#literally no idea how they intend to do the ice heist at this point... since they decided she needed to nope off

[argylemnwrites]

Enough

Pairing: Sienna Trinh, Elijah Greene, Jackie Varma, and Aurora Emery (friendship); Bryce Lahela x MC (Cassie Vanderfield) - only referenced

Book: Open Heart (book 2, chapter 15)

Word Count: ~1300

Rating: PG-13 (discussion of the Bryce x MC hookup scene)

Summary: Sienna is a patient, understanding woman - or at least she tries to be. But everyone has their limits.

Author’s Note: So, what are the odds that Sienna is written to have any recollection of the fact that she literally walked in on Bryce and my MC going at it? I’m placing my bets on “none” since none of the characters seem to have any reaction to MC having a relationship with anyone other than Ramsey. Hence, this little friendship ficlet where the roomies do get to react. Written for Day 9 of the Choices October Challenge - alcohol.

Sienna let out one last shudder as she exited the elevator. She had not needed to see… that. Not at all. All she had been trying to do was go to bed. After all, she was in the ICU and was doing 24s every four days this block. Everyone else was on way fluffier rotations. But there was no way she was going to be able to go to sleep right now, not after walking in on them.

“Hey, I thought you were going to go crash,” Aurora called out as she caught sight of Sienna making her way over to the table off to the side of the lounge bar at their hotel where she sat with Elijah and Jackie. After heading back from the MGM, those three had decided to have another round or two before heading back to the suite. Jackie was clearly in a “drink so I don’t have to think about what I just did” mood, and Elijah and Aurora had been willing to join her so she wasn’t drinking alone.

Sienna shook her head and sat down next to Jackie. “I need a drink.”

“Alright, Trinh is joining us in keeping the party going!” Jackie called out, her words slightly slurred and definitely louder than usual. “What are you having?”

“Anything to make me forget what I just saw. Anything.”

Jackie didn’t seem to process what she said, twisting around in her chair and trying to wave down a waiter, but Elijah and Aurora both frowned at her statement.

“Sienna, what happened? What did you see?” Elijah asked.

She shook her head, almost hoping she could jar the sight of them from her memory. “What do you think?”

It took them both a second, but at nearly the same time, their eyes widened in understanding. Aurora let out a little sigh as Elijah slid his drink over to her.

“Here, you need this more than I do.”

She grabbed the glass readily and took a large swig, regretting that almost instantly as her eyes began to water and she coughed several times.

“Holy crap, Elijah. That’s so strong!”

He gave an embarrassed sort of shrug. “Yeah… I thought I would channel the whole Vegas-heist-spy vibe fully and go for a martini, but… yeah, it’s kind of a lot stronger than I thought it would be.”

Sienna let out a sigh, then picked up the glass again and downed the rest of the way-too-strong vodka martini.

“That horrible, huh?” asked Aurora when she set the glass back down.

“They were… in the middle of the act.”

“Ouch,” said Elijah, grimacing and shaking his head.

“Do they really think that they are subtle?”

“I’m pretty sure they’re convinced no one knows. Well, except me now. Obviously.”

“Who are we talking about?” asked Jackie, spinning back around to face the table.

“Bryce and Cassie,” said Elijah.

“Why? That’s old news.” Jackie waved her hand dismissively, twisting back around briefly again, but rapidly abandoning her second search for a waiter.

“Sienna just walked in on them…” Aurora trailed off, tilting her head meaningfully.

Given her drunken state, it took Jackie a couple of seconds to process the information, but soon she threw her head back and burst out laughing. “Mid fuck or just naked?”

Sienna shook her head. “They were definitely not finished,” she said, which caused Jackie to laugh harder. “And it’s not funny! I did not want to see… all of that.”

“Oh, but now we can tease them forever!” Jackie said.

“I don’t want to tease them; I just want to erase that image from my retinas!”

“Yeah, I’m with Sienna here,” said Elijah. “You don’t share a bedroom wall with her, but I can tell you from experience, it’s bad enough just hearing them. I can’t imagine having to actually see them… in action.” He grimaced as he finished his thought.

