells them of her world and the existence of Magical Girls and Witches. The boys are fascinated at the idea of girls in pretty dresses fight evil and how strong Kyouko’s friends must be. Leona is looking forward to the next Magishift Tournament. Maybe now Savanaclaw will win against Diasomnia with Kyouko backing them up! 

All in all, finding herself in this world and living here at Night Raven College doesn’t seem too bad. She just needs to watch out the amount of magic she uses since there're no Witches to kill for Grief Seeds. She’s well stocked, but now she has to practised some restrain.

(Kyouko earn the respect of the students in the dorm when she easily keeps up with the best of the best when it comes to eating. Her huge appetite had Jack and Ruggie’s mouth gaping. Leona keeps his plate away from her in case she tries to snatch them.)  

 Miki Sayaka is sorted in...      

Sayaka is the third one to wake up after Kyouko. At first, she figured her eyes are playing tricks on her when she saw people in strange dark robes and Kyouko is being her usual temperamental self with a sullen Homura trying to talk things out (which is odd of her since Homura would just vanish if the situation isn’t in her favour but noticing how Madoka is unconscious, it didn’t take long for Sayaka to put 2 and 2 together)

The Mirror of Darkness call forth for Sayaka. She couldn’t help but shiver at how creepy the mirror is but she did so after Kyouko promise that despite its name, the mirror’s magic isn’t anything like a Witch’s.

For her kindness, strong sense of justice and heroic nature as a Magical girl, the Mirror of Darkness deems that she will do well in HEARTSLABYUL!

Trey and Riddle approach her easily unlike Jamil’s warriness with Homura and Leona’s reluctance with Kyouko. It helps that Sayaka didn’t try to attack anyone as soon as he woken up. 

The only boy she really interacts with was Kyousuke so Sayaka is a little awkward around them at first. She appreciates Trey’s patience guidance while the seniors of the dorm helps her to settle in. The many rules of Heartslabyul fly over her head when Riddle explained them to her but Trey and Cater assured her as long as she behave herself, they shouldn’t be a problem.  

Finding out that she and her friends had transported to a new world has Sayaka feel like a kid at an amusement park. The magic here is nothing like she’s ever seen! Plus, no Witches! 

Although she would like it if all her friends could be with her in the same dorm, Trey and Cater comforted Sayaka that her friends would be looked after. 

As a student at NRC, she and Madoka were already average students with poor grades back home and being a student here in a magical school is no different. Not to mention all new magical classes that had her dizzy. I can see her having to take remedial classes so she could keep up with her classmates.

Ace and Deuce would immediately saddled up to Sayaka, wanting to know all about her and her world. Deuce would be in awe, eyes sparkling when Sayaka transform into her Magical girl outfit, brandishing her sword like a knight. Ace eagerly wanted to see her in action but Riddle is quick to remind them of the rules. No fighting in the dorm! 

Sayaka struggles to follow and memorised every single rules of Heartslabyul. This made her and Riddle unable to see eye to eye. Like Alice, Sayaka questioned every single rules and find how Riddle governs the dorm unacceptable. It’s unfair and she announced that she’s a Magical Girl of justice, fighting for the weak. 

When Riddle overblots, it scares Sayaka. It’s like Riddle and his corrupted form trying to exist at the same time. But she can sense that his corrupted magic is nothing like a Witch. After all, there’s no Labryinth, Familiars or Grief Seed and he could be transform back. So with Ace and Deuce beside her, Sayaka brought Riddle back with very minimum damage to their surrounding and no one actually got hurt! 

After the fight, Trey and Cater noted how powerful her magic is compared to Riddle’s, even in his Overblot form. This gives them a new perspective of Sayaka; despite how cute and friendly she is, she’s actually quite strong. Truly like a knight. 

Through Sayaka, Ace and Deuce are introduced to Madoka and the rest. The two boys easily become friends with them (except for Homura) and if Sayaka is not with Kyouko or Madoka, she would always be seen with Ace and Deuce, trying to study or goofing around the college. 

Like Kyouko, Sayaka is open to share her magic with her dorm members; answering any questions they had. They compared magic crystal to her Soul Gem and their Unique Magic with her regenerative and healing abilities. 

When it comes to Heartslabyul’s parties, Sayaka absolutely enjoyed them (reminding herself to invite Mami next time. She would fall in love with Trey’s sweets! Maybe they even bake together!). She always’ the one helping out Trey in the kitchen, paiting white roses red with Cater and setting up the furnitures with Ace and Deuce. For an easier time tending the rose maze, Sayaka uses her magic to conjure and manipulate water to watered the plants and flowers with a wave of her sword.      

After the whole Overblot incident, Riddle allows her to transform her school and dorm uniforms using her magic for a more feminine style when Sayaka mentioned that she wants to wear their dorm uniform with a skirt since it look super cute. 

Don’t worry, Ace and Deuce won’t let anyone harass their Heartslabyul Knight! 

Tomoe Mami is sorted in...    

Waking up in the Hall of Mirrors after Homura, Kyouko and Sayaka next, Mami is instantly on guard and reach for her magic (though she didn’t summon her muskets or ribbons). She’s ready to defend herself and her friends if these people meant them harm. 

But after a brief explaination from Homura, she adjust herself accordingly and approach the Mirror of Darkness when prompted. She could maintain her strong front because of the other girls with her.   

For her ladylike behaviour, appreciation for justice and beauty as well as powerful magic, the Mirror of Darkness deems that she will do well in POMEFIORE!  

The moment Vil and Rook introduce themselves to Mami, she curtsey and greets them politely. Earning an instant point with them.

Vil absolutely adores Mami, fight me on this. She takes all her lessons with perfect grace and is discipline when it comes to her beauty regiment as well as her Magical Girl training. He immediately takes her under his wing alongside Epel. This is not a little potato, no. This is a gem and Vil believes that he can polish her to shine even brighter! 

Mami enjoys discusing about fashion over teas and cakes and allows Vil to dress her up since it’s fun; they appreciate each other company. She’s also very grateful for his tips on styling her hair and mantaining their shinning locks. Expect Mami to show up a lot in Vil’s Magicam posts, making her a mini online celebrity. 

When it come to uniforms, Mami didn’t even have to use her magic. You can bet Vil is going to make the perfect school and dorm uniforms for Pomefiore’s new Golden Princess!

As a student at NRC, Mami has a good grasp on the common subjects and are good in History of Magic. She’s average when it comes to Alchemy since the ingredients and processes aren’t exactly familiar to her but she does her best to keep up.  

Vil thanked the Queen that Mami is a deligent student! She doesn’t skip any of them, help teache her friends on subjects they’re struggling with and her grades are above average. Behind his back he Pomefiore boys always fight against one another just to be her Alchemy partner.  

The boys of Pomefiore could only gape when she dances with her many ribbons during their lessons in the studio. Elegant and nimble, Vil instruct her to better herself further since she oozes potentials. His voice strict but Mami takes it as advices on how to fight better in the future.  

Mami and Vil gradually share a sort of kinship when she explains that as the more experienced Magical Girl and a veteran when it comes to hunting Witches, she acts as a mentor to Sayaka and Madoka and always did her best to keep them safe whenever they’re in a battle. Vil reply that as a dorm leader, it’s his duty to make his potatoes shine like diamonds so he understands her. One quiet night just before she retires for her room, Vil quietly told her that she doesn’t have to keep a strong front when it’s just the two of them. As her senior, it’s his honor to look after her. Deeply touched, she accepts his offer.  

Despite having no Witches in Twisted Wonderland, Mami continue to keep herself in top shape in terms of magic and fighting abilities. Once Rook learns that Mami is an excellent fighter with a damn good marksmanship, the blond hurried to bring her to the archery field. The two had fun all afternoon shooting targets. Rook with his bow and arrow and Mami with her many muskets and rifles. Mami also explains her fireams to a curious Rook when he commented that it look similar to Homura’s weapon during the sorting ceremony. Though she demurely declines at Rook’s offer of hunting and stalking the Savanaclaw students.  

It was difficult at first for Mami to bond with Epel. Seeing how thoroughly charmed Vil and Rook are with her, Epel figured that he had nothing in common with Mami. Beside, she’s a good scapegoat for Epel during one of Vil’s fit about beauty and grace. That is, until he caught her sparring and teaching Sayaka how to fight one day. Just like how she uphold herself, Mami’s fighting style is precised, disciplined and focused. 

Once the girls finish their spar, Epel hurried over to ask Mami to teach him how to be strong. A challenge that Mami is willing to take on. Vil is reluctant to let Mami teach Epel at first but after witnessing how beautiful she moves with her firearms and ribbons, he’s conviced that Mami won’t teach the first year boy to fight like a brute at least. So go ahead! 

Mami also helps Homura out in researching alongside the headmaster on a way home; both of them share a suspicion about the masked man. Despite their cold relationship, Mami made it clear that they’re in a strange world and that they need to work together. Fortunately, Homura shares the same sentiment and together, they’re an unstoppable team. 

(When the boys witness Mami transform into her Magical Girl outfit, Vil already whips out his drawing book, sktching furiously on how he can improve her outfit and makes it even more fabulous. Rook compliments on her style and praticality while Epel noted how Mami is really like a princess.)       

Kaname Madoka is sorted in...    

The last one to wake up is Madoka. With her friends assuring her that although they’re in a different world, they’re safe and that this is a magical school. 

With hesitant steps, Madoka approach the Mirror of Darkness and muster up the courage to face it when she is called. 

For her gentleness, level-headed and kind nature along with powerful magical powers within her, the Mirror of Darkness deems that she will do well in DIASOMNIA!  

The crowd of students couldn’t believe that such a fragile and timid looking girl was sorted into the magically strongest dorm in Night Raven College! Their murmurs made Madoka even more nervous. Sayaka is quick to calm her down and Homura is glaring at the students as if trying to burn them with just a stare. 

Since Malleus is not present during the ceremony, Lilia approaches her. Madoka is clearly taken aback when a little Gothic boy introduces himself as her Vice Dorm Leader and despite the uncertainty of their situation, Madoka found herself at ease at Lilia’s friendly smile and welcoming words. 

To Lilia, Madoka is very adorable and her gentle and naive personalities makes her precious. Her bright pink aura might clash with the brooding aspect of Diasomnia but it’s so refreshing to see someone so different living in their dorm from now on! 

(Lilia always wanted a daughter to love and raised! Don’t get him wrong, he absolutely cherish Silver and Malleus but with a daughter, he can dress her up cutely, pick flowers in the forest and so much more!)

Lilia would need to coax Madoka for sometime until the girl could finally relax around them. Sebek’s loud voices and Silver’s seemingly apathetic demeanour might scared her off at first, but Lilia is genuinely surprise when Madoka actually understand their true personalities. From that point onwards, Lilia wondered what kind of power does she possess. 

As a student at NRC, she needs to work extra hard alongside Sayaka to keep up with the rest. She still struggles with the common and basic subjects like maths so she often joined Ace, Deuce and Sayaka’s study session, guided either by Trey, Mami or Lilia.  

Silver helps her out in anyway he could; be it with classes, showing her around the college, explaining to her about the magic in Twisted Wonderland and etc. In return, she would help shake him awake for his next class if she stumble upon him sleeping outside.  

Malleus encountered Madoka while strolling out late at night. When she couldn’t sleep, Madoka steps out to practise her magic in the woods. Malleus happened to pick up an unfamiliar magic lingering in the air; pure, innocent and everything that is good in the world. Such a contrast to his own dark magic. Madoka surprises Malleus by approaching him first when he found her, inquiring if he’s alright and if he needed help. When asked if she’s not put off by his intimadiating presence, Madoka innocently blink and asked what presence? To her, Malleus doesn’t feel scary at all! 

Now thoroughly intrigue by this pink fairy-like girl, the two strike an odd friendship. Malleus enjoys her optimistic and bright outlook in life and in return, the Fae prince advised in when to be cautious, how to understand her magic better and how to be more confident in herself. The two often converse quietly late at night outside of Diasomnia. 

Sebek, at first, finds her naive attitude troublesome. It’s just asking to be taken adventage off, but since her friends are constantly flanking her side, he assumed that it’s alright to leave her be. That is, until he found Madoka shrinking into herself when a few Octavinelle cornered her after class, asking her to show them her so-called powerful magic. He steps in to tell them off, blushed and promptly look away when Madoka sweetly convey her gratitude. 

She and Sebek became pleasant acquaintance after that. Madoka never failed to greet him good morning every day and even help him out searching for Malleus from time to time. 

Like the rest of the student body, Malleus, Lilia, Silver and Sebek has so many questioned regarding Madoka as a person and her magic. Madoka presented her Soul Gem to them and transformed. 

Lilia went absolutely nuts! He coos on how absolutely adorable Madoka is in all her frills, pink and white dress and cute high-heels. Her bow even has pink flowers on it! Madoka had to duck shyly when Lilia compare her to spring fairies. Malleus had to agree with him. Silver, who has been taught by Lilia to never judge someone by their appearance, wondered if Madoka’s enemies often underestimate her because of gentle personality. Sebek wanted to know how good with the bow Madoka is. Maybe she could give that hunter from Pomefiore a run for his money?

When Madoka tells them of her world and Witches, they applaud her for her courage to stand up against her enemies despite how scary they are. The concept of Soul Gems intrigue Lilia. Compare to magic crystals, Soul Gems sounded a lot more powerful and dangerous. But since Madoka doesn’t know a lot about it, Lilia steps back. 

The Diasomnia group noticed Homura’s strange relationship with Madoka. How protective she is of their Pink Fairy (oh, Malleus definitely noticed how she would always watch them warily when Madoka is with them) but yet, brush her off coldly when Madoka offered to hang out with her and her friends. The other girls are also a little bit unsure how to really treat Homura. 

Lilia wants to really show off Madoka’s cuteness in their colour so together, they create a female version of their school and dorm uniforms with magic. Green and black aren’t something she would choose for herself but they assured her that she look cute nonetheless (lol, Madoka as a pink haired Goth. Pastel Goth Madoka?)

All in all, the Diasomnia boys treated her like their very own little sister and with their guidance, Madoka slowly bloom and grow day by day. 

-

That’s all the girls! I have an idea how to have the rest of the dorms react to the Holy Quintet in a separate post. Apologies at how long this post is. I just let myself run wild with this crossover!          

I see each of the girls magical transformation to follow Magia Record. For easy reference, here:

[fuwafuwamedb]

Kinktober - October 11 (Cu Rin)

Crushing Kink

___

“Lancer!”

Cu paused, bringing the others in his group to a halt to look back for him.

After all, he had stopped talking in mid sentence at the sound of someone calling for him. He was staring into space, his eyes widened.

He knew that voice. He knew that voice far too well.

How many times had he heard that voice at night? How many times had he heard that voice when he had been in the midst of battle, imagining that the woman owning that voice was the one giving him the commands?

It wasn’t Ishtar for once. The call was too sweet, too excited.

“Cu?”

Cu didn’t even hesitate from motioning the others on, insisting that he was going to just be a minute. He was fine. He didn’t need their company.

He motioned again, laughing a little as they scowled his way and asked again if he was alright.

He was fine.

He was very fine.

His eyes fell to the woman in the other room, her red coat stopping just short of covering that black skirt around her hips. The brown hair was loose, her hair ribbons in hand as she looked his way and smiled. The bags under her eyes were deep in color. Her hair ribbons were in hand, bringing his eyes down her body again.

“Rin…”

The small bite she gave to those lips only reddened them more, bringing more color to her face despite her smile at him.

There was little choice other than to go in. His feet were moving without him thinking, crossing the space and closing the distance between them. His hands delved into her hair, his arms crushing her against his chest.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes, woman,” Cu breathed, laughing at his own words.

“A-AH! LANCER!”

“Ah, no. You’re the one who called out to me, lass. You’re in this now. It’s been too damn long! I knew you’d become a sexy lookin’ thing!”

He hauled her off her feet, listening to the screech from her and laughing harder as he crushed her in his arms. She was all soft perfume and smooth skin. All cold hands and silk feel.

She’d been long legs and generous chest, peeking out from the gap in the top of her shirt. She’d been just a bit more refined, just a bit more elegant.

Her face was pressing against his chest, her hands smacking at his sides.

“LANCER!”

“Ah, Cu Chulainn,” Gudako’s voice called from nearby. “Maybe let the mage master we found go. She’s looking upset.”

“We knew each other,” he told the woman, setting Rin back on her feet.

“Y-you did?” Gudako looked to Rin.

“Lancer was ah… Well, he’s an absolute beast, but he did do me a favor in the last war.”

“You mean- I helped you out when ya lost your servant in the war and helped you win.” There was no helping the smile on his face now, knowing that blush was entirely his fault.

“I said you helped!”

Gudako looked between them.

“So… Would you be fine with Cu Chulainn showing you around and helping you find a room? We can talk about your support in a few days after you settle in.”

“I won’t need a few days,” Rin pulled her hair back, tying it back with her ribbons and looking his way. “Can you carry my bags?”

“You got it, Rin.”

“It’s Tohsaka, Lancer.”

Cu threw his master a smile before grabbing the bags near the prickly woman.

“Take your time,” Gudako told her.

“Don’t hold your breath,” Rin replied.

She followed his lead in the hallways though. Her bravado, for how big and bold that it’d been, ended the moment she was around the woman’s dozens of other servants. Her eyes strayed over Caster Medea and over Heracles Berserker, her face paling.

“They don’t really attack other masters these days. We’re all saving humanity now and whatnot,” Cu reminded her.

“And you do too… Cu Coole?”

“Ya never did learn my name, did ya?” He smirked, pausing near his rooms. “It’s Cu Chulainn. Hold on.” He set her bags down by his door, giving the woman a show of a spear spin, kneeling down and looking up from beneath his few bangs. “Celtic warrior and son of the sun god, Lugh, Cu Chulainn.”

She reached out tentatively, pulling his Gae Bolg into hand and looking it over with interest.

“Cu Chulainn then… do you all use your real names here?”

“Well, there’s like nine or so classes. It’d get confusin’ going by class names. There’s a few multiples running around though. Those guys go by class and name. It’d be like “Lancer Cu” or “Caster Gil.””

“I see…” She looked at his blade more closely a moment before handing it back. “Well... I um… I’m going to be staying around here.”

“I gathered that, lass.”

“Right.” She looked over at the room nearby. “What room is this?”

“It’s mine.”

She paused, frowning, “Why’d you put my bags down here? I’m not staying in here with you!”

“I wasn’t thinking that. You wanted to know who I was. Hard to hold all your shit and give a good introduction.”

“I’m serious, Lancer!”

“I’m not thinkin’ that!”

“I won’t!”

GEEZ. This woman.

Cu rolled his eyes, hauling up her stuff.

“Alright,” he glanced over his shoulder at her. “Where you staying?”

“I don’t know! Where do masters stay around here?”

He snorted, “Woman, we don’t get masters hanging around here.”

“Where are the empty rooms?”

“Ah, I mean… come on. If you need me, my room’s right here by the elevator,” he motioned at his room before slamming his foot against the elevator button.

She wanted an empty room.

Leading her down to the sublevels with the facility workers, he set her bags into one of the little rooms and watched her nose wrinkle.

“It’s… quaint.”

It was damn small compared to the servant rooms.

They still toured the floor and the other rooms, heading their way up to the main floors and around the different areas for servants. Gudako waved from the dining hall, stealing the woman away.

She didn’t look too comfortable, but eh. Women.

You never could know for sure.

Maybe quaint was her thing? Maybe she was gonna settle in easily enough alongside Gudako and the other staff members. He settled in with Diarmuid and them, listening to the chaos of the knight’s afternoon and getting a good chuckle from the man’s leader startin’ shit with the pharaohs.

His eyes strayed over to Rin, watching her nibbling away at a little of this and that.

She wrinkled her nose at the drink she had, making him snort.

“What’s goin’ on, Cu?”

“Hmm?”

“What’s funny?” Diarmuid asked.

“The woman over there,” he nodded at Rin, “I’m watchin’ her adjust to Chaldea.”

Diarmuid wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. “I’ll pass on meeting woman. I’m fine as is.”

“Uh huh.”

He watched another sip of that drink be taken before he headed to toss his dishes in the kitchen. His hands wrapped around one of those easterner’s teacups, pouring that grass steeped stuff in and carrying it over to where Rin was.

“You look uncomfortable,” he murmured, setting teacup beside her plate. “You seem like you’d like this better.”

He stole her cup and headed for the door, throwing a wink back the woman’s way and watching her face turn red.

There was no missing her small smile at the taste of her drink though.

What a fool.

He sipped at the cup and snorted.

Cheap beer.

It’d be a good night.

The evening was quiet for once. In the end, there wasn’t much to say about it.

His head hit the pillows early. His eyes closed.

His eyes went to the door.

“I’m not staying here with you!”

He could still picture her flushed face, her eyes wide and wild as she glared at him. Her hands had been on her hip and pointing at him, as though accusing him of debauchery. He could still see the little twitch in her brow.

Damn though.

She always had to be so damn cute, didn’t she?

His eyes closed, seeing the image of her when she’d been in the lounge earlier. She wasted havin’ that much hair with having it tied up. She should have left it loose like Gudako did these days.

A knock came, bringing him back to the real world.

“What’s going on?” he called.

Silence met his words.

Weird.

If one of the others was gonna try to kill him again, he was gonna kill them back.

He grabbed the lower half of his suit, pulling the trews on and pulling the door open.

Rin hesitated, hand halfway to the door.

“Whatcha need?”

“I um… I had questions,” she told him, shifting on her feet.

“Alright.”

“I’ll wait until you dress and we could-“

Yeah, that wasn’t happenin’. He pulled her in, closing the door and leading her over to the sitting area nearby.

“Why’s your room bigger?”

“It’s a servant room. It’s meant to be bigger. You saw the size of some of the others.” Ivan and Heracles were large enough. Gudako had a time getting them through doors sometimes.

“Right…” she nodded, looking around at the décor and frowning more. “…Are these symbols magic?”

“Runecraft.”

Her eyes gleamed, her hands running over a few of them. “Do you teach others them?”

“I’m a lancer.”

