#originally intended to post yesterday but i wanted to keep the attention on the delightful gift art from myre

[juls-art]

Terrance, another beloved oc from yonder years u vu

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[ellstersmash]

Not to Keep

Fandom: Mass Effect (Original Trilogy) Pairing: Kaidan x f!Shepard Rating: T for Teen (cw for alcohol use) Words: 2.7k [Read on Ao3]

shep and kaidan go undercover, set early in me1. this was originally a prompt for "fake relationship" from Leather & Lace Romance Week, but then I waited 3.5 years to finish it 🥀

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It all seemed so simple. Infiltrate a wedding, extract intel on Benezia, use that to find Saren.

Easy-peasy.

Until Shepard shows up in the shuttle bay looking like that. They've only been working together for a couple of months, and Kaidan has seen her covered in blood spatter, dripping sweat post-PT—hell, even bare naked in a hotel room. But it’s safe to say he never thought he'd see her like this. Full makeup, soft curls, a long red dress that shouldn't fit anyone that perfectly, and, dangling from two fingers, a pair of classy black heels.

Kaidan swallows hard and gives her a curt nod. “Ma’am.”

“Alenko.” He shifts on his feet as her eyes travel the length of his body and back up, her cool stare giving nothing away. “You clean up nice.”

“Ah, thanks. And you look—”

“Oh, I'm dressed to kill.” Lips the same shade as her dress curve into a grin. “Figuratively, for once.”

Kaidan chokes and laughs, caught off guard in a mixture of nerves and surprise. “Was that a joke, Commander?”

Her expression narrows into a pinched, self-deprecating smirk. “If you have to ask, then no. And I definitely haven't been thinking about it since Williams zipped this damn thing up.”

The thought of his CO, this formidable woman, giggling to herself over a stupid joke for an hour is... well, it’s uncharacteristically cute. Kaidan rolls it around in his head for an indulgent minute, trying on the fit before letting the image go.

Just one more thing to jam into that Never Gonna Happen file.

“Right,” she says, back to business. “Let’s get this over with.”

They board the shuttle for the short trip to the venue, and go over the mission brief one final time: intel extraction remains their highest priority—one of their hosts, Polona T’Shan, was rumored to have a close business connection with the matriarch; protecting their cover is important, but heavy security is not expected; their false identity profiles should be enough to get them in the door, and from there the two of them will be responsible for avoiding unwanted attention by appearing as a couple.

Kaidan knows his own limits. He’s a soldier, not an actor. This pretending to be someone else, this lie, it isn't part of his training and it sure as hell isn't part of who he is. But if Shepard’s as nervous as he is, she isn't showing it.

She’s looking at him again, in that intense all-in way she sometimes does. Before her, he had never met someone who was aware of—and pursued—what they wanted with such confidence, such dogged determination, and to have that kind of focus set on him even for just a moment is… terrifying. In a good way, he thinks. It makes him feel warm and cold at the same time. It also makes him want to stare right back, but that way lies only trouble, and none of them need another helping. Not right now.

Kaidan leans back and rests his head on the cool, if slightly unsteady, inner shuttle wall as Shepard drums a rhythmless pattern into the space between their seats.

---

Kyra drains her glass.

As it turns out, Asari weddings aren't all that different from the few human ones she’s attended. Though this reception is a far more extravagant affair than she’s used to: four days of mingling and games and dancing and drinking and food. Really not her cup of tea.

And apparently not Alenko’s, either.

He’d made a beeline for the bar as soon as they’d entered, and returned with an easier stride and a glass full of some bubbling neon sugary shit for her. She’d have preferred something stronger, of course, but they do have a mission to complete. If they can manage to get Polona alone for a moment.

She slips her hand into the crook of his elbow and feels him stiffen, then relax. Quick and conscious. He’s nervous, out of place, on edge, and then completely calm and collected.

No doubt in her mind he was the right pick for this one.

The thought settles her stomach, and just in time. Two asari approach, their hands extended in enthusiastic welcome.

“Greetings!” one of them says, with a voice smooth and sweet as wildflower honey. “Oh, what a lovely pair you two make. Right out of the vids, could be. This one’s even better looking up close, don’t you think so, Liria?” The asari takes Alenko’s hand, sensual and deliberate, then turns her attention to Kyra. “And goddess, that dress is stunning; really, sweetie, it fits you like a glove. You”—she drags one finger down Alenko’s lapel—“are a lucky man, I hope you know.”

Eyes wide, he clears his throat and coughs, then regains his composure with a brief glance in Kyra’s direction.

The second asari offers an apologetic look to each of them in turn. “Rialla, darling, slow down or you’ll scare them off.”

“They certainly look sturdy enough.”

“I am so sorry. She’s had quite a bit to drink, I’m afraid. Never could pace herself at a wedding.” She laughs. “My name is Liria, and my companion’s name is Rialla, and ever since we saw you walk in, we have just been itching to get to know you.”

Kyra plasters what she hopes is a warm smile on her face, mentally pulling up her cover identity as reference. “Emily, and I’m delighted to meet you both. This is John, my um—”

“Her very lucky partner.”

The two matriarchs titter and tease him, both in turn, and once again he’s in control. Kyra can’t help but be impressed by how effortlessly he charms them. And she’s far from immune. It’s her mission, yet she is all too prepared to be led around the room by that firm hand at the small of her back.

Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko: respected Alliance Marine, powerful L2 biotic, all-around stand-up guy, and—apparently—a smooth son-of-a-bitch. It’s an unexpected feature for someone so soft-spoken and unpretentious. Like he has a hidden switch somewhere.

Or a button.

Press For Instant Charisma.

She briefly entertains the idea of hunting for it, then aborts the thought with a twist of her lips and tunes back in to the conversation.

---

The lie is getting easier. Shepard is tucked under Kaidan’s arm, and he’s almost comfortable.

Their new friends are exactly the right sort. Nosy, talkative, well into their cups, and connected. Old friends of their mark, both of them, and Liria has history with Benezia herself. Shepard spins her tale about a chance meeting with the missing matriarch at a charity benefit and their tapering correspondence, followed by a rumor igniting hope for reconnection. And they eat it right up.

All he has to do is act natural and help Shepard keep them talking.

“Well, you know Polona wasn’t only Benezia’s lawyer.” Liria leans in close, her voice not quite as hushed as she probably intended. “They were involved, some centuries back. Quite the scandal at the time, but then Benezia always had... selfish tendencies. Now, I’m not sure why they parted ways, or how serious it was, but—”

Not to be outdone, Rialla’s hands flutter for attention as she pipes in. “It must be more than a passing fling from two hundred years ago, though, because I heard that her Turian lover—or, well, husband now—almost called off this very wedding!”

“Really?” Shepard asks. What’s supposed to be idle curiosity is bordering on serious interest, her voice taking on a firm, interrogative quality to match her narrowed gaze, but a brush of his thumb on her shoulder and she reigns it in. Loosens up with a tilt of her head and a hand to his thigh that has him tensing up instead.

“Oh, yes,” Rialla says. “It was all very tenuous there for a while. And to think, then the four of us would never have met!”

Kaidan raises his glass with a smile as genuine as he can muster. “A tragic loss for us, to be sure.”

With a deep, warm smile, Rialla fans her face and leans in close to Shepard, but speaks for the whole table to hear. “Do let me know when you're finished with him, would you, dear? I think I may be quite in love.”

He's fine until Shepard smirks, then he's far too warm. Suffocating.

He tugs at his collar. “You think their, uh, conflict had something to do with Polona and Benezia’s involvement?”

