#rare kris smiling moment

[akanemnon]

Existential crisis averted through the power of moss.

FIRST - PREVIOUS - NEXT

MASTERPOST (for the full series / FAQ / reference sheets)

[patchwork-crow-writes]

70 - Indulgence

At the end of a long day, there was nothing Ralsei liked more than to retreat upstairs to his own bedroom, a pristine safe-haven sequestered away from the chaos of daily life in Castle Town. A room where everything was in its place, and there was a place for everything.

Today had been particularly busy, what with new darkners to orient, messes to clean up, disputes to arbitrate, and Kris and Susie to please. Ralsei should have liked nothing more than to throw himself upon his immaculate bed and slumber peacefully until the morning.

But upon setting eyes on his familiar, unchanging room, it seemed to him altogether too... sterile. Some unidentifiable impulse was gnawing at his core, causing his hands to tremble. His chest tightening, Ralsei approached his wardrobe, took a single piece of clothing from it... and gingerly dropped it onto the floor. Eyes swiveled left to right, waiting for the inevitable admonishment... which never came.

Oh... that was strangely enjoyable...

The thrill of his transgression emboldened him, and now he grabbed wildly at anything he could reach, sending scarves streaming through the air like shooting stars, frilly dresses parachuting down onto every available clean spot on his fluffy white carpet. Did he dare cast his dainty delicates to the winds? Yes, he dared! With a joyous cry they were thrown airborne like celebratory confetti, a riot of lace and satin as bouyant and carefree as his jubilant heart...!

Oh, if he had only known how much fun this was! Thoughts of cleaning far from his mind, Ralsei reveled in this rebellious now, strewing his garments around with delicious abandon. Let such dour thoughts of responsibility come later, after this simple, liberating indulgence...! And not even the shocked faces of Kris and Susie standing in the bedroom door could ever... dampen... his spirits...

...oh... oh dear.

______________________________

The Dark Menagerie No. 70

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[kiwiokok]

𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝘼𝙔 𝙊𝙁 𝙒𝘼𝙏𝙀𝙍

Previous >> Next

Pairing: Ao’nung x omaticayan! fem!reader

Summary: Tulkun

Warnings: none

Credits: For the whole plot idea I have for this fanfic I have to credit and thank @lorre-verie <3

For the past few days, the Sully family had kept Kiri close after her sudden collapse, never letting her out of their sight. Lorre, in particular, rarely left her sister’s side, understanding Kiri’s need for space but unwilling to leave her alone completely.

They sat together in the marui, Lorre silently working on a necklace for Tsireya while Kiri lay on her hammock, staring off into the distance.

After a while, Kiri sighed, breaking the quiet. - You don’t have to stay here all the time, you know. she murmured, glancing at her sister.

Lorre paused, her fingers stilling over the shells in her hands. - I know. she replied softly, her voice gentle. - But I want to. She gave Kiri a small smile. - Besides, you’re not that much of a bother.

Kiri huffed a laugh, the smallest hint of a smile playing on her lips. - Gee, thanks. she said, rolling her eyes. But her tone was softer than usual, and Lorre could sense the relief in her.

Lorre shifted closer, nudging Kiri’s leg with her knee. - Seriously though, you scared us. Her voice dropped, the weight of the past few days still fresh. - I thought I was going to lose you — we were going to lose you.

Kiri didn’t say anything for a moment, her gaze turning thoughtful. - I’m still here. she said quietly, her eyes flicking toward Lorre. - You can’t get rid of me that easily.

Lorre chuckled, the tension easing slightly. - Good. Because I don’t plan on letting you go anywhere. She resumed threading the necklace, trying to lighten the mood. - And I still have to finish this for Tsireya, so you’re stuck with me until I do.

Before Kiri could respond, the sound of a horn echoed through the village, drawing their attention. Lorre glanced up but didn’t think much of it. She assumed it was just the hunters returning. But moments later, Tuk burst into the marui.

- Kri! Lorre! Come on! Come on! Tuk’s voice was urgent but filled with excitement, and before either of her sisters could react, she grabbed their hands and pulled them to their feet.

- Tuk, what’s going on? Kiri groaned, still half reluctant to move, but Tuk was persistent.

- You have to see this! Tuk’s wide eyes sparkled with wonder, and her excitement was contagious.

With Tuk tugging them along, they rushed to the entrance of the marui. As they reached the edge, Lorre’s breath caught in her throat. The sight that greeted them was nothing short of magical.

Enormous tulkun were breaching the surface of the water, their massive forms adorned with glowing tattoos that shimmered like constellations under the sun. Metkayina riders circled them on ilu and tsurak, their joyous laughter filling the air.

- Our brothers and sisters have returned! Tsireya’s voice rang out from the water, her happiness clear as she waved to the Metkayina in the distance.

Tuk couldn’t stand still, bouncing on her toes. - Let’s go meet them! she exclaimed, already pulling Lorre and Kiri toward the shore.

They quickly mounted their ilu and followed Tuk into the water once the small Navi got on Kiri’s Ilu.

weaving through the waves as they made their way toward the celebration. The vibrant colors of the reef surrounded them—blues and greens mixing together, with flashes of coral peeking through the surface.

As they swam, Lorre felt the thrill of the ocean currents around her, cool and refreshing against her skin. Out on the reef, Lo’ak and Tsireya were swimming together, their movements fluid and playful as they darted between the tulkun.

Neteyam followed behind them, his strokes steady and controlled, glancing back now and then to check on his siblings.

Lorre kept close to Tuk, watching as Ao’nung and Rotxo prepared to dive in the distance.

Tuk called out to them. - Ao’nung! Take us with you!

Ao’nung glanced back at them, his usual smirk appearing as his gaze met Lorre’s. - Come on! he said, a playful glint in his eyes. - I want to you meet my spirit brother

Without hesitation, Ao’nung dove into the water, and Lorre followed close behind. Her heart raced a little faster, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the excitement of the moment or from Ao’nung’s presence.

Tuk and Kiri trailed behind, but Lorre found herself focused on keeping up with Ao’nung as they swam deeper into the reef.

The water was alive with movement, the tulkun swimming gracefully among the Metkayina. Lorre did her best to avoid colliding with any of the creatures, narrowly missing a few as she followed Ao’nung’s lead.

Eventually, they arrived at a particularly large tulkun, who was floating calmly near the ocean floor. Lorre watched as Ao’nung approached the creature with quiet reverence, reaching out to touch its side.

This tulkun was different, and from the way Ao’nung greeted him, Lorre could tell this bond was special. She hesitated, feeling a little out of place in this moment. But Ao’nung turned to her, his expression soft as he signed, - This is Ra’kuul, my spirit brother.

Lorre swam closer, her heart thudding in her chest as she reached out to touch Ra’kuul’s smooth skin. The tulkun rumbled in response, his massive eye regarding her with curiosity.

- He likes you. Ao’nung signed with a small smile. - And he thinks you’re beautiful.

Lorre felt her cheeks warm at the compliment, her pulse quickening. - Really?

Ao’nung nodded, - Yeah, but I think he’s just trying to get on your good side, Syulang. Lorre blinked in surprise at the nickname. It felt sweet, somehow fitting for the way he looked at her.

- Syulang? I kind of like it. she admitted, a shy smile creeping onto her face.

They shared a moment, the air between them charged with something new, something exciting. Ra’kuul’s eye crinkled, and Lorre could swear the tulkun was smiling at her.

They stayed together for a while, the underwater world around them buzzing with life. Lorre noticed Lo’ak and Tsireya swimming nearby, their laughter carrying through the water as they played in the waves.

Neteyam swam quietly through the reef, keeping a watchful eye on his siblings

Jake and Neytiri were further out, they swam alongside the Metkayina, riding their ilu with a smile on their faces.

Lorre turned her attention back to Ao’nung, who was signing something to Ra’kuul. The tulkun responded with a low rumble, and Ao’nung looked over at Lorre, his expression softening.

- He asked if you like it here. Ao’nung translated

Lorre nodded, signing back, - I do. It’s beautiful.

Ra’kuul’s eye crinkled, and Lorre could swear the tulkun was smiling at her. There was something deeply personal about this interaction, something that made her feel like she was being let into a part of Ao’nung’s world she hadn’t seen before.

After a while, Lorre felt the familiar tightening in her lungs and gestured toward the surface. Aonung gave a quick nod in acknowledgment but kept speaking with Ra'kuul, his spirit brother.

Lorre didn't mind, knowing they likely had much to catch up on after being apart for so long. She pushed off, gliding smoothly toward the surface, leaving them to their conversation.

Lorre broke the surface with a sharp gasp, her lungs filling with cool air. She blinked rapidly, adjusting to the sudden brightness as water dripped from her lashes.

The muffled sounds of the deep faded, replaced by the clear rush of waves and the distant calls of tulkun. She swept her wet hair from her face, her senses now fully alert to the lively world around her.

Suddenly, a large shadow passed over Lorre, and she looked up, hand raised to block the sun. A skimwing hovered above her, its sleek wings casting a cool shadow across her face. She squinted, trying to make out the figure riding it when a familiar voice cut through the brightness.

- Forest girl!

Lorre’s lips curled into a smile as she recognized Ro’uk.

- Oh! Hi, Ro’uk. she replied, tilting her head to get a better look.

Ro’uk noticed her struggling with the sun and maneuvered his skimwing closer, angling it to shield her from the sun. The sudden change in light allowed Lorre to fully appreciate his friendly grin and the way the ocean shimmered behind him.

- Better? he asked, leaning forward with an easy smirk.

- Much better, thanks. she said, grateful for his thoughtfulness.

Ro’uk tilted his head curiously. - So, what are you doing out here?

Lorre blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the question. She glanced over her shoulder at the small gathering where the others mingled with the tulkun, then shifted her focus back to him. - Oh, I was just with… Ao’nung. she admitted, feeling a small flutter in her stomach at the mention of his name.

Ro’uk raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. - The chief’s son, huh? Nice. he teased

Lorre’s cheeks warmed slightly, and she shook her head in mild embarrassment. - It’s not like that! she laughed, - We were just talking to his spirit brother.

Ro’uk leaned back, clearly enjoying her discomfort. - Right.. he said, his grin widening. - Just talking, of course. And how’s that going? Did you forget about your friends while getting cozy with the chief’s son?

Lorre rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips. - I didn’t forget about you! I actually looked for you earlier when we were supposed to ride the Ikrans, but I couldn’t find you.

Ro’uk’s expression softened, and he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. - Oh, sorry about that. I was with my mate and lost track of time. I completely forgot about it too.

She waved her hand dismissively, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. - It’s okay, really. Things happen. I just got caught up in everything with Kiri and all.

- Right, Kiri. Ro’uk said, nodding in understanding. - How about this? To make up for it, I’d love to bring you to Ta’unui. I have something to do there.

Lorre’s face brightened at the suggestion. - Ta’unui? I’d love that! I’ve never been there before.

Ro’uk nodded, his enthusiasm infectious. - It’s beautiful. You’ll love it. Ka’ali and our son will be there too.

Lorre’s heart swelled at the thought. - I can’t wait to see your son. I bet Ka’ali is amazing too.

Ro’uk grinned, clearly proud. - He’s getting better at riding his ilu every day. I can’t wait for you to meet him. He’ll be excited to show off. He gestured toward the water, his skimwing bobbing gently with the waves. - Alright, I’ll let you get back to… whatever you and Ao’nung were doing.

Lorre rolled her eyes again at his teasing. - We were just talking, I swear.

Ro’uk raised his hands in mock surrender, clearly enjoying himself. - Sure, sure. Whatever you say, forest girl.

He shifted slightly on his skimwing, preparing to take off. - Just don’t forget about that Ikran. We’ll plan it soon, okay?

- I won’t forget. Lorre promised, waving goodbye as Ro’uk rode off into the distance. His skimwing’s wings skimmed the surface of the water.

[butterflyintochains]

Those Small Details

Or, five times the Sid and Geno thought something was up with Kris and Erik. And the one time they knew something was up with Kris and Erik.

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One - Training

Cranberry is alive again, and the boys could not be happier. Off season lasts far too long, and they all have a score to settle with the league's inane ranking system. Sid, Kris, and Geno skate laps with their new fourth musketeer, Erik Karlsson. He's awesome, and they're all very happy to have him. But, Sid can't help but notice something different between Erik and Kris. They're just about to go for lunch, Sid says. ''Tanger, Erik, you comin' with us for lunch?'' Kris smiles, his friendly smile. ''We won't be long, we just wanna practice some shots.''

Sid nods, unclipping his helmet. ''Oh, okay.'' Erik grins, cheeky as always. ''Well, ready to get smoked, Letang?'' Kris cocks an eyebrow, smirking while gathering some pucks. ''Don't threaten me with a good time, Karlsson.'' The duo share a laugh as Sid walks down the tunnel, he turns around, and just watches them for a moment. The easy conversation, the jokes they're sharing, something about Raleigh and Duncan Keith. And, he wonders what he's missed in the years he's known Kris.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two - The Plane

Every NHL team has a seating plan for the team plane, the ever superstitious Penguins are no different. Sid used to sit with Flower, and now sits by himself. Kris and Geno always sit together at the card table. The trio board the plane to Halifax together as always, and split up for their seats. And, this is where it gets weird. Lars Eller approaches Geno and Kris, and points to the empty seat next to Geno. ''Can I sit here, Geno?''

Geno nods, and moves his bag and jacket. ''Sure, that's cool.'' Kris notices Erik glancing around the plane looking for a seat, and says. ''Hey, Erik, over here!'' Erik beams at him, and gingerly takes the seat. Geno can feel the air change, a sort of familiarity buzzes between the two defencemen. Geno thinks, as they play cards, it's good that they're not clawing each other's eyes out, but it's like they've always played together. There's clearly a history here, he thinks, as Erik playfully nudges Kris' shoulder, and Kris nudges back. Geno looks to Sid, who is probably texting his sister, Sid just shrugs and goes to sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three - San Jose

Ten two. Ten. Two. 10-2. Holy shit. They actually beat the Sharks ten goals to two. The bus ride back is remarkably chilled out all things considered. Geno is fast asleep next to Sid, head leaning on the window. Sid is flitting between asleep and awake himself, even easy wins are tiring. He's almost away, when his ear pricks up at hearing a hushed conversation at the back of the bus. ''So, did it feel weird at all? Being back here after the trade?'' Kris asks Erik. The swede just chuckles. ''A bit, it's nice to see what those wins look like from the good side though, y'know?''