No one really went around to other classes asking about learning things that were a caster class kind of thing. That was like learning swordsmanship from an archer or driving lessons from a Caster.

Rin was looking hard at those runes though, her hands following along the lines as though trying to comprehend the meaning of them through sheer willpower alone. Her nightgown strap was falling off one shoulder a little, her robe barely holding on.

He pulled it up, fixing it back into place.

“I could probably teach you a few of these, if you like ‘em that much.”

She pressed against his side.

Was um… Was this a test?

His eyes drifted over that mop of brown hair, all loose and tussled slightly from her messing with it. Her arms moved around him slowly. Her face pressing against him.

His arms slowly went around her waist, tugging her in closer.

Her arms tightened.

He tightened his embrace, earning a soft hum from her.

“…Rin…”

“…You’re really warm,” she murmured.

He was warm.

A gift of being the child of light, he was naturally warming to someone like Rin with her cold hands and- as he found- feet. Pulling her over to his bed to hold her better, he found she actually liked being buried in his arms.

He held her tighter, listening to her soft little hums.

His arms would loosen only for her to murmur ‘not yet’.

The evening was carrying on.

He crushed her against him and held her tight as he fell asleep, figuring she’d just shove him off when tired of it. She was an opinionated thing. There’d be no holding a second longer than she wanted.

Then he found her under him at dawn.

Her body was pressed between his own and the mattress. Her arms were clinging to his waist, her cheeks a rosy hue. His lips pressed against her neck, listening to the mewl of a sound escape her.

He moved to pull away-

“No,” she breathed, blearily opening her eyes. “Don’t leave me…”

Don’t leave her…

Shit.

He couldn’t dare leave her. Not like this. He pressed down on her a little more, finding that small smile coming to her lips. Her arms pulled him in closer to her face, her hands delving into his hair.

This was the start to something else.

He fell asleep again only to find her gone from his room, but she didn’t stay gone for long.

Gudako chattered away with her, nervously showing her around more of the servants.

Rin’s eyes ran over the servants, judgement ticking off quite a few.

“Askin’ if I do anything other than lancework,” Fionn scoffed over dinner. “Like I’d bother with that.”

He smiled slightly, watching Rin sip her tea and blabber on to Mash and Gudako. Well, more like command around to the women.

“She said I was too undressed!” Ishtar complained. “As though her own peasant clothes can come close! Did you see that heathen bracelet on her wrist?”

Cu pulled the little mage into his room night after night, crushing her into his arms. Her flustered face pressed against his chest, her legs wrapping around his waist. Her bags appeared in his room, her eyes daring him to question their presence.

He found her lips, pressing her into the mattress and holding her down.

“Cu,” she’d breathe, those blue eyes looking up at him.

His lips would move against her own, his hands skimming along her silk gown and underneath the lace trim. His affections trailed to her neck, keeping himself pressed against her.

“Don’t let me go,” she’d whimper, blushing up a storm.

“I’d never dream of it.”

Her hands carved into his back like a beast, driving him to the edge of his patience.

“Don’t let me go,” she’d repeat, flailing as he pulled back.

He spun her around, pressing her chest to the bed and lifting her legs up to line them both up.

“I think only Cu Chulainn’s really worthwhile,” Rin told Gudako finally. She sipped at her tea as he passed by the master’s table, bringing him to pause.

“Y-You think Cu’s the best?”

“He is.” Rin gave a smile, nodding at her own assessment.

“You offerin’ to take me as your servant there, Rinny?” Cu smirked a little, crossing his arms.

“I’m just stating facts! I wouldn’t want to do anything to upset Gudako,” Rin replied.

“I don’t mind,” Gudako replied. “If you want to try out being his master. We can do a week long tryout, see how you like it.”

He slammed himself home into her, bringing a cry to those lips. Her voice echoed off the walls, making him glad that the rooms were pretty soundproof.

“Cu…” She gripped the bedding, her command spells for him standing in stark contrast to her skin and the sheets. “Cu… Please! Please…”

He could feel her so deep now, his manhood buried to the hilt in her silken heat. His hands moved to her hips, gripping her harder as he continued to pound into her. Over and over he went. He could feel her body shuddering. He could feel her cries growing more and more desperate.

The mana that flowed forth made him roar her name, his body falling against her as his orgasm came in waves. His seed spilled out on to the sheets as he finally pulled himself from her, crushing her to his body.

“Please,” she gleefully purred, snuggling half under him.

She liked feeling something holding her down, tying her to this reality and no other.

His arms were a vice, keeping her with him.

Much like the command spells upon her hand, his arms and his body held to her to him. Forever more his.

“Get some rest, Master,” he purred. “A lady should always enjoy her beauty sleep.”

“...love you, Cu...”

Yeah, she did.

He knew that already. 

[hereisleo]

since nobody has req oneus yet,, keonhee + tying shoelaces!

w/ l.kh

g/ mutual pining

w.count/ 942

a.n/ [romantics era team]: we hope it is up to your expectations! we will add ‘keep reading’ cut later.

t.w/ none, a few curses but that’s it

You never know what to expect from Keonhee. He keeps you on your toes every day. Today is not an exception. You truly wonder what is running on his mind when a series of texts late at night or early in the morning, depending on who’s talking, almost vibrates your phone off the bed.

[keon hee-hee 01:09]

hey you up?

answer me

hello

youre not dead right?

aww cmon!

lets go!

im bored!

im outside your door

‘Outside your door,’ he said? You kick off the blanket, sock feet sliding around the smooth flooring as you rush past the living room. The obnoxious knocking on your door reaches your ear, “Hurry up!” If he wakes up the entire floor, you’re going to die of embarrassment. Most of the residents are the elderly and you don’t want a talking from them, no matter how gentle, some of them gruff, they are.

You open the slightly creaky brown metal door, Keonhee flinches mid-knock. Before he could utter another word, you pull him inside by his sleeve, hissing harshly, “Are you trying to wake up all the grams and gramps?” You pinch his arm. He yelps and rubs the abused area with a whine, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” A moment goes by and a burst of barely veiled laughter rumbles in his throat, he takes his time to actually look at you. “You’re so cute! Like a little bear!” He pats your head and you smack his hand. “Oww! Little bear is angry!” He is way too fond of you. “What do you want, Keonhee?”

A grin appears on his face. Heavens, he’s handsome, the way his lips slope upward and the way the bags under his eyes add so much character to his face. The boyish charm appears to taunt you whenever he decides to make you question your sanity. No, you definitely do not have feelings for Lee Keonhee. The reasonable part of your brain snides, you’re in denial. “Let’s go out!” Your heart hammers against your ribcage. He doesn’t mean what you think the phrase means, does he? Keonhee tilts his head, “The playground?” Ah, shit. Of course, it’s the playground. This is why you shouldn’t jump to conclusions, there’s a nasty emotion brewing in your chest. Hurt. You nod silently, blindly reaching for whatever jacket is hanging on the rack and slipping on the beat-up white sneakers. It’s no longer white, it’s just dirty.

He has that wistful smile on his face and he crouches down in the cramped entrance. You shuffle back a little, giving him some room for movement not wanting him to smack the small of his back against the sharp edge of the mail slot. Occasionally, he makes you wonder why he likes your small apartment so much. Small but a precious home, it’s all you can afford. “Stay still,” he reaches for your foot, no, your shoelace. The dirty strings loop around his fingers. You like Keonhee’s hands, they’re big and warm, his fingers delicately slender and long. You will never tell him that, he won’t live it down. “There!” A loop around his finger and a little pull, a perfect bow rest atop of your shoe. It’s always the left side.

Keonhee doesn’t judge people by their appearance. He doesn’t care if you are out in public with your green and red plaid pyjamas that makes you look like Paddington Bear and nor does he care that your windbreaker clashes horribly with said pyjamas. He has a habit of linking his arm with yours and whines when you let go. He would pout with a, “You’re so cold,” then proceed to annoy you with a barrage of cute acts until you relented and let him link his arm again. You hear his excited gasp and drags you into a jog, the swings are empty.

It truly has been a while since you sit in the swings. The chains suspending the seat left a sharp iron scent on your hands. You and Keonhee have to cross your legs and tuck it under the seat, Keonhee letting his legs spear into the air. Both of you are too tall for the children’s swings set. By routine you know, a convenience store sojourn will follow after the two of you get your fill of childhood nostalgia. Sound waves of words resonate into space. You could listen to Keonhee talks all day but at night, there’s mellowness and grittiness in the words he speaks. He glances at you, wondering if you’re listening and finding your attention fixed on him. You didn’t expect him to catch you in your infatuation.

There’s so much adoration in his eyes when he meets your gaze, sparkling like the city lights in the distance. You could feel the flip-flop of butterfly wings in your stomach, the way your heart constricts almost painfully and the words diminish from your tongue. Ah. You’re done for. Keonhee doesn’t say anything as he stands, arms winding around you loosely, pulling you off the creaky swings. He keeps you close yet willing to let you escape at the same time. Damn him for making you feel this way. Damn him for understanding that you might not be ready. Damn shoelace for always untying itself. You curl your hands on his sides, the fabric of his t-shirt bunching under your grips. The previously perfect tied ribbon resting atop of your shoe is untied again, mocking you for your feelings. You lean your forehead against his chest, he lets you hide, his hold tightening a touch and chin resting on the crown of your head.

“Your shoelace is untied.”

[tsuki-chibi]

Blackberries (Adrinette April) Day 30: Ice cream

Or start from the beginning on AO3: Blackberries 

--------

"Use your Lucky Charm before Antielle gets here," Chat urged.

Ladybug nodded. "Lucky Charm!" she cried, throwing her yoyo aloft. It burst into red sparkles and then a red, black-spotted ice cream scoop fell into her hands. She blinked at it for a moment, belatedly noticing but disregarding the twin baffled looks on Chat's and Queen Bee's faces, then looked around. A soft jingling sound caught her attention. She walked to the edge of the roof and peered over.

"Is that André the ice cream guy?" Queen Bee said in disbelief, having followed her.

"Yeah, it is. Okay, I know what to do," Ladybug said, eyes darting around and focusing in on first Chat, then Queen Bee, André's cart, and the scoop in her hands. "Queen Bee, I want you to hide. You have to be ready to sneak up on Antielle with your stinger. As soon as you take her down, grab her earrings, her hair ribbons, and her mask if you can get it off. We're not sure where the akumatized object is and we might only get one chance at this so we're going to have to be fast."

"Got it. You can count on me, Ladybug," Queen Bee said.

"I know I can," Ladybug said, surprised to realize that it was true. She thrust the ice cream scoop at Chat. "Go down there and borrow André's cart. Scoop as much ice cream on the ground as you can. Make it nice and sticky and slippery, and maybe even keep a few scoops to the side to throw at her. I'll be the bait that gets Antielle down there."

"You know, I much prefer it when our roles are reversed and I'm the bait," Chat said, but he turned to do as she'd asked. Ladybug watched them both go and then forced herself to turn away, scanning the horizon. It shouldn't have taken Antielle that long to crawl out of the dumpster. She had to be planning something. But what? Not knowing made Ladybug nervous. Antielle was by far the strongest akuma they had faced so far.

But it was little wonder. Lila had plenty to be angry about. Not only had the miraculous and her chance at fame been taken out from under her nose, Chloé had shown her that picture of Marinette and Adrien and Alya had been pressuring her about another interview. It was probably a good thing that Lila hadn't known that Marinette had suggested the interview, or Antielle would've been after her too. For that matter, it was frankly surprising that Antielle wasn't trying to kill Marinette - but then maybe Marinette was number three on her list...

'Okay, stop it. Thinking about someone trying to kill Marinette is freaking me out,' Chat thought.

'Sorry,' Ladybug thought, realizing that she was letting her mind get away from her. 'I just wish that Master Fu had been more careful about who he chose as Coccinelle. I'm sure Lila would've gotten akumatized eventually, maybe even today... but she wouldn't have become Antielle and so maybe she wouldn't have been such a problem. Those Anti Charms of hers pack a real punch.' She rubbed ruefully at her shoulder.

'I don't know what he was thinking. All I can think of is that Master Fu was desperate. He did say he hadn't had the chance to look at any candidates. Pretty sure he just picked the first person he came across that day. Plus, you know how good Lila is at lying,' Chat thought.

Ladybug did know, and she could easily imagine Master Fu being suckered in, like so many other adults at the school, by Lila's faux sweet nature. Still, that made it no less frustrating. She paced around the roof, wondering if they would be facing an akumatized Lynx next. She really hoped not. Antielle's Anti Charm was bad enough; Ladybug couldn't fathom what Cataclysm would be like in the hands of an akuma...

"Ladybug, look out!"

Queen Bee's warning came just in time. At the sound of it, Ladybug reacted instinctively and threw herself to the ground. Something passed over her head so close that she could feel it and hit the roof behind her. She pushed herself up and turned, eyes widening at the sight of an honest-to-god arrow. The tip was sunk several inches deep in the roof and the shaft was still quivering. Ladybug gulped and touched the top of her head, realizing that the arrow had come so close it had actually touched her hair.

"Damn," Antielle said, and Ladybug spun around to see that the akuma was standing behind her wearing a cruel smirk. "Just a little bit lower and we could've had Ladybug-shish-kabobs. What a shame. Guess I'll have to try again." She hefted the black, red-spotted crossbow she was holding.

"Because I'm really going to stand here and let you shoot me," Ladybug said sarcastically, backing up a step. It took everything she had to maintain her composure and not let her fear show on her face.

'Okay, ice cream is on the ground and Queen bee is hidden. We’re ready,' Chat thought.

"It would be nice if you did, but that's okay. I don't mind a hunt!" Antielle fired again and Ladybug dodged again, this time throwing herself off the roof. She threw her yoyo out and saw it connect with a tree branch -

And an arrow flew through the air and cut through the tree branch.

"Ladybug!" Chat's cry rang out as she hit the ground with a pained groan, having fallen a good three stories.

"Anti Charm!" Antielle cried as she landed several feet away from where the ice cream was - so much for that plan.

"Get up, Ladybug!" Queen Bee was suddenly there, grabbing Ladybug's arm and dragging her to her feet. Over Queen Bee's shoulder, Ladybug caught sight of Chat grappling with Antielle. He was using his baton and Antielle was now holding a black, red-spotted spear with a razor-sharp edge.

"I'm fine," Ladybug said shakily, gently pushing Queen Bee away. Her mind raced in search of another plan, but she was coming up blank. The smart thing to do would be to slip away, let her transformation run out, feed Tikki and regroup - she only had about three minutes left anyway. They would need a new Lucky Charm if they hoped to beat Antielle. But she didn't know if she could leave Chat...

"Go," Queen Bee said, putting a hand on Ladybug's arm and meeting Ladybug's gaze. "I'll help him. Just hurry."

"I'm counting on you," Ladybug told her; she put her hand over Queen Bee's and squeezed briefly before she ran, heading for the school. Behind her, Antielle let out a scream of rage that sent chills down her spine.

Ladybug rushed into the empty school and ducked into a classroom. "Spots off," she said.

Tikki appeared, looking worried. "Oh Marinette, I'm so sorry! I should've told you it was Lila when you asked!" she cried.

"It's okay, Tikki. You couldn't have known what would happen. But please, eat as fast as you can. Chat and Queen Bee need me," Marinette said, wincing as she crouched down. Her side really hurt from where she'd landed on the ground. She took a cookie from her purse and gave it to Tikki.

"Right," Tikki said, taking a huge bite of the cookie and chewing furiously.

Marinette closed her eyes for a moment, taking a few seconds to catch her breath and work through the pain from her side and her shoulder. There was a way to get to Antielle, just like there had been every other akuma they had faced. She just had to remain calm until Tikki had finished eating. Then she could transform and use whatever Lucky Charm she got, as well as Queen Bee's stinger, to get the akumatized object away from Antielle. Chat could Cataclysm it, Ladybug would purify the butterfly and cast the cure, and this would all be a bad memory. Right.

And then it went quiet outside.

Antielle broke the silence by laughing and calling out, "Oh Laaaaaadyyyyybuuuuug. You should really come out."

"She's taunting you, Marinette. Don't listen," Tikki said between mouthfuls of cookie.

But Marinette had to look. She carefully turned around and slowly sat up until she could peek over the sill. Her eyes widened in utter horror at what she saw. Queen Bee was all wrapped up in Antielle's yoyo, tied to a tree - she was struggling to get free, but she couldn't. Blood was running down her face from a deep cut across her jaw. Antielle was standing in the middle of the yard, one strong arm wrapped around Chat's body. He was pinned against her, unable to move... because the tip of Antielle's spear was jammed up under his chin.

"Come out here, Ladybug," Antielle commanded, losing her humor. "Or I'll put shish kabob kitty on the menu tonight."

[saiilorstars]

Star-Crossed

Previous Story || Current Masterlist

Chapter 4: Fires of Pompeii

Fandom: Doctor Who

Pairing: 10th Doctor x Female OC

Taglist: @ocfairygodmother @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel [If you would like to be added to this OC’s taglist, let me know!!]

(Minerva’s face claim: Victoria Camacho)

(Kaeya’s face claim: Michelle Trachtenberg)

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter summary: The Doctor and Minerva take Donna to ancient Rome...that turns out to be Pompeii. The situation puts the trio at odds with each other.

The Doctor pulled a curtain to the side, revealing a busy "Roman" street. He grinned and stepped out, Donna poking her head out and struggling to keep her mouth closed at the sight.

"Ancient Rome," the Doctor opened his arms as Donna blinked behind him at the street filled with market stalls. "Well, not to them, obviously. To all intents and purposes right now...this is brand new Rome."

"Oh my God, it's... it's so Roman. This is fantastic!" Donna exclaimed, giving him a hug, " I'm here... in Rome. Donna Noble in Rome!"

"Yeah, you might want to check your coordinates, Martian," Minerva stepped out dressed for a Roman time, "Do you ever bother to check where you landed the box of wonders?"

"Wow you look good," the Doctor blinked and made his way back to her.

Minerva blushed and patted down her toga, "I figured if I'm in Rome I might as well take advantage: I'm Minerva, goddess of wisdom and warfare," she declared, her hand up as if she was holding a spear like the traditional statue did. Donna laughed which then made Minerva do the same.

Minerva wore a baby blue toga with a raised waist, flared sleeves and skirt. Thin, olive green ribbons wrapped around her waist. The same types of green ribbon tied her hair up into a high ponytail.

"You need to stop doing this," the Doctor sighed, though he didn't mean a word he said.

"Do what?" Minerva frowned.

"Giving me hearts attack," he leaned down, resting his forehead on hers.

"Or...how about you dress up and give me a heart attack?" Minerva ran a finger along his chest, blushing deeper as they met each other's eyes. "That would really punish me."

"Well I-I, um..." he breathed in quite heavily. His hearts sped up with what he dared to call Minerva's seductive look. And if it was up to him, he'd have her against a wall, snogging the hell out of her. So then he blushed a deep red for thinking of that.

Minerva giggled, taking his silence for nervousness instead of delicate thoughts, "No comments, Martian?"

Donna scoffed, "I tell you there's a ton of comments in his head," she muttered, turning away and walking along the street, "This is just weird. I mean, everyone here is dead."

Minerva giggled again, linking her arm with the Doctor's and practically pulling him towards the ginger. He was still in a sort of stupor, staring at her up and down which only made her blush even more, "You might not want to tell them that, Donna," Minerva said.

Donna turned around, noticing a sign behind them, "Hold on a minute. That sign over there is in English. Are you having me on? Are we in Epcot?"

"No, That's the TARDIS translation circuits," Minerva explained, "It just makes it look like English... speech as well. You're talking Latin right now."

"Seriously?"

"Yup!"

"I just said 'seriously' in Latin..."

"Yeah!" Minerva chuckled, she truly loved Donna's reactions.

"What if I said something in actual Latin? Like 'veni, vidi, vici'? My dad said that when he came back from football. If I said 'veni, vidi, vici' to that lot, what would it sound like?"

Minerva paused to think, surprised that not even she had wondered once about that, "I don't actually know..." she glanced at the Doctor, "What would happen?"

The Doctor blinked, slowly coming back to reality, "I'm not sure - you have to think of difficult questions, don't you?" he shot the ginger a frown, "Not even Minerva asked that and she never stops asking questions!"

"Oi!" Minerva smacked him in the chest, "If I stop asking questions, how will I learn?"

He remembered the very first time she had said that to him, all the way back to the first day they met and smiled, "You're wonderful," he declared.

"Yeah, I'm gonna try it," Donna announced as she saw them getting sucked into another lovey-dovey moment. She turned and walked towards a stallholder, a man running it.

"Hello, sweetheart. What can I get for you, my love?"

"Veni, vidi, vici," Donna said proudly, awaiting the results.

"Hunh? Sorry? Me no speak Celtic. No can do, missy."

"Yeah..." Donna nodded and returned to the pair, "What does he mean 'Celtic'?"

"Welsh. You sound Welsh," the Doctor replied, giving her a quick glance, he really just wanted to keep looking at Minerva.

"Are you even listening to me!?" Donna demanded, crossing her arms, the pair just staring at each other.

Her question was answered when the Doctor reached for Minerva's cheek and pulled her to his lips.

"Got it," Donna playfully rolled her eyes and turned off.

None of them realized that there was a red-robed woman watching them from afar...

~0~

"Won't our clothes look a bit odd?" Donna asked as the pair and her finally walked again through the streets.

"Nah. Ancient Rome, anything goes. It's like Soho... but bigger," the Doctor shrugged.

"You've been here before then?"

The red-robed woman was still following them...

"Hm, ages ago. Before you ask, that fire had nothing to do with me. Well, a little bit, but I hadn't gotten the chance to look around properly. Coliseum... Pantheon... Circus Maximus... You'd expect them to be looming by now. Where is everything?" the Doctor stopped and looked around, "Try this way."

"You're gonna get us lost," Minerva warned yet still followed the Martian.

"I'm not an expert, but there are Seven Hills of Rome, aren't there? How come they only got one?" Donna asked once they had stopped at a larger street.

The Doctor then looked to one mountain afar...the ground had started to shake as he did.