“I seriously doubt it,” Liria says with a dismissive wave of her hand. “That was ages ago, not yesterday. Beni’s still pining after Aeth—”

Rialla laughs. “Oh, it’s Beni, now? I had no idea you were such intimate friends!”

“I’m 800 years old, my dear.” Liria scoffs. “I have quite a few friends you don’t know about.”

“Is that supposed to make me jealous?”

“Of course not, don’t be silly!”

“Silly? Goddess, must you always be so patronizing?”

“Must you always twist my words?”

“Oh, here we go!”

The situation spirals into chaos before either he or Shepard can recover it, and she stands up from the table, pulling at his elbow.

“I love this song,” she mutters pointedly, and leads him to the dance floor. It’s a slow number, thank god. He’s not nearly drunk enough to dance to something with a beat.

They sway slowly, and she presses close, his neck prickling underneath her palm. His own hands settle on her waist, then more naturally to her hips.

“Damn,” she whispers. “Damn.”

“I know. But hey, we’ve got the rest of the night. And tomorrow night. And the next night. And—”

“The next night, I know.” She groans and drops her head to his shoulder.

Kaidan smiles into her hair.

---

The night is officially over. The band is still playing, but most of the guests are gone, and despite making a number of connections, they’ve learned nothing more about Benezia's whereabouts.

They have, however, made decent use of the open bar.

Kyra downs the last of her champagne and orders a cocktail, dealer's choice. It arrives glowing and smoking and she takes the skyward trajectory of Alenko’s brows as a personal challenge not to hesitate.

A potent combination of peppermint and blueberries and battery acid hits the back of her throat and makes her head swim on contact.

Next to her, Alenko is nursing his third.

“How’s your drink?” he asks.

“Surprising.”

“In a good way or a bad way?”

“Um… Yes.” She clinks her fingernail against his glass. “How’s your whiskey?”

He frowns and takes a sip. “This is not whiskey.”

“Didn’t realize you were such a connoisseur.”

“No, I mean it is literally not whiskey. Didn’t have it, I guess.” He drinks again. “It’s weird, right? Walk into any bar on Earth and they’ll have a dozen to pick from, but soon as you take off…”

“Yeah.” She sighs. “No burgers. No guac. No ice cream.”

The low chuckle he gives is a sound she’d like to hear again. And again, and again, and—

“When you put it like that, this spacer life is a real sorry existence.”

Kyra nods and wonders what he misses most from home. Or who. But that is none of her business, so she empties her glass and tips the bartender in preparation to leave.

“Sorry tonight was a bust, Shepard.”

“It wasn’t a total loss. Decent food, free booze.” She rests her chin on one closed fist. “Good company.”

“By that, I assume you mean our new asari friends.”

“Sure.”

Holding his gaze is harder than it should be. He cradles his nearly-empty glass and taps his fingers in sequence. Up and down, like a zipper.

At last, he looks away. “I was going to say ‘beautiful,’ by the way.”

“Hmm?”

“Earlier, before we left. I was going to tell you how incredible you looked, but then you interrupted me, and I never really got the chance to say it so I figured I might as well say it now.”

Warmth rises in her belly and she rides it like a wave, unscathed and unchanged on the other side. She turns to face him, wriggling in the seat in preparation like he’s about to try and upend her. “All right, Alenko. Hit me. I’m ready.”

He gives a huff of nervous laughter, one hand going straight to the back of his neck. “Well, uh... that was pretty much it.”

“That’s it? You waited all night to tell me that you were going to tell me I looked beautiful, but didn’t?”

His lips roll together, and he cedes the point with a tilt of his head, then meets her eyes again before his take a slow, uncertain wander around the rest of her features.

“Shepard,” he says when he makes it back, and it’s a name so overused it may as well be a title—but not spoken like that. Low and drawn out and a little bit reverent, it becomes almost intimate for the first time in years and she can't help but wonder how her first might sound.

“You look really beautiful tonight.”

Oh. Oh no. Kyra knows she should say thank you, and tell him to finish his drink so they can get out of here, but this next wave won’t subside and the air won’t reach her lungs and all she can do is stare at him.

“I mean, not just tonight, but especially—” he continues, visibly flustered by her silence. “You know, the dress and the lips—ah, make-up! And, and the hair and everything, it’s just very, um, tasteful, and… Um.” He clears his throat and pushes his drink away by inches, folding his hands tight together. "Feel free to stop me anytime.”

Ah. There. That’s the Alenko she knows and can handle.

“Now why would I do a thing like that?” she says, sending a silent prayer of thanks to whichever god kept her voice from breaking.

The smile they exchange is soft and charged and it smooths him over. His eyes are brown. Kyra knew that already, but clinically. On paper. Hair: black. Eyes: brown. Year of birth: 2151.

She didn’t know it like this, tangibly, all wrapped up and swept away in a simple fact.

This time she’s the one to give in. “You know, you should really keep that button pressed, Alenko.”

“What?”

“The charisma button.” She jerks her head toward the door, grabs his hand for the sake of anyone who might still be awake and sober enough to notice, and leads him out. “Push it. More.”

“I— what?”

Kyra chuckles to herself and steps into the elevator. “Forget it.”

The doors close once she chooses a floor and she regrets taking his hand because now she has to let go.

Kiss me. Come on, Alenko. Quick, before we go back. She can’t think it any louder, can’t make it any clearer without crossing a line. Be better if he does it, but he won’t. She knows he wants to just like she knows he never will, because he’s a good soldier and a good soldier doesn’t fuck with the chain of command. Not without a compelling reason, at least, and she can’t give him one.

Their floor lights up and reality pours in. He follows her across the dock, at a distance now that no one who would care might be watching.

Kyra takes a sharp, deep breath. Three more nights of this—unless they can get their intel sooner. Three more nights of flirting and dancing and soft touches all for show and not to keep. Maybe she should have brought Williams after all. Or Garrus. Or anyone else.

Distracted, she nearly trips getting into the shuttle, and somehow he’s right there, a broad hand on her waist to steady her.

A nod and he detaches. Steps back. “Ma’am.”

Ma’am. But he is a terrible liar, and she’s never been good at a long con.

[frostsinth]

The Bard’s Bounty - Pt. 9

Parts 1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8

GAhhh. I lied. I’m a liar. I did not have this part written like I said yesterday. And I had a really hard time writing it. But here it is. The almost last part. I hope you enjoy it. I’ll be posting the final part and conclusion tomorrow...

I’m kinda eager to be done with this story; it got much more dark than I originally intended. I have a few others kicking around in my brain to polish up and post. I might send out a poll or something to see which one should be next!

The room spun around him, and his breath came in thin, agonized pants. Some mixture of sweat and blood dribbled down his prominent brow, dripping from the tip of his nose to pool on the floor. A floor already so slick with his blood that his feet slipped each time he tried to stand. So he stopped trying, letting himself hang from the manacles at his wrists, waiting for the next blow. There was some relief in his chest that softened each strike and numbed the pain. All stemming from the idea that perhaps his entire existence was not completely wasted. After all, Iara was safe. At least he had managed to help one person in his life.

A pair of boots came into his view, and he stiffened involuntarily. The owner tucked a riding crop under the orc’s broad chin, forcing his head back to look up at him.

The Sheriff was not a large man. He might have come halfway up the orc’s chest if the pair stood face to face, though likely he would have fallen even shorter of the mark. But he held himself in such a way that one would never notice. Not for more than a moment, at least. Before the horrible feeling of dread leaked into you. Perhaps it was the short, hooked nose, or the slicked back blonde hair. Or the way he squared his shoulders and walked with such mechanical precision. 