Kris quietly says. ''Not really, but I'll take your word for it. Are you liking playing for us, Erik? Do you have any regrets about coming on board?''

Erik has a smile in his voice, and assures Kris. ''I am. It's a damn lot better than the alternative, the company is amazing.'' Kris chuckles. ''You know me better than anyone else does, Kris, the only regret I have is not coming here sooner.'' Wow, Sid closes his eyes, that sounded intimate. Sid feels vaguely dirty now, having listened in on such a private conversation. Whatever the subtext was, Sid is sure he wasn't meant to hear any of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Four - Locker Room Gossip

Kris rarely gushes over goals, even his own cup winner in 2016 was 'just another day at work', that's why the team loves him so much. But, Kris and Erik are in deep and excited chatter about his game winner against Toronto. Kris got the assist. After the usual post game stuff, Geno just watches them talk to each other. Knees almost touching, shoulders angled inwards, massive smiles on both faces. ''God, if only Jumbo was still playing for them. He'd be fuming that you actually know how to assist me.'' Erik says, adjusting his tie. Kris runs his hand through his hair. ''If he'd be fuming, Burnsie would explode. He might have your Norris, but you have a better partner.'' Erik bursts out laughing. ''Someone's feisty tonight.'' Kris shrugs, and stands up. ''Pot kettle.''

Geno hates to intrude, but says to them. ''Erik, Legenda - team dinner? Dubas is paying tonight.''

Kris nods. ''We'll be right behind you, G.'' They leave the locker room together. Geno wonders when Kris became such a gossip, sure he'd bounce things off of Flower back in the day, but he'd never actually gossip about anyone on their rival teams. And, why is Erik so cool with Kris gossiping about his old team mates?

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Five - Five Assists

Five assists in one period, just back from christmas, and Kris is already making history for his team and the league. He finishes media, and holds his puck tower, almost in disbelief at himself. Sid sits next to him, and pats him on the back. ''That was amazing, man, truly. I am so proud to be your captain.''

Kris beams, and says. ''Thanks, Croz. I just can't believe this is my achievement, I almost feel like this isn't real.'' Sid laughs, and assures his best friend. ''Enjoy it, Kris, we call you 'Legend' for a reason. See you on the bus.'' Kris nods, and they do their secret handshake.

Just as he's left the locker room, Sid hears Erik ask Kris. ''Where do you wanna put those, Kris?'' Kris must be thinking for a bit, but he says. ''With my Masterton, on my award shelves. You've got your own now, so we're not sharing my shelves anymore. Is that okay?'' Erik laughs, and assures Kris. ''That's okay.'' Sid ponders that on the bus ride, Erik has his own shelves now? Where? Was he just living with Kris until he found a place of his own?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Six - Home

Jarry and Guentzel were selected to represent the team in Toronto. So, the trio are left with a rare three days off. Sid and Geno, done with a bag skate, get showered and changed for lunch. Strangely, neither Kris or Erik showed up today. So, instead of eating with the rest, they make the drive to Kris' place. Seeing not one, but two cars there. ''That's odd.'' Sid remarks.

They go to the door, and ring the bell. Kris is happy as ever when he says. ''Hi, guys! You're just in time, we're just about to make lunch.'' Geno kicks his shoes off. ''We?'' He asks. Kris nods, and takes them through to the kitchen, where Erik is making stir fry. ''Erik, look who's here!''

Erik smiles, and hands over cooking duties to Kris. ''Hi, guys.'' Sid says, trying to hide his confusion. ''Hi, Erik. What brings you here today?''

Erik casually says. ''I kinda live here, Sid.'' Kris chops up some carrots, eating some as he does. ''We weren't making that mistake again, it's so much easier this way. No repeats of 2017, huh, amour?'' Erik kisses Kris' cheek. ''Exactly, hjartat.''

Over lunch, which is when Geno notices the twin award shelves, they tell the story. Getting together in Raleigh at the 2011 All Star Game, breaking up after the 2017 playoffs, getting back together at the 2019 All Star Game in San Jose, and finally settling down here. ''So, yeah, we're together, and this is our home.'' Kris says.

Erik adds. ''We're so sorry we didn't tell you about this earlier, but we've been so happy, and didn't wanna risk anything again.'' Kris finishes his partner's sentence. ''It took us all of 2019 to move past 2017, we hope you two understand that.'' And, they do, they do understand that. This is something special and private, something no one should ever be able to take away from them both. Not after all they've gone through to get here.

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Hi, all! First Kris/Erik fic, and my 65th post (I hope Erik would be proud I saved this for that) I'm gonna link some people real quick. I hope this is good! I had a lot of fun with this one!

@simmyfrobby @mikathemad @couthbbg @coffee-at-annies

[justproshiprants]

Krisriel drabble! It's sfw, but is under the cut due to the age gap and incest associated with the pairing itself.

“You know we can’t keep doing this, Kris.” Asriel sighed. It wasn’t the first time he’d uttered the statement, and it likely wouldn’t be the last. It’s an ironic statement, all things considered; Kris is sitting on his lap, straddling him, in a way his younger sibling should most definitely not be doing…And Asriel makes no effort to push them away. 

Kris gave a vague shrug. “Why not?” They’ve only been doing ‘this’ for a few months now. They kept it secret for obvious reasons, and they hadn’t had any close calls, either. Unless they were caught making out or something, most behavior between them could be dismissed easily enough. 

Asriel was well-trusted, after all. Kris didn’t quite have the same reputation that he did, but they weren’t disliked by any means, either. Most people in Hometown thought they were weird, but no one would assume anything odd of their relationship with Azzy- at least not more than they already did. To some, it was a confusion how the respectable and friendly Asriel could be the brother of the human Kris, who rarely spoke and only stood out when they were getting up to mischief- Often mischief their brother actively tried to stop. 

“This is wrong! What if we get caught, or- God, mom could walk in, and-” Asriel is cut off as Kris kisses him on the lips. Part of him wants to pull back, but he gives in shamefully, kissing them back as he wraps his arms around them. 

Before this all started, Asriel knew Kris wasn’t doing well. Not many noticed quite like Asriel did, but it was clear to him how things had changed. How Kris had only drawn further and further within themself. How they’d started talking less than they normally did. How they stopped pulling pranks. How they never hung out with their friends. 

And yet, now…Asriel sees Kris smiling. It’s a small smile that would be mundane on anyone else, but this is Kris. A smile of theirs is as valuable as gold, and Asriel recently feels like a rich man. Is the shame he feels in his soul worth that? He can’t tell himself he doesn’t enjoy seeing Kris smiling, after all. 

“We won’t get caught.” Kris says bluntly, and Asriel nearly snorts at how certain they sound about this. They say it like it’s irrefutable fact, and it’s almost as if Asriel is being stupid for having the very thought. 

Asriel lets out a sigh. “And how do you know that?” 

“I just do.” Kris says, and it’s enough to make Asriel groan. They snuggle up against him, nuzzling up against him in a way that makes his heart start to pound. “...I hate it when you get like this.” 

“Sorry.” Asriel whispers gently, stroking their head. “You know me.” 

“Better than anyone.” Kris confirms, and it’s enough for Asriel to look at them for a moment, give in, and then lean into them. For the moment, it’s all he needs, and he lets himself be content with them in his arms.

[purplebass]

Getting Acquainted With Santa / Wessa (+ little Lucie and James)

Will dresses as Santa Claus to surprise little James and Lucie, but someone may be scared of Santa ;) Set around Christmas 1888. I just love writing about Wessa when their kids are little.

I may have one more idea involving some of the characters in this fic set on Christmas but in the future, but we'll see if I can write it. Also, if you have requests, please send them to me.

Words: 971 Rating: T Read on A03 💜

Will bought the costume in a shop downtown without thinking, and he first showed it to his wife.

“You’re not thinking about –” Tessa said, looking at the red and white cloth with a frown. “For the Christmas party?”

He nodded. “The children will love it,” he replied giddily. “Or would you rather I dress as Mari Lwyd? You don’t seem too sure, Tess.”

She just shrugged and managed a tight smile. “I don’t want them to be scared so young.”

“By Santa Claus?” Will frowned, and put a hand on his wife’s shoulder. “Is there something I should know?”

Tessa sighed, and covered her face with her hands for a moment. “When I was six or seven,” she began, “I was deeply frightened by Kris Kringle. I was with my aunt, and it was one of those rare occasions she allowed me to go out with her. I had never seen Santa, and you can imagine my shock when he appeared out of nowhere and asked me which gift I wanted for Christmas.”

“I’m sorry, Tess,” he caressed her shoulder. “I should’ve asked you first. Maybe I should really dress as Mari Lwyd, then. They also know about her.”

“Please, no,” she laughed. “I can get acquainted with Santa. Perhaps if you wear that costume in front of me, my fear could subside. I could associate you with it, and thus face my fear.”

“Do you think it could work? I don’t want to startle you, my dear,” he squeezed her hand. 

“Let’s try it now,” she tilted her head to the side. “While the children are still asleep.”

Will smirked. “I’ve got the feeling you will want to remove the costume real quick.”

“Well,” she teased. “Let’s see if you are right.”

In the end, they were right. Seeing her husband dressing – and undressing – as Santa reframed Tessa’s childhood memory after a while. He didn’t frighten her anymore. If any, he looked –

“Amazing,” she commented, fixing his jacket. “You’re all set, Will.”

“Santa Claus is coming to town!” he exclaimed, and Tessa couldn’t help but laugh.

She went to the nursery to get Lucie and James, who were one and two respectively, and took them to the drawing room. They agreed that it was better to dress as Santa in front of them first. Tessa thought they should ask their friends if it was okay for Will to surprise the other children, since one of them could be scared like she used to be. 

Tessa sat on the rug. Lucie sat on her lap, while James sat beside her. When Will entered the room and chanted, they both looked up. 

“Hello, James and Lucie,” Will chirped, and sat on the rug. “How are you?” Tessa frowned at her husband. “What? It’s friendly,” he muttered. “I am Santa Claus, an old friend of your papa’s.”

James glanced at his mother. He was a little shy, and Tessa smiled to encourage him. 

“Good,” he said quietly. 

“Do you want to sit here with Santa, James? You can tell me what you want for Christmas,” Will wondered, and opened his welcoming arms. 

James hesitated at first, and looked at his mother again. “Go,” she told him, and that seemed to put him at ease. “It is fine.”

Will and Tessa’s first born son sat on his leg. “Yes, Jamie, you are safe with me. I’ve known your papa for a long time, and granted a lot of his wishes,” he explained. “Let’s hear what you wish for Christmas. I can make it come true.” James bit his lip but then he whispered something into his father’s ear. Will smiled when he was done, and looked at his wife. She also seemed pleased. “Only that? Okay, let’s see what Santa can do,” he kissed his boy’s hair, and he ran back into his mother’s arms. “Lucie’s turn.”

“Do you want to sit on Santa’s leg too, Lucie?” Tessa asked her youngest child, who observed the intruder curiously. She stretched her arms out and her father picked her up without a fuss. “This was easy,” she told Will with a knowing grin. 

Lucie was less wary about the world compared to her older brother. Will often said she reminded me of him when he was little, while Tessa agreed that James was more like her. Their children seemed the perfect blending of their attitudes, even though they were still too young so this could likely change someday.

Lucie grabbed his fake beard, which she found fluffy. “Do you like this?” he inquired softly, and she bobbed her head, and it looked like a nod to him. “Later, cariad. Later,” he said, but his daughter tugged at the white wool too much that it fell off his face. “Oops,” Will muttered, and Tessa covered her mouth with her hand to hide a laugh. 

“Pa,” Lucie touched her father’s face with her tiny hand, and their eyes met. “Pa!”

“What did you say, little one?”

“Pa,” she repeated. It was the first time she had uttered that word. Will and Tessa melt just like they did when James said it a few months before.

“Papa,” James echoed from Tessa’s lap, and he ran to Will’s other side. “Papa!”

Will and Tessa exchanged a quick glance and smiled at each other. “Yes, that’s your papa Claus here,” he hugged his children. “Can papa get a kiss from you?” he offered his cheek, and James kissed him first. He put a finger on his face and Lucie also gave him a kiss. 

“Can I also kiss papa Claus?” Tessa wondered. 

“I’d be offended if you didn’t,” Will said. “Considering how fond of him you’ve become.”

Tessa rolled her eyes and kissed him, and sat down next to him on the rug, basking in the happiness of her beloved family.

[ephemeralove]

blood on the whetstone

Rusalka reminds her of what she can never cease to be.

When she was little, she had wanted a mother... though not specifically a mother, per se. She had wanted a family, a friend, a companion, a confidant -- she had wanted someone, anyone, who when they reached out their hand would not strike her down, but pull her back up. She had wanted to be loved.

By the time she arrives in Rusalka, Katarina has been slotted into the place where she belongs. Like one piece out of many to fashion a weapon, she is pointed twice over: first by the church towards the terrible unknown, and second by their guide Keranes. She presents them neither crimes nor comfort -- only familiar faces with which to bloody their hands. They number fourteen, a perfect mirror, and by their sacrifice they might dismantle this illusory village and cut the evil from its heart. Yet look as she might, all Katarina sees are the faces of those who have been loved.

Then one rainy day there came a woman robed in lovely colors-- a lady, not a mother -- who extended her hand. Not that Reese had known what to do with it. She shrank away as violets do, staring, quivering, scared. At that, the woman had laughed. It was a beautiful sound; no one had ever laughed for her before; and so she could not hear how still no one ever had. My name is Eremiyah, the woman had said, and that would be the first and only time Reese called her by name alone. Eremiyah, she had repeated, and there were stars in her eyes.

And there are stars in her eyes, brilliant, blue, and bright. The confusion of why Kris is here is rarely ever comparable to the joy of the simple fact of it. Her hand hovers by his elbow, but when he speaks, she knows: he is not her Kris. Perhaps he is not even Kris at all. Keranes' words echo in the back of her skull, a death knell that calls for half his number, but in her selfishness she does not want to give him up, not even if he is false. She worries that this will be their undoing, and worries more that she might regret not following him when he pulls away.

Her chin, poised between thumb and forefinger; the first hand to hold and not to hurt. "You'll do as I say. Won't you, Reese?" Pressure placed lightly at the point of bone. She could break away, if she wanted to, but then she would disappoint her. Clarisse would scoff, and Roro would laugh in the way she'd learned she didn't like. Blood smears on the fine edge of a blade Reese hesitates to hold, beading against the soft flesh of her palm, and Lady Eremiyah smiles the smile she would do anything for. "After all, your life exists for mine."

