#please it irrationally bugs me so much i always just want to tuck it back for them... oh well

[riddlerosehearts]

i said i wanted to post about my tav more, so i will! his name is elenion silverdew, he's a high half-elf and a college of lore bard, and these are the 3 hairstyles he has during each act of the game 💙

[marshmallowprotection]

Calluna

Pairing: Saeran Choi/Reader

Fairytale AU.

Description:

The Prince has been bound to the castle walls, and he’s never been able to leave from it. The only place that he has to escape to are the books that he reads and the garden that he’s allowed to venture into every evening. But, what happens when he encounters someone that has eyes that know a world unlike his own?

Inspired by a drawing by @sensetenou​

Chapter Index

Chapter One: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Two: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Three: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Four: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Five: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Six: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Seven: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Eight: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Nine: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Ten: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Eleven: Tumblr | AO3 Chapter Twelve: Here! | AO3

Chapter Twelve

Impatience. 

Meaning irritation with the irrationality of the people that worked for the palace. 

Saeran could say with the utmost certainty that he despised anyone who wouldn’t connect the dots and figure out what it was that he wanted. He was the king, they were supposed to guess his needs and be ready to sate them at a moment’s notice. So much for that. These people were far too complacent and daft.

How dare they not listen to him and know what to do? Honestly, he thought with a scowl as he settled back on the throne, one hand tucked into his chin against the armrest as he spread his legs. It had been only a day and a half since he had awoken from his slumber and yet, it was hardly enough time to let him know what he wanted. 

Ray had let gone complacent and it showed in how nobody respected him. By all means, it was the reason that he was hurt in the first place. The little airhead had trusted a thief and what did that get him in the end? Oh, yeah, it got him a broken heart and the inability to function. 

That was why he had to come out and fix everything. 

As if awoken from a slumber that had been against his will for more than he was comfortable with, all he knew was the magic pouring into his veins made him stand at alert and with frothing rage. All he knew was that he had to destroy every single thing that caused him to wake up in the first place. 

And why was he on the throne? 

Because Ray let himself trust the villain and it burned him. He got too close to the sun and it burned him to a crisp. It had proven that he shouldn’t be in charge anymore, Saeran thought, if he couldn’t be trusted to function and keep himself safe, then Saeran was going to have to take it into his own hands to ensure that never happened again. 

He would start with the problem that had started it all. 

The queen had sent out her men to scour the land for the rest of Red Hood’s gang and he knew that that would likely take a while to fully discern. There was no telling how far their reach went and he’d already started to formulate a plan for what would become of every last one of them. Oh, Ray wanted to save all the people from their chains like a good boy. 

But, so many of those deviants and ruffians were happy to do what they were. The glimmer in their eyes was the true monster, their greed knew no bounds. If someone was willing to go as high as the prince to destroy everything to gain all the money in the world that they could ever dream of, then they were going to face the music for their crimes with no mercy. 

They were asking for it, simple as that. 

This is why he was excited, nearly giddy with sadistic glee at the thought of what he would do to you when he saw you again. The late-night prior had been too fraught with Ray’s devastation for him to fully appreciate the freedom that he now held in his hands and he was going to take his time learning who you were and how to make you repent for your sins. 

The thought of your begging and pleading that was soon to fill the halls of this room made him so enthused that he almost allowed himself to laugh. 

The queen had been right, there was nobody that he could trust in this world except for the person that had always been there for him. No amount of staring at the shell that you had given Ray told him anything about you or the person that you had led him to believe you were. Some thief that had wrapped him around their finger by gaining his pity. 

A wolf in sheep’s clothing, someone who knew how to manipulate others to get what they wanted. It was you that had said that you were inspired by Robin Hood. You delighted in taking from those that had and giving to those that had not, but it seemed like you were the only one that you considered a had not. No surprise, really, given what he knew of Red Hood. 

Stained with Greed and desire, you took everything you wanted from others until it wasn’t enough and you had to move onto the next thing. You had almost done that to Ray. Tricked him and taken him for a fool before you almost parted with the crown that was to be his. It was now in Saeran’s hands and you were going to face his wrath for your choices in life. 

You would regret ever crossing his path in the first place. You would wish that you had turned yourself into the guards instead of letting Ray take you to safety. They would have made your suffering over in a moment and he would surely prolong it to make sure that you knew exactly what your actions meant to everyone here. 

No amount of punishing the goons that they caught in the streets satisfied him enough. It would be nothing until he could take down the boss. That would be you, and you were just waiting for him to give you the end of your suffering in the darkness. Too bad the darkness was protecting you from the true terror. 

“...”

The sound of footsteps broke him from his thoughts.