"Here we go again!" a man from one of the stalls yelled, the other vendors trying to salvage everything in their stalls as the place shook like an earthquake.

"Doctor, when I say you should really check the coordinates...you really need to check them," Minerva sighed, "We're in Pompeii..."

"...and it's Volcano day," the Martian gulped, bringing Minerva to his side.

What had he done?

~0~

The Doctor practically hauled Minerva down the streets, Donna rushing to keep up with the, but when they arrived to where the box of wonders was...it was gone.

"You're kidding. Don't tell me the TARDIS is gone," Donna panted for air, leaning against a wall.

"Okay..." the Doctor said, scanning every last part of area for the TARDIS.

"Where is it then?"

"You told me not to tell you."

"Don't get clever in Latin!" the ginger snapped, hardly finding this to be the time for a disagreement.

"You two need to focus on the big picture," Minerva shook her head, wiggling out of the Doctor's hand to run up to the stallholder Donna had spoken 'Celtic' to, "Excuse me? Have you seen a big, blue, wooden box? It was over there?" she nodded back, "Where's it gone to?"

"Sold it, didn't I?" the stallholder replied with a smug smile.

Minerva paused to process that one, "But...but it wasn't yours to sell...so..."

"It was on my patch, wasn't it? I got 15 sesterce for it. Lovely jubbly," the man rubbed his hands together.

The Doctor marched up to the man, trying really hard not to be as angry as he was, "Who did you sell it to!?"

"Old Caecilius. Look... if you want to argue, why don't you take it up with him? He's on Foss Street. Big villa can't miss it."

"Stop selling things that aren't yours!" Minerva exclaimed before running off with the Doctor.

However, the Doctor had a stricken idea and returned to the stallholder, his anger exchanging for a bemused expression, "What did he buy a big, blue wooden box for?"

~0~

In Caecilius' villa, Caecilius himself watched as his new purchase, the TARDIS, was placed in a corner of the main room of the villa, " Modern art! Out of the way, that's it! " he shooed his servants out of the way yet stopped one, "Oh, Rombus, I'm a little bit peckish. Get me some ants in honey, there's a good man. Ooh, maybe a dormouse!" his wife, Metalla, looked on at the box with distaste, "What do you think?"

She frowned, "You call it modern art. I call it a bloody great waste of space."

"But we're going up in the world, my love. Lucius Dextrus himself is coming to the house this afternoon. What, with that and our Evelina about to be elevated..."

Their only daughter, Evelina, entered the room, nearly bored of the mention of her by her father, "Oh, don't go on about it, Dad."

"If we had moved to Rome like I said, she could have been a Vestal Virgin," Metella shook her head.

Their teenage son, Quintus, entered the room, "Someone mention Vestal Virgins?"

"Quintus, don't be so rude. You apologize to the household gods," his mother scolded.

"Get off."

"Apologize right now. The gods are always watching."

The ground rumbled...

"Positions!" Caecilius exclaimed.

The entire family ran to their positions around the villa to keep their valuables from falling. When the rumbling stopped, Caecilius kissed the head of a bust beside him.

"There, now you've made the household gods angry. Just say sorry," Metella pointed to their shrine of household gods. The teenage boy finally went over to the shrine, grumbling, "I tell you, Caecilius, that boy will come to no good."

Quintus dipped his fingers in a chalice and sprinkled water on a marble frieze in front, "Sorry, household gods."

"So where were you last night? Down the thelopolium, I bet, cavorting with Etruscans, Christians and all sorts. How's your head, sunshine? How's your head?" Caecilius asked, clapping his hands as he spoke each word, Quintus wincing at each clap.

"All right, Dad. Give us a break," Quintus muttered.

"You want to smarten yourself up, Quintus, before Lucius Dextrus gets her. Look at your sister. She is giving us... status," Metella gestured to their daughter, the girl seeming bored as ever.

"Oh, yeah, 'cause it's all about Evelina."

"She has the gift," Metella held up Evelina's hand with an eye painted over it, "Be proud of your sister for once," she directed herself to her daughter, "Have you been consuming?"

"Not this morning," she said.

"Well, come on, sweetheart. Practice. It's hot today," Metella led Evelina to the hypocaust at the center of the room, "The hypocaust is on full blast," the two sat on the edge around it, "The mountain god must be happy. Breathe deeply. Remember what the sisterhood said."

Evelina leaned over and took a deep breath in, wincing at the end, "It hurts."

"Oh, my love, is it too hot?"

Evelina shook her head, "Sometimes in the smoke... I see the most terrible things."

"Like what?"

"A face. A face of stone."

"It'll make sense... one day... Sister Spurrina promised it. The veil will be parted and you'll be a seer," Metella left her daughter and walked off.

Evelina took another breath and looked down into the head. Underneath, a creature of stone looked up and growled, Evelina leaning back with surprise, "Who are you?" she whispered.

~0~

"Ha! I've got it! Foss Street, this way!" the Doctor yelled to Donna as he and Minerva returned from an alternate street.

"No, I've found this big sort of amphitheater I think...we can start there. We can get everyone together. Then maybe they've got a great, big bell or something we could ring. Have they invented bells yet?" Donna rambled on, the pair trying to follow what it was all for.

"What do you want a bell for?" Minerva tilted her head.

"To warn everyone! To start the evacuation! What time does Vesuvius erupt? When's it due?"

Minerva's face fell, realizing what the ginger was trying to do. She looked at the Doctor, the man very serious when he spoke, "It's 79 AD, 23 of August which makes Volcano Day tomorrow."

"Plenty of time. We can get everyone out easy," Donna moved to leave again.

"Except we're not going to," the Doctor grabbed her hand, preventing her from departing.

"But that's what you do. You're the Doctor. You save people," Donna pulled her hand to no avail.

"Donna..." Minerva said quietly, the ginger seeing a different look in Minerva's eyes...sadness, but a guilty sadness.

"Pompeii is a fixed point in history. What happens happens. There is no stopping it," the Doctor tried to pull her along with them.

"Says who?" Donna snapped, able to take her hand back.

"Says me."

"What, and you're in charge?"

"TARDIS, Time Lord... yeah."

"Donna, human... no! I don't need your permission. I'll tell them myself."

"Donna, it's not that simple," Minerva tried to cut in, but both parties were getting severely irritated with one another.

"You stand in the marketplace and announce the end of the world, they'll just think you're a mad old soothsayer. Now, come on. TARDIS, we are getting out of here," the Doctor tried to reach Donna again but she stormed off.

"Well, I just might have something to say about that, spaceman!"

"Oh, I bet you will!" the Doctor shook his head. Minerva took his hand, unable to understand just how complicated it was for him in these positions, but she could offer her comfort. He looked down at her, afraid of what she could say like Donna, "You know we have to leave, right?"

"I understand that there's nothing to do," she sighed, "But try to understand Donna for a moment. She's been searching for you for over a year, thinking of how grand you were despite the whole Racnoss thing. She thinks you can save everyone, and while you strive to do that...you're just one man, sometimes...it's just not possible," he saddened up at the truth, his gaze falling. But Minerva leaned up to propose a gentle kiss on his lips, "It's alright," she whispered to him.

Just like he could make her smile, she had that same affect on him despite any bad situation. The Doctor really did not know how he'd managed to go on like he usually did without a woman like her at his side. No one could ever make him feel better like she did, as quick as she did...well, there was one other person. Kaeya. Despite keeping to their friendship when he'd gotten married, only she could comfort him the way he needed to be better. He felt awfully bad for his wife who did try to comfort him, but...it was never the same. No one ever reached to Kaeya...except Minerva. She had the...necessary thin that always managed to get him smiling even when that was the last thing he wanted to do. But why...why did he think back to Kaeya all of a sudden, again?

The young soothsayer from before, watched the pair go off. She placed her hands over her eyes, the back of her hands having the same eyes painted over them like Evelina's. It then created a communication line with the other sisters, "The tall one, he calls us mad."

~ 0 ~

In the temple of Sibyl, Sister Spurrina answered with her hands over he eyes, "Then he is a stranger to Pompeii. Soon he will learn."

Sister Thalina arrived with two other sisters, she carrying a scroll in her hands, "We have found it, Sister Spurrina. In the 13th book of the Sybiline oracle. The blue box," she unrolled the scroll to reveal a drawing of the TARDIS, "A temple made of wood... and yet the Sibyl foretold the box would appear at a time of storms and fire and betrayal."

"Sisters..." a strained voice called out to them, the high priestess. The sisters moved to stand in front of a gauze curtain.

"Reverend Mother, you should sleep," Sister Spurrina said.

"The Sibylline oracles are wrong."

"But we have venerated her words for generations."

"This is a new age. Heed my words. I predict a future of prosperity and might... and endless empire of Pompeii, reaching out from this city to topple Rome itself and encompass the whole wide world. If the disciples of the blue box defy this prophecy, their blood will run on the temple floor."

The ground rumbled underneath them and the sisters looked up with gasps, "The gods approve!" Sister Spurrina said.

~0~

"Positions!" called Caecilus as the ground shook, his family running once again to their appointed places.

The Doctor saved a bust from falling to the floor before Caecilius could get to it, 'Whoa!" he slapped the bust's cheeks, "There you go."

"Thank you, kind sir. I'm afraid business is closed for the day. I'm expecting a visitor," Caecilius took the bust from him and returned it to its place.

"Oh, that's me," the Doctor leaned to shake the man's hand, "I'm a visitor. Hello."

"Who are you?"

"I am... Spartacus," the Doctor grinned, shooting Minerva a look of pleading for her to go along.

"Yeah, I'm Minerva," she greeted.

"Spoilsport," the Martian muttered under his breath.

"I'll be Spartacus!" Donna volunteered, a bit happier than earlier.

"Mr and Mrs Spartacus?" Caecilius looked between them.

"Oh no, we're not married," the Doctor quickly shook his head, Donna doing the same.

"So not together," Donna added.

"That would be my job," Minerva interlaced her hands with the Doctor's, "The together part, not the married part," she quickly clarified as a blush crept on her face.

"I'm her sister!" Donna declared, Minerva beaming at that, "Yeah, sisters."

"Yes, of course. You look very much alike," Caecilius said.

"Really?" both women glanced at each other, looking themselves up and down, "Hm," they both shrugged.

"Family," Minerva reminded the Doctor of her words.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not open for trade," Caecilius informed.

"And that trade would be?" the Doctor asked.

"Marble. Lucius Caecilius. Mining, polishing and design thereof. If you want marble, I'm your man."

The Doctor flashed his psychic paper then, Metella gasping, "By the gods of commerce, an inspection," she took a cup of wine from Quintus, "I'm sorry, sir. I do apologize for my son," she dumped the wine into the pool.

"Oi!" the teenager cried.

"This is my good wife, Metella. I- I must confess, we're not prepared for a...uh," Caecilius said, frowning at his son and his antics.

"Nothing to worry about. I- I'm sure you've got nothing to hide. Although, frankly, that..." the Doctor pointed to the TARDIS, "...object...rather looks like wood to me," he and the women walked over to it.

"I told you to get rid of it!" Metella hissed to her husband.

"I only bought it today."

"Ah, well. Caveat emptor," the Doctor said.

"Oh, you're Celtic. There's lovely."

"I'm sure it's fine but I might have to take it off your hands for a proper inspection."

"Although, while we're here, wouldn't you recommend a holiday, Spartacus?" Donna narrowed her eyes to the Doctor.

"I don't know what you mean, Spartacus."

Minerva sighed, seeing the disagreement rise up again.

"Oh, this lovely family, mother and father and son... Don't you think they should get out of town?" Donna insisted.

"Why should we do that?" Caecilius questioned.

The Doctor rubbed his eyes as Donna continued to explain, the ginger just didn't get it.

"Well, the volcano for starters," she said.

"What?" Caecilius frowned at the foreign word.

"Volcano."

"What-ano?"

"That great big volcano right on your doorstep."

"Oh, Spartacus, for shame. We haven't even greeted the household gods yet," the Doctor pulled Donna and Minerva towards the shrine, "They don't know what it is. Vesuvius is just a mountain to them. The top hasn't blown off yet," he whisper-scolded Donna as he dipped his fingers into the water, "The Romans haven't even got a word for volcano. Not until tomorrow."

"Oh great. They can learn a new word... when they die," Donna rolled her eyes.

"Donna, stop it!"

"Listen, I don't know what sort of kids you've been flyin' around with in outer space, but you're not telling me to shut up. That boy..." she nodded to Quintus, "how old is he, sixteen? And tomorrow he burns to death."

"And that's my fault?"

"Right now, yes!"

"Stop it," Minerva snapped, infuriated by Donna's last words, "You will not blame him for these people's death, do you understand me?" She knew exactly what the Doctor had to do for the Time War, plus the accidental deaths of the Silver Monsoon, she was not about to let someone come and tell him that Pompeii was also his fault, "Donna, you don't get it, alright? Things must happen so that other things can start, Pompeii just happens to be one of them," Minerva explained.

Donna stared at her with incredulious eyes, what was she saying!?

"Announcing Lucius Petrus Dextrus, Chief Augur of the city government," the servant, Rhombus, announced.

An older man sauntered inside with quite a distasteful look, "Lucius, my pleasure as always," Caecilius greeted.

The trio returned to rest, curious of the new visitor.

"Quintus, stand up," Metella ordered, the boy heaving an irritated sigh and listening.

"A rare and great honor, sir, for you to come to my house," Caecilius held out his hand for Lucius but was ignored.

"The birds are flying north... and the wind is in the west."

Puzzled, Caecilius struggled to form a response, "Right. Absolutely. That's good, is it?"

"Only the grain of wheat knows where it will grow."

"There now, Metella, have you ever heard such wisdom?"

Metella shook her head, "Never. It's an honor."

"Pardon me, sir, I have guests. This is Spartacus, and, uh, Spartacus, and Minerva," Caecilius gestured to the trio who simply waved.

"A name is but a cloud upon a summer wind," Lucius said.

"But the wind is felt most keenly in the dark," the Doctor countered.

"Ah! What is the dark other than an omen of the sun?"

"I concede that every sun must set..."

"Ha!"

"...and yet the son of the father must also rise."

"Damn. Very clever, sir. Evidently a man of learning."

"No idea what the hell you just said," Minerva mumbled, though that tingle spread around her body again. She loved it when her Martian was all brilliant!

"Oh yes, but don't mind me. Don't want to disturb the status quo," the Doctor said, smirking down at Minerva. Now he loved to show off for his clever girl.

"He's Celtic," Caecilius whispered to Lucius.

"We'll be off in a minute," the Doctor took Minerva's hand and headed for the TARDIS, Donna only walking a few steps.

"I'm not going," she declared.

"It's ready, sir," Caecilius turned to Lucius, forgetting about the trio.

"Donna, you've got to," Minerva whispered.

"How can you be okay with this?" Donna frowned, "This isn't you!"

"The moment of revelation," Caecilius unveiled a square piece of marble, "And here it is..."

The Doctor looked over his shoulder just as a squared, almost computer-chip looking design, was being revealed to Lucius.

"Exactly as you specified. It pleases you, sir?" Caeilius asked with good hope.

"As the rain pleases the soil," Lucius nodded.

The Doctor rejoined the men, curiosity getting the best of him, "Oh now that's... different. Who designed that then?"

"My lord Lucius was very specific," Caecilius replied, awaiting for another positive response from Lucius.

"Where'd you get the pattern?"

"On the rain and mist and wind.

"Well that looks like a circuit," Donna remarked, Minerva agreeing.

"Like a big computer chip," Minerva added, frowning at its futuristic appeal, "That shouldn't be here," she missed the deep glare Lucius gave her as she continued studying the 'circuit'.

"Made of stone," the Doctor brushed a finger over it.

"Do you mean you just dreamt that up?" Donna looked at Lucius with a dumbfounded expression.

"That is my job... as City Augur," Lucius replied.

"What's that then, like the mayor?"

"Oh, ah, you must excuse our friend. She's from... Barcelona," the Doctor pulled the ginger to aside, Minerva casting them an apologetic look before she followed, "This is an age of superstition... of official superstition. The augur is paid by the city to tell the future. "The wind will blow from the west." That's the equivalent of the 10:00 news."

Evelina entered the room, looking pale and ill, barely able to even stand, "They're laughing at us. Those three, they use words like tricksters. They're mocking us."

"We don't mean any harm," Minerva frowned, disliking the appearance of the girl. Her eyes were watery and she seemed to tremble in her struggle to stay on her feet.

"I'm sorry. My daughter's been consuming the vapors," Metella walked over to Evelina.

"By the gods, Mother! What have you been doing to her?" Quintus gaped, his sister was severely ill looking!

"Not now, Quintus," Caecilius tried to hush them down.

"But she's sick. Just look at her."

"I gather I have a rival in this household. Another with the gift," Lucius said, not too pleased.

"Oh, she's been promised to the Sybiline Sisterhood. They say she has remarkable visions," Metella explained.

"The prophecies of women are limited and dull. Only the men folk have the capacity for true perception."

"I'll tell you where the wind's blowing right now, mate," Donna snapped.

"That wasn't nice," Minerva agreed.

The ground quaked.

"The mountain god marks your words. I'd be careful if I were you," Lucius warned the two.

"Consuming the vapors, you say?" the Doctor focused on Evelina.

"They give me strength," the girl responded.

"It doesn't look like it to me."

"Is that your opinion... as a doctor?" she raised an eyebrow.

The Doctor blinked, taken aback, "I beg your pardon?"

"Doctor. That's your name."

"How did you know that?" he frowned, bewildered.

Minerva moved to his side, "Doctor..." she frowned, feeling a bit scared.

"And you, you call yourself noble," Evelina looked at Donna.

Donna also frowned and moved over to her friends, "Well..."

"And then you," Evelina studied Minerva, seeming a bit confused for a moment, "A name is yet to be chosen."

"What does that mean?" Minerva frowned, unconsciously moving a bit behind the Doctor.

"Now then Evelina, don't be rude," Metella gave an apologetic smile to the trio.

"No, no, no. Let her talk," the Doctor nodded for her to continue.

"You come from so far away..." Evelina said before Lucius cut in.

"A female soothsayer in inclined to invent all sorts of vagaries."

"Oh, not this time, Lucius. I reckon you've been out-soothsaid," the Doctor grinned.

"Is that so... man from Gallifrey?" Lucius tested, smirking at the Doctor's stiffen posture.

"What?"

"Strangest of images. Your home is lost in fire, is it not?"

"Doctor, what are they doing?" Donna scooted closer to Minerva.

"And you, daughter of... London," Lucius smiled smugly.

"How does he know that?" Donna blinked.

"This is the gift of Pompeii. Every single oracle tells the truth."

"But that's impossible."

"Doctor, she is returning...no, they are returning."

"Who's they?" the Doctor frowned, he really wasn't too pleased to have all his history revealed.

Lucius returned his gaze to Donna, "Daughter of London, you have something on your back," his eyes flickered over to Minerva's, "And you have something on your heart."

Minerva's hand flew to her chest, "Wh-what?"

The Doctor gripped her hand, shooting Lucius a dark glare. Minerva didn't need to know what laid on her. She didn't know yet because of this very reason, her inevitable fear. She didn't need to know that in the very core of her body, the one thing that sustained her life, her heart, was a crystal. But to his misfortune, Lucius continued...

"The child of the Moon will consume you both," he declared to Minerva and Donna.

"What does that mean?" both women looked at each other with frantic looks.

"Stop it!" ordered the Doctor, more darkness in his tone. He was not about to let someone go and scare Minerva, much less reveal what was hidden in her heart, "Say what you want to me but you leave them out!"

"Even the word "Doctor" is false," Evelina spoke again, the Doctor somewhat relieved at least one of the psychic's listened to him, " Your real name is hidden. It burns in the stars of the cascade of Medusa herself. You are a lord, sir. A lord... of time..." and then she fainted.

"Evelina!" Metella rushed to her daughter's side, the Doctor following to help.

Minerva and Donna looked at each other again, equally terrified of what had just happened.

~0~

Evelina was laying on her bed, still unconscious, while her mother cared for her. It had grown dark outside and the girl still wouldn't wake up. Donna and Minerva entered the room, both still shaken from the teen's words but that didn't stop their concern for her.

"She didn't mean to be rude. She's ever such a good girl," Metella tried to mend her daughter's blurting, "But when the gods speak through her..." she unwrapped a cloth from Evelina's arm, revealing something that really shouldn't be on skin.

"What's wrong with her arm?" Donna asked, her eyes trailing the gray texture of Evelina's arm.

"An irritation of the skin. She never complains, bless her. We bathe it in olive oil every night."

"But what exactly is it?" Minerva stepped up, half of a guess already forming in her mind.

"Evelina said you'd come from far away. Please, have you ever seen anything like it?"

Minerva, respectfully, stepped over to the girl and mother and ran her fingers along Evelina's arm, "It's stone..." she muttered, lost of how that was even possible. She looked up, Metella looking with mighty concern for her daughter, "Um, I need to go see the Doctor."

Metella glanced back to her daughter, taking Minerva's words as something wrong with her daughter.

~0~

In the main room of the villa, the Doctor and Caecilius were at the hypocaust, the Doctor removing the grille, "Ah! Different sort of hypocaust."

"Oh yes, we're very advanced in Pompeii. In Rome, they're still using the old wood-burning furnaces, but we've got hot springs... leading from Vesuvius itself," Caecilius replied, glancing down very briefly.

"Who thought of that?"

"The soothsayers after the great earthquake seventeen years ago. An awful lot of damage but we rebuilt."

"Didn't you think of moving away?" the Doctor asked. That would've been a lot better, because then...then they wouldn't have to die...he wouldn't have to let them die. He quickly caught himself falling silent and said the first thing that popped into his head, " Oh, no, then again, San Francisco."

"That's a new restaurant in Naples, isn't it?"

The Doctor looked down at the hypocaust, hearing a loud grating and rumbling, "What's that noise?"

"Don't know. Happens all the time. They say the gods of the Underworld are stirring..." Caecilius said quietly, he didn't like to hear those sounds either. Most of the time he tried to ignore them along with his family.

"But after the earthquake... let me guess. Is that when the soothsayers started making sense?"