“I don’t see why they are trying to keep this a secret,” added Aurora, taking a sip from her glass of white wine. “I feel like half the hospital knew they were together when I transferred, and I’m guessing they haven’t suddenly become more discreet.”

Sienna shook her head vigorously as Elijah did the same. “No, if anything, they’ve gotten worse.”

“It’s ridiculous!” Sienna called out, slamming her hand down on the table with a little more force than she intended. Maybe downing a martini on top of all the champagne she had earlier was a bad idea, but it was too late to undo that now. Instead, it was probably better just to embrace the buzz. “I’m so tired of having to pretend like they’re just friends! It’s stupid!”

“What else can we do? If they don’t want to tell us, it’s not really our business,” said Aurora with a little shrug.

“It’s my business when I literally saw them… doing that!”

“Having sex, Sienna. You can say ‘sex,’” Jackie said, draining the last of her drink.

“I’ve had enough of this! I’m done acting like they aren’t together!”

“So what are you going to do, Sienna?”

Sienna bit her lip as she thought about Aurora’s question. As much as she wanted to just ask Bryce and Cassie point blank what their deal was, she knew that wouldn’t really help the situation at all. They were only going to be open about being together when they were good and ready. It was still really annoying, though.

She let out a sigh. “Nothing. I’m going to do nothing.”

Elijah reached over and patted her hand gently. “Do you want to share a room tonight? We can leave them the bed they… already used.”

She hadn’t thought about the sleeping arrangements. The rooms were supposed to be Jackie and Aurora in the master, Sienna and Cassie on the other king bed, and Bryce and Elijah in the room with the two queens, but Sienna had little interest in getting into her assigned bed at this point. She nodded aggressively, grateful for Elijah’s offer. “Absolutely. I am not climbing into that bed. No way.”

“Of course. Bryce has the grey suitcase, so you can just move it out and switch it with your stuff when you want to crash.”

Sienna shook her head. “I’m not chancing going back up there anytime soon.”

“So, does that mean you are gonna close out the bar with us?” Jackie asked, a grin sliding across her face.

Sienna gave her a little smile. She was probably going to be hung over tomorrow anyway, so what would a few more drinks hurt? “Sure, why not?”

“Yes! I’ll go get the next round!” Jackie climbed out of her chair with significantly less grace than usual, but she wasn’t swaying too badly as she crossed the room.

“How’s she doing?” Sienna asked, watching her lean over the bar and pass her credit card to a bartender.

Aurora shrugged. “She’s obviously drinking a lot, but I don’t think it’s to a level that we need to worry about.”

“Plus, now that you are also drinking to forget something that happened tonight, I think she won’t feel so alone,” Elijah quipped. A few minutes later, Jackie wandered back to the table, the bartender at her side with a tray of drinks.

“Who’s got the Long Island Iced Tea?” he asked, glancing around the table.

“That’s for her,” said Jackie, pointing straight at Sienna. “She needs to forget what happened tonight.”

Sienna just smiled and thanked the bartender. Deep down, she knew there wasn’t enough alcohol in all of Las Vegas to erase that vision from her memory, but sharing some drinks and some laughs with some of her closest friends might be helpful just the same.

Permatag: @walkerswhiskeygirl @riley--walker @bebepac @oofchoices @octobereighth @drakewalker04 @kimmiedoo5 @mfackenthal @thequeenofcronuts

OH: @rookie-ramsey @omgjasminesimone @ao719 @lovella-lah

Event: @choicesoctoberchallenge2020 @lucy-268​

[sucker-for-six-of-crows]

Okay so I just realized that I’m more obsessed with Kaz x Nikolai than I’d previously thought???