Just on time, he thought as you were brought into the room and carelessly dropped onto the hard stone without a warning. You grit your teeth to hide the pain but he knew the look in your eyes and that was one that couldn’t hide the pain that you understood to be your fault. If you hadn’t done any of this, then you wouldn’t be pitifully groveling at his feet for your life, now, would you?  

This was his first time seeing you since his anger flared. The first real-time that he was getting a good look at you, some petty criminal, and it was hard to imagine you as the mighty Red Hood when you weren’t even fighting back. Where was the fun if you submitted so quickly? There was nothing in that that would sate his thirst for retribution. 

“You may leave,” he dismissed the guard with the wave of his hand. “I wish to speak to the criminal alone.” 

“As you wish, my liege.” 

You hadn’t lifted your head to meet his gaze, no, you continued to stare at the ground in front of yourself with your hands wrapped tight around your shoulders. 

You were trying to make yourself small to hide the fear in your heart. Good, you should have been scared. Your life was in his hands and this was a power that he relished in. There was so much that he could do that he still wasn’t entirely sure what would please him the most. For now, he wanted to learn what made you tick so that he could break you. 

Break you in the same way that you broke Ray. 

So you knew what it felt like to have your pathetic heart crushed into a thousand pieces. 

Saeran would say that you had a sense of preservation. As you knew better than to look at him or say a word, why would you? You both understood the line of power that existed between the two of you, as you were one that told Ray that you very well understood how much power he held compared to you in this land.

He rose from his seat and circled you, getting a good sense of what you were. “Is this all that the mighty Red Hood has to offer? I have to say, for a crime lord, you don’t fit the bill at all. Groveling around like some pitiful beggar, and as much as I want to see you beg and plead for my mercy… Well, I thought you would put up more of a fight now that you’re secret has been revealed to the kingdom.” 

You didn’t respond. 

He gritted his teeth. Were you patronizing him? He wasn’t Ray. He wasn’t going to let you lead him into a false state of security. Saeran snapped to attention and yanked your face up so that you would have to look at him, and of course, you winced and whined when his fist gripped your cheeks too hard for your liking. 

“All I see is a pitiful thief that got fucking lucky,” he sneered. “And that luck ran out the moment you tried to turn against Ray. Don’t get me wrong, he’s also a pitiful bug but he’s not the one that’s been lying and scheming for weeks, now is he?” 

You blinked. 

Silence. 

Then confused lined your features as two and two started to come together, you couldn’t rationalize where your so-called precious Ray had gone. Now, that tasted all the sweeter to him. If you knew that your actions had brought out his anger and the protector, well, the shame and guilt that he wanted to throw on you… haha… he wanted to see you squirm for it. 

“What…” your voice spoke in a broken whisper, searching his face for someone that you would not find no matter how hard you looked. “What are you saying? You’re… You’re Ray.” 

Saeran only smirked. He tipped his head back and laughed at your face. It hadn’t clicked yet? You hadn’t realized? Did you really think that Ray could do what he was doing? Now, that was an insult that he didn’t appreciate.

“Me? Oh, no, Sparrow. I’m not your precious Ray. I’m somebody much stronger… much better. I suppose some people have called me the better Ray, but I’m not Ray. My name is Saeran.” 

“Saeran…?” 

His name sounded foreign and unsure on your tongue but he loved the way it sounded. It filled him with delight to know that you had started to understand the price of your actions, as just the crown that lay on his head had been the very thing to open up his eyes to the true cruelty of this world. It was as easy as a name rolling off your tongue. 

“I won’t repeat myself,” he continued to say, eyes focused on your own. “So, how does it make you feel to know that you’re the reason that Ray isn’t around anymore? You shattered his little heart into tiny pieces with what you did and you’ll pay for it, don’t get me wrong about that. But, you can’t blame me for wanting to get to know the person that caused me to appear.” 

“I…” you stopped yourself short. 

What were you going to say? 

What was your excuse? 

You had none. 

You had been caught red-handed, multiple witnesses, and people speaking out against you, there was no excuse that you could say that would prove innocence in his eyes. Yet, he wanted to hear what you had to say so that he could laugh in your face at the weak attempt of besting the king. It was the price you’d pay and you knew it. 

The dejected look in your eyes said it all. "You're not going to believe me no matter what I tell you, right?" 

He chuckled, "Maybe you're not entirely stupid, then. You're right, but humor me, what would you tell me to save your skin? I can't remember what you tried to sell Ray the other night. Whatever it was, it clearly wasn't enough to make him believe you. How does it feel? Knowing that you broke a man all for a crown and a couple of jewels? Knowing that you damned yourself?”