"Oh yes, very much so. I mean, they'd always been... shall we say "imprecise"? But then... the soothsayers, the augurs, the haruspex-all of them, they saw the truth again and again. It's quite amazing. They can predict crops and rainfall with absolute precision."

"Have they said anything about tomorrow?"

"No. Why should they? Why do you ask?"

The Doctor had great struggle to keep his sigh in, they could not be saved, they just couldn't, "No reason...just, just asking... But the soothsayers... they all consume the vapors?"

"That's how they see."

The Doctor took out his glasses and put them on, leaning into the hypocaust, "Ipso facto..."

"Look, you..."

"They're all consuming this," the Doctor straightened up as he let small particles run through his fingers.

"Dust?"

"Tiny particles of rock," the Doctor let the rest of the particles run through his fingers before tasting it, "They're breathing in Vesuvius."

"You did not just taste that," Minerva walked in, grimacing at her Martian, "Caecilius, would you mind if I spoke with him alone?" she asked, very politely.

Caecilius nodded and stood to his feet, walking off and leaving the pair alone.

"First of all," Minerva walked over, one finger raised, "You shall not be kissing me today."

The Doctor stood, smiling smugly as he thought of his next words, "Well, I suppose I'll just have to find myself another to kiss," the pair stood face to face.

"Don't you dare, Martian," she warned, grabbing his lapels, "I'll kill them," she nodded with assurance, only getting an amused smile out of him, "And I'll make it look like an accident. I know how..." his smile widened and so she sighed, "Just stop tasting things," she mumbled and grimaced.

"Mm, but I must taste your lips," he grabbed her by the waist, gently setting his lips on hers.

Even through Minerva's hesitation at first, she ultimately responded. She cursed herself for her weakness against her Martian's charms. She firmly believed that he could drop rotten fruit into his mouth and he would still be able to kiss her.

"How's about that, Clever Girl?" the Doctor murmured against her lips, "Your lips taste like strawberries."

"I hate you," she muttered and stepped back, still blushing.

"Anything on your mind?" the Doctor asked, returning to business.

"Um, yeah, Evelina's arm, it-it has something," Minerva gestured to her arm, mimicking the spot she was affected in, "Like, um stone or something."

"Yeah..." the Doctor glanced back at the hypocaust, his mind wandering to Lucius, "...perhaps I should visit."

"We should visit," Minerva corrected.

"N-n-n-no," he shook his head, absolutely not about to have that.

"Yes," she said firmly.

"No! I'll go on my own!"

"Doctor, you don't even know where the man lives," she reminded, making the Martian settle down at the truth, "Lucky for you, I might just know who does," she grabbed his hand and led him out of the main room.

~0~

Quintus was lounging about, sipping some wine when Minerva walked up, quite firm, while the Doctor lingered behind.

"Hiii," Minerva waved, putting on her best cheerful look, "You wouldn't happen to know where this Lucius Petrus Dextrus lives do you?

"Nothing to do with me," the boy shrugged.

"Oh c'mon," she plopped down beside him, "Hang over yet still drinking wine and wasting your time? Oh yeah, you know where he lives."

"Is this supposed to make me tell?"

Minerva thought for a moment, glancing back at the Doctor when she popped an idea. She winked and he stiffened when she put on her sweet smile, "Quintus...won't you please tell us where he lives?" she scooted closer.

"Yeah, let me try," the Doctor marched over, pulling the clever girl up to his side, "NO," he wagged a finger to her, making her pout. He rolled his eyes and pecked her lips, "No," he reinstated. He walked up to Quintus, "This Lucius Petrus Dextrus... " he pulled a coin behind the boy's ear, "...where does he live?"

Minerva shook her head as Quintus immediately propped up, "Well that worked."

"Right then, you stay here with Donna," the Doctor returned, stopping her from shaking her head with his hands, "You are going to stay with Donna."

"But Doctor-" she tried but a set of lips pressed to hers.

"Wow," the Doctor pulled away equally dazed as her. It was really only a way to get her dazed and obedient, but somehow he had ended up dazed as well. Darn her charms! "So, stay here, and I'll be back later!" he pecked her lips and ran off, Quintus right behind.

Minerva just blinked, stumbling back, "Oh that cursed Martian..." she sighed, starting her way back to Evelina's room.

She hated when he did that, and that was very often. She'd found that being human was not helping her case when it came to helping the Doctor fight whoever needed to be fight. The Doctor always tried leaving her where it was 'safe' and so she couldn't really help. She really did want to change that but some how it didn't seem like an easy task to do...

~0~

Donna posed a new, purple toga for Evelina and Minerva, the women laughing with the ginger, "You're not supposed to laugh. Thanks for that. What do you think?" Donna struck another a pose, "The goddess Venus."

"Hey, goddess Minerva," Minerva wiggled her fingers in a wave, "Like sisters!"

"Oh, you two, that's sacrilege!" Evelina laughed, still laying on her bed as she felt slightly weak from earlier.

"Nice to see you laugh, though," Donna remarked, taking a seat on the bed, "What do you do in old Pompeii, then... girls your age? You got... mates? Do you go hangin' about 'round the shops? T.K. Maximus?"

Evelina shook her head, "I'm promised to the sisterhood for the rest of my life."

"You get any choice in that?" Minerva asked, somewhat sadly.

She considered Evelina to be like her concerning their choices. The only difference was that unlike Evelina, she didn't let others make the choice for her. She got out, she liberated herself and traveled. She didn't want to be a lawyer and she wasn't going to be one. But that wasn't the issue for Evelina; it didn't seem like she was allowed to make that choice.

"It's not my decision. I have the gift of sight. The sisters chose for me," Evelina replied, her eyes lowering for a moment.

"Then... what can you see happening tomorrow?" Donna asked, Minerva shooting her a sharp look.

"Is tomorrow special?"

"You tell me. What do you see?"

"Donna," Minerva said, her voice hard. Donna glanced at her, not backing down. How could she allow a family to die when she had the power to save them?

Evelina, not noticing the glances, closed her eyes and thought, "The sun will rise. The sun will set. Nothing special at all," she opened her eyes again and smiled.

"Look... don't tell the Doctor I said anything 'cause he'll kill me... but I've got a prophecy too."

"Donna," Minerva said again, the ginger waving her off.

Evelina quickly covered her eyes, creating a link with the sisterhood so they would hear everything the ginger had to say.

"Evelina, I'm sorry, but you've got to hear me out..."

~0~

"Sisters..." Sister Spurrina covered her eyes, the rest of the sisterhood following.

~0~

"Evelina, can you hear me? Listen," Donna insisted, Minerva moving away from the pair and shaking her head.

"There is only one prophecy," Evelina said.

"But everything I'm about to say to you is true. I swear. Just listen to me. Tomorrow, that mountain is going to explode. Evelina, please listen. The air is going to fill with ash and rocks... tons and tons of it and... this whole town is gonna get buried."

"That's not true."

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry, but everyone's gonna die."

"Donna!" Minerva exclaimed, "Don't!"

"Minerva, I've got to," Donna waved her off, "Evelina, even if you don't believe me, just tell your family to get out of town... just for one day, just for tomorrow. But you've got to get out! Just leave Pompeii!"

"This is false prophecy!" Evelina broke the contact with the sisters, frantic as she shook her head.

~0~

In the temple of the Sibyl, the sisters knelt down in front of the High Priestess, "The Noble woman, she spoke of a new prophecy... the fall of Pompeii," Sister Spurrina said.

"Pompeii will last forever," the High Priestess said.

"Then what must we do?"

"The false prophet must die. Sacrifice her."

The sisters bowed their heads in obedience...

~0~

The Doctor, begrudgingly, was finishing up his arrangement of the circuits in Lucius' homes, having been caught sneaking around, "Put this one... there," he took the last of the circuits from Quintus, "This one... there. Uh... I'll keep that one upside down. What have you got?"

"Enlighten me," Lucius said.

"What? The soothsayer doesn't know?"

"The seed may float on the breeze in any direction."

"Yeah, I knew you were gonna say that. But... it's an energy converter."

"An energy converter of what?"

"I don't know. Isn't that brilliant? I love not knowing, keeps me on my toes," the Doctor moved to stand beside Lucius, "It must be awful, being a prophet. Waking up every morning, "Is it raining? Yes, it is. I said so." Takes all the fun out of life. But who designed this, Lucius? Hmm? Who gave you these instructions?"

"I think you've babbled long enough."

"Lucius, really, tell me honestly. I'm on your side. I can help."

"You insult the gods! There can be only one sentence. At arms!" Lucius ordered and several guards entered with arms, the Doctor backing away to Quintus' side and removing his glasses.

"Oh, morituri te salutant," the Doctor mumbled.

"Celtic prayers won't help you now."

"But it was him, sir. He made me do it. Sir Dextrus, please don't," Quintus tried moving away from the Doctor in fear.

"Come on now, Quintus... dignity in death. I respect your victory, Lucius. Shake on it? " the Doctor held his hand out to Lucius, remembering Minerva's words about Evelina's arm, "Come on," he wiggled his fingers, Lucius only glaring, "Dying man's wish?" and then the Doctor lunged forwards and grabbed Lucius hand, yanking his forearm off.

" But he's..." Quintus breathed, an arm had just been taken apart!

"Show me," the Doctor ordered.

Lucius threw back his cloak and revealed his stump of a stone arm, "The work of the gods."

"He's stone!" Quintus exclaimed.

"'Armless enough, though. Whoop!" the Doctor threw the arm back to Lucius and ran off, "Quintus!"

The boy threw the torch at one of the guards and scurried out the window while the Doctor used the screwdriver on the circuits, "Out! Out! Out! Hurry!"

As the circuits fell to the floor, Lucius clambered to try and stop them, "The carvings!"

~0~

The Doctor jumped onto the street, Quintus right behind him, "Run!"

~0~

Lucius examined the circuits very carefully, relieved at their perfect condition, "My carvings! The work is unbroken. Oh, lord of the mountain, I beseech you."

~0~

Lucius had moved to the hypocaust, looking down, "This man would prevent the rise of Pompeii," a snarling sound came from below, "Lord, I beg of you, show yourself! Show yourself!"

The same creature Evelina saw was roaming below...

~0~

"Donna, that was wrong!" Minerva walked out of Evelina's room, the ginger following in a pursuit, "You shouldn't have done that!"

"Oi, oi, oi, how can you tell me it was wrong!?" Donna demanded, "How can you allow for these people to die? That's not the Minerva I knew at my wedding!"

"That Minerva's gone!" the brunette spun around, the ginger bumping into her, "Donna, the girl you met at your wedding..." she sighed, "...she's gone, thank the god. I'm healing now. That Minerva had just lost the only people she could call a second family," all except Rose for course, she thought, "I didn't know what the Doctor had to do sometimes. I didn't know..."

"But, but you have such a good reign on him," Donna shook her head.

"I still do, but I also know when you can't do anything," Minerva sighed, "Look, I get what you're trying to do and I like it. It's very you. I don't like the idea of all these people dying but if the Doctor says it has to happen, then it has to. Donna he wouldn't let anyone die just because. He knows what he's doing."

"Does he really?" Donna challenged, "Because I think there could be another way."

"Donna, I think we're going to be like family, but I will not allow you to add another burden to his conscious. He's lost so much and I won't let him think this is his fault."

"Minerva, please," Donna stepped up, "I know you don't want them dying, you can't allow it...help me."

"I don't even know how," Minerva stepped away, "They have to die, and it breaks my heart."

Donna sighed, her mind racing to come up with another idea to get the brunette to help. Okay, fine, she admitted Minerva did look like she changed, but it couldn't have changed that much, right?

~0~

The Doctor and Quintus stopped at a street, trying to catch their breath while the Doctor searched around for their chasers, "No sign of 'em. Nice little bit of allons-y. I think we're all right."

"But his arm, Doctor. Is that what's happening to Evelina?" Quintus was terrified at the fate of his sister.

A loud booming echoed, making the pair stumble around as the ground shook.

"What's that?" the Doctor spun around, searching for the origin of the sound.

"The mountain?" Quintus suggested.

"No, it's closer," the thudding continued until several things around started falling over even though there was nothing, "They're footsteps!" the Doctor exclaimed.

"It can't be."

"Footsteps underground!"

"What is it? What is it?"

But the Doctor turned the boy around and started to run again. As they passed vents on the streets, steam blew up like geysers.

~0~

"What is it? What's that noise?" Metella looked around the main room of the villa, the ground shaking as well.

"Doesn't sound like Vesuvius," Caecilius said.

The rushed inside, Donna and Minerva coming about as well, "Caecilius! All of you, get out!"

"Doctor, what is it?" Minerva frowned, nearly stumbling back to the ground if Donna hadn't caught her.

"I think we're being followed," the Doctor answered right before the grille over the hypocaust blew up to the air, "Just get out!" he tried to herd the group out the door, loud growling emerging from the hypocaust as it cracked.

After that, no one moved...

A creature of stone and magma forced its way to the surface.

"The gods are with us," Evelina breathed.

"Water! We need water! Quintus, all of you, get water! Donna! Minerva!" the Doctor shouted.

The trio, along with a servant, ran out of the room to fetch the water.

Rhombus took a step forwards to the creature, "Blessed are we to see the gods," but the creature breathed fire and burned the man to ash.

The Doctor tried to approach the creature, his hands out in an act of neutrality, "Talk to me! That's all I want! Talk to me. Tell me who you are. Don't hurt these people."

As Donna and Minerva made their way back with water, the sisterhood snatched Donna. And when Minerva tried to yell for her friend, another snatched her.

"Doctor! Doctor!" Donna's cries were muffled as she was pulled away.

Minerva's eyes hardened and with one swift move, she grabbed the woman's arm and flipped her to the floor. That's why she had taken her self-defense classes, to prevent herself from becoming useless and a damsel in distress. That was most definitely not the way to get the Doctor to take her along when he needed to. She pressed her foot to the woman's stomach, not to hurt her but to restrain her from making another move.

"Talk to me. I'm the Doctor. Tell me who you are," the Doctor continued to plead, unbeknownst of what had happened behind him.

But the creature prepared to breathe on the Doctor, give him the same fate as the servant. Quintus and the servant returned with urns and Quintus dipped it into the pool," Doctor!" he shouted before they threw water at the creature, it freezing and falling, crumbling to piece on the ground.

"What was it?" Caecilius asked, it had to be the devil himself!"

"Carapace of stone... held together by internal magma. Not too difficult to stop. But I reckon that's just a foot soldier..." the Doctor stared at the piece of the creature.

"Doctor... or whatever your name is... you bring bad luck in this house," Metella shook her head.

"I thought your son was brilliant. Aren't you going to thank him?" Minerva made them all turn around, seeing her with her foot on a random soothsayer.

Metella, horrified with the additional sight, hugged her son. The Doctor quickly ran over, "What happened!

"They took Donna and she tried taking me," Minerva stared down at the woman.

"She tried what?" the Doctor immediately pulled the brunette to his side, "You tried what?" he glared down at the woman.

"She was going to yell," the woman grunted, trying to remove Minerva's foot from her stomach, "We only wanted the Noble one."

"You are going to lead us straight to my ginger sister!" Minerva warned, as upset as she was with Donna she wouldn't leave her to her death.

~0~

"You have got to be kidding me," was all Donna had to say as she laid on a sacrificial altar, sister Spurrina holding a dagger above her.

"The false prophet will surrender both her blood and her breath."

"I'll surrender you in a minute," Donna mumbled, "Don't you dare!"

"You will be silent."

"You might have eyes on the back of your hands but you'll have eyes in the back of your head by the time I finish with you! Let me... go!"

"This prattling will cease... forever," Sister Spurrina raised her dagger above her head, preparing to strike the day.

"Oh, that'll be the day," the Doctor called, he and Minerva standing by a pillar.

Minerva elbowed him in the ribs, "Oi, don't be rude," he playfully rolled his eyes. She then reached behind her and pulled out the soothsayer that attacked her, "You forgot this!"

"And I'm the rude one?" she heard the Doctor mumble.

"No man is allowed to enter the Temple of Sybil," Sister Spurrina declared, not too caring of the sister left behind.

"Oh, that's all right, just us girls," the Doctor stuffed his hands in his pocket, making his way over.

"Yeah, he claims women talk too much but he can go on for hours," Minerva crossed her arms.

"Minerva, shush time," the Martian called back, "But do you know, I met the Sibyl once. Hell of a woman. Blimey, she could dance a tarantella. Truth be told, I think she had a bit of a thing for me. I said it would never last. She said, "I know". Well, she would."

"I didn't like her," Minerva declared, walking over to Donna.

"Oh but you know where my hearts lay, dear," he shot her wink.

She blushed, looking down to their ginger friend, "Hey Donna, how's it hanging?"

"Oh you know..." Donna nodded up to the ropes tying her hands above her head.

"I like the toga," the Doctor complemented as he used the screwdriver to free her.

"Thank you. And the ropes?" she sat up, rubbing her wrists.

"So does not go with your outfit," Minerva joked, helping her to her feet.

"What magic is this?" Sister Spurrina demanded, bewildered by the whirring stick.

The Doctor flipped the screwdriver and put it away, "Let me tell you about the Sibyl... the founder of this religion. She would be ashamed of you. All her wisdom and insight turned sour. Is that how you spread the word, eh? On the blade of a knife?"

"Yes... a knife that now welcomes you!" Sister Spurring raised her knife again.

"Show me this man," the high priestess ordered, cutting his thoughts off.

Everyone turned around, the sisters kneeling, "High Priestess, the stranger would defy us!" Sister Spurrina exclaimed.

"Let me see. This one is different. He carries starlight in his wake."

The Doctor, Minerva and Donna approached the curtain, "Ah, very perceptive. Where do these words of wisdom come from?" the Doctor asked, meanwhile the women beside were trying to get a clear view of the priestess.

"The gods whisper to me."

"Her voice sounds strained..." Minerva remarked, wincing each time the priestess spoke.

"Oh, they've done far more than that. Ah, might I beg audience, look upon the High Priestess?" the Doctor questioned, the curtains parting a mere two seconds later.

Donna and Minerva gasped once they saw the woman across. She was sitting upon a bed, nearly converted to stone, "Oh my God! What's happened to you?" Donna blinked.

"The heavens have blessed me," the high priestess responded.

"If I might..." the Doctor motioned himself wanting to get closer. She raised her arm and the Doctor knelt in front and touched it, feeling the same stone from Lucius' arm, only stronger and harder, "Does it hurt?"

"It is necessary."

"Who told you that?"

"The voices."

"So that's what's happening to Evelina..." Minerva frowned, glancing back at the other sisters, "Is this what's gonna happen to all of you?"

Sister Spurrina approached them, pulling back her sleeve to reveal her own arm that was turning to stone, "The blessings are manifold."

"They're stone," Donna touched her arm.

"A blessing shouldn't hurt," Minerva said, "A gift shouldn't hurt. If they do then they're not gifts."

"The people of Pompeii are turning to stone before the volcano erupts," the Doctor returned to them, "But why?"

"This word... this image in your mind, this "volcano", what is that?" the High Priestess asked.

"More to the point, why don't you know about it? Who are you?"

"High Priestess of the Sibyline."

"No, no, no, no. I'm talking to the creature inside you. The thing that's seeding itself into a human body, in the dust in the lungs... taking over the flesh and turning it into... what?"

"Your knowledge is impossible."

"Oh, but you can read my mind. You know it's not," the Doctor frowned, growing more serious, "I demand you tell me who you are!"

The High Priestess's voice began echoing with another, "We... are... awakening!"

"The voice of the gods!" Sister Spurrina exclaimed.

"Words of wisdom, words of power. Words of wisdom, words of power," the sister began to chant, repeating those words endlessly.

"Name yourself! Planet of origin, galactic coordinates, species designation according to the universal ratification of the Shadow Proclamation," the Doctor nearly shouted, his patience running thin with these mysterious creatures.

"We... are... rising!"

"Tell me your name!"

The high priestess threw her hood back, "Pyrovile!"

"Pyrovile. Pyrovile," the sister took on the word as a chant.

"What's a Pyrovile?" Minerva asked, "You haven't taught me that one, yet..."

"Well, that's a Pyrovile... growing inside her. She's at the halfway stage," the Doctor gestured to the creature in front of them.

"Well, and that turns into?" Donna asked, though she didn't know if she actually wanted to know what it would turn into.

"That thing in the villa, that was an adult Pyrovile."

"And the breath of a Pyrovile will incinerate you, Doctor."

"I warn you... I'm armed," the Doctor pulled out a water pistol, "Minerva, Donna, get that grille open."

"You're serious...?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, unable to make the decision whether or not her Martian was plain ridiculous or amazing because even here, in a dire situation, he wouldn't pull out an actual weapon of harm.

"Just..." the Doctor jerked his head to the hypocaust, the pair of women running over to it, "What are the Pyrovile doing here?" he demanded from the creature.

"We fell from the heavens. We fell so far and so fast we were rendered into dust."

"Right. Creatures of stone shatter on impact. When was that, seventeen years ago?"

"We have slept beneath for thousands of years."

"Okay, so seventeen years ago woke you up and now you're using human bodies to reconstitute yourself, but why the psychic powers?"

"We opened their minds and found such gifts."

"Yeah, okay, fine. You force yourself inside a human brain, use the latent psychic talent to bond. I get that. I get that. Yeah, but... seeing the future, that is way beyond psychic, you can see through time. Where does the gift of prophecy come from?"

Sister Spurring was watching with great intent at the Doctor, something about his 'weapon' not right...

"We got it!" Minerva called from the grille.

"Now get down!" the Doctor ordered, moving towards them, the water pistol still aimed at the high priestess.

"What, down there?" Donna looked down, the idea not too pleasing.

"Yes, down there! Why can't this lot predict the volcano? Why is it being hidden?"

"Sisters, I see into his mind. The weapon is harmless," Sister Spurrina declared, the women standing up.

"Yeah, but it's got a sting!" he shot water and the High Priestess moaned in pain, "Get down there!" he ran over.

Minerva and Donna dropped through the opening, "You fought her off with a water pistol. I bloody love you!" Donna laughed.