If Balam had to pick a reason the diminutive man was so unsettling, it would be his eyes. Beady blue eyes that always seemed to be narrowed. One could almost see the nasty cogs turning behind them.

Now, each time he looked into them, all he could think about was the last woman he had tried to save. Balam tightened his teeth at the thought, looking up at the man with a grim expression knitted between his brows.

The Sheriff smirked, dropping the crop and letting the orc’s head fall back down into his chest.

“You were right, bard,” He announced, walking over to the table nearby where a variety of instruments were spread out for his amusement, “It is much more enjoyable to have you here alive-” He lifted up a nasty looking dagger, with a double barbed and hooked tip- “Worth every penny.”

Balam grunted, shifting himself a little. His chains, secured to the ceiling, clinked slightly with his movement. He glanced at the man out of the corner of one swollen eye. His body felt like a shapeless lump; each new instrument the man produced made him writhe in a pain he had never known before. But he had already resigned himself to this fate. Had already made peace with his end. Though he certainly hoped it would come sooner rather than later.

“Yeah well,” He mumbled, working his words out around a fat lip, “Sorry I’m such an expensive date.”

Resigned to his fate, yes. But not about to go quietly to it.

The Sheriff tossed his head back and laughed. When he finally managed to compose himself again, he sauntered slowly back over.

“Such a delight,” He said, tracing the tip of the blade along a fresh patch of skin, “Torture is all well and good, but without banter-” He flicked the tip up, slicing a tiny cut into his chest, “-It’s hardly better than boring old butchery.”

The orc stifled a grunt at the cut, shaking his big head and leaning it against one arm. “Either way you’ll get your pound of flesh.”

“Indeed.” Grinned the Sheriff, walking in a slow circle around him. “What a specimen you are! Certainly, you are quite the canvass to work on…” He dropped down into a crouch before his face, flicking him on the nose. “You’ll let me know if you’re enjoying yourself, hmm? You are my first orc after all. I want to be sure I manage it right.”

Balam didn’t get a chance to respond as the man hooked the tips of his knife into the softy fleshy part of his arm. With a deft flick, he yanked it back out, and the bard snarled and gritted his teeth.

“Then again, you are hardly a true orc, are you?” The Sheriff continued, standing. He seemed to have a thought, pausing by his side. “Though perhaps you can help me find another to play with. I am certain you didn’t just spring out of the ground. Your tribe or whatever you beasts call yourselves must be nearby.”

The bard spat out another mouthful of blood, rolling his bruised tongue about in his mouth. “I’ve half a mind to tell you. It’d be worth it to know they’d tear you apart.” The big orc couldn’t help but grin, “Your training is what we call a game meant for Tlaloc children.”

“Dear me, then I will have to find one of the ugly little bastards to continue my experiments on.” He began tracing the blade back down his captive’s side. “I will need a control group, after all.”

Balam growled, twisting weakly in his manacles. “You wouldn’t get within a hundred yards-”

“Why don’t you tell me where they are, and we’ll test that theory out for ourselves?” He cut him off, and the orc winced sharply as the Sheriff cut another notch into him.

They were interrupted by a loud banging overhead, and several panicked shouts. Sudden silence, then, after a few moments,  a soft, humming tune. Balam stiffened at the sound, raising his head. That tune. He had only ever heard it...

“Iara!” He gasped, a little too loudly.

The Sheriff turned, spinning back to the door to the cellar just as a guard barged through.

“Sir! There’s an intruder in the Manor!” He gasped, and a thin slice on one cheek led credence to his claim as he staggered into the room.

The Sheriff raised one thin blonde eyebrow at him. “What the hell do you think-”

Another shout, followed by a loud crash. Then a body came rolling down the stairs, slamming into the reporting guard and knocking him off his feet. The Sheriff ran to his table of torture instruments, grabbing his crossbow and swinging it around to bear….

.........

I followed the recruit down the stairs, leaping nimbly to the side. Just in time to dodge a bolt fired from somewhere within the room. Overhead there was chaos as the few remaining guards panicked between trying to help their injured comrades and following after me.

But for a moment, the world went silent. A pair of big brown eyes was all I could see, looking up at me from a beaten and worn face. I almost shook from relief. Alive! He was alive.

At first, a similar look reflected in his own eyes. It was soon replaced by horror. His fat lip curled back, baring bloody teeth at me. I almost laughed out loud at the site of his anger.

“What the hell do you think-” He started.

I didn’t have time to hear the end of it, dodging to the side as another bolt skipped off the stone wall where I had been a moment before. The sounds of the world came crashing back to my ears, and my head rang painfully with their echo. I rolled easily back to my feet and launched myself forward.

The Sheriff gave a delightfully panicked squeal of alarm as I slammed my shoulder into him. Knocking him sheer off his feet. He fell back with a satisfying plop onto his ass, and his crossbow flew out of his hands.

“That was easy.” I breathed, wiping my hands on my trousers.

“You!” Cried the Sheriff, bewildered as he looked up at me from his place on the ground. His eyes darted over my armor, then back to my face. “You are from the Guild! What is the meaning of this??”

“Change of plans.” I told him, reaching down and grabbing him by his lapels. I yanked him to his feet, then twisted his arm behind his back as painfully as I could manage. “You would be the Sheriff, I presume?”

“I paid you! I paid you!” He snarled. “The orc is mine! Fair and square!”

I twisted his arm more, and he gasped in anger and pain. “Sorry, that’s where you’re wrong-” I spun us around, glancing over at Balam, “-The orc is mine.”

“Gods you’re an arrogant twat!” He growled back, shaking his big head. “What the hell are you doing here?!”

“Saving your stupid ass,” I told him, turning my attention to the door, “But there will be time for thanks later.”

A handful of soldiers had managed to stagger down the steps, and the one toppled over by his fallen comrade was finding his feet again. I drew my dagger out of my belt and pressed it to the Sheriff’s neck.

“Hold!” I ordered the men, and they froze in place, eyes suddenly wide. “Drop your weapons.”

The Sheriff wriggled in my grasp, and I pressed my blade harder against his skin. He instantly froze, feeling it rasp against his throat when he swallowed. His beady blue eyes snaked back over to his men.

“Do as the bitch says!” He snapped.

The guards quickly dropped their weapons, raising their hands up by their heads. I jerked my own head towards Balam.

“Release him.” They exchanged looks, and I dug the knife a little deeper until the man gasped quietly. “Now!”

There was more scrambling as the men tried to find the keys to Balam’s manacles. But they did, and quickly freed him. He dropped to all fours with a heavy grunt, his arms shaking from the effort of holding himself up.

“Can you walk?” I asked him, careful to keep my grip firm on the Sheriff. I saw his eye roll back to glare at me from it’s corner. When Balam nodded, I jerked my chin at the guards. “Clear the way-” They hesitated again, “-MOVE! NOW!”

Again, they nearly ran each other over in their mad scramble to do as they were told. Slowly, Balam grunted, then growled, barely managing to get his feet under him. But he managed. My heart ached and I had a hard time pulling my gaze away from him as he used the wall as a crutch to slowly climb the steps. A pinch of the now familiar rage bit at my stomach, and I made sure the Sheriff was less than comfortable with my treatment. I followed close behind Balam, dragging the Sheriff with me. Careful to never turn my back on his men. They watched us cautiously, hands still palm up to let me see they weren’t making any unwanted moves.

Above the cellar was the kitchen, and the last guard still there was sprawled unconscious on the table, shattered remnants of pots and plates around him. Balam glanced at him, then shot me one raised bushy eyebrow. I merely shrugged, watching as the guards slowly followed us up from the cellar. I could see them growing restless. Their surprise at my sudden appearance was fading. And they were starting to get ideas.