“That’s not what happened,” you tried, but he shoved you away, and your back collided with the hard ground once more. You covered a wince though it did nothing to hide your terror that was slowly but surely growing. 

“That’s not what happened,” he taunted. 

Saeran scoffed at the pitiful look in your eyes. Even to the end, you were going to lie and pretend that you did nothing wrong, weren’t you? He expected you to put up a fight instead of playing around to be the pitiful sob-story. As if he was going to believe you. You tried to lie right to Ray’s face and he did not doubt that you would continue to act that way.

It made sense to him, how else would someone like you kill the original Red Hood? You played like an innocent child and stole his power for your own. Yet, a part of him thought it didn’t make sense. Someone as weak as you killing somebody for their power? You seemed hardly strong enough to bust out a window, much less a man.

He turned away from you, his eyes resting on the window that showed the world outside the castle walls. He strode over and watched from the high balcony as members of the guard were hard at work trying to piece together lists and plans to hunt down the remaining members of Red Hood’s gang. It was just as he ordered them to do. 

They had already caught some of the former members but there was a long way to go. That man with red hair and golden eyes had promised to turn over anyone that he knew to work for Red Hood, and the queen was hard at work with him, hunting down anyone that was against the crown. He left that work to them, but the punishment was his. 

He got to decide how they ended. 

“Stand up,” he ordered you.

You didn’t listen to his command, so he repeated himself, and his stern voice made you scramble to your feet. You stood behind him, a gasp on your lips as you saw the sight down below. People in chains and shackles trapped in what was once a lovely courtyard filled to the brim with flowers and nature. 

It was nothing more than thorns and bramble now. Your bound hands wouldn’t allow you to cover your whimper. 

He smirked, “Like it? I do. We’re starting to round up all the traitors and liars that have been working for you in the village one by one. I won’t rest until we’ve caught all of them. They’re all just as guilty and greedy as the leader that charged them. So, you know what that means. Once we’ve made an example of you, they’ll be begging for forgiveness that will never be given.” 

“You… you can’t do this, this isn’t right,” you tried, but he silenced you just as quickly as you spoke with his anger rising alongside his blood pressure. He wasn’t looking at you but he feel how you were starting to shake and tremble. “Those… those people… they don’t work for Red Hood. You can’t just punish everyone.”

Saeran snapped to attention. He looked back at you, mint eyes darkened and face covered in a kind of unspeakable rage. He cocked his head, waiting for you to try and say more but when you didn’t dare say more, he gripped your shoulder tight. “Listen, Red Hood, I don’t give a damn if they were working for you directly or not. There are dozens of people out there that let you blindly steal and deceive them knowingly. If they let you exist without question, they’re all guilty.” 

“That’s not—”

“That’s not fair? That’s not right? Who are you to tell me what’s right and what’s wrong? You? The pathetic thief that lies, that cheats, that steals, and that continues to pretend to be something they’re not? You think you have the right to tell me, your king, that I’m in the wrong? No, that’s not how it fucking works,” His voice spoke with bitterness and vitriol. 

He was so loud that it echoed off the stone walls. 

You couldn’t look away from him. This wasn’t the Ray that you had come to know and love so dearly, no, this was a man that felt vindicated by his fury and felt righteous and just in his actions. It wasn’t the man you knew, but, he wasn’t the man you knew. He was someone else and because of that, you had no choice but to listen. 

“And, you know what’s better, [Y/N]? You could only know who works for Red Hood if you were Red Hood,” his voice dropped to a whisper. He laughed when you tried to back away but his grip would not allow you to do so. “So, stop lying to yourself and me. Be honest. Maybe I’ll spare you if you come clean and beg for my forgiveness.” 

Beg. 

You just kept looking at him pathetically. You wouldn’t beg and plead. Why were you fighting this and prolonging it? 

Beg.

“...” 

He should have known that you would continue to do this. 

Beg. 

Your eyes had centered on his crown, the one that had been given to him by the queen, by the loss of his father that had protected him until his last day. You were still thinking about taking it from him, he knew it. You were trying to trick him so you could take it and run, you thieving, lying, pathetic, dumb, monstrous person. 

They’re lying, a voice whispered. They want your power… they want your crown… they’re trying to trick you as they tricked Ray… be cruel… be mean… be malicious… break them down and make them pay for their crimes. 

Even though you trembled, even though you had every right to be scared, you kept looking at him with the smallest trace of hope that didn’t seem to shatter. Your voice was quiet now, but you shook your head. “I’m not Red Hood, I’m being completely honest with you! I’m not him! That man is lying to you, the queen is lying to—”

LIAR!