The sun has only just kissed its zenith in the sky when she looks down upon a young man's corpse. The first attempt on his life comes from the very man who had loved him into this place; the first to claim it from a girl whose mercy is to usher him away once more. It is through their first incendiary actions that Rusalka's soil turns copper and foul, though she cannot find it in herself to blame them. If not them, then someone else would have broken this tepid peace. Someone else would have hated her for the blood they spilled, faulted her for the crimes she learned because of them. Rusalka is not so different from Knorda.

Knorda was only ever beautiful when it was silent. Reese had never loved it, but she had liked it most when the night swept away the day and all its angels went to sleep, so that finally she could scrabble through the garbage for a bite to eat, and finally she could have a moment of rest until morning's first unfriendly heel found her ribs again. They were what Lady Eremiyah taught her not to be -- no, she was a weapon of a different kind. Her timidity, her soft-spoken manner, every facet of who she was refashioned into a tool until she could no longer trust herself. ...until she learned that earnestness was the best way to slip a knife between the ribs.

On their second morning, she is minded of Altea Castle -- not before her departure, but after her return. The once-and-no-longer tactician wears all the mistrust and suspicion with the familiarity of one who would be uncomfortable without it, instead standing at a lonesome edge in contemplation of her worry. Such mundane things as were her joy before (Had he eaten enough? Slept enough? He wasn't hiding any injuries, was he?) are vanished in the moment; are her sorrow now. And for good reason: Kris never comes back.

She killed because she was told to, because that was what she was made to be, and because-- she knew well this was the truth-- she had never chosen for herself to be better. In the end, she still never chose for herself, but for a bright blue star. He was the first to offer his hand and let her be; without carving her, without remaking her, she was enough for him the way she was. And he had laughed for her, once. It was a beautiful sound; no one had ever laughed for her before; and so she could finally hear how wonderful it was to be loved.

The path out of Rusalka they cut for themselves (she is not alone in her mourning, in her worry and sorrow) ends with a body. He lays in the dirt like some half forgotten thing, like his corpse is a pedestal to triumph, and Katarina hates it. Loathes it. Herself most of all for the fact that she will continue regardless of if he is true and real, because death is absolution for a sinner, and the things (the person) he loves remain behind.

The path into what she supposed was her home was as dark as she remembered, for she and they had lived there, and it was never a place meant for lovable things. But there was something worth saving now, though he would live on without her, and though he did not need to be saved. Yet he was the choice she made, and so she led them, light into the darkness.

One final act of defiance, the metaphorical guillotine at her throat--

--the metaphorical guillotine at his throat, the weapon he once polished now having bled him dry--

--the weapon she once polished now having bled her dry, and Katarina leaves her body in the dirt, blood sticky beneath her hands--

--and Katarina leaves his body in the dirt, wildflowers mournful beneath his hands, and it terrifies her that she has no answer for the question heavy at the back of her mind.

Am I... different than I was back then?

They return to Rusalka; light ebbs into darkness ebbs into light. She considers in frenetic, wounded, resentful cycles all manner of things: Who was it? Did they think he was real? Why did they choose him? Was his blood so easy to spill? They make a torrent, a maelstrom, gnashing the kindness she wants to be between the fangs of heartache. And Keranes asked this of them, did she not? She had set them upon their hearts and by this upon each other, a tepid why offered without so much as a how -- and they all had been so happy to oblige.

...In the end, she does not kill because she chooses not to, even if choice has been a hard thing to learn.

(The blade remains sharp, for the past can never be unmade. It is part of her, and she is Katarina: a lady's broken blade, the king's knife, and the sum of the love she has been given & the blood on the whetstone.)

[enarmor]

(Mulled Wine and Hot Cocoa)

No warnings. No “been a while”s or even a “would you like one” first. Just a steaming mug of cocoa slid over and into the taller man's line of sight before sitting down a few feet away to nurse his own drink. It's as close to an invitation for conversation as it gets, for the first time since the Baroness's villa a few moons ago.

The subtle tune of Kris' conversation is not lost on Sain's ears. His eyes land on the hot froth of the offered drink and immediately connect it to the other knight, hearing clearly all the things he wishes to say. 'We meet again' and 'how are you?', 'fancy meeting you here' and 'join me, old friend.' Though the tie they shared was sheared short by the bell signaling 'murder,' Sain caught enough of a glimpse at his hot-bath buddy. He read from his eyes an entire manuscript of quiet tendencies.

Quiet, of course, not being the same as silent.

"Ah, do my eyes deceive?" He slips a thumb overtop the mug's handle and hooks his next two fingers underneath. The rich-smelling steam is allowed to wash over the Lance's face as he holds his drink close to his chin. "Mister White, here in the flesh! Funny that you should offer me this. It seems fate has a way of making us meet where there are hot liquids involved."

Doing his best to disallow the thought of drinking bathwater from souring his perception of Kris' gift, Sain takes a sip. The cocoa is as delicious as it is scalding. It soaks into the wood of its container, though, so its taste and temperature can both be felt before making contact with his lips. It's just right. The perfect mix of festive nuttiness, woody body, sweet sugar and that little hint of butter hit him right where it counts. It all comes together like an ambrosial delight, sliding down his throat in spite of how it threatens to burn his inner flesh.

But that's just Sain for you, always rushing to enjoy things.

He heaves a warm sigh after his swig, licking the cream off his lips before continuing, "Mm, and what you said last time... About battle and romance. I've given it some thought." The excitement in his smile mellows out. He allows his eyelids to flutter shut--serious for a small, if rare, moment.

"I think you're right, that there's nothing pretty about war. It's bloody and it tears families apart... Not to mention what it does to my hair. But it is nevertheless a cavalier's duty to be passionate...!"

The butt end of his cup hits the table again, branding a hot ring where it sits. Sain leans forward in his seat.

"Our devotion to love is what brings a smile to people's faces! For them, we must fall for an ugly mistress--like willing moths to a charcoal flame."

[charliesangelsfiction]

Charlie’s Angels:

Season 6: Book 1: Bonjour Angels

Chapter 1: An Emotional Farewell

The sun shone brightly over Los Angeles, casting a warm glow on the city that never slept. In the prestigious Beverly Hills area, there was the Townsend agency. Inside the Townsend Detective Agency office, the Angels, Kris Munroe, Julie Rogers, and Kelly Garrett, were gathered around their rarely used office dining table. John Bosley, their ever-present colleague and friend, was also in attendance.

The atmosphere in the room was a mix of joy and sadness, as the Angels prepared to bid farewell to the longest-serving angel , Kelly Garrett. With the gunshot wound she had suffered the previous year fully healed, Kelly was ready to move on to a new phase in her life. She had just gotten married and was now expecting a baby, eager to start her new life with her husband, Alan Samuelson after rekindling her romance with him.

In the middle of the table, an assortment of snacks and drinks were laid out, a small celebration to commemorate Kelly's departure. The Angels shared stories and laughter, reminiscing about their time together, and the many cases they had solved as a team. “I just got my head through the door and I was off to Hawaii!” Explained Kris to a giggly Julie. The laughter stopped. There was silence.

Kris, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, squeezed Kelly's hand. "Kelly, I just can't believe you're leaving us," she said, her voice cracking.

Kelly smiled warmly, her own eyes misting over. "I know, Kris. It's not easy for me either. But it's time for me to focus on building a family... my own family. You guys will always be in my heart, the first family I ever had."

Bosley, in an attempt to lighten the mood, chimed in, "Well, Kelly, we're going to miss you. But I think I speak for all of us when I say… does this mean I get your parking space?"

Everyone laughed, and Kelly wiped her eyes. "Of course, Bosley. You're going to need all the help you can get keeping these two in line," she said, nodding toward Kris and Julie.

At that moment, the iconic intercom on the table buzzed to life, and Charlie's voice filled the room. "Good afternoon, Angels. I understand this is a bittersweet moment for all of you. Kelly, I wish you well in your future endeavors. You will always be a part of the Townsend Detective Agency family."

"Thank you, Charlie," Kelly replied, her voice thick with emotion.

"Now, onto business," Charlie continued. "As you know, when one Angel leaves, another must take her place. So, it gives me great pleasure to reintroduce a familiar face as the newest member of your team…”

The girls looked at one another with puzzled expressions. The door to the office opened, and Tiffany walked in, her eyes scanning the room as she took in the faces of her friends. Kris rushed forward with a warm embrace. "Tiffany! It's so great to see you again! We've missed you!"

Tiffany smiled back, "Kris, it's been too long! I'm so glad we get to work together again."

Julie, who had not yet met Tiffany, extended her hand with a warm smile. "Hi, I'm Julie Rogers. It's nice to meet you, Tiffany."

Tiffany shook Julie's hand. "Nice to meet you too, Julie. I'm looking forward to working with you."

Kelly approached Tiffany, her face a mixture of sadness and joy. "Tiffany, welcome back. I know you'll be a great addition to the team, just like before."

"Thank you, Kelly," Tiffany replied, hugging her. "I promise to do my best and make you proud."

After the introductions were made, the Angels found themselves looking through old photo albums together. Kelly and Kris found themselves alone for a moment near the window, gazing out at the city they had called home for so many years.

"Do you remember our first case together, Kris?" Kelly asked, a nostalgic smile on her face.

Kris nodded, her eyes distant as she recalled the memory. "Of course, I do. I was so nervous, but we got through it together.”

Kelly sighed. "Yes, those were amazing times.” She paused. A grin took hold of her face. “What is it?” Asked Kris. “Your first case and you ended up on a nudest beach” recalled Kelly as she burst out laughing. “I'll cherish those memories forever."

Kris hugged Kelly tightly. "We'll never forget you, Kelly. You'll always be an Angel to us."

Tears streamed down Kelly's face as she hugged Kris back. "I'll miss you guys so much. Please promise me that you'll take care of each other."

"We promise, Kelly," Kris whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Bosley, sensing the emotional moment, walked over to the two women and placed a comforting hand on each of their shoulders. "Kelly, you're leaving behind a great legacy. We'll make sure to honor it every day."

"Thank you, Bosley," Kelly said, sniffling and wiping her tears.

The Angels shared a heartfelt group hug, each of them knowing that they were part of something truly special. As they stood there, embracing one another, they were reminded of the unbreakable bond they shared - a bond built on trust, friendship, and the pursuit of justice.

As the sun began to set on Los Angeles, the Angels said their final goodbyes to Kelly. With both tears and smiles, they watched her walk away, ready to face her new life head-on.

And although they knew things would never be the same without her, the Angels also knew that they would continue to fight for justice, side by side, as a team. Together, they would carry on the legacy of the Townsend Detective Agency and face whatever challenges the future had in store for them.

Chapter Two: Bonjour Angels

Tiffany, Kris, and Julie were inside the office room at the Townsend Agency, awaiting their next challenging assignment. Bosley walked in, greeting them warmly with a smile.

"Good morning, Angels," he said. "We have a new case that requires your immediate attention. It's in France."

The Angels' faces lit up with excitement, eager to embark on a new adventure in an exotic location. Bosley handed each of them a folder containing the details of their latest mission.

"This is a missing persons case," he explained, leaning against the table. "Four young women who work at a high end winery in France have disappeared. They were last seen leaving work and haven't been seen since."

The Angels each scanned the information in the folders, taking note of the missing women's names, ages, and job titles.

"Any leads on their whereabouts, Bosley?" asked Julie, looking up from the file.

"Not yet," replied Bosley. "But we do know that the winery is located in a small town in the south of France, and the local authorities are hesitant about investigating the case. We have reason to believe that there might be more to this case than meets the eye. That's where you come in."

The Angels nodded in understanding, knowing that their expertise in undercover work and investigation would be critical in solving this case.

“Who’s the client Charlie”? Asked Julie.

“Me.”

The angels looked at each other. They looked shocked. “The owner of the winery, Mrs Francine Bernard, is a dear friend angels, I want to us help out and do what we can.” The angels listened intently. “Sally Miller, Elizabeth Lewis, Angela Clark & Rhona Fields all meant a great deal to her angels. Please get over to France & help her out.”

“Those names don’t sound very French to me.” Remarked Tiffany.

“All the girls who have disappeared so far, have beenAmerican.” Added Charlie.

"We'll need to go undercover to gather more information," said Tiffany, flipping through the pages in her folder. "I suggest I go as a wealthy socialite. It wouldn’t be too hard for Charlie to pull a few strings and get me a mansion in the French vineyard countryside now would it Charlie?” Joked Tiffany. The Angels laughed.

Chapter Three: The plan of action

The sun shone over the city of Paris, casting a warm glow over the bustling streets. Julie, Tiffany, and Kris sat at a small bistro table on the sidewalk, sipping coffee and nibbling on croissants.

"I love Paris," Tiffany said, taking a sip of her café au lait. "The fashion, the food, the men."

Kris rolled her eyes. "Since when were you always thinking about men, Tif? We're here on an investigation remember?"

"Of course I remember," Tiffany replied, waving a hand dismissively. "I was getting into character, I just like to enjoy myself while I'm working. And speaking of work, we need to figure out our undercover positions."

Julie nodded in agreement. "If you’re serious about the socialite cover Tiff… I think I should be your assistant. It'll give us a good reason to be seen together."

Tiffany smiled. "Perfect. And Kris, you can work at the winery. You know a lot about wine, right?" Winked Tiffany.

Kris nodded. "It was Moonshine Tiff.” She replied. I can definitely pull off a winery worker." She said, winking at Julie.

"Great," Julie said. "And I'll just be the helpful assistant, making sure everything runs smoothly… whilst Tiffany enjoys the French sun & everything else that comes with being a socialite.” She added, rolling her eyes with a smile. The angels erupted with laughter.

As they finished their breakfast, they paid the bill and made their way to the train station. The ride down to southern France was long but peaceful, and they spent the time reading about the personal lives of the missing women.

When they arrived at the winery, they were greeted by the owner, Francine Bernard.

"Bonjour, mesdames," Francine said with a smile. "Welcome to my winery. I'm glad you could make it."

"Thank you for having us, Francine," Tiffany replied. "As you know, we're here to investigate the disappearance of your female workers."

Francine's smile faded. "Yes, it's been a terrible situation. We've lost four young women in the past few weeks. I fear for the safety of my other workers."