Minerva nodded fairly fast, pulling the Doctor for a deep kiss, "No one like you."

"Th-this way!" the Doctor blinked, pulling her up with him to their feet.

"Where are we going now?" Donna asked as the pair went ahead of her.

"Into the volcano!"

"No way."

"Yes, way," the Doctor twirled the pistol in his free hand, the other currently wrapped around Minerva's waist, "Appian way."

"You're such a dork," Minerva remarked.

"Can't be that big of a dork if I got you," he tapped her nose, making her roll her eyes, "Now c'mon!"

~0~

The trio were currently walking through the tunnels towards Vesuvius. Donna was currently trying another attempt to save Pompeii, "But if it's aliens setting off the volcano, doesn't that make it all right? For you to stop it?"

"Still part of history," the Doctor replied, getting really tired of hearing what he just could not do. Ever.

"Well, I'm history too. You saved me in 2008. You saved us all. Why is that different?"

"Some things are fixed, some things are in flux. Pompeii is fixed."

"How do you know which is which?"

The Doctor stopped walking, turning around, Minerva sighing as she felt him tense by their interlaced hands, "Because that's how I see the universe. Every waking second, I can see what is, what was... what could be, what must not. That's the burden of the Time Lord, Donna. I'm the only one left," he let go of Minerva's hand and walked on.

Just like he let go of her hand, he'd eventually have to let her go completely. Whether it was on her death or because she decided to find a man who could actually be with her all his life.

Minerva grabbed the side of her dress and hurried after the Doctor, taking his hand again, "I'll be with you," she offered, "Thick and thin, always."

He let out a faint smile, "I know."

"How many people died?" Donna demanded, also catching up.

"Stop it!" Minerva shouted, the ginger flinching but not backing down.

"Doctor!" she called again, the pair stopping and turning around, "How many people died?"

"Twenty thousand," he muttered, his mind making the calculation of all the deaths of his planet.

"Is that what you can see, Doctor? All twenty thousand? And you think that's all right, do you?"

A Pyrovile screeched, cutting their moment.

"They know we're here! Come on," the Doctor pulled both women forwards.

The trio arrived at the great cavern where other Pyroviles were roaming about.

"It's the heart of Vesuvius," the Doctor mumbled, barely peeking up, "We're right inside the mountain."

"There's tons of 'em," Donna gasped at the sight.

"It's too hot," whined Minerva, fanning herself.

The Doctor glanced at her, Minerva would never complain about such a silly thing in a dire situation. Her face was severely red, droplets of sweat beginning to emerge from her forehead.

The crystal was acting up again...it detested the heat.

He sighed, for now there wasn't much to do. He took out a small collapsible telescope from his pocket and looked ahead, "What's that thing?"

"Well, you'd better hurry up and think of something. Rocky IV's on its way," Donna urged on.

He saw the interior of a ship through the telescope, "That's how they arrived... or what's left of it. Escape pod? Prison ship? Gene bank?" he collapsed the telescope and put it away.

"Still doesn't explain why they haven't just gone home," Minerva muttered, wiping her forehead dry.

"Maybe... it erupts and they launch themselves back in space or something," Donna suggested.

"No, it's worse that that..." the Doctor muttered.

"How can it be worse?" Donna asked, the sound of a nearing Pyrovile roaring emerged, "Doctor, it's getting closer."

"Heathens!" Lucius called, standing on a higher up cavern, "Defilers! They would desecrate your temple, my lord gods!"

"Come on!" the Doctor pulled the women down across the cavern floor, towards the ruined ship.

"We can't go in!" Donna hollered, the man was mad!

"Well can't go back!" Minerva reasoned.

"Crush them! Burn them!" Lucius ordered.

A Pyrovile stopped the trio from running, rising in front. The Doctor pulled out the water pistol and used it on the creature, making shoo off. They glanced back at Lucius and continued to run.

"There is nowhere to run, Doctor... and sisters of the moon, London!"

The Doctor stood in front of the pod, turning to Lucius, "Now then, Lucius. My lord Pyrovillian... don't get yourselves in a lava," he glanced back at the women, "In a lava... no?"

"Remember the whole correctamundo word thing with the Krillitanes?" Minerva asked, the Doctor nodding, "Add that word to the never-saying-again list."

"Fine," he muttered then continued on, "But if I might beg the wisdom of the gods before we perish... once this new race of creatures is complete... then what?"

"My masters will follow the example of Rome itself, an almighty empire, bestriding the whole of civilization," Lucius responded as a Pyrovile went towards them.

"But if you've crashed... and you've got all this technology, why don't you just go home?" Minerva asked, the sense of violence was just really unnecessary.

"The heaven of Pyrovillia is gone."

"What do you mean "gone"? Where's it gone?" the Doctor frowned, somehow that sounded familiar.

"It was taken. Pyrovillia is lost. But there is heat enough in this world for our new species to rise."

"Why do people keep losing planets!? Is it really that hard to keep them!?" Minerva shook her head, thinking back to Miss Foster.

"Yeah, well, we should warn you, it's 70% water out there," Donna called.

"Water can boil and everything will burn!"

The Doctor put away the water pistol, "Then the whole planet is at stake. Thank you, that's all I needed to know. Minerva! Donna!" he pushed both into the pod and followed, shutting the door with the sonic.

"You have them, my lords," Lucius opened his arms to the pod.

~ 0 ~

"Could we be any more trapped?" Donna frowned.

~ 0 ~

A Pyrovile breathed fire at the pod, increasing it's temperature by the thousands.

~ 0 ~

"It's too hot!" Minerva cried, her chest aching with pressure, like she couldn't breathe.

"Minerva? Minerva, c'mon, stay with me!" the Doctor grabbed her by her waist, sustaining her to her feet, "It'll be okay!"

"Do what you gotta do," she swallowed, trying to maintain her breath to a normal rate before she couldn't breathe entirely.

His hearts broke to see her like this and know there was nothing he could do to help her. But he forced himself to work, to get them out, if he could, "See, the energy converted takes the lava, uses the power to create a fusion matrix which wields Pyrovile to human. Now it's complete, they can convert millions."

"Well, can you change it... with these controls?" Donna looked at all the buttons, surely there was some type of pattern that could stop it all.

"'Course I can, but don't you see? That's why the soothsayers can't see the volcano. There is no volcano. Vesuvius is never going to erupt. The Pyrovile are stealing all its power. They're gonna use it to take over the world."

"But you can change it back."

"Well, I can avert the system, so the volcano will blow them up, yes, but... that's the choice, Donna. It's Pompeii or the world."

The ginger's eyes widened, gasping deeply, "Oh my God."

"If Pompeii is destroyed, then it's not just history, it's me. I make it happen..." the Doctor stared at the controls, could he really be the responsible for more deaths?

"But the Pyrovile are made of rock. Maybe they can't be blown up," Minerva said to the Doctor, in hopes that perhaps she could be right at least once more.

"Vesuvius explodes with the force of 24 nuclear bombs. Nothing can survive it," the Doctor was setting up the controls, stopping and looking at his clever girl by his side, leaning on him as she breathed steadily, "Certainly not us."

"Never mind us," Donna said quietly.

Minerva nodded in agreement, "20,003 people against 6 million in the future are nothing," she whispered.

"I failed you again," he could barely utter the words again.

"No, I choose to die for the rest of the world," she looked up at him, "My life is not worth it if other people die because of me."

He set a hand on the lever, his courage slipping away. After the war, he just couldn't do something like this, even if the number of deaths would be relatively small compared to the Time War's, "Push this lever and it's all over. Twenty thousand people."

Minerva breathed deeply, her eyes opening, she could never let him do something like this on his own. He wasn't alone anymore, she was there and she would always try to take away his guilt like he did to hers. She stood on her feet and pressed her hands over his, "I'm here," she said.

He looked horrified she was going to do this with him. She would soil her hands with him, for him...

Donna placed her hands over theirs, determined to be with them as well. The trio looked at each other and pulled down the lever.

~ 0 ~

Evelina gasped as she felt the sudden change of the future, her parents rushing to her side.

~ 0 ~

The sisters of the temple also felt the change, gasping at the new images...

~ 0 ~

"Nooooo! Noooooo!" Lucius cried as the lava started busting up.

~ 0 ~

"Nooooo!" the High Priestess also cried.

"A new prophecy!" Sister Spurring exclaimed.

~ 0 ~

"The future is changing," Evelina shool horribly, her parents keeping her on her feet.

~ 0 ~

Lucius shrieked as the flames of the volcano burned him, the Pyroviles also in pain.

~ 0 ~

The trio's pod was ejected from the erupting mountain, all three jumbling about.

~ 0 ~

Caecilius had gone out to the window, seeing the eruption, "The sky is falling!"

"Death. Only death!" Evelina cried.

~ 0 ~

Outside Vesuvius, the trio climbed out of the escape pod, fumbling to keep on their feet after all the shakes.

"It was an escape pod," the Doctor breathed, nodding at his luck, "Well!" he glanced back at the women, Minerva looking much better but something in her eyes told him she wasn't completely there yet...

~ 0 ~

Inside Caecilius' villa, the furniture fell out of place with all the shaking, "Out! Out, everybody out! Quickly!" he tried ushering his family out. Unfortunately, the ceiling started falling all around, blocking their exit.

~ 0 ~

The trio were running down the marketplace, ash falling from above

~ 0 ~

The High Priestess wailed as the temple fell around. Sister Spurrina and Thalina were on the floor, the young soothsayer that had watched the trio lying across their laps, dead.

"You lied to us!" Sister Spurrina accused, her voice falling soft a moment later, "And yet this was meant to be."

~ 0 ~

The trio were running down the streets, back to the TARDIS. Donna, however, was lagging as she tried ushering anyone who would listen to run the other way to safety.

"Don't! Don't go to the beach! Don't go to the beach, go to the hills! Listen to me! Don't go to the beach, it's not safe! Listen to me...!" she saw a little boy crying alone and went for him, "Come here."

The woman's mother came over and snatched him away, "Give him to me!"

Donna was devastated that no one would listen to her, her tears streaming down her face.

"Donna. Come on," Minerva yanked her by the arm.

~ 0 ~

The trio arrived at Caecilius' villa where the family was huddled together at a corner.

"Gods save us, Doctor!" Caecilius called, begging.

The Doctor stared at the group for a moment and ran inside, unable to help his guilt. Minerva ran after him but Donna took her hand, "Please," the ginger pleaded.

But there was a grim look in Minerva's eyes that said absolutely not, "It cannot happen," she pulled her hand and ran to the TARDIS.

"You can't! Doctor, Minerva, you can't!" Donna called after them, rushing inside the box.

The Doctor was preparing them to leave, Minerva at his side watching in silent, no words to describe her feelings at the moment.

"You can't just leave them!"

"Don't you think I've done enough? History's back in place and everyone dies," the Doctor snapped, locking his gaze on the controls. He didn't have the hearts to face the ginger.

"You've got to go back! Doctor, I am telling you, take this thing back!"

But the Doctor released the brake and started dematerializing, his face completely blank. Donna stared between the pair, her tears streaming like a water well.

"It's not fair," Donna said after a moment of silence.

"No, it's not," Minerva mumbled, looking down, distant from everything, "It wasn't fair."

The Doctor looked at her, getting the faint idea that those were Kaeya's words. Her death, after all, was not fair.

"But your own planet, it burned," Donna said.

"That's just it. Don't you see, Donna? Can't you understand?" he looked at the ginger, breaking as he spoke again, "If I could go back and save them then I would, but I can't. I can never go back! I can't! I just... can't!" he paused and spoke softer, coming to terms with it, "I can't."

"Just someone. Please. Not the whole town. Just save someone," Donna pleaded.

Minerva took the Doctor's hand, "Maybe..." she looked up at him with a small smile, "..maybe just this once?" he gripped her hand, swallowing as he looked at the crying ginger.

~ 0 ~

Caecilius and his family remained huddled together in the villa, with nothing else to do but sob and await for their death. Suddenly, they heard the sound of the TARDIS and a bright, white light filled the room. The blue box appeared and it's door opened, the Doctor standing at the doorway, holding his hand out for them, "Come with me."

Caecilius reached out and took the Doctor's hand.

~ 0 ~

The family and trio were standing on a hill overlooking Pompeii in ruins.

"It is never forgotten, Caecilius," the Doctor said, the family stared at the fate of their home, their friends, " Oh time will pass, men will move on, and stories will fade, but one day... Pompeii will be found again... in thousands of years... and everyone will remember you."

"What about you, Evelina? Can you see anything?" Donna asked, the girl, despite the big loss, looked fairly healthy again.

"The visions have gone."

"The explosion was so powerful, it cracked open a rift in time. Just for a second. That's what gave you the gift of prophecy. It echoed back into the Pyrovillian alternative," the Doctor explained.

"But not anymore. You're free," Minerva smiled, "Free to make your own decisions of your life."

"But tell me... who are you, Doctor... with your words... and your temple containing such size within?" Metella asked, still gazing down at the ruins of Pompeii.

"Oh, I was never here. Don't tell anyone."

"The great go Vulcan must be enraged. It's so volcanic. It's like some sort of... volcano..." Caecilius said, his voice breaking, "All those people..." he hugged his wife, their children holding hands behind.

Discreetly, the trio slipped away into the TARDIS.

"Thank you," Donna said once they were gone.

"Yeah," the Doctor nodded.

"Well done, ginger sister," Minerva half-smiled and leaned on the Doctor's arm, "Well done."

~ 0 ~

Minerva was running her hand along a shelf of books in the TARDIS library, frustrated as she came up empty once again. Exasperated, she stepped back, putting her hand on her hips, "C'mon box of wonders! Show me the book!"

"Something the matter?" the Doctor asked from the doorway, startling the woman.

She turned around, pouting, "Your box doesn't want to show me the book shelf I need! She doesn't like me!"

The Doctor just smiled for the moment as he made his way up to her, resting his hands on her waist, "She absolutely adores you," he assured her, "Much like I do, only a lot more."

"Then why doesn't she show me the shelf I need? She always does!"

Minerva had taken custom of spending many of her time in the TARDIS library. She loved all the many books that were offered. It had every possible one! She'd even taken to try and reading a French book...with the help of the Doctor's of course. He knew every language and was more than glad to show her a new language, apart from everything else he had been teaching her. The library was Minerva's favorite place in the box of wonders and for some reason, the box was really messing with her at the moment.

"Well, what book are you looking for?" the Doctor turned her around, both standing in front of a book shelf, "Rapunzel? I know that's your favorite classic."

"Nah, I'm currently reading the Picture of Dorian Gray. But I need a book on the Royal Family of the Moontsays."

"Why do you need that?"

"Because, I was doing some research on the planet like we agreed to," Minerva brought him over to a table that had books sprawled all over, "You know, to give us more ideas on how to help Kaeya but then I stumbled across a small chapter of her family and I found something weird."

"Like what?" he took a look at one the books she'd chosen, seeing it was all about food and probably the reason why she'd discarded it at the end of the table.

"It was about the queen, Kaeya's mother," she started looking through the many papers and notes, "And I thought it was a bit strange so I jotted it down but now I can't really..." she lifted papers here and there to find the one she needed, even the Doctor trying to help.

"What's this?" he picked up a paper cut in half and skimmed a few lines.

"Hm?" Minerva looked up and saw the paper he held to her, "Oh that? That's just something I liked. It was about a linkage, right?" the Doctor looked at the paper again and nodded, "Yeah," she left her things and moved over to him, "It's this really weird thing but I don't know, I thought it was kinda sweet. When Moontsays marry they create a sort of linkage between them."

"Funny, Kaeya never mentioned that," the Doctor shrugged and set the paper down.

Though that could've been due to her avoidance of marriage conversations at all times after he'd been married off.

"Maybe because she never got married," Minerva shrugged, "I don't really understand it myself but from what I gathered the linkage's purpose is really only for a couple's future children. If one partner is injured or direly ill, through the linkage, can be healed from their partner's part of the link. A child needs both it's parents and the linkage is a way to help keep it that way."

"I bet that comes in handy," the Doctor said.

"Right, well, this is why I need a book on the Royal Family because I read in...one of these..." Minerva eyed the mess on the table, "...that, at one point, the queen of the Monsoon was direly ill."

"Really?" he became suddenly concerned with the information, and he didn't really know why.

Well...yes he did. Kaeya loved her mother to pieces, even if they had petty arguments over her interest in the Moontsay's "enemy" the Time Lords. Kaeya had been an only child and never really got to establish any relationship with the Moontsays beyond princess-to-kingdom. That had always been one of Kaeya's dislikes about her life; the fact she never really could make friends. To her parents, a princess did not make friends with the commoners, for safety reasons not because of senseless superiority. They loved her, the Doctor knew that for a fact. They wanted their daughter to grow up into a fine, respectable woman that would one day take over the throne. So, Kaeya had been kept from 'friends' and really only had her family to talk to, primarily her mother. Although, now that the Doctor got to thinking, there was one other person Kaeya did mention once...but he couldn't remember.

"The queen was ill for various months," Minerva was reading off a paper she'd managed to find in the mess, "And everyone was pretty sure she was going to die...but she didn't," she stopped and lightly sighed, "She just...lived. But it's weird cause there's no explanation, no steps, no nothing as to how she survived."

"That can't be right," the Doctor frowned, "No little pictures or anything?"

She shook her head, "No. There's nothing. So then I figured if we could figure out how the queen survived then maybe we could..."

"Use it and help Kaeya survive," he finished for her and she nodded.

"That's why I wanted a book on the Royal Family, but..." she cast a look up, "...a certain box of wonders refuses to show me a book about the Royal Family."

There was a response of a hum from certain box which made Minerva huff and cross her arms. The Doctor chuckled as she looked to the side in irritation, "I think I know what's going on here," he reached for her arm and tried pulling her towards him, "A certain box of wonders wants a certain clever girl to go to sleep."

"No," she rolled her eyes, "I feel just fine. I'm not sleepy."

"You've been in this room for hours, even Donna's fast asleep."

"You're not..."

"I'm not sleepy tonight."

"I can't help it," she sighed and looked at the books, "I keep thinking...seeing...the moment Kaeya died and I..." she put a hand over her chest as she felt a small ache, "...it makes me feel bad for her. I saw her life and it wasn't fair. What the Master did to her wasn't fair. She really needs us and I want to help. I can skip a night of sleep, that's fine."

The Doctor smiled fondly at her and finally pulled her towards him, his hand cupping her cheek, "You are the kindest woman in this world, do you know that?"

She smiled at his touch, leaning her face into his hand, "No...but it's nice to hear that...why exactly am I the kindest?" she honestly questioned.

"Because of what you're doing here," he gestured to the table filled with her work, "When you have no obligation to do so. Because, you know what Kaeya was to me, you know what I am to her...and yet you're still here trying to help her.

"I guess I'm like you, I can't say no to someone who asks for help."

"My little hero," he gave her a gentle kiss.

"Why thank you," she blushed as he pulled away.

"No, thank you for being so...you," he Eskimo kissed her, their noses nuzzling together for a few seconds.

"Oh I love when you do that," Minerva giggled and draped her arms around his neck, "You're just like my teddy bear from China."

"But I can do something it can't," he smiled suggestively.

"Oh?" Minerva raised an eyebrow, letting him walk her up against a book shelf.

"I can give one hell of a snog," he smirked.

"Well, aren't we a little cocky today..." Minerva blushed as he brushed his lips over hers.

"Oi, you said you weren't sleep tonight...let me put it at test," he brushed his lips against hers.

"A challenge?" she raised an eyebrow, "Are you that desperate?" she chuckled.

"Oh just let me kiss you," he rolled his eyes and proceeded to snog his girlfriend.

[deadanddeactivated]

Other Friends

Fandom: Sanders Sides, Gem AU Pairing:   Analogical Characters: Virgil, Patton Notes: Day 5 of the fluffuary event being hosted by @tsshipmonth2020​​ - Analogical.   Summary:  Here they are in the future and things are bright. Even if they aren't perfect. And then things aren't bright.

Prologue Comic AO3

--

One moment Logan is laying on the hill behind their house, staring up at the sky and thinking about how far they’ve come.  He’s lost quite a lot, and gained quite a lot, and a thousand things have happened in between.  

But Logan thinks that, perhaps, it’s finally over.  They are all together, with no one hunting them down.  There will always be a hole in his heart, but Logan thinks he can be content with that.  He can live on.

The next moment they’re flung back as something slams into the earth.  

“Boys, are you alright?”  Patton asks, the human scrambling to his feet and to his sons.  Certain they’ll be fine, Logan turns to the thing that made the carter.  

In the dust cloud, he can just make out a humanoid figure.  A gem?  

“What is that?”  He hears Remus asks from behind.  Logan and Dante meet eyes, both equally confused.  What gem would arrive in such a way?  The dust starts to clear and Logan can only stare.  He’s never seen this form before but the Lapis Lazuli is… almost familiar.  

No, Logan admits to himself as storms gather above, the Lapis Lazuli is familiar.  Only last Logan saw him the calf-length robe was not so old looking, not so patched.  He’s never seen the clothes beneath the coat, turn up to reveal the gem on his chest.  There were no dark shadows under his eyes, and his hair was not so dark.

But how can this be?  The gem before his was shattered long ago.  

Wasn’t he?   

“Well, would you look a that.”  The Lapis mocks, glaring at them.  “The misfits themselves.  Romulus’ brats, defective Logan, and Red Diamond's Pearl.  Oh wait, it’s Dante now isn’t it?  Finally go your very own made up name, isn’t that nice?

“That’s not possible.”  Logan is thinking it but Dante says it, both still frozen to the spot as the purple Lapis Lazuli scowls at them.

“Oh but it is, no thanks to you.”  He spits.  “Like the new style?  Though it was time for a change.  Got a new toy too.”  With a familiar purple light, an unfamiliar weapon appears in the gems hand.  A double ended spear, cracked along the wood and tied with ribbon.

“Woo, wait up!”  Roman calls, rushing in front of them despite the arms that reached to stop him.  “I don’t know if you heard but I’ve established peace throughout the universe!”  

“Uh, we established peace!”  Remus adds, although Patton has to tight a grip on him for the boy to run up.