A resounding sound boomed in the room as he slapped you down onto the ground once more, his breathing heavy and his eyes wild with anger and confusion. His breathing became ragged and hard, something burning in the back of his head that made him want to scream and shout. He didn’t know why, nor did he understand why the voice was so loud. 

All he knew was that he was angry and the voice said it was your fault. 

“You,” he seethed, pointing a finger at you as the doors to the chamber opened and some guards came in to check on the commotion. “You’re a liar, you’re a traitorous liar that thinks that you can deceive me even as I hold your life in my hands! Unworthy of my pity! Your days are numbered, do you fucking understand me? When the sun has risen, I will decide your punishment and you will accept it, kicking or screaming, you will reap what you’ve sown.” 

The guards took you away almost as soon as they brought you to him, and that took off some of the headache that had started to brew in his mind. The pain eased but the feeling of confusion lingered in its place when you were gone. It was like he couldn’t hear anything but the sounds of his own anger and rage over the voice telling him what to do. 

He needed to destroy you to kill the voice that commanded him. 

It was the only way for the pain to stop and leave him be. 

However, why did his heart feel empty now that you were gone?

[mrneighbourlove]

Monsters: Ch 2. Slithering Terror in the Dark

Klinge checked in on Miranda, who had apparently awaken. Finding her, he didn’t enter the room, simply hearing that she was a crying mess. The very young Dark Elf held onto Doctor Boveir. “Please don’t go! I don’t want to be left alone in the dark! I want my mother! Where’s my mother!!!”

"Miranda, calm down, it's not good for you to be so upset." Doctor Boveir was doing his best to soothe the poor girl. "I already told you that I won't blow out the candles, there's nothing to be afraid of. You're safe here."

“No! Monsters in the dark! Monsters! Please, please don’t go! I don’t want to be left alone. Please Mr. Boveir. P-please.” The tears streamed down her eyes as she refused to let go of him. Klinge crushed the door handle subconsciously and walked away. He brought her into this mess. He allowed her to be taken by that monster.

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here, okay?" Doctor Boveir assured the terrified elf. "Look, I'm here tonight, along with three other nurses, all right? There's no monsters in the dark. Look around." He gestured to the medical bay, lit by candle light. "Now, you have multiple broken bones and you need to rest from your healing session."

Miranda sniffed, slowly letting go. “I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She tucked herself into bed, the tears only making her more tired.

"Now, now, there's no need to apologize." Doctor Boveir patted Miranda's head. "We all get scared sometimes. It's normal. Close those eyes, and try to sleep. If you need me, I'll be right here." Once the elf appeared to have drifted off into an exhausted slumber, the doctor placed another blanket on the sheets to keep her warm.

Only Miranda wasn’t talking to him. She lied in bed, staying awake for a while listening a praying she didn’t hear anything.

Doctor Boveir was doing his usual rounds and checking on patients. The darkness hid most due to the lack of light. Though Bonegrinder had his way of moving around Hyrule castle without being seen.

"Tiny snack... little elf... if you do not behave, you will lose more than just your life." Bonegrinder's voice came from within the wall behind her bed. "Would you like for the monster to go after your mother? Your friends? Eat them while you watch? You were warned not to traverse into the catacombs, but you did not listen. Tsk, tsk, stupid little elf..."

Miranda grew bug eyed, holding the sheets close to her and over her head. “No! Please. I-I’m sorry! I never should have gone near you. Please don’t hurt me or my mother. I’ll do whatever you ask. Please, please go away. Please I’m sorry.”

"Do you think apologizing is enough for what you did?" Bonegrinder scoffed. "You have alerted the undead commander to not only Bonegrinder's presence but those of the others in the catacombs. All because of your insistence when the prince ordered you to let it go... silly elf, don't you see now that the pretty prince was trying to protect you? And here, you doubted him, went behind his back to the undead tool. If he comes after Bonegrinder, those in Bonegrinder's home... then you will be the first to die, you stupid girl." The snake threatened. "Warn your commander to stay put or you will meet more monsters who Bonegrinder will gladly share your flesh with."

“No! NO! PLEASE MR BONEGRINDER!!! IM SORRY!!!” Miranda started to frantically scream and cry again. “This silly, stupid elf is yours! Please just don’t hurt me or my mother! PLEASE!!! Oh god have mercy, PLEASE!!!!!”

Doctor Boveir heard Miranda's frantic cries and rushed over to the elf.

"Miranda, Miranda, calm down! It's was just a bad dream, you're here, you're safe!" The doctor motioned for the nurses to come over to the bed as well. "There's no... no bone-monster here! There's nothing here! It was just a nightmare, there's no such thing as monsters."