“Unhand me, you savage bitch!” Snarled the Sheriff, finding he had a few ideas of his own. “I’ll have your hide! I’ll have both your hides!”

He twisted in my grip, so I kneed him hard between the legs. His gasping, sputtering breath accompanied us out of the kitchen and into the courtyard.

“Could you please move a little faster?” I complained, glancing at the bard out of the corner of my eye. “I know I make this look easy but-”

“Oh, just leave me be.” He growled back, shaking his great head.

I chanced a glance at him again and almost winced for the sight of him. Bloodied, bruised, and limping. But he was moving at least. I took heart in that.

Goda whinnied excitedly from her place beside the oak tree in the center of the courtyard, bobbing her head up and down. The big gelding tossed his own head, nostrils flaring nervously as we made our way cautiously towards them.

The guards fanned out once they exited the kitchen, their hands balling into fists. Their eyes narrowing. This posturing certainly wasn’t going to last much longer.

The sudden thundering of hooves made me groan, and I spun to face the small force of horses that swept in through the open gateway. Balam had reached our mounts and grabbed their reins. I stood between him and the others, dagger still poised against the Sheriff’s neck.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” I hissed as Varius dismounted from the foremost horse and strode over.

There was a thunder on his brow I couldn’t remember having ever seen before, and with a flick of his wrist he signaled the other Guild members to fan out as well. Until we were surrounded. Guards on one side. Bounty Hunters on the other.

“Apologies, My Lord,” Varius called to the Sheriff coolly, pacing closer, “This is a… disgruntled former Guild member. We’ve come to take care of her for you.” One incisor flashed in the setting sun as he smiled. “Free of charge.”

“I don’t care what it costs!” Snarled the Sheriff, wriggling in my arms again. I tightened my grip, and he spat at the cobblestones before him. “Tell the Guildmaster if he gives me her head, I’ll double my usual payment.”

I thought I saw a twitch in Varius’ eyebrow, and Sigi came up to stand at his shoulder. She glanced between me and the half-elf. When he didn’t answer, she pulled an arrow from her quiver and notched it.

“Guildmaster Warrick is dead.” She proclaimed, loudly, as if announcing it to the whole town. “Varius is Guildmaster now.”

“Hail Guildmaster Varius.” Chanted the Guildsmen uniformly.

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. I thought silently to myself. There was certainly no love-loss between Varius and me. Bitter rivals since we were children. But I saw a shadow cross his face at his partner’s words. And something inside me shivered. Remembering exactly what kind of childhood we had shared. I wondered if he sensed it too, in that moment, as our eyes locked.

“Release the Sheriff, Iara,” He said finally, his voice cold, “Let’s not make this any messier than it has to be.”

“Iara,” I heard Balam whisper sharply behind me.

I ignored him, glaring back at Varius. “Warrick banished me, but he is dead. You are not beholden to his laws.”

The half-elf laughed, placing his hands on his hips. “Is that your way of asking to come back?” He scoffed, shaking his head, “You think I’m that stupid?”

“No,” I replied honestly, and his gaze met mine again, “No… But you make the rules now… So what kind of Master are you, Varius?”

I thought I saw him wince, but it could have been the dipping sunlight playing with the shadows around him. Sigi glanced at him, then at me, her eyes narrowing suspiciously at whatever kind of secret language appeared to be passing between us. I wondered if he had ever told her. Or perhaps he bore his scars the same way I did.

“Shut up! Shut up both of you!” Screeched the Sheriff, wriggling in my arms fiercely. “You are BOUNTY HUNTERS!! I place a bounty on her head! Both their heads! Bring them to me!”

Varius smirked, eyeing me. “You heard it yourself, sister. A Bounty has been declared.” He raised his shoulders in mocking apology. “No going back now.”

“SILENCE! Enough!” The Sheriff screeched again, twisting more violently. “Release me! You ignorant fools! You pustulous imbeciles!”

“If I might be so bold-” Balam began, but the arrow Sigi planted in the trunk of the tree by his head let him know he should not. He cleared his throat, raising one bushy eyebrow. Then glanced back at me. “Iara... if you can get yourself out-”

“I’m not leaving without you.” I snapped back quietly, not letting him finish.

His fists clenched. “There’s no point in both of us dying here, you stubborn mule! Just-”

“Shut up.” I twisted the Sheriff’s arm in retaliation, stubbornly glaring about. Daring the next person forward.

“Release him, Iara,” Varius called, “And I’ll make your deaths quick.”

“NO!” Snarled the Sheriff. “No! They will suffer! You will all suffer for your trespasses! I pay the bounty! I decide their fate! I am the law, you flee ridden-”

With a quick jerk, I drew the knife back; then plunged it hilt deep into the Sheriff’s throat. His eyes shot wide, and he gurgled on his own blood. I let his body slump to the ground.

“ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY?” Balam half-shrieked.

“HOLD!” Roared Varius at the top of his lungs as everyone in the courtyard took one giant step closer to its center in outrage.

The Guildsmen turned their swords on the guards, who cried out in protest. The guards barely held their ground, eyes racing between the Guild and the Sheriff’s twitching corpse on the ground. More than one bewildered eye flicked to me.

I held up my hands quickly, tossing my other knife down to the cobblestones. Varius looked me up and down in unconcealed surprise.

“No Sheriff, no bounty.” I reminded him.

His eyebrow quirked, and I saw the corners of his mouth twitch upward. “... The city will have a bounty on your head,” He pointed out, “For killing the Sheriff.”

“You and I both know the city won’t be offering much,” I shrugged slightly, “Certainly not enough to make trying to kill me worth it.” I met his gaze solidly. “You know I won’t go down easy.”

“Apparently not.” He chuckled.

He considered me again, then glanced around at the gathered men and women. A deep sigh shook him, and he raised two fingers to pinch his brow.

“...Let them go.”

The Guildsmen moved without hesitation, clearing the exit while still keeping their weapons trained on the Sheriff’s guards. The guards roared their protest, but disarmed, they had no way of hoping to repeal the decision by their own means. And certainly city guardsmen would not have the skill to take down highly trained Bounty Hunters from a prominent Guild.

I jerked my head at the gelding, quickly moving to Goda’s side. I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Balam took the hint, mumbling quietly under his breath as he mounted. Goda was only more than eager to take us away, back out onto the open road. She had never liked cities or stables much.

Varius stepped into my path as we quickly moved to the gate. I slowed, glancing down at him warily. The half-elf rested one hand on the bay mare’s flank, staring at it for a long moment. Finally, he looked back up at me, eyes complicated.

“...The Guild will be different,” He told me softly, “... It will be what it was supposed to be.”

I opened my mouth with a sarcastic reply. But then stopped, closing it again. Instead, I nodded to him curtly. His smirk returned, and he shot me a haughty wink.

“Maybe I’ll toss the odd bounty your way… if you’re interested.”

I glanced over at Balam a few strides ahead, anxiously looking around. I sighed, then shook my head.

“I’m done. I’m out.” I turned back to him. “You’ll never hear from me again.”

He hesitated, then nodded as well. “...Good luck then… sister…”

I hardly waited for him to pull his hand back and step out of the way before I spurred Goda on. Balam heeled his own mount to match my pace, and we raced off. Dust spinning in our wake...

....

UPDATE: FINAL PART HERE

[lilover131]

New CCS Oneshot

I’ve been on and off writing this oneshot for several months now, and I’m so glad to finally have completed it, just in time for Syaoran’s birthday, so I can share it with you all!! 