“Oh I’ve heard.”  The Lapis huffs.  “I’ve had you’re little message to the universe on loop.”  Lightning flashes in the grey clouds above them.  Logan and Dante share another look.  The pearl summons his segmented whip but Logan can’t bring himself to follow suit.   He doesn’t want to believe the Lapis is here for a fight.

The sky flashes again and rain begins to pour.

“I just love that part where Red Diamond spends the rest of his days on this nowhere planet.  With his little groupies and stupid humans.  It really sounds like a blast.  Too bad I never got an invitation to the ball.”   This time the lightning strikes the ground, just to the left of Patton and Remus.  Patton shields his son from the dirt it sends flying but Remus is unbothered, cheering at the display of super-charged electricity.  

Roman takes a step forward and Logan sees the Lapis brace himself.  The dumortierite is barely in time, tackling Roman to the ground and out of the way.  

A one half of the spear has already sliced through the place Roman was.  

“What the hell are you doing?!”  Dante demands.

“Being the bad guy.”  The Lapis spits.  His spear raises, catching Dante’s whip and pulling the pearl forward.  

“You and Remus need to get out of here.”  Logan orders Roman, scrambling to get them both up and towards Patton.  

“What?  No!  I can help!”  Roman argues, trying to free his wrist from Logan’s arm as he pulls his sword from his gem.  

“This gem is far beyond your abilities.”  Logan says, shaking his head.  “He was made to keep up with your father.”

“He knew Dad?”  Remus asks, frowning.  “Lo, who is he?”  Before Logan can answer, can try to explain, there's a rough noise from the battle behind them.  

“What?”  The Lapis mutters, a yellow Pearl resting in the grass beneath him.

“De.” Roman tries once more to pull out of Logan’s hand and run to the poofed gem but Logan doesn’t let him.  

“Heh, they don’t even know who I am?”  Lapis asks.  There’s venom in his eyes, so much that Logan gulps.  How is he meant to explain this?

“We thought you were gone.”  Logan tries, even though he knows that’s not good enough.  “Bubbled or shattered by the Diamonds.”

“Why?”  Lapis snarls.  “Because Red told you so?”  He scoffs, kicking Dante’s pearl out of his way as he stalks forward.  “Not much of a rebel are you?”

“Virgil, please, just stop for a moment.”  Logan says, practically begs.  

“Don’t call me that!”  Lapis shouts.  “Get out of my way or I’ll shatter you.”  The gem threatens, weapon raised.  Logan has no chance against him, he knows.  Even if he did call his bow, Lapis is too fast and too strong.  

“You don’t have to be the bad guy.”  Logan says, tone and feet firm.  “Whatever happened, we can talk about it.  Just please, wait.”

“I am done taking orders.”  The gem claims.  “And I am done waiting.”

“Then at least listen to reason!”  Logan tries as Lapis gets closer and closer.  “They aren’t Red!”

The spear slicks through him like butter, Logan utterly unprepared to block the hit.

--

In a puff of dark blue, the gem is gone.  No one stands between Lapis and what remains of Romulus.  Of Red.

Except, apparently, the older human.  He steps up, a gem weapon in his hand.  

“Stand back!”  He orders, voice shaking.  Lapis scoffs.  Pathetic, this guy is there last line of defence?  He raises his spear but something stops him.

Humans aren’t like gems, he knows that.  Something about this swing feels like it’ll be more permanent. 

And for what?

They aren’t Red.   

In the moment, the name of that monster had made Lapis see rage and rage alone.  Now he saw the boys, standing behind their father, and…

And they weren’t Red.  

Anger spiked through Lapis and the storm got denser, rain falling so heavy he could barely see.  He’d come here for his revenge and now he couldn’t even take it.  Stupid Logan.  Even after so many years, the blue quartz still knows exactly how to get into his head.

He leaves the gems on the ground and the boys unharmed, disappearing with his storm.

--

“Great going Lapis.”  The gem huffs to himself, curled up in what he thinks is a cave.  “You can’t even be the bad guy right.  No wonder he didn’t want you around.”

Despite the self-deprecation, Lapis can’t find it in himself to regret not hurting the boys.  It just didn’t seem fair after what Logan said.  They aren’t Red.

Logan.

Lapis sighs.  That’s a whole other can of worms the gem isn’t sure he wants to unpack.  Had Logan really not known he was alive?  The gem had never been one for lying but, well, it has been 6000 years.  Maybe that has changed.

What will he do when he reforms?  Has he already reformed?  It has been a few earth days.

A knock at the cave entrance startled Lapis out of his thinking.  He jumped up, spear appearing in moments.

The smiling face of the human child meets him, the boy as unbothered by Lapis and his spear as he’d been with the lightning.

“Hi!  I’m Remus!”  He greets.

“How did you find me?!”  Lapis demands.  The boy seems just as unbothered by his tone and glare, shrugging and making himself right at home in the cave.

“I don’t know.”  The boy says.  “I just looked.  Pa didn’t want me to, ‘cause he thinks you’re dangerous.”

“I am dangerous.”  Lapis argues.

“Nah.”  Remus brushes him off.  “You didn’t hurt me last time.”

“I could hurt you now.”  Lapis claims.

“Okay.”  Remus said, finally looking at the spear Lapis had used to poof his friends.  There’s still no fear in his eyes.  “Your spear is really cool.”  He says instead.  “I’ve never seen a gem weapon like that before, it looks like it was broken.”

“It was.”  Lapis huffs.  He isn’t sure how, but he spends the next Earth-hour talking to the human child, answering silly little questions and listening to siller little stories.

“You know,” Remus starts and Lapis fully expects another silly story, “I didn’t meet Logan until I was five.” 

“What do I care about that?”  Lapis mutters, whole form tensing.  

“Pa kept his gem on the bench, in this little blanket.  And sometimes he’d put books or candles there, ‘cause he said Logan liked that stuff.  He used to tell me that Logan got hurt and that he just hadn’t gotten better yet.  I thought that meant he was dead.”  Remus just goes on as if Lapis hadn’t said anything.

“Gems only die when we’re shattered.”  Lapis scoffs.

“I didn’t know that then!  I hadn’t met any gems, except Ro but that was just in dreams.”  Remus argues.  “But I found that aren’t, ‘cause one day we were having breakfast and the gem just started to glow, and then it was a man!  It was so cool.”  Remus grins.

“What is the point of telling me this?”  Lapis huffs.

“Lo got poofed later too, after Roman and I ran away to Earth and the Diamonds sent gems after us.  I was so scared he was going to take five years to come back.  He didn’t, it only took a couple of days, and I was so glad, but I thought it was kind of weird so asked.  Pa says I’m curious like that.  And that I talk a lot.”

“I’ve noticed.”  Lapis mumbles, rolling his eyes and trying not to think too much about what Remus is actually saying.

“Lo doesn’t mind.  He likes answering questions.”  Remus claims.  “And he told me that when he got poofed when I was a baby, he didn’t think he was coming back to anything.  ‘Cause the diamonds were there and dad was already gone.  But when he got poofed the second time, he knew he was coming back to me so he wanted to come back.”

“I don’t get what you’re trying to tell me human.”  Lapis finally snaps.  “Why do I care if Logan got poofed?  I don’t.”

“I think if Logan knew you were out there he’d have come back quicker.”  Remus says.  

“You didn’t even know who I was.”  Lapis points out, sounding a lot more bitter than he meant too.  He didn’t care, he shouldn’t have expected any different.  It didn’t hurt.

“I just didn’t know what you looked like.”  Remus explains.  “But Logan’s talked about you sometimes.  He got this far away look and a sad smile.  Like when Pa talks about dad.”

“Yeah right.”  Lapis rolls his eyes.  He doesn't believe Remus.  He doesn’t.  How could Logan not have known?  He didn’t even come to check!

But then, Lapis stood alone in a garden for thousands of years.  All because he believed what Red said.

“Come back and see.”  Remus says, standing up.  “I bet Logan will reform quicker if you’re there.”

“I literally just attacked you all.”  Lapis mutters.  

“Eh, Uncle De did worse.”  Remus shrugs.  He offers his hand, this small, tiny creature.  How is he meant to help Lapis do anything?

Lapis takes it.

--

Stepping into the house is awkward.  Remus pulls him ahead, practically skipping.  The older human is doing… something Lapis doesn’t recognize in a room with half walls while… while Red’s other child paces. 

They both look as Remus and Lapis step in.

“I found him!”  Remus calls, grinning wide like it’s a good thing.  Lapis can only stand there, looking anywhere else as the human and diamond approach.  Finally, when the older human clears his throat, Lapis forces himself to look over.

“You’re not going to hurt my boys?”  The older human demands, eyes narrowed.

“Uh, no.”  Lapis says, then sighs.  He looks from Remus to… Roman.  “I know they aren’t Red.  They didn’t do anything wrong.”  

“Okay good.”  The older human says, nodding to himself and walking away.

“That’s it?”  Lapis asks, shocked.

“I’m really more of a cooker, not a fighter.”  The human claims, moving back to the room with the half-walls.  

”Pa you’re terrible at cooking!”  Remus teases, laughing.

“Okay, I’m more of a lover than a cooker.”  The human corrects.  As the father and son teased each other, the red gem stepped over to Lapis.  Bracing for the worst, Lapis isn’t prepared for what he gets instead.

“What did Dad do to you?”  He asks.  

“He… left me alone for a really long time.  And I guess he told Logan I was shattered.”  Lapis answers.

“Why?”  An ‘I don't know’ is right on the tip of Lapis’ lips but… but that wouldn’t be honest, would it?  Lapis sighs.

“I don’t think he trusted me.  He probably thought I’d run to the Diamonds that second he started doing something dangerous.”  He answers.  

“Would you?”  The gem asks.

“No.  Obviously not.”  Lapis says quickly.  Sure, he was meant to be the realism to Red’s fantasies but Red wasn’t as childish as the other Diamond’s thought.  And Lapis had wanted him to be happy.

Apparently Red never knew that.

Or maybe he was just crueler than Lapis had ever noticed.  He’s not sure which thought hurts more, but neither is feeling him with much rage anymore.  Just an endless ache.

“Do you hate me because of what he did?”  Roman continues the questions and Lapis sighs again.  He wants to, he really, really wants to but…

“No.”  He admits.  “You didn’t leave me there.  Apparently you didn’t even know about me.”  

“Uncle De wasn’t allowed to tell me things.”  Roman says.  “The others wouldn’t let him.  So you shouldn’t hate him either.”

“You know, you’re a lot like your brother.”  Lapis says, noting the endless questions and quick defence.

“Good.”  Roman grins.  Then, after what seems to be a moment of hesitation, he wraps his arms around Lapis’ middle.  “I’m sorry Dad did that to you.”  He mumbles against Lapis’ chest.  For a moment Lapis is too shocked to react.  Then, carefully, he rests his arms around the diamond.

“It’s okay.”  He says softly.  “It wasn’t your fault.”

“It’s not okay.”  Roman argues.  Lapis is shocked to find some of the ache easing.  Just, just a little.  He hugs the boy a little tighter.

“Thanks.”  He whispers.

--

Logan doesn’t magically reform on Lapis’ arrival.  He and Pea- Dante are still in their gems, resting on blankets with opposite colours.  Apparently Remus finds that amusing.  Lapis tries not to focus on them, tries not to worry about what's going to happen when they reform. 

The older human, Patton, helps.  He pulls Lapis into ‘cooking’ and treats him like an old friend, not like someone that almost killed him a couple of days ago.  It’s certainly odd although Lapis has to admit it’s… nice.  

They’re sitting on the couch playing something called ‘head names’ that night when a blue light finally fills the room.  

“Lo’s back!”  Remus cheers, game instantly forgotten.  Lapis can only gulp, watching the blue light go through several forms before settling on his latest one.  His back is turned to them and he raises his hands, possibly fixing up the knot at his throat.  

“Well… I see we are back in the house.  What happened after I-” He cuts off as he turns to see them all.  “Ah, well that was a quick turn about even for Remus and Roman.”  He says.

“Huh?”  Lapis frowns.  

“We’ll give you two some space.”  Patton says, leading his sons towards the front door.

“But paaaaa.”  Both boys complain but Patton is having none of it, saying they’re going to go to Thomas’ new theatre.

“Um…”  Lapis isn’t sure what to say once they’re alone.  A problem Logan seems to share for only a few moments before the blue garnet clears his throat.

“I’m sorry.”  He says.

“You’re sorry?”  Lapis repeats, frowning.  “I just puffed you.”

“Yes, well…”  Logan trails off for a moment.  “Romulus told me you were gone.  That the other diamonds took you away when he was given the colony, because he needed to act like a real diamond.”  He explains.  “I am assuming that’s not what happened.”

“No.”  Lapis mutters, the bitterness coming back.  “He told me to wait in the garden until he came back.  But he didn’t.  I didn’t even… I didn’t even know he was gone until Roman sent out that universal message.  I thought you’d forgotten about me.”  He mumbles.

“No.”  Logan says firmly, taking a step closer.  “Never.  I thought of you every day.  I was thinking about you right before you arrived, in fact.”

“You were?”  Lapis asks, tilting his head a little.  Logan is standing right before him now, staring at him with determination.

“Yes.”  Logan nods.  “I was thinking how content I was with everything, but how there would always be a hole in my heart without you.”  Lapis can’t help but smile a little at the words, a soft blush rising on his cheeks.

“That’s sappy Logan.”  Lapis says, smiling.

“Yes well, I suppose the humans have rubbed off on me somewhat Vir- Lapis.”  He says, quickly correcting himself.

“I think… I think Virgil’s alright.”  The lapis decides.  He leans in closer, pressing his forehand against Logan’s.

“Virgil.”  Logan breathes, like a weights being lifted off his shoulders.  Like a lovers come back to life.

“I missed you too Logan.”  Virgil says.  “So much.”  Leaning into each other, they’re oblivious to the world around them.  They don’t even notice the yellow glow until Dante speaks up.

“Geez, that was a quick turn around.  Even for you lot.”

[masterweaverx]

Me: “I should probably be writing so I don’t get so desperate at the last minute that--”

My brain: “The El Goonish Shive characters as students of Beacon academy MAKE IT HAPPEN GO GO GO!”

Me: “FINE. I’ll draw notes, but I’m not necessarily doing the story!”

So anyway here’s some notes for a story I’m not necessarily doing.

Team SPET (Spectral), led by Grace

Grace Sciuridae:

Faunus, Vale origin. Squirrel tail, “antennae” forelocks, and clawed fingernails/toenails (not actual claws, she just let them grow out.

Emblem: An acorn, generally worn as a pin on her sleeve.

Outfit is a loose long-sleeved shirt in green, black pants, bandoleer belt with a sheathe for her weapon and pouches, and no shoes/gloves.

Beacon uniform adjustments: no shoes, and she doesn’t wear the neck ribbon thing, but otherwise standard girl’s outfit.

Semblance: Extensorary. Grace can extend her aura to feel anything in the area, manipulate objects, or simulate flight.

Weapon: Shade Tail. A zweihander that splits into two bladed whips. Possible Dust effects.

Backstory: Kidnapped as a child by Damien, who in this universe is an absolutely insane faunus-supremacist that thinks he can control the Grimm, Grace lived several unkind years in the forests of Vale before managing to escape and arriving at Beacon academy. Ozpin let her in as a student mostly to provide her the protection of paperwork, since from what she’s describing Damien might be tied to the Bigger Secret of the world. She becomes partners with Tedd during initiation. Her upbringing does leave her mostly the same as EGS prime canon, ignorance of all social norms included, but she has an especial dislike of the creatures of Grimm due to Damien’s madness. Also she doesn’t get racism. Period.

Susan Pompoms:

Human, Argus origin. Appears mostly the same as EGS canon, with exception of single blonde side-braid.

Emblem: Venus symbol, used as a belt buckle.

Outfit is a dark blue longcoat has straps on the back, through which backpack straps are run to hold onto her Big Box O’ Stuff. Wears blue pants held up by belt and going into calf-high boots, black leotard, and black three-finger half gloves. Shoulder armor and a metal backbrace.

Beacon uniform adjustments: Boy’s uniform instead of girl’s, but otherwise standard.

Semblance: Portation. Susan can mark any container as hers and teleport whatever's in it to herself and back.

Weapon: Morrígna. A warhammer that can split into a sword and mallet. The mallet can morph into a one-handed gun.

Backstory: The early parts of the backstory would remain basically the same, but she doesn’t meet Nanase until Beacon and has only a passing familiarity with Sarah as ‘Oh yeah, her family comes to Argus sometimes.’ But she would have a friendship/rivalry with Pyrrha, which might lead to some interesting interactions with Jaune. She winds up partnered with Elliot during initiation. And, upon realizing how completely unaware of social norms sheltered Grace is, would be very vocal about certain people not abusing her.

Elliot Dunkel:

Human, Mantle origin. Literally looks the same as canon, because why break a good look?

Emblem: An oval with some abstract lines, seen as a symbol on his shirt.

Outfit is a White cape and black crop-top, black pants and white shoes, belts in an x-shape over his belly with pouches for carrying things.

Beacon uniform adjustments: he does not wear the white undershirt. That’s it. The jacket’s buttoned up, but he doesn’t wear the undershirt.

Semblance: Soul Fury. Elliot can draw on the negativity of others, such as pain and fear, in order to increase his own physical attack strength. He has trained this to a degree that he is capable of jumping to intense heights.

Weapons: Honor and Justice. Arm-mounted bladed tonfas, capable of shooting grappling hooks from the wrist to either drag himself to a location or to bring a foe to him. Used to be part of the Four Ideals, but leg-mounted equivalents went to Ellen.

Backstory: Saved Tedd from some bullies during one of his visits to Mantle, became close friends. Otherwise standard backstory. Some people might note his childhood doesn’t mention his twin sister, and he’ll say there was a whole money-legality thing until recently. Anybody with a truth-sensing semblance will know he’s lying. The truth, however, is Very Classified. Like seriously you don’t know how classified it is.

Tedd Verres:

Human, Atlas origin. Left half of his hair is the original ‘long hair’, right half is the new ‘pixie cut’.

Emblem: A circle with three lines extending from it, which is placed on his equipment.

Outfit is a light blue longcoat with internal pockets (and everyone is going to comment on that since none of the other characters have pockets), light blue pants, black shirt and boots. Also some purple armor around his chest that is slightly rounded and matching greaves on his legs.

Beacon uniform adjustments: wears the girl’s outfit, but with a tie.

Semblance: Copyscan. Tedd can identify other people's semblances with some observation, and make limited-use copies of them with physical contact.

Weapon: Convergence. A gauntlet with an extendable shield, which also stores copies of semblances. Ted also has an energy pistol called Expedience.

Backstory: Tedd’s dad still works for a coverup agency, but now it’s the RWBY-canon ‘Keep Magic and the existence of Salem an utter secret’ cover-up agency. Tedd was brought into this against his father’s wishes when General Ironwood realized the potency of his semblance, but this also gave him access to a few classified doohickies such as this fused universe’s version of the Dewitchery Diamond. Going to Beacon is meant as a ‘field test’ of Tedd as an agent, at least according to Ironwood, but there’s also his dad wanting him to have friends that aren’t involved in all the top secret drama. Also yes, he does have a copy of Ellen’s gender change spell in Convergence which she willingly refreshes for him, and he will sometimes spend time as a girl. (Possible connection to May Marigold down the line?)

Team STNE (Stone), led by Sarah

Sarah Brown:

Human, Mistral origin. The only real difference is that her hairband now sports fancy curls and flanges and also it’s made of bronze as a sort of informal helmet.

Emblem: a double-sided question mark which is engraved into her arm guards.

Outfit is a pink knee-length dress, belt with four pouches radially aligned. Armored boots, greaves, and with her shoulders, all bronze.

Beacon uniform adjustments: none, but she still wears her headgear.

Semblance: Lookout. Sarah can instantly take in details about her environment to a highly detailed degree, with a range that extends the more aura she pours into it. While she can examine things that might be hidden, i.e. the inside of a closed book, she cannot change anything.

Weapon: Zauberei. Spear/staff that can shift into a rifle and split into a pistol and dagger. It sort of looks like a giant paintbrush?

Backstory: An ordinary Mistral combat student who went up against Pyrrha Nikos and Susan during some combat tournaments and got a case of starry eyes for both of them. Upon hearing they were going to Beacon, she decided to go too because why not? What she doesn’t realize is that she’s going to be put in charge of a team of Secrets and Drama. She winds up partnered with Justin during initiation.

Justin Tolkiberry:

Human, Vale origin. Aside from a very fancy set of earrings in one ear, he looks about the same as his canon counterpart.

Emblem: Abstract fire, which is displayed prominantly on the back of his gi.

Outfit is an open orange gi with lots of red fire patterns and buckled belts around the ankles, thighs, biceps, and forearms. Also sandles. And he does have a belt around the pants with a few pouches.

Beacon uniform adjustments: Wears sandles instead of shoes.

Semblance: Not known, exactly. Justin knows he can ignore damage sometimes, but the details are unclear.

Weapon: Dashing Delver. A rectangle-headed shovel that turns into a tower shield/sled.

Backstory: Basically the same as canon Justin, except that because Remnant is more accepting of LGBT+ people overall he wasn’t bullied and was just very irritated at Mellissa. Also Elliot and Nanase were on entirely different continents so there’s that. He’ll be the snarky rational one when everything about his team is revealed. 

Nanase Kitsune:

Faunus, Menagerie origin. Has naturally dual-colored hair to match her naturally dual-colored fox ears.

Emblem: A heart-shaped fox head thing she wears on her shirt.

Outfit is a black jacket, yellow croptop with emblem in red, red skirt with yellow trim, red armbands, black shoes, and a pouch belt that hangs off one hip instead of being used as a belt.

Beacon Uniform Adjustment: She keeps her armbands.

Semblance: Fairy Companion. Nanase can summon fairy companions to herself or anyone she has an emotional connection with. These fairies run off her subconscious unless she deliberately controls them, and can be used to communicate, scout, or detonate as weapons. Their size is controllable, ranging from ‘hold in one hand’ to ‘outright as big as Nanase herself’, though they always appear to be wearing what Nanase is at time of summoning. Larger fairies take proportionally more aura to summon.