"Don't worry, Francine," Kris said, laying a comforting hand on her arm. "We'll do everything we can to find out what happened."

“Come inside ladies, it isn’t wise for the three of you to be seen together.” Began Francine as she grabbed the angels, pulling them to her. “I do not trust anyone around here anymore.” She said firmly through her ever so present French accent.

She guided the angels upstairs into her private office & once the angels were sitting comfortably they were ready to begin with their questions.

"What can you tell us about the missing women?" Julie asked.

Francine sighed. "Not much, I'm afraid. They were all good workers, and I trusted them. But one day they just didn't show up for work, and I haven't seen or heard from them since."

"Did they have any enemies or problems at work?" Kris asked.

"Not that I know of," Francine replied. "They were all well-liked by their coworkers and had no issues with anyone here."

Tiffany furrowed her brow. "Do you have any theories about what might have happened?"

Francine shook her head. "I wish I did. But there's one strange thing I've noticed. All of the missing girls have blonde hair and blue eyes."

The angels exchanged a look. That was certainly a strange coincidence.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Barbara looked at her watch. "That must be the uniform fitter for Kris," she said. "Come in!"

A young woman entered, carrying a garment bag. "Excuse moi, Madame Bernard," she began, "but I'm here to fit Kris Munroe for her uniform."

Barbara nodded. "Of course, she's right here. Kris, this way please."

Kris looked at Julie and Tiffany with a hint of embarrassment as she followed the fitter out of the room. Julie couldn't resist teasing her. "Don't worry, Kris, we won't tell anyone you need a uniform fitting," she said with a smirk.

Tiffany giggled. "Yeah, we won't tell anyone you're… going undercover as a winery worker." She said, whispering the end.

Kris smiled playfully, leaving the room.

Barbara cleared her throat. "Back to business, please. I have some leads for you to follow up on." She handed them a stack of papers. "These are the names of all the employees who were working at the winery when the girls went missing. I also have security camera footage from the day of the disappearances. Hopefully, there's something there that can help you."

Tiffany & Julie thanked Barbara and left her office, ready to start their investigation. As they walked through the winery, they kept their eyes open for any clues or suspicious behavior.

“Well she was a lot of help.” Said Tiffany with a hint of sarcasm to her voice.

“This is gonna be a tough one…” replied Julie. “Welcome back Tiffany.” She joked

They split up to cover more ground and get to know the place, agreeing to meet back up in an hour to share their findings.

It was clear that this case was going to be very difficult.

Chapter four: Kris gets her toes dirty

Kris decided to keep her eyes and ears open as she knew she would have to work alongside the other vineyard workers closely. She tried to blend in as much as possible, taking on tasks and asking questions just like any other.

Over the next few days, Kris worked hard and got to know her colleagues better. They were a friendly bunch, always willing to lend her a hand or share a laugh during their breaks. Kris found herself enjoying their company, even as she kept her guard up and remained focused on the investigation.

One afternoon, as they took a break from their work, Pierre, a worker brought up the topic of the missing girls. It has been the topic of conversation & the subject had spread itself life a virus via Chinese whispers all day. "It's really strange, you know," he said. "I can't believe they just disappeared like that. I mean, we all work here together. We're like family. It doesn't make sense."

Kris nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's really strange. Have you noticed anything unusual around here? Anyone acting suspicious?"

Pierre shook his head. "No, not really. It's pretty quiet around here most of the time. We just work and go home. But I did hear something weird the other night."

Kris leaned in, interested. "What did you hear?"

Pierre hesitated for a moment, as if unsure whether to continue. "Well, I was on my way home, and I saw a car parked outside the winery. It was really late, almost midnight. I thought it was strange, so I went to check it out."

"And?" Kris prompted.

Pierre shrugged. "There was no one in the car, but the engine was still running. It was weird. I thought maybe someone was up to something, but I didn't know what to do, so I just went home."

Kris made a mental note to follow up on that lead. "How odd.” She said, playing dumb.

After finishing work for the day, Kris made it a priority to call Tiffany to tell her about the lead she had received from Pierre. Ringing from a telephone booth just outside of the vineyard grounds, she anxiously waited for her to pick up.

"Hey, Kris! What's up?" Tiffany answered.

Kris took a deep breath. "Hey, Tiff. I heard something today that might help us with the case. One of the workers, Pierre, saw a car parked outside the winery late at night. The engine was still running, but there was no one in the car."

Tiffany listened carefully. "Interesting. Did he get a look at the car or the license plate?"

Kris shook her head. "No, he didn't. But I thought maybe you could check it out. See if there's any footage from the security cameras or anything like that."

Tiffany grinned. "You got it, Kris. I'll get right on it. Thanks for the tip."

Kris smiled. "No problem. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything else."

After hanging up with Tiffany, Kris felt a sense of relief. She knew that Tiffany was a great investigator, and that she would be able to follow up on the lead with ease. She returned to her hotel room and began to go over her notes, wondering if there was anything else she had missed. Things were starting to get suspicious.

Chapter 5: Security… get Security

The following morning, Tiffany, dressed in her elegant socialite attire, paid a visit to the security building at the winery. There she met head of security, Mr Paul O’Brian, an American who had migrated to France. She casually brought up the topic of security and mentioned her concerns about the recent disappearances.

"I must say, these disappearances are quite troubling. As an investor, I am concerned about the safety of the workers and the overall reputation of the winery. Can you tell me more about the security measures in place?" Tiffany asked.

Paul nodded, understanding her concerns. "Of course, Tiffany. We have security cameras installed around the property, and we also have a one of us, who patrols the grounds at night."

"Would it be possible for me to review the security footage from the last week? I want to make sure this place is up to my standards," Tiffany inquired.

Paul hesitated for a moment, but then agreed. "I appreciate your concern, Tiffany. I will have my assistant, Philippe, give you access to the footage."

Later that day, Julie met Tiffany in the winery office where the security footage was stored. As Francine's assistant, she had the perfect cover to review the footage without arousing suspicion. They began to comb through the videos, fast-forwarding through hours of uneventful footage, searching for any clues.

After several hours, Julie's eyes widened as she noticed something on one of the screens. "Tiffany, look at this!" she exclaimed, pointing to the monitor. On the screen, they could see a dark sedan parked near the winery at the same time Pierre had mentioned. The car's lights were off, and the engine appeared to be running.

"Can you zoom in on the license plate?" Tiffany asked.

Julie nodded and enhanced the image as much as possible. The license plate was partially obscured, but they could make out a few letters and numbers. "It's not much, but it's a start," Julie said, jotting down the partial plate number.

Meanwhile, back at the vineyard, Kris had taken the opportunity to talk with some of the other workers during their lunch break. Over a simple meal of bread and cheese, she casually asked if anyone had noticed anything unusual or suspicious in the past few weeks.

Most of the workers shook their heads, not having any information to offer. However, one woman, Genevieve, seemed hesitant to speak. Grabbing a chance to speak with her alone, Kris noticed her reluctance and tried to make her feel more comfortable.

"It's okay, Genevieve," Kris reassured her. "I just want to make sure everyone is safe. If you know something, it might help."

Genevieve bit her lip and finally spoke up. "Well, I don't know if it means anything, but a couple of weeks ago, I saw someone I didn't recognize talking to , one of the girls who disappeared. It was late, and they were near the storage shed. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but it seemed... secretive."

Kris's eyes widened. "Do you remember anything about the person? What they looked like or what they were wearing?"

Genevieve frowned, trying to recall the details. "They were tall, and I think they were wearing a long coat, but it was too dark to see their face clearly. I'm sorry, that's all I remember."

Kris smiled. "You don’t need to be sorry. I’m only wanting to protect myself. If I’m going to be working here I want some background. That’s all.”

After work, Kris rushed to the telephone booth to inform Tiffany and Julie about Genevieve's account. They agreed to meet at the hotel to discuss their findings and determine their next steps. Things were starting to get serious!

Chapter 6: Connecting the dots

In the hotel room, the three Angels gathered around a table, sipping coffee as they shared the information they had gathered.

"So, we have a mysterious person talking to one of the missing girls, and we have a car that could be connected to the disappearances," Tiffany summarized.

Julie nodded. "And we have a partial license plate number. I can contact Bosley and ask him to run it through the database. It's not much, but it might give us a lead."

Kris agreed. "We should also take a closer look at the storage shed where Genevieve saw one of the girls who disappeared talking to the stranger. There might be clues there."

The Angels decided to investigate the storage shed that night, under the cover of darkness. Armed with flashlights, they carefully approached the shed, making sure not to draw attention to themselves. As they searched the area, they found a hidden door behind some crates, leading to a concealed underground tunnel.

With their hearts racing, the Angels realized they were onto something significant. Julie hesitated, feeling uneasy about exploring the tunnel. "I don't know, guys. This seems dangerous. Maybe we should call Bosley and Charlie first?"

Kris put a reassuring hand on Julie’s shoulder. "I know it's risky, but we might be close to finding out what happened to the missing workers. We can't let this opportunity slip away."

Tiffany chimed in, "Besides, we'll be careful and watch each other's backs. We've faced dangerous situations before, and we've always come out on top."

Julie took a deep breath and nodded. "You're right. We can do this. Let's go."

The three Angels ventured into the mysterious tunnel, their flashlights illuminating the narrow passage. They moved cautiously, staying close together and alert for any signs of danger.

As they continued down the dimly lit tunnel, they noticed several doors lining the walls. They decided to split up, with each Angel checking a different room.

Tiffany entered the first room and immediately spotted a large wooden box in the corner. Curious, she slowly opened it and was horrified to find it filled with cut-off hair. The strands varied in color and length, but it was clear that they had all been forcibly removed from the scalp.

In the second room, Julie discovered another box, this one filled with old jewelry. There were necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings, all seemingly haphazardly thrown in together. The pieces were tarnished and worn, but it was evident that they had once been cherished belongings.

Meanwhile, Kris entered the third room and found a series of photographs pinned to the wall. The photos showed young women, some of whom she recognized as the missing winery workers. The images were unsettling, as the women appeared to be frightened and distressed.

The Angels regrouped in the tunnel and shared their findings. The evidence they had uncovered pointed towards something sinister – a potential human trafficking ring operating from the winery.

Tiffany looked at her fellow Angels, her expression grave. "We need to get this information to Bosley and Charlie right away. I hope this isn’t what I think it is."

Kris nodded in agreement. "But we also need to be extremely cautious. Whoever is behind this operation is ruthless and dangerous. The hair, the jewellery… this is potentially a trafficking ring. We can't take any chances."

The three Angels carefully retraced their steps through the tunnel, making sure not to leave any evidence of their presence.

With a sense of urgency, they contacted Bosley and Charlie, informing them of their discoveries.

“Angels I want you guys out of there, now.” Stated Charlie.

“Over my dead body Charlie!” Retorted Tiffany grabbing the phone.

Kris and Julie looked at each other, their faces grin filled.

“This is my first case back with you guys & I ain’t pulling out now.”

After some further persuasion from Tiffany, Charlie backed down and let the angels stay. He made them promise to be vigilant at all times and wished them a pleasant evening.

But the evening was not pleasant. Each angel had trouble sleeping. The thought of a human trafficking ring was almost too much to take in. Just how much more was there left to unravel?

Chapter 7: The Party

The sun had just risen over the hills, casting a warm glow over the sprawling vineyards that surrounded the winery. It was a new day, and Tiffany Welles was ready to put on a show. Charlie had rented a magnificent house for her to host a party, and she had spared no expense in making sure everything was perfect. She was dressed to the nines in a stunning red dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. Her blonde hair was styled in loose curls, and she wore diamond earrings that sparkled in the sunlight.

As the guests started to arrive later that evening, Tiffany played the part of the wealthy socialite perfectly. She greeted each of them with a dazzling smile and a glass of champagne, making sure to mingle and make small talk with everyone. Julie was by her side, playing the role of her assistant, taking care of all the little details and making sure that everything ran smoothly.

Tiffany noticed a man who seemed to be watching her from a distance. He was tall and lean, with dark hair and piercing blue eyes. He was dressed in a suit that looked expensive, but there was something about him that made Tiffany uneasy.

She decided to take matters into her own hands and approached him. "Hello, are you enjoying the party?" she asked, smiling sweetly.

The man's eyes flickered over her for a moment before he replied. "Yes, it's quite lovely. And you, my dear, are absolutely stunning."

Tiffany felt a chill run down her spine, but she kept her composure. "Thank you. I'm Tiffany Welles. And you are?"

The man took her hand and kissed it. "I'm Louis. Louis Dubois. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."

As Louis chatted with Tiffany, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about him. He seemed too interested in her, too eager to please. She decided to play along and see where it led.

Meanwhile, Julie was keeping a watchful eye on Tiffany and Louis from a distance. She noticed that Louis was getting uncomfortably close to Tiffany and decided to intervene. "Excuse me, Louis," Julie said. "Would you like me to show you to the bar?"

Louis nodded and followed Julie to the bar. Tiffany breathed a sigh of relief and made her way to the bathroom. She needed some time to think.

As she freshened up, she heard a knock on the door. "Tiffany, it's me," Julie said. "Are you okay?"

Tiffany opened the door and smiled at Julie. "Yes, I'm fine. But something's not right about Louis. He's too interested in me. I think he's up to something."

Julie nodded. "I agree. But we can't be sure. Let's keep an eye on him and see what he does."

As the party wore on, Tiffany and Julie kept a close eye on Louis. They noticed that he was talking to several other guests, but always seemed to come back to Tiffany. She could feel his eyes on her, watching her every move.

As the night wore on, Tiffany decided to take a chance and see if Louis was really up to something. "Louis, would you like to take a walk with me?" she asked, smiling sweetly.

Louis nodded eagerly and followed Tiffany out into the gardens. As they walked, Tiffany tried to keep the conversation light, but she couldn't shake the feeling that Louis was up to something. Suddenly, she felt his hand brush against her back, and she knew then that she had been right all along.

"Excuse me, Louis," Tiffany said, pulling away. "I need to go back to the party.”

He nodded and led her back to the party, that was still very much alive. After some time, Tiffany slipped away from the crowd and made her way to her rental car. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest as she drove down the winding roads that led to the winery. She knew that Louis would follow her, and she had to be ready for him.

As she pulled up to the winery, she saw Louis's car in the distance. She got out of her car and waited, her hand on the pepper spray that Bosley had given her for protection.

Louis emerged from his car and started to walk towards her. Tiffany could see the hunger in his eyes, and she knew she had to act fast if she wanted to catch him.