“HE’S IN THE WALLS!!! OH GOD IM SORRY!!! PLEASE! I HAVE TO TELL RALNOR AND KLINGE I WAS WRONG!!! HE’S GOING TO EAT ME!!! CANT YOU HEAR HIM?!?!” Miranda frantically pushed against the doctors.

"Doctor, she must be hallucinating from the pain or the medication."

"Administer a stronger sedative and have a volunteer sit with her." Doctor Boveir ordered. "The girl is troubled mentally. We need to keep an eye on her." He then said with a frown. "And I need to have a talk with Commander Klinge about what happened. We cannot help until we know."

“NO! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T LEAVE ME!” Miranda bit one of the doctors hands as she attempted to run away. “Mother! I have to see my mother!”

Seeing Klinge watching from the end of the hallway she screamed at him. “Please don’t go after him! PLEASE!!!”

Her cries of lunacy and panic practically woke the castle. Klinge was glad he was wearing a helmet, because he couldn’t bear to look her in the eye. “I’ll end him....”

"Oh good goddesses, someone sedate her, now!" Doctor Boveir had to pry the girl's mouth away from his hand and the nurse quickly gave her a shot to put her to sleep. Shaking his head, he was pissed that the girl was acting so erratic and speaking of monsters. What if she had some sort of poison in her system? What if it was a dangerous gas that she breathed? He had no answers and no idea how to treat her. "Commander Klinge!" Normally, Doctor Boveir was a calm guy and it took a lot to get him angry. "I want... no, I need some damn answers, right now! The girl is out of her mind! What happened?!"

Klinge stayed calm, a little bit of spite in his voice. “You can ask Prince Ralnor, though I’m sure he will simply tell you she’s insane. I think the King and Queen would love to know the truth as much as you.”

"... I don't have time for your mind games." The doctor dismissed Klinge's statement with a huff. "Speaking of monsters in the walls. It's bad enough the maids say the castle is haunted and now you're in on this prattle too. I don't know what this girl saw or what the devil happened when you two went into that tunnel of madness, and I have a feeling I'm not going to get a proper answer. Until she is completely better, both physically and mentally, she is not to return to her work. Is that clear?"

“And she won’t be better until I deal with her monster. You can tell the Prince, the King, and the Queen I no longer take their orders until the matter is dealt with. Now go take care of your patients doctor. Before you receive something far more strong than a bite from me.” Klinge wagged a finger of warning at the doctor before walking to Tulilaid and Kelly, who had arrived to investigate the commotion. “Captains. I have a special assignment for you.”

“Yes, Commander Klinge?”

Tulilad quickly brushed back his hair and tried to wipe off any lipstick evidence on his face that might have been left there by Kelly. Clearing his throat, he stood up straight and faced his superior. “What assignment?”

“….I need you to go on a grocery run. Cake needs a casing. Might be rats in the wall. The Queen wants to take a cruise ship out to sea.”

Kelly kept a straight face, with only a flinch of concern. This was special code used only for emergency situations. Klinge handed Tulilad as list. “I’m taking a holiday. Be good.”

Oh shit. Grocery run was a vital hush hush mission. The cake needing a casing was a VIP needing protection. Her eyes studied her surroundings. Rats meant a spy or something listening in. And the cruise ship meant taking a garrison to take someone far away from Hyrule for their own good. Klinge was really laying it on them. But it was the vacation that worried Kelly. It meant Klinge was going rogue on his own. Who knew how long. She and Tulilad had to get somewhere private and read the note.

~

The Undead filth was becoming a thorn in his side. The criminal heads, his ‘Hive’ as he called it, were bringing him multiple complaints. Evidently, this commander was declaring war on him and his brood for what happened. This was nothing new to the Anagari. Sooner or later, there would be a mistake. Then, he could take advantage of the situation. A man with revenge on his mind was liable to act irrationally. The second prince could not control the undead like a puppet, despite Bonegrinder’s insistence that he be kept on a leash. Still, it was not Ralnor’s fault that Klinge would not behave. The prince was too soft to use necromancy magic to keep the bag of rotted flesh under his thumb. So Bonegrinder waited patiently, listening and watching… until every person was in place.

As the Hive gathered, Sheer-Kahn trotted in. He was an old and ancient creature. With four hooves he walked with a clack of every step. His upper body had two powerful arms for carrying his weapons of choice, a massive sharpened club and a bow that shot arrows the size of small tortoises. His main was silvery white, with a grey body. He was a Lynel.