TITLE: Closer

SUMMARY:  While Syaoran is away in Hong Kong taking care of the things he needs to do, Sakura struggles to deal with the pain of their separation, and only his letters are able to quell the anguish. Will the letters be enough to help her hold on? Or will they find themselves drifting even farther apart? Takes place after the original series and before the Clear Card arc.

LINKS:  AO3 and FANFICTON.NET

You can also read the story under the cut if you do not feel comfortable with links! 

Closer

There was always this feeling of anticipation when the school day was over. Every day, Sakura would come home and eagerly open the mailbox just outside the house, and she would hope and pray that she would find what she so longed for.

 Ever since Syaoran went back to Hong Kong, they had had relatively little communication. Sakura imagined it was because he was busy doing whatever it was that he needed to do that had brought him back in the first place, but amongst his busy schedule, he still found time to write to her, and it was through those letters that she would feel revitalized. She wasn’t exactly sure why this was, but there was just something about it that made him feel closer to her. Maybe it was his handwriting. Maybe it was the way he described his day or how he seemed to ask so many questions about her as if they were having a conversation in person. Or perhaps it was even just the fact that the letters smelled faintly of him.

 Sakura would wonder silently while reading ‘I wonder what the weather was like when he wrote this?’ and ‘What sort of expression did he have? I wish I could have seen it…’. She hoped that Syaoran had the same thoughts about her when reading her letters, and her heart fluttered just at the idea of it.

 Much to her delight, a letter addressed to her with a stamp from Hong Kong was waiting for her. She rushed upstairs to her room and immediately opened it.

 Dear Sakura,

 I hope you are well.

 The summer is quite hot here in Hong Kong, and I hope you are staying cool in Tomoeda.

 The house is lively as always, especially with Meiling and my sisters spending more time together. They ask about you all the time and send their regards.

 The bear you gave me has gotten a lot of attention here, and everyone who has seen it has remarked at how well made it is. You’re really amazing at so many things, and it is almost hard to believe it was handmade! ‘Sakura’ sits on my desk so I can see her whenever I write to you.

 I’m working hard every day to finish the things I need to do so I can return to Tomoeda, though it has kept me very busy and I apologize for not writing more.

How are things at school? Are you and Daidouji still in the same class?

 I hope everything remains peaceful for you, but please let me know right away if strange things start to happen again.

 Sincerely,

 Li Syaoran

 As Sakura finished reading the letter, her fingers stroked over the surface of the paper, just above his name. Seeing his name at the bottom made her heart flutter, as it felt that he had somehow imbued a part of himself within the characters. Kero had told her once that this was not unusual, as there was magic even in a person’s name, and that by knowing a person’s name, you had access to their soul.  This was one of the reasons why she had to write her name on the cards after she captured them.

 The girl safely tucked away the letter in the drawer of her desk, the same place that she often kept the cards. Sometimes the cards would glow in response, as if to tell her that they were happy to see her in such good spirits.

 Sakura wasted no time pulling out her favorite stationery, a pale pink paper with star designs littered along the borders, and started to write her response. She could not hide the blush on her cheeks as she wrote, and it wasn’t as if she were writing anything embarrassing. Just the thought of Syaoran brought warmth to her cheeks, and she was asked frequently if she had a fever by those who saw it out of context. Kero saw her like this more than he’d like to admit, but ultimately he only wanted her happiness, and until the ‘kid’ was back in Tomoeda, this was the best way to keep Sakura happy.

 Dear Syaoran-kun,

 The summer has been very hot here in Tomoeda as well, but we’ve done everything we can to keep comfortable. Yesterday, Otou-san and I made shaved ice and had lots of different flavors to try! It was so delicious! I wish you could have tasted it. Maybe when you’ve come back to Japan, I’ll make some for you! You like lemon flavored things, right?

 I’m glad that your sisters and Meiling are doing well. I’d really like to see them again, and every time I receive a letter from Meiling, it makes me really happy! She’s been teaching me a bit of Cantonese in her letters, and it’s made me realize how difficult it must have been for you to read Japanese at school. There are a lot of characters that look similar but have completely different meanings! Meiling told me I should write this for you the next time I sent you a letter.

 一百個心都裝唔晒我對你嘅愛。

 I’m not sure what the direct translation is, but Meiling said it would make you happy if I wrote it and that it means something like “I care for you a great deal”.

 The ‘Sakura’ bear is not really that well made, but I’m glad you like it! I only had an evening to make it, and I’m happy that it didn’t turn out looking like Kero-chan this time! ‘Syaoran’ I feel is much better made and sits on a drawer in my room, right beneath my bulletin board with the post cards of Hong Kong you’ve sent me. I love the pictures on them, and they remind me of the time I visited and got to see your home. Your family was so kind, and your house felt very warm and inviting. I hope I can return someday and see more of it!

 I’m sure you must be working very hard in Hong Kong, but please don’t overwork yourself. I will wait for you, so please take as long as you need to finish the things you need to do.

 Summer break will be starting soon at Tomoeda Elementary, but there’s no shortage of summer homework for sure. It seems like there is more than usual, but Onii-chan says it’s probably so they can prepare us for the middle school entrance exams. I’m really nervous, but at least we have several months before the exams! I’ve never been great at math, so I’m worried that I’ll struggle with those parts of the test. But Tomoyo-chan does really well in all classes and said she will help me study, so I am sure everything will be all right! We’re still in the same class right now, and I hope that stays the same for Middle School too. Even still, I feel like school isn’t quite the same without you sitting behind me…

 I’ll be looking forward to your next letter!

 Sincerely,

 Kinomoto Sakura

 Sakura finished with her signature and gently blew on the wet ink to dry it before carefully folding the paper and placing it within the envelope. She’d send it out first thing tomorrow and couldn’t wait for her next letter to arrive.

 A few weeks passed, and summer had ended. Autumn was on the horizon and the heat was starting to die down, much to her relief, and thankfully along with the end of summer also left the rainy season. It seemed that every day during that time, Sakura could look out the window and the sky would be covered in gray clouds. However, even the gloomiest of seasons, she felt she had Syaoran’s letters to look forward to, and continuing the same pattern every day, she checked the mailbox after school. The rainy season unfortunately passed without a single letter, but just as the sun returned, the letters did eventually as well.

 Sakura immediately rushed upstairs to read it, and not even Kero dared to bother her. This letter had come a bit later than usual, and it seemed Syaoran’s communication was becoming more and more spaced out. It was concerning to Sakura, and even Kero didn’t like the silence, but he disliked seeing her sad face even more.

 Dear Sakura,

 I hope you stayed dry in the rainy season! It appears that the sunshine is back again, so I hope it’s the same for you in Japan! I recall the weather being similar in some ways to Hong Kong at this time of year, though not quite as hot and humid!

 I wish I could have had some of the shaved ice you made with your father in the summer time, and I’m sure it was delicious. I tried to imagine it whenever the heat was starting to get to me, and I think it helped a little bit.

 My sisters would certainly love to see you again, and Meiling talks about going back to visit Japan frequently. I had no idea she was teaching you Cantonese, and admittedly I was a little surprised at what she had you write.

 一百個心都裝唔晒我對你嘅愛。actually translates as “A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you”

 Sakura stopped reading briefly and cupped her face, which was beat red at the realization of the Cantonese words Meiling had advised her to write. She couldn’t believe she had her put down such a thing! The girl also couldn’t help but notice that Syaoran’s handwriting appeared to look a bit irregular and shaky in that particular part of the letter, and she wondered what had caused his hand to become so unsteady. After regaining her composure, she continued to read.