"Louis, what are you doing here?" Tiffany asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Louis smiled. "I thought we could continue our conversation. You're a fascinating woman, Tiffany. I want to get to know you better."

Tiffany felt her stomach turn with unease. She knew that Louis was up to no good, and she had to find out what he was after. "What do you want, Louis?" she asked, her voice low.

Louis's smile faded. "I think you know what I want. You have something that belongs to me."

Tiffany's heart skipped a beat. "What are you talking about?"

Louis stepped closer to her. "You have something that belongs to me. Something that's very valuable. And I want it back."

Tiffany's mind raced. She had no idea what Louis was talking about, but she knew that she had to play along. "What is it? I don't know what you're talking about."

Louis's eyes narrowed. "Don't play games with me, Tiffany. I know you have it. And I'm not leaving until you give it to me."

Tiffany's hand tightened around the pepper spray. She knew that she had to act fast if she wanted to protect herself. She took a step back and prepared to spray Louis in the face, but he was too quick. He lunged at her, knocking the pepper spray out of her hand and pinning her to the ground.

Tiffany struggled to break free, but Louis was too strong. Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out a bottle of chloroform and a white rag. Tiffany’s eyes widened and she began struggling. He shook her violently and placed the chloroform filled rag over her mouth. Within seconds she was old cold. Her body now limp & a dead weight.

Louis quickly picked Tiffany up pulling her up over his shoulder. Before anyone had the chance to see what was happening, he ran to his car, placing Tiffany inside. He drove off in a hurry. Speeding down the French countryside roads.

Chapter 8: Betrayal in plain sight

Back at the hotel, Julie and Kris had been trying to reach Tiffany for hours, but their calls went unanswered. Growing increasingly worried, they decided to pay a visit to the winery to see if they could find her.

As they pulled up to the winery, they noticed Tiffany's car still parked there, but no sign of her. They exchanged a glance, knowing that something was wrong. Julie and Kris approached the winery's entrance and knocked on the door, hoping to find someone who could help them.

To their relief, Francine Bernard, the owner of the winery, answered the door. "Oh, hello Julie, Kris," she said, looking concerned. "What brings you here?"

"We're looking for Tiffany," Kris explained. "We haven't been able to reach her, and we're worried something might have happened."

Francine's eyes widened. "I haven't seen her since yesterday," she said, her voice shaking. "Please, come in."

As they entered, Julie noticed the pepper spray lying on the ground. She picked it up and showed it to Kris. "This is Tiffany's," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something's definitely not right."

Kris nodded, her face pale. "We need to find her."

Francine invited them to sit down in the living room, offering them a glass of wine to calm their nerves. As they sipped their drinks, Francine began to share her story.

"Years ago, I was in love with Charlie," she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "I wanted to marry him, but he wouldn't have it. He didn't want to settle down, and he left me heartbroken."

As she continued, her demeanor changed, and a sinister smile crept onto her face. "So, I decided to get my revenge. I wanted to ruin his business and his precious Angels."

Julie and Kris exchanged a glance, realizing they were in danger. They tried to stand up, but their limbs felt heavy, their vision blurred. It was evident that something was wrong with the wine they had consumed.

Francine's smile grew wider, her eyes cold and calculating. "You see, I've been working with Louis. Together, we've been kidnapping those girls, we’ve got you here …and now, I have all three of you."

As Julie and Kris struggled to stay conscious, they realized that they had walked right into a trap. The darkness threatened to consume them, but they fought to stay awake, knowing that they had to save themselves and Tiffany.

"You won't get away with this, Francine," Kris managed to say, her voice weak but determined.

"Oh, I think I will," Francine said, her voice dripping with malice. "No one will ever find you here."

With that, she left the room, locking the door behind her. Julie and Kris, weakened by the drugged wine, had no choice but to succumb to the darkness.

Chapter 9: The Battle Within

As darkness enveloped Julie and Kris, their thoughts swirled with fear and uncertainty. They knew they had to find a way to escape and save Tiffany, but the drug coursing through their veins made it nearly impossible to think clearly.

Back at the winery, Julie and Kris slowly began to regain consciousness. Their heads throbbed, and their limbs felt heavy, but they knew they had to act quickly. Struggling to their feet, they began to search for a way out of the locked room.

Kris noticed a small window near the ceiling. "Julie, if we can reach that window, we might be able to escape," she whispered, her voice shaking.

Julie, sensing Kris's fear, gave her a reassuring nod. "We can do this, Kris. We're stronger together."

Working together, they managed to stack some furniture and climb up to the window. With great effort, they pushed it open and hoisted themselves through the narrow opening. Once outside, they took a moment to catch their breath before racing back to the warehouse to save Tiffany.

Upon arriving at the warehouse, they spotted Louis's car parked outside. Their hearts raced as they realized they would have to face him without backup. Gathering their courage, they entered the dimly lit space, ready to fight for their lives.

Inside, they found Tiffany, still bound and gagged, lying on the cold floor. They quickly untied her, and she whispered, "Louis is still here, be careful."

Suddenly, Louis stepped out of the shadows, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Well, if it isn't the Angels. I didn't expect you to escape so easily," he sneered.

Julie and Kris stood protectively in front of Tiffany. "Let us go, Louis. This has gone far enough."

Louis scoffed. "You think I'm going to let you walk out of here? Francine's plan is almost complete. You won't stop us."

With that, he lunged at them, and a fierce battle ensued. The Angels fought valiantly, using their strength and skill to hold their own against Louis. Tiffany, still weak from her ordeal, did her best to support her friends as they fought for their lives.

As the fight continued, Kris found herself struggling to hold back her fear. She stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. But Julie was there to catch her, her voice steady and strong. "We've got this, Kris. Keep fighting."

Emboldened by Julie's encouragement, Kris regained her footing and continued to fight alongside her fellow Angels. Together, they managed to overpower Louis, leaving him unconscious on the warehouse floor.

Breathing heavily and covered in bruises, the Angels shared a moment of relief. But they knew their fight wasn't over yet. They had to confront Francine and put an end to her twisted revenge.

With renewed determination, they raced back to the winery, the tension palpable, the danger more real than ever. Would they be able to bring Francine to justice and protect their own? The suspenseful mystery continued to unfold as the Angels fought to save themselves and those they cared for.

The Angels drove in hot pursuit of Francine Bernard's car, weaving through the narrow streets of the French countryside. They had to catch her before she could do any more harm.

Kris had the pedal to the metal, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I can see her up ahead," she said, her voice tense.

Julie leaned forward in her seat, her hand resting on her gun. "Good, we've got her now."

But Francine wasn't going down without a fight. She swerved her car back and forth, trying to shake the Angels off her tail. Julie gritted her teeth and took aim, firing a shot that shattered the rear window of Francine's car.

The villainous woman screamed in fury and spun the wheel, careening off the road and onto the grassy field beside it. Julie seized her chance and climbed over Kris, leaping onto the roof of Francine's car. She leaned in through the open window and punched Francine hard in the face, grabbing hold of her hair and pulling her off the road.

Francine tried to reach for her gun, but Julie was too quick. She shot a bullet that grazed Francine's arm, causing her to cry out in pain. The car skidded to a halt in the middle of the field, and the Angels closed in.

"Get out of the car, Francine," Kris said, her voice cold and determined.

But Francine just sneered at them. "You won't stop me," she said, her hand still clutching her bleeding arm.

Julie raised her gun and aimed it at Francine's head. "Try me," she said, her finger hovering over the trigger.

Francine hesitated for a moment, then slowly climbed out of the car, her hands raised in surrender. The Angels closed in, their guns trained on her.

"You're finished, Francine," Tiffany said, stepping forward.

But Francine just laughed. "You think you've won? You have no idea what's coming."

With that, she lunged for her gun, but the Angels were too quick. They wrestled her to the ground and disarmed her, cuffing her hands behind her back.

“Whatever you say Francine.” Said Tiffany as she looks down at her in disgust.

As they led Francine away, Julie turned to Kris with a grin. "Nice driving," she said.

Kris just smiled. "You weren't too shabby yourself," she replied.

The Angels piled back into the car, ready to head back to the winery and wrap up the case. They could get their head around the fact that Francine did this, all because Charlie didn’t love her.

Tiffany sat up from the back seat of the car, her face tired. “You know guys, this case proves that Love truly does make people crazy.”

Chapter 10: wrapping things up

Back at the Townsend Agency, the Angels sat on the agency’s luxurious quilted sofas, exhausted but satisfied. Bosley was there, as was Charlie, who spoke to them through the speaker phone, of course.

"Well done, Angels. You've done it again," Charlie said, his voice filled with pride.

Kris Munroe smiled. "We couldn't have done it without your help, Charlie."

Charlie chuckled. "You ladies don't give yourselves enough credit. You're some of the best detectives I've ever had the pleasure of working with."

The Angels blushed at the compliment, but their mood quickly turned somber as Charlie delivered some devastating news.

"I'm afraid the French authorities have confirmed that the four missing women from the winery are all dead," Charlie said, his voice heavy with sadness. "It's a tragic loss, but at least we were able to bring their killers to justice."

The Angels bowed their heads in a moment of silence, mourning the loss of the innocent victims. But then Bosley spoke up, trying to lighten the mood.

"Well, on a positive note, we did manage to save Tiffany from Louis's clutches," he said, grinning widely.

Tiffany rolled her eyes. "Thanks for reminding me, Bosley."

The Angels laughed.

“Who’s we?” Remarked Tiffany with a shocked expression.

“You didn’t do anything Boz!” Said Julie.

Bosley laughed.

“Angels, I am indeed, a man of a certain age. These days I prefer a more office based role.” He said sarcastically.

The angels laughed. After some time the mood grew less somber & the angels spent some leisure time Bosley.

They knew that they couldn't change the past, but they could focus on the future and keeping people safe from harm.

"Let's raise a glass to a job well done," Julie Rogers said, holding up her glass.

The other Angels followed suit, clinking their glasses together in a toast. They may have faced and tragedy, but they had come out on top, thanks to their skill, determination, and teamwork.

As the meeting came to an end and Charlie signed off, the Angels left the conference room, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. They knew that there would always be more cases to solve, but for now, they could bask in the glow of a job well done.

[ay0nha]

HERE IT IS.

Pairing: Stephen Strange x femme!reader

Word Count: 0.8K

A/N: Wrote a lil something below! it combines a few different requests I had for Stephen (lil enemies to lovers, Stephen having feelings and the reader being a lil blind to it, Christmas vibes, etc). ENJOY!

Stephen was bitter; he had been for the last handful of years. Rightfully so. Still, despite the amount of luck he seemed to harness with sorcery, he never found a sense of fulfillment. He hid it well with his wit but could feel his facade dwindling fast. He was unsure he could even be genuine until his lip barely twitched at her before him.

“You do know, we are masters of the mystic arts for a reason,” Stephen voiced from behind her, eyes directing the spell as he spoke.

The garland in her hand moved on its own accord, snaking perfectly even around the pine tree until it reached the tip. It caused her to frown as her eyes remained steadily ahead, adding another decoration to the already heavy branches.

“I prefer not to use it on trivial things.”

She was just as bitter, if not even more. However, she was able to mask it much better. Maybe it was because the drive behind it was different than his. That was yet another thing to figure out on Stephen’s never-ending laundry list. He asked Wong about her, but even he knew little. He could only tell Stephen that she was very close to the Ancient One and that her death took its toll on all of them.  

For the first handful of years are Sorcerer Supreme, Stephen questioned if she was resentful of his new position. After understanding her better, he knew her bitterness wasn’t remotely related to his title. Although he wasn’t entirely at fault, he knew he was responsible for at least a fraction.

Stephen knew he got on her nerves more than anyone they collectively knew. Especially in moments where he chose the simple way out. He was a powerful and clever sorcerer; she wasn’t afraid to admit that. But something about his methods crept under her skin and bothered her like no other. She never complained, though.

“I hadn’t realized you were one for the holidays,” Stephen continued, getting closer to toy with the various things she had collected.

The past week Stephen noticed that she had shuffled around more than usual, in and out of rooms she rarely entered. The box held an eclectic mix, containing items both old and new that fit the relative theme she had created. It impressed him.

The sigh left through her nose as her eyes stayed trained above her, “I’m tired of the stillness around here.”

The sanctum was always breathing. But not in the way life seeped into someone and brought them back. It was like it struggled to remain; they only had so many shallow breaths before the floorboards would stop eternally.

She needed something that wasn’t thousands of years old, and her desire manifested in the form of a Christmas tree. She had no strong feelings toward the holiday as she’d spent enough years detaching herself from the merriment. Yet, it offered her the relief she was looking for.

“He was one of us, you know,” Stephen continued, joining her space despite the lack of invitation. As he always did. As she always allowed.  

“Hmm?” She hummed absentmindedly, continuing decorating.

“Kris Kringle.”

Stephen explained the silly rumor that spread throughout the sanctum, which he was determined to debunk. He chattered on slightly as she tuned him out. Their interactions became formulaic. He would interrupt her, and she would wait until he’d be pulled away to return to her peace. However, this time, his determination seemed unwavering as he rambled on.

“What can I help you with, Dr. Strange?” She finally looked at him, finding whatever slight smile he had disappeared before her eyes.

Stephen. He’d stopped correcting her, realizing it was no longer worth his breath.Due to his previous line of work, Stephen was used to having enemies, those who looked at him like competition.  But her gaze was different. It looked beyond him.

“It looks nice,” He drew her back to the conversation. He wasn’t sure what possessed him to let the praise slip past his lips, but it had.

For some reason, it made him feel timid. The compliment was months in the making. She may be oblivious to his lingering gaze, but those around them knew how Stephen’s admiration was quickly turning to affection.

She eyed him slightly, wary of the compliment but appreciated it nonetheless. She went to question Stephen again, but he move quickly to cover anything she was about to say.

“Wong sent me for the party tonight.” The lie left his lips easily, one that he knew would quell any uneasiness she had with his purpose there.

She was grateful for the company regardless.

Hi there! I just read all of your Dr. Strange fics, but after the strange policy, I simply need more. Christmas Stpehen is supreme

DO I DARE?????? I was just saying to myself I'm in the mood to write CHRISTMASSSS soooooo maybe just maybe I might!!!!