Weapon: Faewind. A backpack with four cable-attached fairy wings. Each wing is a bladed arm/leg shield with inbuilt nozzles that serve either as short-range blasters or a jetpack when retracted.

Backstory: The Kitsunes are a very important family in Menagerie, with a lot of political clout, and Nanase is expected to reflect that as her mother sends her to Beacon in order to indirectly represent Menagerie at the Vytal tournament. Nanase, however, is using this first chance to not have to be a Perfect Icon to actually search for her own identity. She becomes partners with Ellen during initiation, and picks up on how Ellen is really not comfortable talking about her own past. There’s a slow gradual growth of trust going on, and Nanase slowly comes to realize she might love this girl.

Ellen Dunkel:

Human(ish), Mantle origin. Looks the same as canon because of course she does.

Emblem: A rectangular mirror with a suspiciously familiar diamond shape in the center, painted on her shirt.

Outfit: Where Elliot wears a cape, Ellen wears an open coat. But otherwise it’s basically the same, if adjusted for female.

Beacon Uniform adjustments: She doesn’t wear the socks. That’s it. She wears the shoes but not the socks.

Semblance: Shift Beam. Ellen is capable of generating a beam of light from her palm. If the target has no active aura, it is impacted with a degree of force relative to the amount of aura input. If a target does have aura, the beam can cause temporary physical alteration; Ellen is still learning the ins and outs of this, but she can usually make other bodies more like hers (i.e. physically female). This is noted to be unusual, since no other known semblance outright shapeshifts people. Consequently, she tries to avoid using it in ways where this can be observed.

Weapon: Courage and Virtue. Leg tonfas. Complete with jump-jets. Used to be Elliot's.

Backstory: Officially she’s just the long-lost twin of Elliot’s who recently got back out of the foster care system. Unofficially, the dewitchery diamond exists in this fused universe and Ellen has to keep her origin a secret because if Salem heard about her hooooo boy! The original plan was for her, Elliot, and Tedd to all be on the same team so they could protect each other but she wound up partnering with Nanase and then on a seperate team and now Ellen is conflicted between explaining her origins to her partner and not wanting people to freak out. But she does slowly start to explain her various quirks, as people (especially Nanase) start to notice stuff about her.

The Plot:

I dunno, team SPET and STNE interact with teams RWBY and JNPR and get involved in the world-spanning conspiracy? My brain is saying this is enough for now.

[crowned-ladybug]

My Big Ramble about the demon cultural significance of shed antlers/horns/whatever, copy-pasted straight from discord and then edited a bit bc I wanna have it somewhere where I can show it to ppl but also I'm not retyping this in a hundred years:

Okay so. i was thinking of the problem of What The Fuck do antlered demons do with their antlers once they shed them

And ofc it changes from culture to culture and also demons who don’t live in communities with a lot of antlered demons might just. not attribute any significance to it and just treat it like cut hair and nails and whatnot, since for non-antlered demons this just isn't a Thing that ever needed a Solution or cultural significance

(sidenote, Caesar himself also lives/lived in an area where most demons have horns or no horns/antlers at all and he got separated from his cultural roots as a kid bc of what happened to his family, so what remains with him is mostly a mix of what he still remembers (sadly clouded over by  trauma) + how he let that keep growing + what others do around him that he just. adopts p easily)

One of the things in demon cultures that give any significance to shed antlers is that keeping your most recent shed ones until your next shed means like. accepting death or at least the inevitability of it. Bc in those cultures, a tradition upon death is building a pyre decorated with plants/fabrics/etc that the deceased demon loved/would have loved or was associated with, and it’s topped with their shed antlers if available, and then ofc the whole thing burned. The like mythos around it is that it’s supposed to be the burning of mortal ties and remains so that the deceased’s spirit can go free, without having to desecrate the body or needing to have a body around at all (both bc bad shit happens and bc i feel like with summoning demons being A Thing, ppl just Not Coming Home is a lot more ingrained as a possibility in demon consciousness than it is in human)

So in those cultures, keeping your last shed antlers somewhere easy to find is like. making sure your loved ones can bury you properly if you were to die this year. It’s not necessarily a sad thing, it can v much just be. acceptance

Another thing that can happen depending on culture is keeping at least one antler from a significant year of one’s life, let that be bad or good. One may keep the antlers they shed after their child was born or after someone passed away, a first successful contract or a significant change - anything that feels like a turning point in one’s life. These antlers are kept as reminders and symbolic like. physical manifestation of those memories that are said to have grown into them like how the rings in a cut of tree tell you of its life. When it comes to the worst times, one may also choose to keep the antler as a reminder that they had survived and kept growing despite everything, and they can do it again

Depending on the exact reason they're being kept, these antlers may become displayed decoration, usually with added decorative elements like lines of beads, ribbons, or even dried flowers. A family home might have a mismatched pair of antlers displayed over the fireplace for example, the shed antlers of the parents from the year they married! Once again depending on the story behind them, these antlers may also become memorabilia passed down through generations

And with the belief that your memories grow into your antlers, if something horrible happens and one swears revenge for it, and then sheds their antlers, they could decide to use the shed antlers to incorporate them into an actual item with use instead of decoration, something that has something to do with the revenge, like a lucky charm (potentially to destroy once the revenge has been seen though) or a weapon (see kinda how in brother bear Denahi ties Kenai’s totem necklace around his spear which he uses to try and kill the bear that killed his brothers)

And going off of that - it'd make a lot of sense to me now for Caesar to have something like that after the death of his family. i doubt he had the skill/knowledge to make his own shed antlers into an actual Weapon, but a charm to serve as a reminder i guess?? a physical manifestation of all his grief and anger, to be finally destroyed when he sees his destiny through??? yeah i can v much see that. Just a small shed antler, maybe half the size of Caesar's current ones originally and now broken in half to be easier to carry around, the names of Caesar's lost family carved into it clumsily. Once Kars is dead and Caesar can truly live happily in the castle, during one of his trips back to the demon world he remembers it and brings it back home. and since he's got his revenge, he's got so much more too, and this chapter of his destiny is fulfilled, he finally gets to burn it

And the original idea i had about this regarding Caesar that still stands is that. we joked about what they do with his first shed horns, the one intact and one broken one, and yeah they still goof around with it and trick poor Speedwagon and all that, that doesn't change. But since the past year had been one of the hardest years of Caesar life, and the year when so much significant stuff had happened to him, i feel like he'd keep it. He doesn't display it anywhere, maybe bc he's not used to seeing demon antlers being displayed anymore (esp as something positive instead of. hunting trophies), maybe bc this one just feels more private than that. He ties some beads on it that feel Right, and then wraps it in some pretty fabric to protect it and hides it safely in the depths of a drawer

Also, based on this, a large part of demons celebrate their new year around antler shedding season?? While not all demons have antlers, it’s something that started in the communities of those who do and slowly became universal and more detached from tradition as a more widespread measurement of time and whatnot became established ages and ages ago

And, okay, additional new stuff:

Taking/owning a demon’s shed antlers is not really something you should do?? Like, as far as being appropriate goes

Taking a shed antler without express permission is seen as a violation of like. bodily autonomy and shit and a form of trophy keeping that’s just really Not Good if you think about it (with the exception of parents keeping their children’s baby antlers and whatnot). Giving away your shed antler to someone however is something of Huge significance bc it’s like you’re handing someone a lil piece of you. Mostly it might happen when someone has had a huge positive impact on the year of your life that that antler comes from. Giving someone yout antler is a huge sign of gratitude and love and respect and it is not to be taken lightly

Giving someone your broken horn/antler however has a Completely different meaning. It’s also a lot more archaic and rarely actually practiced anymore, and it means you’re swearing revenge on the person you’re giving your broken horn/antler to. It once again builds upon the belief of memories growing into the antler, and you’re handing this person the physical manifestation of the horrible things they have done to you, as a reminder that you will come and take revenge on them someday. (It is/was most often done after events that actually resulted in that horn/antler being broken but in extreme cases one might choose to break their own horn/antler for the sake of this tradition, which is seen as like. extreme dedication to this revenge, to the point of being willing to dedicate your whole existence to it and letting it consume you). Broken horns are also typically delivered by mail/a hired messenger instead of given in person

There are also ofc sayings in demonic languages that reflect these traditions/beliefs. “Keeping/holding onto one’s antlers” means being really old/being on death’s door (kinda swallowing the meaning of having made peace with death and somewhat distorting the tradition itself in everyday life). There’s sayings about giving someone your antler/your antler belonging to them that are great declarations of love (not necessarily romantic) and “having one’s horn broken” is euphemism to some great tragedy happening to that person. “No need to break your horn/antler over it” means to stop making a huge deal out of a small slight

[fanfic-scribbles]

Ways To Say You Care

Fandom: MCU Captain America/Avengers

Summary: Bucky’s been out of the dating game for a while, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eye on someone. Courting someone is a bit different these days, but people still like ‘secret admirers’ right? He hopes you do.

Quick facts: Romance – Bucky/Reader – Nondescript Reader

Warnings: Fluff, such fluff, just…fluff

Words: 3106

A/N: I had an idea for a Valentine’s Day fic that actually split into two different fics. So this week is Bucky x Reader because it lost the explicit ‘Valentine’s Day’ setting and just turned out romantic, whereas next week is a Castiel x Reader that is themed for the holiday. This fic is one of those that turned out much different than I expected but I still like the end result, and I hope you enjoy it too.

    “Man, you have got this down to an art.”

“Shut up,” Bucky says and sips his drink. He flicks his eyes back down to the paper he’s pretending to read. “Are you staring? You better not be staring.”

“I’m not staring,” Sam chuckles. “You know, this whole thing would be creepy if they weren't checking you out almost as much.”

Bucky smiles into the newsprint. He glances up but you’re sitting on the other side of a wide path, focused on your book with little headphones in your ears. But then– you do glance up, and as soon as you see Bucky looking you hide your face in the pages. He’s pretty sure he saw you smile, though.

“Seriously,” Sam says. “When are you going to say ‘hi’?”

“I’m working on it.” Bucky flips to the next section. “I’ve got to start facing rejection sometime.”

“There’s no reason to be negative like that.”

“They don’t know who I am.”

“Ease up on the angst there, Batman.” Sam rolls his eyes. “Besides, I’m pretty sure they do. There’s not exactly a surplus of people with metal arms. Not even in this city.”

Bucky frowns and checks his arm– long sleeves, gloves, and a jacket usually cover him well enough. “Where’s it showing?”

“It isn’t now, but it did.” Sam’s grin is a bright warning sign. “Remember? That day I knocked you on your ass?”

Bucky scoffs and shoots him a glare. “More like when you knocked me on my face.”

“Well it’s hard to tell the difference sometimes.”

“Har fucking har.” But Bucky smirks. “I do remember that, actually. ‘Cause I remember after you knocked me down and they came over and tore you a new one. You remember that?”

Sam snorts. “I remember it took you way too long to tell them I was your friend.”

“I had to decide if you still were.”

“Fuck you, Barnes.”

“No thanks Wilson; I don’t want to ruin our friendship.”

Sam laughs and Bucky smiles. He watches you though, as you place your bookmark, pack up, and slowly walk away to the main path where runners, cyclists, and the rest of the riffraff eventually swallow you up.

“Seriously,” Sam says. “I’m not Steve and I’m not your therapist; I’m not going to push you. But I am your friend. Please tell me you’re going to do something about this.”

Bucky folds his paper neatly. “Don’t worry– I have a plan.”

Gift One

Bucky is practically fidgeting, he’s so nervous. He’s trying to call on the Winter Soldier side of himself but it isn’t working. On one hand, it’s comforting that it doesn’t come so easy anymore. On the other hand, he could really use it right now.

Though from a completely different hand, it’s possible that even the Soldier is terrified by this.

Someone is coming down the path and Bucky’s eyes dart from side to side until he sees you and forces his vision back to his paper. He should be relaxing, now that he doesn’t have to keep such a sharp eye out for interlopers, but he feels like a crushed-up ball of nerves.

You slow when you notice the card propped on your usual bench, innocent red envelope addressed on the basis of your favorite jacket and your taste in books. Bucky is very careful not to be seen looking, but he watches your every move. You pick up the envelope and keep your eyes on it as you sit, and you barely set your things to the side before you start (gently) prying open the flap.

Bucky watches as you read the card. It was the least cheesy one he could find at the store and the message he wrote was very simple, but your smile lights up your whole face and you let your eyes dart over it again and again and Bucky has to shove his paper up over his face and breathe deep in effort not to rip it because he did that? He had thought you’d be pleased but he never thought he could make anyone smile like that.

He forces himself to calm down. Even though you spend your morning intermittently picking up the card, Bucky doesn’t break rank. He has a plan and he is going to see it through.

After you pack up and leave, smile still on your face, Bucky does allow himself to drop the paper to his lap and sigh.

At least he’s off to a good start.

  Gift Two

There’s a small box on your bench.

At first, Bucky was going to put another envelope there but it didn’t sit right with him to do the same thing twice. Even though this is technically different.

The original plan was one gift card. A simple gift that could be personalized to a moderate extent. Then he got stuck between two perfectly good options– he’s seen you with Starbucks, and he’s seen you with books. Both, all the time. Which one do you love more? Warm drinks are good for this chilly weather, but books are also comforting.

In the end he mostly stuck with the plan and got a Starbucks gift card. And then he realized that he’d be setting out another envelope, so he then got you a pair of earbuds, and put both gifts in a small box.

So the plan is already off the rails and he doesn’t like it one bit. Then, as you approach the bench and see the small present, your eyes light up, and it’s when you start to open it that Bucky sees another problem with this plan.

Neither of his gifts have been signed. Sure, it’s reasonable for you to assume that it’s him leaving them– he’s always present and Sam is right, you both have been trading glances for a while– but the fact is that you don’t know who that box is from and you’re not being cautious at all; you just open it and–

Your smile makes Bucky relax. This will be a problem later, but for now he just enjoys watching you appreciate your gifts. “This is so nice,” you murmur to yourself. Not too nice, Bucky notes with relief. Maybe being a little bold isn’t so bad after all.

His phone buzzes and Bucky curses as he pulls it out. Naturally it’s Steve with a “situation” and command to get to the tower ASAP. Bucky confirms, but practically breaks the phone when he ends the call. He takes one last look at your blissful expression before he runs off.

  Gift Three

Bucky is exhausted.

He just got back last night and spent too much time tracking down a flower store that was still open. The rest of the team is going to be sleeping for the next few days– even Steve had looked at him funny when he was leaving the house.

  “You're up,” Bucky pointed out.

“Do I look like I’m going anywhere?” Steve asked and gestured at his pajama pants and t-shirt. “Is everything okay Buck?”

Bucky hesitated. “It’s…good. It’s going really good. I’ll tell you about it later.”

Steve’s smile was so big Bucky could already feel the boa constrictor hug incoming, and if Steve squashed the flowers in Bucky’s coat, Bucky really would murder him this time. “Now eat your Wheaties and go nap in front of the TV, old man,” Bucky said and swung the door open.

“Have fun feeding your birds,” Steve said. Bucky flipped him off and slammed the door shut.

  It’s not a bouquet, just two flowers tied together with ribbon and positioned carefully, but as simple as it is, Bucky likes it and hopes that you do too. He can barely pretend to read, his eyes are so heavy, but his stubborn persistence is rewarded.

If you’ve ever had doubts about where the gifts have been coming from, they’re probably well abolished after several days with no gift and then only getting one on Bucky’s return. However you still humor him, regarding the flowers without looking at him, and quietly thanking your “secret admirer,” your smile widening greatly on those two words.

Bucky feels at peace as he sits with his book and you sit with yours, until you have to go. Reluctantly, Bucky stands and stretches. Maybe he’ll have a nap. A short one. This next present is going to be the penultimate and it needs to be perfect.

  Gift Four

He finished it.

It’s sitting on the bench, folded carefully and looking as good as it can. Bucky fidgets– mostly to keep himself awake. Steve had barged in at two a.m. and threatened to tranq him. Bucky had responded by throwing a spare needle into the wall next to his head. Bucky’s going to have to apologize later, and fix the wall, but it was all worth it– the scarf turned out amazing, if he does say so himself. And he does. Say so. Or think so. Christ, he’s tired.

As soon as you catch sight of it you gasp and rush over. It’s all even more worth it as Bucky watches you unravel the scarf and feel it over. He knew it would be worth it, but it’s one thing to ‘know’ and it’s something else to see you running your hands over every purl before you throw the whole thing around your neck and nuzzle it with your cheek.

So worth it.

Bucky’s phone rings and he’s content when he answers. “Barnes.”

“Bucky,” Steve says. “Please. You have got to get some sleep.”

Bucky watches you for a moment while he takes stock of his body. “Okay.”

“You– wait,” Steve says. “Okay?”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Bucky says and stands. “You want me to pick up breakfast on the way?”

“Uh…sure. Bagels. And coffee– but none for you,” Steve says sternly. “And yes, I forgive you for trying to spear me with a knitting needle.”

Bucky snorts. “If I had really wanted to, I would have.”

“Mm hm,” Steve says. “So? How’d it go?”

Bucky considers it. “Good,” he decides.

“Good?” Steve repeats, sounding disappointed.

“I’m not done yet,” Bucky says, giving a courtesy glance before crossing. “Tomorrow.”

“Ah,” Steve says. “You better come home and get some sleep then.”

“That’s the idea,” Bucky says and hangs up. He’ll catch crap for it when he gets home, but that’s okay. Steve’s right– Bucky has to rest before tomorrow.

  Gift Five

The bench is empty.

Bucky sits, second-guessing himself and glaring at the sky. It downpoured overnight and has already rained again once on his way over. Lightly, but still. He’s not sure if you’ll even come, but he hopes, and his sleeves are wet from wiping the benches dry.

Thankfully, you arrive. Wearing the scarf. He’s too slow to look away and so there’s a moment of brief eye contact. You smile at him, and what’s more– you hesitate. Bucky feels his heart speed up. Is this it? It’s too soon, he’s not ready; he hasn’t prepared enough for– but you take your seat, and Bucky is left with retreating adrenaline and echoes of a racing heartbeat.

You take out your book and he focuses on his, for something grounding. He’s too nervous right now; he just needs a little time to calm down. Natasha has said he gets ‘loom-y’ when he’s nervous and as out of practice as he is, he knows that’s not how you want to ask someone on a date. So he’s just going to take a moment.

The weather has a problem with this plan.

When Bucky sees the first droplet land on the page, he curses. He shuts the book fast but not before more rain wets the page and he hurries to pop open his umbrella just before the cloudburst truly starts.

When he sees you, though, you’re still struggling with your umbrella and getting soaked in the meantime. He leaps up and rushes over, and only realizes what he’s done when you look up at him with a grateful smile. He freezes.

“Thank you,” you say.

He’s still frozen. You go back to fighting with your umbrella and after an eternity he manages to mumble, “You're welcome.”

“What?” you ask and squint up at him through the water still running down your face. He shakes his head and gestures for your umbrella while holding his to you. He crouches down so he can (mostly) stay under the cover while he tries to fix the problem. You scoot in and when he glances to the side he’s practically nose-to-spine with the book in your lap, and only centimeters away from your fingers, which are curled lightly around the waterlogged binding.

The fact that you’re hovering over him spurs him into working faster, but two of the wires are completely busted and no amount of coaxing is going to make it fan right. He looks up to give you the bad news but his face must say it all. You sigh. “I thought so,” you say sadly and glance at your book similarly. “Thank you anyway.”

You hand him back his umbrella and he stands and waits for you to do the same. You look at him curiously. “I’ll walk you to the street,” he says, thanking any deity who’s listening for his suddenly functioning vocal cords. “Until you get a cab.”

“Oh, I don’t want to put you out.”

“I insist.” The words surprise him as much as they surprise you, but you smile. Boldness rewarded, he bends his free arm out in offering.

“I’m soaked,” you say apologetically.

“So am I,” he says, even though he’s damp and you look like you’ve jumped in a lake.

You take his arm and, wet or not, he could stand here all day. Except you shiver and he knows now is not the moment he needs. He waves down a cab in record time. While holding the umbrella at the back door for you, he raps sharply on the passenger window. As you’re still maneuvering into the car Bucky leans in and hands the driver practically enough cash to get you to Canada. “Wherever they want to go; keep the change.”

The man’s eyes go wide and he nods rapidly. Bucky moves back to you just as you settle in.

“Thank you,” you say. You smile nervously. “I’ll…see you when the weather gets better?”

He nods. “Go warm up; don’t want you to catch a cold,” he says. You nod and he stands there awkwardly for a moment before he reluctantly steps back and shuts the door, letting the car speed off. It didn’t go as planned, but that’s all right. He’s going to make this work.

  Gift…One

There’s something on his bench.

And there’s someone watching him.

The something is a messily wrapped present that sort of resembles a circle. Vaguely. The someone watching is…you. Hiding behind a tree up the path.

Bucky laughs quietly to himself and goes to take his seat. He picks up the gift and finds a small card underneath. ‘For your running shoes,’ it reads and is signed by ‘your (mutual) secret admirer.’

Bucky can’t stop smiling, and he barely resists the urge to look up at you. Instead he opens his present. Shoelaces. Three bundles, each pair with unique patterns and vibrant colors. Well, Sam always says he wears too much black. Wait’ll he sees these.

Bucky hears you dart off and he watches you speed-walk away. After you almost collide with someone when you try to glance back, you keep your head forward and make your escape. Apparently his plan is officially on hold. That’s all right– Bucky is learning how to roll with the punches on this particular mission. He pockets the gift and card. He’s gotta go lace up his shoes.

  Gift Two

The next day he finds a gift card for The Strand. He watches you go again, and when you glance back and notice he’s watching you, you trip over your feet and barely catch yourself from falling.

It figures. Bucky has always loved disasters. He wouldn’t live with one if he didn’t.

  Gift Three

A warm beanie. Hand-bought if not hand-made, but Bucky loves it just as much. It’s cool blue and grey, and he puts it on immediately.

He hears a soft, “yes!” just before you run away.