 I’m sorry she asked you to say such an extravagant thing without explaining the meaning, but I spoke to her about it to make sure it doesn’t happen again. She says it was all in good fun. But…regardless, I know what you intended to say and the feelings behind them, and it did make me very happy. You’re my most important person, and I’m doing everything I can to come back to Japan like I promised. I will try not to keep you waiting too long, and knowing that you’re waiting for me makes everything worth it. Thank you for that.

 I’m glad that ‘Syaoran’ bear has been so well taken care of, and I hope he’s been watching over you in my stead. ‘Sakura’, who I still insist is very well made, is always with me, and I feel like I have you by my side and am encouraged and made stronger by it.

 I’m sure someday you will come back to visit Hong Kong, and I’ll show you as much as I can when you do. There are lots of beautiful places that aren’t printed on post cards.

Don’t be worried about the entrance exams. You’re plenty smart, and as long as you keep working at it, you’ll do just fine. Study a little bit each night, and it will come naturally to you when the time comes.

 School in Hong Kong also does not feel the same without you sitting in front of me, but I’m glad to hear that Daidouji is still in your class. She is a very good friend and I’m sure she will encourage you all the way through.

 Keep working hard!

 Sincerely,

 Li Syaoran

 The rest of the letter made her heart flutter, and her fingers brushed over his name once again. She would have to write him back right away! Without wasting another moment, she got out her favorite stationery and pen and started to write what was in her heart.

 Dear Syaoran,

 Like you said, it was raining here a lot, but I didn’t mind it. The rain can be very calming at times, however it definitely limited the amount of things we can do outside. The sunny days are back now, so I’m excited to be outside more! 

 Fall is starting here, and Onii-chan said that now that the chestnuts are in season, he’ll bring home some dorayaki from the bakery he works part time at. I’m sure it’s delicious, but there are a lot of other really yummy desserts there too! When I think about it, Onii-chan really does have a lot of part time jobs. He says he’s working so much because he wants to pay for college on his own, but I think there’s more to it than that. He may be a jerk sometimes, but he is really hard working and is always looking after me. I have the feeling your sisters care a lot about you too and are always looking out for you. It must be nice having such a big family!

 I had no idea that the words Meiling suggested I write meant that, and I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable. It’s so embarrassing! But I am glad that it made you happy, because you are very important to me as well. I hope you’re taking care of yourself.

 ‘Syaoran’ bear has also encouraged me, and anytime I feel like I am struggling, I can look at it and imagine you’re here with me, cheering me on! School has been getting a little bit easier, and I’m not as nervous about the entrance exams anymore. Tomoyo-chan and I have been taking a little bit of time each week to study, and I think I’m finally starting to understand Math a bit better.

 I’m sure everything will be all right, and I’m looking forward to becoming a Middle School student! I know that everything will be all right for you as well in the important things you need to do, and I’m cheering you on from Japan!

 Sincerely,

 Kinomoto Sakura

 Sakura smiled as she signed the letter and sealed it in an envelope for mailing. She hoped that she would receive another message from Syaoran as soon as possible, but she also hoped that he knew she was encouraging him even from a distance, just as he had done for her.

 Several months passed, and there was no letter. Sakura became worried that something had gone wrong, but every once in a while, she would get a small text message from Syaoran. The conversations they had via text were often short and more frequent than the letters, but they just didn’t seem as satisfying as those letters written by hand. They were special…

 The lack of hand written letters gave her this agonizing sense of distance between them that appeared to be growing. Of course there were already many miles between them, so it’s not as if the feelings were completely out of the ordinary, but the letters had made her feel as if they were just the tiniest bit closer, if only in their hearts. 

 It was finally when the autumn had come and gone and winter began to emerge that the next letter arrived, and Sakura let out a sigh of relief at the comfort that they were not over. There was a warmth that grew in her and made her forget about the bone chilling cold temperatures outside, and she made her way to the kitchen table with a fresh cup of tea and the letter in hand. 

 Dear Sakura, 

 I am sorry that it took so long for me to send this letter.

 I hope that the autumn was peaceful for you! I remember the season being very beautiful in Japan, but here in Hong Kong it is difficult to see the changes in the seasons from the middle of a large city. Even so, there are still some spots I can retreat to that remind me that nature is never far. 

 The winter in Hong Kong is thankfully warmer than in Japan. I always struggled with the cold, but the scarf you made me feel much more comfortable, almost like it’s made with some sort of warming magic. I believe this is simply because you made it. 

 However, of all the seasons, spring is my favorite. Nothing really rivals the beauty of the blooming cherry blossom trees in Japan, and I hope to see them again soon…

 I’ve never been quite sure how to act around your brother. I feel like he dislikes me still for how I treated you when we first met, and I don’t really blame him for that. He clearly cares about you a great deal and I believe that he is a very good brother to you. I hope I can apologize someday properly for my behavior back then. 

 As for my own family, it is just as you said. It is nice to have a large family, and I can’t really imagine what my life would be like without them. My sisters, although very lively and sometimes loud, are very smart, strong, and kind women. I know they care about me too, but I wish they could show it without being so...suffocating. By ‘suffocating’, I mean that they hug me so tight I can’t breathe! 

 As Sakura read the letter, she briefly glanced down and saw the bright smile that reflected in the tea within her cup. She blushed a bit upon seeing herself, and it was almost strange to see herself react like that to something written. Was this what love looked like from the outside? 

 She continued to read the next part of the letter, and her face quickly changed to a different expression; one that was far different than one glowing from feelings of love. 

  I have thought about you the entire time and kept your letter close until I had the opportunity to respond, but I am afraid this will be the last letter I will be able to send. 

Please keep the ‘Syaoran’ bear close to you and remember that I am still always supporting you. Don’t forget your invincible spell. 

 Sincerely, 

 Li Syaoran

 Sakura stopped before the tea cup in her hand was rested back down onto the plate on the table. Her face had gone pale, and her emerald eyes were burning with tears threatening to fall. She read the line again, feeling a pain in her heart as she did. 

 I am afraid this will be the last letter I will be able to send. 

 Sakura read it over and over, trying desperately to understand its meaning. Did Syaoran mean to say that he was too busy to write any more letters? Was he telling her that he no longer wanted to write them? If he wasn’t able to come back, he’d tell her, wouldn’t he? Her mind was swirling with the possibilities, but even if it were something innocent, the thought of losing those precious letters was almost too much to bear. The letters and the teddy bear...they were all she had to remember him by…

 The girl made her way upstairs and opened the drawer of her desk containing the letters and sadly rested it atop of the others. From the privacy of her room, she allowed a few tears to fall and was thankful to see Kero was in the middle of a nap so he could not see her in such a state. The Sakura cards began to glow a soft pink, floating up from their stationary position and surrounding her, as if to try and comfort her in her apparent distress. She continued to cry until she gazed to the ‘Syaoran’ bear that rested on the small table across the room. 

 Slowly, she made her way to it and held it tightly in her arms, remembering the last words in the letter. 

 Please keep the ‘Syaoran’ bear close to you and remember that I am still always supporting you. Don’t forget your invincible spell.

 Sakura slowly nodded, her tears beginning to fade and her heart starting to understand the meaning. He was telling her to hold on...to keep waiting for him. 

 “Everything...will surely be all right…” 

 She whispered softly, still clinging to the bear and making a desperate wish that soon, they would be together again…

 Sakura rushed back to her desk, eagerly writing her next letter. She had to let him know...she must let him know…! 

 Dear Syaoran, 

 I promised to wait for you, and I will continue to do that, even if it means I won’t receive any more letters from here on out. 

 I will keep waiting, because you are my number one person. 

 Everything will surely be all right! 