[stormkobra-5]

Escapade in Egypt: Part 1

Panic at the Pyramids

A Batons and Unicorns Drabble

Summary: When Steven is willing to battle his fear of flying in order to take little Amonet to Egypt, you immediately agree with him... Although it looks like the two of you have underestimated how much trouble a toddler can get into at the Great Pyramids.

Fluff, parental panic, Khonshu having grandparental panic, but don’t worry, everything’s fine

A/N: I’d seriously like to thank @khaotic-kris for giving me the idea of Amonet’s crib and mobile. My dude you rock. Also, I have never been to Egypt, although I do hope to go to college there, so... I know nothing!

Notes: The stuff that happens henceforth in these drabbles sounds unbelievable. But kids will do some stuff, guys, and if you’ve ever helped to raise one (or more) than you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Warnings: This story is rated 14+ for strong language.

______________________________________________________________

All Steven hears from where he sits taking notes from an Egyptology book is a loud, dull, thud from upstairs, followed by a crash and your loud, “Son of a bitch! Khonshu! I’m gonna strangle your emaciated zombie-bird ass!”

Steven knows you’re not too badly hurt, else he would have come running, but he can’t help but smirk a little to himself as he pretends to keep reading, retracing over the notes he’d just taken.

Before Amonet had been born, you guys had traveled from store to store looking for the right crib for your baby. Little did either of you expect Khonshu to pick it, when you had come upon a crescent-moon-shaped wooden crib. The god immediately showed his doting-grandfather side when you expressed your doubts, then going, THE CHILD MUST HAVE THIS CRIB! SHE IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE MOON GOD’S AVATAR! SHE WILL HAVE IT!

The good thing was, you kinda liked it, too, and Steven had just set eyes on an adorable star mobile that would go together perfectly with it, so that moon-shaped crib was bought.

Unfortunately, you both keep cracking your heads on it.

The frequency with which you do has lessened, since you both are getting used to it, but sometimes you’ll get so engrossed in baby Amonet that you forget there’s an overhang. Sounds like you knocked off the mobile, too.

Steven’s smirk turns into an amused smile as he realizes that while he himself has rarely caught him, you can never see Khonshu sometimes hovering over Amonet, cooing at her and shaking an Egyptian rattle over her, or even softly chanting Ancient Egyptian lullabies. For all intents and purposes, Amonet might as well be a newborn princess to a pharaoh, even though she’s never been to Egypt.

Steven’s eyes trail down to the picture of the hieroglyphs in the book. He’s alone in his mind right now-- Marc and Jake are both asleep, he can feel it, and Khonshu hasn’t yet made any appearances for the day. This gives him a rare moment of quietness to think, without any interjections. And he’s thinking, alright.

He drums the end of the marker into the tablet, notes forgotten. Amonet’s never been to Egypt. She’s never seen the pyramids. She’s never seen the tombs, or the ruins of temples, to Cairo. And yet her “grandfather” is the Egyptian god of the moon. Her father is his avatar. Gods, why hadn’t he thought of taking her there before?

But a trip to Egypt would be expensive. He’d have to pull on some of Jake’s money, which would be worth it. But a boat? The idea of being on a can surrounded by ocean for days is worse than being on an airborne can for a handful of hours. He’s so deep in thought that he doesn’t notice that you’ve come down the stairs with Amonet, that you’ve been saying his name and are coming up to him, concerned-- he doesn’t notice until you give his shoulder a nudge, making him jump.

“Geez, Steven, I’m sorry. You okay?“

Steven smiles-- the sight of the two people he loves most in the world always fills him with a sense of overwhelming joy. “Quite alright, love.” He eagerly takes Amonet from you and sets her on his lap. “Good morning, scarab. You slept late today-- no, no, don’t do that. Don’t chew on the pyramid.” Immediately, she’d grabbed the paperweight and had begun to gnaw on it, so he carefully pried it from her hands and gave her the Taweret plushie you handed him before plopping down in an opposite chair.

“What’re you thinkin’ ‘bout, Steven?”

He bounces her on his leg a bit. “...I want to take her to Egypt.”

Your entire head snaps up off your arms as you stare at him with childlike innocence. You’ve never been to Egypt. Or maybe you have, and haven’t been back in a long time. Or whatever. Like I’ve said before, I don’t know you. Anyway you stare at him like he asked you to marry him.

Which.

Honestly?

He’s been thinking about.

He loves you. He loves you more than anything in the world (except for Amonet). You have a daughter together that he cherishes more than life itself. Yes, he wants to marry you. And with how deeply tied-in to the Egyptian pantheon your little family here is, he wants to ask you with a ring made in Cairo. He’s been looking for a ring for awhile now, but he can’t find one for you. Maybe Cairo is the best place, like Khonshu’s been hounding him about.

You nudge him again, and he realizes that he hasn’t been listening to you. “Sorry, birdie. What’d you say, love?”

You reach over to ruffle his curls, which makes him smile fondly. “I said, are you serious? Like you really wanna go? We’ll have to use Jake’s money.”

“I don’t mind,” Jake said groggily, making Steven jump.

“O-oh, um... He says he doesn’t mind...”

“What about flying?” You asked, because you know that even with Marc or Jake fronting, Steven is terrified of flying. He’s scared of putting Amonet on a plane. He can’t sleep through a flight, either, because there’s no sedatives strong enough to put out all three alters, especially when last time it was tried he summoned the suit on instinct, snatched up Amonet, grabbed your wrist, and took you both to the car, where he decided you were gonna drive.

To L.A.

Steven took a deep breath. “...I can do it. Amonet deserves to see Egypt. She doesn’t need to be held back by my fears. If I can handle Harrow, I can handle...” He swallows hard, picturing the plane ricketing along the runway before exploding in midair. “A-a plane...”

Slowly, you beam. “...Alright then. I’ll start packing.” You lean forward to give him a kiss, then stand up. “If you wanna change your mind at any point, we can, okay?”

He nodded in understanding as you excitedly raced to the stairs, and when you looked back, Steven was showing Amonet the book he’d been reading. “Look, little scarab; you wanna see the pyramids for real? Each block weighs two and a half tons. That’s real heavy, innit?” When she carelessly smacks the page, he smiles with adoration, then moves on to start showing her hieroglyphs.

Your smile widens and your heart swells with love at the sight of your little family.

~***~

Marc sighed as the two of you approached the airport doors. “It was nice of him, really, for Stark to let us use his private jet. But why the hell do we have to navigate through the damn airport to get to it? Isn’t he rich enough to have his own?”

Maybe... he wanted it to have airplane friends? You suggest in ASL with one hand; in your other, you carry Amonet’s car-seat. Marc shakes his head at your antics. On one shoulder, he has your bag and his, which also contains Steven’s and Jake’s things, and on the other, he has Amonet’s bag. He uses one hand to hold your elbow, ensuring he has a hold of you and a protective eye on your daughter, and his other is occupied with the big roller suitcase you felt the need to pack.

Then again, he’s never traveled with his alter’s partner and their daughter, either. It’s always just been him, with hardly even one bag. He sighs again at the sight of the massive, congested crowd, tightening his grip on your arm.

Jake’s reflection in a passing surface held up a hand in suggestion. “Maybe if we set off a rapid-fire machine gun, it’d scare them all away.”

“We are not doing that, Jake,” Marc huffs.

Jake shrugs. “Just a suggestion.”

“It’s a horrible suggestion.”

You roll your eyes playfully, knowing Jake well enough to know that he’s probably offering a solution that involves unnecessary violence. How’s Steven?

“Well...” Marc glances toward a nearby window as you enter the airport, seeing Steven reflected back at him-- eyes wide, pale, looking like he’s ready to hurl. “You don’t have to do this, Steven. We could always--”

“I’m doing this,” Steven replies, as sternly as he can, “I’m not letting Y/N and Amonet go by themselves. Who would protect them? They need us. And... I want to be there when Amonet sees the pyramids. I want to show her the tombs.”

Marc nods, reluctantly. He can feel Steven’s tension, and it’s making him feel sick to his stomach. But he can also feel his determination to succeed. “We’re right here for you, Steven.”

You’ve reached the ticket booth, and of course you stand back; Marc takes care of everything, making you feel safe and secure. You’re led by a security escort to the tarmac, where Stark’s private jet sits ready-and-waiting. Marc still has a hold of your arm even though you’re far away from any crowds, and he keeps checking on Amonet. “Wish we could’ve taken Empress...”

Don’t worry, Marc, you say, and he wonders where the hell you get your confidence from. She’s got her grumpy grandpa, her parents, and her uncles to protect her.

“It’s not enough,” Marc insists as he gestures for you to go up the stairs first. He scans the tarmac, looking for any threats from his vantage point at the landing behind you. You don’t hear him mutter, “It’s never enough...”

Once you’re finally on the plane and have gotten into your seats, there’s a several-minute delay before the engines start. You jump, startled, when as soon as the plane starts to move, Marc slams his hands down onto the table between you despite having a seat belt. You raise your eyebrows at him. “Steven?”

“Nope,” He grounds out through gritted teeth-- he’s pale, and sweating, and his hands are shaking when he brings them up to his face. “Fuck, Steven... Calm down.”

“Real bloody easy for you to say!” Steven snaps, and it sounds like he’s fighting back a gag. “Oh, bollocks...”

All three alters, however, are now victim to the roiling stomach. Marc freezes up, trying to fight it-- and then he launches himself out of his seat and for the bathroom. You look after him, concerned, because he stays in there until the plane is airborne. He staggers out, and if there’s such a thing as airsickness, you’re sure he has it.

“Guys... you uh...” You turn, digging around in your bag as Marc sits across from you. He frowns when you offer him a couple of pills, but when he sees you sweetly smiling at him, he softens a bit. “It’s not sedatives, I promise. It’s just to settle your stomach.”

His hands tremble when he takes them from you, so badly that he can hardly put them in his mouth. He swallows them dry, because the thought of liquid makes his stomach churn again.

“Damn, Stevie,” Jake mutters from the buckle of a nearby seat belt, “If it’s this bad when you’re not fronting, I can’t imagine how bad it is when you are.”

There’s no response. In fact, Marc can hardly feel Steven’s presence at all. There’s a surge of panic. “Steven.” Nothing. Seeing his panic, you hand him a compact mirror out of your bag, and Marc immediately inspects his reflection. “Steven!”

“I-I’m here...” Comes Steven’s weak response, and Marc breathes a sigh of relief. “S-sorry, I just...” He’d curled up in the recesses of their mind, trying to distance himself from the terror of the flight. Marc can feel him now, but... just barely.

“Respond next time, Steven.” With some difficulty, Marc stands, comes around, and pulls you out of your seat. You don’t protest, although you’re confused, especially when he sits where you’d been. You understand a moment later, when he pulls you onto his lap and keeps an arm around your waist, putting a hand on Amonet as she dozes. “How’s this, guys?”

Steven’s come out a bit more, relaxing a bit with your presence there to comfort him. Even Jake eases up a bit, and Marc can’t deny that he feels immensely better as well. “Better,” Steven says, “A lot better. Just... stay like this for a bit, yeah?”

“Yeah, okay,” Marc says.

You lean your head on his shoulder. “We got you, Steven. Just chill throughout the rest of the flight, okay?” Marc snorts with amusement; you lift your head to give him a mock glare. “What?”

He can’t fight a smile. “Nothing. Just... you.” He presses a kiss to your cheek, which you return. Eventually, with you and Amonet so close, Steven is able to doze with the help of Marc and Jake, and so the nearly eleven-hour flight passes, if painfully slowly.

~***~

When you touch down in Egypt, Steven is fronting as soon as you’ve stepped off the jet. Immediately-- despite the fact that he’s carrying most of your bags-- he reaches over and unbuckles Amonet from her carrier, lifting her up and out and into his arms with a beaming grin. “Aight lil’ scarab; you ready?”

She baby-babbles excitedly, giving him a toothless smile. He kisses her cheek. “Yep, we’re gonna go see the pyramids!” Meanwhile, you’re pulling some of the bags off him, trying to take half the weight. Once you’ve done that, he pulls you in under his arm. There’s no trace of his former fear. His nerd mode has been activated. All the way to the hotel, he’s going on and on about Egyptian mythology and culture from ancient times, eagerly pointing to all the places on the map he’s planned for you to go to. Once actually in the hotel room, he takes Amonet to the window, where you can see the pyramids off in the distance.

Enormous orange-gold goliaths of stone, the great triangles take up the whole expanse of the horizon, set in the gold sands. It’s a beautiful view, and you take a picture from behind, catching both Steven and Amonet in the frame. He turns at the sound of your phone kshing, smiling when he realizes that you’ve taken a picture. “First picture of the trip, birdie?”

“Yep.”

Steven very carefully sets Amonet on the bed, waiting until you’ve got her before stepping away. “I’ll be in the loo for a sec, love. I’ll be right out.” He ducks into the tiny hotel bathroom, and you turn your attention to Amonet, lowering your voice so that Steven can’t hear you.

“Say it, sweetheart: can you say daddy?” You’ve been trying to get her to say it for days. You love Steven with all your heart, and you can only imagine how happy he’d be if Amonet’s first word was daddy, but, honestly? The two of you have been trying to get her to say something for weeks now, but all she does is giggle at your attempts and baby babbles at you.

“Say dad-ee.” You emphasize, but she only stares at you.

Come on, kid. You can do it. Your dad is Moon Knight! Your grandpa is Khonshu! Your mom is Skinchanger! You can do it!

But Steven’s out too soon, and you stop, disappointed. Steven’s so excited he doesn’t even notice your fallen expression, scooping Amonet up and rushing for the door. “C’mon, love! Let’s go see the pyramids!”

It’s a long, hot walk to the tour guide center, which is absolutely packed. And then, you’re walking the path with hundreds of other people, and Steven is absolutely beaming when he sees that Amonet is awestruck by the sheer size of the pyramids. He keeps a tight hold of her with one arm, and with his other hand, he holds your hand, entwining his fingers with yours and occasionally leaning over to kiss your cheek. He’s spouting off facts and lore and stories and you’re listening intently, because you rarely see him this excited.

Then things went downhill.

Literally. 

Amonet dropped her blue Tawaret ball, and it went right under the fence. The thing bounced, all the way down the side of the little cliff and into the ruins below. “Oof,” You said, turning into a caracal cat without a second thought. “Again? Amonet, really girl. Keep a better grip of your ball.”

As a cat, it’s effortless for you to slip under the fence and traverse the side of the ruins and grab her ball. When you turn to climb back up with the ball in your mouth, Steven and Amonet are smiling down at you--

--until Amonet turns into a fucking scarab and buzzes easily out of Steven’s shocked grasp, flying up, up, up toward the top of the pyramid.