Because like

- Kaz being so completely entranced by Sturmhond’s cunning nature when he’d helped them during the whole issue with Van Eck

- He was (barely) keeping his emotions in check the whole time

-Kaz taking Inej’s announcement that she’s going to start going out with Nina in stride because that morning he’d received a mysterious letter that showered him in compliments and was only signed ‘S’

-He and Sturmhond writing letters back and forth for months

-Kaz slowly becoming captivated by the charming, witty words on the paper and the loopy ‘S’ that he now knows stands for ‘Sturmhond’

-The Dregs noticing how Kaz is constantly distracted and is caught daydreaming with a small smile on his face

-The Dregs breaking into Kaz’s office when he’s out and rifling through the drawers of his desk until they find tons and tons of letters stashed away, all of them neat and kept safe and close to his heart

-Kaz almost having a heart attack when Sturmhond finally asks to meet in person, by the docks

-“Why do you look more dressed up than usual, Kaz???” Nina will demand playfully as she and Inej cuddle on the couch. “You got a hot date???”

-No reply

-Kaz’s heart relocating to his throat when he finds Sturmhond leaning against the wall with a bouquet of flowers in his hand

-Flowers that he gives to Kaz

-Finding out that Sturmhond is also uncomfortable taking off his gloves

-Kaz being shocked when he finds out that Sturmhond booked them a dinner at a super fancy restauraunt

-”How do you have this much money??? Aren’t you a pirate????”

-”I have my ways”

-Kaz growing increasingly flushed as Sturmhond compliments him shamelessly at the table for two, shocked at how completely at ease he is around a notorious criminal and conman

-Getting into a heated but friendly debate on which country would win if the whole world went to war

-Kaz is all for Shu Han and their advanced weaponry, but Nikolai is (surprise, surprise!) firmly supporting Ravka and their Second Army

-Kaz being a little sad when they finally part ways, growing even more flustered when Sturmhond takes his hand and kisses his gloved knuckles, bowing before disappearing off into the night

-Kaz standing there, star-struck and staring in the direction Sturmhond had gone for ten whole minutes before heading back to the Slat

-The Dregs COMPLETELY noticing the vase full of flowers on Kaz’s desk the next morning

- Kaz and Sturmhond hanging out constantly, growing closer and closer until Kaz isn’t sure he’d be able to go a day without that charming smile and those witty remarks

- Kaz missing him terribly for the long months in which he has to go away.

-”Pirate stuff” Sturmhond says. “A guy’s got to make a living somehow.”

-Kaz is suspicious, but his loneliness distracts him from the half-assed excuses

-Sturmhond telling Kaz all of these fantastic tales of his voyages at sea, all of them sounding realistic except for the one about the legendary Sun Summoner, which Kaz just scoffs and rolls his eyes at.

-In return, Kaz telling Sturmhond about his most daring heists, and Sturmhond is shocked when he finds that it was the Dregs who’d broken into the Ice Court.

-”That was you?!?!???!!!!??”

- After several months Kaz finally opening up about why he’s uncomfortable taking off his gloves when they hold hands and refuses to hug or kiss

- Sturmhond taking off his gloves in front of Kaz to show him the scars from the ninchevo’ya transformation.

-Several months after that Kaz “Dirtyhands” Brekker is caught by the rest of the Dregs sitting on the stoop of the Slat holding hands with Sturmhond and kissing him. None of them have gloves on.

-Kaz catching on that Sturmhond isn’t actually who he says he is when he catches him going to a Grisha for his face to be tailored

-Kaz being mad a first for being lied to but then realizing how desparate Sturmhond is to keep him

-”Why don’t you just tell him the truth, Nikolai?” the Grisha tailor will say as Kaz watches through the window and listens in through the cracks.

- “I can’t-” Nikolai’s voice breaks. “I can’t lose him. If Kaz realizes who I really am, he’ll hate me. I…I think I’m in love with him.”

-Kaz staggering home and refusing to leave his room when the Dregs knock on his door

-He doesn’t come out even when Nikolai comes knocking on the door the next day to pick him up for their daily noontime date

-Kaz refuses to see Nikolai for a week, but every day he keeps coming, and every day the Dregs still let him inside

-Because they know that Nikolai needs Kaz and Kaz needs Nikolai

-Kaz not responding as Nikolai stands on the other side of his door and begs to be let in

-”Did I do something wrong? Kaz, please talk to me!” Softer, he’d murmur. “I miss you.”