In times much older, he might have been King here. But Hyrule’s darkest corners now held creatures far more adaptive then him. As powerful as he was, not even he could move an immovable object. He took his place and waited patiently. Here, his code name was Hades. For if anyone sought death by angering his master, he’d send them to the Underworld.

“Sheer-Kahn… my loyal friend, my trusted warrior.” Bonegrinder motioned for the Lynel to come into his personal chambers. He had the deeper sections of the catacombs suited for living. No one under his command wanted anything more than they needed. Every need and want was catered to within reasonable request. One thing was for sure, Bonegrinder took care of those who were loyal to him. Certain areas were nothing short of luxurious, despite being underground. The Anagari took a slow inhale of his pipe and let the smoke float out of his nostrils. “The undead filth has been a thorn in our garden for quite some time now, hasn’t he?”

Sheer-Kahn nodded. “More so now that he has discovered your presence. He’s always taken care to destroy the criminal element that has been created by you, even if only unintentional and previously unknown to your presence,  simply because it is ‘the right thing to do’. Now he’s targeting the infrastructure himself.”

“He doesn’t realize that what we do effects not just our brood, but those under us, those we take care of, the rejects no one wants.” Bonegrinder’s underground empire was ran to benefit some of Hyrule’s most unfortunate. Those who had nowhere else to go, came to the Hive for a home. However, Bonegrinder ran the underground organization like a tight ship. There was no room for error. A threat to him was threat to all under his command. If Klinge wanted to play dirty, then he could do so as well. “This old snake won’t have the others suffering because of it. The three he keeps close to him… the half breed, the kid elf, and the small guard. We need to bring them here.”

“They are in the heart of the castle. That could prove to be difficult.” Sheer-Kahn took a bow. “But nothing is below me. What would you have me do?”

“If the little elf is taken… the others will follow.” Bonegrinder slithered up to Sheer-Kahn, his claws holding up the Lynel’s chin. “You are strength and might incarnate, trusted friend. Nothing you put your mind to will ever fail. Though it is not unnecessary to ask for help when it is needed.” He then gestured to the figures in the dark. “Morowa and Negasi will accompany you if you wish it?”

Sheer-Kahn thought it over. Klinge needed to be distracted and taken away from the castle. Hades’ existence could not be made publicly known to the general population, so he couldn’t enter the castle, but he could take Klinge’s attention away. “Will you listen to my plan my friend?”

“Of course.” Bonegrinder offered the Lynel a pipe while he listened. When he was done explaining, Bonegrinder smiled wildly in content.

[akaanonymouth]

Berena Appreciation Week  Day 3: Pre-Series

Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice (you’ll make it now) (Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova)

Serena resists rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time in as many minutes. Manages to hide her grimace and snort behind a hair tuck and a throaty chuckle, quite successfully if Mr….what’s his name? Handsy anaesthetist, not-Edward’s broad, lecherous grin is anything to go by. She sighs and turns her head away when their other conversational companion picks up the thread, and manages to pin Edward with a death glare. He shrugs his shoulders, throws her a look of completely insincere apology, then a thumbs up that makes her want to stick them up his own arse, dry.

“You’ll just have to mingle for an hour, a couple, tops. There’s some very important benefactors we need to wheedle money out of, and boys like Marcus and I are not really the way to go about getting it. Standing and looking pretty is not a good look on us,” Edward grinned winningly, but Serena’s ire was rising. “I’m not a bloody geisha,” she snapped. Edward pulled her into his arms and danced his hips against hers. “You are so much more, Serena Campbell. Talented surgeon, master strategist. Extraordinarily beautiful. You’re the perfect package for an extortion racket. That’s what this is, that’s all. Using all of your talents to secure the future of anaesthesiology at the hospital. A secure future for us, for Ellie. Marcus and I would only fuck it up. You know what we’re like.” Serena rolled her eyes, but preened a bit in his arms. She didn’t know what Marcus was like, had no clue, had never met the man, but she knew Edward, and knew, especially in the six months he’d been working at the same hospital as Marcus Dunn, that events that involved “the boys” getting together rarely resulted in anything bar a two day hangover. She sighed. Edward held her tighter. Danced them around the kitchen a bit so he could snag her wine glass and tilt it to her lips. “Besides. Marcus’ missus will be there-” “Wife,” Serena automatically corrected around the rim of her glass. “Marcus’ wife will be there. She’s a leading trauma surgeon. Talented woman. Bit of a babe-” Serena removed her glass from his hand and punched him in the chest. He grinned, bent his lips to hers. “You’ll have lots in common. You’ll have half the room charmed in ten minutes between you, and you can spend the rest of the time catching up on innovative procedures, effective management and how utterly useless yet irresistible your husbands are.”