  Gift Four

This gift seems more traditional and Bucky unwraps it carefully. It’s a small photo frame, and inside is a candid shot of Steve and Sam wrestling after, Bucky assumes, the two of them tripped each other up.

When he gets home he makes room for it right in the center of the mantle. Steve mutters about how the two of you at least have creepy stalking in common. Bucky socks him in the arm so hard that Steve glares at him off and on for the rest of the day.

  When Bucky arrives the next day, there’s no gift, and you’re reading in your usual spot.

He walks right over and asks, “Can I sit here?”

You shut your book too fast to save your spot but you nod, and Bucky takes his seat while you struggle to find the right page again. Once you do, and mark it, he clears his throat. “I’m…James. Barnes. But I go by Bucky.”

That could have gone better, but you don’t seem to notice as you introduce yourself. Bucky hesitates for just a moment before he plows forward. “This might sound out of the blue but I was wondering…if you’d like to go to dinner with me tonight?”

You grin and your body slouches in unmistakable relief. “That is pretty quick,” you say. “You only just learned my name.”

“It’s a really great name,” Bucky says and you laugh. You laugh. Because of him.

“How can I resist a compliment like that?” you say. “I’d love to.”

This is the best day of Bucky’s life.

“But…”

He stops mentally patting himself on the back, but you’re still smiling. “Dinner’s a long time away,” you say. “Maybe you’d like to come to breakfast with me?”

Bucky falls back to a familiar smile. “I’d love to.”

You get up and extend your right hand straight out for his left. Bucky goes to grab it, unthinking, until he notices which hand and– he freezes.

“Bucky.”

He looks at you. You look so patient. So gentle. “If it makes you uncomfortable then that’s one thing,” you say. “But I know. And you don’t have to worry on my account.”

He pauses, but slips his hand into yours, and he doesn’t let go for a very long time.

[codzombiesartwork123]

OC Headcanon: Moriko Chi Amemori

Gotten this idea from the thought of “what the hell?  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ “ so I will try to remember what I had made her to the best of my ability.

Little description about her

She is raised by her mute yet kind uncle in a rural part of Japan after her parents had disappeared for unknown reasons.

She lived a bit far from the village in a small home just an inch further into a forest.

Her power is talking to animals, able to understand them and heal those who are injured and sick (She is Mori (Forest) type, one of 13 Kitsune types). Her family had dated back to the beginning of Japan when they are ninjas who had worship a mythical foxes known as Kitsunes whom in return, made them hybrid of human and the nine-tailed deities, give them sheath, bravery, skills, beauty and most of all; immortality. She knew that she carries Amemori blood in her veins.

She had a long lost brother (My other OC who goes by Sparrow Amemori)

In her village a bit far from where she lived, she was treated like an outcast for “being a demon.”

The reason why she had gone to war is to treat the injured and hoped to be viewed differently as a positive result. But she was a bleeding heart to her enemies as well as the same goes to the ones she loved.

The red ribbon was a gift from her uncle before he died of an unknown illness, it’s the only thing she could remember him by so she kept it close as possible.

Ultimis

She was treated so very poorly and coldly, it had gotten to the point that she is too weak and scared to defend herself so she just had to hide behind her uncle whenever they visit the village for a food run.

She was very kind and shy but willing to help others, she had taken that from her uncle and the harsh comments from the villagers as a result.

Her only friends are forest animals before the Second World War until she had met Jin Bai Chen ( @mortal-kombattore-115′s oc) and Tank Dempsey in in Tengchung, an ancient city of China during the time when Japan had taken most of China. (Japanese had thought she could be able to infiltrate their camp in hopes of getting information rather then to send a skilled spy to do it.) They surprisingly formed a friendship despite that when Jin let her go back to her camp under the dead of night.while everyone’s asleep.

She had first met Takeo Masaki (Her eventual love interest) in one battle where she was cornered by the enemy soldiers until he had came out of the blue with the intention to protect one of the medics but ended up getting injured after he done so. Leaving her to treat him on her own in an unknown part of battlefield safe from the enemy (you know, taken the role of an guardian angel) to ensure he will survive to see another day.

When he woke up after an hour, Moriko is the one to greet him back to reality and told him that she had (somehow) radioed a rescue from their Axis allies within the next 50 minutes as much to him being surprised. They talked a bit back and forth until soldiers from Group 935 had arrived and took them back to Germany (From what I can think of, this my hc on how Takeo was captured) and they wield up being test subjects.

Not much said what had happened to her after that but her mental condition had grown to it’s worse state: she is now more scared of people, she had been rescued eventually by Jin who came to find Dempsey after he too was captured by Group 935.

Jin had to clam her down enough to make her remember her who introduces her name to her at first but Moriko didn’t remember what had happened to her when Jin asked who had done to her.

Moriko can often served as an alarm because she had often ran back to them in a panic but she still give others medical attention and mostly to Takeo (even through his memory of what had happened to him had been wiped thanks to Dr. Edward Richtofen) for being somewhat reckless in battle without thinking of the consequences.

Jin had often guide her and teaching her how to fight back as their friendship had grown to a good state after she had been rescued.

Primis

Her life in Dimension 63 hasn’t changed but a little bit of it did, this time, some people in her village had treated her like one of the family after seeing her being poorly by the other villagers.

Unlike her Ultimis self, she is less shy, brave and a lot more caring to others around her, treating them equally. She had took care of herself whenever she willingly goes to the village with/without her uncle.

The mute uncle had actually and barely told her that she had a brother but didn’t have time say who he was when he had died after giving her the red ribbon.

She is willing to carry on her uncle’s legacy with heart to be kind to others around her, no matter how different they are yet she is hoping they would accept her for who and what she was.

After she had been attacked by an old woman who is quite like other villagers who dislike her during the Emperor’s soldiers and one of the officers had came to the village for more soldiers to fight in World War I (During that time, it is called the Great War), the captain had offered his hand to her but she had got up and ran from him despite the fact it was in fount of everyone and ran into the forest until she stopped at the river then proceed to cry her tears out. She lamented until she had looked at her reflection but only to see the same captain’s in the water’s surface as well winch surprised to see him follow her to the river, he once again offered his hand to her and this time, she accepted it without a thought and then is back on her feet by the captain.

When the captain introduced himself as Takeo Masaki (Primis version) to her, she was embarrassed at first but when he asked why she was treated the way the old woman had after she had explained, she had to show him proof that she is, indeed, different from everyone else in the village by talking to a few birds much to to his surprise. He had found her quite unique from others, so, from then to ensure she wouldn’t be helpless again so he took her in for training from then on after she is deemed a medic for the Japanese Imperial Army.

She had changed during her training with the warrior, she had became confident, more brave and willing to not to help but to protect others as well. They had spend more time together in the village and after the festival, he had been called away on a mission in France but she had become worried, too worried that he won’t make it so, she somehow got to Northern France when the first known zombie outbreak in history had happened.

During the chaos, she had crafted a makeshift spear from a long broken pipe and a knife tied to one end of it and used it to her advantage as she remembered her training. She had managed to saved one of Chinese factory worker of the Chinese Labor Corps (An actual group in history, look that up and see that I am not kidding.), named Jin Bai Chen (Primis version) after she was cornered by the the walking dead.

She is afraid of wolves.

When they had ran into the Primis crew, she was surprised that the sleeves that are attached to his uniform was torn off so she is more concerned about him but she focus on the current situation they are in.

in this timeline, Moriko had never once held a gun until Origins, she was a horrible shooter til Takeo taught her how to use it properly

I had took a while to written down the hc about her so, I can now tag someone else here, I will tag:

@mortal-kombattore-115

@gulliblepineapples

@askgamermeandgamerbendy

@sampoststuff

@this-person-is-slowly-dying

[vs-stardream]

happy 4/13! have some kirby classpect headcanons.

kirby - rogue of heart meta knight - knight of blood dedede - ?? of rage galacta knight - witch of time nova - sylph of light marx - prince of space gooey - page of void ado - seer of space susie - thief of light bandana dee - sylph of breath

(explanations under the cut)

kirby - could fit many aspects (blood, hope, life, even void) but imma say rogue of heart. he steals people’s identities (powers, that is) through his copy abilities, but always does it for the good of his friends (since rogue is passive). he’s got lots of emotions and goes off gut instincts, can sometimes be self-centered, and also has splinter selves, like dirk. and, like nepeta, he cares about the relationships between his friends!

meta knight - knight of blood. (though i also considered heart and void) meta is a leader through and through, and though he seems aloof he cares a lot about the well-being of his friends and his crew. he even has an attack in robobot where he summons his entire crew to help him fight! he’s stubborn and charismatic, and he is concerned about his relationships with other people and what they think of him. his character arc feels a bit like karkat too, learning to lean back and work with his friends more instead of trying to take them over, and doing stuff for others rather than just for himself (though as a knight he keeps a lot of his independence). the blood-bound also seem very concerned with honor, as meta definitely is. knights (at least in my interpretation) are about exploitation of their aspect, and are especially prone to forcing themselves into active roles while they are actually more passive, kind of like how meta fights for himself and against kirby at first but then learns to work with him. the knight class fits my interpretation of him feeling aloof but on the inside really caring for his crew and others.

in my opinion, both heart and blood are concerned with relationships, but in different ways. heart is more about personal relationships with and between close friends and the like (as we see with nepeta and meulin), while blood takes into account social dynamics and bigger picture stuff (which kankri tries to do and does wrong). like, one way meta could manifest blood is through his focus on honor, justice, fairness, chivalry, all that. whereas kirby, who’s heart, obviously has to look at the bigger picture, but what really drives him to go on adventures is doing things for other people specifically, like helping ribbon or magolor.

dedede - rage. rage is all about emotion, passion, stubbornness, conviction, which dedede fits pretty well. he plays by his own rules, and just turns up and declares himself leader one day! in my observation, rage players often get their power from external rather than internal sources, and are most powerful when they’re not themselves, which would fit with how much dedede gets possessed, and also how he’s more powerful as masked dedede. being a primary antagonist, he also induces rage! his class is stumping me though - i was thinking thief because of how he steals food but that doesn’t really work with rage...

galacta knight - witch of time. he’s a temporal warrior, of course he’s time! time is also about destruction, and nothing says destruction more than star dream’s line about galacta casually destroying planets. witches are able to actively manipulate reality, like galacta does a lot in his fights - for example, tearing open spacetime.

nova - sylph of light. light is about knowledge and luck. nova has a lot of both of these things - luck in the form of wishes. they are destroyed a lot but always seem to reform. sylphs create things for others, which definitely reminds me of how nova creates luck for others by granting their wishes.

marx - prince of space. his classpect is somewhat of a paradox (like him!) because it involves the destruction of creation and destruction through creation. he is super destructive, being a prince, and is able to destroy space by creating literal black holes. the whole way in which he dies, destroys nova, and is reformed feels super prince of space-y. he also fights kirby on this whole new plane of existence?? which is pretty space-y? as is his whole transformation. space is also connected to patience, which, while that might not seem all that marx-like at first, he does get the sun and moon to fight and is willing to wait for kirby to complete the entire milky way wishes quest before achieving his goal.

gooey - page of void. void obviously refers to gooey being dark matter, and his mysterious nature there. he’s also subject to obfuscations himself, since he’s often really ignorant of everything around him and doesn’t really know much about anything! pages have a lot of potential but it’s often hard to tell right off the bat, and their powers don’t always manifest in obvious ways. gooey seems like an irrelevant coop character, but he’s already fairly powerful in his own right, since he has many of the same abilities as kirby does. (you might even call copy abilities void-y—you just kinda suck enemies into the void huh?? and one theory says that void is about infinite potential which works with those abilities...) and as a sidekick, he fits the literal meaning of page as well.

ado - seer of space. space is about creation, and she can literally draw things and have them come to life - that is very space-y! seers understand things and guide others, like ado does a lot for kirby in 64, but are powerful in their own right and i don’t doubt that a seer of space could do some wacky creation stuff. also seer seems like a class that would be tied to drawing because you have to see stuff to draw it right..

susie - thief of light. she steals (or intends to steal) information, she has lots of luck, and she lies a bunch (lies to you about the origin of mecha knight and to haltmann about her intentions) which is kinda like stealing correct info from another person. she also is tied to prosperity, which is light-related.

bandana dee - sylph of breath. he is very flexible, a definite hero, supporting his friends a bunch like john does. his spear also feels like a breath weapon, given how light it is and how he can fly with it. he can also jump on air in krtdl, which seems more manipulative of the air than meta or kirby’s flying, since it doesn’t seem like he should be able to fly. (also, blue bandana…) he’s a sylph because he creates for the sake of his friends - because he’s a supporting character he creates flexibility for them, and stalls kirby for dedede in super star. sylphs are also associated with healing, which is basically his whole role in robobot - giving kirby healing items!

[realitv]

EPISODE SIX REWRITES: DONAR THE GREAT.

NOTE: The N*zis will hereby be a local mob. It’s the fucking 20s. I don’t know why they did that. I don’t want to know why they did that. I’m not keeping that in and I’m not acknowledging that as anything more than a shitty, awful fucking choice that really had no business being in there. There’s a lot to unpack in that, and none of it is good. The odd subplot of Technical B.oy recruiting Columbia, Actual Propaganda Creature, was pretty clearly written with Media in mind. Columbia, personification of the USA, was historically a pretty strong propaganda tool and now currently survives via Columbia pictures. Media really did get Columbia, huh. Technical B.oy should have been recruiting Vulcan, Hadúr, Luchtaine et cetera for technology and weaponry purposes during the war. It literally felt like the writers wrote this with Media in mind, and then realised they’d overwritten them. 🤷 Obviously y'all don’t have to go along with this specifically but I say DEATH OF THE SHOW, DEATH OF THE AUTHOR BAY-BEE! 

  IT’S A SEEDY, SMOKEY THEATRE: a hallowed hall where patrons dress up, dress down in ERMINE AND PEARLS to forget their troubles for the night, to believe in something bigger and better than they are. Art deco gilt reads AMERICA: 1929; a world on edge, a tipping point. A bullshit, razzle dazzle show that’s rehearsed and played to death to an audience that adores CHEAP THRILLS. No soul; just some sort of temple to the GLORY DAYS that were long since dead and gone. Applause, please! They’ve been watching. Of course they’ve been watching. Centre stage in a plush booth that reeks of cigarette smoke; the static always comes with them. Radio white noise and the snippets of talk shows filtering through the big jazz band and it crackles within the ears of patrons. Reminds them, tells them: GO HOME. SIT DOWN. LISTEN. LISTEN TO ME. That little brown box with the glowing little dials; the voice America woke up to. They’ve been watching for a while now; a regular devotee from the big leagues come to bless them with their appearance, their presence; people are drawn to them like flies to honey and when they applaud, when they smile, the theatre does too; rows and rows of teeth on display and Wednesday has the nerve to appear with a drink in his hand. IT’S ON THE HOUSE.   “And if I said I don’t want it, honey?” ALL THE DRAMA OF A TALK SHOW HOST! Accented syllables and vowels drawling into the beginnings of a Transatlantic accent. The Mass Media is RADIANT; glowing; spotlights upon that bleached head of perfect curls and it lights up their face; the beginnings of wires and mainframes only just starting to grow through flesh and ink. I GIVE IT AS A GIFT TO YOU. “And I said I don’t want it. See now, I don’t much approve of you and your ilk taking up space in my domain like this.” Another drag from their cigarette. Smoke spiralling into Wednesday’s face and when they laugh, the room fills with the grainy sounds of a radio jingle. “Using my voice like that! Naughty, naughty. IT IS NOT MEANT FOR YOU.” The smile fades, melts from their expression and it leaves them frigid, leaves them cold and sure. Wednesday’s one good eye burns. “I AM THE MESSAGE. The message is the future. I am not for you.” NOW, NOW, MY DEAR. YOU FORGET, WE DID NOT NEED YOU BEFORE. WE DO NOT NEED YOU NOW. THE PEOPLE WILL FORGET. THE PEOPLE WILL MOVE ON, AND YOU WILL BE OBSOLETE. Forgotten. THERE’S NO NEED TO GET ANGRY. “I was there when they wrote your stories into the Edda, when they carved your image into stone. I was there for a great many things, Al. And now, you are on my stage, using my voice. Maybe I’ll stretch my legs, and go see The Law. Tip him off, since this place just ain’t up to snuff. Or, I let you talk: I’ll take my payment later. Do we have a contract?” The white noise presses in; their eyes meet, a steady beat of silence before he nods. WE HAVE A COMPACT.

  CUT BACK TO PRESENT DAY BLACK BRIAR: The World and GENERAL ORGANA at the War Table, the right hand pushing pieces across the map. THE WAR HAS STARTED. World’s voice echoes; General Organa pausing in their ministrations to cast plasma gaze to them. “And no one has realised it. A train crash in Chicago.” A piece moves across the board. “An armed robbery in Rhode Island.” Another. “Poisoned lobster in Nashville.” Eyes meet. They mirror each other; glance for glance, smile for smile; Leia leans in close. “They have been quiet, despite all of this. Are they building THE DEATH STAR?” NO. THEY HAVE SCATTERED, AS I SAID THEY WOULD. ONE BY ONE, THEY WILL FALL. “Of course, Commander. I only wish to do my part to SERVE THE ALLIANCE.” Silence. AND YOU WILL. OF COURSE YOU WILL. YOU BOTH WILL.” Cut to General Organa, brows furrowed: The World beckons; like a shadow, they follow; a quick, purposeful stride, hands pressed to the small of their back to the sidelines. Social Media sifting through images: SWIPE RIGHT? SUPER LIKE? HEART REACT? COMMENT, TWEET, HASHTAG OVER IT! A soft ‘ahem’ from World and the noise dies; turning around to face Commander and General with wide eyes. YEAH? Nervousness, how unlike her. Leia’s gaze burns. BOTH OF YOU MUST MAKE READY FOR THE BROADCAST. “Affirmative. All preparations have been made: I am ready when you are.” I NEED MORE POWER. Two sets of eyes facing the other piece in the puzzle to find it lacking. OUR NEW FRIEND IS COMING. THEY HAVE ASSURED ME: YOU WILL BE READY. Their shadow covers her; drags away as World exits stage right. Two voices left alone; Leia stares, stares, stares. It’s empty, it’s cold; flat. Social Media holds it, twitches: it’s the same numinous dread The Boy had etched into their features whenever the General came calling. “IT’S A WONDER YOU’RE STILL ALIVE. More power. This is child’s play, but then again, YOU’RE A LITTLE SHORT FOR A STORMTROOPER.”

  AMERICA: 1933. THE THEATRE IS CRACKING, YELLOWED: prohibition may have ended but Great Depression left everyone hungry. THEY ENTER IN SILK AND RUBIES: rosy cheeks and the smile of a Hollywood Starlet. Flushed, ALIVE! Hollow eyes stare at them with RAVENOUS hunger and when they laugh, the world tints with static; PRE-CODE MASTERPIECES and biting social commentary. Standing against the backdrop of an abandoned stage and despite themselves, their feet move; tap, slide, swivel; IS IT THE CHARLESTON? Some new crazy song and dance number? TUNE IN! WATCH THE LATE NIGHT PICTURE SHOW! Snapped out of it; a slow, slow clap echoing; spotlight dies and they stand stock still. I DID NOT THINK I’D SEE YOU BACK HERE, MY DEAR. “Mister Wednesday.” A curl of their lip, hopping down from the stage and it’s a quick one-two step. “I’ve come for my payment. We have a need. We’ve had our eye on Miss Columbia. You remember our terms: I LET YOU SPEAK. Now, I want my slice of the pie.   “Hasn’t it been ages since I saw you last, honey?” YOU. YOU AGAIN. Eyes flitting between Wednesday and The Mass Media; tightening the sash on their robe and drawing it to a close under prying eyes. “I thought you’d have been happier to see lil’ ol’ me again after all this time. I’m real sorry about how the Great War ended up, but you know how it is. Mister Money decided LIBERTY SELLS, and THAT’S A WRAP! Centuries of mythos overwritten by another Goddess. She’s doing fine, by the way. All of us are.” Silence. It falls thick and heavy and the world around them buzzes with white noise. “Cat got your tongue?” WE’RE DOING FINE. A pout. “Oh, now, see here, I just hate liars. Can’t stand ‘em! It’s why I got all these new ethics and standards in place. And you, honey, are violating those. Look at you, you look like someone who just crawled out of the DUST BOWL.” And she looks down. Looks at her faded, out of date clothes. The mouldering room around her. Media takes another drag from their cigarette; lounges in the settee that’s falling apart and grins. “You’re just surviving, sweetheart. The people will forget. Then you will die, and I’ll look back on the beautiful legacy we had together, all that teamwork through the centuries and say to myself: ‘If only Miss Columbia had listened to me!’ There’s something coming. We can all feel it. I want to give you your place back, I want to move forward with you. I’ll even put you in the pictures, then you’ll never die.” It’s served on a silver platter, tied with velvet ribbon: how can any God resist? WELL -- I -- Wednesday holds up a hand. SHE’LL THINK ABOUT IT, GIVE YOU AN ANSWER SOON. “Well, don’t keep me waiting, honey.” A languid sigh; standing in a smooth motion as they moved towards the door. “--I’ll be seeing you on the studio lot.” 

  EVEN DYING MALLS HAVE EYES: grainy CCTV footage near a repair chaos picks up a tremor, something not quite right: Wednesday’s spear, carved with runes; near repaired. A black and white eye presses forward, stares. The screen goes blank with a bzzt.  RED ALERT. The noise echoes; lights flashing; World and their right hand ROD SERLING come back by popular remand; finger hovering over red button and the World pushes down to bring an awful silence. WHAT WAS THAT? Social Media scampering in; out of breath. IT’S SO ANALOGUE. As was everything within the space. WE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. “--I was not aware that we were on one.” A sideways glance; World and Serling’s eyes meet; electricity flavours the air. THEY HAVE CARVED THE RUNES INTO THE SPEAR? “Yes. IT IS MAN’S PREROGATIVE TO CREATE THEIR OWN HELL: and we, I believe, HAVE JUST CROSSED INTO THE TWILIGHT ZONE.”