-Then one day Kaz opens the door

-They have a long private talk about it, and eventually Kaz is able to forgive him for lying.

-He’s also able to wrap his mind around the fact that someone loves him. Romantically.

-He even whispers “I love you, too” because by this point they’ve been dating for a year or so and there’s no point in lying to himself

-Nikolai stops going to the tailor and begins to indulge Kaz, spoiling him rotten

-He also seems to be adamant about paying for everything

-”Who’s the king here? Besides, all that money isn’t your own, anyway.”

-Kaz doesn’t argue

- For the next couple of years, the couple spends their time between Kerch and Ravka

-Nikolai being accepted as one of the Dregs and getting his tattoo because he might as well since he’s there literally all the time

-The whole big palace and little palace taking a loving to Kaz despite his rough exterior, getting into a hardcore competition to see who can make him smile

-That ability seems to only belong to Nikolai and the Dregs

-The two of them sharing a bed in Kaz’s tiny, homey room or in Nikolai’s extravagant chambers

-Kaz attending dinners and balls and galas with Nikolai, the two of them always arm in arm and holding hands under the table

-Ravka seems totally okay with having their king marry a man.

-Nikolai taking Kaz on long voyages at sea with his pirate crew

-One day they’re in the royal gardens, five or six years into their relationship, and Nikolai brings Kaz to one of their favorite hangout spots by a fountain

-AND THEN HE’S GETTING DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND KAZ CAN’T BREATHE BECAUSE HOLY SHIT THIS IS HAPPENING

-NIKOLAI GIVING KAZ THE FAMILY RING THAT HE’D ORIGINALLY INTENDED FOR ALINA

-Kaz says yes, of course

-They have two weddings, one small private one in Ketterdam with only their close friends in attendance and then a gigantic ball in Ravka

-Half the country attends because even they love Kaz because he helps the poor by stealing from the rich like a black-clad Robin Hood. (He only steals from the bad rich that exploit their workers- he used to think all rich people were bad, but Nikolai is the obvious exception)

-The church is packed as Kaz walks down the isle towards Nikolai, who’s all dolled up in his King’s outfit and is staring at Kaz open-mouthed

-Nikolai grabbing Kaz’s face and kissing him hard when the person in charge of the ceremony pronounces them husband and husband

-Kaz is so flustered that he just melts into it

-The afterparty is insane

- There’s singing and dancing and a whole orchestra as Kaz is introduced to tons of important people and Grisha of all orders

-The Dregs were all invited, and they’re sitting off to the side awkwardly as Nina meets up with old Grisha friends and introcudes them to her girlfriend

-Inej is blushing and embarrassed to say the least as Zoya and Genya fawn over them

-Nikolai pulling Kaz off to the side to introduce him to two seemingly normal people that can only stay for a little while.

-The woman has a hood pulled over her head but once they’re alone she pulls it down and reveals a shock of white hair. Her husband his gruff but friendly, and both congratulate them before disappearing off into the night.

-Kaz has an idea of who they are

-When the party is over they retire to Nikolai’s chambers, where they fall onto the bed

-Clothes are slowly shed and tossed onto the floor

-Kaz getting all blushy when Nikolai tells him how gorgeous he is

-They haven’t done anything up until this point because Kaz was always too nervous about his flashbacks, but Nikolai is patient and caring and Kaz knows that he’s safe as his legs frame Nikolai’s hips.

-Kaz being how shocked at how good it feels

-The two of them falling asleep in each other’s arms

-Kaz wondering how he managed to be alone for so many years

-They’re together happily until the day they die- it’s the same night, both in their sleep, and they’re both well into their old age

-Kaz Dirtyhands Brekker, the Demjin, the Bastard of the Barrel, doesn’t get shot in his twenties and have his body dumped in the canal

-No, instead he dies peacefully in his sleep in the Ravkan palace with his husband next to him, holding his hands and smiling

-He dies happy