Serena sniffed, punched him in the chest once more for good measure, but tilted her head to kiss him again nonetheless. “Well, you should have led with that. I never miss an opportunity to commiserate over inept spouses.”

Serena hasn’t had a chance to commiserate over inept spouses. Which is a crying shame, she thinks, as her mind wanders now that her schmoozing role with the handsy one is over, because she’s met Marcus, finally, and she’s sure that she and the wife now known as Bernie, would have much to commiserate over. Delayed in surgery, apparently, but expected any second. Her body follows her mind and she wanders the room, clocking all the blonde headed females and dismissing them in turn as the one that she’s heard quite a lot about this last day. She people watches for a while, assesses the dynamics, decides that Edward has really found his place within this hospital. Doesn’t assess her inner disdain at that summation. She heads over to the bar where Edward is standing, and reaches it at the same time as another woman, who’s presence is simultaneously so commanding yet awkward that she is immediately granted a tumbler of amber liquid but stands facing the bar, drinking steadily, until the glass is empty and she places it back down without turning to face the room, her jaw working overtime. She reaches Edward just as he notices the other woman’s presence. “Bernie!” Bernie turns to face Edward at his jovial greeting. He reaches out one arm to pull Serena closer, and Serena finds herself encompassed in the most intense look she can ever recall bestowed upon her. “My wife, Serena,” Bernie nods in recognition and holds out her hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Campbell,” Bernie says by way of greeting. Serena huffs a laugh, shakes the proffered hand and tries not to wonder at the flop in her stomach. “Oh, I wouldn’t believe a word he says,” she answers, flippantly. Bernie smiles softly. “I haven’t got the imagination to draw from other people’s descriptions. I’ve read a bit of your work. It’s good. Very good.” Bernie’s voice is soft, sincere, and Serena almost beams. “Thank you. I’ve never felt so flattered to be stalked before,” Bernie huffs a laugh as Edward chortles. “I prefer appreciated. To be the best, you need to know the best,” Bernie smiles, a touch of colour in her cheeks and her eyes radiating warmth. Serena’s momentarily lost for words, but finds herself irrationally annoyed at Edward’s arm tightening around her waist. “That’s my girl! Bernie’s not so bad herself, are you, Ms. Wolfe?” Serena catches her bottom lip in her teeth, rolls her eyes and offers Bernie an apologetic glance. Bernie dips her head, offers Serena a smirk. “That’s how I like my critiques, Edward. Always room for improvement.” Serena snorts, shuffles out of Edward’s embrace. She’s about to offer Bernie a drink, when the woman’s eyes darken and her jaw tightens again, as she focuses on something over Serena’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, please excuse me. Edward, Ms. Campbell,” She’s making to move away when Serena, seized by a sudden urge to have this woman keep talking to her, blurts. “Please, call me Serena.” Bernie turns, her abruptly stony eyes softening momentarily. “Serena,” her eyes crinkle as her set mouth softens. “I’m sorry. It’s been a pleasure. I hope to catch up with you again very soon.” Serena dips her head. “Likewise.” Serena spends twenty minutes by the bar, making small talk with another potential donor whilst Edward throws in encouraging ‘hum’s’ and ‘yes’s’. She manages a minute after Edward slings his hand around her shoulder, his fingers toying with her neckline, before she shrugs out of his embrace, suddenly feeling cloistered. She excuses herself and winds  to the toilets. Grateful for the emptiness, she runs her wrists under the cold water until the boiling discomfort inside her abates somewhat and then turns to use the cubicle. She’s about to flush and exit when she hears the outer door slam open, shaking the walls, followed by an angry, tear stained voice. “You can’t just walk away!” Serena freezes with her hand on the chain, eyes widening as she registers the two shadows under the door. “No! No, you can’t just walk in! I’m not walking away, I’m stopping something that should never have happened in the first place!” Serena’s eyes bug as she places the voice. “Bullshit, Bern! You know what should never have happened in the first place, and it’s not this. Not us,” Serena opens her mouth wide to let her gasp escape noiselessly. Her heart starts pounding, and she wonders whether she should pull the chain now, make a hasty, terribly acted oblivious retreat, but then she sees the shadows move, hears a muffled grunt and then… Oh, shit. “Tell me that doesn’t mean anything… Tell me that this doesn’t mean anything, and I’ll go. I will,” She should put her hands over her ears, Serena thinks. Should start singing Jerusalem in her head loud enough that she won’t even realise when they leave. She knows what she should do, but she stands there, listening to muffled moans and sobs nevertheless. She watches the shadows with rapt, horrified fascination, can see a fist balled against a shoulder, hitting now and again, pulling closer the next moment. Can see a hand weaved in dishevelled hair, can see feet shuffling until she knows they’re pressed up against the sinks. Jumps herself when their movements set off the hand dryer and watches as they jump apart, hands, as far as she can tell, wiping at lips. “I’m sorry,” Serena hears, and she’s hard pressed to match this tiny, forlorn voice with the woman she’d met not half an hour ago. “Marcus… my kids… I have to try. We… This… I… I’m-” “Sorry?” she’s cut off by the other woman’s bitter, equally as tearful voice. “You know, Bern,” the woman holds out her arm. Serena imagines her fingers ghosting Bernie’s cheek; from the tilt in Bernie’s head, can see her, eyes closed, leaning in to the touch. “There’s only one thing you’re gonna be sorry about, in the end. And it won’t be what you think it’s gonna be.” Serena watches as their heads press together again. Knows that she’ll be hearing that moan for the rest of her life. Watches as their hands stay interlinked until the last possible moment, when Bernie’s woman finally shakes her fingers free and leaves the toilets. She should feel disgusted, she knows. She really knows, and despite her initial assessment of Marcus, knows that he doesn’t deserve this, but… She stands and listens to Bernie fall apart, listens to her try and pull herself together, can’t help but admire how she finds her mask in less than five minutes, when the toilet door swings open once again, and inconsequential pleasantries are made and Bernie exits. Serena stands there reeling for longer than it took Bernie to break off what read as a long term love affair, and she shakes herself eventually. Leaves the cubicle and resolutely does not meet her eyes in the mirror as she washes, dries, and makes her way back to the party.