 Sincerely, 

 Sakura Kinomoto 

 The girl held the short letter close to her chest, muttering a wish and hoping to engrave her feelings in the small piece of paper. Surely, her feelings would reach him...and the distance between them would lessen. 

 Several months passed since the heartfelt letter was sent, and just as Syaoran had said, no more letters were received. Although Sakura was generally very cheerful, the slight sadness had not gone unnoticed by those close to her. Even the text messages they shared had become farther apart in frequency, and Sakura couldn’t help but wonder if those too would soon disappear. 

 Even still, she had decided to wait, and she continued to believe that everything would be all right. She focused on the other aspects of her life to distract herself, and the middle school entrance exams soon came and went. Thanks to her hard work and encouragement from Syaoran, Tomoyo, and those she cared about, she passed with flying colors. Starting in April, she was going to be a student at Tomoeda Middle School, and this change made her realize just how much time had truly passed. 

 It would be so strange to be in a completely different school with new faces and Syaoran not beside her through it all. The time they shared in Elementary school was almost starting to feel like simply an old memory that would fade with time, and she prayed that no more time would pass before they were able to make new memories. 

Even still, life went on. She received her middle school uniform, and she attended the middle school entrance ceremony. Sakura said goodbye to her Elementary school life and prepared for the next step in her life. Why didn’t anyone ever tell her that growing up could be so...scary?

 Her birthday arrived, and she grew another year older; another reminder that as she waited for Syaoran, time would continue to flow forward without their consent. 

And then the first day of her middle school life finally came…

 Even if it was scary, she was still excited by the new opportunities and friendships she would find as a middle school student. It was a new adventure, and she’d tell Syaoran all about it when they saw each other again...if they saw each other again.She shook her head at the thought. No, Syaoran promised, and he never broke a promise...

 The cherry blossom trees were in full bloom and brilliantly lined the streets she walked, and they always managed to put her in a good mood. She remembered how Syaoran had spoken fondly of the springtime in Japan as well, particularly because of the trees. Sakura spoke to herself cheerfully about the springtime plans she had, excited for the good times to come. 

 “I should go flower viewing with everyone! I should ask Tomoyo-chan and…” 

Her footsteps halted as she thought of what she had wanted to say next. 

 ‘I wanted to see them with Syaoran-kun too….this year’s cherry blossoms’

 The feelings of loneliness washed over her again as she thought of possibly going through another year without him. His favorite season was here, and he wasn’t even here to enjoy it. 

 Then, her eyes fell upon a figure standing at the end of the street, almost not visible behind the flurry of falling petals that rained like snow. The silhouette seemed so familiar, and she could almost swear that it looked like Syaoran...was she seeing things now? Perhaps she had wished for him so strongly that she was now beginning to see him in places he was not. 

 However, as the blossoms settled and her sight became clearer, so did the image of the figure before her, and it now looked too real to be an illusion or dream. She saw Syaoran, wearing the Tomoeda middle school uniform and holding in his arm the ‘Sakura’ bear she had so painstakingly made for him. Her vision had now pulled her in so deep that she could not help but speak to it. 

 “Syaoran-kun…?” 

 It was when her vision spoke back that she suddenly began to realize that this was no fantasy, and the tears instantly welled up in her eyes. 

 “We finally wrapped up the business in Hong Kong. From now on, I’m a permanent resident here in Tomoeda”

 The words had shaken her so violently that she almost could not comprehend it. 

 “Really…?” 

 “Yeah” 

 Almost needing more reassurance that this was not some sort of cruel dream, she asked more questions to verify the reality before her. 

 “You mean I don’t need to settle...for letters or phone calls anymore?” 

 Syaoran smiled at her, and it was then that she could no longer deny it. Even a dream could not replicate the effect her beloved’s smile had on her. This was the real thing...

 “Yeah” 

 In a sudden rush of emotion, she flung her briefcase down to the ground and charged towards him, quickly embracing him in a tear filled hug. He felt so warm, and the solidness of his body and strong arms wrapping around her in return further grounded her to reality, which still at moments seemed so surreal. The happiness she felt was overwhelming, and having him close to her again was something she almost didn’t believe possible. 

 “Now we can be together forever!” 

 The painful waiting was finally over, and the part she felt she had been missing for the past year was now back, making her feel whole again. Sakura now understood what his words had meant...the reason he had told her that he would not be able to send her any more letters was because he knew that they would be together again soon. He must have worked so hard in those last few months, especially since he said it would take a long time to come back. She hoped that he would tell her all about it. 

 Sakura felt so connected to him now, but what she found most incredible of all, was that even with the physical distance and seasons that passed, it was through the letters that they somehow found a way to become even closer, and it took them reconnecting now for her to recognize it. The distance was never really there, was it?  Now that they were together again, there was nothing in their way and so many memories to make and seasons to experience. They would do this all...together. 

 ‘Everything will surely be all right…’

 THE END

[lindoig7]

Tuesday-Friday, 25-28 August

Tuesday

We awoke carrying a few aches and pains from yesterday’s exertions, so we relaxed over some very simple killer Sudokus – we finished our previous book yesterday so started a new one today and the first few are VERY simple.

It was still raining on and off – more off than on – so we stayed in the van virtually all day.  We sorted and edited photos and wrote for our blogs all morning and watched a movie in the afternoon – Legends of the Fall.  It was quite good, if a little depressing.

After I cooked a more than acceptable steak and added it to Heather’s veges brilliantly cooked inside, we ate dinner and then played dominos while waiting for the HWS to heat enough water to do the dishes.  We usually turn the HWS off during the day to save gas (and the noise the heater makes) and had forgotten to turn it back on in the late afternoon.

We then started a new series of DVDs – just the first episode of True Detective. It is too early to tell if we will like it, but it is set in the US.  For some reason, I thought it was set in the UK when we bought the series a couple of weeks ago.

Wednesday

We were still a bit fragile this morning so had another easy morning in the van. We had intended doing the laundry, but opted instead for a quiet morning catching up on a few items of business, looking at photos and relaxing.  It was mostly sunny but still felt cold so we ran our heater almost all day again.

During the afternoon, we went for a pleasant drive before hitting the supermarket and booze shop again.  We mostly shop at Woolies, but I needed beer and have become quite partial to a cheapie made specifically for Liquorland.  It is called Steamrail Pale Ale and given my penchant for the romance, noise and smells of steam trains (and the fact that I drove one about 30 km as an 11- or 12-year-old kid), it seems appropriate to add the taste of Steam(rail) to my list of pleasures. We shopped at Coles, but they didn’t have everything we wanted and Liquorland didn’t have Heather’s favourite cider, so we finished the groceries at Woolies and the booze at BWS after all.

Our drive was originally planned for Noojee, but we saw a turnoff to the Tarago Reservoir and detoured to that.  It was a delightful drive, especially the last couple of clicks to the reservoir itself – big trees, winding track through pastures, quaint farms and outbuildings – very cute.  We had a short walk around the sprawling picnic area (where all forms of picnics or social gatherings are absolutely forbidden) but access to the dam and its water is securely fenced off. Instead of returning to the main road and Noojee, we continued on the Tarago road through picturesque Jindivik and meandered via lesser roads back to Warragul.

Thursday

It looks like being fine most of today, but with a wickedly wild, wild wind.  It is howling around, rattling the whole caravan and battering the awning even though it is in the lee of the van.  A great day to get the washing dry and it was definitely laundry day for us – but Heather used the dryer in the laundry and everything was dry in the time it would have taken to peg things on the line (and retrieve the things that would inevitably have blown away!).