For a second, you’re both just standing there in shock. Did that just fucking happen?

Then you both scream (although for you, still a cat, it’s more of a wail), lunging for the tiny glittering blue speck that’s your daughter. Steven can’t jump very high, but Marc fucking kills parkour, so Steven lets him front. He even summons the damn suit so people will get out of his way.

Notoriously, birds have terrible eyesight, and a bug is far too slow, so you turn into a cheetah after a few moments, bounding alongside Moon Knight, eyes on Amonet.

CATCH THAT CHILD! Khonshu roared, but you couldn’t hear him, I SHALL KEEP CLOSE TO HER, BUT I CANNOT CATCH HER MYSELF.

People, at the sight of Moon Knight and a cheetah rushing for the pyramid, screamed and got out of your way in a panic, which is good, because it gives you a direct path.

Moon Knight is fast as he ascends the massive blocks, but you’re faster as a lion, jumping easily from block-to-block. She could get squished. She could get eaten by another bug. She could get eaten by a bird. Oh my god why the fuck did she inherit my powers.

“Of all the powers she could’ve gotten,” Marc growled as he lunged up onto another block, “She had to get yours.”

UP HERE! Khonshu started waving him down, from his place perched near the top of the pyramid. SHE’S A GECKO NOW, AND I’VE CONVINCED HER TO LOOK AT THE VIEW. HURRY, BEFORE SHE BECOMES BORED!

Marc relays the message, and the two of you reach the designated spot that Khonshu kneels over. With his healing armor, Marc isn’t fazed at all by the devastating climb, but you have to lay there, panting heavily. Between you is Amonet as a tiny green gecko.

Steven fronts again, suddenly Mr. Knight. “Alright, little scarab.” Amonet’s tongue flicks out. “You’ve had your fun. Come on, now, back to a human, yeah?” Luckily, she’s only a baby. She can’t hold another form for as long as you can. Her minutes of chaos have made her tired, so she does as her father asks and returns to human form. You shift so that you’re laying in front of her, keeping her from rolling off. Steven pets your head, settling beside you. “You gave us quite a scare, sweetheart.”

She reaches for him, and he goes to pick her up...

“Daddy!” Ok, so maybe it’s not exactly “daddy.”

But it’s really fucking close.

Your head shoots up off your paws, ears pricked. Steven has frozen, glowing eyes wide. “W...”

“Daddy,” Amonet repeats, reaching for him impatiently.

You and Steven are still stunned, and then Steven tears off his mask and unleashes a loud cheer, pulling Amonet up into a hug. There are tears in his eyes, and you turn back into a human so that he can pull you into a hug. “She said it! She said it, Y/N! She said her first word on the Great Pyramid of Giza!”

“I know! I know! Say it again! Say it again!”

Amonet was actually belly-laughing at the reactions of her parents. At your prompting, she does say it again, and when you two cheer and shower her with kisses and praise, she belly-laughs harder.

OF COURSE SHE SAID HER FIRST WORDS HERE, Khonshu said, like you’re both idiots for being so surprised and excited, IT IS A PLACE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, THEREFORE A FITTING PLACE FOR SUCH A MILESTONE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE GRANDCHILD OF KHONSHU.

The three of you stayed up there for awhile, laughing and hugging, even staying to watch the Egyptian sunset. Watching over you was Khonshu, who wouldn’t admit it, but he was proud.

~***~

The next day, you’re surprised when Steven wakes you up at the crack of dawn. Amonet is still asleep, and he’s fully dressed. You lift your head, groggy; there’s a certain kind of light in Steven’s eyes, one you’ve never seen before. You reaches forward, caressing your cheek and resting his hand on your neck. “I’m gonna set out a little early today, birdie. I’ve got some things I wanna look at...”

“What kinda things?” Even for Steven, this is unusual behavior. And you’re still half-asleep, so...

“It’s a surprise,” He answers softly. He leans forward to kiss you tenderly. “I’ll be back before noon, love. I promise.”

With Steven leaving, you sit up, determined not to leave Amonet unguarded. He quietly snuck out, down to the streets of Cairo, which was just waking up. He felt the presence of Marc, keeping alert, and Jake might as well have been rubbing his hands together eagerly. “Aight, Stevie-- no budget! Pick whatever you want!”

“I’ve got a pretty good idea,” Steven answered him, “The problem is finding it...”

“We’ve got your back, Steven; we know what you’re looking for.” Marc promised, and Steven caught a glimpse of him smiling in a nearby window. “Now go find our girl’s engagement ring.”

______________________________________________________________

Thanks for reading!

Taglist:

@dameronsknight

@sylkisdagger

@atzlena

@pastel-0-princess

@gucciboots​

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

What about a kris x reader where kris has a breakdown and the reader comfort them (also include the song don’t forget)

Note: This'll be a Monster!Reader. Purely platonic. Also I didn't realize this was the end credits song for Ch1 and IT'S GOOD WHAT- ;w;

.............

"Kris, you alright? I'm hearing a lot of...huh?"

With a strangled gasp, Kris snapped their head up to see you in the open doorway to their room. They were completely frozen in terror, unsure of what to do now that you've caught them.

Through the dark you saw their figure, holding up what appeared to be..

A knife?!

"W-Woah, okay, okay. Let's just...put that down, shall we?" You slowly entered the room. As freaked out as you were, you knew that wasn't going to help Kris calm down, so you tried not to look panicked.

At first you considered getting Toriel to handle this. But it was in the middle of the night, and you didn't wanna worry her. Besides, there's no way you could just leave them like this and risk them doing something stupid in your absence.

You'll have to take matters into your own hands.

Thoughts raced throughout your mind as you wondered what could've happened to make them act like this.

Was it a nightmare? Paranoia?

You've known them for being a prankster, but this didn't seem like one of their jokes, given their face was frozen in sheer terror--a rare emotion to see on them.

They've rarely ever showed much emotion in general.

Your train of thought ceased when you noticed a strange red glow, and you looked to see a...human SOUL in a birdcage? You were even more perplexed.

Toriel got that for them in case they wanted to adopt a pet bird one day. Though now that no longer seemed to be the case. 'Were they protecting their SOUL from something?' You pondered.

"S-Stop looking at it like that.."

With tense shoulders, you immediately refocused on your friend. "Sorry. I won't say anything about it. Just..put the knife down, please."

Slowly but surely, they lowered their arm as they quietly sniffled. "Good." You smiled. "Do you want me to get your mom?"

At that question they suddenly looked up and shook their head no. You could see their red eyes now, wide with dark circles under them. They'd probably look scary to anyone else, but this was your friend. You weren't scared of them at all.

"Okay. We'll talk. Just us two." You closed the door behind you before approaching them, putting your hand out. Though you paused in your steps when they mumbled something inaudible. "Hm? What is it?"

"You don't think..I-I'm crazy?"

"Of course not. If anything..I think we monsters are the crazier ones." You tried to joke lightly. "But listen, true friends wouldn't call you crazy. True friends are willing to understand and help each other. I wanna be that friend, Kris. But first..the knife, please." You insisted for the third time, more firmly.

Finally they relented and gave it to you. Their grip was still tight so you had to wriggle it out of their bloodstained hand. Besides that, they didn't put up much of a struggle.

But the moment you put it in your back pocket, and were about to let go of their wrist, their eyes grew large with tears as they collapsed into your arms. You were surprised, since you knew Kris was quite the hugger with family members, but you didn't expect them to trust you this much.

As you put a hand on their back to support them, you could feel it tremble with every breath. They were nearly silent, with their face buried in your chest, yet you could feel a dampness growing on your shirt.

You sighed softly, rubbing their back in soothing motions. And you looked around, stunned to see the SOUL moving on its own, trying to push itself out of the cage.

Only then have you noticed the old bloodstained sweater nearby.

You wondered how it was possible for Kris to respond to you like this when their SOUL was clearly out of their body...and was obviously forced out.

Maybe it was a unique thing with humans? You weren't sure.

Remembering their words, you stopped staring at it and instead guided them to the bed, sitting down and still holding them tightly.

Silence wasn't going to comfort them; for all you knew they could be like this for hours. So you tried thinking of another way to help. Something that might've helped you or another friend..

Then, just like that, a song came to mind:

"When the light is running low..and the shadows start to grow..and the places that you know seem like fantasy.."

You could feel them shaking less, and you cleared your throat a bit to sing a little better.

"There's a light inside your soul, that's still shining in the cold. With the truth. The promise in our hearts.."

The cage stopped rattling around, easing your nerves.

"Don't forget, I'm with you in the dark."

With a quiet sniffle, Kris sighed and placed their head on your shoulder. "Thanks..you have a nice voice," they whispered, hoarse from their crying.

They couldn't remember the last time they got to feel this...vulnerable without the SOUL's input. Part of them wanted to scream at you to get out, but they were glad it didn't come to that.

"Ahaha..I didn't audition for the talent show for nothing. Do you wanna talk about it?" Your cheeks were a bit warm from the praise, but you were just glad they felt better.

"...will you tell Mom?"

"Not unless you want me to. It'll be our secret, bud."

But as much as you wanted to promise them that, in the back of your mind you were gravely worried. Their overall mental state in school hasn't been the greatest, and Toriel didn't seem to notice much. Of course, her head gets unintentionally in the clouds sometimes, and she's busy being a teacher and grading papers.

There's probably a reason Kris never says anything to her, and confides in you more.

You just hoped that, whatever the reason may be, you can help.

Like a true friend would.

[memento-morri-writes]

The Midwinter Ball

Two oblivious idiots apologize to each other.  Important things are said.  Kind of angsty? Also kind of cute, though.

ATQH Content Masterpost | Referenced Scenes One + Two

Wordcount: 786

Trigger Warnings: (vaguely) implied neglect/abuse, mentions of alcohol.

Taglist: @enchanted-lightning-aes​ @ink-fireplace-coffee​ @inkingfireplace​ @rose-bookblood​ @italiangothicwriteblr​

Fallon glanced at the door for the tenth time in as many minutes. Around her, a gaggle of nobility chattered aimlessly about something boring.  A baroness’s divorce, she thought it might be.  It didn’t matter.  Her eyes scanned the room, searching for someone who was not there.   Kristopher looked through the archway and into the room of swirling nobles.  He was reminded, rather uncomfortably, of the balls thrown at Westcliff, the disapproving glares and whispers.  I need a drink, he thought, then shook his head.  A drink was what had gotten him into this mess in the first place.  This was a challenge he would have to face sober.  Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the ballroom and was swallowed by the crowd. He’s not coming, Fallon thought, turning her gaze away from the door.  But a flicker of movement pulled her eyes back.  Kris.  He looked dashing, dressed in a jet-black coat with gold embroidery down the front.  His eyes met hers and he began to make his way across the ballroom.  Fallon’s heart sped up as he drew closer, picking his way around the clump of nobles. She looks stunning, Kris thought.  In her floor-length black gown, Fallon stood out among the brightly dressed nobles. The soft fabric of the dress seemed to glitter in the candlelight.  Nervously, he glanced down at his own outfit.  He had rarely bothered to dress up, and the coat he wore now was probably 5 years out of fashion.  He looked back up at Fallon.  With every step towards her, his worries grew.  What if he messed up again?  He couldn’t — not if he still wanted a chance. “Excuse me, Your Majesty.”  Kristopher’s voice was smooth and measured, no trace of the slurred words or desperate anger from the night before.  Fallon turned, heart in her throat.  He extended a calloused hand.  “May I have this dance?” Surely he imagined the waver in her voice as she replied, “Certainly.”  Or did he?  Heart racing, Kris led her to the dance floor.  As they arrived, a new song began, one he had heard many times in Oryn.  This was a dance he knew well, one that he could perform even when drunk.   And he was most definitely sober now.  So why did he feel so unsteady? Up close it was obvious that Kris had put effort into cleaning up.  His stubble was freshly shaved and his hair, freshly washed and combed, shone in the candlelight.  Fallon thought she could smell the hint of sandalwood from the soap he had used.  “You look… well,” She said, and instantly regretted it. The Prince, however, merely smiled and replied “And you, Your Majesty, look stunning.” At first they danced in silence, moving effortlessly through the steps, each familiar with every movement.  I can’t put this off any longer, Kris thought as he watched Fallon dance.  He took a deep breath, trying in vain to steady his nerves.  “Fallon, I-“ “Kris-“ They both froze, mouths snapping shut.  “You first,” Kris said quickly. “No, no, I insist,” Fallon said firmly.  She might have lost her chance, but she was curious to see what Kristopher had to say. “I-“ He paused. “I’m sorry.”  He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.  “I acted horribly last night, and you were right.”  Fallon opened her mouth to protest, but he continued.  “The person you saw last night was the person I was back in Oryn.  The version of me I became, because that was what they expected of me.  You reminded me that I don’t have to be that person anymore, not here.  Not with you.”  He swallowed, glancing away.  “So, thank you.” Fallon stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say.  At last she settled on “I forgive you.”  It wasn’t enough, wasn’t what she wanted to say, needed to say, but it would have to do. Kris breathed a heavy sigh of relief before fixing his face into a smile.  “Now what is it you wanted to say?” Fallon exhaled slowly.  “I wanted to apologize for yelling at you like that.  No matter how poorly you behaved.”  That made him laugh.  “You didn’t deserve that.  Not when you were already hurting.  Will you forgive me?” Kris pulled her closer as the song came to a close.  “Of course I forgive you,” He said softly.  Taking her hand, he bent down and pressed his lips gently to her knuckles.  “By the way,” he said, slowly releasing her hand.  “My middle name is Odis.  Just in case you need it again.”  With that he turned and left, disappearing into the crowd.  Fallon stood staring after him, heart aching to follow.

[write-like-wright]

Your First Kiss With Them: Defense Attorneys Edition

Part two of this request

Phoenix Wright

Your first kiss happens so casually it takes you a while to even realise it happened.

Nick asks you to come to the Zoo with him and Trucy, finally deciding to introduce you to his daughter. You're terrified but agree, hoping the girl will like you.

It turns out you were worried for no reason - Trucy is the easiest kid in the world to get along with. She takes to you immediately, asking you question after question while dragging you from exhibit to exhibit. Phoenix is thrilled with the outcome.

You offer to treat everyone to some ice cream and go to the nearest cart. When you come back Phoenix thanks you profusely, takes two ice cream cones out of your hands and gives you a quick little kiss so nonchalantly you barely even register it.