She finds the whole atmosphere jarring, now. She catches sight of Marcus with his hand resting at Bernie’s back, and only manages a quick glance at the woman before she has to dart her eyes away, not quite sure if she feels vehemently self-righteous or despairingly sorry for her. When Edward tries to introduce her to yet another new person, Serena shies away. “The babysitter needs to get home,” she says, and presses a kiss to his lips. “You stay; enjoy. Build on my considerable, influential charm,”

He’s about to interject, she knows. About to protest, because she’s never this amenable, this blasê about him staying out until all hours these days. She pins him with a glare. “Don’t fuck it up, Campbell.”

He laughs, appeased, and pulls her in for a hug. “I won’t.”

Outside, finally, she takes a deep breath and leans against the wall with her eyes closed for a few moments. When she opens her eyes and takes stock of her surroundings, her breath hitches at Bernie Wolfe, leaning against the wall a few metres away, pulling on a fag as though it’s life prolonging. Bernie’s already looking at her, and Serena sets her jaw before acknowledging her presence. “Rough night?” Bernie asks, and Serena barely manages to contain a bark of laughter. “Something like that,” she answers, and can’t help but respond to Bernie’s wry grin with one of her own. “You off?” Serena takes a breath, is still trying to align herself with everything she’s seen, and why it’s affecting her in such a jarring way. “Yes. Babysitter to relieve. Work in the morning. A woman’s work and all that,” she aims for jovial, feels her voice hit shy of the mark, especially when Bernie’s face shadows, and her smile wanes. “Yes, and all that,” A taxi pulls up, and Bernie waves her hand. “You take it. I’m waiting for Marcus.” Serena raises her eyebrows. “Well, if you’re sure?” Bernie pushes herself off the wall, opens the door and waves Serena towards it. “It was very nice to meet you, Ms. Campbell,” Serena is about to lower herself into the taxi, throw a likewise, Ms. Wolfe, over her shoulder, but something stops her. She tells herself that it’s not Bernie’s red-rimmed eyes, not the shaky hand she’d noticed raising the fag to her mouth, not even the fact that Bernie, despite the fact that she was seemingly carrying out an act that Serena deplored with all her being, seemed genuinely heartbroken. She tells herself this, just as vehemently as she tells herself later, much later, in years to come, that it was all of these things and more, you stupid, stupid woman, but for now, she tells herself that bonding over inept spouses is something she’s rather good at, and so what if it actually turns out that she’s not bonding over inept spouses so much as with one and being one?

“You know,” she says. “Anytime you fancy a coffee, or a wine, and a chat, you should call me. And call me Serena,” she offers Bernie a wink, and Bernie smiles, blinks. “Thanks.” Serena nods. “You’re very welcome.”

When Edward crashes home some hours later, Serena is still staring at the ceiling, lost in all and nothing thoughts. “Bernie’s nice,” he mumbles into her shoulder. “See her again?” Serena sighs, decides to put all her thoughts to bed until tomorrow, or maybe the next day, and evens out her breath with Edward’s snores. “I hope so.”