I had a few little maintenance things to do, including trying to secure the awning a little more rigidly. As I said, the wind has been quite ferocious here today, particularly in the afternoon, and the whole caravan is constantly buffeted and bombarded with the shriek of the wind and the crashing of the awning.

We went out for a walk in the afternoon, just a kilometre or two around the circuit behind the van, but it was quite hard work heading into the teeth of the gale.  It is a few days since we did the loop out there and it is amazing how much difference such a short time makes.  There are many more flowers out (mainly our beloved Flinder-bells, aka onion weed) but so many trees and shrubs are now in bud, the willows are covered with long trailing green ribbons, all looking very lacy and delicate, and even the scrawny little stick just outside the van is developing its mantle of beautiful white blossom.  We hadn’t noticed any of this before, but it seemed quite obvious today that the season is definitely changing – even if the weather still shows little hint if spring (other than its traditional winds).

It is getting very hard to post anything to my blog at present.  The Wi-Fi in the park is very weak and frustrating.  I can get very slow access most days until about lunchtime, but still with lots of delays and drop-outs.  After lunch, I can never access it at all.  I managed to post a few things today by transferring some text and photos from my PC to a Sandisk USB stick, then using Bluetooth to drop that into my iPad Camera Roll, and composing and posting that to my blog using my tethered iPhone as a hotspot.  It’s a slow and laborious process with too many steps and stages where I can get things wrong.  The Tumblr app is by no means intuitive – and is a bit different on either my iPhone or iPad – so the whole process is fraught!  I will just have to keep persevering – or get up early enough to post things from my PC in the morning.

We went down to the ablution block for our showers just before 5 pm with some mountainous livid clouds threatening – and it is a good job we never left it any later.  Heather got back in time, but I had gone down a few minutes after her and had to jog back to the van in the first of some sprinkles foreboding a very heavy downpour that hit just as I reached the awning.  Another 30 seconds and I would have had two showers for the day.

Within an hour, all Hell broke loose.  The wind went absolutely wild.  It shrieked through the adjacent trees and the awning on the van next to us was reduced to a twisted pile of scrap within minutes.  Ours disconnected from its struts a couple of times but we went out quickly and rescued it before any damage occurred.  We could hardly hear each other for the noise, and the poor screeching Corellas and Galahs in the trees were being blown off their perches. The rain bucketed down and the lights flickered on and off for several minutes. If any of the trees behind the van had fallen our way, the van would have been completely crushed.  Fortunately, the prevailing winds all pass our van on their way to the trees.  It was all very exciting, if more than a little disconcerting.  It rained/poured on and off until about midnight or a bit after, but the wind kept lashing the van until about 5 am.  Next morning there were numerous branches down around the park, but the extent of the damage elsewhere became obvious during our excursion later in the day.

I have experienced some amazing winds in caravans.  I recall many (many) years ago, I was in an onsite van in Busselton (Western Australia) which is not so far from the Cape Leeuwin weather station and we heard that the anemometer wound off its stanchion at about 190 kph.  We awoke to 20 cm of water throughout the park, but being so sandy, it was all gone within a couple of hours.  Much more recently, we were at Camperdown in our previous little van and it was so wild that I had to park the car across the van to shield it from the worst of it as well as chocking the wheels and tying it down.  And at Tibooburra a few years ago, we were the only van in the park and drove out to Cameron Corner for the day without any inkling of an impending storm – but came back in the afternoon to find all the components of the awning distributed around the park.  Fortunately, nothing was broken and we were able to reconstruct it well enough to continue on our way.  We sat out a wild cyclone in the Kuril Islands a few years ago and Heather drew attention to another exciting storm event the first time we approached Inexpressible Island in Antarctica (NEITHER of these were in our caravan) but I still think Thursday’s little puff was about as violent as I can remember – perhaps because we were so close to the trees and the cacophony they generated.

Despite the drama of the storm, Heather made the most wonderful meal using our new double-sided frying pan/mini-oven.  We had bought a boned leg of lamb and she marinated it for almost a day with a great concoction of herbs and spices (in lots of yoghurt).  Cooking it in the pan with lots of chopped onion resulted in the most amazing rich, caramellised, delicious feast you could imagine.  It really was fantastic and we have enjoyed the leftovers in 3 meals since.  Superb!!!

Friday

A really great day today.  We headed south to the coast, but you should have seen the trees on the way that had been brought down overnight.  We saw maybe 20 or so giants and hundreds of smaller trees as well as thousands of branches, twigs and metres of bark stripped from the vegetation. We had to drive around dozens of branches and small trees on the road, but the really big ones blocking the whole road were already being removed.  Council and SES crews were hard at work, along with local farmers who were cutting up the logs and repairing broken fences and other damage.  I don’t suppose this was hugely unusual for them, but for (sort of) city slickers to see so many mammoth trees that had been guarding the road for centuries laying on the ground with their roots splayed to the heavens was pretty amazing.  It reminded us how lucky we were not to have been in the way of the giants that could have demolished our caravan had we been in the path of one.

We went down through Korumburra and Leongatha to Tarwin South and hence to Tarwin Meadows – only to find that it was private property and we almost ended up in their front yard.  We back-tracked and followed a lovely quiet road to the Cape Liptrap Lighthouse.  It was a wonderful short walk to the light-tower itself and we enjoyed some magnificent views and saw some lovely little birds (and some quite a bit bigger). The coast was still pretty wild after the storm but we kept ourselves safe, well away from the fury, at the top of the cliffs.  We had a bit of fun playing the calls of the Brown Thornbills on our birding app.  There were quite a few around and several came out to say good mornig to us as well.  Don’t usually do this, but we were trying to confirm their identity using the app and next moment they were reacting with us.

We followed the coast as close as we could and ate our lunch at Walkerville North whilst watching the sea-birds (and a dog harassing them) before going on to Waratah Bay.  We walked along the beach and saw millions of tiny sand-balls created by the little crabs that had burrowed down while the tide was out.  There were quite a few pretty shells, all broken, and hundreds of small smooth stones of almost every colour and pattern.  The beach was very flat and very wide, at least 150 metres wide I reckon, but the tide was coming in and although we watched it for a while, I guess the entire beach would have been reclaimed by King Neptune within half an hour or so.

We tried to get to Shallow Inlet but were again thwarted by the National Park closure.  We had tried to get in from the east a week or so ago without success and coming from the west didn’t make it any more doable.  It simply doesn’t make sense to close so many parks and reserves because of Covid.  Every National and State park is locked up for no conceivable reason.  They would be the safest places around!  Sure, Melbourne people aren’t allowed to travel, but there is much more freedom throughout the rest of the State but government/s have chosen to punish the rest of the country despite there being absolutely zero risk.  Many of the rules are simply moronic.  There is no possible policy reason for them and the only other interpretation I can put on this stupidity is that the rules are set with only vindictiveness in mind.

We were able to go to nearby Sandy Point - and when we reached the end of the road, we simply drove straight onto the beach. We weren’t the only car on the beach and it was obvious from the many tyre tracks that driving on the beach was normal.  We drove half a kilometre or so along to where there was a sign indicating that driving beyond that point was not allowed, but it was a bit of fun and enabled up to get some good views of the shore-birds.  We saw about 15 Eastern Curlews – not that common in our experience – and a couple of hundred Red-capped Plovers – a lot more than all I have seen in my lifetime.  It was a great opportunity for a few photos and a bit of a novelty to drive on the hard-packed sand.  The whole area was wonderfully quiet and peaceful and quite beautiful!

We dilly-dallied there for a while and then drove home via Meeniyan, Mirboo North and Trafalgar with the last leg in particular being through really beautiful country.