You laugh about it later once Trucy is safely tucked in her bed. Nick apologises and teasingly offers you a mulligan, which you gladly accept.

Mia Fey

You walk her to the train station one day.

Mia decides to visit the Kurain village over the weekend after her Friday trial got postponed. You were meant to go on a date later that evening but she rarely ever gets the opportunity to spend a day or two with her sister and cousin nowadays and you couldn't find it in yourself to be upset when she asked you to reschedule.

You offer to take her to the station and she eagerly accepts, laughing about the idea of having a "mini station" date. That's exactly what it is in the end - you arrive long before the train and end up getting some coffee from the vending machine and chatting on the bench.

Once you finally see the train drawing near, you get up and say your goodbyes, opening your arms for a hug. She laughs and pulls you in for a kiss instead, leaving you flustered as she waves at you through the window.

Apollo Justice

Trucy and you drag him to a Gavinners concert one day. Poor Apollo wants to die, but he can't say no to either one of you. Besides, it's only marginally better than spending another afternoon polishing the toilet at the Wright Anything Agency during a dry spell.

He's huffing and puffing all the while, the vein on his large forehead pulsating while Trucy and you dance the night away. You know he's pretending not to like the music - you've seen his Spotify playlist after all. As it happens, Klavier got you some of the best tickets the venue offered and you happen to be eerily close to the stage. Apollo would rather die than let his rival/not rival see him rocking out to the Gavinners.

"Come on, Polly! Are you going to be this grumpy all night long?" You ask, taking his face in your hands. He scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. "I can't think with all this noise." You laugh. How dramatic. "You're meant to have fun, not think! Come here." Somehow you get him to dance to the end of a song with you and you're so happy to see him in good spirits you just lean forward and press your lips to his.

"Ach, Herr Forehead! Even you can't resist the heartwrenching tune of my ballads, ja?" A voice comes from the stage and Apollo freezes momentarily, blood draining from his face when he pulls away. He leaves the venue immediately after, Klavier laughing on the stage and Trucy and you chasing after him through the crowd.

Athena Cykes

Happens during a date. She takes you out to do something involved, like laser tag or or paintball. You spend hours running around, shooting at the foes together, laughing and perhaps getting a bit too into it. The kids present fear you.

You return your equipment after the session, Athena clapping her hands together. "Wasn't that so much fun?! And what a great exercise too!" Perhaps exausting would be a better word, you think breathlessly. "What now? Wanna grab a bite?"

"NOW YOU KISS ME!" Widget exclaims, momentarily turning red then yellow immediately after. You raise your eyebrow at Athena, who presently looks like she wants the ground to swallow her. "Your necklace wants a kiss?"

"W-Well, not quite."

"No?"

"No, I do."

You laugh, bridging the gap between you.

Kristoph Gavin

Kris takes you to his favourite high end restaurant, dressed in his finest suit, smelling of expensive perfume.

It's a perfectly pleasant evening and he makes small talk, lets you lead the conversation while he smiles sweetly.

He spends a lot of the time looking at the piano player, but you brush it off. After all, the man is so bad it's difficult not to stare.

"May I kiss you?" He asks, just after your desserts arrive. You're caught off guard momentarily, but agree. His kiss is short and sweet, tasting of grape juice.

Ryunosuke Naruhodo

Happens immediately after his murder trial.

You're worried sick, waiting outside the courtroom. His predicament is difficult but Kazuma is there to take care of him which helps settle your nerves. As long as Ryu doesn't do something stupid, all should end well.

They exit the courtroom after what feels like hours and you immediately notice the wide, awkward smile on Ryunosuke's face and the pleased expression on Kazuma's.

"You're free?!" You run up to him, clasping your hands together. "Y-Yeah, I am." You grab him by the uniform and pull him into your arms, kissing him without reserve in your moment of joy. Kazuma laughs and Ryunosuke is wide eyed and stunned, a blush creeping up his face.

You thank Kazuma, pulling him in for a hug. "Don't thank me," he laughs, "My partner here handled his own defense."

"You did WHAT?!" You hiss, smacking his arm. "Ryu, you're so irresponsible sometimes. Wait, you defended yourself and won?"

[pt-disconnected]

As everyone continued to take their time in the Dark World to understand the situation better, Player sat down off to the side, trying to tie a few loose ends together. It had been a strange couple of days... at least, it had seemed like a couple of days. There was no telling what was going on in their home world, and no clear way to get back. What were they supposed to do? Trapped in a world they had never expected to be reality, and trying to help the ones that had been affected by the Player arriving... it felt like it wasn't right, but did they have a choice? However it wasn't long before someone else sat down nearby, with their own issues on their mind. At first, the Player had expected to see Kris. But instead, they discovered that it was Berdly- with a lot less of the usual attitude normally seen. Instead, it seemed more like he was reflecting on his own past.

"...Hey, Player. I know you're probably having your own self-reflection moment. But, as Susie pointed out, you're probably the only one who is able to understand the more... well, complicated aspects of what I tend to say. So, I guess that I feel like you might be able to understand what I've had to deal with in the past..."

The Player looked at him, surprised to hear this coming from Berdly of all possibilities. But, he seemed completely serious... so the Player nodded a bit. "...Okay. I'll try to listen." they said, looking to Berdly and awaiting the response.

Berdly chuckled half-heartedly. "...Thanks. I guess it's been a while since I had anyone who I felt any form of comfort for showing my... normal side around. And who might actually understand the situation as well. Because, if I'm being absolutely honest, I'd rather be more like Kris. Or Noelle. Or anyone else in my class, even..." "Back when I found that I was more intelligent than others in my age group, I was thrilled. I was able to learn and make use of the knowledge much faster and easier than others. And I enjoyed it- I wanted to learn more and I wanted to do the best I could with it, whatever that would be." The smile faded entirely from his face. If his face wasn't covered by the blue of his feathers, it would obviously be pale. "But as I showed that I had a talent for learning, others started to shun me instead of cheer. I'd never have the chance to answer, teachers would never help on the rare occasions when I needed it, and I was generally looked down upon." "And as time went on, it got worse. I was told that I needed to use my intelligence for something useful and was always pushed into learning specific topics- ones that I had learned long beforehand. I was forced into situations that I never had to be in, and that certainly were not ones anyone would want to end up in, simply because of being told that my intelligence would be useless otherwise." Berdly let out a sigh, continuing to recount the past. "I lost the drive to learn more. I knew everything I needed to, so why bother learning any more if I was supposedly never going to use it? It felt like I would just be pushed down if I tried to learn something that wasn't necessary, so I just worked with the box I had been put in and lived with it." The Player could do nothing but be silent. It was a very unusual situation- normally it was a kid who was already down being shoved further, but Berdly had clearly been one with immense potential- until the world had shoved him in a box and told him what he had to be, even though he could do so much more. Now, his half-hearted smile returned, and was clearly far from genuine. "...Once I did that though, everyone looked up to me as a role model. I was exactly what I had thought I'd be by learning everything I could, but instead of learning everything, I was only meant to learn what I needed and nothing more. I was special. But, if I had known what being special entailed, I would have happily stayed just like everyone else. Now I had to constantly show that I was 'special' so that people wouldn't get upset or call me out on it..." He looked towards Card Castle, where the rest of the group was. "Noelle was one of the few who actually treated me like a normal person. She never thought of me as more than anyone else- nor less. She treated me like an equal- something that I hadn't had for a long time. And again, I'd rather be equal at this point."

"As for Susie... well, honestly, it's a bit of an amusing situation there. She definitely didn't treat me the nicest- but, she didn't treat anyone very nicely anyways. She was equal-opportunist- which actually made me feel that same way. I felt like she just thought of me the same as any other person." He chuckled some, a small, more genuine smile showing now. "And now, seeing that she has a kinder side- even if she is, well, still Susie- it makes me wonder if I could at least show this bottled-up part of myself to them. Because it seems like Susie did just that- she opened up to you, and Kris, and Noelle. If she can do that, then surely I can do the same."

The Player sighed some, unsure how to respond. But Berdly spoke first, to their surprise. "...You know, it... felt good to get that out. It's been a lot to handle for so long. But, with that off my back, maybe I can do more with my life than fit in a box. Because, clearly there's more out there than just what other people think I need."

Berdly looked at the Player. "...Whether you processed any of that or not, thank you for at least letting me get that out. I should probably go and meet up with the others." he said, getting up and walking to the castle.

The Player blinked, then blinked again. They opened their mouth to speak, closed it, and then opened it again simply to say "...what?"

Berdly releasing emotional pressure- lots of it. Well, we have an alternative backstory for Berdly. Since Chapter 2 isn't canon in Paper Trail, I thought that maybe some of the lore from it could be adjusted for the story. In this case, he is actually intelligent, and was forced to act a certain way in order to 'fit in'. I think that this would have been another fitting way for Berdly's backstory to play out, but I'm not Toby Fox. So this is just my view of what could have happened. Also, this is technically only a partial... part. It's mostly one character speaking after all- so it's more of a lore chunk than it is an actual part of story. Thus this will technically be Part 16.5 since it's short and not very much is going on. Regardless, it is still a chunk of story and may or may not explain Berdly's 'crush' on Susie (I'm not shipping them, and likely never will, but I can say that they will have a dynamic that might be useful for story purposes down the road.), so I'm posting it regardless. Hoping to get more story down soon, but until then, see ya! Previous Part | First Part | Next Part

LynxGriffin’s Paper Trail Comic

(This part of Disconnected is completely unique and takes place somewhere around the middle of part 66 in Lynx's comic. It may not have any normal reference, but I highly recommend reading the comic anyways so that you have more of an idea what's going on!)

[charliesangelsfiction]

Charlie’s Angels:

Series 6: Book 1: Bonjour Angels

Chapter 1: An Emotional Farewell

The sun shone brightly over Los Angeles, casting a warm glow on the city that never slept. In the prestigious Beverly Hills area, there was the Townsend agency. Inside the Angels, Kris Munroe, Julie Rogers, and Kelly Garrett, were gathered around their rarely used office dining table. John Bosley, their ever-present colleague and friend, was also in attendance.

The atmosphere in the room was a mix of joy and sadness, as the Angels prepared to bid farewell to the longest-serving angel , Kelly Garrett. With the gunshot wound she had suffered the previous year fully healed, Kelly was ready to move on to a new phase in her life. She had just gotten married and was now expecting a baby, eager to start her new life with her husband, Alan Samuelson after rekindling her romance with him.

In the middle of the table, an assortment of snacks and drinks were laid out, a small celebration to commemorate Kelly's departure. The Angels shared stories and laughter, reminiscing about their time together, and the many cases they had solved as a team. “I just got my head through the door and I was off to Hawaii!” Explained Kris to a giggly Julie. The laughter stopped. There was silence.

Kris, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, squeezed Kelly's hand. "Kelly, I just can't believe you're leaving us," she said, her voice cracking.

Kelly smiled warmly, her own eyes misting over. "I know, Kris. It's not easy for me either. But it's time for me to focus on building a family... my own family. You guys will always be in my heart, the first family I ever had."

Bosley, in an attempt to lighten the mood, chimed in, "Well, Kelly, we're going to miss you. But I think I speak for all of us when I say… does this mean I get your parking space?"

Everyone laughed, and Kelly wiped her eyes. "Of course, Bosley. You're going to need all the help you can get keeping these two in line," she said, nodding toward Kris and Julie.

At that moment, the iconic intercom on the table buzzed to life, and Charlie's voice filled the room. "Good afternoon, Angels. I understand this is a bittersweet moment for all of you. Kelly, I wish you well in your future endeavors. You will always be a part of the Townsend Detective Agency family."

"Thank you, Charlie," Kelly replied, her voice thick with emotion.

"Now, onto business," Charlie continued. "As you know, when one Angel leaves, another must take her place. So, it gives me great pleasure to reintroduce a familiar face as the newest member of your team…”

The girls looked at one another with puzzled expressions. The door to the office opened, and Tiffany walked in, her eyes scanning the room as she took in the faces of her friends. Kris rushed forward with a warm embrace. "Tiffany! It's so great to see you again! We've missed you!"

Tiffany smiled back, "Kris, it's been too long! I'm so glad we get to work together again."

Julie, who had not yet met Tiffany, extended her hand with a warm smile. "Hi, I'm Julie Rogers. It's nice to meet you, Tiffany."

Tiffany shook Julie's hand. "Nice to meet you too, Julie. I'm looking forward to working with you."

Kelly approached Tiffany, her face a mixture of sadness and joy. "Tiffany, welcome back. I know you'll be a great addition to the team, just like before."

"Thank you, Kelly," Tiffany replied, hugging her. "I promise to do my best and make you proud."

After the introductions were made, the Angels found themselves looking through old photo albums together. Kelly and Kris found themselves alone for a moment near the window, gazing out at the city they had called home for so many years.

"Do you remember our first case together, Kris?" Kelly asked, a nostalgic smile on her face.

Kris nodded, her eyes distant as she recalled the memory. "Of course, I do. I was so nervous, but we got through it together.”

Kelly sighed. "Yes, those were amazing times.” She paused. A grin took hold of her face. “What is it?” Asked Kris. “Your first case and you ended up on a nudest beach” recalled Kelly as she burst out laughing. “I'll cherish those memories forever."

Kris hugged Kelly tightly. "We'll never forget you, Kelly. You'll always be an Angel to us."

Tears streamed down Kelly's face as she hugged Kris back. "I'll miss you guys so much. Please promise me that you'll take care of each other."

"We promise, Kelly," Kris whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Bosley, sensing the emotional moment, walked over to the two women and placed a comforting hand on each of their shoulders. "Kelly, you're leaving behind a great legacy. We'll make sure to honor it every day."

"Thank you, Bosley," Kelly said, sniffling and wiping her tears.

The Angels shared a heartfelt group hug, each of them knowing that they were part of something truly special. As they stood there, embracing one another, they were reminded of the unbreakable bond they shared - a bond built on trust, friendship, and the pursuit of justice.

As the sun began to set on Los Angeles, the Angels said their final goodbyes to Kelly. With both tears and smiles, they watched her walk away, ready to face her new life head-on, handbag in hand, smile on her face.

And although they knew things would never be the same without her, the Angels also knew that they would continue to fight for justice, side by side, as a team. Together, they would carry on the legacy of the Townsend Detective Agency and face whatever challenges the future had in store for them.